Current Search: Dissertations, Academic -- Florida Atlantic University (x)
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- Title
- Teacher Perceptions of Technology Integration Professional Development in a 1:1 Chromebook Environment.
- Creator
- Yankelevich, Eleonora, Weber, Roberta K., Florida Atlantic University, College of Education, Department of Curriculum, Culture, and Educational Inquiry
- Abstract/Description
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A variety of computing devices are available in today’s classrooms, but they have not guaranteed the effective integration of technology. Nationally, teachers have ample devices, applications, productivity software, and digital audio and video tools. Despite all this, the literature suggests these tools are not employed to enhance student learning according to best practices. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to describe and understand perceptions of a technology integration...
Show moreA variety of computing devices are available in today’s classrooms, but they have not guaranteed the effective integration of technology. Nationally, teachers have ample devices, applications, productivity software, and digital audio and video tools. Despite all this, the literature suggests these tools are not employed to enhance student learning according to best practices. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to describe and understand perceptions of a technology integration professional development (TIPD) experience of elementary teachers at a suburban, independent school. The TIPD was an ongoing, 40-minute class led by a technology specialist, taking place in teachers’ classrooms, engaging teachers and their students in a 1:1 Chromebook environment. Data collected were through classroom observations, teacher written reflections, school documents, and face-to-face interviews. The results of multiple cycles of coding wrought findings in regard to teachers’ perceptions of effective technology integration, technology class as professional development (PD), and technology class as enabling effective technology integration. The findings showed teachers perceived technology integration to be effective if it benefited the skills or productivity of themselves or their students and if it directly related to their curriculum. Teachers required the support of their colleagues, technology specialist, IT department, as well as traditional and alternative forms of PD to overcome internal and external barriers to integration. Five of the seven teachers explicitly conveyed the technology class to be effective TIPD and all seven learned about a technology tool or resource, technical knowledge or skills, or ideas for integration during the technology classes. Findings also showed the technology class enabled reflection, which led to ideas for integration; the class enabled integration when the content was related to or the tools were useful for their subject area; the class provided the collaboration necessary for integration to occur.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2017
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00004968, http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00004958
- Subject Headings
- Dissertations, Academic -- Florida Atlantic University, Elementary school teachers--Training of., Educational technology., Professional development.
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- The Social Construction Of Teachers and the Teaching Profession Among Florida State Legislators from 1984 to 2015.
- Creator
- Crespo, Janny, Weber, Roberta K., Florida Atlantic University, College of Education, Department of Curriculum, Culture, and Educational Inquiry
- Abstract/Description
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Public officials at the state level currently are called upon to create, evaluate, and implement policies that assess the effectiveness of teacher performance and hold teachers accountable for student achievement. Therefore, understanding the social construction of the teaching profession among those public officials is crucial to understanding the impact of the policy agenda on the work of teachers as well as being essential to exercising influence on the policy process itself. This study...
Show morePublic officials at the state level currently are called upon to create, evaluate, and implement policies that assess the effectiveness of teacher performance and hold teachers accountable for student achievement. Therefore, understanding the social construction of the teaching profession among those public officials is crucial to understanding the impact of the policy agenda on the work of teachers as well as being essential to exercising influence on the policy process itself. This study was an analysis of legislation regarding teacher accountability in an effort to provide insight into how the Florida State Legislature socially constructs the teaching profession. This study used a qualitative methodology to place teachers, as a group, in Schneider and Ingram’s (1993) typology of target populations and made use of historical analysis to trace the changes that have occurred in the social construction of teachers during the period from 1984-2015. In doing so, it found teachers are negatively constructed with a positive power component, correspondingly labeled contenders, on Schneider and Ingram’s typology. Ultimately, the effect of the pressures placed upon teachers has been to create projections of ongoing teacher shortages and to discourage potential candidates from pursuing the profession.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2017
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00005928
- Subject Headings
- Dissertations, Academic -- Florida Atlantic University, Education and state--Florida., Social constructionism., Teachers--Florida., Florida. Legislature
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Beach dynamics, beachfront development, and climate change: Interactions that impact sea turtle nesting beaches.
- Creator
- Bladow, Rachel A., Milton, Sarah L., Florida Atlantic University, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Department of Biological Sciences
- Abstract/Description
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Climate change will expose sea turtle nests to higher temperatures and more storms; both may negatively impact sea turtle nest success. In this study, unhatched eggs were collected from the Boca Raton, Florida beach and developmental stage at embryonic death determined. Elevated nest temperatures increased embryonic mortality, and the most significant relationship was between mortality and the percent of time embryos were exposed to temperatures above 34°C. Loggerhead turtles exhibited higher...
Show moreClimate change will expose sea turtle nests to higher temperatures and more storms; both may negatively impact sea turtle nest success. In this study, unhatched eggs were collected from the Boca Raton, Florida beach and developmental stage at embryonic death determined. Elevated nest temperatures increased embryonic mortality, and the most significant relationship was between mortality and the percent of time embryos were exposed to temperatures above 34°C. Loggerhead turtles exhibited higher rates of mortality compared to green turtles at temperatures above 34°C. Only loggerhead nests were exposed to inundation, but embryonic mortality did not differ from noninundated nests. Beach profiles across the nesting season were also determined. A major storm altered the beach more in areas of coastal development; however, this was impacted by a nourishment project and the presence of a structured inlet. Future management strategies may need to protect sea turtle nests from extended periods at elevated temperatures.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2017
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00005926
- Subject Headings
- Dissertations, Academic -- Florida Atlantic University, Sea turtles--Ecology., Loggerhead turtle--Florida., Sea turtles--Nests., Climate change
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- An Assessment of Fecal Pollution in the St. Lucie Estuary and Indian River Lagoon.
- Creator
- Perricone, Carlie S., McCarthy, Peter J., Florida Atlantic University, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Department of Biological Sciences
- Abstract/Description
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Contamination of recreational waters with fecal waste, indicated by the presence of enterococci, can have consequences for human and ecosystem health. The difficulty in determining the extent and origin of fecal pollution in dynamic estuarine systems is compounded by contributions from sources including septic tanks and agricultural runoff. This study investigated fecal pollution at five sites with variable hydrological conditions in the St. Lucie Estuary and Indian River Lagoon. The...
Show moreContamination of recreational waters with fecal waste, indicated by the presence of enterococci, can have consequences for human and ecosystem health. The difficulty in determining the extent and origin of fecal pollution in dynamic estuarine systems is compounded by contributions from sources including septic tanks and agricultural runoff. This study investigated fecal pollution at five sites with variable hydrological conditions in the St. Lucie Estuary and Indian River Lagoon. The distribution and occurrence of enterococci was assessed using traditional cultivation. A human-associated microbial source tracking assay was validated and applied in these estuaries using qPCR. Results demonstrated a correlation between enterococci concentrations, rainfall, and salinity. The human-associated assay was sensitive and specific in the lab; however, human fecal pollution was not detected in the field even though samples contained high levels of enterococci. This study highlights the importance of expanding the range of water quality assessment.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2017
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00005023, http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00005932
- Subject Headings
- Dissertations, Academic -- Florida Atlantic University, Indian River (Fla. : Lagoon), Saint Lucie River Estuary (Fla.), Enterococcus., Fecal matter., Estuarine pollution.
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Exploring the Moderating Effect of a Caring Work Environment on the Relationship Between Workplace Mistreatment and Nurses’ Ability to Provide Patient Care.
- Creator
- Moffa, Christine M., Liehr, Patricia, Florida Atlantic University, Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing
- Abstract/Description
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Workplace mistreatment (bullying, horizontal violence, and incivility) has been shown to impact nurses’ work satisfaction, job turnover, and physical and mental health. However, there are limited studies that examine its effect on patient outcomes. A correlational descriptive study of 79 acute care nurses was used to test a social justice model for examining the relationship between workplace mistreatment, quantified as threats to dimensions of nurses’ well-being (health, personal security,...
Show moreWorkplace mistreatment (bullying, horizontal violence, and incivility) has been shown to impact nurses’ work satisfaction, job turnover, and physical and mental health. However, there are limited studies that examine its effect on patient outcomes. A correlational descriptive study of 79 acute care nurses was used to test a social justice model for examining the relationship between workplace mistreatment, quantified as threats to dimensions of nurses’ well-being (health, personal security, reasoning, respect, attachment, and self-determination), and nurses’ ability to provide quality patient care. In addition, this study considered the moderating effect of caring work environment among co-workers on nurses’ ability to provide quality patient care in the face of workplace mistreatment. Stories of workplace mistreatment were collected anonymously and analyzed for alignment with threats to six dimensions of well-being. Ability to provide patient care was measured using the Healthcare Productivity Survey and a caring work environment was measured via the Culture of Companionate Love scale. The results demonstrated that threats to all six dimensions of well-being described by Powers and Faden (2006) were expressed in nurses’ stories of workplace mistreatment. Furthermore, 87% reported a decrease in ability to provide patient care after an incident of workplace mistreatment. Yet frequency of threatened dimensions did not have a significant relationship with ability to provide patient care. Moreover, there was a significant moderator effect of the caring work environment on the relationship between number of threatened dimensions of well-being and ability to provide quality patient care. Nurses in high caring environments loss less ability to provide care than nurses in low caring environments when one to three dimensions of well-being were threatened. However, this relationship reversed when four or more dimensions were threatened. Implications include further research on the relationship between workplace mistreatment and nurse well-being and changing practice to include fostering a caring work environment in healthcare facilities.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2017
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00004990
- Subject Headings
- Dissertations, Academic -- Florida Atlantic University, Work environment., Bullying in the workplace., Nurses--Job satisfaction., Patient Care.
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Ethnicity, Gender and Pain Interference’s Influence on Depression Among Older Adults with Osteoarthritis.
- Creator
- Garrido, Jacinto J., Dunphy, Lynne M., Florida Atlantic University, Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing
- Abstract/Description
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The leading cause of disability among older adults is osteoarthritis (OA) (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2017). Chronic pain associated with arthritis interferes with daily living among older adults and has been related to depression (Zanocchi et al., 2008). Research suggests that ethnicity and psychosocial factors may influence health outcomes of older adults with arthritis who are experiencing chronic pain and depression (Im, Guevara, & Chee, 2007; Wilson et al., 2014)....
Show moreThe leading cause of disability among older adults is osteoarthritis (OA) (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2017). Chronic pain associated with arthritis interferes with daily living among older adults and has been related to depression (Zanocchi et al., 2008). Research suggests that ethnicity and psychosocial factors may influence health outcomes of older adults with arthritis who are experiencing chronic pain and depression (Im, Guevara, & Chee, 2007; Wilson et al., 2014). The influence of ethnicity on depression among older adults with OA experiencing chronic pain is the phenomenon of interest for this study. Chronic pain that interferes with activities of daily living gives rise to disability, followed by potential episodes of depression. This currently is impacting the quality of life for older adults with OA. The aim of this study was to gain new insight regarding the relationship and predictive factors for depression between pain interference, gender, and ethnicity among older adults with OA pain and depression. This study examined the research question, “Does ethnicity, gender, and pain interference predict depression among older adults with osteoarthritis?” This study was a secondary analysis of existing data from the National Institute of Health National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (Park, McCaffrey, Newman, Cheung, & Hagen, 2014) study titled, The Effect of Sit ‘N’ Fit Chair Yoga on Community-Dwelling Elders with Osteoarthritis. A descriptive retrospective correlational design was utilized to investigate factors that predict depression. Statistical analysis included multiple linear regression and analysis of variance. The study sample (n = 104) consisted of community-dwelling older adults ages 65 years or older with osteoarthritis. Findings indicated that (1) ethnicity, gender, and pain interference did predict depression; (2) there were no significant difference in depression between Hispanics and non-Hispanics while controlling for pain interference; and (3) there was statistically significant differential interaction with depression when pain interference increased, with Hispanics reporting higher levels of depressions as pain interference increased, as compared to non-Hispanics. The new knowledge gained from this study may help guide healthcare providers in developing effective alternative approaches for improving health outcomes of mismanaged ethnically diverse older adults with OA.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2017
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00004959, http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00004949
- Subject Headings
- Dissertations, Academic -- Florida Atlantic University, Osteoarthritis--Alternative treatment., Chronic pain., Depression in old age., Ethnicity., Gender.
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Communicative Leadership During Organizational Change: A Case Study of a New University President’s Change-Initiative Team.
- Creator
- Sacks, Emily Alice, Shockley, Robert, Pisapia, John, Florida Atlantic University, College of Education, Department of Educational Leadership and Research Methodology
- Abstract/Description
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As the economy continues to struggle in its recovery from the recent recession, higher education institutions have been hard-hit, affecting stakeholders at all levels, including boards of trustees, students, faculty, and the surrounding communities. In the middle of the turmoil and period of change are the presidents, needing to answer to board members as well as other institutional stakeholders, while still maintaining a balance of organizational consistency and change. Nearly all...
Show moreAs the economy continues to struggle in its recovery from the recent recession, higher education institutions have been hard-hit, affecting stakeholders at all levels, including boards of trustees, students, faculty, and the surrounding communities. In the middle of the turmoil and period of change are the presidents, needing to answer to board members as well as other institutional stakeholders, while still maintaining a balance of organizational consistency and change. Nearly all organizational change literature incorporates interpersonal communication as an integral component in effective change efforts; therefore, the constantly changing higher education landscape necessitates presidents who are skilled in communicative leadership, of which interpersonal skills are a cornerstone. Although all presidents need these skill sets, this study examines only a newly appointed president and one of his change-initiative teams to capture the dynamic environment surrounding new administration.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2017
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00004999, http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00004989
- Subject Headings
- Dissertations, Academic -- Florida Atlantic University, Organizational change--Case studies., Organizational change--Education (Higher)., Interpersonal communication., College presidents.
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- African-American Leaders in the Field of Science: A Template for Overcoming Obstacles.
- Creator
- Schmidt, Waweise J., Bryan, Valerie, Florida Atlantic University, College of Education, Department of Educational Leadership and Research Methodology
- Abstract/Description
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The purpose of this phenomenological multi-case study and three-person interview, was to discover what select prominent African-American scientists perceived were obstacles to overcome to be successful leaders in their professional lives, and the opportunities that aided in their professional growth. Through the addition of the threeperson interview, the researcher discovered commonalities between the perceived obstacles and opportunities of current science, technology, engineering and...
Show moreThe purpose of this phenomenological multi-case study and three-person interview, was to discover what select prominent African-American scientists perceived were obstacles to overcome to be successful leaders in their professional lives, and the opportunities that aided in their professional growth. Through the addition of the threeperson interview, the researcher discovered commonalities between the perceived obstacles and opportunities of current science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) professionals and the perceptions of selected historically prominent scientists. This study examined documents of the period and relics of prominent African- Americans who were in STEM fields and lived from 1860 to 1968. A description of the setting that influenced how the scientists perceived the phenomenon was written with the approach being anchored in the social constructivist tradition. Commonalities emerged through coding experiences of the individuals, which yielded patterns to help explain the phenomenon. By investigating their perceptions, insight was gained into understanding the attributes, tools and skills, and tailored experiences that encouraged Thomas Burton, Kelly Miller, George Carver, Daniel Williams, Matthew Henson, Ernest Just, Charles Drew, Percy Julian, William Cobb, and Benjamin Peery to achieve success in STEM fields between 1860 and 1968. The significance of the study is multifaceted: understanding the obstacles that African-American scientists had to overcome in their professional lives can result in the development of science educators who are better informed regarding the appropriate types of assistance that can be provided to aid their students in overcoming obstacles. This can hopefully increase their opportunities to succeed within the science field. This study can result in the development of science educators who are more sensitive in addressing the needs of the developing minority student, and can encourage, educate, and enlist more individuals to enter into the dialogue regarding the disparity of minority representation in STEM fields.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2017
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00004961, http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00004951
- Subject Headings
- Dissertations, Academic -- Florida Atlantic University, African-American scientists., Overcoming obstacles., Phenomenological studies., Science--Study and teaching.
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Improving Privacy With Intelligent Cooperative Caching In Vehicular Ad Hoc Networks.
- Creator
- Glass, Stephen C., Mahgoub, Imad, Florida Atlantic University, College of Engineering and Computer Science, Department of Computer and Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
- Abstract/Description
-
With the issuance of the Notice of Proposed Rule Making (NPRM) for Vehicle to Vehicle (V2V) communications by the United States National Highway Tra c Safety Administration (NHTSA), the goal of the widespread deployment of vehicular networking has taken a signi cant step towards becoming a reality. In order for consumers to accept the technology, it is expected that reasonable mechanisms will be in place to protect their privacy. Cooperative Caching has been proposed as an approach that can...
Show moreWith the issuance of the Notice of Proposed Rule Making (NPRM) for Vehicle to Vehicle (V2V) communications by the United States National Highway Tra c Safety Administration (NHTSA), the goal of the widespread deployment of vehicular networking has taken a signi cant step towards becoming a reality. In order for consumers to accept the technology, it is expected that reasonable mechanisms will be in place to protect their privacy. Cooperative Caching has been proposed as an approach that can be used to improve privacy by distributing data items throughout the mobile network as they are requested. With this approach, vehicles rst attempt to retrieve data items from the mobile network, alleviating the need to send all requests to a centralized location that may be vulnerable to an attack. However, with this approach, a requesting vehicle may expose itself to many unknown vehicles as part of the cache discovery process. In this work we present a Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) based Cooperative Caching system that utilizes a genetic algorithm to selectively choose members of the mobile network to query for data items with a focus on improving overall privacy. The privacy improvement is achieved by avoiding those members that present a greater risk of exposing information related to the request and choosing members that have a greater potential of having the needed data item. An Agent Based Model is utilized to baseline the privacy concerns when using a broadcast based approach to cache discovery. In addition, an epidemiology inspired mathematical model is presented to illustrate the impact of reducing the number of vehicles queried during cache discovery. Periodic reports from neighboring vehicles are used by the genetic algorithm to identify which neighbors should be queried during cache discovery. In order for the system to be realistic, vehicles must trust the information in these reports. A PKI based approach used to evaluate the trustworthiness of each vehicle in the system is also detailed. We have conducted an in-depth performance study of our system that demonstrates a signi cant reduction in the overall risk of exposure when compared to broadcasting the request to all neighbors.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2017
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00004975, http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00004965
- Subject Headings
- Dissertations, Academic -- Florida Atlantic University, Public key infrastructure (Computer security), Privacy., Cache memory., Public key infrastructure (Computer security).
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Time Orientation and the Ability to Envision the Distant Future of Higher Education in a Community College.
- Creator
- Diaz, Gisela M., Bryan, Valerie, Florida Atlantic University, College of Education, Department of Educational Leadership and Research Methodology
- Abstract/Description
-
Although temporal issues affecting organizations and leaders have been researched, time orientation (preference for one or more of the present, past, and future time frames) and visioning ability of change agents within organizations remain open for additional investigation. This exploratory survey study compared self-reported time orientation (TO) and visioning ability ratings of administrators and faculty at a community college. The research added to the extant literature by contextualizing...
Show moreAlthough temporal issues affecting organizations and leaders have been researched, time orientation (preference for one or more of the present, past, and future time frames) and visioning ability of change agents within organizations remain open for additional investigation. This exploratory survey study compared self-reported time orientation (TO) and visioning ability ratings of administrators and faculty at a community college. The research added to the extant literature by contextualizing the measures of the key constructs and extending the research to a novel setting. Scores for all three time frames were assessed in contrast to studies that emphasize future orientation. In addition, TO measures were obtained using an instrument constructed specifically for organizations (Fortunato & Furey, 2009). An adapted version of a visioning ability by Thoms and Blasko (1999) was constructed to address a specified time depth (the distant future) and domains relevant to higher education. Administrators reported significantly higher ratings than faculty on Future TO and visioning ability measures. Future TO scores for faculty were lower in relation to scores on the other two TO scales, but no within-group TO differences were found for administrators. A multiple regression model indicated that Future TO was the best predictor of visioning ability. Faculty teaching in the Associate of Science areas had higher Present TO scores than those teaching in the Associate of Arts programs. TO and visioning ability did not change as a function of gender, age, culture, and years of experience in higher education. The interpretation of the findings was limited by the lack of benchmarks that allow for meaningful comparisons across organizations, and by a continued need to establish construct and predictive validity for the key measures. The research has implications for hiring decisions, for staff development, and for temporal profiling in organizations interested in envisioning the distant future.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2017
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00005927
- Subject Headings
- Dissertations, Academic -- Florida Atlantic University, Education, Higher, Community colleges--Faculty., Community colleges--Administration., Time perspective., Organizational change.
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Survival by Any Means: Race and Gender, Passing and Performance in Octavia Butler’s Parable of the Sower and Parable of the Talents.
- Creator
- Moreno, Micah R., Dagbovie-Mullins, Sika A., Florida Atlantic University, Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters, Department of English
- Abstract/Description
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This project focuses on race and gender in the works of author Octavia Butler. The primary texts analyzed are Parable of the Sower and Parable of the Talents. In these novels, Butler alludes to slavery in antebellum America by drawing strong parallels between the roles race and gender played in the survival of the escaped slaves of America’s past and the role they play in the survival of the main character of Butler’s apocalyptic future. The themes of race and gender frequently intersect and...
Show moreThis project focuses on race and gender in the works of author Octavia Butler. The primary texts analyzed are Parable of the Sower and Parable of the Talents. In these novels, Butler alludes to slavery in antebellum America by drawing strong parallels between the roles race and gender played in the survival of the escaped slaves of America’s past and the role they play in the survival of the main character of Butler’s apocalyptic future. The themes of race and gender frequently intersect and maintain an important role throughout the novels. I argue that, by reading Butler’s novels within this significant historical context, Butler’s use of passing as a tool for subverting both racial and gendered identity as a means to secure the safety and privilege necessary for survival emerges. Further, the parallels between racial and gender passing serve to expose the performative nature of these identifying characteristics.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2017
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00004996
- Subject Headings
- Dissertations, Academic -- Florida Atlantic University, Butler, Octavia E. 1947-2006, Butler, Octavia E.--Criticism and interpretation.
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Reel versus Real: Interracial Relationships within the South Asian Diaspora.
- Creator
- Ali, Kasima Jennet, Reilly, Susan, Florida Atlantic University, Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters, School of Communication and Multimedia Studies
- Abstract/Description
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This study analyzes the reactions of interracial relationships within the South Asian Diaspora via film and literature focused on the United States and England. The films examined are Mississippi Masala (1992) and Bend It Like Beckham (2002), and the literature-utilized focuses on cultural identity, interracial dating, the importance of marriage, the Indian community, and gender roles focused on women within the diaspora. The films used encourage the idea of interracial relationships as...
Show moreThis study analyzes the reactions of interracial relationships within the South Asian Diaspora via film and literature focused on the United States and England. The films examined are Mississippi Masala (1992) and Bend It Like Beckham (2002), and the literature-utilized focuses on cultural identity, interracial dating, the importance of marriage, the Indian community, and gender roles focused on women within the diaspora. The films used encourage the idea of interracial relationships as acceptable and give South Asian women the confidence to be more independent. The intention of this research is to analyze the importance of cultural blending, independence, heritage, and traditional values. The focus behind this research is to understand the battle of traditional versus modern roles for women in the South Asian diaspora, and how independence can be viewed as a form of dishonoring and humiliating their families when they step outside of the cultural box.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2017
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00005922
- Subject Headings
- Dissertations, Academic -- Florida Atlantic University, South Asian diaspora., Interracial dating., Cultural identity, Sex role--South Asia.
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Reimaginging Shakespeare in the Young Adult Contemporary Novel.
- Creator
- Turchin, Jodi Lyn, Stockard, Emily, Florida Atlantic University, Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters, Department of English
- Abstract/Description
-
This research focuses on how Young Adult (YA) novelists adapt Shakespeare’s plays to address the concerns of a contemporary teenage audience. Through the qualitative method of content analysis, I examined adaptations of the three most commonly read texts in the high school curriculum: Romeo and Juliet, Macbeth, and Hamlet. The research looked for various patterns in the adaptations and analyzed the choices made by the authors in aligning their texts to or deviating from the original plays. A...
Show moreThis research focuses on how Young Adult (YA) novelists adapt Shakespeare’s plays to address the concerns of a contemporary teenage audience. Through the qualitative method of content analysis, I examined adaptations of the three most commonly read texts in the high school curriculum: Romeo and Juliet, Macbeth, and Hamlet. The research looked for various patterns in the adaptations and analyzed the choices made by the authors in aligning their texts to or deviating from the original plays. A final chapter addresses practical classroom application in using adaptations to teach the plays to high school students.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2017
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00004995, http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00004985
- Subject Headings
- Dissertations, Academic -- Florida Atlantic University, Shakespeare, William, 1564-1616--Adaptations--Fiction., Young adult fiction., Content analysis.
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Lived Experience of Suffering Through the 2010 Earthquake in Haiti.
- Creator
- Gullett, Diane L., Barry, Charlotte D., Florida Atlantic University, Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing
- Abstract/Description
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The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the lived experience of suffering through the 2010 earthquake in Haiti. The experiences of 13 individuals who lived suffering through the 2010 earthquake in Haiti were elicited. Heideggerian hermeneutical phenomenology served as both the guiding philosophy and methodology for this research study, while Eriksson’s (1981) theory of caritative caring provided the caring science lens. Diekelmann, Allen, and Tanner’s (1989) seven-stage method of...
Show moreThe purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the lived experience of suffering through the 2010 earthquake in Haiti. The experiences of 13 individuals who lived suffering through the 2010 earthquake in Haiti were elicited. Heideggerian hermeneutical phenomenology served as both the guiding philosophy and methodology for this research study, while Eriksson’s (1981) theory of caritative caring provided the caring science lens. Diekelmann, Allen, and Tanner’s (1989) seven-stage method of hermeneutical analysis provided the structure for data analysis. The relational themes that were interpreted were: Experiencing the Unimaginable, Awakening to a Changed Reality, Agonizing for Others, Compounding Losses, Finding a Way Forward, and Being Transformed. These six relational themes are illuminated and aesthetically re-presented in six watercolor paintings. The constitutive pattern Suffering With and For Others expressed the meaning of suffering for participants through the 2010 earthquake in Haiti as a lived experience.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2017
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00005938
- Subject Headings
- Dissertations, Academic -- Florida Atlantic University, Haiti Earthquake, Haiti, 2010--Personal narratives., Heideggeriana., Hermeneutics--Research--Methodology., Eriksson, Katie
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Maternal influence on early infant emotional regulation: A study of 3-month infant behavior, cortisol and frontal EEG.
- Creator
- Sloan, Aliza T., Jones, Nancy Aaron, Florida Atlantic University, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Department of Psychology
- Abstract/Description
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Prenatal maternal stress and mood, and early postnatal mother-infant interactions set the stage for the child’s psychobiological, neurological and social development. While a large body of research connecting maternal depression to infant EEG asymmetry exists, the current study sought to add to the sparse literature on maternal anxiety and infant EEG. Mother-infant dyads were assessed prenatally during the third trimester, soon after birth, at 6 weeks and 3 months postnatal. Association...
Show morePrenatal maternal stress and mood, and early postnatal mother-infant interactions set the stage for the child’s psychobiological, neurological and social development. While a large body of research connecting maternal depression to infant EEG asymmetry exists, the current study sought to add to the sparse literature on maternal anxiety and infant EEG. Mother-infant dyads were assessed prenatally during the third trimester, soon after birth, at 6 weeks and 3 months postnatal. Association between maternal depression and later development of right mid-frontal alpha asymmetry was confirmed, while trends suggested maternal anxiety may be associated with lateral frontal alpha asymmetry. Greater maternal sensitivity and anxiety were each associated with lower post-stressor cortisol in infants with right frontal asymmetry. Greater time spent in mutual gaze was associated with positive infant affect. Finally, quality mother-infant dynamics encourage positive infant affect and healthy physiological stress regulation even when brain patterns associated with dysregulation have been established.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2017
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00005929
- Subject Headings
- Dissertations, Academic -- Florida Atlantic University, Mother and infant., Infant Behavior., Cortisol., Emotion., Frontal Lobe--physiology., Electroencephalography--Psychological aspects.
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Population Structure and Gene Expression of the Coral Montastraea cavernosa in the Northern Florida Reef Tract.
- Creator
- Dodge, Danielle, Voss, Joshua, Florida Atlantic University, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Department of Biological Sciences
- Abstract/Description
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Coral reefs on Florida’s Reef Tract (FRT) are susceptible to many anthropogenic influences including controlled freshwater discharges and agricultural runoff as well as high natural environmental variability from seasonal rainfall, runoff and upwelling. To better understand coral population structure and responses to sublethal stressors, populations of the scleractinian coral Montastraea cavernosa in the northern FRT were examined using a combination of genomic and transcriptomic techniques....
Show moreCoral reefs on Florida’s Reef Tract (FRT) are susceptible to many anthropogenic influences including controlled freshwater discharges and agricultural runoff as well as high natural environmental variability from seasonal rainfall, runoff and upwelling. To better understand coral population structure and responses to sublethal stressors, populations of the scleractinian coral Montastraea cavernosa in the northern FRT were examined using a combination of genomic and transcriptomic techniques. Microsatellite genetic markers identified high local retention among sites and a slight southward gene flow. An in-situ temporal gene expression analysis utilizing a tag-based sequencing transcriptomic approach was used to analyze baseline coral health at St. Lucie Reef (SLR), off Stuart, FL. Temporal variation had the greatest influence of differential gene expression among M. cavernosa at SLR. Results will be shared with local resource managers and coupled with a complementary ex-situ experimental trial.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2017
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00005920
- Subject Headings
- Dissertations, Academic -- Florida Atlantic University, Montastraea, Coral reef ecology--Florida., Corals--Effect of stress on, Gene expression--Analysis.
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- A Quantitative Analysis of Green-Building Features Incorporated in LEED-Certified Campus Buildings.
- Creator
- Ramdin, Gianna, Wright, Dianne A., Florida Atlantic University, College of Education, Department of Educational Leadership and Research Methodology
- Abstract/Description
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Higher education is an idyllically positioned organization from which meaningful dissemination of knowledge and interdisciplinary research is capable of actuating practices that resource consumption. Paradoxically, the construction, maintenance, and operations of the built environment, including the built campus environment, have contributed to the decline of raw resources and degradation of environmental processes. An opportunity exists to bridge the knowledge gap between the design and...
Show moreHigher education is an idyllically positioned organization from which meaningful dissemination of knowledge and interdisciplinary research is capable of actuating practices that resource consumption. Paradoxically, the construction, maintenance, and operations of the built environment, including the built campus environment, have contributed to the decline of raw resources and degradation of environmental processes. An opportunity exists to bridge the knowledge gap between the design and construction phase and the operations and maintenance phase of the green certified building life cycle, while examining the parts that contributed to the green-certification of the whole building. The purpose of this research was to 1.) identify green-building features and determine their frequency of implementation in new capital (NC) LEED-certified, campus buildings to effectuate operations and maintenance cost savings, indoor wellbeing, and environmental stewardship, and 2.) determine the relationships of greenbuilding feature usage across building, institutional, and LEED characteristics. The study used archival data to document the green efforts of each building with the study’s sample of 195 buildings on the campus of 107 universities and colleges, in the United States, between 2007 and 2017. The study’s findings indicated that the public institutions earned the LEED certification more often than private institutions and the sample was void of two-year community colleges. The sample was restricted for green-building features that (a) reduce economic cost, (b) improve indoor wellbeing, and (c) increase environmental stewardship. The results and implications are discussed.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2017
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00005930
- Subject Headings
- Dissertations, Academic -- Florida Atlantic University, Sustainable buildings., Education, Higher., Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Green Building Rating System., Quantitative research.
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Differences in Nurses’ Perceptions of Safety Culture, Nurse-Physician Collaboration, and Level of Job Satisfaction Related to the Type of Obstetrical Physician Service Delivery Model Utilized.
- Creator
- Abiri, Olga, Sherman, Rose O., Florida Atlantic University, Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing
- Abstract/Description
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Creating a safety culture is the focus in the current healthcare environment. An inhouse, around-the-clock laborist service delivery model has been associated with positive outcomes, but little is known about the laborist structure’s contribution to the labor-anddelivery working environment. The purpose of this descriptive correlational study was to explore the effects of physician service delivery model on safety culture, nurse-physician collaboration, and nurses’ job satisfaction. An...
Show moreCreating a safety culture is the focus in the current healthcare environment. An inhouse, around-the-clock laborist service delivery model has been associated with positive outcomes, but little is known about the laborist structure’s contribution to the labor-anddelivery working environment. The purpose of this descriptive correlational study was to explore the effects of physician service delivery model on safety culture, nurse-physician collaboration, and nurses’ job satisfaction. An additional purpose was to examine associations between nurses’ perceptions of safety culture, nurse-physician collaboration, and job satisfaction. Ray’s (1981, 1989) Theory of Bureaucratic Caring and Homan’s (1974) Social Exchange Theory guided this study. A survey consisting of demographic questions, the Collaborative Practice Scale (Weiss & Davis, 1985), the Hospital Survey on Patient Safety Culture (Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, 2015; HSOPSC), and the McCloskey and Mueller Satisfaction Scale (McCloskey & Mueller, 1990) was distributed to registered nurses (RNs) nationwide. The results indicated that nurses in facilities using the around-the-clock model had higher perceptions of nursephysician collaboration, but not of safety culture or job satisfaction in relation to the physician service-delivery model. Significant moderate-to-strong correlations between nurses’ perceptions of patient safety and job satisfaction, and a weak correlation between bedside nurses’ perceptions of nurse-physician collaboration and job satisfaction were demonstrated. Additional significant correlations were found between the instrument subscales. Control/responsibility in the MMSS scale was positively associated with both management support for patient safety, supervisors’ and managers’ expectations and actions promoting patient safety, and overall perceptions of safety in the HSOPSC scale. Praise and recognition in the MMSS scale were positively associated with supervisor/manager expectations and actions promoting patient safety in the HSOPSC scale. Further appraisal is needed to understand the mechanism by which the laborist model affects patient care and work environment. Recommendations for future research include replicating the study with a larger sample sizes in specific groups based on the role and scheduled shift, conducting the study in a single system or location to mitigate the effects of other variables; and exploring physicians’ perspectives on the variables being studied.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2017
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00004969, http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00004959
- Subject Headings
- Dissertations, Academic -- Florida Atlantic University, Obstetrics--Practice., Medical care--Safety measures., Nurse-physician collaboration., Nurses--Job satisfaction., Labor and delivery.
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Development of a Comprehensive Design Methodology and Fatigue Life Prediction of Composite Turbine Blades under Random Ocean Current Loading.
- Creator
- Suzuki, Takuya, Mahfuz, Hassan, Florida Atlantic University, College of Engineering and Computer Science, Department of Ocean and Mechanical Engineering
- Abstract/Description
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A comprehensive study was performed to overcome the design issues related to Ocean Current Turbine (OCT) blades. Statistical ocean current models were developed in terms of the probability density function, the vertical profile of mean velocity, and the power spectral density. The models accounted for randomness in ocean currents, tidal effect, and ocean depth. The proposed models gave a good prediction of the velocity variations at the Florida Straits of the Gulf Stream. A novel procedure...
Show moreA comprehensive study was performed to overcome the design issues related to Ocean Current Turbine (OCT) blades. Statistical ocean current models were developed in terms of the probability density function, the vertical profile of mean velocity, and the power spectral density. The models accounted for randomness in ocean currents, tidal effect, and ocean depth. The proposed models gave a good prediction of the velocity variations at the Florida Straits of the Gulf Stream. A novel procedure was developed to couple Fluid-Structure Interaction (FSI) with blade element momentum theory. The FSI effect was included by considering changes in inflow velocity, lift and drag coefficients of blade elements. Geometric non-linearity was also considered to account for large deflection. The proposed FSI analysis predicted a power loss of 3.1 % due to large deflection of the OCT blade. The method contributed to saving extensive computational cost and time compared to a CFD-based FSI analysis. The random ocean current loadings were calculated by considering the ocean current turbulence, the wake flow behind the support structure, and the velocity shear. The random ocean current loadings had large probability of high stress ratio. Fatigue tests of GFRP coupons and composite sandwich panels under such random loading were performed. Fatigue life increased by a power function for GFRP coupons and by a linearlog function for composite sandwich panels as the mean velocity decreased. To accurately predict the fatigue life, a new fatigue model based on the stiffness degradation was proposed. Fatigue life of GFRP coupons was predicted using the proposed model, and a comparison was made with experimental results. As a summary, a set of new design procedures for OCT blades has been introduced and verified with various case studies of experimental turbines.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2017
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00005931
- Subject Headings
- Dissertations, Academic -- Florida Atlantic University, Turbines--Blades--Design and construction., Turbines--Blades--Materials., Composite construction--Fatigue., Ocean currents--Mathematical models.
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- The Wicked Decision Maker: A Collective Case Study of Senior Student Affairs Officers Responding to At-risk Student Retention.
- Creator
- Camp, Aarika C., Watlington, Eliah, Pisapia, John, Florida Atlantic University, College of Education, Department of Educational Leadership and Research Methodology
- Abstract/Description
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The purpose of this collective case study was to discover the decision-making processes used by senior student affairs officers when making wicked decisions related to the retention of specialized, at-risk student populations. Wicked decisions are complex, resistant to resolutions, lead to other problems, and are essentially unique. In this study, decisions related to retention of Black males; students with mental health issues; and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer student...
Show moreThe purpose of this collective case study was to discover the decision-making processes used by senior student affairs officers when making wicked decisions related to the retention of specialized, at-risk student populations. Wicked decisions are complex, resistant to resolutions, lead to other problems, and are essentially unique. In this study, decisions related to retention of Black males; students with mental health issues; and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer student retention fall within the wicked problem category and were the focus of this study. These decisions are usually the responsibility of divisions of student affairs in higher education settings and the senior student affairs officer. Hence, the senior student affairs officer is tasked with making responsible and effective decisions that foster the success of all students. This dissertation focused on the decision-making processes, practices, and procedures student affairs officers use to support the retention of select special populations served in higher education.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2017
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00004985, http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00004975
- Subject Headings
- Dissertations, Academic -- Florida Atlantic University, Student affairs administrators., Dropouts--Prevention., Student affairs services--United States--Decision making--Case studies.
- Format
- Document (PDF)