Other Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Struggles Experienced By Religious Minority Families In The United States, Loren D. Marks, David C. Dollahite, Kaity Pearl Young

Faculty Publications

More than a thousand empirical studies report positive correlations between religious involvement and various aspects oof psychological, relational, or physical health. Even so, there are also substantial costs, challenges, and negative aspects of religious involvement that warrant scholarly attention, including religion-related oppression and discrimination. The objective of this study was to provide an in-depth exploration and qualitative analysis of religion-related struggles experienced by religious minorities. A national sample of 198 diverse, religious families (N = 476 participants) were interviewed. Of the 198 families, 131 (66%) were from religious minority communities (i.e., Jewish, Muslim, or Christian minority faiths) and serve …

An Organizational Framework For Sexual Media’S Influence On Short-Term Versus Long-Term Sexual Quality, Nathan D. Leonhardt, Travis J. Spencer, Mark H. Butler, Alex C. Theobald

Faculty Publications

Although research has suggested a net negative influence of sexual media on sexual quality, enough researchers have found results suggesting that sexual media has no effect or a positive influence that the matter warrants further investigation. We present an organizational framework utilizing primarily the acquisition, activation, application model (3AM), and the Antecedents-Context-Effects model (ACE) to reconcile these apparently contradictory claims. By synthesizing these theories, we suggest that to truly understand the impact of sexual media on sexual quality, four factors must be taken into account: (1) the content of the sexual media being viewed, (2) the difference between short-term and …

Understanding The Perceived Effectiveness Of Applying The Visitor Experience And Resource Protection (Verp) Framework For Recreation Planning: A Multi-Case Study In U.S. National Parks, Jessica Fefer, Sandra M. De Urioste-Stone, John Daigle, Linda Silka

The Qualitative Report

The Visitor Experience and Resource Protection (VERP) framework is a planning framework developed by the U.S. National Park Service (NPS) to help guide visitor use planning and decision-making in U.S. national parks. The research reported here highlights the perceptions of park practitioners about major successes and challenges associated with visitor management and recreation planning using the VERP framework. We used a qualitative multiple case study design to explore three (3) national parks that have applied the framework. We conducted 16 semi-structured interviews with park managers, park planners, and recreation scientists, and used thematic coding to categorize the data to capture …

Investigation Of Graduate Student Stress In Speech Language Pathology, Rochel Lieberman, Lesley Raisor-Becker, Carney Sotto, Erin Redle

Teaching and Learning in Communication Sciences & Disorders

The purpose of this research was to investigate the average stress levels and types of stressors experienced by graduate students (GS) in speech-language pathology (SLP) programs and the academic supports GS perceived to be helpful. An online survey examining stress was administered to 238 GS in SLP. The average stress level, types of stressors, demographic characteristics of participants related to their stress response, and reported academic program supports were analyzed. Correlation coefficients were computed to determine the relationship between reported stress, demographic variables, and program characteristics. Moderate and high levels of stress were reported by 96% of SLP GS as …

Performing The Quality Of Imperceptible Interactions Between Individuals: A Technological Challenge Regarding The Collective, Marine Theunissen

Proceedings from the Document Academy

Contemporary technologies allow incredible possibilities of capturing individuals, but a problem arises when it comes to capturing a chorus, that is to say a "collective body" in motion. This proposal will address the problem of the sensitive capture of the quality of the interrelations between individuals, and of their refined interpretation through algorithms to "output” them in other forms. We will address two questions on the subject: how to capture the relations between individuals within a collective? How to create a circular-causal loop, whose artistic material (the digital data) is the interrelations of a collective, without engendering redundancy in their …

"The Family That Prays Together . . .": Relational Processes Associated With Regular Family Prayer, Joe M. Chelladurai, David C. Dollahite, Loren D. Marks

Faculty Publications

In the present article we explore how family prayer reportedly influenced family relationships. We conceptualized family prayer as a family ritual in religious families and used a qualitative methodology to interview a religiously, ethnically, and geographically diverse sample of 198 families (N = 476). Analysis of data revealed 7 related themes. Family prayer served important functions and influenced relationships in various ways including (a) as time of family togetherness and interaction; (b) as a space for social support; and (c) as a means for intergenerational transmission of religion. Further, family prayer (d) involved issues and concerns of individuals and …

The Tragedy Zone: Ableism In Entertainment, Linnea Sumner

Honors College Theses

Ableism, or discrimination towards individuals with disabilities, is pervasive in our society. The entertainment world and the media are largely responsible for shaping the way the general public views minority groups. The topic of disability is incredibly popular on screen and stage, but very few actors and writers with disabilities are being hired in comparison to the amount of work that is being produced on the topic. A startling percentage of best actor/actress Oscar winners have won for portraying a character with a disability of some kind, but only two actors with the same disabilities as their characters have been …

Environment: The Global Goals, Lora Vogels, Kinah Deekman

The International Student Science Fair 2018

In 2015, world leaders and the United Nations agreed to 17 goals for a better world by 2030. These goals have the goal to end poverty, fight inequality and stop climate change. Guided by the goals, it is now up to all of us - governments, businesses, civil society, and the general public - to work together to build a better future for everyone. We investigated if these goals are actually achievable within the next years. We also wanted to find out if the people of the Netherlands were aware of these goals, and if they would do something to …

Raptors And Humans: Exploring Alternative Therapies In Non-Clinical Environments Using Birds Of Prey, Kaleigh Hoyt

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This study aims to deconstruct current conceptions about animal-assisted interventions by investigating relationships between human beings and birds of prey. Interactions between birds of prey, or “raptors,” provide novel cases from which to reexamine failed attempts to provide empirical data in support of alternative therapies. Previous research addressing the efficacy of animal-assisted interventions is simply not robust enough to be considered a feasible treatment option by medical professionals. By extension, models of self-regulation in psychology are often presented using reductionist models and oversimplified therapeutic outcomes. Taken together, raptor-human relationships help to highlight the shortcomings of each, as well as potential …

Looking Beyond Patient Satisfaction: Experiences Of Spanish-Speaking Patients Seeking Non-Urgent Care In An Emergency Department, Seiichi Villalona

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This exploratory mixed-methods study examines the experiences of Spanish-speaking patients seeking non-urgent care in an emergency department setting. Emphasis is placed on understanding variables that influence patient satisfaction among this particular special patient population. This study draws from the explanatory models of illness and perspectives of clinically applied anthropology in contributing to the limited body of scholarly work that utilizes ethnographic approaches in clinical spaces to investigate how patients experience seeking emergency care services. Health-related deservingness, social determinants of health, and health literacy are used as complementary frameworks in understanding the unique experiences of these patients. The combination of methodological …

Linking Molar Organizational Climate And Strategic Implementation Climate To Clinicians’ Use Of Evidence-Based Psychotherapy Techniques: Cross-Sectional And Lagged Analyses From A 2-Year Observational Study, Nathaniel J. Williams, Mark G. Ehrhart, Gregory A. Aarons, Steven C. Marcus, Rinad S. Beidas

Social Work Faculty Publications and Presentations

Background: Behavioral health organizations are characterized by multiple organizational climates, including molar climate, which encompasses clinicians’ shared perceptions of how the work environment impacts their personal well-being, and strategic implementation climate, which includes clinicians’ shared perceptions of the extent to which evidence-based practice implementation is expected, supported, and rewarded by the organization. Theory suggests these climates have joint, cross-level effects on clinicians’ implementation of evidence-based practice and that these effects may be long term (i.e., up to 2 years); however, no empirical studies have tested these relationships. We hypothesize that molar climate moderates implementation climate’s concurrent and long-term relationships with …

The Influence Of Context On Distinct Facial Expressions Of Disgust, Peter J. Reschke, Eric A. Walle, Jennifer M. Knothe, Lukas D. Lopez

Faculty Publications

Face perception is susceptible to contextual influence and perceived physical similarities between emotion cues. However, studies often use structurally homogeneous facial expressions, making it difficult to explore how within-emotion variability in facial configuration affects emotion perception. This study examined the influence of context on the emotional perception of categorically identical, yet physically distinct, facial expressions of disgust. Participants categorized two perceptually distinct disgust facial expressions, "closed" (i.e., scrunched nose, closed mouth) and "open" (i.e., scrunched nose, open mouth, protruding tongue), that were embedded in contexts comprising emotion postures and scenes. Results demonstrated that the effect of nonfacial elements was significantly …

Perspectives On Aging Among Graduate Social Work Students: Using Photographs As An Online Pedagogical Activity, Jill M. Chonody

Social Work Faculty Publications and Presentations

The United States is experiencing an aging of the population, and by 2030, 20% of Americans will be 65 years or older (Federal Interagency Forum, 2010). However, for many helping professions, including social work, medicine, and nursing, student interest in gerontological practice is quite low. One international study found that only 5.4% of the more than 1,000 social work students who were surveyed indicated that working with older people was their primary area of interest (Chonody & Wang, 2014). Finding ways to improve student interest and break down biases against older adults is essential to improve student interest, and incorporating …

Commencement Program 2018, Loma Linda University

Commencement Programs

CONTENTS

1 | Message from the President

3 | 2018 Events of Commencement

5 | The Academic Procession

7 | Significance of Academic Regalia

9 | The Good Samaritan

10 | University History Highlights

12 | Loma Linda University Song - "Healing Love"

13 | Criteria for Institutional Awards—Loma Linda University and Loma Linda University Health

15 | Loma Linda University Health and Loma Linda University Honorees

32 | The Programs, The School Honorees, and The Speakers

• School of Medicine, 33
• School of Pharmacy, 63
• School of Dentistry, 76
• School of Allied Health Professions - Allied Health Studies, Cardiopulmonary Sciences, …

Exploring The Relationship Between Students' Sense Of Community, Student Satisfaction, And Doctoral Program Retention, Adam Roberson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This is a study examining the interaction between certain doctoral student engagement indicators (peer, institution, curriculum, faculty, spirituality) and student satisfaction. The scope is to understand if student sense of community is a significant moderator to this interaction in order to address the issue of student attrition. It is important to understand these interactions and the influence of sense of community so that institutions of higher education better analyze student commitment. The outcomes of this study may be used as a means to design and implement engagement strategies that are effective in student retention and completion. Doctoral students were invited …

Exploring Startup Funding For Small Business Sector Growth, Job Creation And Reduction Of Youth Unemployment In Nigeria, Christian O. Akaeze, Nana A. Akaeze

Bullion

Unemployment generates welfare loss from lowered output, income, and wellbeing which impedes social progress in a nation. Youth unemployment is a major problem currently confronting Nigeria (Nwogwugwu & Irechukwu, 2015). However, in developing economies jobs are created through small businesses. Nevertheless, unemployed youths with small business ideas experience financial constraints and lack access to startup capital. The intent of this study was to explore the experiences of some owners who succeeded with small business initiatives despite challenges from lack of access to formal and informal sources of capital. Semi-structured interviews with 15 successful small business owners located in Lagos who …

Renewable Energy Consumption And Economic Growth In Nigeria: A Co-Integration And Granger Causality Approach, Kingsley Imandojemu, Akinlosotu Nathaniel Toyosi

Bullion

The International Energy Agency (2017) reports affirmed that one in five people across the globe lack access to electricity and, about 2.8 billion people still lack access to clean cooking. The expected switch to liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), natural gas and electricity remains unimpressive. One-third of the world's population –2.5 billion people – still rely on the traditional use of solid biomass while another 120 million people cook with kerosene and 170 million with coal. Household air pollution from these sources is currently linked to 2.8 million premature deaths per year, and several billion hours are spent collecting firewood for …

The Impact Of Low Retention Of Nonprofit Organizations, Yolanda Phillips, Jessica M. Hernandez

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

This study explored the impact of low retention rates in nonprofit organizations and review factors that are associated with this low rate. Nonprofit organizations are a crucial and integral part of our community, there are many factors that are influential in the retention of employees which impact the service that is available to those in need. The need for this study emerged from the researcher’s desire to raise awareness of the factors that lead to low retention rates in social service non-profit organizations and its effects on service provision This study allowed for administration to implement strategies that address the …

Riverside County Homeless Individuals’ Perspective On Primary Factors Contributing To Homelessness, Megan Irene Chaney

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

This research was designed to identify primary contributing factors to homelessness as identified by homeless individuals in Riverside County. This research might assist future researchers as well as help to implement treatment services to decrease homelessness. Qualitative data was analyzed to determine contributing factors leading to homelessness as well as the impact of treatment on overcoming barriers essential to obtaining housing. Demographic data was also analyzed based on the sample of individuals interviewed. The results of this study showed that mental health and substance abuse are two main factors which deter stable placement and lead to prolonged homelessness. This study …

Social Work Students' Perception Of Intimate Partner Violence Victims Who Stay With Their Abuser, Andrea Perez

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

ABSTRACT

Intimate partner violence is a widely recognized problem in today’s society and in the social work field. It is also often considered one of the most complicated issues to adequately address and prevent. There are many challenges in understanding how IPV can occur and worsen over time, as well as why some victims choose to stay with their abusers. Intervening in relationships and families that are experiencing IPV is not an easy task, especially if the social worker who is dealing with the issue is not knowledgeable or has pre-conceived biases about domestic violence. In this study, the terms …

Refund To Savings 2015-2016: Field Experiments To Promote Tax-Time Saving In Low- And Moderate-Income Households, Stephen P. Roll, Genevieve Davison, Michal Grinstein-Weiss, Mathieu R. Despard, Sam Bufe

Center for Social Development Research

This report covers the design and impacts of the R2S experiments in the 2015 and 2016 tax seasons (which include the 2014 and 2015 tax years), and also includes results from a 6-month follow-up survey conducted in 2015 to assess how the impacts of R2S interventions persist over time. These interventions reached a large number of tax filers in both of these years; 646,116 in 2015 and 284,125 in 2016.

Gun Violence Is Not An “Inner City” Problem, Jeffrey A. Butts

Publications and Research

Policy debates about gun violence often focus on cities. This data bit showed how 33 states in the U.S. compare regarding gun violence rates, demonstrated how gun violence rates are not an issue exclusive to cities, and tested whether states conform to the conventional narrative of "urban gun violence."

Parental And Relational Aggression, David A. Nelson, Craig H. Hart

Faculty Publications

Where do children get their basic tendencies to act aggressively? One possibility is that it varies by the type of parenting received, particularly for young children, who tend to spend more time with their parents than do older children and adolescents. This chapter considers the expanse of research focusing on parenting as it corresponds with relationally aggressive tendencies in children, adolescents, or emerging adults (including similar constructs labeled as indirect or social aggression). Relational aggression subsumes indirect, covert, hostile behaviors where target children are not directly confronted (e.g., gossiping, talking behind one's back; see Chapter 2). It can also be …

Post-Katrina Retention Of Law Enforcement Officers: A Case Study Of The New Orleans Police Department, Richard A. Williams Sr

LSU New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation is a case study of the New Orleans Police Department and identified factors that affected the retention of law enforcement officers post-Hurricane Katrina. The NOPD was chosen because the agency was an extreme case and experienced the unprecedented separation of over 300 officers during and post- Hurricane Katrina. The variables examined included tenure, age, salary, education, and job satisfaction, as well as, race, sex, marital status, and New Orleans residency.

This research is significant because in a time of decreasing budgets and increased cost to replace employees, where skills are scarce and knowledge is important, recruitment is costly, …

Utilizing Multi-Grounded Theory In A Dissertation: Reflections And Insights, Sydney Freeman Jr.

The Qualitative Report

Recently developed and growing in popularity in Europe, Multi-Grounded Theory is seldom used in the United States today. In order to promote the research method, this article traces the academic origins of Multi-Grounded Theory and, via a personal reflection, provides an example of successful employment of this approach. Multi-Grounded Theory is recommended to strong, organized doctoral candidates and other researchers who are able to navigate the combination of qualitative and quantitative data encouraged by this approach.

How Do Changes To 529 Rules Affect Children’S Savings Account Programs?, Margaret Clancy, Shira Markoff, Justin King

Center for Social Development Research

Federal legislation enacted late in 2017 altered the statue governing 529 college savings plans, which were originally designed to hold assets for postsecondary education. Under the amended statute, funds in 529 plans may be used to cover K–12 tuition. This brief, developed through the Center for Social Development’s collaboration with Prosperity Now and New America, examines the implications of the changes for existing Child Development Account (CDA) policies and concludes that the new federal rule changes do not affect the ability of CDA programs to retain previous—or define new—restrictions for postsecondary education use. Yet, as the discussion illustrates, CDA programs …

Critical Care: The Important Role Of Hospital-Based Violence Intervention Programs, Douglas N. Evans, Anthony Vega

Publications and Research

Hospital-based violence intervention programs (HVIP) recognize the importance of supporting the needs of violence survivors and their families to help prevent retaliation and other violence from reoccurring. This report discusses the need for evaluations and further research for HVIPs as the shift towards understanding violence through a public approach increases.

The Impacts Of Green Spaces On Crime In New York City, Matthew Edward Iannone Jr.

Student Theses 2015-Present

From the early 1960s through the mid-1990s, crime in New York City ran rampant. With a gradually dwindling police during this time, a high unemployment rate, and an rapidly increasing metropolitan population, crime peaked in the early 1990s, with the murder rate hitting a record-high of 2,245 in 1990. When Mayor Rudy Giuliani took office in 1994 and appoint Bill Bratton as the NYPD police commissioner, these rates immediately plunged. Numerous factors may have contributed to this sudden decline in crime: the police force grew significantly through the 1990s, more criminals were placed and held in prison, and the economic …

Toward Understanding Posttraumatic Stress And Depression Among Trauma-Affected Widows In Sri Lanka, Jessica E. Lambert, Alyssa Banford Witting, Spencer James, Lakmal Ponnamperuma, Thulitha Wickrama

Faculty Publications

Objective: In this study, we applied conservation of resources theory (Hobfoll, 1989) to explain high rates of depression and posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) among war- and disaster-affected Tamil widows in the Eastern Province of Sri Lanka. We hypothesized exposure to potentially traumatic events and severity of current contextual problems would influence PTSS and depressive symptoms directly and indirectly through loss of psychological (view of self), environmental (sense of community), and energy (physical health) resources. Method: Trained research assistants interviewed a convenience sample (N = 381) of women, using established measures of the constructs of interest. Data were analyzed using …

Affirmative Client Care: Reconciling Evidence-Based Practices Within Humanistic Engagement, Harvey C. Peters, Michele Rivas

Journal of Counselor Preparation and Supervision

Contemporary trends in mental health have furthered the counseling profession’s adherence to scientifically-based practices while grounded in core humanistic values. This has created philosophical and clinical tensions, especially for counselors adhering to a humanistic philosophy. Despite the documented pressures, there is a gap in the literature addressing how professional counselors can navigate the integration of evidence-based practices into humanism. This manuscript offers an affirmative stance on the navigation of these tensions through the use of a case discussion and actionable suggestions.