A Scoping Study Of United States Extension Professional Competencies, Joseph L. Donaldson, Rose Vaughan

Journal of Human Sciences and Extension

This scoping study aimed to answer the question: What is known from existing research studies about the major competencies required of Extension professionals? Scoping studies are characterized by searching the literature to summarize major concepts on a research topic, and they are valuable as they show evidence for the major concepts. This study was limited to research studies of United States’ Extension professionals. The major conclusion from the scoping study is that existing research studies have yielded a rich literature base regarding Extension professional competencies. This scoping study identified 15 Extension professional competency domains: communication, diversity and cultural competence, flexibility, …

What Explained Nonprofit Organizations’ Satisfaction With Volunteer Retention During The Covid-19 Pandemic?, Suzanna R. Windon, Daniel Robotham, Ann Echols

Journal of Human Sciences and Extension

The purpose of this quantitative study was to investigate nonprofit organizations’ satisfaction with volunteer retention during the COVID-19 pandemic. The participants were 74 nonprofit organizations’ leaders who participated in the online survey. The response rate was 10.6%. We found that the overall mean score for satisfaction with organizational retention of volunteers during the COVID-19 pandemic was 3.50 (SD = .98), and the importance of volunteer management practices was 3.52 (SD = .96). Most nonprofit organizations were proactive (38.8%) and reacted promptly (52.2%) while addressing the organizations’ response to the pandemic. Approximately 10.3% of the variation in satisfaction with organizational retention …

Evaluating A Relationship Education Program With Incarcerated Adults, Terra L. Jackson, Francesca Adler-Baeder, Leah Burke, Silvia Vilches

Journal of Human Sciences and Extension

Research indicates healthy family relationships can reduce recidivism. More effort has been placed towards providing family life programming in prisons to promote healthy individual and relational functioning, yet only a handful of studies have evaluated and provided insight on relationship education (RE) for incarcerated adults. This study contributes to this emerging effort and examines changes following participation in a RE program, using a sample of 461 incarcerated men and women. Findings indicate significant improvements in anxiety and depressive symptoms and conflict resolution skills. Additional tests of moderation of change by gender, relationship status, and child age revealed a greater change …

Exploring Interactions Between Arkansas Urban Producers: Social Networks And Modes Of Information Seeking, Catherine E. Sanders, Don W. Edgar, Casandra K. Cox, Leslie D. Edgar

Journal of Human Sciences and Extension

The purpose of this study was to explore the social networks and interactions between urban producers in Arkansas through a social network analysis. Using a mixed-methods approach, the current study collected data about participants’ social network interactions and methods of seeking information for urban farming. Results indicated how and where participants preferred to obtain information, peer-to-peer interactions within the network, and key players or opinion leaders in the network. The methods used in the current study may serve as an example of social network articulation for populations without a formal network to assist with outreach to communities potentially underserved by …

Examining The Perspectives And Experiences Of Nutrition Educators Working With Clients In Substance Use Recovery Settings, Cora Teets, Paula Plonski, Omolola A. Adedokun, Heather Norman-Burgdolf

Journal of Human Sciences and Extension

Substance use disorder (SUD) is one of the most detrimental health, social, and economic problems in the United States. Limited studies suggest providing tailored nutrition education during SUD treatment correlates with positive recovery outcomes. The University of Kentucky Nutrition Education Program conducted two focus group sessions to explore and determine educators’ instructional and programmatic needs who deliver nutrition education to clients in substance use recovery throughout Kentucky. The study team identified four emerging themes and several subthemes related to Nutrition Education Program educators working with clientele in recovery. The four emerging themes included: (1) current experiences working with the audience, …

Predictors Of Therapy Response In Chronic Aphasia: Building A Foundation For Personalized Aphasia Therapy, Sigfus Kristinsson, Dirk B. Den Ouden, Chris Rorden, Roger Newman-Norlund

Faculty Publications

Chronic aphasia, a devastating impairment of language, affects up to a third of stroke survivors. Speech and language therapy has consistently been shown to improve language function in prior clinical trials, but few clinicially applicable predictors of individual therapy response have been identified to date. Consequently, clinicians struggle substantially with prognostication in the clinical management of aphasia. A rising prevalence of aphasia, in particular in younger populations, has emphasized the increasing demand for a personalized approach to aphasia therapy, that is, therapy aimed at maximizing language recovery of each individual with reference to evidence-based clinical recommendations. In this narrative review, …

The Influence Of Right-Wing Media On Political Racialization, Alex Regan

Student Research Submissions

The rise of right-wing media in the United States begs the question of how it is impacting American political culture. The recently increasing rate of political polarization in the United States, specifically along racial lines, poses a potential issue for American democracy. Through comparative analysis of Fox News and their counterparts in the United Kingdom, France, and Germany, this study seeks to address what specifically has caused Fox to be so successful in reproducing racial propaganda.

Umaine’S First Equal Opportunity Director To Receive Honorary Degree, University Of Maine Division Of Marketing And Communication

Social Justice: Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion

Screenshot of University of Maine Division of Marketing and Communication webpage with a press release regarding the University of Maine plan to award an honorary doctorate to JoAnn Fritsche, UMaine’s first director of equal opportunity and also director of the Women’s Development Program,

When "First, Do No Harm" Fails: A Restorative Justice Approach To Workgroup Harms In Healthcare, Pedro L. Flores

Dissertations

In healthcare, workgroup mistreatment is a pervasive problem that begins during medical education (medical and nursing school) and becomes embedded in the “hidden curriculum of professionalism,” which dissuades and even punishes learners for talking about abuse they witness. Furthermore, the mistreatment of healthcare providers (HCPs) pervades all disciplines in the healthcare delivery chain due to a combination of cultural factors, systemic pressures, dysfunctional hierarchies, and leadership’s tolerance of intimidating and disruptive behaviors. Not surprisingly, 18% of U.S. HCPs have left the medical field since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, and burnout, stress, anxiety, and increased workloads have been identified …

Keeping In Touch While Sheltering In Place: A Comparative Case Study On The Complex Emotions Experienced By Older Adults When Introduced To Icts And Video Conferencing Services, Marisa Susan Soltz

Dissertations and Theses

Currently, COVID-19 poses a threat to the US and the rest of the world, which has created the need for many people to establish physical distance from others. This need for physical distance is perhaps most important for those most vulnerable to COVID-19, which includes the older adult population. Through this time of physical isolation, most people need to keep in touch with each other while sheltering in place. Advances in digital communication have offered new avenues to help people maintain communication, and these advances have made the lives of many easier and more efficient. These new avenues for communication …

How Corrective Lens Choices Are Associated With The Self-Esteem Of College Students, Margaret Neenan

Honors Projects

If you wear glasses or contacts, which one do you wear more often, and why? How Corrective Lens Choices are Associated with the Self-Esteem of College Students is an observational study on 1) how corrective lens choices are associated with the self-esteem of college students, and 2) how do factors such as gender, ethnicity, finances, insurance, recreational and occupational use, or lens options recommended to a patient impact an individual’s choice of corrective lenses. The observational study shows that there is no significant difference in the self-esteem of college students who wore a specific corrective lens more often. However, research …

How Brazilians Used Media To Cope With The Issues Brought By The Covid-19 Pandemic, Vivian De Melo Campos

Theses and Dissertations

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the world faced lockdown and quarantine restrictions that encouraged or forced people to stay home. Along with the rest of the world, Brazil faced many difficulties during this period and it became one of the countries that lost more lives due to the Coronavirus infection worldwide. This study focuses on showing how people in Brazil coped with the challenges brought by the pandemic. It also focuses on showing if and how participants used media as a coping mechanism. The research was done through qualitative methods with semi-structured interviews with 25 adults who were living in …

Addressing The Lack Of Availability In Diverse Skin Tone Options For Performance Wear, Jessica Batey

GS4 Georgia Southern Student Scholars Symposium

The following research addresses the lack of availability in diverse skin tone options for performance fabric. The project will discuss the struggles people of color face when finding fabrics that accurately match their skin tone and the difficulties in sourcing the materials needed to successfully design a garment. The research gathered will be used to produce a collection of 4 looks using nude mesh fabrics that are readily available to the average consumer. The garments within the collection will be designed to match the skin color of 4 models. The collection’s theme will be based around the 4 cardinal witches …

A Study Into The Impact Of Screen Time On Student Gpa, Mia Brown, David Santos, Akeisha Belgrave

Harrisburg University Research Symposium: Highlighting Research, Innovation, & Creativity

With advances in technology, the use of computers has become a common habit for most college students. Recent studies show that the amount of time spent on those devices can affect their grades. (Class Project)

Medical Testing On Animals, Celebrity Wright, Nyicia Morgan, Akeisha Belgrave

Harrisburg University Research Symposium: Highlighting Research, Innovation, & Creativity

We will be investigating and researching undergraduate students’ opinions on animal use in medical testing. (Class Project)

International Residency & Career, Byron Fitch, Martin Johnson, Akeisha Belgrave

Harrisburg University Research Symposium: Highlighting Research, Innovation, & Creativity

We're taking a look at the relationships between career fields and the desired location to work internationally. Chosen locations and career fields can help make various inferences about the relationship between the two. Other aspects we looked into were age, gender, and college experience, which may provide influence to various locations. (Class Project)

A Statistical Study Into Mobile Phone Screen Time Usage Among College Students, Abd'malik Hakeem-Olowu, Akeisha Belgrave

Harrisburg University Research Symposium: Highlighting Research, Innovation, & Creativity

Given that we live in a technological age, it should come as no surprise that the majority, if not all, college students own a mobile device, which they use for school, work, or even recreational purposes. Life would be difficult without relying on a mobile device. Our focus in this study was on cell phones. We surveyed a hundred Harrisburg University students' daily screen time to analyze and make a conclusion if the relationship positively or negatively affects the lifestyle of college students. (Class Project)

How Stress Affects Hu Student Study Habits, Jamal Ghazi, Akeisha Belgrave

Harrisburg University Research Symposium: Highlighting Research, Innovation, & Creativity

This project is meant to give people an in-depth analysis of

the average HU student's study habits.(Class Project)

Screen Time Use And Children’S Mental Health During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Amira Hmidan

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Parents with school-aged children have experienced numerous hardships during the 2020-2021 academic school year, including school closures, lockdowns, and travel restrictions. Higher levels of parent stress and screen time may adversely impact children’s behavioural outcomes. This longitudinal survey study examined the associations of parent stress, parenting styles, and prolonged screentime on internalizing and externalizing behaviours in school-aged children. Parents (n = 108) completed survey measures at two time points over the 2020-2021 academic school year. Two generalized estimating equations were performed. There was a significant positive interaction between parent stress and screen time (B = < .001; p = .001) …

Exploring The Underrepresentation Of Women Coaches In Canadian University Sport, Hayley Finn

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Currently, there are disproportionally few women who hold coaching positions within Canadian university sport. To investigate the gender gap, this dissertation explores the institutional practices that inform women coaches’ working realities. Applying Smith’s (1987) institutional ethnography as a mode of inquiry directed the exploration towards the everyday practices and processes that inform experience, to better understand current barriers and supports in place. In this study, particular attention is given to social relations, which Smith (2005) calls the relations of ruling that coordinate activities and experiences of individuals within organizations. Institutional ethnography aims to explicate these relations of ruling by exploring …

Analysis Of Spindle Whorls And Fishing Weights From The Ancient Maya Trading Port Of Moho Cay, Belize, Kaitlin Samples

LSU Master's Theses

Abstract

Trading, fishing, and spinning thread were important parts of the ancient Maya world. Iconography and archaeological excavations have shown the importance of the three activities. The ancient Maya had an extensive trade network along the Belize River. The site of Moho Cay was an important trading area within this network. Excavations at Moho Cay show the importance of trade, fishing, and spinning at Moho Cay. The excavations done in 1979, led by Dr. McKillop and the team of Trent University, yielded a large sample of spindle whorls and fishing weights. Analysis of these spindle whorls and fishing weights is …

The Influence Of Clutter On Target Prevalence And Decision Making During Visual Search, Brandon Eich

LSU Master's Theses

Participants are sensitive to target prevalence effects in visual search. Low prevalence of targets leads to increased miss rates and shorter response times, and high prevalence of targets leads to increased false alarm rates and longer response times. These effects have been explained using the Multiple-Decision Model (MDM), in which two decisions impact performance during serial visual search. The first decision is whether an inspected item is a target. The second decision is whether the search should be ended with a target-absent response. Target prevalence influences these decisions, evidenced by changes in miss rate, false alarm rate, and response time. …

Public Health Interventions For Children Of Incarcerated Parents, Daniel Bullman

GS4 Georgia Southern Student Scholars Symposium

The impact of social and structural determinants of health have lifelong consequences on an individual’s quality of life. Literature focusing on child health and wellbeing of incarcerated parents indicate significant negative health outcomes and adopted detrimental health behaviors. Using a systematic realist review, recent publications were reviewed for their potential discussion or recommendation for interventions in changing health outcomes. This review found that additional research is needed in identifying and testing potential interventions or determining if parallel public health initiatives have had positive impacts in promoting the health behavior change process for children and adolescents of incarcerated parents.

Bryant University 10th Research And Engagement Day Program

Bryant REDay (Research and Engagement Day)

Program with schedule and descriptions of events for Bryant University's 10th Research and Engagement Day.

To What Extent Has Covid19 Impacted Substance Use Among Homeless Populations In Portland, Maine, Daniela Mason, Madison Chadbourne

Thinking Matters Symposium

COVID19 pandemic has vastly impacted all populations within our society, homeless populations in particular. This study aims to uncover how the COVID19 pandemic has affected substance use among the homeless population in Portland, Maine. In particular, this study asks to what extent has COVID19 impacted substance use among homeless populations in Portland, Maine? We asked individuals to participate via convenience sampling, whereby anonymous surveys were completed through Survey Monkey by staff members employed at Preble Street in Portland, ME, who have worked directly with the homeless population during the COVID-19 pandemic. We expect the results to suggest an increase in …

A Path For Evidenced-Based Evaluation: The Case For Restorative Justice, Raúl D. Gierbolini-Rivera, Atc,Cscs

Thinking Matters Symposium

No abstract provided.

Use Of Cyber Library: A Comparative Study Of Undergraduate And Postgraduate Students, Kritika Agarwal, Babita Jaiswal

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

The present study attempts to find out the Internet usage pattern of the students of the Cyber Library at the University of Lucknow, Lucknow. The main objectives are to find out the awareness level, frequency of usage, satisfaction level and the problems faced while accessing the internet at the cyber library. To fulfil these objectives, a survey method was adopted and a structured questionnaire was used to collect data. A sample of 150 students was collected comprising 75 undergraduates and 75 postgraduates. The findings revealed that 114 (76.00%) students were aware of the cyber library services; most students who visit …

Making Mental Health Information Accessible To Latinxs Through The Use Of Internet Forums, April Martinez

Undergraduate Distinction Papers

This study was conducted to explore the use of Internet memes as a way to address mental health stigma within the Latinx community. The study measured participants’ mental health prejudice both before and after exposure to a series of memes over a two-week span. The control group was shown memes that did not relate to mental health and the experimental group was shown mental health memes. The results were analyzed both quantitatively, for significant between group differences in posttest prejudice, and qualitatively for emerging themes in the participants’ comments on the memes. Results showed no significant decrease of stigma between …

Identity Formation And The Immigrant Experience, Renne Cabacungan

Undergraduate Research and Scholarship Symposium

Immigration history is an especially prominent aspect of an immigrant’s identity. Immigration creates psychosocial changes which can impact how an individual is viewed by themselves and others. Immigrants develop a dual identity, drawing from both their new country and their country of origin. Navigating this binary lies at the heart of an immigrant’s identity development. The purpose of this study was to investigate the personal processes one undergoes during immigration in forming one’s new identity. Qualitative interviews were conducted with two participants of different nationalities. A life course theory approach structured the two interviews to create a comprehensive timeline of …

Analysis Of Follow-Up Times For Families Discharged From Opioid Addiction Treatment Facilities, Abigail Reith, Carley Reith, Lindsay Moskal, Rachael Neilan

Undergraduate Research and Scholarship Symposium

Caregivers who receive treatment for opioid addiction often face adverse post-discharge incidents involving Children, Youth, and Family (CYF) services. These incidents can be traumatic for the children involved, potentially leading to the removal of a child from their home. Nonprofit social service organizations like Auberle aim to minimize these adverse events by implementing frequent follow-ups with discharged caregivers and their families.

We collaborated with Auberle social services (Pittsburgh, PA) and the Allegheny County Department of Human Services (DHS) to evaluate the effectiveness of standard follow-up times (7, 30, and 90 days post-discharge) in preventing CYF incident and to determine if …