6834 research outputs found
Sort by
A single case study to investigate how utility linemen from four regions across California use their expertise combined with the information from a predictive model to better comprehend and mitigate risk(s).
No full textThe fatality rate for utility line workers is increasing yearly, as recorded by the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, SOII, 2003–2020. The dangerous nature of their work is underscored by the frequent occurrence of accidents, often resulting in severe injuries or even death (Faivre et al., 2014). According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, electrical power line installers and repairers had a fatal rate of 20.5 per 100,000 workers in 2020. Utility linemen play a critical role in maintaining and repairing electrical power infrastructure (Van Wijingaaden, 2020).
This study used a single case study design to understand the lived experiences and perceptions of four utility linemen in four different southern California regions. I utilized Endsley's (1995) model of situational awareness in dynamic decision-making, which comes from a three-level cognitive process when one performs an activity like an aircraft pilot or an air traffic controller, which requires them to be aware of their constantly changing environment.
This study reveals that the innovative integration of linemen practices enables more informed decision-making and fosters a proactive approach to risk mitigation, ultimately contributing to a safer work environment. Specifically, the findings underscore the critical role of key decision-makers such as utility company management, field linemen and crew leaders, and safety and training professionals in translating these insights into actionable strategies. The implications of this study are significant for utility linemen within the utility industry. Recommendations are tailored to each of these audiences across the United States, highlighting how their decisions can enhance safety protocols and operational procedures. Enhancing collaboration between utility line expertise and innovative practices is essential for effectively identifying and mitigating risks
Organizing change : a single case study exploring the perceptions of self-determination in high school employees during a building renovation.
No full textAmerican public schools face critical employee shortages, driven largely by job dissatisfaction stemming from the unmet psychological needs of autonomy, competence, and relatedness. Factors such as working conditions, school climate, and organizational change, like building renovations, significantly affect staff satisfaction and retention. Mismanaged renovations disrupt employees’ sense of control, confidence, and social connections, exacerbating dissatisfaction and turnover.
The purpose of this single case study was to explore employees’ perceptions of autonomy, competence, and relatedness at a public high school in the southern United States during a large-scale building renovation. Using self-determination theory (SDT; Deci & Ryan, 1985), I conducted a single case study exploring the perceptions of employees at Compass High School (CHS, pseudonym), a public high school undergoing extensive building renovations. Participants were selected using purposeful criterion-based sampling with maximum variation and included five CHS employees, who met the inclusion criteria of having at least five years of experience in education and one year of employment at CHS prior to the start of the renovation. I recruited interested people through questionnaire responses and then intentionally selected participants to encourage variation. I collected data through a reflective questionnaire, semi-structured interviews, and guided reflective journal prompts.
The four findings of this study fell into four categories: autonomy, competence, relatedness, and organizational culture. Under autonomy, I found that employees perceived a top-down decision-making culture during the renovation of CHS, which they believed limited their autonomy. Under competence, I found that employees perceived an unpredictable and reactive nature during the renovation of CHS, which they believed undermined their competence. Under relatedness, I found that employees perceived both increases and decreases in their relatedness during the renovation of CHS. Finally, under organizational culture, I found that employees perceived an organizational culture that prioritized operational efficiency over staff well-being during the renovation of CHS.
This study has implications for current and future K–12 employees, campus and district-level leadership teams, and facilities and operations management teams
The Hungarian crisis : refugees, diaspora, and the Cold War.
No full textThe Hungarian Crisis is a narrative about local actions with global effects. This dissertation argues the actions of the Hungarian American community proved essential to the success of the US humanitarian response to the Hungarian Revolution. Focusing on the Hungarian American communities in central New Jersey, this work explores the story of a diasporic community’s vital work in assisting Hungarian refugee relief and resettlement efforts, particularly as those refugees navigated the procedural and cultural aspects of resettlement.
Drawing on the scholarship of both the Hungarian Revolution and the Hungarian Exodus, this work proposes a broader framework, the Hungarian Crisis (June 1956—June 1957). Centering the Hungarian people and recognizing the continuities between the revolt, its causes, and the exodus, the Hungarian Crisis yields a more robust history driven by Hungarian actions and that demonstrates how internal Hungarian political and cultural shifts escalated, spilled beyond the state borders, and activated Cold War responses. The Hungarian Crisis framework enables the consideration of a wider set of international responses, like the US resettlement efforts and the contributions of the Hungarian diaspora to those efforts, as responses to the same crisis rather than severing the humanitarian response from the parallel diplomatic responses
Women at the cross : women, religion, and politics in Paul’s Cross sermons, 1500-1625.
No full textPaul’s Cross by the sixteenth century was one of the most important pulpits in England. Not only did it serve as an outdoor pulpit in the emerging center of London’s book trade, but it was an intersection where royal policy and popular religion met. It served as a religious theater where penitents and recanters were brought. During the long English Reformation, royal and ecclesiastical authorities used the location to attempt to persuade Londoners of religious changes and inculcate them with the new theological ideas. In contemporary depictions of Paul’s Cross, women appeared rarely, generally only if accused of misbehavior and required to do penance at Paul’s Cross. Scholarship on Paul’s Cross has focused predominantly on the men at the location. Through an analysis of extant sermons, this dissertation examines whether women were equally invisible to contemporary preachers and whether theological changes—the disappearance of extrabiblical medieval female saints, the disempowering of the Virgin Mary as Queen of Heaven, the shift in emphasis from affective piety grounded in lived experience to one centered on theology and texts—contributed to less visibility and volubility of women in sermons. I argue that women—in this male dominated space—as both active participants and didactic subjects played a central role in the political and theological debates at Paul’s Cross and through the media of print in England. Women remained active participants in the religious and political discourse, and Paul’s Cross preachers, which included bishops and archbishops, were acutely aware of the power of women in religious practice. Men preached sermons at Paul’s Cross, but—through female patronage, participation as auditors, and their didactic usefulness as representatives of social anxiety—women shaped the rhetoric at Paul’s Cross. Their bodies became subjects used by preachers for instruction of appropriate gendered behavior as seen through the dynamic lens of shifting cultural anxiety. Despite the turbulent world of sixteenth and seventeenth century England, continuity persisted in how sermons at Paul’s Cross gendered women’s voices even as the female participants in the sermons changed
Undergraduate faculty attitudes toward students with invisible disabilities : a single case study.
No full textStudents with invisible disabilities face more barriers than other students in higher education, particularly concerning fear of judgment, negative stigmas, and disclosing their disability. Although prominent antidiscrimination laws provide greater access to students with disabilities than before, students must initiate the process to receive support. Students with invisible disabilities may not disclose their needs to their faculty due to the fear of negative attitudes about them. Some students who have disclosed their disability believed faculty did not have the proper understanding to support them. Some faculty hold negative attitudes toward students with invisible disabilities, and negative attitudes about them may impact how faculty engage with these students in the classroom.
The purpose of the single case study was to explore how undergraduate faculty at a private university in the northeastern United States describe their attitudes toward students with invisible disabilities. Using Rosenberg and Hovland’s (1960) tripartite model of attitude, I sought to understand how three undergraduate faculty described their affective, behavioral, and cognitive responses toward students with invisible disabilities. I analyzed participant responses to a questionnaire, interview transcripts, and focus group transcript, used a priori and emergent codes, organized them into categories, and conducted a within-case analysis to develop thematic statements.
I uncovered three themes related to the theoretical framework and one additional theme: (1) undergraduate faculty described having empathetic, but sometimes ambivalent, affective responses toward students with invisible disabilities; (2) undergraduate faculty described their behavioral responses toward students with invisible disabilities as encouraging communication and collaboration with them in their courses; (3) undergraduate faculty described their cognitive responses toward students with invisible disabilities as believing they faced additional challenges compared to their peers in higher education; and (4) undergraduate faculty wanted more training to understand and support students with invisible disabilities
"Wisdom of the moderns" : the philosophy of Francis Bacon in nineteenth-century American literature.
No full textThe primary purpose of this dissertation is to examine the influence of Francis Bacon on writers of nineteenth-century American literature. Based on this examination, I argue that Francis Bacon’s reputation among nineteenth-century American writers was both broader and more consequential than generally understood today. While Bacon continues to be remembered as one of the founders of the modern scientific revolution, in nineteenth-century America, he was also renowned for his moral and political philosophical doctrines and his distinctive rhetorical style. Each of these domains of influence was important in shaping prominent works of nineteenth-century American fiction. At the same time, they combined to give rise to another prominent trend of nineteenth-century American literary thought, namely, the theory that Francis Bacon was the true author of the plays attributed to William Shakespeare. Accordingly, a secondary purpose of this dissertation is to rehabilitate the work of Delia Bacon, the original champion of this theory. In the first two chapters, I contend that her book, The Philosophy of the Plays of Shakspere Unfolded (1856), contains a reasonable interpretation of Francis Bacon’s philosophical project that can stand independent of the implausible authorship theory. In the subsequent chapters, I consider the influence her conclusions about Baconian science, politics, and rhetoric may have had on prominent nineteenth-century authors who were acquainted with her and/or her theories, namely, Nathaniel Hawthorne, Herman Melville, and Mark Twain
Investigating ecophysiological variation in a Southern Ocean apex predator : ecology, physiology, and behavior in leopard seals.
No full textPolar environments are undergoing rapid transformations due to climate change, yet biological data on many polar predators remain scarce. Without these data, it is difficult to predict how species will respond to environmental shifts. The leopard seal (Hydrurga leptonyx), one of the least studied apex predators on Earth, plays a crucial role in Southern Ocean ecosystems due to its broad dietary niche. Despite their importance, leopard seals have remained difficult to study due to their solitary nature, remote habitat, and aggressive reputation. The lack of fundamental biological data on this species limits our ability to predict how they may respond to environmental change. Without a clear understanding of their physiology, foraging ecology, and population dynamics, we are limited in our ability to assess their adaptability to shifting prey communities, habitat changes, and broader climatic shifts. This dissertation addresses critical gaps in our understanding of leopard seal biology by investigating their physiology, ecology, and behavior through three key objectives. (1) Physiology—measuring intraspecific variation in cortisol concentrations and examining how it varies with sex, body size, and trophic position to assess stress physiology in leopard seals. (2) Ecology—analyzing individual foraging specialization and determining how consistent trophic strategies influence broader ecological interactions. (3) Behavior—documenting postmortem attentive behavior, a rare phenomenon in pinnipeds. Key findings reveal that leopard seals have the highest cortisol concentrations recorded among pinnipeds, with larger females exhibiting lower cortisol levels and a more nitrogen-enriched diet. While the species is considered a generalist at the population level, most individuals exhibit long-term specialization at varying trophic levels, some of which are influencing the decline of Antarctic fur seal population. Additionally, this dissertation documents the longest recorded case of postmortem attentive behavior in pinnipeds, with leopard seals maintaining contact with deceased pups for over 20 days and repeating this behavior across multiple years, providing new insights into maternal investment strategies. By compiling the most extensive dataset on leopard seals to date, this dissertation enhances our understanding of their physiology, ecological dynamics, and behavior, offering critical insights into how this apex predator may respond to a rapidly changing polar environment
An exploration of dental team members’ transformational leadership skills development : a qualitative single case study.
No full textDental offices frequently encounter leadership challenges that affect patient care quality and team cohesion. The absence of leadership training for all dental team members contributes to ineffective leadership and undermines organizational performance. Many dental team members lack access to training or development opportunities to enhance their leadership abilities. This gap contributes to ineffective leadership practices, diminished team performance, and a workplace culture that fails to fully support collaboration or empowerment. The lack of structured leadership development for all dental team members undermines organizational outcomes and highlights a critical need for interventions that address these deficiencies.
This qualitative holistic single-case study explored the development of transformational leadership skills among dental team members in a private dental office. The study addressed the need for leadership development by implementing "Project Leadership," an intervention focused on transformational leadership skill development. Transformational leadership theory provided the framework for examining the development of dental team members' transformational leadership skills. Data collection included a demographic questionnaire, semi-structured interviews, and a focus group, gathering perspectives from four dental team members in a private, general dental practice. Participants reported on their experiences with Project Leadership and the resulting changes in their leadership skills. The analysis revealed four key findings: (1) participants demonstrated improved teamwork and communication, (2) increased motivation and confidence among team members, (3) adaptability and efficiency enhanced organizational performance, and (4) a more cohesive and supportive workplace culture emerged. These findings highlight the significant impact of transformational leadership development within a dental office setting.
This study provides evidence that developing transformational leadership skills in dental team members fosters positive organizational outcomes, including improved team dynamics and enhanced patient care. The findings feature the necessity of incorporating leadership training into the professional development of dental team members, extending beyond traditional clinical roles. Implications of the study suggest that investing in leadership development can bridge gaps in team performance, promote employee satisfaction, and contribute to sustainable improvements in healthcare delivery. By demonstrating the value of transformational leadership within dentistry, this research supports a broader application of leadership interventions in similar organizational settings
Human interaction with groundwater systems : observing perturbations in one of our most important freshwater resources.
No full textGroundwater has long been one of the primary sources of freshwater for humans. Most of Earth’s usable freshwater resources are partitioned into groundwater; however, most people do not have a realistic understanding of how groundwater systems function and therefore interact with them in ways that may be highly detrimental to our continued ability to utilize the resource. This dissertation examines multiple facets of human interactions with groundwater systems through three projects, each of which examines a small piece of the greater problems at play in groundwater systems. As the human population of Earth becomes larger and requires more and more water resources groundwater will have an even more integral role to play in providing water to a thirsty population. Understanding more about human interactions with groundwater systems will become increasingly necessary to see the resource protected and available for the future
Life together after the end of history : Bonhoeffer and the crisis of liberalism.
No full textThe primary argument of this dissertation is that Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s political theology can be read as an extended reflection on liberalism. By situating Bonhoeffer’s thought within broader Euro-American debates about liberalism stretching from the long nineteenth century through the twentieth, I argue his theology was not only responsive to the crisis of liberalism in his time but also made substantive contributions to enduring debates in the West regarding the foundations of a just and stable social order. This study contends that Bonhoeffer’s mature doctrine of the divine mandates—marriage and family, labor/culture, government, and church—provides the crucial framework for understanding his vision of social and political life. Much like the ideological ferment of Bonhoeffer’s day, our time is marked by trenchant attacks on liberalism, signaling the possible emergence of postliberal era after the end of history. I contend that Bonhoeffer’s nuanced critique of liberal modernity and his positive theological vision of social life oriented by the mandates are timely resources for navigating the crisis of liberalism today. Bonhoeffer’s political theology challenges us to direct our attention away from abstract debates about the fate of liberalism and toward concrete, lived responsibilities through which human life together is sustained, regardless of the political culture that is ascendant