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Physical Activity Group On An Inpatient Behavioral Health Unit, Patricia Brown

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Physical activity is beneficial for the wellness of both the body and mind. Preventable physical diseases are the cause of the majority of deaths in individuals with severe mental illness (SMI) (Vancampfort et al., 2017). Motivation can be a barrier to regular physical activity. Learning by observation can facilitate maintaining behavior change. Thus, physical activity groups on an inpatient behavioral health unit were facilitated by exercise physiologists to improve mental health and physical health (Kaur et al., 2013; WHO, 2015). Lack of physical activity on inpatient behavioral health units is a common practice. The primary aim of this project was …

"What Are The Effects Of Goal-Setting On Motivation And Academic Achievement In A Fourth Grade Classroom?", Danielle Mcmillan

Masters of Arts in Education Action Research Papers

The purpose of this action research was to study the effects of goal-setting as a strategy on student motivation and academic achievement in a fourth-grade classroom. The study was performed at a rural public elementary school in South Carolina, consisting of eighteen students in a general education classroom. This study used a preassessment/post-assessment set-up in order to collect data for math achievement and reading comprehension. An attitude survey was used to collect data on student’s motivation towards academic work. The data shows that the goal-setting strategy had a positive effect on math achievement and motivation towards academic work and may …

Illuminating Pay Secrecy: Construct Clarification And An Exploration Of Effects Via The Incentive And Sorting Tracks, Sarah Holtzen

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Pay secrecy is a burgeoning debate in compensation research. On one side of the debate, it is argued that pay secrecy is a useful and beneficial practice because it can prevent potential dissatisfaction and destructive competition possible when people make unfavorable pay comparisons. On the other side, it is argued that pay secrecy is undesirable because it obscures the motivational properties of pay and does not prevent people from making pay comparisons, nor safeguard them from the resulting dissatisfaction. Despite the popularity of pay secrecy in organizations today, extant research has failed to provide any definitive answers as to whether …

Game-Based Science Education: Effect Of Aesthetics On Learning And Motivational Outcomes, Lucille Moon-Michel

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The study of how aesthetic qualities of games affect student learning and motivational outcomes is an area in need of research in the instructional design field. Existing research in this realm is either lacking or does not provide comprehensive criteria for assessing its effectiveness on student outcomes. The purpose of this dissertation was to address this gap in literature by producing two articles based on a systematic literature review and a game-based learning quasi-experiment.

In Chapter Two, the systematic literature review gathered 44 studies published within the last decade to find trends in game design, visual game attributes, and research …

Beyond Spectator Sports: Scale Development And Validation For Mediated Sports Consumption, Min Jung Kim

Health, Exercise, and Sports Sciences ETDs

One apparent trend impacting spectator sports is the shift in sport fans’ consumption opportunities, having now gained many alternative formats to access sporting events. Sport fans are allowed intentionally and constantly to move from platform to platform and access content on demand. These substitute platforms, including home television, online streaming, social networking, sports bars, and movie cinema, are considered mediated sports consumption, alternative outlets to actual physical attendance of sporting events. As the phenomenon of mediated sports consumption has become a predominant means of spectating sports consumption practice, it is more important than ever to identify and understand how mediated …

Academic Librarians’ Motivation Toward Professional Development In The United Arab Emirates Federal Higher Education Institutions, Asma Othman Alkatheeri

Foundations of Education Theses

This thesis is investigating the status of professional development (PD) for academic librarians in the United Arab Emirates. The first objectives of the thesis is to investigate the current Professional Development in terms of activities, organization and effectiveness of the programs for academic librarians in Federal Higher Education Institutions in the United Arab Emirates, from the point of view of the librarians. The second objective is to explore the extent to which academic librarians are motivated toward Professional Development in the United Arab Emirates Federal Higher Education Institutions. Qualitative research method has been utilized and data are collected via interviews …

Explicit Inclusion Of Fun In Instruction As A Catalyst For Academic Success, Kimberly Tyskiewicz

CUP Ed.D. Dissertations

Low graduation rates, rising drop-out rates, and increasing apathy and disengagement in learning has prompted the need for new strategies and interventions in education. This case study provides an analysis of the perceptions of high school teachers related to the impact of the explicit, intentional inclusion of fun in direct instruction. The participants included approximately 20% of the faculty in a semirural high school of approximately 1,325 students. The case study involved individual interviews with half of the participants and the other half participating in a focus group conversation. Six participants in each group were observed. All comments and concepts …

Resiliency, Adversity, And Autonomy Experiences Of Sex Work Employees, Kaytlin R. Smith

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

When thinking of an individual employed as a sex worker, one may imagine two common media portrayals; a young, good-hearted, traumatized prostitute in need of saving, and the other a more experienced and perhaps culpable person “of the night” (Dalla, 2000). However, this dichotomous view fails to account for the autonomy of the worker, or adequately capture the complex range of motivations that bring individuals into the field (Chudakov, Ilan, Belmaker, & Cwikel, 2002). This research has been complicated by the criminalized nature of sex work, as well as common cultural moral objections to the services of this industry. This …

How To Improve High-Risk High School Student Achievement And Well-Being Through Using Best Practices, Particularly In An Alternative Setting, Laura Lopez Dahl

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

Many high-risk students struggle in education and find it difficult to be successful in mainstream educational settings. Alternative educational programs (AEP) are used as an intervention for students who are struggling in the mainstream setting and are at risk for failure. Students in AEP programs have an opportunity to overcome their barriers and achieve graduation as opposed to dropping out or getting their general education diploma (GED). Many of the students in these programs struggle with adverse childhood experiences (ACE) and have had negative educational experiences. This capstone project addresses the research question: How to improve high-risk high school achievement …

Fostering Student Interest And Motivation In Second Grade Writing, Nicholas Dorow

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

The research question addressed in this project was, how can writing curriculum offer choices for second grade students in a manner that increases interest and growth? It documents one teacher’s creation and implementation of a fifteen-lesson writing curriculum focused on offering student choice. The lessons were developed based primarily upon the research of Carol Dweck, Bill Meyer, Naomi Haywood, Darshan Sachdev, and Sally Faraday; in connection with second grade, Common Core Standards. The author details the implementation of the lesson, including both successes and difficulties in the process. The author concluded that the implementation of the student choice writing curriculum …

Using The Health Action Process Approach (Hapa) To Understand And Change Sedentary Behaviour In Office Workers: Effects On Motivation, Behaviour, And Health Outcomes, Andrew Scott Rollo

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Sedentary behaviour (SB) is positively associated with all-cause mortality, as well as numerous chronic diseases, including fatal and non-fatal cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, certain types of cancer, and metabolic syndrome. Interventions targeting reductions in sedentary time among office workers who are an at-risk population for high levels of SB are needed. The main objective of this dissertation was to contribute to the body of knowledge surrounding theory-based behavioural interventions targeting SB among office working adults. First, a systematic review of the literature (study 1, chapter 2) was conducted that highlighted important cognitive and motivational factors associated with SB, which …

Influence Of Motivational Text Messages On Adherence To Continuous Positive Airway Pressure Therapy, John Dunlap

Doctoral Dissertations

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a condition affecting an estimated 22% of men and 17% of women. Individuals with OSA have periodic bouts of apneas and hypopneas while sleeping that negatively impacts their sleep quality and neurohormonal function. As a result, individuals with OSA are at increased risk for diseases including diabetes, cancer, stroke, myocardial infarction, and depression. Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy is an effective treatment for but adherence rates are low at an estimated 60%.The purpose of this pilot study was to examine the effects of a four-week text message-based intervention on an individual's CPAP device adherence, …

The Development And Validation Of The Emporium Model Motivation Scale (Emms), Terry O. Gibson Jr.

Doctoral Dissertations

The purpose of this research study was to begin the development and validation of a new survey instrument; the Emporium Model Motivation Scale (EMMS). The instrument is designed to be used as part of a more holistic evaluation of non-traditional student-centered mathematics courses or programs redesigned using the Emporium Model (E-Model). EdResearch suggested that the design of the E-Model environment was better suited to help students become more autonomy-natured (Williams, 2016). The present research was rooted in Self-determination Theory (SDT), which asserted that all individuals had a natural desire to strive for autonomy, competence, and relatedness in their social environments …

Children's Motivation For Physical Activity, Tyler Kybartas

Doctoral Dissertations

The establishment of physical activity routines in the early stages of life is critical to form life-long physical activity habits. Children are motivated for physical activities that they enjoy but research is scarce in children younger than eight years old. Thus, the purpose of this study was to explore why children enjoyed or did not enjoy physical activities and to measure physical activity and perceived motor competence. A convergent parallel mixed-methods study design was employed. First, 2nd, and 3rd grade students at two YMCA afterschool programs wore an accelerometer on the right hip for seven consecutive days, completed Harter’s perceived …

Untangling Motivation And Performance: Examining The Impact Of Feedback, Expectancy, And Resilience On Performance, Erica W. Jenkins

Masters Theses

This study explored the relationship between motivation and performance by examining factors, such as feedback and individual differences, posited to influence motivation and performance. The most damaging form of performance feedback, destructive critical, was contrasted with constructive critical feedback to determine its impact on motivation. Expectancy theory, a mainstay theory in research on motivation, served as the theoretical framework to study motivation. An individual difference variable, resilience, was examined in relation to performance. These relationships were explored through the lens of both actual and perceived performance. An online quasi-experiment was conducted to examine these relationships, in which participants were asked …

Effort, Avolition And Motivational Experience In Schizophrenia: Analysis Of Behavioral And Neuroimaging Data With Relationships To Daily Motivational Experience, Adam Culbreth

Arts & Sciences Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Recent research has suggested an association between motivational impairment in those with schizophrenia and reduced willingness to expend effort on experimental tasks. However, few studies have examined the neural correlates of effort-based decision-making in those with schizophrenia. In the current study, we aimed to examine willingness to expend effort, the associated neural circuitry of effort-based decision-making, and the impact of experimentally-defined effort-based decision-making on daily motivational experience in schizophrenia. We recruited 28 individuals with schizophrenia and 30 healthy controls to perform an effort-based decision-making task while undergoing fMRI scanning. In order to assess whether willingness to expend effort was associated …

Effort, Avolition And Motivational Experience In Schizophrenia: Analysis Of Behavioral And Neuroimaging Data With Relationships To Daily Motivational Experience, Adam Culbreth

Arts & Sciences Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Recent research has suggested an association between motivational impairment in those with schizophrenia and reduced willingness to expend effort on experimental tasks. However, few studies have examined the neural correlates of effort-based decision-making in those with schizophrenia. In the current study, we aimed to examine willingness to expend effort, the associated neural circuitry of effort-based decision-making, and the impact of experimentally-defined effort-based decision-making on daily motivational experience in schizophrenia. We recruited 28 individuals with schizophrenia and 30 healthy controls to perform an effort-based decision-making task while undergoing fMRI scanning. In order to assess whether willingness to expend effort was associated …

Identifying Factors That Influence The Continuing Education Choices Of Municipal Police Officers, Sean O'Connor

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

This study was conducted in an attempt to identify factors that influence the continuing education choices of municipal police officers. By examining factors such as tuition reimbursement, educational incentive pay, CEO education level, higher education standards for promotion and hiring, rank, and length of service, policy recommendations can be made to positively impact education levels among municipal police officers. In phase one of analysis, levels of organizational education were presented along with each variable’s presence in each department. Aggregate data is provided to give the reader an overview of higher education incentives and attainment within the County. In phase two, …

Perceptions Of Incarcerated Individuals In A Men’S Prison About The Impact Of Educational Programs On Their Vocational Aspirations: A Narrative Inquiry, Jody Bergstrom

CUP Ed.D. Dissertations

Research projects concerning correctional education are common in the recent literature; however, little focus has been placed on the perceptions of the incarcerated students on the impact of correctional education programs on their post-release vocational aspirations. Men in a state prison, housed in the lower-risk classification unit, who were enrolled in both academic and vocational education programs participated. Qualitative narrative inquiry and self-determination theory (SDT) framed this study. Fourteen participants completed a researcher-developed open-ended question survey, which provided a forum for each to express his perceptions and experiences with the educational programming at the facility. Findings showed an abundance of …

Increasing Motivation Toward Math In A Montessori Lower Elementary Classroom, Caitlin Sweeney

Masters of Arts in Education Action Research Papers

This study investigated how the introduction of math-based games influences children’s motivation to practice math. It was conducted in a Lower Elementary Montessori classroom, serving first through third grade and twenty-one students participated. The students played one of three games every day throughout the study. Their motivation toward math was tracked through observational data and their daily work journals. Additionally, each participant answered pre and post intervention questions to ascertain their mindset toward math. The data shows that the intervention had minimal impact on the students’ motivation toward math, although some students did increase the frequency of their math practice. …

How Do Social Comparison And Self-Efficacy Influence Diabetic Patients’ Motivation Toward A Nutrition Regimen?, Youngjee Ko

Theses and Dissertations

Social comparisons are useful for patients with chronic illness giving them a reliable information about others dealing with same illness. Patients with chronic illness may benefit from social comparisons. Learning about how others with the same disease manage self-care behavior can lessen uncertainty and anxiety about their health. Effects of social comparisons are subject to contexts. However, social comparison is relatively less understood in the context of diabetes patients. Considering the importance of nutrition regimen as a prime concern for diabetes patients, the current study examined how social comparisons along with self-efficacy influence motivation toward nutrition regimen. Results indicated that …

A Controlled Examination Of Motivational Strategies: Reviewing Positive Consequences For Goal Achievement, Negative Consequences For Undesired Behavior, And A Relaxation Exercise, Yulia Gavrilova

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Introduction: Motivation is an integral part of human life and one of the most fundamental aspects of behavior change. Of interest to the present study are two motivational approaches, Negative Consequences Review (NCR) and Positive Consequences Review (PCR). NCR is an intervention component originally designed as part of Family Behavior Therapy (FBT) to motivate individuals with their goals through a discussion of negative consequences associated with undesired behaviors. PCR was developed as an auxiliary component of FBT to inspire individuals’ motivation to achieve their goals through a discussion about positive consequences of reaching goals. Purpose: The purpose of this study …

Dissociable Effects Of Monetary, Liquid, And Social Incentives On Motivation Across The Adult Life Span, Jennifer Crawford

Arts & Sciences Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Humans are social creatures and, as such, can be motivated by aspects of social life, like approval from others, to guide decision-making in everyday life. Indeed, a common view in the aging literature is that older adults have a stronger orientation towards socioemotional goals or incentives, relative to other incentive modalities, like money, because of changing motivational priorities in older adulthood. In prior work, however, we found that older adults actually showed greater effects of monetary relative to primary (liquid) incentives, suggesting alternative interpretations of impaired motivational integration and/or slower adaptation to incentive conditions. The current study tested these alternatives, …

Descriptive And Prescriptive Belief In A Just World, Joel Armstrong

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

The Justice Motive has traditionally been conceptualized as a homeostatic, prevention-focused motivation, but attempts to measure individual differences in the Justice Motive (i.e., the Belief in a Just World) have not treated it as one. The measurement of a motivation requires accounting for both the current state and the goal state, but traditional measurement techniques have relied solely on beliefs about how just the world currently is (i.e., the current state). This has resulted in two major issues in the literature. First is the assumption that everyone who reports believing in a just world has reached that belief because of …

Sex, Motivation, And Reversal Learning In The Common Marmoset (Callithrix Jacchus), Alyssa Carlotto

Masters Theses

This study examined the relationships between motivation and cognitive performance in male and female common marmosets (Callithrix jacchus). This question was driven by prior data from the Lacreuse lab showing a robust female impairment in reversal learning, as assessed by the number of trials needed to acquire a reversal following a simple discrimination between two stimuli. This thesis tested the hypothesis that the female impairment in reversal learning was mediated by deficits in motivation. Two sets of measures were used to test this hypothesis. I evaluated physical effort via testing on the progressive ratio (PR), a test that …

On The Importance Of Deliberate Writing Instruction In Fourth Grade Classrooms, Joshua Baumgartner

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

The research question that was at the heart of the study was: How can fourth grade educators increase student motivation to write and strengthen students’ writing skills using the workshop model? Central topics addressed in the Review of the Literature included the Common Core State Standards for writing, concerns and issues facing today’s teachers of writing, and a variety of possible solutions to these issues. A group of 14 fourth grade students were the focus of the study in which a workshop-based writing unit from the Units of Study curriculum was taught, with particular attention paid to the growth of …

Middle School Teachers’ Perceptions Of The Integration Of Technology Into Pedagogy, Joe George Gerez

All Theses And Dissertations

The aim of this qualitative exploratory case study was to examine middle school teachers’ perceptions of the integration of technology into pedagogy. Data collection occurred from analyzing middle school teacher’s experiences, observations, and motivation following a technological implementation initiative into pedagogy. The evaluation of the study data included the analysis of surveys and interpretation of in-depth interviews of teachers. A pedagogical focus on teacher integration of technology supported by the self-determination theory as the research study’s theoretical framework examining human motivation was appropriated to the case study. As educational leaders face significant challenges in understanding the impact of teachers’ perceptions …

Generation Z: Perceptions From Today’S Collegiate Athlete On The Coach-Athlete Relationship And Its Impact On Success In Athletics, Mandy R. Vance

CUP Ed.D. Dissertations

Members of Generation Z now fill not only the dorms of higher education institutions, but also the rosters of each collegiate athletic team. Dubbed by many as the tech generation, they are the digital natives that have—in many respects—grown up more connected than their predecessors, and yet self admittedly lack the relational connectedness that they desire. Coaches and athletic policymakers must recognize the defining relational characteristics and needs of this generation of athletes if they hope to maximize athletic success. Using a qualitative design, this study explored the coach-athlete dyadic relational needs of collegiate Generation Z athletes from various institutions …

Finding Connections Between Teacher Motivation And Professional Development In Pursuit Of Mastery In Practice, Ann Carlson

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative case study investigated the connections between teacher motivation and high quality professional development. The research focused on two elementary schools in one large suburban school district in the upper Midwest. Surveys, individual interviews, focus group interviews, and document analysis were all used to collect data. This study identified the attributes of high quality professional development, which include collaboration, sustainability, and active teacher learning (Darling-Hammond, Hyler, & Gardner, 2017; Desimone & Pak, 2017; Macias, 2017; Parsons, Parsons, Morewood & Ankrum, 2016; Steeg & Lambson, 2015). The study explored current research around intrinsic and extrinsic motivation (Deci et al. 1991; …

The Lost Boys: An Exploration Of The Male Gender Gap And Its Causes, Derek Swart

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

The male gender gap refers to a discrepancy between achievement and investment levels of male and female students. Demonstrated through a variety of metrics such as graduation rates, grade point average, enrollment in Advanced Placement courses, special education identification, and behavioral intervention, male students demonstrate lower levels of academic success than female students. Factors influencing this gap appear to include social factors such as male disinclination to orient peer relationships around academic topics, internal factors such as lower measured time spent on study or homework in males, and different academic expectations for males and females from their teachers. This project …