6834 research outputs found
Sort by
A single-case study exploring Boy Scouts of America leadership perspectives and experiences with diversity and culturally relevant pedagogy within the Scoutreach program.
No full textThe Boy Scouts of America (BSA) is a longstanding organization with a proud history of instilling leadership skills in its youth. As the BSA evolved, it opened a Scoutreach program to deliver the scouting program to underserved communities. However, Scoutreach struggles to provide the same quality scouting program to historically marginalized groups. As a result, scouting inequities arose regarding socioeconomic differences and methods of delivery of the scouting curriculum. This single case qualitative research study explored the BSA's leadership perspectives and experiences with diversity and culturally relevant pedagogy within the BSA Scoutreach program. This study's participants included four BSA leaders who served in the Scoutreach program within the Western region of the United States. The researcher employed data collection methods such as semi-structured interviews, follow-up interviews, meeting notes, participant notes, meeting agendas, and the Scout handbook. This study elicited results that support the need for continual growth and evolution within the BSA to improve the scouting curriculum delivery and access to every community the BSA serves. The researcher used the culturally relevant pedagogy (CRP) theoretical framework to identify the following shared themes among participants: Scoutreach leadership holds high regard for scouting and believes the program imparts a positive transformational impact on its participants; program quality improves when BSA leaders recognize the differences in resources available and treatment given to traditional units and Scoutreach units; family and community support are essential in providing a motivational and conducive learning environment for participants; and Scoutreach families experience daily life challenges that have the potential to inhibit their scouting experience if not properly acknowledged and supported. These findings support adjusting program strategies to help meet participants' needs to engage in the curriculum, intentionally building strong relationships with scouting leadership and participant families, and providing multilingual and multicultural options to create a welcoming scouting environment
Psychological factors of athletic injury : the role of personality, resilience, and stress in sport related musculoskeletal pathology.
No full textMusculoskeletal injuries in sport are a common source of long-term pain and disability for millions of athletes each year. Increasing evidence suggests that psychosocial variables (e.g., anxiety, optimism) play a significant role in injury risk and recovery. However, questions remain over which psychosocial constructs are most salient and how they operate in the sport-injury process. The aim of this dissertation was to explore the associations and predictive utility of three major psychological constructs with sport-injury risk and recovery: the Big-Five personality traits (i.e., extraversion, agreeableness, conscientiousness, negative emotionality, open-mindedness), resilience (BRS), and perceived stress (PSS). In a retrospective analysis of 12-month injury history, negative emotionality (β = 0.051, p = .007) and PSS (β = 0.093, p < .001) were associated with increased odds of three or more injuries. Conscientiousness (β = -0.049, p = .021) and BRS (β = −0.084, p = .028) were associated with decreased odds of three or more injuries. In a three-month prospective study, personality traits were not predictive of sport injury status (i.e., injured vs. not) or pain self-efficacy. However, Open-mindedness (β = - 0.043, p = .016) inversely predicted expected days lost due to injury. Agreeableness (β = 0.058, p = .017) positively predicted expected days lost due to injury. PSS (β = 0.139, p = .041) positively predicted kinesiophobia following injury. Conscientiousness (β = -0.010, p = .042) and BRS (β = -0.026, p = .002) positively predicted increased quality of life in athletes, while negative emotionality (β = 0.015, p < .001) and PSS (β = 0.019, p = .001) predicted decreased quality of life. Findings demonstrate that, regardless of psychological profile, most athletes experience at least one or two MSK impairments when participating in the physical challenge of sport. However, an athlete's personality, degree of resilience, and perception of stress may influence higher rates of injury, return to sport timelines, and psychological response to injury. These findings further develop prognostic and rehabilitation models for sport medicine providers. Continued research is needed to validate the predictive utility of these traits over longer time periods and explore interventions for mitigating injury risk
Beyond separation and accommodation : Sandra Day O'Connor on religion and the political order.
No full textThis dissertation examines the American Supreme Court's political thought concerning religion as it is revealed through its Establishment Clause jurisprudence. Scholarship on the Court's Establishment jurisprudence tends to focus on the legal theories employed by the various justices and therefore also the legal consequences of the Court's decisions. This project approaches these opinions from a theoretical perspective, analyzing the justices' particular theoretical understandings of religion and how it philosophically fits within the American community's political order. After arguing that the Court has assumed that the religion protected by the First Amendment is believed as opposed to enacted, individualist as opposed to communal, and voluntarist as opposed to received, the dissertation examines the two main approaches the Supreme Court has taken to adjudicate Establishment claims—Separation and Accommodation—showing that both approaches presume this theory of religion, therefore also assuming that religion must be privatized. Turning to Justice Sandra Day O'Connor's jurisprudence, the project suggests an alternative approach to religion within the American political community, arguing that O'Connor's theoretical approach creates space for religion within the American political community. Reading her Free Exercise and Establishment jurisprudence in conjunction with each other shows that she presumes that religious freedom is political in character, and therefore becomes intelligible through religious persons' participation in the American political community as religious persons
Investigating the production of antimicrobial peptides using the SUMO protein expression system in E. coli.
No full textIn an age of increasing antibiotic resistance, antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are a promising alternative to antibiotics. While numerous publications have documented AMP expression, few have used the same production system to express a variety of different AMPs. In this study, eight AMPs were expressed in Escherichia coli using the SUMO carrier protein. Six of the eight AMPs were designed to target Helicobacter pylori, a gram-negative bacterium known for causing chronic gastritis and gastric cancer. The goal was to identify a universal AMP production system, assess the capabilities of the SUMO carrier protein, and identify AMPs likely to eliminate H. pylori. The two metrics used to assess expression success were yield and activity against the target bacteria. The remaining two AMPs targeted a gram-positive bacterium, Staphylococcus aureus, and showed excellent yield and activity. However, yield was poor for all six AMPs targeting H. pylori. Five of these had enough yield to conduct activity tests, but activity was low for all. Thus, we demonstrated that SUMO is an unreliable carrier protein for AMPs toxic to gram-negative bacteria. These results led the Kearney Lab to identify a superior production method, the Inclusion Body Method. Five of the AMPs targeting H. pylori were transferred to inclusion body vectors and have now been produced in good quantity. AMPs remain a promising and exciting alternative treatment to antibiotics and further exploration is needed
A single case study exploring United States Navy service members' perceptions of their apprenticeship-level training.
No full textThe tragedies that befell the USS Fitzgerald and USS John S. McCain in 2017 cost 17 service members their lives. These incidents sent shock waves through the service, with several upper-echelon officers losing their positions while temporarily halting all naval operations. Investigating the collisions, The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) cited a lack of training as a causal factor. The NTSB illuminated a problem with apprentice-level training in the U.S. Navy by mentioning a lack of training as a causal factor. Research has also shown that service members do not prioritize their apprentice-level training. On a macro scale, America lags behind its global counterparts in implementing apprentice-level training to fill skilled worker vacancies. These incidents should serve as revelatory moments to study and fully grasp the scope of the problem. The purpose of this single case study was to explore five active-duty service members' perceptions of their apprentice-level training through the lens of Deci and Ryan's (1985) self-determination theory. I chose the study participants via criterion-based convenience sampling. Three research questions guided the study in capturing the participants' perceptions. The participants completed a questionnaire, individual interviews, and a focus group interview in the data collection process. I uncovered three key findings related to this study. First, service members did not feel autonomous during their apprenticeship-level training in the U.S. Navy particularly in job choice, the pacing of learning, and assignment and location selection. Second, service members did not feel the training they received provided the requisite level of competence for their subsequent jobs. Third, the sense of community among service members is contingent upon their instructors and peers. The findings of this study have implications for new U.S. Navy accessions, U.S. Navy apprentice training instructors, and senior U.S. Navy decision-makers. Finally, I offer how to best distribute the findings from the study
Tradition, Natural Law, and Rational Disagreement : Ethics in Alasdair MacIntyre and C. S. Lewis
No full textDeep disagreement in ethics is a common and well-recognized phenomenon, arising when people view an issue from different, incommensurable perspectives. Its pervasiveness can tempt us to doubt the power of reason, question the existence or efficacy of a natural law, and fall into moral relativism or subjectivism. Alasdair MacIntyre's account of ethics tries to rescue rationality, rebuff relativism, and vindicate the natural law with an account of how, even in a seemingly intractable conflict of theories, rational enquiry and progress is possible. In so doing, MacIntyre's arguments are strikingly similar to points C. S. Lewis makes about tradition, enquiry, and the natural law in his book The Abolition of Man. However, each author approaches these topics in different ways and with different emphases. This thesis begins with a detailed account of MacIntyre's views and some of the criticisms that can be raised against it. The second chapter then examines C. S. Lewis' arguments and compares them with MacIntyre's account of ethics. The final chapter gives a combined picture of moral argumentation, showing ways in which each author can help address objectionable gaps in the other's arguments about tradition, reason, and the natural law
Assessment of three key vaccine attitudes and exploration of their impact on vaccine uptake status in college students.
No full textPersonal attitudes towards vaccination as well as attitudes of friends and parents are likely key variables in predicting vaccination uptake (Flu, COVID-19, and HPV) in college students. Previous research has shown attitudes to be important predictors of health behaviors. However, there is no widely used psychometrically validated measure of attitudes in the literature that can be adjusted across vaccine types. Therefore, there is a need for a scale assessing college student personal attitudes and attitudes perceived in parents and friends toward vaccines. Furthermore, there is a need to test and build on mediation models predicting vaccination attitudes and behaviors across vaccine types that have been implied by previous work. Such models suggest that personal attitudes may mediate the relationship between friend/parent attitudes and vaccine uptake (Stout et al., 2020). Attitude scale items were developed and tested in a previous study. The present study validated the measures using CFA and IRT analyses in a sample of college students (N=324). Furthermore, mediation models were tested using Hayes Process Macro in SPSS. The present study found that each of the scales (e.g., self, parent, friend) demonstrated a single factor with high factor loadings and good item discrimination across vaccine types (e.g., Flu, COVID-19 booster, HPV). Overall, self attitudes were shown to be especially important in predicting vaccination behavior and mediated the relationships between other important variables and vaccine uptake. Hypotheses regarding parent and friend attitudes were not universally supported across all vaccine types. There is inconsistent support for the importance of parent and friend attitudes on vaccine uptake. Notably, the relationships between parent attitudes and vaccine uptake were mediated by self attitudes for flu and COVID-19 vaccine uptake but not HPV. However, the relationship between friend attitudes and vaccine uptake was mediated by self attitudes only for HPV. The paper ends with a discussion regarding the implications and limitations of this study as well as possible directions for future research
A descriptive case study exploring factors contributing to the success of black at-promise HBCU students using the anti-deficit achievement theory.
No full textThe transition from college to post-college opportunities presented significant challenges for at-promise Black students, hindered by unique obstacles impacting their readiness for graduate school and careers (Thomas, 2017; Purnell & Wade, 2019). National Center for Education Statistics (2019) data underscored low graduation rates among Black students, highlighting substantial barriers to post-college success. These students often grappled with familial obligations, financial constraints, and academic pressures (Thomas, 2017). Investigating their persistence and success within Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) provided insights into crucial support structures and the roles of familial and community backing (Thomas, 2017). Filling a gap in existing research, this study focused on Black at-promise HBCU students, considering intersecting identities to offer nuanced insights into their post-college readiness factors. A qualitative descriptive single case study design offered an in-depth exploration of a phenomenon and its contextual conditions (Baxter & Jack, 2015). Grounded in a constructivist paradigm, this study delved into the experiences of Black at-promise college seniors to understand how they navigated pre-college and college domains and accessed post-college opportunities. This design aligned with six out of nine anti-deficit achievement theoretical framework dimensions (Harper, 2010). By focusing on a single case, this research aimed to uncover the intricacies of participant experiences, addressing "how" and "why" questions through interviews and a focus group. Criterion purposive sampling was utilized to select five participants meeting specific criteria, including attending an HBCU, senior enrollment status, and experiencing academic setbacks during their college journey. Through this approach, the study sought to shed light on the factors contributing to the academic success and post-college preparedness of Black at-promise HBCU students. The implications of this study extended beyond academia, offering valuable insights for educators, policymakers, community leaders, organizations, and families. Educational administrators and policymakers could have leveraged these findings to develop targeted strategies for supporting Black at-promise students, enhancing their outcomes in higher education and beyond. Additionally, community leaders and organizations could have supplemented educational efforts through collaborations, mentorship programs, and advocacy for policies addressing systemic inequalities. Families played a crucial role in student success, emphasizing the need for enhanced parental engagement and support for navigating the complexities of the educational journey
Managing growth in uncertain times : a descriptive case study of the Houston food bank.
No full textNonprofit organizations, especially food banks, play a crucial role in providing a societal safety net, a cornerstone of a compassionate society (Fyall & Allard, 2017; Paynter & Berner, 2014; Smith & Phillips, 2016). The Houston Food Bank, a prime example, has been at the forefront of support efforts during crises, as demonstrated during the pandemic. Despite facing a challenging period of external uncertainty due to natural disasters and the pandemic, the Houston Food Bank has shown remarkable resilience and experienced significant growth. This study delves into the factors of adaptability, self-organization, and non-linearity that have propelled the Houston Food Bank's growth in an unpredictable environment. I conducted a descriptive single case study, interviewing five Houston Food Bank senior leaders twice and collecting documents and physical artifacts to compile a rich dataset. The theoretical framework of complexity theory (Turner & Baker, 2019) focused the study and promoted alignment, guiding the development of themes and findings. This study sheds light on the unique approach of the Houston Food Bank, where non-linearity, adaptiveness, and self-organization have played pivotal roles in its growth during periods of uncertainty. The organization's non-linearity is evident in its ability to produce significant outcomes from minor adjustments, such as those necessitated by supply chain disruptions. Its adaptiveness was particularly striking in its swift response to emergent crises, including the Covid-19 pandemic. Moreover, the organization's emphasis on self-organization is noteworthy, as it empowers staff to independently develop and implement solutions to complex problems. These findings align with the complexity theory framework, explaining how the Houston Food Bank navigates uncertain environments. The results underscore these characteristics' efficacy in promoting organizational resilience and growth and suggest their broader applicability in managing large food banks under similar conditions. Focusing on the Houston Food Bank, this study addressed a notable gap in the existing literature on nonprofit growth during times of uncertainty, particularly in food banking. The findings offer valuable insights into the usefulness of complexity theory for researchers and practitioners within the food banking sector, enhancing understanding of organizational practices and strategies
A qualitative embedded single-case study exploring how adjunct faculty create a community of inquiry experience in online graduate programs.
No full textHigher education institutions continuously rely on adjunct faculty members (Guthrie et al., 2019). A subset of adjuncts who primarily teach online report challenges with student motivation and engagement (Bolliger & Martin, 2018). Additionally, adjunct faculty members are often working professionals with limited time, energy, and resources to devote to andragogical principles (Brennan & Magness, 2018; Mueller et al., 2013). The purpose of this embedded single-case study was to explore and describe how online adjunct faculty create a community of inquiry. Limited research has focused on online adjunct faculty and their ability to develop a community of inquiry with their adult students. This embedded single-case study provided dual perspectives of online community members. I applied the Community of Inquiry framework (Garrison et al., 1999) to examine social, cognitive, and teaching presence at one small Midwestern graduate university. This embedded single-case study approach had two sets of participants: Five online adjunct faculty members and 40 of their students. They provided in-depth descriptions of their experiences as members of their online learning communities. The online adjunct faculty participated in semi-structured interviews, and their students submitted responses to an online Qualtrics questionnaire. The data were triangulated with documentation submitted by the faculty participants. Online adjunct faculty who create a community of inquiry are more equipped to engage with their diverse students. Three themes emerged from this research: online communities of inquiry members need to feel psychologically safe; content must be professionally and culturally relevant; and communication and relationship building are the building blocks to thriving, healthy online learning communities. Because online adjunct faculty are geographically dispersed, many need the opportunity to network and build connections with their peers and colleagues. The implications of this study reveal increased professional development programs and the need to build community with online adjunct faculty within their respective universities. The findings inform university administrators and faculty development program facilitators about online engagement between students and their adjunct faculty members. The findings of this study add to the literature about engagement strategies used to create and support a community of inquiry