DTheses (Athabasca University)
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FEMALE PERCEPTIONS OF HOLISTIC SAFETY IN KINK-BASED INTERACTIONS: A QUALITATIVE EXPLORATION
Full text linkWomen’s sexuality has begun to be celebrated and explored with regards to how it empowers femininity in North America. This awakening extends beyond topics such as generalized and heteronormative sexuality and into the world of BDSM culture. Despite a culture that has grown to idolize and prescribe to components akin to BDSM, the continued stigmatization and biases about BDSM remain. One common facet that continues to lack exploration, however, is the notion of how and why women can find sexual empowerment, liberation, and safety in kink-based dynamics. My research explores how women perceive and understand holistic safety in kink-based interactions and how holistic safety contributes to a woman’s capacity to experience sexual liberation during BDSM practices. The discoveries found in this research will influence the ways in which dialogue and perspectives can positively impact intimate relationships, highlight the importance of gender-based empowerment, and expand harm-reduction approaches within the BDSM community.2024-0
NEWS MEDIA'S REPRESENTATION OF LAW ENFORCEMENT ON CASES OF INTIMATE PARTNER FEMICIDE
Full text linkDespite policy advances and changing public attitudes toward intimate partner violence (IPV), approximately 743 women were murdered by their current or previous intimate partner in Canada between 2011 and 2021 (Sutton, 2023). News media can play a significant role in shaping public opinions about IPV, including how it ought to be formally and informally responded to (Fairbairn & Dawson, 2013; Gillespie et al., 2013; Kajeepeta et al., 2017). Research has also demonstrated that media representation of law enforcement can impact officer’s understandings of their own occupation (Rantatalo, 2016). Previous studies have investigated news media’s representation of IPV and news media’s representation of law enforcement; however, no research has looked specifically at news media’s representation of law enforcement officers on cases of intimate partner femicide. Given that inaccurate and/or problematic narratives may be a barrier to effective law enforcement responses and reporting, further research is warranted. Using a blended method of reflexive thematic analysis (RTA) and interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA), the purpose of this study was to answer the following research question: How was law enforcement represented in cases of intimate partner femicide in Albertan newspapers in 2020?2024-0
THE ICT FOUNDER’S EXIT NAVIGATION: AN INTERPRETIVE APPROACH
Full text linkThis study’s research question is, "How do Information and Communication Technology (ICT) founders navigate the exit process from their firms?"
Exit concludes an entrepreneurial process. Despite its importance, the entrepreneurial exit, a process by which firm founders remove themselves from primary ownership and decision-making – has received insufficient attention from academics and entrepreneurs. Most of the literature has historically focused on venture creation and growth. Exit is a process that is influenced mainly by triggers at individual, firm, and environmental levels. Most entrepreneurs are not as aware, prepared, or experienced in exit. However, their financial and personal satisfaction from an entrepreneurial entry depends on the success of their exit.
This qualitative exploratory study focused on the founders of ICT firms in Ontario as the level of analysis. The study had a sample size of 20 for interviews and adopted the Gioia methodology to explore new themes. Three key findings emerged in this study. First, the motivation for the founders’ entry could be internal or external. Generally, entrepreneurs with a lifestyle motive ran their businesses longer than those with growth-oriented motives. Many founders did not have clear goals or a defined exit plan, and the exit motives were as heterogeneous as entry motives. Second, arriving at an exit decision was more emergent than deliberate (due to many known/unknown variables). Third, exit triggers beyond the individual level, at the levels of firm and environment, influence exit.
This study had an unexpected but significant discovery, which could be missed by outcome-focused (success or failure) quantitative research. This study showed how several founders had a premature or failed exit attempt that led to further development or
new activities towards the same or a different exit mode. The findings are elaborated in greater detail in Chapter 4, and a concept highlighting the emergent nature of entrepreneurial exit is presented.
There are recommendations for further research and implications for academics, practitioners, and policymakers. More informed decisions, better advice, and reduced exit barriers would amplify the personal and social gain in entrepreneurship.2024-0
EXPLORING LEARNERS’ PERCEPTIONS OF AN OPEN RENEWABLE ASSIGNMENT
Full text linkThis study investigates learners’ perceptions of Open Educational Resource-enabled pedagogy (OER-EP) by leveraging an Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) methodology with an Etuaptmumk epistemological framing which integrates Anishinaabe and Western perspectives into the analysis of learners’ perceptions of OER-EP. One research question guided the inquiry:
How do students enrolled in a college Truth and Reconciliation course experience the creation of a renewable assignment? Seven postsecondary students who completed a Truth and Reconciliation in Canada course and who participated in the OER-EP final project provided study data in the form of semi-structured interviews. An Etuaptmumk approach to the analysis of study data brought forward maang, the loon, as a pivotal helper whose teachings allow for a deeper appreciation of the potential impact of OER-EP when coupled with social justice aims. Study results highlight the personal meanings that participants associated with the experience of participating in OER-EP, considerations of the needs of an imagined audience, nuanced decision-making associated with licensing and anonymity, and considerations for educators and learners who may engage in OER-EP. These results contribute to the extant open education literature and may inform pedagogical approaches, institutional supports, and ongoing research into learners’ experiences of open pedagogical practices generally and OER-EP specifically.2025-0
EXPLORING NIGERIAN UNIVERSITIES ONLINE STUDENTS’ EXPERIENCES OF MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORTS: DESCRIPTIVE PHENOMENOLOGY
Full text linkThe local problem of this study was the lack of institution-wide mental health support services and plans of action for online students to address mental health impairments among online students in Nigerian universities. Even though the overall student performance depends on their state of mental health, in Nigeria, there is no evidence suggesting that online students’ mental health wellness is being addressed. The study was informed in part by my early interaction with classmates living with mental health impairments, my experience as a special education teacher, numerous peer-reviewed articles, initial pilot interviews with faculty members, and my interactions with a few online students on the lack of clear institution-wide support services, policy, and protocols to combat mental health impairments among online post-secondary students in Nigeria. The high incidence of mental health impairments among university students is making news headlines these days in Nigeria and around the world, yet online students’ cases are hidden and exacerbated by their programs' remote nature. The learners are located far from their campuses and almost anonymous in the grand scheme of things on the university campus. University faculty, administrators, postsecondary students, distance education students, and their parents are impacted by the policy gaps that have led to the lack of support and provision of mental health services for online students. Therefore, the major stakeholders would be interested in establishing policies and protocols that will provide support systems to address mental health issues among online students. The theoretical frameworks guiding this study are based on the constructivist theory and Dewey’s philosophy of pragmatism. The research questions focused on how students perceived the mental health support services and plans of action and the support they received from their institution during mental health crises. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with carefully selected online students of my research sites in two Nigerian metropolitan cities to obtain data about the phenomenon under study. Developing mental health support services and plans of action for online students in Nigeria will ensure that students living with mental health impairments will have a greater opportunity to succeed and complete their education. Keywords: Mental health in higher institutions in Nigeria, mental health conditions in post-secondary schools, mental health well-being, positive mental health, mental health impairments among online students in Nigeria, online students’ mental health, online students’ mental health support services, mental health plans of action for online students in Nigerian universities, open and distributive learning, and distance education students.2024-0
GAPS IN NURSING PRACTICE SUPPORTS FOR MEDICAL ASSISTANCE IN DYING
Full text linkThe inception of Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD) in 2016 has altered the landscape of end-of-life healthcare planning across Canada. However, the frameworks guiding nursing practice related to MAiD are subject to variability across Canada. This leads to role ambiguity and barriers in relational nursing practice. Using Critical Incident Technique, this Masters’ level qualitative research study explores the experiences of seven Canadian nurses engaging with patients seeking MAiD. Semi-structured interviews were conducted to identify gaps in current nursing practice supports; 19 significant incidents were analyzed. Findings demonstrate that gaps in practice support exist related to nursing role clarity, educational support to enrich therapeutic communication skills, and staff-focused resources, such as debriefing and improved communication networks. Understanding nursing experiences within this context offers the opportunity for more consistent nursing practice frameworks and practice supports, leading to improved therapeutic relationships and patient care.2024-0
IMMEDIATE AND RESIDUAL EFFECTS OF EMERGENCY REMOTE TEACHING: A CANADIAN CASE STUDY
Full text linkCOVID-19 had a direct impact on how British Columbia K-12 educational institutions provided their educational programs to students following Spring Break 2020. The Ministry of Education in British Columbia put in motion its continuity of learning goals by implementing Emergency Remote Teaching (ERT) for all schools in the province. Teachers were required to completely shift their teaching practices and educational program delivery to satisfy the Ministry of Education’s new educational program delivery plans. ERT had an immediate and residual effect on K-12 teachers and educational structures, such as school schedules, timetables, individual education plans, and report cards. Limited research has been done on the topic of ERT in general, therefore, this study has provided valuable insights and direction for further studies.
This pragmatic study incorporated a single case mixed methods study approach to explore the effect of ERT on secondary school teachers in a central British Columbia school district during and following the implementation of ERT. Quantitative and qualitative data was collected through an initial survey and a subsequent interview with volunteer survey respondents. The focus was on ERT and its immediate effects as well as residual effects on K-12 teachers in general and, specifically, secondary school teachers in British Columbia. This study found that teachers experienced notable effects in several areas including workload and health. Teaching quality was a concern as was use of technology, teaching online, and educational structures. There is a definite need for teachers to have technology knowledge and training, understand online pedagogy and receive online training, and have access to flexible educational structures, such as timetables, schedules, reporting periods and formats, and innovative attendance expectations.June 202
THE CONNECTIONS BETWEEN SOCIAL MEDIA AND PSYCHOLOGICAL DISORDERS AMONG LATE ADOLESCENTS
Full text linkProblematic internet use in adolescents is linked with a higher risk of experiencing mental and psychological consequences such as depression, anxiety, sleep problems, chronic stress, and psychological distress. The research question guiding this research was: What are the connections between social media, particularly online video platforms such as Snapchat, TikTok, and YouTube, and psychological disorders among late adolescents? A homogenous sample of six participants, young adults aged 18-21, were recruited and individually interviewed. Interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) guided this study, and six themes were identified: impacts of social media use on youths, social comparisons and self-esteem issues in female teenagers, addiction to social media and fear of missing out, influencers’ impact on youths, social media use in pre-teenagers, and peer pressure. The study may help develop a guide for the mental health community to consider social media issues while helping teenagers with psychological distress.2024-0
A Structural Equation for Volunteer Engagement: Inclusive Leadership, Psychological Safety and Empowerment
Full text linkVolunteers play a significant role in solving community, national, and global problems and are essential to the social organization's operating structure. They help non-profits and charities meet their social missions by increasing program effectiveness and reducing overhead costs. Unfortunately, many organizations have trouble keeping volunteers engaged, and only one-third of volunteers are retained each year.
Research has identified a positive relationship between volunteer engagement and retention, allowing organizations to become more efficient and effective. However, while a more engaged volunteer population may provide many benefits to social organizations, volunteer engagement is still a vague and underdeveloped concept. Additionally, modern volunteer management techniques do not recognize the differences between volunteers and paid staff, creating barriers to engagement.
This quantitative study utilized structural equation modeling to identify contributors to, and outcomes of, engagement in the context of volunteerism. The results demonstrate that inclusive leadership has a positive relationship with engagement and is partially mediated by empowerment. Psychological safety has a negative relationship with engagement, though when empowerment is present the relationship becomes positive, which is a sign of competitive mediation. Further, results of serial mediation demonstrate that psychological safety and intentions to remain and inclusive leadership and intentions to remain are partially mediated by empowerment and engagement, while the relationship between psychological safety and involvement is fully mediated by empowerment and engagement. Lastly, engagement also has a significant and positive relationship with intentions to remain, service contributions, and giving intentions.
This research provides volunteer managers with a greater understanding of the factors that create a more engaged volunteer workforce and the benefits or outcomes of increased engagement of volunteers for the organization. Social organizations may use this study to increase their understanding of the engagement of volunteers. As a result, volunteers may become more engaged, enabling social organizations to better meet their social missions.2023-1
ADOPTING AND ADAPTING: HOW FACULTY REUSE, REVISE, AND REMIX OPEN EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES
Full text linkThis dissertation research consists of a case study of how Open Educational Resources (OER) are revised and reused in online courses by faculty at Georgia State University (GSU). GSU is an institution of higher education which promotes OER use and which has access to a repository of OER.
This research examined a related set of issues for OER reuse. One concern was how revisable the materials in an OER repository affiliated with GSU are. Another concern was to examine how faculty actually reuse, revise, and remix OER in their online courses. A final concern was to look at whether the Community of Practice model describes this context in which OER are reused.
Data collection followed a mixed-methods approach. A questionnaire regarding practices with OER reuse and revision was circulated to faculty teaching online and using OER. Furthermore, nine faculty were interviewed regarding their practices reusing OER in their online courses. The third method assessed the revisability of objects in the OER repository itself. Finally, this investigation examined the affordances of the organization maintaining the repository as well as related documentation to assess whether it can be described as a community of practice.
This research found that while a plurality of the contents of the repository were scored as Mostly Revisable, a majority of the contents included elements that marked them as only Somewhat or Not Revisable. From the questionnaire and interviews it was found that faculty take diverse strategies to include OER in their online courses. Faculty find and remix open resources from a variety of sources. Some generate and share their own OER. Links to open web resources were a significant component of OER for most questionnaire and interview respondents and about half (52.5%) of the materials in the repository. Faculty also took a variety of different approaches to revising and remixing resources and scaffolding them in their courses. On the final question, about the context in which collaboration occurs, it was found that there is evidence that at least some departments can be described as functioning as a community of practice when it comes to using OER.2024-0