Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Wicked Ideas For Wicked Problems: Marine Debris And The Complexity Of Governance, Dawn Helene Driesbach

Graduate Program in International Studies Theses & Dissertations

Myriad challenges regarding earth's common spaces, those unregulated by sovereign state authorities, mount and intensify as resources diminish and competition for commercial, scientific and security advantages increases; the pollution and degradation of those spaces simultaneously expands. Threats to the global commons complicate efforts to achieve international consensus which impedes attempts to develop effective governance. As an example, marine debris is a growing problem and is an existential threat to the global commons.

This dissertation aims to characterize marine debris as a wicked problem and explores the complexity of governance in the global ocean commons by answering two fundamental questions. Under …

Lindenwood Digest, December 1, 2020, Lindenwood University

Lindenwood Digest

The Lindenwood Digest has been a digital employee newsletter since 2009.

Potential Roles For Social Work In Supporting Mourning Practices Of Non-Dominant Religious And Cultural Groups In America, Stephanie Bergslien

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This paper will explore the perceived cultural sensitivity/affirmation of mourning ceremonies and rituals of non-dominant population groups by funeral directors serving families in the mountain region of the United States. Specifically, this paper examines the perceived ability of funeral directors and funeral homes to respect, affirm, and honor the mourning rituals and practices of non-dominant religious and spiritual population groups. Additionally, the paper seeks to explore the potential role of social workers in supporting and affirming mourning rituals and practices of non-dominant population groups.

What Interventions Should Be Utilized With Alzheimer's Patients To Increase Quality Of Life?, Laci Bach

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Alzheimer’s is a devastating disease that affects nearly 50 million people worldwide and will continue to increase exponentially with the aging of the population. The current work is an attempt to identify the needs of a subset of Alzheimer’s patient caregivers who have placed their family member to help identify the specific psychosocial needs the family member may have. This will help agency staff to tailor specific plans in their interactions with both the patient and family member to help reduce identified caregiver burden. Due to the COVID-19 restrictions only a limited number of family members (n=5) were contacted and …

Use Of The Cameo Ii Acuity Tool To Decrease Burnout For Nurses Working In A Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, Frances Lynn Feria-Clement

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The World Health Organization (WHO) reported registered nurse burnout is an occupational hazard resulting in serious consequences for patients, healthcare organizations, and individual registered nurses (Woo et al., 2020). The purpose of this project was to see if the Complexity Assessment and Monitoring to Ensure Optimal Outcomes II (CAMEO II) Acuity Tool, used as an intervention for staffing and scheduling, would have a positive effect against nurse burnout in a pediatric critical care setting in a pediatric medical center. Maslach’s Burnout Inventory- Human Services Survey for Medical Personnel (MBI-HSSMP) was used as a pre- and postsurvey to measure the emotional …

Perceptions Of Special Education Supports By School Administrators, Eric P. Oxford

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This research study analyzed the perceptions of special education supports by school administrators. Specifically, this research discussed comparative findings of perceptions of special education supports between building principals and building-based special education team chairpersons in one Massachusetts public school district. The findings are grounded in the district’s inclusive philosophy and its capability to ensure that all students are provided educational opportunities in the least restrictive educational environment. The problem studied was that many students with disabilities who are unable to find academic success within an inclusive academic environment are typically transitioned into a more restrictive—or substantially separate—alternative education setting. It …

No Free Lunch: Economics For A Fallen World (Third Edition, Revised), Jeffrey E. Haymond

Faculty Books

This open access introductory economics text is available for anyone interested in free market economics from an explicitly Christian worldview. This book is intended to be an engaging read, while not sacrificing technical accuracy or submission to biblical authority. Each chapter contains an introductory scriptural commentary and clearly defined objectives, as well as a “great economist” section at the end and concluding chapter questions. This text supports free market institutions because only free markets provide the outlet for the creativity of man made in God’s image while likewise providing the institutional constraints that minimize the harm that fallen man can …

Social Media Posts About Racism Leads To Evaluative Backlash For Black Job Applicants, Simon Howard, Kalen Kennedy, Francisco Tejeda

Psychology Faculty Research and Publications

Black Americans post about race and race-related issues on social media more than any other racial group. In this study, we investigated whether Black Americans who post about racism on social networking sites (i.e., Facebook) experience evaluative backlash during the employee selection process. Participants (N = 154) were given a Black job candidate’s cover letter, resume, and a scanned printout of their social media. Depending on what condition they were randomly assigned to, the applicant’s social media contained posts about racism or posts that were race neutral. Results indicated that Black individuals whose posts were about racism were evaluated …

Scholars' Mine Quick Facts September 2020, Nancy S. Krost

Scholars’ Mine Statistics

Scholars' Mine Quick Facts are monthly reports of downloads, page hits, and other information about works in the institutional repository of Missouri S&T. A map with downloads by region is also included.

Landings, Vol. 28, No. 12, Maine Lobstermen’S Community Alliance

Landings: News & Views from Maine's Lobstering Community

Landings content emphasizes science, history, resource sustainability, economic development, and human interest stories related to

Maine’s lobster industry. The newsletter emphasizes lobstering as a traditional, majority-European American lifeway with an economic and social heritage unique to the coast of Maine. The publication focuses how ongoing research to engage in sustainable, non-harmful, and non-wasteful commercial fishing practices benefit both the fishery and Maine's coastal legacy.

Maine Lobstermen’s Community Alliance (MLCA) started publication of Landings, a 24-page newsletter in January 2013 as the successor of the Maine Lobstermen’s Association (MLA) Newsletter. As of 2022, the MLCA published over 6,500 copies of …

Stress Levels In Cal Poly Student-Athletes Versus Non-Student-Athletes, Anthony Dean Mattle

Social Sciences

Comparative study between Cal Poly student-athletes and non-student athletes examining perceived stress levels and the prominence of six specific stressors (Schoolwork, money, future success, family, extracurricular, and time management). The data found no statistical significance between perceived stress levels and status as either an athlete or non-athlete. However, the data did show that status as an athlete or non-athlete had a statistical significance on where students ranked extracurricular activities among the six stressors.

Beyond The New Jim Crow: Public Support For Removing And Regulating Collateral Consequences, Alexander L. Burton, Velmer S. Burton Jr., Francis T. Cullen, Justin T. Pickett, Leah C. Butler, Angela J. Thielo

Criminology and Criminal Justice Faculty Publications

In The New Jim Crow, Michelle Alexander drew national attention to the extensive imposition of collateral consequences on those convicted of a crime and to their racially disparate effects. Based on a 2017 national-level YouGov survey, supplemented by a second 2019 YouGov survey, the current study finds that the public is split on allowing ex-offenders to sit on juries, but supportive of removing barriers to voting and employment. The respondents also favored providing defendants with a list of restrictions linked to conviction as well as having lawmakers review and eliminate collateral consequences found to have no purpose and to …

When Helping Hurts: Covid-19 Critical Incident Involvement And Resource Depletion In Health Care Workers, Miguel Caldas, Kathryn Ostermeier, Danielle Cooper

Applied Psychology Department Faculty Journal Articles

A focus on helping others is generally lauded, particularly in medicine, but in the context of a pandemic when health care professionals are facing increased risk, loss, and trauma, this focus can potentially be detrimental. In this study, we sought to (a) examine if health care workers intensely involved in the coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic are experiencing negative psychological and emotional outcomes, and (b) investigate if helping related factors (prosocial motivation and perceived prosocial impact) exacerbate and mitigate relationships to negative outcomes in a crisis situation. Using data collected from doctors and nurses before and during the COVID-19 pandemic, we …

Retirement Planning Motivation From A Reinforcement Sensitivity Theory (Rst) Perspective, Luke Poulter

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Retirement planning is a complex issue. There are plenty of challenges that individuals and governments confront regarding retirement planning. Understanding what motivates retirement planning is a critical element for individuals and governments to understand. Therefore, the primary goal of the current study was to extend the literature on retirement planning by expanding knowledge of what influences retirement planning by incorporating Reinforcement Sensitivity Theory (RST). RST is a neuroscientific theory of emotion, motivation, and learning, extended to personality psychology. It suggests three systems, the Behavioral Approach System (BAS), Fight–Flight–Freeze system (FFFS), and the Behavioral Inhibition System (BIS). The BAS mediates responses …

The Importance Of Recess In The Lives Of Children, Kayla L. Villanueva

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Current research suggests that when children get the chance to play outdoors, they reap the benefits. However, in today’s society children aren’t outdoors very often. Children also don’t have very much time to play outdoors during recess time while in a school setting. The purpose of this project was to educate and inform elementary school principals about the importance and benefits that recess has on children, as well as help them become an advocate for recess. A video was created that focused on the benefits of outdoor play for children, the importance of recess for children, as well as ways …

Owner Sex And Human–Canine Interactions At The Park, Shelly Volsche, Elizabeth Johnson, Bianca Reyes, Cecelia Rumsey, Kayla Murai, Deisy Landeros

Anthropology Faculty Publications and Presentations

The purpose of this exploratory study was to investigate if and what types of differences exist between men and women when interacting with their dogs in a “natural” setting. In the case of this study, we defined “natural” as visiting a public park with their dog. To do this, we completed a series of 10-minute focal follows (n = 177) on human–canine dyads at local leashed and off-leash dog parks from December 2018 to March 2019. Data collection included counting incidences of 14 specific interactions (i.e., “baby talks to dog” or “scolds/speaks harshly to dog”), observable demographics (sex of …

Progression Magazine, 2020 Winter, Coastal Carolina University

Progression Magazine

Magazine of the College of Science at Coastal Carolina University.

Social Media And Fear: Social Media As A Catalyst For Political Fear In The United States., Shane R. White

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Abstract: Using the American National Election Study data from the 2012 and 2016 surveys I explore how social media usage shapes fear. This is likely caused by the nature of social media leading to oversharing of sensationalized articles likely to elicit an emotional and fearful response. My findings suggest first that social media usage has a statistically significant effect on whether they would say they are afraid of a candidate (2012) and how afraid they say they are of the candidates (2016). Second, social media has little effect on economic fear, and may actually make people more hopeful about the …

Assessing The Potential For Critical Thinking Instruction In Information Literacy Online Learning Objects Using Best Practices, Mandi Goodsett

Communications in Information Literacy

Critical thinking, while often used as a mere buzzword, is clearly relevant to the mission and expertise of librarians who teach. Even in online information literacy instruction, critical thinking remains an important goal. This study attempts to determine the ways and extent to which online information literacy learning objects follow best practices for teaching and assessing critical thinking. In this study, the researcher evaluated a sample of information literacy online learning objects in the Association of College and Research Libraries repository of peer-reviewed instruction materials, PRIMO, using a literature-based rubric. The resulting analysis provides evidence of the extent to which …

Not A Blank Slate: Information Literacy Misconceptions In First-Year Experience Courses, Michelle Keba, Elizabeth Fairall

Communications in Information Literacy

Information literacy is the primary instructional focus of many librarians. With the development of a core set of information literacy threshold concepts, librarians often strive to impart these concepts to undergraduate students during their years of study. However, when students come to school, they are not blank slates. They arrive with preconceived ideas or misconceptions which can impede this process. In this article, the authors report on the results of focus groups held with first-year students at a private, liberal arts university. During the focus groups, participants were asked to share their perceptions of the misconceptions identified by Hinchliffe et …

Information Literacy Practices And Perceptions Of Community College Librarians In Florida And New York, Heidi Julien, Don Latham, Melissa Gross, Lindsey Moses, Felicia Warren

Communications in Information Literacy

An online survey in Florida and New York of community college librarians with responsibility for information literacy instruction provides a snapshot of instructional objectives and practices, including librarians’ beliefs about students’ information literacy needs, strengths, and weaknesses. Survey results point to the influence of the Association of College and Research Libraries Framework in the community college context, the challenges librarians face as they work to implement it, and their successes in doing so. These data reveal opportunities to support and improve instruction and to prepare future librarians to work successfully in community college contexts.

The Experience Of Friendship Between Individuals With And Without An Intellectual Disability., Rebecca Clark

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Practitioners and researchers are concerned about the limited social inclusion and social networks of individuals with an Intellectual Disability (ID) (Amado, 2014; Bigby & Craig, 2017; Hall, 2010; Hardman & Clark, 2006; Knox & Hickson, 2001; McConkey & Collins, 2010; Tipton, 2011). Friendships between those with and without an ID are viewed as opportunities for greater inclusiveness with and connection to the mainstream society (Amado, 2014; Bigby & Craig, 2017; McConkey & Collins, 2010). However, little is known about the development of friendships between those with and without an ID. The purpose of this study was to fully explore the …

All Victims Matter. Reconciliation Of The Balkan Faiths And Peoples: An Assessment Of Recent Progress, Vjekoslav Perica

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

Excerpt: "Overall, the recent progress toward reconciliation of the peoples and faiths in the Balkans is good news. The moderates within ruling nationalists’ ranks marginalized the extremists domestically and found support abroad, notably in the European Union, which is interested in fostering greater stability in the troubled southeastern periphery, as well as from the Vatican, both during the pontificate of John Paul II and under Pope Francis, with his ambitious ecumenical agenda concerning the Eastern Orthodox sister church."

Physical Education And Anti-Blackness, Brian Culp

Faculty Articles

This commentary is not intended to be an all-inclusive “catch-all” but a starting point to inspire behavior change, cultural fluency, and an “ideological repositioning” of how we think about our professional work. In defining anti-Blackness, the article provides perspectives from educational literature, research, and personal observations before providing a challenge to SHAPE America and all professionals involved in efforts related to the promotion of quality physical education.

An Analysis Of Urban Densification And On-Road Carbon Dioxide Emissions Within Los Angeles County, Michael Brown

Master of Science in Environmental Sciences and Management Projects

In 2015, Los Angeles County formalized its climate action goals, working to significantly reduce on-road CO2 emissions in unincorporated zones. A strategy outlined by the county’s Climate Action Plan, is to increase mixed-use development to significantly reduce on-road CO2 emissions. The goal of this study is to quantify the relationship between changes in urban density, population density and on-road emissions across 30 selected cities in Los Angeles County using time series data from 2013 to 2017. Per capita on-road CO2 emissions is calculated using commuting data as a proxy. Changes in urban development density is recorded in acres, categorized as …

Self-Induced Moral Injuries, Sexual Shame, And Well-Being: The Moderating Role Of Self-Forgiveness, Teresa Lynn Phillips-Harris

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Self-induced moral injuries caused by compulsive sexual behavior can result in experiences of sexual shame. Shame is a pervasive experience of unworthiness, and it can become a significant obstacle to life and relationship satisfaction because it leads to negative cognitions and isolating behaviors. Self-induced moral injuries occur when a person's wrongdoing challenges their worldview and spiritual beliefs. Moral injuries impact the individual's affect, cognition, and behavioral responses to morally traumatic events. Individuals who morally injure themselves and others struggle to take responsibility, make cognitive and behavioral changes, and forgive themselves. Several research studies have examined the impact of shame on …

The Patriot Act: How It Hurts Democracy, Madison Racquel Wadsworth

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

After the devastating attacks on American soil on September 11th, 2001, the world's perceptions of security changed forever. Immediately following the attacks, the United States government passed the USA PATRIOT Act, broadening definitions of terrorism and codifying unconstitutional acts, such as unwarranted searches of private property, indefinite holding of suspected terrorists, and ultimately torturing those suspects. This act has had several long term implications leading to a reduction in the quality of American democracy, which subsequently affected other liberal democracies around the world through violations of basic democratic principles, or civil liberties, such as: due process, physical attacks, and freedom …

Overcoming The Systemic Challenges Of Wealth Inequality In The U.S., David Peter Stroh

The Foundation Review

The galvanizing public murder of George Floyd and the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on Black and Hispanic people have put structural racism and its influence on wealth inequality in the U.S. into stark relief. As multiracial groups express outrage at these visible disparities, we risk missing the other side of the coin: that wealth inequality in turn fans structural racism. Moreover, as they reinforce each other, these two factors erode the social, economic, and political viability of our democracy. Understanding and then breaking this vicious cycle are essential to realizing our renewed commitment to a country that works everyone.

This …

Regional Inclusive Growth Through Systems Philanthropy In Essex County, Massachusetts, Lisa Payne Simon, Stratton Lloyd, Beth Francis

The Foundation Review

In 2016, the Essex County Community Foundation forged a cross-sector coalition of business, community, and civic leaders to identify the Massachusetts region’s greatest challenges and to develop a strategy for action. Income inequality was identified as the county’s most pressing issue, and the foundation and its partners launched a systems philanthropy strategy to address that issue and stimulate inclusive growth.

The strategy involves a multipronged approach aimed at amplifying the county’s strengths, launching inclusive-growth initiatives, expanding workforce training and skill development to increase a broad target population’s earning potential and net worth, incentivizing and supporting small-business resiliency and growth, and …

Paso Del Norte Economic Indicator Review, December, Hunt Institute For Global Competitiveness

Technical Reports

No abstract provided.