Doctor of Social Sciences
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Item Tools in the Toolbox: Exploring the Lived Experiences of Police Officers, mHealth Mobile Application Engagement and Associated Systems of Coping Mechanisms(2024) St.Cyr, Sherri; Young, MichaelA significant issue confronting Canadian police executives today pertains to the escalating prevalence of mental health and addiction cases among their officers. In response, the Halton Regional Police Service initiated a mental wellness campaign in 2020, incorporating a mobile application aimed at destigmatizing mental health and addiction issues while providing support resources for employees. This study sought to examine the impact of officers’ lived experiences on their engagement with the application, employing theories of labelling, self-stigmatization, structural stigma, and Foucauldian frameworks. Drawing from organizational behaviour, police culture, mental health, addiction, and mobile applications research, the study consisted of 23 phenomenological-focused interviews with police officers, supplemented by the researcher's self-examination. The findings revealed that officers grappled with various stressors, partially mitigated by informal personal and work support networks. However, usage of the application remained minimal, primarily confined to viewing personal narrative videos and accessing resource contact information. Recommendations included enhancements to the application, augmented training, and improved return-to-work integration. This study contributes to the scant body of research on the mental wellness of Canadian police officers and their use of mental health mobile applications.Item The Experiences of Professional Muslim Women in the Canadian Workplace(2024) Latif, Ruby; heinz, matthewThis dissertation investigates the experiences of professional Muslim women in Canada. It examines the intricate interplay of religion, race/ethnicity, sect, and gender along with various other facets of identity within this diverse community. This study focuses on Canadian-born and immigrant Muslim women, recognizing their unique experiences and challenges in various organizational settings. Moreover, it considers visible identity markers, such as wearing the hijab, and their influence on workplace dynamics. Drawing upon the frameworks of Social Identity Theory, Intersectionality Theory, and the Critical Ecological Model, the research explores themes such as media discourse, identity construction, discrimination, workplace accommodations, and the impact of COVID-19 on Canadian Muslim women. This study aimed to contribute to existing scholarship by systematically examining the societal context through a mixed methods approach which involved a content analysis of Canadian media outlets and 20 one-on-one interviews with professional Muslim women in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). The findings hold implications for promoting equity, diversity, and inclusion within Canadian organizations. By highlighting gaps between diversity rhetoric and reality and addressing persistent issues of discrimination and Islamophobia, the research underscores the importance of inclusive workplace cultures.Item Trauma Informed Care: An Analysis of Narratives From Multiple Perspectives On Healing(2024) Hughes, Calum; Pulla, SiomonnThis paper includes an extensive review of the literature starting with an exploration of 17 areas or therapeutic approaches to trauma healing. Following this, 11 interviews were conducted, and reviewed, with several people from around the globe who have had extensive experience working with trauma healing. Finally, the 17 areas of literature review and 11 interviews are integrated, analyzed, and discussed. This work was conducted in an attempt to find a partial solution and present supportive insights and practical implications for clinicians to help with a problem that many are faced with today —trauma healing. Seven practical themes are presented as outcomes of this work in support of the hypothesis. The hypothesis: There are common elements in a person’s healing journey from trauma that can set them forth towards positive transformation. These seven outcomes of the analysis are proposed as a set of criteria that can be used to build a therapeutic foundation from which a therapeutic plan can be formed. This researcher believes that building a strong therapeutic foundation through using these seven outcomes will increase the likelihood of positive outcome to the 17 therapies presented in the literature review. This is presented as a practical contribution in the Conclusions chapter. The outcomes that the reader will hopefully obtain from this research paper will be to: • Gain an understanding of prior art literature from the various fields regarding the approach to trauma healing. • Learn from narrative feedback from the clinicians and trauma experts. • Gain an opportunity to use the tools presented in the appendices to get started either on a self-healing journey, or for clinicians to work with helping people on their healing journey.Item Analyzing Student Readiness for Online Learning in Higher Education(2024) Douglas, Jennifer; Pulla, SiomonnThis case study seeks to investigate students’ readiness in an online learning environment and examine how well Royal Roads University’s (RRU) pedagogical model aligns with their intended educational outcomes. By providing an anonymous platform for students to share their perspectives, the study addresses the gap in understanding the relationship between students and their academic institutions. Focusing specifically on RRU, the research has the potential to serve as a model for other Canadian universities seeking to improve their online educational offerings. Currently, there is limited research on the intricate dynamics between students and their academic institutions in the context of online learning. This case study delves into RRU’s pedagogical model and its effectiveness in supporting students’ readiness for online learning in higher education. The findings of this case study can provide valuable guidance for other Canadian universities, helping them adopt similar pedagogical models that cater better to the needs of their diverse student populations, faculty, and staff. Understanding the factors that contribute to student readiness in online learning allows institutions to customize their approaches, resulting in a more engaging, effective, and supportive learning environment. By conducting a comprehensive analysis of RRU’s pedagogical model and its impact on student readiness, this case study contributes to the growing body of knowledge on online learning in higher education and its implications for educational institutions. The results will offer valuable insights to educators, administrators, and policymakers seeking to enhance the quality of online education and will improve the overall student experience. Keywords: Online learning, student readiness, pedagogical model, higher education, case study, Royal Roads University, student perspectives, educational outcomes.Item How Examining Environmental Policy, Community-Based Data, and Federal Government Actions Can Inform a More Just and Sustainable Environmental Governance in Canada(2024) Mang, Justina, H.K.; Prasad, AjneshAs environmental sustainability and environmental injustice are increasingly the topics of national and international politics, whether they be reflected in current events, media platforms, or in the arts, progressive environmental governance reforms in Canada appear to be moving in the right direction. However, upon examining an exemplar population experiencing some of the highest outputs of industrial emissions – the Aamjiwnaang First Nation (AFN) – the literature points to a systemic insufficiency with the role of government entities and agents in co-managing industry and civil society interests. My dissertation by portfolio’s purpose is thus to answer the complex question of how a policy paper, a conceptual paper, and an opinion-editorial article can inform a more just and sustainable environmental governance for the AFN in Canada. The first portfolio product remarks that, while the Supreme Court Greenhouse Gas Pollution Pricing Act (GGPPA) ruling has legitimized a new regulatory framework for Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions to address adverse climate change outcomes impacting the nation, GHGs are but one of three types of pollutants that cumulatively threaten the health, lives, and culture of the AFN. The second product examines how existing community-based research can best inform the conceptualization and implementation of Bill C-226, to progress environmental justice and sustainability for the AFN living in Chemical Valley. The last output assesses the effectiveness of GGPPA-related environmental governance practices, by looking at one key dimension of environmental justice and sustainability. Cross-portfolio conclusions drawn emphasize a greater need for government-wide systems-based thought and action, when conceptualizing and operationalizing environmental laws in a way that enables and not hinders, an effective, clear, equitable, and practical environmental governance. Integrating procedural and outcome justice components in environmental governance considerations, along with Indigenous inspired approaches, can offer some necessary insight into how examining environmental policy, community-based data, and federal government actions can inform a more just and sustainable environmental governance in Canada.