Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

The Power Behind Postsecondary Attainment Goals: A Critical Policy Discourse Analysis, Casey Mccoy-Simmons

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In this study, I examined neoliberal discourses upheld by policy actors engaged in the college completion agenda that perpetuated power structures maintaining white supremacy by relying on the success of racially marginalized communities to meet postsecondary attainment goals. With philanthropic foundations playing an increased role in advancing an advocacy-focused agenda to increase postsecondary attainment across states, there was also a need to better understand the relationship between state policy actors and foundations. As a national champion of postsecondary attainment goals, I identified the Lumina Foundation as a key policy actor in leveraging its advocacy-focused agenda to influence state policy actors …

A Critical Policy Analysis Of Universal Preschool In Colorado: Its Roots, Intentions, And Development, Jamita Horton

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

High-quality preschool experiences are essential for preparing four-year-old children for a successful transition to kindergarten, benefiting them academically, emotionally, socially, and physically. However, access to such preschools remains limited, particularly for children from marginalized communities. This qualitative critical policy analysis examines transitioning from the targeted Colorado Preschool Program (CPP) to a universal preschool approach through the 2022 Colorado House Bill 1295: Department of Early Childhood and Universal Preschool Program. Drawing on Young and Diem's (2017) framework for critical policy analysis, this study explores the roots, development, and potential implications of the universal preschool policy.

This study analyzes documents and audio …

A Phenomenology Study Of The Lived Experiences Of Chinese International Students In The Us During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Linlin Wu

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This phenomenological study investigates the lived experiences of Chinese international students during the initial outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. It aims to delve into how these individuals articulate their experiences during the pandemic, with a particular focus on how their geographical location influenced their experiences. To achieve this, the study employs an innovative approach, integrating a phenomenological method with comparative analysis to elucidate the similarities and differences between students who remained in the US and those who returned to China.

The analysis identified four principal themes among students in the US: 1) Online Learning Challenges, (2) Social Life Adaptation, (3) …

Changing The Narrative: Student Empowerment In Unequal School Contexts, Stephanie A. Nisle-Mikos

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Educational experiences affect a wide variety of life outcomes for individuals. The type of education an individual receives influences their occupation, the neighborhood in which they live, and even their risk of mortality (National Research Council, 2013; Sasson, 2016). In particular, the life trajectories of students who attend high-poverty schools are not the same as youth who attend schools with greater resources (National Center for Education Statistics [NCES], 2013; Taylor, 2005). In this dissertation, I provide a brief background on current rates of disproportionality in education and examine how specific theoretical constructs and educational policies may be used to explain …

The Role Of Care Practices, Mutual Aid, And Racial Formation In Black Newcomer Practitioners’ Lived Experience Within Organizations: A Critical Qualitative Inquiry, Annie Zean Dunbar

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Black newcomers, defined as people who have migrated to the United States regardless of legal status, are one of the fastest-growing immigrant groups. (Morgan-Trostle et al., 2016). Within this population, a small percentage work within the social service sector with other migrants. Using critical qualitative methods, a critical phenomenological methodology and semi-structured interviews, a sample of 17 participants were asked about their experiences of living and working in the U.S. social service sector. The study uses racial formation theory (Omi & Winant, 2014) to conceptualize how participants experienced their racial identity formation and how racism shapes their personal and professional …

How Well Do Nature-Based Solutions To Climate Change Address Gender Equity?, Stephanie Efua Yamoah

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

As the climate crisis continues to deepen, there have been calls for adaptation and mitigation approaches that rely on nature-based solutions. These solutions are approaches that offer the potential to reduce and remove greenhouse gas emissions. Examples include forest restoration, coastal wetland conservation, and no-till agriculture, among other practices. In this thesis, I employ an intersectional feminist political ecology perspective to critically examine the integration of gender equity within such nature-based solutions. I make two interrelated arguments using a qualitative methodology and an intensive case study of three projects in Ghana. First, I argue that women’s participation in nature-based solutions …

Using Historic Glacial Data And Gis To Predict Mount Rainier National Park’S Glacial Future, Daniel Kincaid

Geography and the Environment: Graduate Student Capstones

Will Washington state have glaciers 100 years from now (year 2124)? Due to generally warmer weather glaciers are largely in retreat globally, including the glaciers in Washington state. In Washington state summer glacial meltwater plays a vital role in the survival of wildlife and is needed for human purposes that include recreation, power generation, drinking, agricultural, and industrial. This project looked at the most resilient glaciers in Washington state, the glaciers at Mount Rainier National Park. Historic measurements were used in an exponential growth calculation to project the amount in acres each glacier at Mount Rainer will advance or retreat …

Attrition And Assimilation: The Neural Mechanisms Of Mandarin-English Bilingualism, Natalie Paige Robison

University Honors Theses

This line of research investigates attrition of native language (L1) Mandarin proficiency with increasing proficiency in English. English uses pitch to denote intonation (e.g., "it's there?" versus "it's there!"), while Mandarin additionally uses pitch to indicate word meanings; e.g., /he/ means "drink" when spoken with a high, level tone, or "river" when spoken with a rising tone. The present study delineates between two alternative explanations for the prior finding that English proficiency correlates with attrition of Mandarin tones, but not Mandarin vowels. This pattern could be explained by 1) assimilability of the Mandarin vowel contrasts used in the study into …

Gamification And Game-Based Learning Tools: A Review And Utility For School Libraries, Sarwesh Pareek

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

This study presents a comprehensive analysis of gamification tools in school libraries, focusing on a web-based survey that identified 29 games related to digital literacy and library services. These games, categorized as free and paid, span various subjects and topics, including math, science, language arts, and information literacy. The research examines the specific uses of these games, assessing their effectiveness in enhancing student engagement and learning outcomes. By analyzing the features, design elements, and user interactions of these games, the study aims to provide insights into their impact on student motivation and educational achievement. The findings highlight the potential of …

A Story Of State Transformation In The Global South: Limited Statehood And Governance In Post-Syria Lebanon, Jodor Jalit

Theses and Dissertations

This research thesis analyzes security governance in areas of limited statehood in the context of state transformation. Specifically, it examines the impact of the 2005 Syrian military withdrawal on the Lebanese state in the realm of security. Briefly, the thesis unveils the coexistence of state and non-state groups and the engagement of non-state actors in state-like practices. That is, it assesses the impact of the 2005 Syrian military withdrawal on the Lebanese state to reveal the relationship its new configuration, relationship with non-state actors, and emerging governance practices. In that sense, this thesis pretends to contribute to the larger body …

Anal Human Papillomavirus (Hpv) Disagreement By Linear Array Compared To Spf10 Pcr-Deia-Lipa25 System In Young Sexual Minority Men, Trisha L Amboree, Jacky Kuo, Bradley A Sirak, John A Schneider, Alan G Nyitray, Lu-Yu Hwang, Elizabeth Y Chiao, Anna R Giuliano, Kayo Fujimoto

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Introduction: Young sexual minority men (SMM) bear the greatest burden of anal human papillomavirus (HPV) infections. We assessed anal HPV genotype discordance between the Linear Array (LA) and SPF10 PCR-DEIA-LiPA25 (LiPA25).

Methods: Discordance was assessed between LA and LiPA25 using self-collected anal swabs from 120 SMM aged 18-29 who were recruited in 2014-2016. Multiple-type infection was explored as a potential confounder of testing agreement, along with clinical and behavioral factors such as HIV status, syphilis status, incarceration history, health insurance coverage, having 3 or more sex partners in the past 6 months, and co-infection with HPV-16.

Results: Significant discordance was …

The Use Of Laja In Construction In Ancient Mesoamerica: A View From The Southern Gulf Lowlands Of Veracruz, Mexico, Lauren E. Smith

Steeplechase: An ORCA Student Journal

The archaeology of the southern Gulf lowlands of Veracruz, Mexico is notable for its research pertaining to the Olmec culture (Jaime-Riveron 2016; Loughlin 2012; Pool 2006). The region was home to the Colossal Olmec Heads: large, easily identifiable sculptures crafted from the volcanic rock of the Tuxtlas Volcanic Field. The use of volcanic resources in such grand presentations may instill a bias in the research of some archaeologists, but it is important to consider how these and other volcanic resources might have been used in everyday life (e.g., Jaime-Riveron 2016: 86). The consolidated volcanic ash in this region is referred …

Increased Feminine Self-Concept In Men Corresponds With Less Homonegativity: Exploring Gender Role Expression Relative To Homonegativity Across Genders, Kaid M. Marek, Amanda Watson Joyce, Tracey A. Garcia Mccue

Steeplechase: An ORCA Student Journal

Homonegativity (i.e., prejudiced attitudes towards sexual minorities, Morrison et al., 1999) is associated with stricter gender roles (Basow & Johnson, 2000; Tornello & Matsick, 2020) mainly in men, and is less understood in women (Bosson et al., 2009; Vandello et al., 2008). This study investigates how cisgender individuals’ self-perceptions and self-concepts of gender roles relate to homonegativity. We hypothesized that men would have greater homonegativity than women, and that greater socially-expected gender role expression would predict homonegativity in both genders. Two-hundred-eighty-eight participants, predominantly white (84.7%), women (n = 227), freshman (58.7%) college students (M_age = 19.33, SD …

[2024 Honorable Mention] Hasta Que El Cuerpo Aguante, Brisa Rosiles

Ethnic Studies Research Paper Award

The focus of this project revolves around a critical examination of the alarming occurrences of heat stroke-related deaths among field workers in California, with a specific emphasis on cases documented in the Salinas Valley. The core of my artistic expression lies in a digital painting that captures the reality of a laborer enduring the devastating effects of heat stroke in the agricultural fields.

Faith And Clutter: A Christian Perspective To Understand, Treat, And Prevent Hoarding Disorder, Mary Katherine Flage

NEXUS: The Liberty Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies

No abstract provided.

Technological Methods And Promotion Of Open Educational Resources In Rivers State Owned Libraries, Patrick Chimmeri Ordu, Clementina Clement-Abraham, Onyema Nsirim

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

The integration of technological methods, such as institutional repositories, databases and library websites holds the potential to significantly enhance the accessibility, customization, and collaborative development of Open Educational Resources (OER), transforming the landscape of open education. This study investigated Technological Methods and Promotion of Open Educational Resources in Rivers State Owned Libraries. The study adopted a descriptive survey design. The populations of the study was 22 librarians in Rivers State Owned University Libraries. Census sampling technique was used since the population was not large. Questionnaire was used for data collection. A total of 19 copies of the questionnaires were found …

Mediating Effect Of Mobile Banking Trust On Information And System Quality, Marko Van Deventer

Journal of Marketing and Consumer Behaviour in Emerging Markets

In the context of mobile banking services, trust emerges as a pivotal factor influencing both the acceptance and utilisation of these services, significantly shaping customers' confidence in their usage. Existing literature proposes that trust operates as a mediator in the connection between customers' perceptions of the quality of information and the overall system in mobile banking.

This study aimed to investigate whether trust acts as a mediating variable in the relationship between information and system quality within the mobile banking experiences of Generation Y customers in the South African banking sector. Employing a descriptive research design, the study distributed self-administered …

Reckoning With An Institution’S Past: Challenges And Opportunities In Archival Storytelling, Edward Junhao Lim

UConn Library Presentations

How can we best tell the story of our institution’s racist past? Two uncoordinated exhibitions about the racist past at a public research university happened in the same month. The first exhibit commemorates the direct action taken by Black and Brown students to challenge structural racism in higher education by sitting in at the library on April 22, 1974. The second highlights a racist incident against Asian American students on December 3, 1987, and its repercussions. Shared from the perspective of someone unfamiliar with archival materials, this presentation will address the challenges of invisibility in the archives and exhibiting a …

The Hidden Toll Of Crowd Control: Rethinking The Use Of Kinetic Impact Projectiles In American Policing, Hayley Knudsen

Undergraduate Theses, Capstones, and Recitals

This thesis critically examines the use of Kinetic Impact Projectiles (KIPs) by law enforcement in the United States, highlighting the discrepancy between their intended function as “less-lethal” crowd control tools and the severe injuries and fatalities they frequently cause. Spurred by widespread police violence during the 2020 Black Lives Matter protests, this study explores the physical, legal, and policy impacts of KIP deployment. Drawing on public health data, legal case outcomes, and international human rights reports, the research identifies significant risks associated with KIPs, including high rates of head and ocular injuries, and a troubling lack of training and regulation. …

We Need To Talk About Airbnb, Jean Lavigne

Environmental Studies Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Spirituality And Primal Beliefs Among Oxford House Employees, Justin S. Bell

College of Science and Health Theses and Dissertations

The emphasis on treatment for alcohol and substance use disorder (AUD/SUD) has shifted from short-term clinical stabilization to long-term recovery. Along with this shift comes a growing appreciation of the positive beliefs and behaviors recovering people use to maintain their well-being. The current study examined the role of spirituality as one such tool to improve well-being, as well as how deeply held beliefs, or primals, can influence the benefits of spiritual practices. Participants (baseline n = 132) were recovering employees of Oxford House Inc., a large international network of recovery residences. Participants completed measures of their spirituality, primal beliefs, and …

Overcoming The War Within: Exploring The Relationship Between Exposure To Complex Trauma And Post Traumatic Growth, Diego T. Thompson

College of Science and Health Theses and Dissertations

Exposure to complex trauma can be understood as exposure to multiple and varied types of traumatic events, often chronic in nature. Exposure to complex trauma is prevalent among youth in the United States, especially youth living in urban environments and marginalized populations. Black youth who live in urban environments are of particular concern due to their increases susceptibility of exposure to community violence, entrenched poverty, and other sources of trauma at multiple levels, making them an appropriate population in which to examine PTG. the effect that these exposures have on these youth should be acknowledged, it is necessary to also …

Identity Shifting Behaviors, Perceptions Of Diversity, And Perceived Discrimination In South Asian Employees, Himali Bhandari

College of Science and Health Theses and Dissertations

Workplace discrimination is a significant issue in the workplace for minority racial and ethnic groups, especially for South Asian employees in the US. This study investigated the relationship between perceived workplace diversity climate and identity shifting behaviors (manifestation and suppression behaviors of group identity) that South Asian employees might display at work. Furthermore, it was also expected that perceptions of racial discrimination experiences would mediate this relationship. It was hypothesized that perceived diversity climate will be negatively related to suppression behaviors and positively related manifestation behaviors, mediated by perceptions of racial discrimination. Participants were recruited from social media, Prolific, and …

Length Of Stay, Social Support, And Sex Differences In Recovery, Elizabeth K. Garrity

College of Science and Health Theses and Dissertations

The Oxford House model is an expanding network of sober-living houses that aid individuals struggling with substance use disorders. Research exploring sober-living environments can be essential in understanding the factors that relate to sustained addiction recovery. This study examined whether sex differences were present within the relationship between perceived social support and recovery outcomes, to which no significant results were found. These findings contributed to existing research that seeks to understand whether gendered differences exist in recovery outcomes. This study also investigated whether length of stay within a recovery home mediated the relationship between perceived social support and one’s recovery …

Diverse And Inclusive Social Matters In Select Dissertations At Hbcus: A Summative Analysis, Vance D. Keyes, Latocia Keyes

Journal of Research Initiatives

Historically, Black colleges, universities, and social workers have shared a history of serving marginalized people. This research is conducted at a point in time when the profession and academic field of social work have expressed an interest in eliminating racism, but more so in upholding the values of social work education in support of working with marginalized populations. Social work as an academic discipline and the origin of Historically Black Colleges and Universities is introduced. The integration of social work in Historically Black Colleges and Universities is analyzed by cataloging the number and type of institutions that offer social work …

What's Next, And When Can We Go There? Lessons From Leading Trans 101 For Libraries, Stephen G. Krueger

Library Presentations

One way that some libraries attempt to improve their services to trans and gender diverse patrons is by encouraging employees to attend a Trans 101 workshop or equivalent. But this alone isn’t enough; it needs follow-up and long-term commitment to actually make a library inclusive for people of all genders. In this session, the presenter (who has led many trans inclusion workshops and presentations for libraries) will address the limitations of current attempts at trans and gender diverse inclusion in libraries, and offer strategies for building on these to more meaningfully integrate gender inclusion into library work.

Importance Of Communication And Emotional Intelligence In People And Project Management In The Banking Industry – A Quantitative Study Of Its Impacts, Monica Kanchan

Harrisburg University Dissertations and Theses

The regulated banking industry is ever-evolving and growing every year. Researchers indicated a close association between strong communication channels, high levels of emotional intelligence, and successful projects and people management. This thesis explores the significance of communication and emotional intelligence in enhancing project management practices in the banking industry. Emotional intelligence has been seen as an important skillset for leadership roles in creating a positive organizational culture, enhancing employee performance, and managing the various intricacies that come with working in a banking firm. Understanding the interplay and impact of these elements can help foster collaboration, motivation, and self-awareness, mitigate challenges, …

Engaging Students In Collaborative Collection Development And Authentic Learning Through Archives And Exhibit Work, Rebecca Fitzsimmons

Faculty and Staff Publications – Milner Library

Renaissance-era prints formed a new collection and an exciting new direction in teaching and research in Special Collections at Illinois State University. This lightning talk will focus on how an art history professor and special collections librarian redesigned an advanced print history class around materials in the collection, transforming the course into a multifaceted research and skill-building opportunity for students. Engaging in deep art historical research and professional development was integrated into the class as they created and launched a large-scale original exhibition. Throughout this process, students gained an understanding of both individual and team contributions to such projects, as …

Scale-Dependent Effects Of Urban Canopy Cover, Canopy Volume, And Impervious Surfaces On Near Surface Air Temperature In Portland, Or, Carson Ralls

Geography Masters Research Papers

Cities are significantly warmer than their surrounding rural environments. Known as the ‘urban heat island effect’, it can affect the health of urban residents and lead to increased energy use. Although this effect is extensively researched, less is known about how landscape characteristics within cities affect local temperature variation. With a warming climate and the need for heat mitigation strategies becoming more urgent, having a finer detailed understanding of the effects on temperature is critical to guide proper management policies. This study examined how tree canopy cover, canopy volume, and impervious surface cover affect daytime near surface air temperature, and …

Gender Pay Gaps In Mountain West Cities & States, 2024, Dre Boyd-Weatherly, Maryam Raja, Sean Curry, Caitlin J. Saladino, William E. Brown Jr.

Economic Development & Workforce

This fact sheet examines data on the gender pay gap, or the difference in pay between male and female year-round full-time workers in the Mountain West states of Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico and Utah. “Cities with the Largest Gender Pay Gaps” published by the Chamber of Commerce uses 2020-2021 data from the U.S. Census Bureau.