Education Commons^™

Change In Academic Self-Efficacy Across Gender And Year In School For Undergraduate Sport Management Students, Jarid Morton

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Academic self-efficacy (ASE) is a construct derived from social cognitive theory developed to assess an individuals perceived competence in academia. It has been found to significantly relate to academic achievement. Students scoring higher in ASE are more likely to obtain higher cumulative grade point averages and higher test scores. Studies assessing ASE have examined degree programs such as science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (i.e., STEM), business, and the humanities. Despite the wide scope of fields studied, sport management programs have yet to be assessed. This study aims to fill this gap. Part of the study aimed to construct a valid …

First-Generation Leaders: A Qualitative Examination Of Characteristics, Traits, And Identity Of First-Generation Graduates In Leadership, Jamie Woolery

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

This study looked at first-generation college graduates and their paths to successful leadership roles. First-generation college students are defined by the National Association of Personnel Administrators (NASPA) as students from families in which their biological parents did not complete a four-year college degree (NASPA, 2017). An investigation was conducted on demographics, access to education, opportunity, and other factors that lend themselves to successful first-generation leaders who changed the narrative for themselves and their communities. This study looked at the previously conducted literature to provide background support for the need of the research, along with further recommendations and interviews which added …

Autherine Lucy & The University Of Alabama Integration At U Of A 1952-1956, Tamera Lott

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, the University of Alabama was chartered in 1820 and is Alabama’s oldest public university. Prior to 1956, the University was segregated; admission was limited to white men and women. On February 3, 1965, Miss Autherine Lucy stepped foot on campus for the first time to attend classes at the University; history was made as she was the first African American present. Lucy’s attendance stirred conflict throughout campus and the state of Alabama. Unbeknownst to many, Lucy’s attendance garnered both national and international attention. The central argument here is that Lucy’s experiences at the University of Alabama …

Examining Collegiate Students’ Perceptions Of Date Rape And Sexual Assault, Jalen Rhodes

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

The purpose of this study was to examine how collegiate males and females perceived date rape and sexual assault by looking into their views on sexual scripts, consent, and alcohol in dating situations. Participants consisted of 323 male and female undergraduate students enrolled in psychology classes at a mid-south university. All participants were directed to an online questionnaire and were randomly assigned to one of four versions of a vignette where a man and a woman are at a party together. After reading their vignette, all participants answered researcher-created questions pertaining to the behavior of the people in the vignette …

A Look Into The College Readiness Needs Of First Time College Students, Lindsey Coomer Cox

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

This study examines the college readiness needs of first year college students based on experiences from students and staff involved with a first year transitional initiative program at Western Kentucky University. The purpose of the study is to share students’ college readiness needs with public school systems in hopes to intervene with these needs before students arrive at college. A total of 45 participants volunteered to be in focus groups, an interview, and complete a survey. Two research questions were proposed: What college readiness needs still exist for first time college students upon entrance to a four year public university? …

Making ‘The Ask’ To Internal Stakeholders: The Influence Of Organizational Identification On University Faculty And Staff Giving, Lora Haley Ashley

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

The purpose of this study was to explore faculty/staff identification with their employing university and how that, in turn, may influence their decision to financially support the institution, or not. This study employed a case study approach and a mixed methods research design utilizing both qualitative and quantitative data. An online survey using Cheney’s (1982) Organizational Identification Questionnaire measured faculty/staff members’ identification with the organization and with their specific departments. The survey also collected data on faculty/staff past charitable giving. Following the survey, qualitative focus groups and interviews were conducted with faculty/staff members to explore what factors contributed to their …

Changing Pre-Service Teachers’ Beliefs About Prevalent Brain-Based Myths In Education, Megan Sparks

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

The present study examined if a conceptual change intervention would decrease pre-service teachers’ beliefs in four prevalent brain-based myths in education, including Visual-Auditory-Kinesthetic (VAK) learning styles, Gardner’s multiple intelligences theory, left- or right-brained hemispheric dominance, and that humans only use 10% of their brains. Participants included 87 college students from one large, comprehensive university who were enrolled in an educational psychology course. All participants received the conceptual change intervention, which consisted of reading an article refuting the brain-based myths, submitting a paper showcasing evaluative thinking and reflection about the brain-based myths, and discussing cognitive development and the brain-based myths in …

The Skills Gap In U.S. Manufacturing: The Effectiveness Of Technical Education On The Incumbent Workforce, Robert Michael Deal

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

This thesis explores the skill sets of the current American workforce, the skills required in modern, technically advanced U.S. manufacturing facilities, and the multiple approaches postsecondary education has employed to bridge the gap between the two. Millions of dollars are spent each year educating and training the incumbent workforce without any definitive measure of whether the financial investment or effort is actually providing a return.

To illustrate, organizations typically require a projected return-on-investment (ROI) before committing funds to a project. However, the same approach does not seem to be applied when investing in human capital for the purpose of improving …

An Examination Of Facilitators And Barriers To Academic Careers For Women In Stem, Jacqulyn M. Cavanaugh

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the facilitators and barriers to women in STEM through comparison to men and non-STEM faculty members. The Pipeline Model and The Vanish Box model were examined to explain the underrepresentation of women in STEM. The current study, using the established facilitators and barriers to women in STEM by Bolton (2016), examined 12 categories that were identified through existing literature, critical incidents (CIs), and a subject-matter expert (SME).

It was hypothesized that Teaching, Service, Research Funding, Mentoring, Professional Development, Administrative Leadership, Hiring Policies, New Child Leave/FMLA policies, and Promotion and Tenure Policies …

Foreign Language Anxiety Among Japanese International Students In The U.S., Nana Okada

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

This study aims to investigate the foreign language anxieties Japanese international students at American universities have and the relationship between these anxieties and length of stay in the U.S. 151 Japanese international students answered a modified version of the Foreign Language Classroom Anxiety Scale (Horwitz, Horwitz & Cope, 1986) followed by demographic questions. The findings from the questionnaire were analyzed through SPSS 21 software. Results indicated a statistically significant relationship between students’ level of anxieties and the length of stay in the U.S. Implications for teachers and government officials in Japan, as well as for teachers and university administrators in …

The Cadet Training Program Versus The Student Certification Program: A Study Of It- Support Training Programs At Western Kentucky University, Michael Courtney Moore

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Technology is a critical component of modern-day success. Advancements in technology have improved communication between individuals and companies. Technological advancements have allowed students to earn college degrees online. People who habitually use technology expect a high level of performance and support. As new technologies are implemented, such as complex web services or new operating systems, the dependence for information technology (IT) support grows in demand. Even learning curves can be cumbersome without proper assistance from IT professionals. Companies and institutions must accommodate user needs by implementing fast, efficient, and friendly support. In order to offer optimal customer support, representatives must …

Value And Effectiveness Of An Intervention Reading Course, Imari Rashad Hazelwood

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Students who graduate from high school and receive a diploma believe they are indeed ready for a college education. What most of these students are not aware of is that many students enter into higher education underprepared for the rigors of college level coursework. There are support programs such as tutoring and intervention reading courses that have been created to combat this problem and further prepare students to handle college level work, specifically reading. This study evaluated the effectiveness of an intervention reading course in terms of student success and growth. Students participated in a semester long course and were …

Effects Of High Proximity Living Accommodations On The Stress Levels And Self-Perceptions Of College Students Living In Residence Halls At Western Kentucky University, Aaron W. Hughey

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Selected occupants of University residence hall rooms accommodating three students in a physical facility originally designed for only two occupants were compared to selected occupants of rooms accommodating two residents in a physical facility originally designed for two occupants. They were compared along two psychological dimensions: frustration (stress) and self-perception. Both groups responded to an instrument package consisting of The Student Life Event Questionnaire, The Self Perception Assessment, and The Frustration Assessment. These instruments were designed to measure relative stress levels and relative strengths of self-perception.

The returned instrument packages were scored and a comparison was made between the two …

The Use Of Feuerstein’S Instrumental Enrichment With Underprepared College Students: A Pilot Study, Michael Kieta

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

This pilot study investigated the usage of Feuerstein’s (1980) Instrumental Enrichment with underprepared college students. Open admissions policies in colleges and universities have resulted in the enrollment of many students who are underprepared to meet the academic task demands. Courses have been developed by the colleges and universities to remediate the academic deficits of underprepared students. Remedial courses using traditional educational methods have been largely ineffective. Cognitive process instruction (CPI) is an area of educational research that recently began to receive increased attention in the field of remedial education. The goal of CPI has been to develop the cognitive/thought processes …

A Study Of Significant Differences In Values, Problems & Personality Characteristics Of English 055 Students & English 101 Students At Western Kentucky University, Nancy Moore

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Fifty students from English 055 and 50 students from English 101 were given the Edwards Personal Preference Schedule, the Mooney Problem Check Lists, the Allport/ Vernon/Lindzey Study of Values, and the Willoughby Schedule to determine if any significant differences existed between the two groups in the areas of personality characteristics, values, or problems. A statistical analysis of the results was determined by means of a t value from a separate variance estimate. Results indicated that significant differences existed between the 055 students and the 101 students in the following areas: self-esteem, economic values, need for achievement, and …

The Economic Impact Of Western Kentucky University On The Bowling Green – Warren County Economy, Stephen Cooper

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

The costs incurred by the community resulting from Western Kentucky University’s location – cost of educating children of university related personnel, cost of services provided by the local governments to the university community, and the lost property tax revenue resulting from the tax exemption of university property – were estimated as were the benefits enjoyed by the community as a result of the University’s location – local expenditures, local employment generated by the university’s presence, the university community’s impact on the local banking system’s credit base, and the occupational license tax receipts levied by the city on the university payroll. …

A Study Of Elementary Guidance Programs In University Laboratory Schools In The United States, Joann Walker

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

This project is a study of the role and functions of the elementary school guidance counselor in the laboratory schools of universities in the United States. It was intended to gain data on the status of the role at the present, functions performed by the counselors in these schools, and information which could be used as a basis for projection of the future role of the elementary school counselor. The laboratory schools were surveyed, the data compiled and an analysis was made. The results were not as future oriented as was expected from the population studied. Techniques and functions were …

An Appraisal Of The American College Test As A Proficiency Examination At Western Kentucky University, Cheryl Chambless

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Since the initiation of the proficiency testing program at Western Kentucky University, there had not been a comprehensive report of the performance of students who received academic credit on the basis of the American College Test as a proficiency examination. American College Test standard scores, American College Test composite scores, specific course grades, and overall grade point averages of selected students were examined to determine the effects of awarding academic credit on the basis of the American College Test standard score in English on a student's subsequent academic performance and to examine the feasibility of extending the use of the …

The Desirability And Feasibility Of Intercollegiate Sports For College Women, Leigh F. Kieffer

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

The primary purpose of this study is to examine the present programs of physical education in Kentucky colleges; to determine the degree to which they meet the competitive sports needs of college women; and to explore the possibilities for enriching the program and to make recommendations for correcting inadequacies.

In considering the inclusion of a program of intercollegiate sports competition for college women, three questions are basic. First, what criteria should be used for evaluating present programs and determining the developing of an intercollegiate program for women? Second, what is the status of Kentucky colleges with regard to these pertinent …

Course Of Study In Business Law, James Hayes

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

In this study the writer is endeavoring to define, organize and present a comprehensive course of study in business law, in order to create a definite interest in the subject on the part of the student and to facilitate the task facing the teacher in his presentation of the course.

The materials and suggestions in this study could be of interest to anyone who is concerned with the teaching of business law and who is interested in improving the high school course of business law.

The Development Of Education In Bowling Green, Kentucky, Lula Dickey Vance

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

In recent years several articles have been written concerning education in Bowling Green, Kentucky, but the writer has been unable to discover an article that has treated the development of education from the time Bowling Green was established until now. It is the motive of this study to trace the development of education from the time Bowling Green was established until the present time.

Information for this thesis has been obtained from various sources, but the greater part of it has been secured through personal interviews, unpublished manuscripts, scrapbooks and histories.

A Study Of The Critical Factors That Affect The Achievement Of Probation Students, Eurena Dawson

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

It is the purpose of this study to present the results of an investigation of the high school and college records of the 600 students who have been on probation at the Western Kentucky State Teachers College during the school years 1932-32, 1932-33 and 1933-34; and, if possible, to set up some standards by which these students may be given the advice and guidance that will best serve them in their preparation for life.

John G. Fee And Berea College, Flora Jones

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

When a student at Berea College it occurred to the writer that if the opportunity should ever present itself, she would be interested in knowing more concerning the early struggles and untiring labor of the men who had made possible such a great and unique institution of learning.

It is the aim of this paper to treat in a brief and concise way the development of this institution and in particular the part played by John G. Fee. Also it is hoped to furnish an account of the early struggles of this institution that will be of interest to the …

Status Of Certificates Issued And Employment Of Certificate Holders At Western Kentucky State Teachers College, James Ashby

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

It is the purpose of this study to determine the supply of certified teachers from Western Kentucky State Teachers College. From data compiled at the institution concerning the number of certificates issued, the number at present in effect, and the employment of the certificate holders, this supply will be ascertained. The study undertakes to answer the following questions:

1. What has been the nature of certification of teachers in Western Kentucky State Teachers College?
2. How many teachers certificates issued by the institution are now in effect?
3. How many of the certificate holders are at present engaged in teaching?
4. What per cent …

A Comparative Study Of The Relative Achievement Of The Training School & Non-Training School Pupils, Ruth Borders

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

The writer, having been employed as a critic or supervising teacher in a city training school, has a personal interest in student teaching and student teachers. Frequently patrons voice their opinions concerning the work done in the training school. While many parents are well pleased with the results of student teaching, there are some who believe that the type of work given in the training school is inferior to that done in the public schools.

The major purpose of this study is to endeavor to answer, to some extent, a few of the many questions, arising from day to day, …