6834 research outputs found
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Leveraging cultural capital : a single case study of refugee service providers’ navigation of social and systemic barriers.
No full textThis study examined the systemic challenges refugees face during resettlement in the United States and explored how cultural capital practices shape access to essential services. Refugees, often navigating acculturative stress, language barriers, and financial constraints, have traditionally engaged with a resettlement system that undervalues their inherent cultural assets. U.S. resettlement programs have historically emphasized rapid employment as the primary measure of success, overlooking the emotional, social, and cultural dimensions of integration.
Grounded in cultural capital theory (Bourdieu, 1986), this study argues for a more holistic framework that recognizes the knowledge, traditions, and skills refugees bring as critical tools for resilience and adaptation. The purpose of this single-case study was to explore how resettlement service providers in Nebraska, many of whom were themselves refugees, experience and apply cultural capital as they navigate the refugee process.
Using a qualitative case study design, data were collected through questionnaires, semi-structured interviews, and a focus group to capture in-depth perspectives on service delivery. These methods enabled participants to share their lived experiences in their own words, revealing both structural barriers and opportunities for innovation. Thematic analysis identified persistent gaps in existing resettlement models, particularly in language support, culturally responsive communication, and institutional flexibility.
Findings indicate that service providers engage in a dynamic process of cultural adaptation and resource navigation, leveraging cultural knowledge, resilience, and communal caregiving to mediate the challenges of displacement. Through adaptive strategies, such as modifying meal rituals, managing cultural visibility, and utilizing digital tools, they enacted creative forms of agency that bridged cultural and systemic divides. Their experiences further underscore how access to services and opportunities is shaped by refugee status, professional credentials, and restrictive policies, highlighting the tension between personal resilience and structural exclusion.
Overall, the study demonstrates that resettlement outcomes are strengthened when newcomers, service providers, and the Refugee Immigration Service Center (RISC) community strategically mobilize cultural capital within context-specific settings, transforming structural constraints into opportunities for sustainable and equitable integration
Strength in sisterhood : a multiple case study describing the intrapersonal and interpersonal experiences of adolescent Christian women in a holistic wellness program.
No full textYoung women are experiencing significant struggles with their total wellness of mind, body, and spirit. High school-aged young women’s mental and emotional wellness has become increasingly at risk in the past decade. More specifically, young Christian women face the same stressors and detractors to their emotional health. Additionally, young Christian women lack a comprehensive understanding of their wellness and physiological processes. This combination of emotional vulnerability and limited awareness highlights the need for intentional research and support focused on the holistic wellness of young Christian women. This qualitative multi-site case study explored the experiences of adolescent Christian women (ages 13–18) in the southeastern United States regarding their perceptions of intrapersonal and interpersonal influences on their holistic well-being, self-concept, and community. The study revealed key insights into how young Christian women perceive their community’s influence on their total wellness through the lens of Bronfenbrenner’s (1978) bioecological framework. The researcher divided the bioecological system into two segments: intrapersonal (individual, microsystem, mesosystem) and interpersonal (macrosystem and exosystem). The study revealed five key themes from the participants across the sites. First, young Christian women from each site in this study reported that their individual faith has a significant impact on their self-concept, which they consider a critical factor in their holistic wellness. Second, young Christian women from each site reported defense, that family and friends were their primary sources of support for their mental and spiritual wellness. Third, young Christian women from each site reported cultural expectations as a main stressor for their mental wellness. Fourth, young Christian women from each site described careless talk from peers and social media as sources of negative influences on holistic wellness. Fifth, young Christian women from each site reported societal standards as a main stressor on their holistic wellness. The young women in this study spoke candidly about the perceived strength gained from their individual faith and their female family and friends. This study provides needed insight into how Christian education centers, such as Protestant Christian youth groups and private Christian schools, can more effectively support young women through community and knowledge
Pushed out : a qualitative single case study exploring Black women executives’ experiences with self-definition, self-valuation, resistance, and domains of power.
No full textBlack women remain starkly underrepresented in executive leadership across the workforce and experience systemic marginalization, intersectional discrimination, and structural biases (Branch & Kasztelnik, 2023; Smith et al., 2019) that impede their professional advancement and psychological well-being (Holder et al., 2015). Despite legislative protections for Black women, persistent disparities and intersectional challenges continue to limit equitable access to senior positions and equitable treatment. These inequities underscore the urgent need to examine how Black women executives encounter organizational power structures.
The purpose of this qualitative single case study was to explore Black women executives’ experiences with self-definition, self-valuation, and acts of resistance when encountering organizational domains of power. Grounded in Patricia H. Collins’ (1986) Black feminist thought framework, this study focused on three core tenets: self-definition and self-valuation, domains of power, and the importance of Afro-American women’s culture. I employed a purposive criterion sampling strategy, and four Black women with at least three years of executive-level experience, each of whom had experienced psychological discomfort, marginalization, and intersectional discrimination in the workplace, participated in this study. I collected data through semi-structured interviews, career timelines, and a focus group discussion. I analyzed the data using Creswell and Poth’s (2018) five-stage data analysis to identify patterns related to participants’ self-definition, self-valuation, and acts of resistance.
The study revealed six thematic findings: participants intentionally worked to prove their worth; negotiated their identities at an emotional cost to their well-being; tempered their leadership styles to protect their legitimacy; confronted structural erasure, invisibility, and devaluation; relied on culturally grounded networks to cope with workplace challenges; and created affirming spaces to resist workplace pressures and foster belonging. These findings highlight the importance of centering Black women’s voices to illuminate the intersection of power, identity, and resistance in leadership. The study offers actionable implications for decision-makers: to sustain the well-being of Black women executives, organizations must expand inclusive policies beyond representation metrics, strengthen peer-led support systems, and embed culturally responsive leadership practices. These insights can guide practitioners and researchers in developing targeted strategies that promote equity, psychologically safe environments, and cultural belonging
Honoring their service : a qualitative single case study of healthcare utilization by veterans in remote areas of Arizona.
No full textThe purpose of this qualitative single case study was to explore Arizona-based
veterans’ perceptions of healthcare services to identify social determinants related to the
types of healthcare they choose to access. Employing the Social Determinants of Health
theory (Braveman et al., 2011, this research examined veterans’ descriptions of their
home and work environments, previous experiences with healthcare systems, prevailing
community attitudes, education levels, and economic stability in relation to their
healthcare decision-making processes. The study utilized a data collection approach that
included an open-ended questionnaire, a semi-structured individual interview, and a focus
group discussion. The participants consisted of four veterans who had experiences with
both VA and non-VA healthcare facilities.
In the data analysis process, I identified five themes. The first theme was that
geographic distance between veterans’ home, work, and VA healthcare facilities created
difficulties in accessing consistent and timely care. The second theme is that previous
negative experiences with VA healthcare eroded their trust in the VA system. The third
theme is that community and peer perceptions of VA healthcare reinforced these
veterans’ skepticism about the quality of VA care. The fourth theme is that the
communication from VA health providers did not align with their health literacy needs or
expectations. The fifth theme was that veterans noted that financial constraints and access
to insurance dictated whether they could access civilian healthcare or had to rely on VA
services.
The findings of this study indicate a clear need for targeted policy interventions
that address the barriers within the VA system, as well as broader healthcare issues.
Recommendations include improvements in healthcare quality, streamlined care
coordination, enhanced accessibility, and transparent communication strategies.
Implementing these policy changes and provider practices may improve health outcomes
and overall satisfaction with healthcare among veterans, particularly those residing in
remote and rural communities
Exploring domestic violence victim service provider trauma-informed care resource delivery in a western United States city : a qualitative single case study.
No full textAccess to trauma-informed care (TIC) is essential for domestic violence (DV) victims, yet DV victim service providers often face significant challenges in delivering it effectively. Also referred to as intimate partner violence (IPV), DV includes physical and psychological harm between current or former romantic partners. One of its most severe consequences is psychological trauma, highlighting the importance of TIC resources in recovery. DV victim service providers such as social workers, therapists, and healthcare professionals play a critical role in helping victims access safety, shelter, mental health, and socio-economic support. However, they encounter organizational, systemic, and cultural barriers, along with limited training and resources. Understanding these providers’ experiences is key to improving TIC resource delivery. The purpose of this qualitative holistic single case study was to explore DV victim service providers’ TIC resource delivery experiences in a western U.S. city.
This qualitative holistic single case study explored the experiences of five female DV victim service providers in a western U.S. city, selected through criterion sampling. Participants had 6 to 35 years of experience working with DV victims. Guided by the TIC framework, I collected data using individual semi-structured and focus group interviews. Using thematic analysis, I discovered six findings: protocols and training support safety; commitment to promises fosters trustworthiness and transparency; peer support tools enhance DV victims resource delivery; limited funding practices hinder collaborations and mutuality; survivor-centered approaches promote empowerment, voice, and choice; and culturally-informed practices mend cultural, historical, and gender issues.
Findings highlighted the complex interplay between systemic barriers and frontline innovation, highlighting the need for policy reform to improve TIC implementation, especially for marginalized groups. The implications of this study emphasize critical factors that contribute to TIC resource delivery effectiveness, including structured protocols, trust building through honoring commitments, and peer networks that enhance resource delivery. It also highlights how limited funding hinders collaboration, while survivor empowerment and culturally responsive practice promote recovery, inclusiveness, and equity. This research contributes to the growing advocacy for survivor-centered, trauma-informed approaches in DV victim services
The color of discipline : a qualitative single case study exploring Black male students’ descriptions of school discipline.
No full textRacial inequities continue to affect students of color throughout the United States public education system, with Black male students facing the most significant harm. These disparities are especially evident in disciplinary outcomes, where Black males experience disproportionately high rates of suspensions, expulsions, and other exclusionary practices. Such measures remove students from valuable instructional time, perpetuate academic and social challenges, and undermine their access to the universal goals of education.
This qualitative single-case study explored Black male students’ perceptions of discipline practices within Goshen ISD (pseudonym) and their ideas for targeted strategies to meet the universal goals of education. Guided by the theoretical framework of targeted universalism (Powell et al., 2019), the study addressed two research questions: (1) How do Black male students and graduates students in Goshen ISD describe their perspectives on discipline practices, universal goals of education, and their ideas for targeted strategies to achieve these goals? and (2) How do documents (e.g., an external evaluation, state education agency data) describe the school discipline policies and practices of Goshen ISD? Data sources included semi-structured interviews with four participants, a review of an external evaluation, and Texas Education Agency discipline records.
The findings indicate that from a developmental perspective, older participants emphasized that successful learning experiences were related to universal goals, such as college and life preparation, while younger students articulated goals rooted in personal aspirations. Participants across age groups identified structural barriers, including educational environments that hindered meaningful engagement and school personnel who held negative perceptions of Black students. Although participants did not experience personalized instruction and responsive support, they identified these as promising strategies for achieving universal educational goals. Finally, the documents demonstrated that exclusionary discipline disproportionately removed Black students from the classroom in Goshen ISD. Recommendations include implementing culturally responsive teaching, restorative justice practices, ongoing professional development on implicit bias, and policy revisions supported by data monitoring systems. Sharing these valuable insights with educators, administrators, parents, and researchers can benefit educational equity
Undergraduate and graduate public relations students’ perceived value of a master’s degree in mass communication.
No full textThis study examines undergraduate and graduate public relations and mass communications students’ perceived value of a master’s degree in mass communication, focusing on motivating factors, outcome expectancies, barriers, and the decision-making process. The survey used Qualtrics to collect responses from 61 respondents. Findings revealed that salary increase and career advancement were the top motivations, and tuition and fees were the primary barrier to pursuing a master’s degree. The majority of respondents plan on entering the workforce directly after graduation, noting the importance of gaining work experience prior to pursuing graduate education. Students prefer on-campus and hybrid program formats compared to online settings. The current research draws on perspectives from both undergraduate and graduate students, which can benefit mass communication graduate programs, professors, and potential graduate students by understanding the motivating factors and barriers behind students’ decisions to pursue a master’s degree after graduation
Strengthening instruction : a qualitative single case study identifying the professional development needs of long-term substitute teachers in Arizona K-8 charter schools.
No full textCharter schools face increasing challenges in staffing classrooms with certified teachers, as only 75% of their teachers hold certification, compared to 91% in public schools. In Arizona, a 2020 policy allowed individuals with only a high school diploma to serve as emergency substitutes for up to 120 days. By 2021, 96% of the state’s long-term substitutes were working in charter schools. This growing reliance on uncertified teachers raises concerns about the quality of instruction. A short-term solution to support long-term substitutes in the classroom is to provide them with professional development.
This qualitative single case study examined the professional development needs of long-term substitutes in Arizona K–8 charter schools using Shulman’s (1987a) teacher knowledge framework. Through interviews, observations, and lesson plan reviews, the study revealed that while participants showed strengths in some areas, they also faced notable gaps in curriculum use, classroom management, subject matter knowledge, and data-informed instruction. Only five of the seven teacher knowledge categories were evident in practice, with participants demonstrating varied levels of confidence and preparedness. For example, some long-term substitutes successfully anticipated student misconceptions and used their curriculum effectively, while others struggled with lesson alignment and classroom behavior. These findings underscore the importance of differentiated professional development in addressing specific gaps and supporting long-term substitutes in achieving student learning goals. A more comprehensive and targeted approach can help equip these educators to perform more effectively despite their nontraditional training backgrounds.
This study highlights the critical need to better support long-term substitutes, who often teach without formal training yet are expected to meet the same standards as certified teachers. These insights have important implications for education leaders, principals, instructional coaches, and researchers, all of whom play key roles in shaping teacher support systems. By applying the study’s findings, key decision makers can bridge the gap between research and practice, ultimately improving instructional quality and student outcomes in charter school classrooms
Mitigating Ebola epidemic vulnerability : a case study of the 2014 Ebola outbreak in West Africa.
No full textThe 2014 Ebola outbreak devastated West Africa, but its severity cannot be attributed to biology alone. It revealed the full extent of how underinvestment in healthcare infrastructure and fragile economic systems can turn a viral spillover into a humanitarian crisis. This thesis argues that the outbreak’s unprecedented spread was a symptom of deeper structural failures, where delayed responses, mistrust of health institutions, and weak fiscal capacity compounded the biological threat. Drawing on public health literature, World Health Organization and World Bank reports, and data from country-level case studies, this work traces the virus’s movement alongside the breakdown of institutional control. Each chapter centers a different layer of vulnerability: the history and virology of Filoviridae pathogens, the sociopolitical dynamics of transmission across national borders, and the long-term economic and infrastructural fallout. Together, these chapters make the case that epidemic response cannot be reactive or isolated. Instead, preparedness must be proactive, interdisciplinary, and economically sustainable. The conclusion recommends a new framework for epidemic resilience—one grounded in local engagement, cross-border policy coordination, and stable investment in both public health and economic infrastructure
The effect of indole-derivatives on Fusobacterium nucleatum virulence, assessed by biofilm growth and virulence factor expression.
No full textFusobacterium nucleatum (F. nucleatum) is a Gram-negative, non-motile, anaerobic bacterium commonly found in the human oral cavity and is also an opportunistic pathogen frequently isolated from patients with various infections, including colorectal cancer (CRC). Indole is a signaling molecule commonly produced by bacteria to signal biofilm formation, a feature of CRC, and affects bacterial virulence. F. nucleatum secretes indoles within the tumor microenvironment, but the effects of these indole derivatives on its virulence and CRC-associated traits remain unclear. Preliminary data indicate that indole-3-carbonic acid (I3CA) inhibits the invasion of a disease-associated F. nucleatum isolate into CRC cells after two hours (p<0.05). This study focuses on the mechanisms of virulence of F. nucleatum and their relationship to I3CA. I3CA increases biofilm growth of cancer associated isolates, while decreasing it for others. The virulence factor RadD is associated with biofilm growth patterns