Education Commons^™

A Mixed-Method Triangular Approach To Best Practices In Combating Plagiarism And Impersonation In Online Bachelor’S Degree Programs, Alice Elizabeth Johnson Stephens

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

This study examines the phenomenon of plagiarism and impersonation in online course assignments. Technological advancements, coupled with lower costs and accessibility, have made online courses and programs a practical option for higher education students. Unfortunately, the increasing online enrollment and advancing technology have allowed an increase in the opportunity for students to commit the act of plagiarism and impersonation in online course assignments, thus potentially compromising the academic integrity of online degree programs. This study examines the various practices and approaches of plagiarism and impersonation made available to students. Utilizing the systemic review of literature, the researcher compiles a list …

Academic Library Leadership And Mental Health During The Covid-19 Pandemic: An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis, Sabrina Nicole Thomas

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Prior to the pandemic academic library leadership faced a host of challenges, such as budget shortfalls, serials crisis, shifting and evolving technologies and patron expectations. These long-term obstacles were compounded by the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic which required library deans and directors to implement ever evolving safety measures while balancing the needs of library employees, students, faculty, and staff. The mental health of academic librarians and staff has long been the subject of research; however, few studies focused on the mental health experiences of academic library deans and directors. The purpose of this interpretative phenomenological analysis is to describe …

Leading Toward Solutions To America’S Overcrowding And Underfunding Environmental Preservation Issues, James Seth Caudill

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

This research aims to better comprehend how the environmental preservation issues of underfunding and overcrowding of America’s parks, recreation areas, and environmental surroundings are solved through quality leadership. These environmental issues are national, state, and community problems. Currently, there exists a wealth of literature on the environmental problems caused by overcrowding and underfunding. Unfortunately, the successful problem-solving ideas identified throughout these works often do not connect with an element of leadership. This research helps fill this identified gap in the currently available environmental preservation resources. This mixed methods study explored the perceptions, ideas, and successful solutions exhibited by environmental preservation …

An Analysis Of Undergraduate Student Satisfaction, Retention, And Graduation By Instructional Modality And Racial/Ethnic Groups, Kevin Daniel Struble

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

This study investigated whether instructional modality in an undergraduate degree program, either traditional on-campus or asynchronous online, and racial/ethnic group could predict students’ reports of satisfaction with the institution, retention year-over-year, and graduation within an eight-year award rate. Data from surveys and enrollment status were collected on undergraduate students enrolled in a bachelor’s degree program by instructional modality over a timespan of eight academic years at a single institution. The researcher analyzed categorical predictor variables of instructional modality and racial/ethnic groups with the dichotomous outcome variables of low or high satisfaction, did not or did retain, and did not or …

Training Future Hybrid Nonprofit Social Enterprise Leaders: A Research-Based Instructional Needs Analysis, Robert Woodrow Adams

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Nonprofit social enterprises (NSEs) seek to address societal problems through for-profit ventures. Because they pursue social and commercial goals, these organizations have great potential to solve social and environmental issues more efficiently and effectively. Given their unique purpose and challenges, NSEs require a different type of leadership than traditional nonprofit organizations, a distinctive competency model with specialized social work and business management training. Research has shown, however, that finding leaders with this necessary mix for effective management poses a challenge for such organizations. This exploratory study aimed to examine the extent to which MPA (i.e., master’s degree in public administration) …

Causes Of Burnout And Job Dissatisfaction Among Marketing And Communications Intercollegiate Athletics Employees, Ricky L. Ray

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

The purpose of this study was to better understand the role burnout plays in turnover intention and job dissatisfaction among marketing and communications employees in intercollegiate athletics. A secondary aim was to identify to what extent were job requirements, compensation, and expectations of administrators and coaches driving burnout in these employees. Study participants came from those currently working in marketing and/or communications at various levels of intercollegiate competition. The study used the Oldenberg Burnout Inventory, as well as specific questions related to the profession to uncover major causes of burnout in this particular occupation. Findings from this study supported the …

Hospitality And Seminary Culture: A Phenomenological Study On The Presence And Practice Of Hospitality Between Seminary Leaders And Students, Jesse Matthew Adams

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

While hospitality is a major biblical doctrine and a requirement of Christian living and outreach, few ministers begin their ministries recognizing the essence and essentiality of hospitality in ministry or intentionally highlight and model it to those they lead. One root cause for this may stem from the seminaries in which our ministers train, that our seminaries have no apparent agreement on a formal framework for teaching hospitality and too few seminaries are marked by a culture of hospitality. This study seeks to establish a formal framework for hospitality in seminary education. Such a framework could be used to instigate …

Take Their Feet Off Our Necks: A Descriptive Study Of Sexual Harassment In Higher Education, Megan Michelle Bolter

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

This study examines survivors’ perceptions of sexual harassment experienced as members of higher education (e.g., faculty, staff, students, and administrators). Individually, an examination of the survivors’ perceptions of perpetrator consequences and how institutional responses occurred. This study aims to provide insight into the survivors’ experiences and understandings of sexual harassment experiences, further than the well-established health and career consequences. I utilized the Sexual Harassment in the Academy data set created by Dr. Karen Kelsky. In this study, there is a sample of 1,230 members of higher education who experienced sexual harassment. The sample of self-identified sexual harassment survivors allows the …

Graduate-Level Leadership Training For Speech-Language Pathologists: Perceptions, Attitudes, And Potential Effect On Career, Sandra Kemper

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

The aim of this study is to determine how a perceived lack of leadership training at the graduate level contributes to inadequate preparedness for the clinical, professional, and supervisory leadership roles professionals hold within the field of speech-language pathology (Kummer, 2017). More specifically, this study will seek to identify current leadership concerns of practicing SLPs, exploring whether and/or how lack of leadership training has affected their professional growth or career. The information can serve to guide the development of leadership training opportunities in speech-language pathology graduate programs. This descriptive, non-experimental study utilized purposive sampling of speech-language pathologists licensed in the …

Law Enforcement Leadership And Organizational Culture In A Post-2020 Society, Carlos A. Perkins

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

The purpose of this qualitative pilot study was to investigate the perceptions of selected law enforcement leaders regarding the impending transition in law enforcement agencies in a post-2020 society. Specific elements of this transition investigated included recruitment, training, socialization, leadership roles/qualifications, change strategies/process, stakeholder involvement, and measures of success. Purposeful, convenience, and snowball sampling were used to select study participants. Study participants (N=21) were active sworn law enforcement leaders in a law enforcement agency in North Carolina. Participants possessed a broad range of law enforcement years of experience and/or leadership/supervisory experience at a minimum rank of lieutenant. Semi-structured interviews were …

The Association Of Demographic Factors With The Integration And Commitment Of West Virginia’S International University Students, Amine Oudghiri

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

This study explored the association of four independent variables (i.e., sex, class standing, GPA, and living status) with the academic integration, social integration, and institutional commitment (the dependent variables) of international students attending seven public regional universities in West Virginia. A researcher-developed, Likert-type questionnaire was used to examine the potential relationships among the variables. Results from point-biserial correlations indicated the relationships among the four demographic variables and each of the three dependent variables were not statistically significant, although a few statistically significant correlations were noted among the dependent variables’ sub-scale items. Results from independent samples t-tests also indicated a …

Covid-19-Mandated School Closures: An Exploration Of Student Learning Loss And The Effects Of A Rapid Shift In Instructional Modality, Ryan Sherwood

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

This study examined the effect of mandated school closures during the Covid-19 pandemic on student learning loss and the effects of a rapid shift in instructional modality. The research study focused on comparing the academic year results of 2021-2022 to the year of 2018-2019 in English language arts and mathematics assessments, specifically using the California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP) statewide assessment, within Modesto City Schools in California. The study sought to determine if there were disproportionate academic achievement deficits among various student attribute groups, including socioeconomic status (SES), sex, students with disabilities (SWD), and ethnicity.

By conducting …

Retention Issues In Nonprofit University Foundations, Sarah Kay

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Turnover of major gift officers (MGOs) within university foundations has been a problem for foundations and their affiliated universities. Turnover of MGOs results in less fundraised dollars, fewer donor-fundraiser relationships, and higher incomings costs. Retention of MGOs is vital for foundations’ success and directly correlates to the overall prosperity of the respective university. The purpose of this descriptive, non-experimental study that utilized a cross-sectional survey design was to examine perceptions of currently employed MGOs, in the interest of determining what was important to them to remain employed at their nonprofit university foundation. Using a web-based survey, data showed MGOs need …

Training The Federal Acquisition Workforce: A Correlational Study Of Perceived Learner-Centric Interaction Effectiveness And Distance Learning Environmental Preferences, Daniel Dwayne Davis

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Public procurement, the purchase of goods and services by governments from external sources, is a strategic tool commonly used by governments to fulfill their mandates. To manage public procurement inside the United States federal government, the Acquisition Workforce (AWF) was established. Training to support the development and maintenance of necessary competencies in the AWF occurs in both face-to-face and distance learning environments. The trend, in general, has been towards a greater dependency on the use of distance learning. The purpose of this quantitative study was to examine AWF perceptions of learner-centric interaction effectiveness and learning environment preferences, along with the …

Leadership In Physical Therapist Education: Instructional Strategies And Assessment Methods Used Among U.S. Capte Accredited Programs, Gretchen R. Prather

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

The physical therapy profession has recently placed greater significance on leadership education and research at all levels of professional development. Excellence and innovation in physical therapy practice must address leadership development beginning in professional education. This call for reform has been adopted broadly, including from an accreditation standpoint. The challenge now becomes to determine the most effective ways for preparing student physical therapists to lead in today’s fluid healthcare environment. This study examined leadership content among U.S. CAPTE accredited physical therapist education programs and, specifically, the instructional strategies and assessment methods frequently used to develop emerging leaders. An online survey …

Teacher Use And Perceptions Of Writing Practices In West Virginia: Policy And Leadership Implications, Margaret Luma

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

National standardized test scores indicate West Virginia students perform below the national average in writing achievement, yet little research has been conducted to investigate how writing is being taught. Gaining understanding of the instructional strategies West Virginia teachers use to teach writing may provide insight for educational leaders about how to better support and prepare teachers for the complex task of teaching writing. Identifying challenges and barriers to implementing evidence-based practices may provide areas of focus for school and policy improvements as they relate to writing expectations. This study investigated the practices and perceptions of fourth-grade teachers in West Virginia …

Doctor Of Physical Therapy Students’ Perspectives On Leadership Development In The Context Of The Proposed Leadership Competencies Framework For Physical Therapists, Laura Stephens

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Leadership is an emerging field in physical therapy professional research. Research efforts have concentrated on identifying the most desirable leadership skills and behaviors for practicing physical therapists, or on curricular interventions implemented in specific educational programs. This study utilized a qualitative phenomenological design to investigate the perspectives of 21 current and former student leaders from Marshall University School of Physical Therapy, specifically investigating the scope and effectiveness of available opportunities in developing leadership skills and behaviors. Participants were also probed regarding their motivation for pursuing pre-professional leadership development opportunities. Findings from this study suggest the available opportunities are effective to …

A Qualitative Examination Of Pre-Service Teachers’ Perceptions Of Self-Efficacy For Teaching Writing, Abby Rose Waldorf

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

The purpose of this research was to determine self-efficacy levels of Secondary English Education pre-service teachers attending two public universities concerning writing and the teaching of writing. The study found that pre-service teachers were confident and identified as writers, but they felt uncertain as teachers of writing. Past teachers’ praise was found to positively increase writing self-efficacy. Even though pre-service teachers enjoyed and looked forward to teaching writing, they felt they needed more time in the classroom and preparation from college courses. College courses were found to be lacking in the preparation needed for teaching writing. Pre-service teachers did not …

An Examination Of Teacher Perceptions Of The Effectiveness Of Online, On-Demand Professional Development For West Virginia Educators, Anna Shreve

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

This research investigated West Virginia teachers’ perceptions of online, on-demand professional development. The researcher used a mixed-methods, nonexperimental study that utilized a 16-item survey and a six-item follow-up survey to examine teacher perceptions. A convenience sample was used and was comprised of participants of the West Virginia Behavior/Mental Health Technical Assistance Center at Marshall University’s 2021 online, on-demand professional development, Keynotes for Key People. The purpose of the study was to determine if effectiveness characteristics of in-person professional development could be embodied by online, on-demand professional development. The premise of the study was that if the effectiveness characteristics of in-person …

The Effects Of Stem And Non-Stem Mathematics Corequisite Courses On Student Success At Public Institutions In West Virginia, Vanessa S. Keadle

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

This study explored the differences in student success outcomes between students enrolled in non-STEM and STEM corequisite mathematics courses at 18 postsecondary institutions across five academic years in West Virginia, using de-identified student data. The researcher analyzed this extant data to determine if student characteristics were predictors of success, as defined as passing the mathematics corequisite course, retention to the next semester, and earning a GPA of 2.0 or higher. The researcher also conducted analyses to understand if the differences in those outcomes between STEM and non-STEM courses were significant. This study identified statistically significant gaps in success for students …

Student Perspectives On The Presence And Usefulness Of Navigational Course Elements In Distance Education Courses, Christopher Joseph Sochor

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

The Quality Matters Standards for Course Design (2018) rubric is a course development rubric for online courses in higher education. General Standard 1 provides a list of specific review standards that are integral in the development of courses, including course expectations, course structure, learning guidance, communication expectations, technology skill requirements, criteria for student assessment, and overall course organization. Student feedback is necessary in order to determine whether students view elements of the course overview and introduction as present in their courses, and whether those elements are useful for the successful completion of their online course. This research utilized a mixed-methods …

Stigmatized Discretion: A Survey Of The Impact Of Stigma Associated With Substance Use Disorder On The Hiring Of Teachers In Recovery, Nick Hoskins Roberts

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

The purpose of this study was to analyze the effect of stigma associated with substance use disorder (SUD) on the hiring of teacher-applicants in recovery. The ongoing opioid epidemic has dealt many disastrous blows to the United States, particularly in the Appalachian region of the country. As the coal industry was declining in the 1990s and 2000s, prescription opioids flooded the state of West Virginia, bringing with them a dwindling economy and a rise in crime rates, unemployment, and overdoses. Recent legislation has helped in pharmaceutical accountability/regulation and recovery options for individuals suffering from SUD. As more people in recovery …

Librarians In An Austerity Environment, Thomas L. Walker Ii

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

The purpose of this study was to evaluate methods used by library administrators to maintain collections to support programs at Carnegie institutions classified R1, R2, D/PU: Doctoral/Professional Universities (formerly R3) with varying degrees of research activity and selected M1 (i.e., Masters Large) institutions, and compare those data.

Public institutions of higher education have seen mandatory state budget cuts for more than 20 years, with each year’s cut being larger than the previous. These statewide education cuts have affected academic libraries in a major way, resulting in purchasing cutbacks, decreased subscription renewals and cancellations.

Purchasing cutbacks have meant fewer physical book …

Perceptions On Charter Schools In West Virginia, Donna R. Dixon

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

In 2018 and 2019, the public school teachers in West Virginia walked out of their classrooms to protest charter schools opening in the Mountain State. During a special legislative session in the summer of 2019, the state's first charter school law was passed, paving the way to open West Virginia's first charter school. This research provides data on whether the COVID-19 global pandemic changed how individuals in West Virginia view charter schools. A concurrent nested mixed-method approach was used for this research. A twenty-one-question survey, Perceptions on Charter Schools in West Virginia, was developed using both Likert scale and …

Black And White Student Adaptability To College At A Predominately White Historically Black University: A Single Institution Examination Of West Virginia State University, Christopher D. Jackson

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

With respect to studies examining Black students at predominately White historically Black colleges or universities (HBCU), very little data exists; therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine the extent to which the specific benefits to Black and White students attending an HBCU (i.e., academic adjustment, social adjustment, personal-emotional adjustment, and attachment to the institution) also accrue to those students whose HBCU is predominantly White. When comparing Black and White students, no research has been conducted on whether the benefits of attending an HBCU, for Black or White students, also accrue if the HBCU’s student population is majority White. …

Advisor Perceptions Of Technology In Academic Advising Practices In West Virginia Educator Preparation Programs, Kandice Kaye Rowe

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

The purpose of this research was to gain, from the academic advisor’s perspective, an understanding of what technologies are being used in advising practices, the effectiveness of these technologies, and advisors’ perceptions of quality advising set forth by the Council for the Advancement of Standards in Higher Education. A qualitative phenomenological approach was utilized to connect academic advisors’ perceptions of the usage of technology while participating in the advising experiences. Through a combination of purposeful and snowballing sampling techniques, academic advisors from fourteen educator preparation programs in West Virginia were chosen to participate in this study. One-on-one, semi-structured interviews were …

Diverse Perspectives On The Living-Learning Community Experience At A Large Public University, Amy Griffin Lorenz

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

The purpose of this study was to investigate the specific experiences and program characteristics that students, faculty, and staff experience in the living-learning communities. This paper summarizes the findings of a program evaluation inclusive of a survey and interview protocol on the student, faculty, and staff experiences in living-learning communities (LLCs) at a large, public university in the southeast. The study employed a mixed methods design including a student survey and faculty/staff interviews. Data shows LLC students value the living-learning community experience and have positive experiences with the LLC academic and social climate and believe their peers support the diverse …

Faculty And Administrator’S Perspective On Degree Completion Initiatives In The Commonwealth Of Kentucky, Jennifer Hammonds

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

The purpose of this research is to better understand the factors in students’ lives that determine why they fail to earn a degree and how institutions retain or recruit back stopouts for completion of certificates and degrees. Degree completion is a national, state, and institutional priority as all groups are falling short on meeting degree attainment goals. Currently, there is an abundance of literature on why students stopout. The literature does not directly propose strategies that would increase degree completion or determine the necessary faculty and staff training needed to implement those strategies. This research helps fill the gap in …

Filling The Middle Skills Gap: Increasing Silver-Level Career Readiness Certificate Attainment In Mississippi, Steven Wayne Pickering

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

The purpose of this study is to examine the effectiveness of Smart Start Career Pathway as a method of supporting student success on the ACT WorkKeys assessment. Since the 1970s, the skills gap has been a national concern as workforce demand has outpaced supply. As a means of connecting individuals to the workforce, Mississippi adopted ACT WorkKeys and the National Career Ready Certificate (NCRC). As a result, programs such as Smart Start have been developed and deployed to support success in achievement in ACT WorkKeys and NCRC.

This causal comparative study was conducted utilizing a convenience sample of 1,001 participants …

School Climate For Lgbtq Youth: Principals’ Perceptions And Experiences, Jessica L. George

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

This study explored the practices that can mitigate a hostile school climate for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) youth and the barriers that negatively affect implementation of those practices. LGBTQ youth are at higher risk for bullying, harassment, and other characteristics of a harsh learning environment, which can result in negative outcomes, both short- and long-term. Principals of West Virginia public high schools were surveyed to collect data on the frequency at which LGBTQ-supportive practices are implemented in their schools and the barriers, if any, they faced. A total of n = 29 (x̄ = 27.6%) participants completed …