Digital Commons Network^™

Strategies For Increasing Attendance For Identified Student Populations Via Online Engagement Methods During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Catherine Douglas

Counselor Education Capstones

This Capstone literature review discusses a school counselor’s role in increasing attendance in schools. The review discusses the common risk factors of absenteeism and the new risk factors that arose after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic changed the strategies that school professionals should use to increase engagement in learning, increase school attendance, and check on the well-being of identified student populations. The review brings light to several strategies that may help counselors increase school attendance with online education during the COVID-19 pandemic. Strategies include: incorporation of gameplay into lessons, keeping consistency with the …

The Effects Of Fictional Literature On Real-World Perceptions Of Students, Dylan Dowty

Honors Theses

The ways in which fiction affect the perceptions of high school students’ realities are many, and they vary widely depending on the book read. While lessons can be learned from every fictional book, certain types of books are more beneficial and relevant for students. Young adult literature, while often overlooked, is a significant source of students’ perspective shifts and metacognition. Every book has a lesson that it can teach students, but contemporary young adult literature deserves to be taught in schools alongside the classics in order for students to make personal connections with the texts they read and take an …

The Creation And Impact Of Mr. Agne’S Career Collection, Evelyn Hamady

Honors Projects

This project discusses the creation of Mr. Agne's Career Collection located in Eppler South 117, and the impact it has on Bowling Green State University's students. This community impact project focuses on providing students with professional attire and accessories that may be needed when job searching or applying to internships. This project also covers the process of receiving donations, prepping donations, and placing those donations within the school's inventory system.

Doctoral Capstone Experience In Academia- Nova Southeastern University, Milady Velazquez De Jesus

Department of Occupational Therapy Entry-Level Capstone Projects

This capstone project was completed in the Occupational Therapy Doctoral (OTD) program at Nova Southeastern University, Tampa, Florida. The capstone experience focused on academia. The final culminating project presents a general overviewed of the planning of the capstone project experience. Two courses that were impacted during my capstone project were OTD8262-Research Design/ Quantitative and OTD-8263 Research Project Implementation. The final project was a Pediatric Skills Camp targeting area that needed improvement to ensure success in level two fieldwork experience. All projects implemented during the capstone experience were completed and students benefit from the materials and learning opportunities provided.

Mental Health Among Nursing Students Amid The Coronavirus Pandemic, Cheydan Crump

Honors College Theses

The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of the current pandemic on the mental health of nursing students at a rural university. This study examined various risk factors and potential indicators for mental health, such as changes in physical activity, sleep behaviors, and differing perceptions of support they have received from the nursing program and the participating university, throughout the spread of COVID-19. This study was a non-experimental, analytical study conducted in a rural university in the southern region of the United States. This convenience sample consisted of 21 students, all of which were enrolled in the …

Simulation's Effect On Self-Efficacy In Nursing Students, Brendan A. Williams

Honors Capstones

High levels of self-efficacy in nursing students increases their confidence and willingness to perform a skill or action in each situation. There is gap in the literature that addresses the negative or undesired effects of clinical simulation on the development of self-efficacy in nursing. This study was conducted to explore if student’s confidence levels in completing nursing skills decreases after unsuccessfully completing the skill in clinical simulation. This quasi-experimental study utilized pre-simulation and post-simulation surveys through Qualtrics to measure self-efficacy levels among nursing students. Participants (N = 17) were nursing students from a baccalaureate program. Overall, successfully completed nursing skills …

Suicide Risk And School Related Stressors In Veterinary Students, Deanna Nicole Arnold

Honors College Theses

Compared to the general population of the United States, veterinarians are at an increasingly higher risk for suicide. This is commonly associated with stressful work environments, long work hours, poor work-life balance, client demands and complaints, and large amounts of euthanasia procedures. While many studies have been performed to confirm the above statements, few to no studies have been done on students currently enrolled in veterinary school to assess their mental health. This study will survey graduate school students in this field and will evaluate their mental health state and risk factors towards suicide. Through comparing the results of this …

Resilience 101: A Resilience Education Intervention For College Freshmen, Angie Childre

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Translational and Clinical Research Projects

This evidence-based project sought to evaluate resilience in freshmen college students enrolled in a Bridge scholar program (BSP) in a liberal arts university in the southeastern United States. The American College Health Association (ACHA) found that stress and anxiety were the top two indicators for impacting academics in 2019 and had been at the top since 2009 at the university of study (ACHA, 2019). The study used a pretest and posttest design method with the implementation of a five-week resilience education intervention. There was no significant difference found in students’ resilience, health promoting behaviors, anxiety or stress from baseline to …

Preparing Pk-8 Teachers To Engage In Discussions Regarding Race, Mckenzie Hallstrom

Leadership Education Capstones

The purpose of this study is to discover what PK-8 teachers need to be prepared to engage in discussions regarding race with their students and to explore specific strategies to support teachers. Historically, Black students have been disadvantaged by the educational system and their voices silenced by pervasive racism. Using Critical Race Theory in education, this qualitative study will discuss barriers and strategies to engaging in race-discussions. This study will also discuss leadership implications for better supporting PK-8 teachers to be able to engage in race-discussions with their students. Ultimately, this study argues that PK-8 teachers are unprepared to engage …

Effects Of Caffeine Consumption On Cognitive Performance In Anatomy And Physiology Students, Sydney Wingfield

Honors Theses

Caffeine has often been associated with college students and their study habits; however, little research has been done to explore if it is actually beneficial to the students’ cognitive performance and academic success. While current studies have explored various aspects of caffeine’s influence on specific areas of cognition relevant to their own studies, there is a lack of research on how it influences academic settings. Within the present study, it is believed that caffeine usage will not cause a significant improvement in individual academic performance despite of the known physiological and cognitive effects on the students. The study consisted of …

Evaluating The Use Of An Interdependent Group Contingency In Online Graduate Courses To Increase Engagement, Tiana Evans

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Enrollment in online academic programs has increased substantially in recent years (Allen & Seaman, 2011) and is especially relevant due to the COVID-19 pandemic (Khalil et al., 2020). Peer interaction and engagement opportunities are strategies associated with course satisfaction, test performance, and grades and should be incorporated into online courses (Conaway et al. 2005). Group contingencies have been commonly studied in face-to-face classrooms and have been found to be effective intervention in changing target behavior in elementary and secondary education settings (Barrish et al., 1969; Deshais et al., 2019; Harris & Sherman, 1973; Mitchell et al. 2015; Wiskow et al., …

Barriers To Physical Activity In University Students Referred To An Exercise Is Medicine On Campus Program, Alexander Michael Diserio

Theses and Dissertations

PURPOSE: The purpose was to describe barriers to being physically active based on reason for referral, gender identity, and incoming stage of change (SOC) for physical activity (PA) in university students referred to an Exercise is Medicine on Campus (EIMOC) program. METHODS: Students (21.9 +4.1 years of age) referred by university health and counseling services completed a 20-item questionnaire, which included the “Barriers to Being Active” quiz, an assessment of SOC (e.g., precontemplation), and students’ self-reported gender. Reason for referral (RFR), which was provided by a health practitioner, was categorized as Obesity, Anxiety/Depression, General PA, Unspecified or Other. RESULTS: A …

The Role And Implications Of Executive Functions During The Transition To Middle School, Susan Niznik

PCOM Psychology Dissertations

The current study analyzed the relationship between executive functions and academic performance in middle school. In particular, this study analyzed the relationship between BRIEF Index and Scale scores that were compiled on a group (N = 54) of seventh graders by two seventh-grade ELA teachers and the students’ final grades in ELA, Math, Science, and Social Studies. The results showed statistically significant correlations between most of the BRIEF Indexes and Scales and the final grades, with the Metacognitive Scales showing the highest correlations. In contrast, the results showed much higher incongruence index values than expected, given the high correlations that …

Determining The Relationship Between Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (Mbti) Personality Type And Preference Of Usmle Step 1 Study Resources (Poster), Alyssa Chang, John Mcgeehan Md, Jill Ferrara

Cooper Medical School of Rowan University Capstone Projects

At Cooper Medical School of Rowan University (CMSRU), the Myers Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) assessment tool has set the foundation for student interactions in an academic environment. Medical students’ personality types have been used to form diverse and balanced active learning groups to facilitate a conducive and collaborative setting to learn. While the MBTI assessment tool has helped CMSRU medical students gain awareness of their learning preference, there is still a gap in understanding how MBTI results can help students maximize their learning of medical information to best prepare them for the USMLE Step 1 exam. To date, there is …

Determining The Relationship Between Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (Mbti) Personality Type And Preference Of Usmle Step 1 Study Resources (Paper), Alyssa Chang, John Mcgeehan Md, Jill Ferrara

Cooper Medical School of Rowan University Capstone Projects

At Cooper Medical School of Rowan University (CMSRU), the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) assessment tool has set the foundation for student interactions in an academic environment. Medical students’ MBTI personality types have been used to form diverse and balanced active learning groups to facilitate a collaborative setting to learn. While the MBTI has helped CMSRU medical students gain awareness of their learning preference, there is still a gap in understanding how MBTI results can help students maximize their learning of medical information to best prepare them for the USMLE Step 1 exam. This study tested the hypothesis that there is …

A Multiple Case Study Of The Training Of Instructors Teaching Inclusive Postsecondary Education Students In Typical College Courses, Enoh Nkana

Dissertations

Problem

Limited research exists regarding the professional development program processes and components used to train instructors to equip students with intellectual and developmental disabilities to receive greater support and access to the benefits of a postsecondary educational experience.

Purpose of the Study

The principal purpose of this research was to conduct a multiple case study of inclusive postsecondary education (IPSE) programs known as Transition Programs for Students with Intellectual Disabilities (TPSID) and/or Comprehensive Transition Programs (CTP) at institutions of higher education across the United States to examine training provided to instructors teaching students with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) who …

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Work Policy And Its Influence On College Students’ Academic Success, Annetta Ann Clark

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is a public food supplement assistance program offered by the U.S. federal government. Undergraduate students who apply for the program must work at least 20 hours per week while concurrently enrolled in six academic units or more. However, students who work more find less time to commit to their college studies, resulting in a negative impact on their academic performance. This phenomenography study’s purpose is to understand from an academic advisor’s perspective how SNAP’s work policy affects academics among first-generation undergraduate students. Maslow’s hierarchy of needs and Goldratt’s theory of constraints were the conceptual …

Exploring The Perceptions Of Teachers Regarding Learner-Centered Instruction And Its Potential Impact On International Students, Evan David Barnhart

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The subject of how best to educate students in the classroom has been one of debate, discussion, and research, with various forms of instruction touted as the most effective. Recently, learner-centered instruction (LCI) has been put forth as a method to educate students, and research supports its implementation. The problem addressed in this study was the inconsistent implementation of LCI at a private school in the West Coast of the United States, specifically regarding its failure to meet the needs of international students. The purpose of this qualitative study was to investigate how teachers implement LCI in their classrooms to …

Parental Stress Coping And Middle-School Students’ Grades And Behavioral Conduct, Stephanie Buckner

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractAccording to Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems theory, factors such as parental stress influence family functioning and affect children’s adaptive development. This quantitative study was conducted to better understand the association of parental stress coping skills with two dependent measures: the grades and behavioral conduct of middle-school students. Sixty-six parent/guardians completed the Coping Skills Assessment 2nd Revision (COSA R2), an assessment of parental stress coping skills and a brief questionnaire to collect data on their middle-school-aged children’s grades and conduct, along with demographic variables of race/ethnicity, age, family income level, number of children in the household, and partner status. No significant difference …

Perspectives Of African American And Hispanic American Students On Academic Support Services, Cynthia Mclain Shyne

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

A 2016 cultural diversity and inclusion study conducted at a local private college (LPC) in the Midwest United States revealed concern among faculty about the underutilization of academic support services for African American and Hispanic American (AAHA) students. A gap exists between the number of AAHA students who use academic support services at LPC, and the number of AAHA students recommended to the services. The research questions were, “How do AAHA students’ perceptions about support services influence their use of academic support services at the LPC?” and “What do AAHA students suggest that could increase their use of the support …

How Faculty And Student Preferences For Active And Traditional Instructional Methods Relate To Their Beliefs, Quantity, And Quality Of Experiences, Knowledge Of The Benefits, And Professional Training, Tammy R. Shilling

Dissertations

Purpose

The complexity of preparing students for clinical practice and the mitigating factors that influence pedagogical preferences impact the current realities of health professional education. The purpose of this quantitative, correlational study is to explain the relationships between faculty preferences and student preferences for active over traditional methods and their beliefs, the frequency and positiveness of their experiences, and the amount and extent of the knowledge or training they have had regarding active and traditional teaching methods. Results may further inform and refine health professional education infrastructure changes to support faculty in pedagogical change as they prepare students with the …

High School Student-Athlete Sleep Habits Using Activity Monitoring, Corey Thomas Ungaro

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

Sleep research is an area of scientific inquiry that impacts all individuals due to sleep's effects on health, well-being, and performance. Healthy sleep habits have been shown to improve academic and athletic performance in collegiate student-athletes. Surprisingly, no sleep research has been conducted on high school student-athletes during a semester. High school student-athletes can benefit from understanding their sleep habits and how sleep can affect the development of the adolescent brain and improve performance giving athletes the potential for a competitive advantage. This retrospective analysis aims to examine the sleep habits of student-athletes while balancing their academic and athletic responsibilities …

“Positive” Student Behavior: Investigating Educator Perceptions Of Student Behavior In Terms Of Willingness To Reward And Magnitude Of Reward, Kelsey Stangler

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

PBIS is a universal, school-wide framework that is designed to increase student’s positive behaviors by teaching and acknowledging them when they occur while at the same time decreasing negative behaviors. Despite SWPBIS having positive behavior in its name, formal measure of positive behaviors have been elusive. There is no uniform definition for positive behavior but, drawing on definitions from various scholars, positive behavior appears to be behavior that follows the teacher’s directions, is socially accepted by peers and adults, and is rewarded by teachers (Ebsen & Filter, 2013; Epps et al., 2005; Geisel, 1944; & Hearron and Hildebrand, 2009). The …

“Whose Team Is It Anyway?”: Exploring The Impact Of Coaching Changes On Forensics Team Culture, Brenton Lynn Mitchell

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Previous research in the field has documented the many aspects of coaching difficulties faced by forensic teams (Chouinard & Kuyper, 2010; Louis, 2011; Outzen, 2016; White, 2005 & 2010). While research in this area is necessary to understand the struggles associated with a coaching change and the impact it has on team culture, little research has been done to analyze how the students are affected by the shift in coaches and the changing culture of the team. This thesis examines how collegiate forensics competitors navigate these difficult transitions in an activity that heavily influences the creation of close relationships between …

Cooking Interventions And Perceived Stress Levels Among College Students, Nicole Marie Bellhorn

UVM Patrick Leahy Honors College Senior Theses

College is full of new experiences and pressures that may prevent students from having adequate cooking skills and knowledge, which often leads to increased stress. An intervention designed to improve cooking ability may reduce students’ stress levels by increasing their understanding surrounding food, and decreasing the time and effort needed to prepare meals. For this study, participants were randomly assigned to one of four intervention groups: cooking classes and meal kit, cooking classes only, meal kit only, and control. Phase 1 consisted of weekly cooking classes for six weeks, where the participants actively prepared a recipe and engaged in a …

Barriers And Facilitators Regarding Awareness, Selection, And Implementation Of School-Based Interventions Addressing Physical Activity And Healthy Eating Behaviors: Perspectives Of South Carolina Public School Administrators And Personnel, Logan Jessica Camp-Spivey

MUSC Theses and Dissertations

Purpose: This dissertation explores the perceptions and experiences of South Carolina (SC) public school administrators and personnel regarding barriers and facilitators to school-based interventions, with a focus on physical activity (PA) and healthy eating behaviors, to address childhood obesity. An integrative review was completed to identify challenges and supports to school-based weight management interventions.1-35 Findings from the integrative review provided the framework for the dissertation study, which used a concurrent multi-methodological design to investigate the barriers and facilitators regarding awareness, selection, and implementation of school-based interventions addressing PA and healthy eating behaviors in the SC education system and to examine …

Higher Education Under Market Forces How The "Transnational Shadow Education" Industry Emerged And Persisted To Help Taiwanese Students To Study In The U.S, Kenneth Han Chen

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

My dissertation examines the marketization of higher education, drawing on empirical case studies from Taiwanese students using “education agents” to apply to U.S. colleges and universities. I argue that without these intermediary agents, applicants and parents may be left flying blindly amid uncertainties, emotional distress, and interpersonal tension in families during children’s admission. The existing sociological literature and higher education research mainly concentrates on studying national policies and formal higher education institutions (universities and research institutes), but the private market research is relatively insufficient. Also, the research on international students' transnational movement mostly started from the viewpoint of the students' …

The Prevalence Of E-Cigarette Use According To Educational Attainment Among Young Adults In The Population Assessment Of Tobacco And Health (Path) Study, Akhila Cheekati

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Prior studies indicate a link between poor academic performance and e-cigarette use in high school students (18 years and below). However, the effect of post high school education on e-cigarette use is poorly summarized in literature.

The objective of the current study was to determine if there was a difference in prevalence of past 30-day e-cigarette use in a national sample of young adults due to different educational levels. Four groups of young adults were studied based on their level of education: High School Dropouts, High School Graduates/GED, Current College Students, and College Graduates. Data from the Population Assessment of …

A. B.A.L.A.N.C.E.: A Well-Being Research Study, Reggie Gwinn

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study has been to investigate the impact of a well-being intervention, using a well-being curriculum, known as A. B.A.L.A.N.C.E.. The method of educational criticism and connoisseurship was used as the qualitative method. Educational criticism is rooted in the process of expressing the specific qualities of one’s observations, while educational connoisseurship is rooted in the process of appreciation. The intervention will be conducted by an interventionist, myself, who gave the 10-lesson intervention to six 6th grade (11 – 12 years old) participants over a two-week period. This was orchestrated over a technological platform known as Zoom. It …

“It Sucks, But I’M Grateful”: Understanding The Experience Of Autistic Students Living In The Residence Halls, Mary F. Elliott

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

As populations of Autistic students at institutions of higher education increases, it is becoming more important for institutions to evaluate their programs with these students in mind. While the Autistic population has grown, policies and services on campuses have not become more inclusive or supportive of this population as a response. This evaluation examines the Residential Learning Model, the guide through which the residential life program at one institution of higher education is delivered to the students living in the residence halls. Through the lens of the Autistic students and the student staff who live and work in the residence …