Graduate Theses

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    Exploring perceptions of digital literacy in a LINC curriculum
    (Mount Saint Vincent University, 2023-08) Remedios, Jordan
    This thesis examines the perceptions of instructors and students in the Immigrant Services Association of Nova Scotia's (ISANS) Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada (LINC) program regarding the incorporation of digital literacy practices in their curriculum, specifically focusing on Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) classes six, seven and eight. The study investigates digital literacy in the context of adult newcomers, using Nixon and Kerin's (2012) model which encompasses the operational, cultural, and critical dimensions of digital literacy. Using a qualitative approach, data was collected through student focus groups, follow-up interviews with students, and interviews with instructors. Thematic analysis was conducted to identify patterns and trends in the perceptions of instructors and students. The findings from this study reveal that while there are diverse perspectives on the perceived need for digital literacy training and skills development within the ISANS EAL curriculum, there are also clear areas for improvement within the operational, cultural, and critical dimensions of digital literacy. This differs from much of the recent literature on the subject which focuses on the need for digital literacy education, without necessarily considering the specific perceptions of both students and instructors. In general, instructors participating in this study expressed a belief that a greater emphasis and inclusion of discussions on digital literacy would improve the curriculum. Both instructors and students acknowledged the importance of developing skills such as email communication, finding and evaluating online information, and understanding online scams and fraud. Despite this, some students conveyed a lack of interest incorporating more digital literacy in into their classes, specifically in areas such as online safety and personal data management. Conversely, others voiced a strong need for increased digital literacy learning, especially in developing professional online networks, discussing scams and fraud, and managing personal data. Recommendations for improving the curriculum include a coordinated approach, gamification, creation of a Digital Literacy Committee, implementation of a Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL) approach, and the introduction of translanguaging spaces. Finally, there are also suggestions and implications for future research in this area.
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    Understanding Nursing Resilience During the COVID-19 Pandemic Through Narrative Inquiry and Art. A Feminist Exploration in Educational Research
    (Mount Saint Vincent University, 2023-07) Flegg, Carol A.
    The resilience and retention of nurses is a complex and urgently compelling phenomenon in the global context, made even more critical given the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. Qualitative research on nursing resilience is an under-researched topic, particularly within nurses’ personal stories of resilience. This study incorporated narrative inquiry and arts-based research seen through the lens of a feminist theoretical framework. It explored the stories of nursing resilience told from the perspective of four public health nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic. In the spirit of Connelly and Clandinin (1990), the focus of this narrative inquiry is not only on the individual's experience but also on the social, cultural, and institutional narratives within each individual’s experiences that are derived, shaped, expressed, and enacted. The stories of nursing resilience were shared in group discussions, one-on-one interviews focused on conversations and artistic collages with artist statements. This research wove together stories of nursing resilience and elucidated the impact of emotional labour, camaraderie, mentorship, and self-care on the developmental process of resilience. The positive effects of feeling valued within the power structure in nursing are highlighted. Higher education curricula do introduce the concept of nursing resilience, but the focus in nursing education programs is on medical and technical knowledge. There are many factors which are influencing the need for nurses to be more resilient in the workplace, nursing students will need to learn much more about this subject and how it can impact them both personally and professionally. Implications for further research on mentorship, the group effect of research and the therapeutic nature of storytelling through art are illuminated.
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    The development and sensory evaluation of puréed foods with added pulses
    (Mount Saint Vincent University, 2023-07) Estrella, María Victoria
    Proper nutrition is necessary for people’s physical and emotional well-being. The relationship between food and people’s well-being is associated with nutrition, the pleasure of tasty food and social components. Dysphagia is a condition that increases the risk of malnutrition and its consequences. Providing appropriate food for people with dysphagia prevents the risk of becoming malnourished. Puréed food may not appear appetizing or tasty enough. At the moment, the use of pulses for purée formulations for the dysphagia population is not being used.
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    Correlates of Student Anxiety: Considerations for Tier 1 Prevention and Intervention Within Multi-Tiered Systems of Support
    (Mount Saint Vincent University, 2023-07) MacGillivray, Ben
    It is widely recognized that excessive anxiety has harmful effects on functioning and well-being among student populations. This is especially concerning because anxiety in students has shown to have increased over the COVID-19 pandemic. Thus, it will be critical to further the knowledge around student anxiety, it’s correlates, and ways it can be managed. The aim of this study is twofold; to provide a literature review on student anxiety research from a school psychology perspective, and to test the relationship between anxiety and three variables that can be treated at a Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) tier 1 level. Chapter 1 is a literature review on student anxiety; it describes the development of student anxiety research, highlights key correlates relevant to the school context, and discusses treatment and management options for student anxiety. Chapter 2 narrows its focus and tests whether physical activity, sleep hygiene, and self-esteem are important to self-reported anxiety in the COVID-19 context. In the results, sleep hygiene and self-esteem were individually correlated with self-reported anxiety, while physical activity was not. When all three predictor variables were used in a multiple regression model with anxiety, it was significant and accounted for thirty-four percent of the variance in self-reported student anxiety scores. Furthermore, a model using only sleep hygiene measures accounted for twenty-two percent of the variance in self-reported student anxiety scores. Results could provide simple and practical recommendations for professionals working in schools, most notably school psychologists.
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    Best Practices in Health Communication: A Case Study of Nova Scotia Press Conferences During the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic
    (Mount Saint Vincent University, 2023-07) MacIsaac, Sarah Alex
    This research addresses the best practices in health communication performed by the Nova Scotia government and Nova Scotia Health during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic in Nova Scotia, Canada. The COVID-19 pandemic has altered the health communication landscape globally. The goals of this study were: (1) to develop a model that could offer insight into which best practices are consistent and relevant within the literature concerning health communication and (2) to examine which best practices in health communication have been deployed by the Nova Scotia government and Nova Scotia Health during the COVID-19 pandemic. A three-phase methodological approach has been used to develop a model of best practices in health communication during a pandemic. Phase one, an inductive content analysis was used to examine best practices. Phase two, a case study approach was used to analyze press conference transcripts for the first six waves of COVID-19 in Nova Scotia. Phase three, an abductive approach from the case study analysis, supported the refinement of the model from phase one. The findings of this study produced the Best Practices in Health Communication in a Pandemic (BPHCP) Model consisting of eight best practices. This model has demonstrated consistent best practices in health communication that can be used to ensure organizations in this field are performing optimally for the public in maintaining public health and safety. The development of this BPHCP model has the potential to be deployed within practical applications of health communication to navigate the changing landscape.