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Understanding the impact of caregiver recovery capital on self-efficacy : a mixed method approach.
No full textIt is necessary to have more literature focusing on caregivers who are in recovery from substance use and their self-efficacy to take care of their children. Self-efficacy is crucial in parenting as it is associated with child-rearing outcomes. By comprehending the self-efficacy of these caregivers, treatment providers and other professionals working with this population can gain better insight into how to best support caregivers in recovery and their children. This convergent mixed methods study aimed to better understand recovery capital's impact on a caregiver's self-efficacy. Cloud and Grainfield's (2008) recovery capital framework guided the data collection and analysis. I used two quantifiable surveys in the first part of the data collection. Gibaud-Wallston and Wandersman's (1978) Parent Sense of Competency Scale (PSOC) measured caregiver self-efficacy. Vilsaint et al.'s (2017) Brief Assessment of Recovery Capital (BARC-10) measured caregiver recovery capital. The second portion of the study included semi-structured interviews with five participants. Interview questions aligned with the recovery capital framework and allowed the caregivers to share their recovery experience and perception of self-efficacy to fulfill their caregiver role. The last portion of this study integrated the quantitative and qualitative data to provide a more thorough understanding of caregivers' perceptions of their recovery capital and how it relates to their self-efficacy as a caregiver. The results of this convergent mixed methods study indicated that although recovery capital is not a statistically significant predictor of caregiver self-efficacy, there is a relationship between the two. Caregivers in the quantitative portion of this study indicated a high sense of recovery capital and self-efficacy. The qualitative part of the study provided evidence to support these findings. Additionally, all five caregivers reported recovery support services assisted them in feeling confident in their parenting. This study offers preliminary findings to explore self-efficacy further in caregivers across the length of recovery and gender
Unlocking the early impact : a multiple case study on the underrepresentation of Black men as early childhood educators—exploring their career choice, retention, long-term sustainability, and influence on Black students.
Get PDFWithin the realm of education, the pervasive underrepresentation plagues Black male educators, with stark implications for students and the teaching profession. This issue significantly impacts early childhood education because female educators predominantly staff it, while the presence of Black male teachers in this field is quite limited. This scarcity has significant consequences, as young Black children, especially Black boys, often lack access to role models who share their racial identity, negatively impacting their academic and socio-emotional development. Furthermore, Black male educators have a unique understanding of the challenges faced by Black students, but they often experience isolation due to a lack of support and community. In states like Texas, the challenges of Black students are exacerbated, where many Black children live in poverty. Therefore, with this study, I aimed to investigate the challenges Black male early childhood educators face in Texas to enhance their recruitment, development, and retention, thereby improving the educational experiences of Black children and Black male early education educators. In this multiple case study, I incorporated the data collection methods of one-on-one interviews, focus groups, journal entries, mentorship questionnaires, and educational biographies. The study focused on three Black male early childhood educators in central Texas and utilized Burns' (1978) transformational leadership theoretical framework. Through these methods, I sought to provide insights into the lived experiences of three Black male early childhood educators, their encounters with inequities within their roles, and their perspectives on the impact of their experiences, motivations, and interactions with students. This study resulted in six key findings from the experiences of the three Black male early childhood educator participants. After considering other career options, they entered the field. Participants encountered retention challenges from feeling undervalued and had to depend on community, self-care, and student relationships for sustainability. They emphasized authenticity in their interactions with students, underscored the significance of Black role models, and employed various engagement strategies to connect with their students as leaders in the field. These findings established the foundation for vital support systems for future Black male early childhood educators
War Under the Microscope : Biological Weapons and the Just War Tradition.
Get PDFThough biological weapons have been used for thousands of years, advancements in science and technology have revolutionized the biological threat landscape. Scientists can manipulate and engineer pathogens in ways that were previously unimaginable, making bioweapons an attractive option for both state and non-state bad actors. Despite the legal and ethical prohibitions against biological weapons, state-sponsored bioweapons programs have continued to proliferate, and the threat from lone-wolf bioterrorists continues to rise. In this thesis, I point to three primary reasons why the current prohibitions have failed to deter the development and use of bioweapons. First, I argue that the ethical and legal prohibitions against bioweapons are outdated because of recent technological and scientific advances. Second, there are virtually no means of verification which makes catching violations nearly impossible. Finally, there are no mechanisms to facilitate the enforcement of the prohibitions or to hold violators accountable. In light of the claim that the current frameworks are insufficient, I propose to turn to the just war tradition to guide future regulations and policies
Isotopic niche, trace element concentrations, and fatty acids in Pacific walrus tissues.
No full textPacific walruses (Odobenus rosmarus divergens) are a culturally and ecologically important species in the Arctic. Walruses are dependent on sea ice cover for breeding, pupping, and resting between foraging bouts. Recent Arctic warming has altered walrus access to sea ice and this may have profound effects on the population. A lack of sea ice cover may limit walrus access to preferred foraging areas or result in shifts in prey consumption. This dissertation focuses on markers of foraging and physiology that can be measured in walrus tissue, including analysis of toxic and essential trace elements, stable isotopic niche, and fatty acids. Concentrations of toxic elements in walrus muscle were low. Muscle trace element concentrations differed between male and female walruses indicating either differences in habitat use or prey selection. Stable carbon and nitrogen isotopes were analyzed in liver and muscle and compared between males and females, as well as based on the Arctic sea ice minimum. Results indicated that male and female walruses differ in their isotopic niche. An increase in the days without sea ice caused a reduced stable isotopic niche area in males. Lower summer minimum ice area similarly reduced the isotopic niche among females, and the occupation of coastal haulouts caused a shift to lower trophic level prey. Fatty acids in muscle were highly variable compared to the fatty acids measured in blubber, and this variability appears to be driven by differences in fatty acid oxidation to support muscle activity. In blubber, reduced stratification between blubber layers coincided with lower percent lipid measurements and clear differences in fatty acid proportions were evident between males and females and among sample years. These studies indicate that adult walruses have adjusted their prey selection in response to climate-driven habitat changes. However, future research should assess foraging success in calves and juveniles as they may be more vulnerable to habitat change
In-situ investigations on the synthesis and electronic properties of praseodymium cobalt germanides.
No full textFlux growth synthesis has been demonstrated to be a powerful technique for the discovery of new quantum materials; however, targeting compounds across the sub-nanometer to the nanometer length scale remains a challenge. Symmetry and length scale are two critically important tuning parameters in identifying technologically valuable electronic and magnetic states, particularly in lanthanide and actinide intermetallic compounds. Praseodymium cobalt germanides provide a diverse range of structures to study the effects of local symmetry and length scale on the magnetic and electronic behavior of praseodymium and thus create an ideal system to investigate new approaches for flux growth synthesis. Here, I present the Prn+1ConGe3n+1 homologous series as a platform to investigate the magnetic complexity of Pr intermetallic compounds through varying subunit stacking sequence. I synthesize two new members of the homologous series, Pr4Co3+xGe10-ySny and Pr5Co4+xGe13-ySny, and report the magnetic properties of Pr4Co3+xGe10-ySny. I synthesize two polymorphs of Pr2Co3Ge5, o-Pr2Co3Ge5 and m-Pr2Co3Ge5, and compare their magnetic and structural properties. In-situ X-ray diffraction studies reveal a second order structural phase transformation from room temperature m-Pr2Co3Ge5 to high temperature o-Pr2Co3Ge5 at approximately 343 K. Alongside results obtained from in-situ electron energy-loss spectroscopy, this transformation demonstrates that a nearly tetravalent electronic state of Pr in m-Pr2Co3Ge5 is directly linked to its structural distortion from the higher symmetry o-Pr2Co3Ge5 state. This is the first experimental evidence of an oxidation state greater than + 3.10 in an intermetallic Pr compound. Lastly, I report the capabilities of a new high temperature furnace for in-situ investigations of flux growth reactions using synchrotron X-ray powder diffraction. The new furnace reaches temperatures greater than 1200 °C using SiC heating elements and a modified box furnace design. Simultaneously, this work demonstrates the use of "non-interacting" Sn flux as a potential method to tune reaction products and target specific praseodymium cobalt germanide phases
The preferential option : a diachronic analysis of the meaning of 'liberation' and the use of Marx in Gustavo Gutiérrez.
No full textThis dissertation both corrects an error and fills a lacuna in contemporary secondary literature on Gustavo Gutiérrez. Against a substantial trend in recent studies on the theologian, I argue that Gutiérrez was much more dependent on Marxist analysis in his early work than is today often recognized or, in some cases, admitted. I propose, as well, a novel thesis for Gutiérrez's development on the topic of Marxist analysis that explains seeming contradictions within his work that have given rise to these errors. I argue that Gutiérrez's pre-1989 work should be divided into an "Early" and a "Late" era, separated by the third meeting of the Consejo Episcopal Latinoamericano y Caribeño (CELAM). The conference was organized by anti-liberationist elements within the Church hierarchy in order to strangle the upstart Liberation Theology movement, but creative interference by Gutiérrez, other Liberation Theologians, and a cadre of sympathetic bishops forced the anti-liberationist faction of the conference into a compromise. The official proceedings of Puebla condemned the theory of Marxist analysis but affirmed Gutiérrez's basic ethical vision, which it formalized as the "preferential option for the poor." After Puebla Gutiérrez's public self-presentation on the topic of Marxist analysis changed drastically and consistently along precisely these lines. In his work immediately after the conference and consistently until his revision of Teología de la liberación, Gutiérrez began writing about Marxist analysis in a way that would fit within the "Puebla Compromise," both keeping him within the good graces of the Church and simultaneously allowing his advocacy for the poor to retain the Church's imprimatur rather than coming under its censure
Breaking the cycle of "surviving day by day on the island" : a multiple case study on Native Hawai'ian and Pacific Islanders' college degree success in O'ahu, Hawai'i.
No full textThe success stories of Native Hawai'ians and Pacific Islanders (NHPIs) who overcome barriers to earn either their two or four-year college degree are few. To address this problem, I conducted a multiple case study to understand the experiences of NHPIs in O'ahu, Hawai'i in their journeys to earn either a two-year or four-year college degree within the last 15 years. I also sought to uncover perceived barriers that continue to exist for NHPIs in earning a two or four-year degree. I selected five NHPI participants who grew up in O'ahu, Hawai'i, attended K–12 schools in that area, and earned a two or four-year degree from a college or university in Hawai'i or Mainland, United States within the aforementioned period. I selected Yosso's model of a community of cultural wealth (2005) as the theoretical framework that supported my multiple case study to infer the participants' experiences while earning a two-year or four-year degree. The three forms of data collection for this study were individual interviews with each participant, one focus group with all five participants, and one reflection questionnaire. The four themes I found were as follows. First, participants regarded their families as essential to their academic success. Second, participants capitalized on the financial resources that were available from family or other means to pay for college. Third, close and endearing relationships with other NHPIs were essential in navigating through their college experiences. Fourth, no participants experienced any injustice because they were of NHPI descent. Regardless of their family background or circumstances, each participant persevered and earned a two or four-year degree from their respective college or university in Hawai'i or Mainland, U.S. The Hawai'i Department of Education (HDOE), public and private high school teachers, counselors, senior leaders of the NHPI community, and future researchers need to establish and maintain relationships with each other to ensure that NHPI college success rates increase in the future. Increasing the state of Hawai'i's investments that advocate NHPI academic success can inspire future generations from their communities to earn a two or four-year degree after high school
A quantitative study of shared mental models effect on performance in high-intensity teams.
No full textMany organizations depend on teams for operational success and for good reason. Teams allow us to accomplish more than any individual could do alone. However, not all teams perform at an optimal level. In the absence of shared mental models or an underdeveloped shared mental model performance has been demonstrated to suffer. This is also true for high-intensity teams, the ones that work under duress, ambiguous scenarios, time-sensitive environments, and often the threat of fatal consequences. When these teams are called upon, we need them to be at their best and in peak performance. Training is one way to achieve this level of constructive collaboration by developing shared mental models. This research used a quantitative methodology to determine the effect of participating in a hostage retrieval exercise for a Northeastern Oklahoma SWAT team had on their shared mental model. By administering the survey developed by Johnson et al. (2007) that broke down shared mental models into five factors (general team and task knowledge, general task and communication skills, attitude toward task and teammates, team dynamics and interactions, and team resources and working environment) to the team prior to training and then post-training to the team members, I was able to see if the shared mental model showed a statistically significant increase for the original pairs. I then randomized those members and paired up team members who do not typically work together and once again administered the survey prior to training and then post-training. I found a statistically significant growth on all five factors of shared mental model framework in the original pairs. Although the mixed pairs did experience growth in all five factors, only two of them were found to be statistically significant. The factors with the statistically significant growth were general task and team knowledge and team dynamics and interactions
Homeless and hungry, but the tuition is paid : a single case study exploring the food and housing insecurity crisis among undergraduate students.
No full textFood and housing insecurities among college students are a growing concern, undermining their well-being and academic and social success. This single holistic case study explored how food and housing insecurities impact students at a mid-sized public university in New York using Tinto's (1993) student integration framework. This framework suggests integration is key for retention, which guided me to explore the student's perspective on how these insecurities impact academic and social integration. The purpose of this case study was to understand the student's perspective on how food and housing insecurities impacted academic and social integration. Data analysis revealed that the student perspective is that food and housing insecurities impair their academic integration. The thematic analysis found that scarcity severely obstructed class attendance, concentration, and assignment completion by forcing stressful tradeoffs. However, campus events offering free meals facilitated strong social integration. This study contributed one context-specific investigation among an imperative wider scholarship holding higher education accountable to its highest purpose: enabling all students to thrive. I utilized a qualitative approach to gather data through in-depth interviews with five undergraduate student participants experiencing food and/or housing insecurities. I examined their weekly food and housing logs and analyzed campus event flyers to reveal complex effects on academic and social integration. The interviews revealed that pre-college hardship recursively exacerbated current struggles. Several key themes emerged after coding data guided by Tinto's (1993) theory. Findings unanimously showed that food and housing insecurities obstruct participants academic performance and integration by impairing focus, inducing stress, and necessitating tradeoffs between academics and survival. Limited on-campus food access exacerbated challenges. Results revealed that food and housing insecurities impacted social integration less as participants reported still participating in activities. However, it was still determined that these insecurities clearly undermine well-being and retention. Ultimately, participants perceived that student health and performance suffered without institutional prioritization of support services, awareness, and resource access. Still, the resilience of this population persisted despite stigma and systemically unequal conditions. Colleges must confront policies and cultural norms blocking the path to degree completion for far too many
State vs. society : divergent images of Christian America.
No full textAs posited as a unified ideology, Christian Nationalism (CN) contains two distinct views of what it means to be a "Christian Nation" – one which envisions a Christian civil society separate from the profanities of politics, what we call "Religious Traditionalism." The other envisions a Christian federal government where power is wielded exclusively by ethno-religious insiders, or "Christian Statism." This dissertation confirms that current measures of Christian Nationalism contain these two factors, analyzing multiple waves of two national surveys. We find that Christian Statism predicts nativism, Islamophobia, Anti-Semitism, and racial distrust while Religious Traditionalism, in most instances, predicts the opposite. Additionally, CS is consistently associated with conservative Protestant religiosity, unlike past research contends. Historically, Religious Traditionalists have always sought to influence civil society. But a different brand of Christian Nationalism has emerged, wherein all federal and state authority should rightfully and exclusively belong to Christian Statists