WPSphere Repository (William Paterson University)
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COVID-19: The Impact the Pandemic had on Teaching in Schools
Full text linkThis thesis is a quantitative study on the impacts that COVID-19 has had on teaching instruction and student learning. Data were collected from a sample of teachers who taught pre-Kindergarten through 8th grade in schools throughout Bergen County, New Jersey. The focus of this study was on factors related to teaching dynamics and how these factors affected the social and academic well-being of students. The results of this study indicated that the pandemic created several challenges for teachers, especially in urban school districts. Additionally, teachers believed students encountered several challenges both with school and home life that impacted their ability to learn. Overall, the findings and results of this study highlight the influence the pandemic had on teaching and learning. Due to the newness of the pandemic and the ongoing changes to instruction and thus learning strategies, there are still important implications for future research on this topic
Using an Interactive Notebook to Support Sixth-Grade Writing
Full text linkWhen it comes to English Language Arts (ELA) classrooms, writing is a main topic of instruction. Writing is important inside and outside of the classroom, however, many students across the United States struggle with writing, including at the foundational grammar level. This study was designed to address this problem by exploring the research questions: How does the use of interactive notebooks help students to identify grammatical errors? How does the use of interactive notebooks impact sixth-grade students’ use of grammar in narrative writing? What are students' perceptions about the interactive notebook?The study was conducted over three weeks in one of my sixth-grade English Language Arts classes, with some data retroactively accessed after IRB approval due to curriculum restrictions. The participants were nine sixth-grade students in this class. During the study, the participants completed two diagnostic tests on identifying grammatical errors and wrote two narrative pieces, all designed to improve grammar usage when writing. Participants also shared written reflections on using the interactive notebooks to support their grammar. It can be concluded that interactive notebooks improve students’ use of grammar when writing narrative pieces and are positively perceived. However, the impact of interactive notebooks on grammar identification was not significant. Based on the study’s findings and conclusions, recommendations for further research and teachers were identified
Coping Strategies Associated with Mental Health Symptoms Among College Students who Experienced Adverse Childhood Experiences
Full text linkAdverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are associated with poor mental health outcomes, particularly in college students. For example, college students who experienced three or more ACEs are more likely to report depressive symptoms and abuse alcohol (Merians et al., 2019). Individuals who adopt adaptive coping such as positive reappraisal, seeking social support, acceptance, and planning suffer less emotional distress. Unfortunately, little is known about the different coping strategies used among college students when they have experienced ACEs. This study aimed to examine the impact ACEs have on college student’s mental health and drug use and whether the type of coping strategy used mediates the relationship between ACEs and overall distress level captured by the Global Severity Index (GSI). Undergraduate students (N = 123) who were primarily female (N = 96) and Latinx (N = 41) from a public university in the United States completed the online study. Being a child of separation or divorce was the most endorsed ACE (43.1%) and having a family member in prison and physical neglect was the least endorsed (8.9%).The results showed cumulative ACEs were significantly related to the GSI scale (R2 = .25, F(1,116) = 38.93, p = <.001) and drug use (R2 = .14, F(1,116) = 19.01, p = <.001). Furthermore, avoidance coping strategy was found to significantly mediate the relationship between cumulative ACEs and GSI score, β = .705, 95% CI [0.331, 1.199], p < .000. Lastly, results showed individuals who endorsed four or more ACEs (M = 42.08, SD = 7.79) were more likely to utilized avoidance coping strategies than individuals who endorsed three or fewer (M = 36.29, SD = 7.81); t(121), p <.001. Results suggest that experiencing ACEs leads to poorer mental health outcomes, increased drug use, and utilizing avoidance coping strategies. The results also highlight the need for continued research on coping strategies that may act as protective factors in the relationship between ACEs and mental health outcomes
Knowledge and Attitudes Towards Obesity Among Young Adults
Full text linkSignificance/Background: Young people 18-24 are at an age when they could be well physically fit however a lot of American youth are having excessive body weight. Current generation of young adults is gaining weight faster than any age group comparably to previous generations.Purpose/Aim: This study examined differences in knowledge and attitudes towards obesity and its comorbidities among young adults who have healthy weight and those who are overweight or obese.
Methods: University students were asked to complete the ORK-10 and OBS questionnaires about their knowledge and beliefs towards obesity. IBM SPSS 29 software was used for statistical analysis utilizing descriptive statistics and analyzing differences between variables (ORK-10 and OBS scores and students BMI categories).
Results: A total of 100 surveys were provided in pen and paper to undergraduate students, 49% students were of healthy weight (BMI 18.5-24.9), 34% students were identified as overweight (BMI 25-29.9) and 17% met a category of obese (BMI >=30). Similar to the other studies on the topic, this study’s results show that young adults have an insufficient knowledge of obesity risks. They have a strong agreement with the detrimental effects of obesity on health, they moderately agree with negative effect of obesity on social life, and they have neutral attitudes towards cost/barriers of maintaining healthy weight. The results were not statistically significant.
Implication for Practice: The results of the study will guide the young adults’ obesity related education and obesity management by healthcare providers. Future studies are recommended to replicate this study with the larger sample size and in a few different locations which can yield more significant results
The Effects of Heel Elevation on Back Squat Performance
Full text linkHeel-elevated back squats have mainly been used in rehabilitative settings, research has suggested that the exercise promotes less trunk inclination and a more stable posture, furthermore, the restricted state of plantarflexion during the exercise requires less dorsiflexion, a common restriction preventing a complete back squat. There is little research support that these suggested biomechanical effects may have an impact on back squat performance. The purpose of this study was to examine the differentiating effects of muscle activation and barbell metrics at different heel elevations (0.0 in., 0.5 in., and 1.0 in.). Utilizing a repeated measures design, 10 resistance trained individuals (N = 10, RT years: 4.85 ± 2.789) performed three sets of 10 repetitions at 70% of their 1RM at the 3 predetermined heel positions. Testing days were randomized, participants were given at least 24 hours in between each session, and participants performed the exercise barefooted to avoid any additional heel elevation. Surface electromyography was used to obtain activation for the knee extensors (RF, VM, VL) and a single inertial measurement unit (IMU) centered on the barbell was used for force-velocity metrics. Mean muscle activation normalized to participants maximum voluntary contraction (MVC), movement velocity, peak power, peak force, and concentric distance were analyzed. Paired samples and repeated measures tests were analyzed to test for differences in muscle activation comparing a participant's testing day at 0.0 inches to the days with heel elevations and if there were any enhancements in performance during heel raised conditions. Paired sample results showed significance in RF activation at 0.5 inches (p = 0.035; SD = 2.166%), VM activation at 0.5 inches (p = 0.018, SD = 7.151%) and slight significance comparing 1.0 inches (p = 0.055, SD = 9.544%), all showing a significant reduction in activation. Repeated measure results showed no significance among the obtained barbell metrics or fatigue related differences in muscle activation between sets 1 and 3. These findings support that in resistance trained individuals, biomechanical changes can affect muscle activation though not enough to alter performance
Research, Scholarship, and Creative Expression
Full text linkWilliam Paterson University research and scholarly publications compiled for the annual "Explorations" authors receptio
Dispositional Factors and the Disclosure of Autobiographical Memories Among Children
No full textDisclosure of past personal experiences (i.e., autobiographical memories; AMs) is critical to clinical work as it provides essential material for assessment and psychotherapy. Previous research has explored some of the factors that contribute to increased disclosure. However, research directly examining the connection between dispositional factors (i.e., personality, temperament) and AM disclosures is sparse. The current study explored the relationship between dispositional factors and the disclosure of valenced (i.e., positive, negative) AMs among 8–10-year-old children. Fifty-four parent/child dyads participated in the study in which parents completed measures of their child’s personality/temperament (i.e., Extraversion, Openness, Agreeableness, Anxiety, Shyness, Sadness, Inhibitory control). Children also completed a measure of their self-perceived personality. During the study, children recalled/disclosed a self-selected positive and negative AM following a standard protocol. The AM disclosures were transcribed and then coded using LIWC (Boyd et al., 2022) into the following facets: Volume, Authenticity, Clout, Analytical thinking, and Insight. In this study, low parent-child concordance was observed on all personality variables. Also, valence of AMs was not relevant, except when it came to the Clout facet as participants were consistent in disclosing past experience for both positive and negative events. No significant correlations emerged between sadness or inhibitory control, and AM facets. However, significant relationships were found between other temperament and personality factors and AM facets. These relationships are discussed in terms of their role in serving as potential facilitators or obstacles to higher quality/quantity disclosures. Potential clinical implications, limitations of the study, and future direction are also addressed
Beyond Academia: Designing Archives Outreach for Non-traditional Users
Full text linkA Mid-Atlantic Regional Archives Spring 2023 Conference presentation.The University of Pittsburgh Library System has a robust outreach focus and frequently brings our Archives and Special Collections materials out to the broader Pittsburgh community. The August Wilson Archive was acquired in 2020 and due to the strong cultural and sociological relevance in its home city of Pittsburgh and a generous grant, we are launching extensive community engagement efforts. August Wilson, one of American's greatest playwrights, celebrated the lives and culture of African Americans in the 20th century through his ten plays titled the American Century Cycle. The Wilson Archive consists of over 450 boxes of materials, which illustrated how his plays evolved from handwritten drafts of dialogue and notes through the final promptbooks that were used in the Broadway productions. There are also over 700 writing tablets and legal pads where Wilson first jotted down his ideas for the American Century Cycle plays alongside his everyday notes on his daily meetings, phone calls, and drafts of correspondence. Through data visualization and descriptive diagrams, our team will provide other access points that allow users to explore the collection in visual and engaging ways. A discussion of Information Design principles and practices, incorporating research in graphic design, typography, visualization, and usability, will illustrate how archives can improve engagement at every point of service, effectively complementing the institutional mission while enhancing individual user experience