Digital Commons Network^™

You Just Know': A Phenomenological Study Examining How To Recognize When You Are Called, Kevin L. Warneke

Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education and Communication: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Scholarship

This phenomenological study describes the experiences of 12 residents of a Midwestern community who were identified by their peers as possibly possessing a calling. The central research question was: What are the experiences that lead to feelings of strong commitment in their lives? Calling was defined as a summons, which originates outside of one’s self, to serve a cause that betters humanity. Participants described the strong commitments they felt in their lives and explained their origins. Five themes emerged from the semi-structure interviews: (a) “You have to be asked and respond to being asked” – the role of a mentor …

Studies On Critical Thinking For Environmental Ethics, Courtney Quinn

Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education and Communication: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Scholarship

This study examined the role of critical thinking in regards to environmental ethical issues. First, an instrument was developed and validated to quantitatively measure students’ ability to apply critical thinking skills to various environmental ethical issues. Next, the instrument and a qualitative assessment were used to examine critical thinking capabilities of freshmen upon entry to a large introductory course. Last, the Environmental Ethics Critical Thinking Assessment, in conjunction with the qualitative assessment, were used to examine the change in critical thinking ability of all students in a large introductory course from pre to post-semester. In both studies, numerous antecedents to …

Navigating The Gate Keepers: A Mixed Method Study Of Early Career Librarians In The Tenure Process, Judith Wolfe

Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education and Communication: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Scholarship

The “gate keepers” oversee the enforcement of the rules, set by the university, for those seeking tenure. This elite club decides what counts, how it is completed and evaluated, and where to set the equity bar. The pre-tenured librarian expects to be treated with openness and fairness but may be met with bias and secrecy. Without a network or mentoring system many early-career librarians are not reappointed, are denied tenure, and become dropouts in the last year of the tenure process.

This study explores mentoring functions as they relate to joining the “club” within an academic library. This study also …

"Sometimes I Feel Like I'D Do This Job For Free": A Phenomenological Study Exploring Public Relations Practitioners' Beliefs About Immensely Satisfying Work, Peggy M. Rupprecht

Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education and Communication: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Scholarship

This qualitative phenomenological study explored the beliefs of 12 public relations practitioners’ about the construct of immensely satisfying work. The central research question was: What is the meaning of immensely satisfying work for a group of public relations practitioners working in the Midwest? Participants in this study had three or more years of experience as public relations practitioners, were members of, or affiliated with, a professional public relations organization, such as the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA), and had experienced, at some time during their professional careers, immensely satisfying work. Eight themes emerged from the semi-structured interviews: Leader Sets …

A Phenomenological Study Of Millennial Generation Cooperative Extension Educators' Development Of Core Competencies, David L. Varner

Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education and Communication: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Scholarship

The purpose of this qualitative research study was to describe the experiences that contribute to the development of core competencies among Millennial Generation, county-based Extension educators in the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension Division. Fourteen educators were randomly purposefully selected to participate in the study. Participants were born in 1977 or later as determined by Tapscott (2009). Educators’ tenure in Cooperative Extension ranged from two months to seven years. Three themes and associated sub-themes emerged from semi-structured interviews: (a) Blindfolded and Scared—educators were confused, overwhelmed and in need of support; (b) Developing the Big Skills: A Daunting Task—focused on discovering competencies …

The Difficulties And Opportunities Chinese Transfer Students Encounter In An American University: A Learning Perspective, Hui Chen

Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education and Communication: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Scholarship

The purpose of this study was to investigate the difficulties and opportunities that Chinese transfer students encounter in learning in one American university. The researcher also explored the strategies that transfer students used to deal with the difficulties and opportunities.

The study employed qualitative survey and interview methods. Ninety-seven students who transferred from Zhejiang University City College and Xi’an Jiaotong University City College to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln were invited to participate. These students came to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln through the Partner Degree Program (PDP). Forty-one individuals completed the online survey and two students participated in interviews. The participants …

A Multilevel Examination Of Proactive Work Behaviors: Contextual And Individual Differences As Antecedents, Travis P. Searle

Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education and Communication: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Scholarship

In this study, the process through which individual differences (i.e., proactive personality, psychological empowerment, and servant leader characteristics at level-1) and contextual differences (i.e., servant leadership characteristics at level-2) are antecedents to proactive work behaviors (i.e., problem prevention, individual innovation, voice, and taking charge) was tested. Results indicated that psychological empowerment partially mediated the relationship between proactive personality and individual innovation. Psychological empowerment fully mediated the relationship between proactive personality and taking charge. Proactive personality was indirectly related to problem prevention, via psychological empowerment. Psychological empowerment was directly related to voice. In addition, servant leader characteristics at level-1 were positively …

Defining Teaching Excellence: A Phenomenological Study Of Seven Nationally Recognized Secondary Educators, Rosalee A. Swartz

Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education and Communication: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Scholarship

Change has been an integral part of the American education system since the 1830s (Lucas, 1999) when universities began preparing students to teach. Over the past 20 years, changes including federal mandates (Disabilities Education Act, 1990; No Child Left Behind, 2003) and increasing diversity in school populations require a responding sensitivity from classroom teachers. In the midst of challenges that these changes present, teachers are increasingly asked to do more.

Research shows that nearly 50 percent of new teachers leave within the first five years of teaching, citing issues such as lack of preparation and mentorship, working conditions, pay, and …

Developing An Online Horseless Horse Learning Lesson: An Action Research Study, Jessica M. Bauman

Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education and Communication: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Scholarship

In today’s society it is becoming ever so important to find creative and influential outlets to keep young people occupied in positive ways. High quality youth programs are shown to make a positive difference in the lives of many young people; therefore, it is important to continue the use of established youth programs as well as develop new programs. Equine science programs have proven to be a popular and beneficial outlet for many youth due to the ability to learn a variety of life skills, improve character, and increase positive youth development in those youth who participate.

Traditional equine programs …

The Effects Of Participation In Community Service Through Intercollegiate Athletics On Servant Leadership Behaviors, Damien Westfield

Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education and Communication: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Scholarship

This study examined the relationship between intercollegiate athletes who participate in community service and servant leadership. Data were collected from 136 student-athletes from two large Midwestern universities. These athletes were members of men’s and women’s soccer, women’s rifle, men’s and women’s gymnastics, men’s and women’s cross country, volleyball and women’s basketball. A MANCOVA statistical test was used to test the null hypotheses. Overall, the results yielded no statistically significant relationships between intercollegiate athletes who participated in community service and servant leadership when comparing the two universities. However, univariate between-subjects analyses yielded a statistically significant finding on subscale altruistic calling at …

The Effects Of Participation In Community Service Through Intercollegiate Athletics On Servant Leadership Behaviors, Damien Westfield

Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education and Communication: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Scholarship

This study examined the relationship between intercollegiate athletes who participate in community service and servant leadership. Data were collected from 136 student-athletes from two large Midwestern universities. These athletes were members of men’s and women’s soccer, women’s rifle, men’s and women’s gymnastics, men’s and women’s cross country, volleyball and women’s basketball. A MANCOVA statistical test was used to test the null hypotheses. Overall, the results yielded no statistically significant relationships between intercollegiate athletes who participated in community service and servant leadership when comparing the two universities. However, univariate between-subjects analyses yielded a statistically significant finding on subscale altruistic calling at …

Leadership Experiences Of Adolescent Girls In A Girl Scouts After School Program: A Phenomenological Approach, Cyndi A. Munson

Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education and Communication: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Scholarship

The purpose of this qualitative, interview-based study was to explore the leadership experiences of adolescent girls attending low income schools involved in a Girl Scouts after school program. This research study specifically focused on a Girl Scouts after school programs in a Midwest city. The qualitative study was based on insights obtained from adolescent girls who participated in a Girl Scouts after school program during the 2009-2010 academic year. Participants were individuals actively involved in a Girl Scouts after school program and supplemental activities provided by the program since August 2009. The participants’ ages and grade levels varied between 12 …

Student Leader Lmx Relationships As Moderated By Constructive-Developmental Theory, Shelly Mumma

Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education and Communication: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Scholarship

This study examined how the quality of Leader-Member Exchange (LMX) relationships was moderated by the Constructive-Developmental stage or Order of Consciousness of both leader and follower. Using student organization presidents and officers on a small, private, liberal arts college campus in the Midwest, the researcher used a sample of 37 students to study the impact developmental stage had on the leadership relationship. Using the Leader Member Exchange-Multi-Dimensional Measure (LMX-MDM), four dimensions of LMX were examined. The four dimensions were Affect, Contribution, Loyalty and Professional Respect. There was no significant relationship between Order of Consciousness and quality of LMX relationship. While …

Antecedents Of Servant Leadership: A Mixed Methods Study, Curtis D. Beck

Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education and Communication: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Scholarship

The purpose of this mixed methods study was to explore the antecedents of servant leadership. The sequential explanatory research design consisted of two distinct phases: quantitative followed by qualitative. The Phase One quantitative survey collected data from 499 leaders and 630 raters from community leadership programs in the United States using the Servant Leadership Questionnaire (Barbuto & Wheeler, 2006). During Phase Two, selected leaders from phase one (N = 12) were interviewed to explain those results in more depth. The data were coded and analyzed for possible themes. Triangulation was used to analyze the quantitative and qualitative data to validate …

The Lived Experience Of Empowered Volunteers: A Study Of Christian Church Volunteers, Adam K. Peters

Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education and Communication: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Scholarship

Psychological empowerment has been thoroughly studied in the workplace context. Volunteerism has also been thoroughly studied through a multitude of different facets. However, little research could be found bridging the empowerment construct into volunteerism. Therefore, the purpose of this phenomenological study was to understand the experience of empowerment among volunteers. Volunteer empowerment was discovered through four primary themes, make a difference, rewarding, lifestyle of service, and passion, and three secondary themes, autonomy, awareness, and ability. Other relevant findings included and revolved around volunteer time and balance, challenges, propelling forces, and getting started. Current …

Determining The Relationship And Influence Organizational Culture Has On Organizational Trust, Mindy S. Genetzky-Haugen

Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education and Communication: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Scholarship

The present research examines the influence of organizational culture on organizational trust. Leaders in the present and future will try to create a culture of trust, but leaders who do not examine and understand their current culture will not be successful in changing their organizational culture. The study shows constructive behavioral norms are both predictors and influencers of trust. The results suggest that companies that want to create a culture of trust need to instill into their culture achievement, self-actualizing, humanistic-encouraging and affiliative behavioral norms. Leadership needs to make sure avoidance behaviors are reduced in order to create and instill …

Participation In Positive Youth Development Programs And 4-H: Assessing The Impact On Self-Image In Young People, Karen Bloomquist

Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education and Communication: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Scholarship

The purpose of this study was to identify relationships between youth involvement in 4-H and self-image. The study also explored whether there were relations between self-image and development of the 5 C’s (confidence, competence, caring, connection and character) of Positive Youth Development. The study focused specifically on the differences in self-image between youth who participate in 4-H and youth who do not.

Participants included 180 youth from grades eight through twelve in the state of Nebraska. Demographic responses indicated that 47% of respondents were male and 53% were female. Approximately 72% of the respondents were not participants in a 4-H …

Healers And Helpers, Unifying The People: A Qualitative Study Of Lakota Leadership., Kem M. Gambrell

Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education and Communication: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Scholarship

The purpose of this critical grounded theory qualitative study was to explore Lakota Leadership from a Native perspective. Interviews were conducted with enrolled members of a Lakota tribe in an urban setting as well as on the Rosebud reservation to gain better awareness of leadership through a non-mainstream viewpoint. Previously, in order to understand leaders and followers, research limited its scope of discernment to dominant society, implying that non-mainstream individuals will acquiesce, or that differences found are inconsequential. Leadership scholars also have implied that leadership theory is “universal enough”, and can be applied globally regardless of influences such as race, …

A Determination Of Primary Teacher Problems Of Nebraska Agricultural Educators, Timothy W. Laughlin

Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education and Communication: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Scholarship

No abstract provided.

A Quality Assessment Using The Baldrige Criteria: Non-Academic Service Units In A Large University, Susan M. Fritz

Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education and Communication: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Scholarship

"More for less" has become the challenge for higher education in the 90's. Budgets in higher education are shrinking at unprecedented rates, programs and services are being cut, and morale is plummeting. As a result, administrators are looking for creative reforms as they try to maintain quality on smaller budgets. One such reform is Total Quality Management (TQM). TQM has been widely applied to business and industry and the spread of TQM has been encouraged by a government-supported competition based on quality called the Malcolm Baldrige Award. The Baldrige Award scrutinizes seven areas: leadership, information and analysis, strategic quality planning, …

Changes In Extension Educators' Perceptions Of Job Dimensions And Job Satisfaction Following Organizational Restructuring, John W. Furgason

Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education and Communication: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Scholarship

The literature provides ample evidence that state Extension programs across the country are introducing new or modified program development approaches and reorganized work units as they attempt to remain responsive to the public's educational needs. Implementation of such innovations, in many instances, represents change in Extension agent roles and responsibilities which could be characterized as a redesign of Extension work. Research on the effects of job redesign has consistently found evidence that workers' perceptions of certain core dimensions or characteristics of their jobs influence their satisfaction with that job. Given the changing organizational climate within Extension and the findings of …

The Relationship Of Moral Reasoning Level Of Instructors To Their Teaching Style And Adult Student Perception Of The Learning Environment, Nancy Kay Teresa Gifford

Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education and Communication: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Scholarship

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between instructor moral reasoning level. teaching style. and adult students' perception of the classroom environment. Rest's Defining Issues Test

measured the independent variable, principled level of moral cognitive development. Teaching style was identified as either learner-centered or teacher-centered using Conti' s Principles of Adult Learning Scale.

Student perception of classroom environment was measured by Stern and Walker's Classroom Environment Index (Fonn 971). The possible influence of the demographic variables of (1) gender, 2) age range, and (3) level of education on principled moral reasoning level was explored. The

sample consisted …

The Relationship Between Critical Thinking Skills And 4-H Judging Activity Success Among Nebraska 4-H Program Participants, Susan J. Kowalski

Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education and Communication: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Scholarship

The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship of the critical thinking score as measured by Watson-Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal score and subscores (Inferences, Recognizing Assumptions, Reasoning by Deduction, Drawing Conclusions and Evaluating Arguments), and mastery of judging activities between 2 groups (upper and lower quartiles) of participants in the 1990 Nebraska 4-H Senior Livestock Judging Activity. The study was descriptive-correlational in nature and was designed to gather data concerning the strength of relationships between variables.

Data were collected to:

1 ) describe the sample according to gender, age, and mastery of the judging activity; and describe the …

Perception Of Climate For Change In The Work Place, Rose Marie Tondl

Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education and Communication: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Scholarship

This study assessed the perceptions of Extension agents, administrators and board members toward the climate for change identified as the need for change, openness to change, potential for change and participation in change. Age, their sex, years on Extension staff, FTE group, Research and Extension Centers, years served on the Extension board, size of community and site where one resides were variables selected to test research hypotheses formulated for this study. Theoretical concepts used to support this study were the Congruence Model of Organizational Behavior with a model identifying three problems of change based on the components of the organizational …

Learning Styles Of Older Adults And The Channels For Dissemination Of Clothing Information, Grace Elizabeth Keir

Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education and Communication: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Scholarship

No abstract provided.

The Influence Of Factors On Student Enrollment In Vocational Agriculture Programs In Nebraska Secondary Schools, Calvin J. Wiechman

Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education and Communication: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Scholarship

No abstract provided.

The Relationship Between Personality Characteristics And Job Satisfaction Of Secondary Marketing Education Teachers, Connie Kay Staehr Plessman

Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education and Communication: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Scholarship

The purpose of this study was to (1) determine the personality characteristics of secondary marketing teachers, and (2) to examine the relationship between personality characteristics and selected demographic and attitudinal variables with job satisfaction (intrinsic, extrinsic, and general) of marketing teachers. A random sample of 475 marketing teachers was drawn from the membership of the national Marketing Education Association; responses were received from 73 percent of the marketing teachers surveyed. Two instruments, the Myers-Briggs Personality Indicator and the Minnesota Satisfaction Questionnaire, were combined with attitudinal and demographic questions for use in data collection. Eight null hypotheses were proposed to investigate …

The Development Of An Instructional Design Model For Equal Opportunity In The Nebraska Army National Guard, Rodney Leon Moore

Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education and Communication: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Scholarship

No abstract provided.

An Eighth Grade Review Book, G. C. Cook

Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education and Communication: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Scholarship

Formerly having taught a District School for two years I realize the need in County Schools of some kind of an Eighth Grade Review book.

The purpose of this book is to aid the teacher in reviewing the pupil and also to furnish a source by which the pupil can review himself. This book is not to be used as a regular text throughout the year, but to be used for review during the month preceding eight grade examinations.

The material herein is written in the simpIest language in order that it may be understandable to every eighth grade pupil. …