Education Commons^™

Consequences Of Math Anxiety And Stereotype Threat: An Intersectional Perspective, Jennifer E. John Buck

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Individuals with science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) skills are highly valued for their contribution to the U.S. workforce and society. However, women and some people of color enter STEM fields at lesser rates than do White men. Math anxiety and stereotype threat have been found to cause math performance decrements for women and some people of color. Presently, it is not clear how math anxiety and stereotype threat might work together to dually influence math performance and subsequent STEM participation. The current study focuses on a diverse sample of 295 undergraduate students who were randomly assigned to one of …

International Faculty’S Lived Experience Of Teaching: A Multiple-Case Study Of Taiwanese Professors In The United States, Ching Hsu Kim

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

In the context of higher education, a tenure-track faculty is expected to be actively engaged in scholarly activities including research, teaching and service activities. Finding a balance between personal and career lives is seen critical yet challenging especially to early-career international faculty members while they are in the face of differences and changes. Framed by theories of perezhivanie and resilience, the study examined international faculty members’ lived experiences of teaching. Interviews, blog prompts and reflection prompts were used to identify their major difficulties, perceptions and adjustments, and resilience development. Findings suggest that faculty members unavoidably encountered difficulties in their beginning …

Improving Community College Students' Interest, Utility-Value, And Performance: How Does Future Time Persective Influence A Utility-Value Intervention?, Elsa Maria Mason

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The economic benefits of academic success and completion are long-lasting. Students who attend community colleges can stand to benefit a great deal by completing a 4-year degree or even a 2-year degree. Unfortunately, these students often begin their higher education journey not fully prepared for college-level coursework. Students often fail to see how their college coursework relates to their lives and in turn, don’t hold interest or perceive value for the course and consequently do not perform well. Using Eccles et al. (1983) expectancy-value theory this study tested how community college students would respond to a utility-value intervention in which …

The Effects Of Background, Classroom Assessment Competence, Self-Efficacy, And Self-Perceived Assessment Skills On Classroom Assessment Practices Of Teachers In India, Manognya Murukutla

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Teacher-conducted assessments are necessary to gather important information to facilitate student learning and academic success. Unfortunately, there is an inconsistency in teacher knowledge of assessment and assessment practices. While previous research identified a gap in teacher competence and teacher perceptions of their competence, and this affects classroom assessment practices that then impact student learning, the research is limited, outdated, and not grounded in any theoretical framework. This study addresses gaps in literature and establishes self-efficacy as a theoretical framework in which classroom assessment can be studied. Data were collected in India, and a path analysis and a Kruskal Wallis non-parametric …

Chatting Online: An Ethnographic Case Study Of Educator Discourse On Social Media, Lindsay J. Russell

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

This study sought to examine the online discussions of teachers located in the Southwestern area of the United States regarding social justice issues on social media. Specifically, it looked to discover how educators in this region are attempting to assert agency when faced with socially inequitable situations. Teachers in this region are hired as public employees in a state that penalizes public workers for exhibiting opinions (SRS § 288.260, 1969).

The study utilized Cultural Historical Activity Theory along with Critical Multiculturalism to demonstrate that our present actions are culturally and historically situated while illuminating hegemonic forces. The study found that …

Using Positive Self-Talk And Goal-Oriented Thinking To Improve Behavioral Outcomes For Students With Learning Disabilities, Danielle M. Feeney

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Positive self-talk is the experience of carrying on an internal conversation with oneself in the form of praise and encourages the individual to persist despite risks or challenges. Goal- oriented thinking is a purposeful mental process used when solving a problem or working on a task and generally occurs when an individual is reasoning, problem solving and decision making. When engaged in goal-oriented thinking, individuals must interpret their current situation, determine their desired state, and then connect the two through a series of actions in an attempt to transform the former to the latter. Individuals who frequently use positive self-talk …

Effects Of Creativity Instruction In Science On Creative Thinking And Science Achievement In Chinese Students, Yun Peng

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

This study investigated the effectiveness of the 3eT instructional model designed by Hong (Hong, 2012a; Hong, O'Neil, Drobick, & Beisel, 2013) that focused on increasing students' creative-thinking ability. 120 seventh-graders in China participated in the study. Participants were randomly assigned to the experimental or the control group. They learned a segment of a science curriculum unit with instructional materials developed based on the 3eT model which aimed to encourage students to use creative thinking techniques.

Patterns of students' perceptions of a creative person were compared between the experimental group and the control group. Content analyses of students' narrative responses elicited …

Pentecostal Churches: A Multiple Case Study Of Education And Youth Women And Leadership, Derric A. Carter

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The Pentecostal church had been a religious anomaly amongst other Protestant affiliations because of their commitment to particular beliefs and practices. By using Gutierrez’s (1973) Liberation Theology and Freire’s (1970) Critical Theory as theoretical frameworks, the completed study examined the beliefs, thoughts, and feelings of the Pentecostal youth concerning higher education and whether or not it was promoted by church leadership as well as Pentecostal women’s beliefs, thoughts and feelings about the role of women, including their consideration and encouragement for leadership in the church. Specifically, the study was framed around the following questions:

How, if at all, did the …

Exploring Preservice Teacher Agency Influencing Power Relationships With Teacher Educators: A Multiple Case Study, Steve Hayden

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Teacher agency is the temporal and ecological understanding of a teacher’s capacity to make choices, take principled action, and enact positive change. A teacher’s agency relies on context and is measured on a continuum, with agency contingent on the reciprocal relationship between the individual and the structural environment. Structure influences teachers’ professional practice, but teachers must reciprocally influence power relationships within the structural school context to be successful and active contributors to the education process. Teacher agency is an essential dimension of effective professional practice because of its ability to highlight the required skillset of successful teachers. Because preservice teachers …

A Video Game As A Pedagogical Tool For Pre-Service Teachers To Learn About Bullying Prevention And Intervention In School Contexts, Jeffrey Robert Laferriere

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Bullying is an act of aggression intended to physically or emotionally harm another. It is a problem that affects millions of K-12 students around the world each year. Victims of bullying may suffer severe effects that follow them into adulthood, including depression and self-harm. In-service teachers, though aware of the problem, are often inadequately trained to correct the current trends. This lack of knowledge and skills is the result of a failure among teacher preparation programs to properly prepare their candidates. This study examined the use of the video game Bully as a pedagogical tool in an attempt simulate mastery …

Exploring Mathematics Anxiety Of Students At-Risk For Mathematics Difficulties, Sarah Mccarthy

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Students in mathematics classrooms are found to experience various levels of stress and anxiety during instructional time. Negative feelings associated with participation in math activities can lead to both physical and emotional manifestations, affecting performance, achievement, and even confidence with the academic subject. Students found to be at-risk for mathematics difficulties have greater risks when it comes to the possible experience of mathematics anxiety. Students with learning disabilities, students needing supplemental interventions, and students who are English learners can experience potential bouts of anxiety and stress, magnifying academic struggles in the math classroom. In addition, academic deficits can intensify levels …

Animal Assisted Therapy And Support Animals, What Mental Health Professionals Know And Understand, Alexandro H. Velez

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Animal-assisted therapy can greatly benefit mental health professionals with clients in and out of the school settings in many ways. It is believed mental health professionals are successfully implementing Animal Assisted Therapy, even though some are not. Mental health professionals who are not using Animal Assisted Therapy are not doing so as the result of various variables, such as lack of information, knowledge, training, certification and policies, which prevents them from using Animals Assisted Therapy with clients and the community. It is also believed some mental health professionals are using animals as part of therapeutic interventions without proper training. The …

Informal Interactions: A Mini-Ethnographic Case Study Of Students With Emotional And Behavioral Disorders, Katelyn Jessie Zirkus

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Most educational professionals are committed to supporting the students they serve in developing the skills needed to achieve the highest educational life potential they possibly can. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEIA, 2004) reaffirms that the purpose of special education is to prepare students for further education, employment, and independent living. However, post-school outcomes for students with emotional and behavioral disorders (EBD) often run counter to this stated purpose. Outcomes for students with EBD into adulthood are often not positive, substantiating the need of congressional intent to strengthen preparation and consequently improve these students’ quality of life.

Therefore, …

Transition Perceptions Of High School Students With Emotional And Behavioral Disorders And Their Teachers, Kristopher Hawk Yeager

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

After school, students with EBD often have poor outcomes related to employment, postsecondary education, and independent living. Individualized strengths-based transition planning that provides a multitude of services and supports can improve these outcomes. There is limited research on the perspectives of students with EBD and how these viewpoints compare with those of teachers. Additional research in this area can provide researchers and practitioners with a more complex understanding of youth perspectives that can influence the development of authentic, strengths-based, and culturally responsive interventions. This mixed-methods study analyzed the transition-related strengths, needs, and social supports of students with EBD. Across three …

An Analysis Of Teacher Training Concerning The Identification Of Students With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Brittany Jo Desnoyer

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Given recent revisions to the diagnostic criteria as it pertains to students with ASD (DSM-V; APA, 2013), several studies have raised concern that future diagnosis will be limited (McPartland et al., 2012). However, prevalence rates of Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) have continued to rise since its release (Baio et al., 2018). Because special education referrals are subject to bias, and positively correlated with a high probably of subsequent diagnosis (Ysseldyke & Algozzine, 1981), the role of the educator warrants exploration.

This study investigated the level of training provided to pre-service and in-service general and special educators in the DSM-IV (APA, …

Health Care-Associated Infection Prevention Outcomes: Evaluating The Link Between Infection Prevention Practices In Healthcare Facilities And Their Health Care-Associated Infection Rates, Chidinma Veronica Njoku

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Healthcare-associated infections (HAI) are a pressing problem affecting vulnerable individuals who come to the hospital to receive care for one condition only to find that they have contracted another during their stay. Studies point to the importance of training and educating staff in order to implement and comply with recommended infection control and prevention control and prevention practices as lack of training and knowledge about infection control and prevention has been perceived to bring about a limited ability for direct care staff to adhere to recommended processes and activities. Although there are prior studies on the effects of assessments, infection …

The Experience Of Students With Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder During The Transition To Middle School, Hannah M. Berry

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The transition to the middle school setting from elementary school has been the subject of research for decades as data shows a decline in academic success, socio-emotional health and motivation for students. There is a lack of research based transitional programs to support the needs of students at this time, specifically those with special needs. Though the name and specific criteria for students with ADHD has shifted, the impact this neurological disability has on students and learning is comprehensive. Symptoms of this disorder reach and affect each part of the student and their school experience, as well as those around …

My Voice Matters: A Telling Case Study Of Student Voice In Institutional Governance, Eboni Monique Caridine

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Higher education institutions are complex institutions that are often difficult to navigate. Additionally, the policies and procedures that govern these institutions have the potential to exclude the student's voice. Understanding the power relations and hierarchical structures that exist within the institutions presents another difficult avenue to navigate for students. It is imperative that institutions understand their role in educating students to be civic-minded individuals with the cognitive ability to assist in making informed decisions.

Several scholars (Brubacher & Rudy, 1968; Vaccaro & Covert, 1969; Crane, 1969; McGrath, 1970; Morison, 1970; Baldridge, 1971; May, 2010) describe a time where student input …

Illuminating Unsung Americans Sung As A Musical Staple Within American Culture, Richard Leon Hodges

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The book Unsung Americans Sung was first published in 1944 by the Handy Brothers Publishing Company. With over 30 contributors and edited by William C. Handy, this book explores the great abolitionists of the eighteenth century and the climate of Negro culture during that moment in time. The book includes poetry, illustrations, children’s songs, choral works, scenes from major works, and art songs. Handy was not only offering his opinion of the Negro of the time, but he was creating a book that would add these freedom fighters and generational torchbearers into the archives of every American. Sadly, this glimpse …

Governance Practices Of A Private Non-Profit System Of Higher Education, Taylor Hough

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

System Governance in higher education has long referred to state level administration of multiple diverse public campuses under the public’s authority. Recent years have shown the development of similar multi-campus systems that remain under private control. Contrary to the for-profit trend seen in American higher education, these new private systems are categorized as non-profit entities that theoretically emphasize the public good of higher education. Furthermore, the growth and expansion of these private non-profit systems transcend state boundaries while pursuing diverse goals. The proposed line of research will seek to answer the following research questions: How does the Touro College and …

Health Literacy Intervention For Low Income Uninsured Population, Laura Larson

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Background: Health literacy (HL) requires basic skills in writing, reading, numeracy, and communication all within a health context (Berkman et al., 2011). HL is a critical element for individuals to take an active role in managing their health. The National Assessment of Adult Literacy found only 12% of adults had a “proficient” HL level. Hispanics were found to be at greatest risk for lower HL than all other ethnic groups (Kutner, Greenberg, Jin, & Paulsen, 2006). Low HL can lead to poor health outcomes including: decreased utilization of preventative services, difficulty in managing chronic conditions, and increased disparities in access …

College Student Depression: An Examination Of Cardiorespiratory Fitness, Gender And Sexual Orientation Diversity, And Help-Seeking Willingness, Sharon Jalene

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Depression is a serious illness characterized by persistent low mood, reduced cognitive capacity, and fatigue. Although treatable, depression is the leading cause of disability and ill-health worldwide and a significant contributor to suicide, the second leading cause of death for young Americans. In any given two-week period, 8.1% of adults in the United States had moderate to severe depression (2013-2016). The rate of depression for females was twice that of males and compared to the majority, sexual and gender minorities (SGM) were at a threefold risk. Furthermore, evidence suggests that depression incidence is three times higher in college students than …

Exploring The Utility Of Mindfulness In The Elementary School Classroom, Sarah M. Wells

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Current evidence supporting the efficacy of mindfulness training in the K-12 setting is quite limited. In addition there is a lack of theory that is committed explicitly to explaining how a direct mindfulness-achievement effect might appear. This study builds a promising foundation for helping address this gap in the existing literature. Framed within the context of a limited source model of self-regulation, academic achievement and perceptions of third, fourth, and, fifth graders participating in a 3-week mindfulness training program were examined across variables of executive control, and emotional regulation. Mindfulness training produced observed emotional and cognitive benefits, including increased executive …

Motivation And Gesture In Foreign And Second Language Development: A Sociocultural Study Of Chinese Learners Of English, Lixian Tian

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

This dissertation study investigated motivation as related to goal-directed activity and gesture awareness as well as their interplay in second and foreign language development in different English as a foreign language (EFL) and English as a second language (ESL) contexts. This study included four groups of Chinese learners of English. The first EFL group consisted of college students in China learning English without intention of studying abroad (G1) and the second EFL group in China included Chinese learners of English who were learning English to prepare to study abroad (G2). Participants in the first ESL group were living and studying …

Motivation And Online Information Literacy Instruction: A Self-Determination Theory Approach, Francesca Marineo

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Information literacy skills, including critical thinking and problem-solving skills, are imperative for academic, personal, and professional success. Unfortunately, many students graduate only to be more daunted than ever by the vast amount of information available to them and increasingly rely on convenience over quality in their information-seeking behaviors. This study hoped to address this by increasing students’ motivation for engaging in an online information literacy module. Using self-determination theory (SDT) from the field of motivation, motivationally-supportive modules were designed to support students’ feelings of autonomy and competence and ultimately grades on their final research assignment. Experimental conditions included providing relevance, …

Exploring Transitions Back And Into College: Stories Of Adult Women, Laura Bennett

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Women are juggling multiple roles such as mother, wife, partner and employee that could

intensify a complex transition process to a new role of college student (Lin, 2016; Noll, Reichlin, & Gualt, 2017; Veney, O’Green & Kowalik, 2012). The purpose of this qualitative study was to describe a transition process of women to a role of college student a to understand why they might not graduate. Sociocultural theory embedded within Schlossberg’s transition model assisted with understanding the transition process of moving-in, moving-through, and moving-out. A qualitative research design was employed to describe this complex transition process and to answer the …

Factors That Influence Nontraditional Adult Learners' Online Course Persistence: An Explanatory Sequential Mixed Methods Study, Millicent D. Braxton

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Historically, the typical first-year college student was an 18-year-old high school graduate still living at home. However, today’s college students are frequently older adults pursuing higher education in record numbers and for a myriad of reasons. In fact, these older students are nontraditional adult learners (NALs), and they are the new majority student population (NCES, 2012). Nontraditional adult learners are identified as a student 25-years and older, entering college for the first time or re-entering college after a gap in their education. Additionally, NALs prefer to enroll in online courses because of the convenience and flexibility of online learning. However, …

Large Group Video Modeling: Increasing Social Interactions In An Inclusive Head Start Classroom, Jennifer Margaret Buchter

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Social skills are associated positive academic and well-being outcomes across the lifespan, especially for individuals with disabiliites (Carter, Sisco, Chung, & Stanton-Chapman, 2010; Hirsh-Pasek, Golinkoff, Berk, & Singer, 2009; Lifter, Mason, & Barton, 2011; Rubin, Bukowski, & Laursen, 2009). Without instruction, children with disabilities often have social skill delays that result in social isolation and peer rejection (Barton, 2015; Goldstein, English, Shafer, & Kaczmarek, 1997; Gresham, 1982; Nelson, McDonnell, Johnson, Crompton, & Nelson, 2007; Rogers, 2000; Travis, Sigman, & Ruskin, 2001). Direct and explicit instruction, not only for the targeted child but also for their peers, is required to support …

Assessing The Long-Term Effects Of A Cultural Immersion Experience On Nursing Practice, Karen H. De La Cruz

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Cultural immersion has been identified as a preferred method of teaching cultural competence in undergraduate nursing education. Multiple qualitative and quantitative studies have shown that baccalaureate nursing students enjoy international learning experiences and, based on self-efficacy evaluations, feel they have increased cultural competency following immersion experiences. However, there is little evidence to indicate concepts learned during undergraduate cultural competency course work is retained or integrated into nursing practice after leaving the milieu of academia.

To inform future cultural competency educational efforts, I conducted a qualitative phenomenological study to provide a baseline of evidence regarding the impact of a cultural immersion …

Implications Of An Iterative Design Experiment In Transcendental And Polynomial Functions Within A Flipped Classroom, Aaron Boyd Harris

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

This study explores an iterative design research experiment of a flipped mathematics classroom over the span of five curricular units involving big ideas of transcendental and polynomial functions. Transcendental and polynomial functions involve an algebraic, analytic, and graphical approach to the concepts and procedures of exponential, logarithmic, power, cubic, quadratic, linear, and rational functions. The Compleat design research methodology (Middleton, Gorard, Taylor, & Bannan-Ritland, 2008) was used to explore a series of instructional sequences that an instructor implemented in a flipped classroom while teaching big ideas of transcendental and polynomial functions.

The experiment occurred over the course of a sixteen-week …