Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Addressing Conflict-Related Sexual Violence In Liberia, Nathaniel Benjamin Walker

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The phenomenon of sexual violence against women in Liberia is a disturbing problem. Despite the significant number of individuals who have faced sexual assault in this country, little is known about the roots and long-term implications of this phenomenon within the context of Liberia, as well as the instruments that could be effective in remedying its effects. This study was conducted to understand how conflict-related sexual violence affects women in Liberia and suggest ways to help address it. The research questions addressed the effect of war-related sexual violence against women in Liberia and the strategies that are necessary to remedy …

Unvoiced Lgbt Individuals’ Perceptions And Experiences Of The School-To-Prison Pipeline, Dr. Deshaunt'e A. Burns

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Studies have shown that lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) individuals face discrimination, harassment, and bullying by different education and criminal justice system entities because of their sexuality. Research has also indicated that when it comes to the school-to-prison pipeline (STPP), children of color are often mistreated and face harsher penalties, and research must be done to see how LGBT individuals are treated because they are considered abnormal because of their sexuality. Little is known about the perceptions and experiences of LGBT individuals when they are punished for violating minor infractions in school. This study addressed the critical race theory …

The Role Of Mistrust In African American Organ Donation, Gina M. Williams

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractAfrican Americans (AAs) who suffer from life-threatening organ failure often need an organ transplant to sustain or to improve their quality of life. The shortage of donor organs, and AAs willing to become organ donors, limits the number of organs available for transplant. The purpose of this study was to understand the lived experience of AAs regarding the role of mistrust and to understand its influence on their organ donation decision-making. Social cognitive theory guided this qualitative descriptive phenomenological study designed to gain an understanding of the lived experiences of the AAs related to the role of mistrust in their …

Social Worker Perspectives Of Working With Aging African Americans With Depressive Disorders, Sherian Waite

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Although there is a greater proportion of people living with depressive disorders within the African American older adult population compared to their White counterparts, fewer African Americans are engaging in mental health treatment when compared to the Caucasian community. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the experiences and practices of social workers who are providing mental health care treatment to African American older adult patients (aged 65 and over) living with a depressive disorder. The study was framed using both the health belief model and critical race theory. To address the research questions, a generic qualitative design …

School Officials' Perceptions Of Threat Assessment Programs, William Ward

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Acts of targeted violence on school grounds, and most notably school shootings, continue to occur and are a serious concern for many people. Behavioral threat assessment programs are one method being used to address this problem, and while considerable research has been conducted on threat assessment programs, very little research has been conducted on how school officials implement, operate, or understand these programs. A more informed awareness of how school officials perceive the implementation, operation, and usefulness of threat assessment programs may provide insight into ways to improve the implementation and management of these programs. This was a qualitative phenomenological …

The Lived Experiences Of Entry-Level Employees With Posttraumatic Growth Following Workplace Gaslighting, Marielys Camacho-Reyes

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Although researchers have studied workplace gaslighting (a devious and manipulative tactic used by abusers) in recent years, little is known about it. The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenological study was to examine the lived experiences of entry-level employees with gaslighting. The conceptual frameworks for this study were the resilience and posttraumatic growth (PTG) concepts. The sample consisted of currently employed participants ages 20 - 45 with two or more years of college experience who, during their first year in an entry-level position, experienced gaslighting. Semi-structured interviews were conducted via Zoom and data was analyzed and coded manually. The analysis revealed …

Occupational Therapists’ Perspectives On Using The Physical Environment In Skilled Nursing Facilities, Jennie L. Digrado

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Occupational therapists (OTs) are among the health care professionals who assist individuals with neurocognitive disorders (NCDs) to engage in self-care and leisure skills in a skilled nursing facility (SNF) environment. Although the SNF environment has been researched, a gap exists regarding how OTs use the built environment to help clients with a NCD engage in self-care and leisure-related activities. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to understand how OTs use the physical environment in a SNF to help individuals with a NCD engage in self-care and leisure related activities. The conceptual framework that guided this study was the …

The Role Of Mistrust In African American Organ Donation, Gina M. Williams

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractAfrican Americans (AAs) who suffer from life-threatening organ failure often need an organ transplant to sustain or to improve their quality of life. The shortage of donor organs, and AAs willing to become organ donors, limits the number of organs available for transplant. The purpose of this study was to understand the lived experience of AAs regarding the role of mistrust and to understand its influence on their organ donation decision-making. Social cognitive theory guided this qualitative descriptive phenomenological study designed to gain an understanding of the lived experiences of the AAs related to the role of mistrust in their …

Piney Point Cascading Disaster And Environmental Conflict: An Explanatory Case Study, Ketti Davison

Department of Conflict Resolution Studies Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this explanatory case study is to understand the sense that community members made of how and why environmental conflict manifested in the wake of the Piney Point cascading disaster. It found that intentional avoidance of local news caused community members to be unaware of the risks beforehand, of the responses in the aftermath, and of the threats that remain. The study leverages a unique opportunity to fill a gap in the research by examining a contemporary cascading disaster as it generated environmental conflict. This dissertation centers on the perceptions of directly affected community members in the Tampa …

A Confluence Of Identity, Skepticism, And Acculturation: A Grounded Theory Study On Voter Engagement Among Registered Latin American Immigrant Voters, Oscar De Tuya

Department of Conflict Resolution Studies Theses and Dissertations

One of the most important characteristics of a democracy is the ability of its citizens to directly elect many of their government representatives. Unfortunately, since only citizens are traditionally eligible to vote in the United States, the group of voters that ultimately influences government is smaller than the overall population. That excludes immigrants from full participation in government and contributes to conflict, which can be analyzed through various theoretical lenses, such as structural violence, basic human needs theory, and social cohesion. These realities underscore the importance of elections and of ensuring that an engaged and informed electorate is active in …

The Decline Of Union Membership And The Resulting Conflicts, Cynthia Cushman

Department of Conflict Resolution Studies Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this quantitative study was to examine how private-sector union members and union leaders viewed the changes in organized labor in the United States over the past ten years. This study explored the impact of union membership decline in the United States labor force through the perceptions of union members and union leaders. There were four macro-level factors examined in this study: a move in dominant occupations from manufacturing to service-orientated work; changes in federal and state regulation; the ability, flexibility, and success of union leadership; and the aggressive counter-union moves of business management. This study was constructed …

Cause For Complaint: A Case Study Exploring Office For Civil Rights Complaints And Resolutions Related To Digital Accessibility At Public Colleges And Universities, Helen Gema Muñiz Bermudez

Department of Conflict Resolution Studies Theses and Dissertations

As the number of students with disabilities pursuing postsecondary opportunities continues to grow, along with an increase in digital educational content and technology, the issue of digital accessibility becomes increasingly urgent - both as a matter of equity and access for disabled students and as a matter of social and fiscal responsibility for postsecondary institutions. When postsecondary institutions fail to meet the requirements of disability legislation, the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) is the federal entity responsible for enforcement and complaint investigations, handling hundreds of complaints related to digital accessibility at postsecondary institutions since 2013. There …

Understanding And Assessing Demographic (In)Equity Resulting From Extreme Heat Exposure Due To Lack Of Tree Canopies In Norfolk, Va Using Agent-Based Modeling, Virginia Zamponi, Kevin O'Brien, Erik Jensen, Brandon Feldhaus, Russell Moore, Christopher J. Lynch, Ross Gore

VMASC Publications

Prolonged exposure to extreme heat can result in illness and death. In urban areas of dense concentrations of pavement, buildings, and other surfaces that absorb and retain heat, extreme heat conditions can arise regularly and create harmful environmental exposures for residents daily during certain parts of the year. Tree canopies provide shade and help to cool the environment, making mature trees with large canopies a simple and effective way to reduce urban heat. We develop a demographically representative 1 (agent): 1 (person) agent-based model to understand the extent to which different demographics of residents in Norfolk, VA are equitably shaded …

Cost-Benefit Analysis Of Nebraska Casa Association Programs, Josie Gatti Schafer, Morgan Vogel, Laurel Sariscsany, Tara Grell

Publications

The Nebraska CASA Association works to recruit, screen, train, and support Court Appointed Special Advocates to speak for the well-being of abused and neglected children. Nebraska CASA includes a network of 22 local programs serving 54 counties. Nebraska CASA partnered with the University of Nebraska at Omaha Center for Public Affairs Research and Grace Abbott School of Social Work to execute a simplified cost-benefit analysis of the CASA program in Nebraska. The intent is to demonstrate some of the benefits of the Nebraska CASA program to both children and the public for which a monetary value could be estimated. Monetizing …

Recruitment And Retention Of Nebraska's Transit Drivers, Morgan Vogel, Tara Grell

Publications

Many industries across Nebraska are experiencing workforce shortages, and the transit industry is no exception. Recently, the University of Nebraska at Omaha Center for Public Affairs Research partnered with the Nebraska Safety Center at the University of Nebraska at Kearney to conduct a survey of transit drivers across Nebraska. This work is supported by an ongoing grant both Centers have with the Nebraska Department of Transportation to enhance rural transit operations throughout Nebraska. This survey was informed by an informal focus group with six transit managers representing the six different mobility management regions of Nebraska in the fall of 2022. …

Exploring Remote Work In Nebraska, Josie Gatti Schafer, Tara Grell

Publications

Nebraska ranks 37th in the country for the rate of persons that report working from home (12%), according to data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey for 2021. Nebraska’s low rate of those that work from home, compared to other states, is likely a function of the work most people do in Nebraska. In Nebraska, more people work in low wage compared to high wage jobs, according to previous research from UNO CPAR. Low wage jobs, in 2021, are defined as below the median income for all workers, or approximately $41,500. “Low wage” jobs are more likely to …

Foreign Born Population In Nebraska, Josie Gatti Schafer, Tara Grell

Publications

No abstract provided.

Nebraska Community Foundation Greater Nebraska Youth Survey Report, Josie Gatti Schafer

Publications

No abstract provided.

Driver Recruitment And Retention Survey Report, Morgan Vogel, Tara Grell

Publications

No abstract provided.

Gender Equality In Ocean Science For Sustainable Development : Analysis Of Ocean Science Institutions In Kenya, Renis Auma Ojwala

World Maritime University Ph.D. Dissertations

Gender inequality poses a serious problem for national and international developmental programmes such as the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (the Ocean Decade) and appears in both developed and developing countries. The fundamental aim of the Ocean Decade is to improve ocean health worldwide through generating knowledge, supporting innovations, discovering creative ideas and developing solutions to achieve equitable and sustainable development under the changing environmental, social and climate conditions. The paucity of women in ocean management has been documented as a major hindrance to ocean sustainability and a top challenge to diversity in workplaces because of …

Making The Case: Examining Outcomes Of Religious‑Based Claims In Federal Litigation Involving Lgbt Rights, Emily Kazyak, Kelsy Burke, Marissa Oliver, Maia Behrendt

Department of Sociology: Faculty Publications

Introduction In this manuscript, we analyze 62 US federal cases from 1990 to 2020 that implicate the issue of religious freedom and LGBT rights. Popular and scholarly commentary on the advancement of LGBT rights in the twenty-first century has speculated a rise in religious exemption litigation as a strategy to oppose such rights. Yet, we lack empirical data to confirm or reject this assumption and to understand patterns and trends within such cases.

Methods We perform bivariate analyses to examine trends with regard to how the court rules on these cases.

Results Our findings show that religious litigants are not …

長者健康X理財 : 測量指標你要知 : 下冊, 嶺南大學政策研究院

嶺大賽馬會長者健康及理財教育計劃

此書冊為一本供長者自學使用的參考書，內附健康理財素養量度工具、測試提示及指標解讀對照表、其他網上資源及自行測試工具以供讀者輕鬆地測試自己的健康理財素養。

長者健康理財素養全攻略 : 智醒篇, 嶺南大學政策研究院

嶺大賽馬會長者健康及理財教育計劃

此書冊為一本供長者自學使用的參考書，內容涵蓋消費教育單元的教學內容，從知識、態度及行為入手解構日常消費基本知識、規劃你需要的服務及合約及醫療消費及陷阱防範的要點。

長者健康理財素養全攻略 : 智齡篇, 嶺南大學政策研究院

嶺大賽馬會長者健康及理財教育計劃

此書冊為一本供長者自學使用的參考書，內容涵蓋健康理財規劃單元的教學內容，從知識及行為入手解構健康管理基本知識、 健康財務規劃及預防勝於治療的要點。

The R.I.C.O. Act: America's Approach Against The Mafia And Corporate Crime, Andrew Brooks

Honors Theses

A full explanation of how the federal government has made provisions to take down the Mafia that can and have been used against corporate crime through something known as the R.I.C.O. Act of 1970, and how the courts have failed to interpret the laws that were developed with the intent to neutralize both crime syndicates and corporate crimes.

Elevating Our Voices: An Exploration And Demonstration Of Modern Feminist Poetry, Kelly Knutelski

Honors Theses

This paper is formatted with several pages of background information on two poets, Rupi Kaur and Kim Addonizio, who have greatly contributed to modern feminist poetry within the past decade or two. This background will serve as a supportive feature for my portfolio, the main goal of this experience. The themes of Addonizio and Kaur and their poetic techniques inspire my collection of unique poetry. These poems represent the ups and many downs already lived by a twenty-two-year-old woman just trying to find her place in this beautiful, yet dark and twisted world.

Trolley Line Trail Creative Placemaking Plan, Courtland Caldwell

Master of Urban and Regional Planning Capstone Projects

The Trolley Line Trail is a planned multi-use trail along the historic Richmond-to-Ashland Trolley corridor. The purpose of this plan is to identify potential creative placemaking locations and installations to highlight the trolley's unique past and present. This plan sets forth a vision for creative placemaking by gathering community feedback, analyzing properties along the Trolley Line Trail, and making recommendations for placemaking and public art. Ultimately, the recommendations laid out in this plan aim to preserve and acknowledge the community's unique identity while creating a safe, accessible experience for all users.

An Introduction To The Special Issue, Megan S. Paceley, Candace Christensen

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

No abstract provided.

A Descriptive Account Of The Practicum Experiences Of Trans And Nonbinary Social Work Students, Jama Shelton, Sj Dodd, Jamie Borgan, Gabriel San Emeterio, Ana Rikki Wilhelm

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Current anti-transgender legislative activity necessitates social workers take action in solidarity with transgender and nonbinary (TNB) individuals and communities. Pervasive discrimination and marginalization of TNB people across multiple public domains, including education, is irrefutable (James et al, 2016). Social work education is no exception. Not only is there a documented lack of affirming educational and practicum opportunities for TNB social work students (Austin et al., 2016), social work students also report being ill-prepared to practice with TNB individuals and communities (Craig et al., 2015). Social workers are ethically obligated by their professional identification to demonstrate competency related to service provision …

“An Institution Can Have Good Intentions And Still Be Atrocious": Transgender And Gender Expansive Experiences In Social Work Education, M. Killian Kinney, Darren Cosgrove, Tayon R. Swafford, Richard A. Brandon-Friedman

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Educational settings have been found to be challenging arenas for transgender and gender expansive (TGE) youth and young adults due to misgendering, lack of affirming bathrooms, systemic exclusion (e.g., legal names and lack of inclusive gender identity demographic options), and frequent silence or avoidance related to TGE issues. Though studies of TGE adult experiences in higher education are emerging, most explore disaffirming experiences. Social work education focuses on diversity, equity, and inclusion, along with how to promote social justice, which suggests more affirming environments for TGE individuals. However, little is known about the experiences of TGE students and even less …