Master of Arts

thesisBarcelona's most prominent newspaper, La Vanguardia, framed a fierce resistance to Franco during the Spanish Civil War even when it became clear that defeat was imminent. Its writers and editors made a desperate plea for democratic values, not just to struggling locals or the international community they still sought to recruit, but to future generations. These journalists thus proved uniquely discerning of the implications of their work, appearing to recognize outright that they had lost the war in the hope that their legacy might one day be recovered. In a striking break with the past, La Vanguardia designated itself the "guardian of democracy" and argued for the newfound rights of women, minorities, and workers. This thesis examines the rise and fall of the Second Spanish Republic, the ideals stirred up in revolutionary Barcelona, and the significant role assumed by the media in wartime

Instilling Motivation, Embracing Mistakes, and Fostering Grit: Using The Rubik\u27s Cube in Elementary Classrooms

Research into the use of a Rubik’s cube in an elementary classroom can provide future implications on fostering grit through a growth mindset. Although previous studies show grit to be a predictor of student success, research surrounding the literature does not address how grit can be taught in the classroom. This mixed methods study explored the missing research by examining the differences between cognitive and non-cognitive skills with the influence of a deliberate practice. The Rubik’s cube acted as the instructional tool to foster grit and growth mindset by engaging students in a motivating challenge that builds perseverance and critical thinking skills. The study was conducted using second grade students from a Title I school in the south. The treatment group participate in grit and growth mindset discussions, as well as Rubik’s cube instruction. The control group also participated in grit and growth mindset discussions using motivational PowerPoints and videos, but did not receive any type of Rubik’s cube instruction. Pre-tests and post-tests were used to analyze reading and mathematics change scores, along with grit and growth mindset levels. In addition, the researcher reflected in a teacher journal, collected student responses from writing prompts, as well as conducted teacher interviews to conclude the study

The perceived ‘classroom readiness’ and support of Western Australian primary graduate teachers

Graduate teachers are expected to be ‘classroom ready’ upon graduation, yet research suggests they are not. The difficulties faced by graduate teachers in their first years of teaching often result in low self-efficacy and attrition, which in turn can affect the achievement of their students. Since its establishment in 2010, the Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership (AITSL) have implemented a competency framework for both teachers and Initial Teacher Education (ITE) providers, aimed at improving not only all teacher quality in Australia, but the quality of ITE, graduating teachers and the support structures provided to them. This research project investigated how six primary graduate Department of Education of Western Australia (DoEWA) teachers perceived their ‘classroom readiness’, in light of these reforms. A qualitative methodology based in phenomenology was employed, as the study sought to describe the experiences of these graduate teachers with regard to the formal and informal support offered to them, including mechanisms such as the Graduate Teacher Modules and In-Class Coaching. Interviews were undertaken with the six teachers upon commencement of their second year of teaching. The findings revealed that graduate teachers did not perceive themselves to be ‘classroom ready’ upon ITE completion, however they did not expect to be, nor did it make them wish to quit the profession. Further, the Graduate Teacher Modules were perceived as a ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach to graduate teacher professional learning, as opposed to targeting specific needs relating to the graduate teachers and their varied professional contexts. While the In-Class Coaching Program provided a small element of support to participants, overall it increased their workload and stress. This finding indicates the need for a review into the delivery of the In-Class Coaching Program. Ultimately, unofficial mentoring from colleagues was identified as offering the greatest form of support for the participants, suggesting the need to re-think the way schools and DoEWA offer support to graduate teachers

Simulation in a variety of settings using 'live' adult patient Service Users and moulage

This article shows how simulation can be modified and adapted to benefit Higher Education Institutes (HEIs) in a variety of situations. These situations include the engagement of Service Users and moulage to ensure skill enhancement so the very best student experience can be harnessed empowering and supporting students in learning, as a means to achieving their potential. This article describes a unique collaboration between one Higher Education Institute and Service Users (SUs), who have worked together in engaging in simulation activities in partnership. The development of simulation using Service Users is at the heart of developing student nurse education and recruitment. It has created communities of practice working across the traditional departmental boundaries to create innovative and creative learning opportunities for students. This collaboration links to the political imperative to improve the education of the health and social care sector, highlights the integration of skills development to theory, focuses on person-centred care and demonstrates how this HEI is producing a compassionate and caring workforce

The Ketogenic Diet: The Effects You’d Yeast Expect

This research poster addresses the question: How does the ketogenic diet affect the oral cavity? Ketogenic ‘keto’ diet emphasizes high fat, low carbohydrate consumption and avoids simple carbohydrate and sugars. Sugar substitutes are almost always utilized. Fat heavy diets causes the body to go into ketosis: a process in which the body burns fat for energy because glucose isn’t available. The keto diet has many positive effects for the body, including several specific to the oral cavity: Decreased caries risk, gingival inflammation, and bleeding; reduction of acidity and plaque mutans when paired with the keto approved sugar substitute: erythritol. The keto diet also can cause ‘keto breath’ an overly sweet, fruit-scented breath. Low carb, high protein and fat diets, such as the keto diet, have had a recent resurgence in popularity. Given the numerous beneficial effects on the oral cavity, it is important for dental hygienists know them and be able to educate patients using the keto diet: Reduce caries risk by decreasing amount of sugary nutrients bacteria feed upon; reduce gingival inflammation and bleeding without a change in oral hygiene performance; Erythritol should be the sugar substitute of choice when on the Keto diet due to its association with reduction of acidity in the oral cavity and reduction of plaque.https://dune.une.edu/dh_studpost/1003/thumbnail.jp

Exploring parents' understanding of their children’s mental health and wellbeing. From experience to discourse.

D. App. Ed. Psy. Thesis.This thesis explores parents’ views, experiences, and constructions of children’s mental health and wellbeing. Chapter 1: A meta-ethnographic, systematic literature review was conducted to synthesise findings of six studies which had explored the experiences of parents whose children had accessed mental health services. Findings demonstrated support for common understandings in help-seeking and access literature in mental health. The synthesis highlighted the expectations, assumptions, and anticipated consequences of constructing problems as mental health difficulties. Connections were drawn with the possibilities made available in community-based and partnership working in universal services. Chapter 2: Provides an ethical and methodological consideration of the empirical project presented in Chapter Three. The relationship between findings from the literature review and the empirical project is discussed and the methodological process is considered in depth. This includes consideration of the philosophical assumptions related to a discourse analysis methodology and consideration of ethically important moments which arose in carrying out the research. Chapter 3: An empirical study focused on understanding parents’ construction of wellbeing as a concept. A discourse analysis methodology was used to explore how wellbeing is constructed in conversations amongst parents. Participants were interviewed virtually in pre-existing pairs and the discussions then analysed. The discursive constructions and wider discourses considered in this analysis were explored from the perspective of power, positioning, and possibilities for action in universal services when developing approaches to practice. Particular consideration was given to the possible contribution of educational psychology. Chapter 4: Provides a reflective and reflexive account of the research process and outcomes and what this means for me as a trainee practitioner and researcher. The implications for my own professional practice as a future EP are considered and possible next steps in EP research and practice more generally are explored. Cross referencing is used throughout the thesis. These links are indicated by text in bold italics

Perfectionism among young female competitive Irish dancers: prevalence and relationship with injury responses

This study investigated the prevalence of perfectionism among young female competitive Irish dancers and examined the relationships between perfectionistic tendencies and coping strategies used when experiencing injury. Sixty-eight female dancers (Mean age: 14 ± 2.3 years) completed the Child-Adolescent Perfectionism Scale and the Ways of Coping Questionnaire and provided a record of injuries incurred during their championship careers. Participants reported 189 injuries, mostly involving the lower extremities. Seventy-nine percent of dancers reported perfectionistic tendencies (mixed perfectionism 40%, pure self-oriented perfectionism 29%, pure socially prescribed perfectionism 10%), and most frequently adopted “planful problemsolving,” “seeking social support,” “distancing,” and “self-controlling” strategies to cope with injury. Perfectionism and two coping strategies were found to be significantly related (p = 0.03); “planful problem-solving” was typically used “quite a bit or a great deal” by the mixed perfectionism group, but only “somewhat” by the non-perfectionism group, whereas “confrontive coping” was typically not used by the non-perfectionism group but was used “somewhat” by the mixed perfectionism group. Given the presence of such a large degree of perfectionism and the simultaneous employment of problem- and emotion-focused strategies when coping with injuries, it is suggested that medical practitioners acknowledge such tendencies when supporting their dancers in order to reduce the likelihood of negative psychological impact

Understanding the Present Through the Past: A Comparison of Spanish News Coverage of the 1918 Flu and COVID-19 Pandemics

Through a comparative analysis of Spanish newspaper coverage of the 1918 flu and COVID-19 pandemics, this article explores the parallels between them, their roles in reflecting and facilitating public perceptions of infectious diseases, the national dialogues they incite, and the search for solutions in a global health crisis. I use qualitative analysis to interpret media themes of contagion as they shift from societal complacency to panic as disaster unfolds. In weaving together Philip Strong’s model for epidemic psychology and Jim A. Kuypers’s rhetorical approach to news framing, I analyze how newspapers communicate changing assumptions about epidemiologic risks during pandemics. </jats:p

Suicide Ideation Among College Students in Rhode Island

Suicide is the second leading cause of death among U.S. college students and the second leading cause of death for Rhode Islanders ages 15 to 34 years. A cross-sectional analysis was conducted with data collected from the Rhode Island Young Adult Survey (RIYAS) from May through August 2022. The survey resulted in N = 1,022 young adults aged 18-25 years who lived in Rhode Island for at least part of the year. This study was approved by the Johnson & Wales University Institutional Review Board. Among this sample of college students aged 18 to 25 years in Rhode Island, 13.7% (N = 94) reported suicide ideation, 7.6% (N = 52) reported making a suicide plan, and 3.2% (N = 22) reported at least one suicide attempt. Sexual and gender minorities had 300% (95%CI: 47%, 987%) increased odds of suicide ideation relative to cisgender heterosexual males, students living on campus had 56% (95%CI: 79%, 10%) lower odds of suicide ideation compared to those living off-campus with a parent, and students with insomnia had 156% (57%, 320%) increased odds of suicide ideation relative to those without insomnia