URSA - Mercer University Research, Scholarship, and Archives
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Bethel Baptist Church Records, Loose Pages
No full textLoose items included with bound church records, Bethel Baptist Church, Wilkinson Count
Stillmore Baptist Church Minute Book, 1892-1904
No full textChurch record book that includes regularly recorded meeting minutes and church membership lists for Stillmore Baptist Church in Emanuel County, 1892-1904
Designing and Implementing A STEAM Education Mercer on Mission
No full textFinal report of a Service Scholars project to teach computer science in underserved communities in middle Georgia and South Africa
AN INVESTIGATION OF MEDICAL IMAGING EDUCATOR LEVELS OF CULTURAL COMPETENCE
No full text2024Evidence suggests that culturally competent care can reduce the racial, ethnic, and cultural healthcare disparities that continue to plague the United States. While practicing professionals must rely on continuing education to improve cultural competence, future healthcare professionals enrolled in health sciences educational programs must rely on program curricula delivered by educators who may or may not be culturally competent themselves. Accreditation requirements related to cultural competence concepts vary greatly between disciplines and this variability results in significant differences in the quality and scope of cultural competence education. JRCERT accredited educational programs in medical imaging must adhere to an approved curriculum that includes concepts related to cultural competence, but no guidance is provided regarding design and implementation of content or measurement of student outcomes. This lack of guidance results in substantial variability in how these concepts are implemented within the medical imaging curriculum. Research suggests that the quality of this content is therefore dependent upon the cultural competence of the educator.
The purpose of this study was to examine medical imaging educators’ cultural competence and the extent to which they employed transcultural teaching behaviors. The researcher measured medical imaging educator cultural competence and transcultural teaching behaviors via the Cultural Diversity Questionnaire for Nurse Educators-Revised. One-hundred forty-nine educator members of the American Society of Radiologic Technologists participated in the study.
The findings of this study suggest that study participants perceived themselves as culturally competent and that they engage in at least some transcultural teaching behaviors. Furthermore, the findings reveal that educators engaged in cultural desire by committing both professionally and personally to providing culturally competent care as well as to teaching how to provide culturally competent care. Attending events sponsored by local and state societies and attending events outside of sponsored activities motivated by personal interests were significantly related to cultural competence. These findings suggest that personal motivation plays a significant role in professional development choices as well as choices related to whether and how cultural competence is taught in their program. Future research could further elucidate these choices and measure student outcomes to inform best practices.Isaac, CarolBalloun, Joseph LBooker, AnsleyD.Phil
TESTING FOR LEAD EXPOSURE IN CLAY TARGET SHOOTING TEAMS
No full text2024Lead exposure is a critical health issue that can have long-term adverse health consequences on people who have elevated blood lead levels. The effects of lead exposure at a young age can be permanent and irreversible. Even though lead exposure has decreased significantly over the past 50 years due to controls, laws, and regulations, lead remains a very serious public health issue in the United States. Recent news headlines have indicated that lead can still be found in food products, water pipe connectors, and drink containers. Lead exposure in rural areas is even more significant due to the fact that housing stock is older in these areas and in some states, 92% of rural areas have a high lead risk exposure score. Clay target shooting is very popular in rural areas, and over the past ten years this sport has been introduced into middle and high school sporting activities with many rural youth and adolescents taking up this sport as an extension of hunting and shooting activities that they already pursue. Shooting activities have previously been identified as increasing the risk of lead exposure due to the discharge of lead dust.
The study’s objective is to determine if participating on a clay target shooting team exposes shooters to lead in quantities high enough to increase their blood lead level. Capillary blood samples were drawn, analyzed, and the results were recorded for each study participant before the clay target shooting season began and again after the season was completed. The pre- and post-season blood lead level results were compared and indicated that there were no detectable changes in the blood lead levels of the study participants. In conclusion, the study indicated that participating on a clay target shooting team does not significantly increase the blood lead level of the team members during the school shooting season. Future research opportunities should include venous blood draws from a larger population and sample size using blood lead analyzer instruments that are more sensitive and can provide exact readings at all levels.Lian, BradHollar, DavidKondracki, Anthony JMincey, Krista DD.Phil
You Can’t Pour From an Empty Cup: A Phenomenological Study Exploring Experiences of Black Counselor Wellness Practices and Barriers to Wellness
No full text2024CHA’KE’SHA SPENCER
YOU CAN’T POUR FROM AN EMPTY CUP: A PHENEMENOLOGICAL STUDY EXPLORING EXPERIENCES OF BLACK COUNSELOR WELLNESS PRACTICES AND BARRIERS TO WELLNESS
Under the direction of MORGAN E. K. RIECHEL, PHD
Myers et al., (2000) define wellness as “a way of life oriented toward optimal health and well- being in which body, mind, and spirit are integrated by the individual to live more fully within the human and natural community.” Occupational hazards such as burnout, compassion fatigue, vicarious trauma and the COVID-19 pandemic may contribute to counselors’ vulnerability regarding a lack of wellness practices (Blount et al., 2016). Black counselors face these risks and unique barriers to wellness such as racial stressors, stigma associated with mental health, and cultural myths and misconceptions around emotional wellness and self-care. The literature is limited regarding wellness models for Black Americans and the theoretical framework for this study does not focus on one model, instead explores several traditional wellness models including those that center cultural relevance. The Strong Black Woman Schema and John Henryism concepts and their relationship to Black counselor wellness practices were also explored. This qualitative study utilized Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) to interview 9 practicing master and doctoral level counselors, who practice independently and identify as Black. The purpose of this study was to understand the lived experiences of Black counselors’ wellness practices and possible barriers to wellness. Results indicate that Black counselors are able to define wellness as being holistic, balancing mind, body and spirit and self- care as activities that are enjoyable and promote optimal wellness. Results also indicate that participants acknowledged their history of prioritizing work and family and treating their self- care as an afterthought, which resulted in feelings of exhaustion, guilt, being overwhelmed. Participants admitted that history and cultural beliefs played a role in how they cared for themselves, and they recognized the need for community in their wellness journey.Kiper-Riechel, MorganWilkinson, R. TylerSutherland, SonjaD.Phil
CAN IT TEACH STUDENTS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS TO READ? A MULTI-METHODS CASE STUDY ANALYSIS OF COMPUTER-AIDED INSTRUCTION
No full text2024JENEEN L. SUTTON
CAN IT TEACH STUDENTS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS TO READ?
A MULTI-METHODS CASE STUDY ANALYSIS OF COMPUTER-AIDED INSTRUCTION
This research aims to explore the impact of Computer-Aided Instruction (CAI) on the reading achievement of students with special needs, framed within Zhu’s Theory of Smart Learning Environments and insights from Snyder et al. (2019) on technology in special needs education. The study addresses whether CAI can significantly enhance reading outcomes for these students, navigating through the perceptions of teachers, students, and parents.
The research employs a mixed-methods approach, combining qualitative and quantitative methodologies. Data collection involved pre- and post-intervention assessments of students' reading levels using the Lexile framework, interviews with teachers, students, and parents, and classroom observations. Categorization and coding of qualitative data ensured a coherent analysis despite inherent biases related to the researcher's dual role as investigator and educator.
Results indicate an overall positive trend in reading achievement among students post-CAI intervention, aligning with Zhu’s emphasis on personalized, adaptive learning environments. However, not all students showed significant improvement, highlighting the variability in CAI effectiveness. Teachers generally held positive perceptions of CAI but faced challenges integrating it seamlessly into existing instructional practices. Parents and students also provided mixed feedback, emphasizing the need for tailored approaches to meet individual needs.
The study concludes that while CAI presents substantial benefits for special needs education, its effectiveness is not universal. The positive outcomes observed underscore the potential of CAI to enhance reading skills among special needs students, confirming the researcher’s perception of its value. However, challenges related to integration and varied student responses call for ongoing support and customization of CAI interventions.
Recommendations for future research include longitudinal studies to assess the sustained impact of CAI, exploring its effects across diverse populations with different disabilities, and investigating the role of targeted professional development for teachers. Additionally, further exploration into parental involvement and collaborative strategies is suggested to optimize the benefits of CAI in special education. As technology evolves, particularly with advancements in AI, there is a promising horizon for the enhanced application of CAI, potentially transforming special education practices and outcomes.Wiggins Jones, MargieBalloun, Joseph LCain, Sylvia YD.Phil
A Compassionate Approach to Pain: A Qualitative Journey Through Women's Experiences of Self-Compassion and Gratitude Interventions for Chronic Pain Management
No full text2024The purpose of this qualitative descriptive phenomenological study was to explore the lived experiences of women with chronic pain who are currently using self-compassion and gratitude interventions. The theoretical framework for this study was based on self-compassion theory and Buddhist psychology. The research question guiding this study was: What are the lived experiences of women with chronic pain who are currently using self-compassion and gratitude interventions? Fifteen women with chronic pain participated in semi-structured interviews. The data collected were analyzed using Moustakas's (1994) Modification of the Stevick-Colaizzi-Keen Method of Phenomenological data analysis. This involved a thorough process of obtaining and analyzing verbatim transcripts, identifying invariant meaning units, clustering these into themes, and developing comprehensive descriptions of the participants' experiences. Five major themes emerged from the data: (1) Way of Life, highlighting the transformational impact of self-compassion and gratitude practices on participants' daily lives and self-perception; (2) Spiritual Perspectives, showing how faith and spiritual practices were intertwined with gratitude and self-compassion; (3) Acceptance, demonstrating how these practices helped participants accept their pain without judgment; (4) Self-Compassion and Gratitude Techniques, detailing the various emotional, spiritual, and physical practices used by participants; and (5) Self-Compassion and Gratitude Characteristics, discussing the strengths and challenges of these practices as perceived by the participants. The findings revealed that self-compassion and gratitude practices led to significant improvements in how participants managed their chronic pain. Participants reported changes in their internal dialogue, greater emotional resilience, and a more positive outlook on life.Wilkinson, TylerPrioleau, BrittanyElder, CarrieD.Phil
Bethel Baptist Church Minute Book, 1943-1956
No full textChurch record book that includes regularly recorded meeting minutes and church membership lists for Bethel Baptist Church in Wilkinson County, 1943-1956
Salem Baptist Church Minute Book, 1917-1950
No full textChurch record book that includes regularly recorded meeting minutes and church membership lists for Salem Baptist Church in Crawford County, 1917-1950