Quantitative, Qualitative, Comparative, and Historical Methodologies Commons^™

Life In Hampton Roads Survey Press Release #4: Transportation, Social Science Research Center, Old Dominion University

Life in Hampton Roads Survey Report

This report examines regional and sub-regional perceptions of transportation related issues from the 2015 Life In Hampton Roads survey (LIHR 2015) conducted by the Old Dominion University Social Science Research Center. Data from prior years is also provided when available to show comparisons in responses over time. Responses were weighted by city population, race, age, gender, and phone usage (cell versus land-line) to be representative of the Hampton Roads region.

Life In Hampton Roads Survey Press Release #5" Sea Level Rise Rise And Flooding, Social Science Research Center, Old Dominion University

Life in Hampton Roads Survey Report

This report examines regional and sub-regional measures of environmental risk perceptions from the 2015 Life In Hampton Roads survey (LIHR 2015) conducted by the Old Dominion University Social Science Research Center. Data from prior years is also provided when available to show comparisons in responses over time. Responses were weighted by city population, race, age, gender, and phone usage (cell versus land-line) to be representative of the Hampton Roads region.

Exploring Police Shootings And Officer Survivability: A Case Study, Amanda Leigh Farrell

Sociology & Criminal Justice Theses & Dissertations

Police shootings are incidents that have lasting effects on the officers involved, the department to which they belong and the community at large, yet these events are rarely discussed holistically with consideration given to the multiple parties impacted. Given the significant impacts, officer survivability and resilience in the aftermath of a shooting incident have become a topic with which most modern police agencies are concerned. While this number of lethal incidents may seem surprisingly low, there is often a narrow focus on the shooting incident itself, with little attention paid to pre-event factors or to the long and short term …

Utilizing The Technology Acceptance Model To Predict System Use Of An Interactive Behavior Change Technology To Deliver Virtual Diabetes Health Education, Koren Sher'keyer Goodman

Health Services Research Dissertations

Diabetes is expected to affect more than 21% of the U.S. adult population by the year 2050 (Boyle, Thompson, Gregg, Barker, & Williamson, 2010). What is important to understand about diabetes is that there are safe, effective non-pharmaceutical lifestyle modifications and pharmaceutical treatment options that can prevent and delay the onset of complications. Telehealth efforts are practical solutions increasingly used in the health services delivery model to improve self-care management practices among patients with multiple chronic conditions (Davis, Hitch, Salaam, Herman, Zimmer-Galler, & Mayer-Davis, 2010; Eng, Gustafson, Henderson, Jimison, & Patrick, 1999; Fitzner & Moss, 2013; Gruman, 2011; Lin, 1999; …

A Cross-National Analysis Of The Impact Of Conscription On Crime Rates, Nicolette G. Rose

Sociology & Criminal Justice Theses & Dissertations

This paper examines the relationship between conscription laws (mandatory military or social service) and crime rates across countries. This cross-national study focuses on three major crimes: burglary, robbery, and homicide. In addition to conscription laws several control variables have been included in the analyses are: percent of the labor force that is military, level of civil liberties/freedom, level of industrialization, illiteracy rates, percent of urban population, unemployment rates, percent under the international poverty line, income disparity (measured using the Gini index), and population.

This study assesses the impact of conscription on crime rates by formulating and testing three hypotheses. First, …

A Study Of The Thematic Content And Formal Elements Of A Free Choice Drawing Created By Older Adults Diagnosed With Alzheimer’S Disease: A Mixed Methods Investigation, Kelly Rose Spessard

EVMS School of Health Professions Theses & Dissertations

This study used a mixed methods approach to examine the themes in the Free Choice Drawings (FCD) created by13 older adults with a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). The Mini-Cog was used as the instrument to identify cognitive impairment in the participants. All participants were scored as positive for cognitive impairment according to the scoring instructions for the Mini-Cog. The FCD followed the Mini-Cog. Of the 13 participants, eight attempted the FCD and five left their paper blank. The FCD was rated using a modified version of the Formal Elements Art Therapy Scale (FEATS). Scales included, Prominence of Color, Color …

Patriarchal Ideology And Violence Against Women: A Theoretical Contribution Using Longitudinal, Individual-Level Analyses, Jesse Robert Mckee

Sociology & Criminal Justice Theses & Dissertations

Feminist researchers have recently highlighted the need to revive patriarchy as a theoretical tool in regards to violence against women. Patriarchy is typically considered to be a structural concept, but a theory of patriarchy for violence against women must also include an individual-level component of patriarchal ideology. Patriarchal ideology has not been clearly conceptualized and is rarely operationalized. Very little research has assessed patriarchal ideology as a dependent variable and almost none has done this longitudinally. This research aims to fills these gaps. The current study also seeks to identify significant predictors of change in patriarchal ideology, an issue of …

The Effects Of Art Therapy On The Self-Efficacy And Self-Concept Of A Group Of Children With Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Sarah Peters

EVMS School of Health Professions Theses & Dissertations

This quantitative study utilized a within group, pre and posttest design to examine whether a group art therapy experience would have an effect on the self-concept and self-efficacy of group of children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Six subjects took part in the study (n=3 male) and (n=3 female) ages 7 to 10. The subjects took part in eight group art therapy sessions which lasted approximately one hour each. The art tasks were designed to provide students with opportunities to gain mastery and competence. It was hypothesized that an experience in an art therapy group would …

Life In Hampton Roads Survey Press Release #3: Declining Health And Diminishing Education, Social Science Research Center, Old Dominion University

Life in Hampton Roads Survey Report

This report examines regional and sub-regional measures of health and education perceptions from the 2014 Life In Hampton Roads survey (LIHR 2014) conducted by the Old Dominion University Social Science Research Center.

Life In Hampton Roads 2014 Survey: Methodology And Sample Demographic Coverage, Social Science Research Center, Old Dominion University

Life in Hampton Roads Survey Report

[From the Introductory paragraph]

The Social Science Research Center (SSRC) at Old Dominion University recently completed data collection for the fifth annual Life in Hampton Roads telephone survey. The purpose of the survey was to gain insight into residents’ perceptions of the quality of life in Hampton Roads. The survey also attempted to determine the attitudes and perceptions of citizens regarding topics of local interest such as transportation and traffic, local and state government, crime, education, and other issues. Funding for the 2014 survey was provided by the Social Science Research Center.

Life In Hampton Roads Survey Press Release #4: The Changing Transportation Picture: Tolls And Traffic, Social Science Research Center, Old Dominion University

Life in Hampton Roads Survey Report

This report examines regional and sub-regional measures of transportation perceptions from the 2014 Life In Hampton Roads survey (LIHR 2014) conducted by the Old Dominion University Social Science Research Center.

Life In Hampton Roads Report: The Fifth Annual Life In Hampton Roads Survey, Steve Parker, Charles Bush, Jesse Richman, Tancy Vandecar-Burdin

Life in Hampton Roads Survey Report

[From the Executive Summary]

The Social Science Research Center (SSRC) at Old Dominion University recently completed data collection for the fifth annual Life in Hampton Roads telephone survey. The purpose of the survey was to gain insight into residents’ perceptions of the quality of life in Hampton Roads. The survey also attempted to determine the attitudes and perceptions of citizens regarding topics of local interest such as transportation and traffic, local and state government, crime, education, and other issues. The SSRC completed interviews with 853 Hampton Roads residents via landline and cell phones.

Life In Hampton Roads Survey Press Release #5: Under Water? Sea Level Rise And Environmental Risks, Social Science Research Center, Old Dominion University

Life in Hampton Roads Survey Report

This report examines regional and sub-regional measures of environmental risk perceptions from the 2014 Life In Hampton Roads survey (LIHR 2014) conducted by the Old Dominion University Social Science Research Center.

Life In Hampton Roads Survey Press Release #2: A Tale Of Many Cities: Economy, Crime, And Politics, Social Science Research Center, Old Dominion University

Life in Hampton Roads Survey Report

This report examines regional and sub-regional measures of economy, crime, and politics perceptions from the 2014 Life In Hampton Roads survey (LIHR 2014) conducted by the Old Dominion University Social Science Research Center.

Life In Hampton Roads Survey Press Release #1: Regional, Neighborhood, And City Quality Of Life, Social Science Research Center, Old Dominion University

Life in Hampton Roads Survey Report

The Old Dominion University Social Science Research Center is proud to release the first part of the 2014 Life in Hampton Roads (LIHR) Survey Report. LIHR has been conducted by the Social Science Research Center with support from the Old Dominion University Office of Research and the College of Arts and Letters since 2010 and is now in its fifth year. Release #1 focuses on regional quality of life indicators. Subsequent releases will focus on health and education, the economy and politics, transportation and tolls, crime and police, and flooding and sea level rise.

A Hybridized Approach To Validation: The Role Of Sociological Research Methods In Pedestrian Modeling, Erika Frydenlund, Terra Elzie, Andrew Collins, R. Michael Robinson

VMASC Publications

Pedestrian and crowd-movement models are difficult to validate using traditional empirical methods because of data-related issues such as generalizability, collection ethics, and costs. Commonly used validation methods make strong assumptions about emergence and the importance of crowd structure, leaving a gap in validation literature. The paper reviews the most common methods of validating pedestrian models and proposes a hybridized qualitative approach to validating models that covers more complex group dynamics and possible situations of panic.

Do Groups Matter? An Agent-Based Modeling Approach To Pedestrian Egress, Andrew Collins, Terra Elzie, Erika Frydenlund, R. Michael Robinson

VMASC Publications

Festivals in city parks attended by individuals and families are a universal feature of urban life. These venues often have the common attributes of vendors and other obstacles that restrict pedestrian movement through certain areas, as well as fixed number of exits. In this study, the authors build an agent-based model (ABM) that incorporates group cohesion forces into this type of pedestrian egress scenario. The scenario considered was an evacuation of 500 people through a single exit. This allowed an investigation into the use of two different simulated pedestrian's heading updating rules.

Body Image: Indicators And Concern As Demonstrated In A Brief Art Therapy Group, Ashley Busch

EVMS School of Health Professions Theses & Dissertations

Research indicates that adolescent girls are prone to partake in pathological eating habits and internalization of the “thin ideal,” which increases their predisposition for developing a negative body image. Negative body image, in turn, increases the risk of developing an eating disorder. This study examined art therapy’s effectiveness in identifying body image concern in a group of pre-adolescent girls. Three girls participated in the single-session art therapy intervention that contained three art tasks related to body image. Two qualitative measures and one qualitative pretest/posttest measures were included to evaluate body image concern and the overall effectiveness of the intervention. Each …

The Role Of Personality In Individual Perceptions Of The Value Of Visual Journaling In Art Therapy Graduate Education, Daniel J. Koon

EVMS School of Health Professions Theses & Dissertations

This preliminary qualitative study used a mixed methods approach to explore the relationship between personality and individual perceptions regarding the value of the self-care practice of maintaining a visual journal. Twenty-two students from the Graduate Art Therapy and Counseling Program at Eastern Virginia Medical School participated in a pre-screening session, in which they completed the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) Form M Self-Scorable. Ten of the twenty-two participants, five introverts and five extraverts, were selected based on the results of the MBTI. Over a one-month research period, participants each completed two ten-question surveys and a face-to-face interview. Participant responses were compared …

Art Therapy From Client And Therapist Perspectives: A Mixed Methods Study, Danielle L. Jweid

EVMS School of Health Professions Theses & Dissertations

In order to constantly improve and enhance any field, research must explore all aspects. This study explored the experience of art therapy from the clients’ perspective and how the therapist views the client experience.

The participants in this study included two client-therapist dyads that were tracking the art therapy treatment experience over the course of four to five weeks. The study involved quantitative and qualitative data collected through questionnaires and semi-structured interviews. Questionnaires were filled out by therapist and client at the end of each session for the duration of the study and then the results were quantified and presented …

The Art Therapy Technique Of ‘Life Review’: Its Impact On Existential Issues In Older Adults, Emily Victoria Willen

EVMS School of Health Professions Theses & Dissertations

For many older adults, the aging process brings many existential and end-of-life concerns. These concerns may be related to their experiences, their self-concept, and the choices they made throughout their lives. Older adults who are able to sufficiently address these issues are less vulnerable to feelings of depression and hopelessness. The geriatric population is in need of services that will help them resolve existential issues and integrate their experiences into a cohesive sense of self.

This qualitative case study explored the effectiveness of using the art therapy technique of the life review to help an older adult resolve existential questions …

Perceptions Of Art Therapy Among Medical Students, Laura A. Sibiski

EVMS School of Health Professions Theses & Dissertations

This study utilized a mixed methods survey to address the perceptions of art therapy among medical students currently enrolled at Eastern Virginia Medical School (EVMS). Of 530 students, 179 completed the online survey, which resulted in a 34% respondent rate. Overall, respondents indicated that they find the treatment of psychosocial factors/symptoms secondary to medical illness very important and psychiatry and psychotherapy/counseling as somewhat effective in doing so. The respondents reported a lack of knowledge regarding the field of art therapy and an overall interest in learning more about art therapy and the program specific to EVMS. Suggestions for further integration …

Depressive Symptoms And Bookmaking In Group Art Therapy With Female African American College Students, Joselyn Spence

EVMS School of Health Professions Theses & Dissertations

This mixed methods study examined the experience and effects of bookmaking in art therapy on the depressive symptoms of a 22 year-old female African American college student through a six-week art therapy intervention using bookmaking. It was hypothesized that bookmaking in art therapy would lead to a decrease of depressive symptoms. The hypothesis was supported as evidenced by a 14-point decrease on the Beck Depression Inventory-II. Additionally, the participant reported that the experience with bookmaking in art therapy was an effective tool in decreasing her depressive symptoms by giving her an outlet and a place to share her feelings.

There Are No "Innocent Victims": The Influence Of Just World Beliefs And Prior Victimization On Rape Myth Acceptance, Rebecca Lynne Vonderhaar

Sociology & Criminal Justice Theses & Dissertations

Approximately 209,000 women report being raped every year. Of those 209,000 rapes, only 19,491 arrests were made (U.S. Department of Justice 2011). Furthermore, reports estimate that one out of every three women will be raped at some point in her life (Amir, 1971). The prominence of rape in the United States, as well as the disparity between documented rapes to the police and victim reports of rape, is problematic for researchers in fully understanding the breadth of the problem. Considering that rape occurs at such an overwhelmingly high rate and frequently goes unreported, it is important to understand the attitudes …

Life In Hampton Roads Report: The Fourth Annual Life In Hampton Roads Survey, Sara Resnick, Tarah Gibbs, Charles Bush, Steve Parker, Tandy Vandecar-Burdin, Jesse Richman

Life in Hampton Roads Survey Report

[From the Executive Summary]

This document presents the results from the ODU Social Science Research Center’s fourth annual Life in Hampton Roads survey. The survey was designed to examine social and economic indicators of the quality of life in Hampton roads, particularly with respect to transportation and traffic, local and state government, education, heatlh, emergency preparedness, the economy, and crime. Questions were obtained from University faculty as well as from previous years’ Life in Hampton Roads surveys. The survey was conducted via telephone with 812 residents of the seven cities of Hampton Roads.

A Qualitative Study Of The Experiences Of Gatekeeping Among Phd Counselor Educators, Carol A. Erbes

Counseling & Human Services Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine the gatekeeping experiences of a group of PhD counselor educators, by utilizing a phenomenological approach. This design was chosen as it could best examine the lived experiences of the participants. Nine PhD counselor educators participated in this study through a series of two interviews. All of the participants had a general definition of gatekeeping and all were able to express clearly how important the process was in ensuring as much as possible that only qualified students enter their programs, graduate from their programs, and enter the field as effective counselors. Each participant …

Emergency Medical Technicians’ Experience With Visual Journaling: A Qualitative Study, Pamela Gandolfi

EVMS School of Health Professions Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to understand the experience of EMTs who incorporate the process of visual journaling each week in response to their professional responsibilities. In particular, this study aimed to understand EMTs’ perceptions of the usefulness of visual journaling and to determine possible themes from visual and written journal content.

Six participants, five male and one female, who were certified EMT-Basic (EMT-B), EMT-Intermediate (EMT-I) and Paramedics (EMT-P) volunteered to be part of this study. In addition to being an EMT, they were all also certified firefighters. All participants were aged 18 to 70 years and had met …

Examining Attachment Styles In Adult Adoptees Using The Bird’S Nest Drawing, Kim Clemens

EVMS School of Health Professions Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to examine adult attachment styles seen in the Bird’s Nest Drawings of adopted adults, compared to those seen in non-adopted adults. A sample of 17 participants (16 non-adopted adults and 1 adopted adult) in the age range of 21-57 completed a Bird’s Nest Drawing (BND), Bird’s Nest Drawing Story, Adult Attachment Scale Questionnaire, and a demographic questionnaire.

The BND was devised by Donna Kaiser to assess secure and insecure attachment as seen through graphic indicators in a projective drawing test. Kaiser’s February 2012 updated BND checklist is comprised of 14 hypothesized graphic indicator items, …

A Comparison Of Kinetic Family Drawings By Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder And Typically Developing Siblings, Rachel Daniels

EVMS School of Health Professions Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to identify the effects of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) on the diagnosed child’s perception of their family. Specifically, the study compared the Kinetic Family Drawings (Burns & Kaufman, 1970) created by children diagnosed with Autism and those created by typically developing children.

Eight participants between the ages of 6 and 12 were recruited, and split into two groups. One group consisted of four children (three boys and one girl) with a mean age of 6.75 and an Autism Spectrum Disorder Diagnosis. The second group consisted of four typically developing children (three girls and one …

A Phenomenological Observation Of The Reductive Printmaking Experience: Implications For Art Therapy, Nicholas Alexander

EVMS School of Health Professions Theses & Dissertations

This qualitative study examined the phenomenological experience of four students in higher education relating to the involvement in a single reductive relief printmaking session. The indirect process of reductive relief printmaking is set apart from other methods due to the multiple steps and the use of various tools during the experience. It offers a reflective distance from the process, which allows the participant time to consider the meaning of an experience as it occurs. The production of multiple images during the process likewise lessens a participant’s resistance. The printed images are composed of layers; a metaphor for life’s process. Prior …