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    Analyzing students’ long-term motivational and emotional effects on achievement performance within and across diverse socioeconomic backgrounds

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    This dissertation examines how students’ motivational and emotional factors influence their future educational and professional achievements within and across diverse socioeconomic status (SES) groups. This study leverages a quantitative longitudinal study methodology employing a publicly available sample of 16,197 U.S. students from 10th grade through age 26. The theoretical model of this study is grounded in the situated expectancy-value theory (SEVT; Eccles & Wigfield, 2024) and generalized control-value theory (CVT; Pekrun, 2024), encompassing five latent constructs: expectancies for academic success, subjective task values, assurance about academic success, assurance about career success, and SES-related achievement performance. To investigate the relationships between these latent constructs, this study performed structural equation modeling (SEM) for the within-SES analysis and multi-group structural equation modeling (MGSEM) for the across-SES analysis. The findings revealed that students’ motivational and emotional predictors affected their future achievements differently both within and across low, low-mid, mid-high, and high SES groups. Specifically, students from lower SES groups were more inclined to experience social mobility through their motivational factors, whereas those from higher SES groups were more impacted by their emotional factors. Overall, students’ expectancies and assurance about their academic success were positive predictors of their future SES-related achievements while their values and assurance about career success were negative influencers. These findings contribute to understanding longitudinal comprehensive relationships between motivation and emotions among students from diverse SES and how these factors ultimately enhance students’ academic and professional achievements

    Culturally specific interventions and Indigenous practices in correctional and forensic settings: a systematic review

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    While professional guidelines, legislation and research emphasize the importance of adapting treatment approaches to patient characteristics and culture (American Psychological Association [APA], 2021, 2019; Correctional Service of Canada [CSC], 2013; Canadian Psychological Association [CPA], 2017; Canadian Counseling and Psychotherapy Association [CCPA], 2021), psychological and forensic research and practice related to culturally specific programming lags behind expectations to meet the needs of ethnically diverse clients. Given the continued overrepresentation of minorities within forensic institutions (Aguiar, 2020; Carter & Forsyth, 2007; Hanser & Gomila, 2015; Leguizamo et al., 2018), this systematic review aimed to raise awareness of culturally-specific interventions and Indigenous practices in correctional and forensic settings by being the first to examine their use and synthesize data on their recidivism, mental health, and behavioral outcomes with incarcerated individuals and forensic patients in the United States (U.S.) and Canada. Following PRISMA guidelines, the authors identified 8 articles from an initial total of 6,986 that met selection standards. All studies included Indigenous or Aboriginal populations and 7 of 8 studies were conducted in Canada. Results from deductive content analysis revealed that 62.5% of the studies – all correctional – examined culturally specific programs (i.e., Pathways Program, Native Sisterhood, Work 2 Give, Prison Garden, Aboriginal Programming). The majority of studies (87.5%) in both correctional and forensic settings examined Indigenous practices (use of Elders, sweat lodge ceremonies, spirituality). Although only 37.5% of the studies contained recidivism data (showing mixed results), 87.5% reported mostly positive mental health and behavioral outcomes data. This study appears to be the first to bring together research on the value of Elders and traditional ceremonies (i.e., sweat lodge, pipe ceremonies, sacred circles) in the rehabilitative and healing journeys of correctional inmates and forensic psychiatric patients. These findings highlight the need to widen the scope of culturally-specific programing for minority groups overrepresented in correctional and forensic contexts and improve consistency in terminology and methodological rigor when studying culturally-specific interventions and their outcomes in these settings

    From Ambiguity to Accountability: The Case for a Legal Definition of Antisemitism in Academia

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    Following the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks on Israel, U.S. college campuses experienced a sharp rise in antisemitic incidents, driven by an antizionism movement aimed at demonizing and delegitimizing the Jewish state and its supporters. A congressional investigation found that antisemitism persisted at prominent universities because administrators repeatedly failed to denounce antizionist conduct that functions as a vehicle for harassment of Jewish students and neglected to enforce their own nondiscrimination policies. The congressional committee, as well as several university antisemitism task forces, identified antizionism as a primary driver of campus antisemitism and strongly recommended that university leaders recognize and address how hostility towards Zionists serves as a proxy for harassment of Jewish students. The widely adopted International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance Working Definition of Antisemitism (IHRA Definition or the Definition) provides a vital legal and policy framework to serve this purpose. It addresses antizionism by providing examples of this contemporary form of antisemitism, such as using Israel libels to deny Jewish people their right to self-determination and applying discriminatory double standards exclusively to Israel. While critics complain that these examples may chill political speech, the IHRA Definition explicitly affirms that criticism of Israel comparable to that leveled against any other country is not antisemitic, and its examples provide accurate and instructive guidance on antisemitism. This Article argues that formally adopting the IHRA Definition into university nondiscrimination policies, training programs, and enforcement mechanisms is essential to dispel the prevailing ambiguity surrounding antizionism as a contemporary form of antisemitism and to restore institutional accountability in combating campus antisemitism

    Either at the table or on the menu: strategies for enabling practitioner-led policy co-creation in education systems

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    Demands for educational transformation present unparalleled challenges for practitioners, as successive reform initiatives often exclude their voices and discount their expertise. Despite empirical evidence recognizing educators as key agents of change, systemic barriers continue to hinder their participation in policy-centered decision making. This study underscores the urgent need for education systems to invest in practitioner capacity-building, structural enablement, and cross-sector collaboration to create a more equitable and responsive future for education governance. A qualitative phenomenological approach was employed to explore how best to prepare and enable PK-12 practitioners to co-create education policy at the state level, aiming to empower them as leaders in systemic reform. Co-creation, a collaborative practice increasingly embraced within the private sector and policy making spheres, offers a promising pathway for fostering social innovation and transformative leadership. However, its application within education governance remains limited. This study draws on Appreciative Inquiry (AI) to address this gap and to identify strategies, best practices, and recommendations for enabling practitioners to lead policy co-creation efforts. Through purposeful sampling, 15 PK-12 practitioners with firsthand experience co-constructing state-level policy participated in semi-structured interviews. Thematic coding and visualization methods were employed to analyze their responses, revealing actionable insights into practitioner preparation and systemic support for collaborative governance. The findings culminated in the development of the Reyes Practitioners as Architects of Co-Created Education Reform (PACER) Framework, and a corresponding toolkit designed to bridge the gap between practitioners and policymakers. By emphasizing reflective growth, equity advocacy, and systems thinking, the Reyes PACER Framework equips educators with the tools, knowledge, and strategies to influence policy effectively. By underscoring the urgent need for education systems to invest in practitioner capacity-building, structural enablement, and cross-sector collaboration, this study aims to create a more equitable and responsive future for education governance

    The Detrimental Impact of Early Childhood Exposure to Pornography

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    As pornography continues to become more easily and readily accessible, children are at higher risk of viewing it. This work aims to investigate the destructive impact of premature exposure to pornography, and the negative perceptions of sex and decision-making towards it as a result. The operational definition used defines “early exposure” as prepubescents (children of elementary-grade school ages) viewing explicit material through involuntary and accidental initial engagement, and “decision-making” as moral agency and choice of response and action. The populations searched focused more on American culture and its lens on sex and pornography, with the incorporation of other cultural frameworks (European influences and findings gathered from an Australian school system) to further provide global insight and international concurrence on this alarming issue. Findings demonstrated strong associations from premature exposure impairing a youth’s neurological, mental, psychological, and social health, impeding proper development in these vital areas. Data collected confirmed an increased likelihood of negative self outlook and interpersonal interactions, risky behaviors, addictions, self harm, and suicidality resulting from early exposure to explicit content. Conclusion of this work entails awareness and preventive measures to protect youth and ensure safety during their development. Keywords: early exposure to pornography, pornography and sexual abuse, pornography and sexual trauma, childhood trauma and pornography, ACE and pornograph

    Exploratory study of selected paintings of Jesus Christ

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    This qualitative study employs digital artifacts to explore paintings of Jesus through iconography, semiotic analysis, visual culture/visual studies, ancient Christian history, the importance of digital pedagogy, and digital preservation of the artwork of Jesus, thereby digitally preserving culture and the religious culture of Jesus as a transformational leader. Paintings, frescoes, and other art media such as sculpture or ancient books are the educational tools and the elements of exceptional, invaluable, and immeasurable historical legacy. Cultural heritage preservation is a growing demand; digital technology reduces costs and allows for a broader application of techniques (Stanco et al., 2011). Paintings of Jesus portray iconography in the visual and digital artifacts realm of religious arts, which currently need attention. Jesus was a transformational leader, and the widespread story of his life told through the theology of ancient Christian history strengthens why we need to preserve the images of Jesus in paintings and other art mediums now more than ever, saving them from the ravages of time, natural disasters, grand theft, and war. Jesus was an impactful leader in this century, and many have been influenced by Jesus through following him and striving to share his love through music, words, acts of service, or bravery. Recently, a Ukrainian Church had its paintings of Jesus destroyed by Russian armies in war, proving more than ever that there is a need to protect and preserve paintings digitally from churches and museums. According to a recent news article (Whitaker, 2023), such destruction heightens the need to protect the heritage of nations and religions at risk. This qualitative study explores and displays the importance of digitally preserving the artwork of Jesus more than ever. Through exploratory, descriptive design and the growing need to utilize digital artifacts and visual culture in the classroom. Images of paintings studied in person as the data source captured by the digital camera, producing the digital artifacts for this study. This dissertation hopes to promote the use of digital pedagogy in education and implement further the use of digital artifacts, art, and technological studies, and the growing need to keep students more visually engaged

    Best educational practices for supporting English learners during remote learning

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    Remote learning (RL) has gained significant momentum in recent years, particularly following the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown, underscoring the need for technology to facilitate remote education. Despite its increased prominence, RL has been a long-standing educational tool, enabling students to access quality education even when physically distant from prestigious institutions. However, the effectiveness of RL has been a topic of ongoing debate, with no clear consensus in the literature on the optimal strategies to enhance its outcomes. Focusing on English language learning, this study aimed to investigate the challenges and barriers associated with RL and identify effective strategies to improve its efficacy. To achieve this, the researcher conducted interviews with 15 educators, using open-ended questions to gather their insights on the current state of teaching English remotely and the issues they encountered. Through a thematic analysis of the interview data, the study identified several key strategies for enhancing the effectiveness of online English instruction, many of which align with findings in the existing literature. A supportive online learning environment was identified as essential for fostering interaction between tutors and students, as well as peer-to-peer engagement. Additionally, the study highlighted the importance of flexible learning platforms that incorporate interactive and engaging activities, allowing students to learn at their own pace. Measuring the effectiveness of RL was also emphasized as critical for student success. The findings suggested that evaluating English learners\u27 progress should involve understanding individual limitations and capabilities coupled with objective performance assessments. To address existing challenges, the study recommended improving tutor training on technology and integrating more interactive, engaging, and enjoyable online systems. The study contributes a potential framework for developing effective RL strategies to support English learners and enhance overall learning outcomes by addressing these gaps

    A practical theology of change: community-centered leadership for congregational transformation in evolving contexts

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    Communities worldwide have been dramatically and rapidly changing, with more of the world’s population expected to live in urban settings by 2030. Christian churches that failed to adapt to their communities’ mergent needs experienced stagnation and decline, while those that survived and thrived rethought their strategies for engaging with their respective communities. Research indicated that churches focusing on achieving and sustaining congregational health and vitality had the potential to defy the prevailing trends of church decline. However, there was a lack of research regarding best practices for doing so. Therefore, this study identified the practices used by ministers of Christian churches in the US to achieve and support congregational health and vitality. The study utilized a research interviewing method, where fifteen pastors from growing churches located in the US were recruited using a purposive sampling strategy. Semi-structured interviews were conducted to gather data related to the research questions. The data were aggregated across participants and subjected to content analysis to draw themes. The findings revealed that ministers faced significant challenges, including internal conflicts, financial constraints, and resistance to change. Successful ministers overcame these challenges by connecting deeply with members, equipping them for leadership, and engaging in community outreach. Adaptability and innovation were key to sustaining congregational vitality. The study also highlighted the importance of strong, visionary leadership that balances empathy with decisiveness. The implications of these findings suggest that churches must prioritize both internal cohesion and external engagement to maintain health and vitality. Ministers must be prepared to lead through complex challenges and foster a culture of adaptability within their congregations. These practices are crucial for ensuring that Christian churches remain relevant and impactful in rapidly changing urban environments

    The CrossFit ABM: The Risks of the Unknown and Unknowable

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    In the wake of the tragic death of six-time Elite athlete Lazar Ðukič at the 2024 CrossFit Games, this study explores how CrossFit HQ can enhance its public image and cultivate more substantial relationships with its affiliates and customer network. This purposeful case study examines the events surrounding Ðukič’s death in conjunction with founder Greg Glassman’s “Floyd-19” controversy, to posit that authenticity, transparency, and trust are three missing factors in the business model. With intentional and explicit collaboration with the Professional Fitness Athletes’ Association, this study argues that the organization’s Affiliate Business Model can be enhanced and affiliate and customer relationship management can be rectified, so long as authenticity, transparency, and trust are prioritized in the brand’s vision and value statement

    The MEDIA Report: Media & Entertainment Data In America 2019 to 2025

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