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A Phenomenological Study Examining The Lived Experiences Of Middle School Students Who Have Demonstrated Challenges In Math And Their Expectations To Improve Their Performance, Steven Duane Fencl Apr 2024

A Phenomenological Study Examining The Lived Experiences Of Middle School Students Who Have Demonstrated Challenges In Math And Their Expectations To Improve Their Performance, Steven Duane Fencl

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to understand the lived experiences of middle school students who have challenges in math and their expectations of opportunities provided to improve their performance at a middle school in the Spring Valley School District. The theory that guided this study was Vroom’s expectancy theory, which argues that the tendency of a person to act in a certain way depends on what the person expects to happen, that it will be favorable to the person, and that the person feels the result will provide a potential gain. The central research question was, “How do …


First-Generation Doctoral Students, Impostorism, And Belonging: A Transcendental Phenomenological Study, Karen Sullivan Pore Apr 2024

First-Generation Doctoral Students, Impostorism, And Belonging: A Transcendental Phenomenological Study, Karen Sullivan Pore

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this study was to explore the experiences of first-generation doctoral students as they relate to their feelings of belonging, impostorism, and otherness. The study was guided by use of Tajfel social identity theory which provided insight to how an individual evaluates their identity within their environment and groups. The research design used was qualitative and the approach was transcendental phenomenological. The qualitative design allowed the first-generation doctoral students to share their experiences and behaviors during their doctoral journey. The participants were 10 self-identified as first-generation doctoral students who experienced impostor feelings during their doctoral journey. The data …


Perceptions Of Senior International Officers' Efforts Regarding The Acculturation Of International Students In Higher Education: A Transcendental Phenomenological Study, Ann-Margaret J. Themistocleous Apr 2024

Perceptions Of Senior International Officers' Efforts Regarding The Acculturation Of International Students In Higher Education: A Transcendental Phenomenological Study, Ann-Margaret J. Themistocleous

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study is to describe Senior International Officers’ lived experiences regarding attitudes and beliefs about the adjustment of international students in private and public universities in the Southeast region of the United States. The theory guiding this study is Berry’s theory of acculturation as it relates to a person’s adjustment to a new culture as they either assimilate, separate, integrate, or marginalize. The central research question focuses on the experiences of Senior International Officers regarding the acculturation process of international students on their respective college campuses. The methodology included a qualitative, transcendental phenomenological approach. The participants …


A Phenomenological Study On Teachers' Perspectives On Experiencing Burnout In Title I Rural Appalachian Schools Grades 4–9, Kara J. Howard Apr 2024

A Phenomenological Study On Teachers' Perspectives On Experiencing Burnout In Title I Rural Appalachian Schools Grades 4–9, Kara J. Howard

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to describe and explore the burnout experiences of teachers in Title I rural Appalachian schools Grades 4–9 in southern Ohio. The theoretical framework guiding this study is Maslach’s burnout theory. The central research question was “What are the burnout experiences of teachers in Title I rural Appalachian schools Grades 4–9?” Convenience sampling was employed to select the 12 participants, all of whom are teachers teaching in Grades 4–9 within Sunshine County, a rural Appalachia-based school qualifying as a Title I institution in southern Ohio. The data presented in this study were collected …


Addressing Professional Training And Teacher Retention At Urban Public Schools In Southeast Texas, Elaine Rene' Pangle Apr 2024

Addressing Professional Training And Teacher Retention At Urban Public Schools In Southeast Texas, Elaine Rene' Pangle

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Nationally, teacher shortages reached all-time highs, leaving schools needing qualified teachers where vacancies were made by teachers leaving the profession, particularly during the post-COVID-19 era. Although a growing national problem, specifically, the area of Southeast Texas remains particularly affected by this mass exodus. The purpose of this applied study was to solve the teacher retention problem for urban public schools in Southeast Texas and to design educator training and intervention methods to address the issue. The theory guiding this study was human capital theory, as it addresses education and how it could foster social change and be the primary tool …


A Phenomenological Study Of The Teacher Leader Experience, Leslie Magnanti Apr 2024

A Phenomenological Study Of The Teacher Leader Experience, Leslie Magnanti

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to understand the lived experiences of teachers in leadership roles in a rural, secondary school setting. The theory guiding this study was the theory of distributed leadership created by Spillane and developed by Groff, as it explained the power of teacher leadership as a method of distributing leadership to promote teacher retention and motivation alleviating some principal stress and burnout. Data was collected using interviews of the ten participants to better understand how teachers experience leadership and how administrators can promote it, focus groups to understand the phenomenon in more depth, and …


A Transcendental Phenomenological Study Of The Lived Experiences Of Parents' Motivational Influence Behind Their Children's Screen Time Usage, Eric J. Phillips Apr 2024

A Transcendental Phenomenological Study Of The Lived Experiences Of Parents' Motivational Influence Behind Their Children's Screen Time Usage, Eric J. Phillips

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental qualitative phenomenological study explores the lived experience of parents in managing their children's screen time on mobile devices. The study used 10 parents between 25 and 40 years of age of children ages one to five who attend a public school district and regularly use smartphones and related mobile technological devices. The study describes the essence of children's screen time on digital devices, such as smartphones and tablets, by examining the experiences of a specific group of parents. Parents have experienced conflicts in managing their children's screen time usage for as long as screens exist. …


The Relationship Between Leadership Styles Of A Principal And African-American Student Achievement In Elementary Reading, Joel James Abe Apr 2024

The Relationship Between Leadership Styles Of A Principal And African-American Student Achievement In Elementary Reading, Joel James Abe

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this study was to determine whether a relationship exists between the self-assessed leadership style of a building principal and the achievement of elementary African-American students on a state level reading assessment. The results of this study could have an impact on principal training and preparation, impacting decisions made by central office personnel, as well as improving the performance of the identified group of students in reading. The relationship between a principal’s self-assessed style of leadership and the combined pass rate of third through fifth grade African-American students in their school on the end-of-year state assessments. Principal leadership …


Teacher Motivation And Student Behavioral Defiance: A Phenomenological Study, Gwendolyn Robinson Apr 2024

Teacher Motivation And Student Behavioral Defiance: A Phenomenological Study, Gwendolyn Robinson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to understand the influence of student behavioral defiance on elementary educators in Virginia. The research question was, “What are the lived experiences of elementary educators in Hampton Roads, Virginia, having experienced student behavioral defiance?” Bandura’s self-efficacy theory guided this study. It analyzed subjective changes affecting teachers and their motivation by applying four significant sources of self-efficacy: performance accomplishments, vicarious experiences, verbal persuasion, and physiological states. The primary source of data collection methods included semi-structured interviews with 10 participants, in addition to a focus group and journal prompt. Transcendental phenomenology aided in analyzing semi-structured …


Mentorship Experiences Of College Level Educators: A Phenomenological Study, Rebecca M. Arsenault Apr 2024

Mentorship Experiences Of College Level Educators: A Phenomenological Study, Rebecca M. Arsenault

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to understand the impact that mentorship had on the retention of ten participating educators working at various post-secondary educational institutions. The theory guiding this study was Dansereau’s leader-member theory guided as it pertained to the interactions between a dyadic relationship such as the one represented by one-on-one mentorship. The central research question for this study asked about the mentorship experiences of educators in higher education who have been in the field of education for five years or more. This study used transcendental phenomenological to study the essence of the experiences of 10 educators …


Burnout Prevention In Christian Public And Private Middle School Leaders: A Qualitative Study, Rhonda Grider Purchase Apr 2024

Burnout Prevention In Christian Public And Private Middle School Leaders: A Qualitative Study, Rhonda Grider Purchase

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

There is a momentous problem in academic settings today regarding stress and burnout among academic school leaders (Francis et al., 2017). The focus of this study was to examine the prevention of professional stress in the lives of middle school academic leaders. The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to explore the lived experiences of what the selected participants believed was the prevention of stress and burnout in middle school leaders in Newton County, Georgia. For this study, school leaders were defined as certified principals who hold a bachelor’s level or above degree and contribute to the academic environment …


A Mixed-Method Approach Identifying Antecedents Of Employee Engagement In A Nondenominational Church: Perspective From Volunteers And Employees, Gregory A. Rodriguez Apr 2024

A Mixed-Method Approach Identifying Antecedents Of Employee Engagement In A Nondenominational Church: Perspective From Volunteers And Employees, Gregory A. Rodriguez

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Employee engagement is a crucial factor that affects organizational success, productivity, and overall well-being. Extensive research has been conducted on factors contributing to employee engagement in secular organizations. However, additional study on the volunteer workforce is needed, particularly on the factors influencing engagement within the Christian community. This study explored the antecedents of employee engagement from a comparative perspective, examining volunteers and employees to shed light on the factors that drive engagement across different work commitments. Drawing upon a mixed-methods research approach, data was collected from a diverse sample of Christian church volunteers and employees. The research used an adapted …


The Experience Of Military Families Accessing Early Childhood Education And Care: A Hermeneutic Phenomenological Study, Kristine Clothier Apr 2024

The Experience Of Military Families Accessing Early Childhood Education And Care: A Hermeneutic Phenomenological Study, Kristine Clothier

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study is to understand accessing early childhood education and care (ECEC) opportunities by military families using government and private programs. The study focused on 12 families who have children ages three to five years old enrolled in an ECEC program. The philosophical foundation used in this study is Heidegger’s hermeneutic phenomenology. The theory provided an underlying construct and structure to understand the interconnectedness of ECEC stakeholders and the impact of government policies on ECEC access. The study explored the lived experiences of military families who seek access to high-quality equitable early childhood education opportunities. The …


Community College Professors' Experiences With Dual Credit High School Students: A Hermeneutic Phenomenological Study, Aldo Enrrique Guzman Mar 2024

Community College Professors' Experiences With Dual Credit High School Students: A Hermeneutic Phenomenological Study, Aldo Enrrique Guzman

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This proposed hermeneutic phenomenological study aimed to explore the experiences of community college professors working with dual-credit high school students in northern Texas. Vygotsky's sociocultural theory guided the study to delve into the professors' experiences working with dual-credit high school students. The central research question of this study was what are community college professors’ experiences working with dual credit high school students? The study included 11 community college professors with at least one year of experience teaching dual credit. Data was collected through individual interviews, focus groups, and letter-writing prompts. Data analysis involved transcribing the individual and focus group interviews, …


The Culture Of Innovation In Seminaries And Institutes Of Religion: A Phenomenological Study, Griffin Dean Sorenson Mar 2024

The Culture Of Innovation In Seminaries And Institutes Of Religion: A Phenomenological Study, Griffin Dean Sorenson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to understand the lived experiences of seminary principals in Seminaries and Institutes of Religion (S&I) as they have been called to innovate within an environment that may not support it. The central research question is What are the beliefs, attitudes, and desires of instructional leaders (seminary principals) in released-time seminary programs of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints regarding a call to innovate in a culture that may not support it? The theory guiding this study is Christensen’s disruptive innovation theory, as it outlines what is required to support innovation …


Physician Assistant Students' Attitudes Toward Satisfaction And Self-Confidence In Learning Of Summative Standardized Patient Simulations In Relationship To Their Prior Healthcare Experience Hours And The Number Of Formative Assessments: A Quantitative Predictive Correlational Study, Juanita W. Skillman Mar 2024

Physician Assistant Students' Attitudes Toward Satisfaction And Self-Confidence In Learning Of Summative Standardized Patient Simulations In Relationship To Their Prior Healthcare Experience Hours And The Number Of Formative Assessments: A Quantitative Predictive Correlational Study, Juanita W. Skillman

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This quantitative, non-experimental, predictive correlational study aimed to determine if there is a relationship between the criterion variable of physician assistant students' attitudes of satisfaction and self-confidence in learning among the linear combination of the predictor variables of prior healthcare experience hours and the number of formative assessments before the summative assessment. The experiential learning theory guided this study and is valuable to physician assistant programs because the data obtained on students' perceived attitudes is crucial to improving future student simulation experiences in which competencies are measured and compared against outcomes standards set by accreditation bodies. The study included 136 …


Exploring Workplace Relationships And Retention Among Generation Z Teachers: A Transcendental Phenomenological Study, Kimberly Lawhorn Mar 2024

Exploring Workplace Relationships And Retention Among Generation Z Teachers: A Transcendental Phenomenological Study, Kimberly Lawhorn

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to describe Generation Z (Gen Z) teachers’ experiences with workplace relationships within K-12 schools in the United States and how they affect retention. The theory guiding this study was Donaldson and Dunfee’s theory on integrative social contracts as it relates to relationships in the workplace and retention of teachers born between 1997 and 2012. Moustakas’ transcendental phenomenological approach was used to examine 12 Gen Z teachers’ shared experiences with workplace relationships. Data were collected through individual interviews, journal entries, and a focus group. Data analysis was conducted to answer the question: “What …


A Transcendetal Phenomenology On Parents’ Motivational Beliefs Towards Involvement In Their Children's Education: The Lived Experiences Of Parents Whose Children Have Attended A Kinder Through Fifth Grade Foreign Language Immersion Program, Kate Marie Kempen Mar 2024

A Transcendetal Phenomenology On Parents’ Motivational Beliefs Towards Involvement In Their Children's Education: The Lived Experiences Of Parents Whose Children Have Attended A Kinder Through Fifth Grade Foreign Language Immersion Program, Kate Marie Kempen

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to understand parents’ lived experiences in relation to their motivational beliefs for involvement in their children’s education in a K-5 foreign language immersion program. The central research question guiding this study was: What are the lived experiences of parents whose children have attended at least 2 years of a K-5 foreign language immersion program regarding their motivational beliefs towards involvement in their children’s education? Three sub-questions addressing the specific aspects of motivational beliefs were used to further examine parent involvement. The theory that guided this study was the Hoover-Dempsey and Sandler model …


A Phenomenological Study Of Complexity Leadership Interactions Of An International Protestant Convention During Covid-19, Thomas S. Narofsky Feb 2024

A Phenomenological Study Of Complexity Leadership Interactions Of An International Protestant Convention During Covid-19, Thomas S. Narofsky

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This phenomenological study aimed to explore the in-depth perceptions and insightful reflections of 12 International Protestant Convention leadership team members to explore and investigate their lived experiences and leadership decisions during the COVID-19 pandemic through the lens of Complexity Leadership Theory. The 2020-2023 COVID-19 pandemic changed the world when the emergent fast-paced virus disrupted and overwhelmed societal life, creating pre- and post-COVID bifurcation points that will shape world dynamics and social interactions for years (Warren, 2022; Christianson & Barton, 2021; Harari, 2020; Pierce, 2020). For this research, complexity leadership interactions, social network dynamics, and information flow were studied to discover …


The Lived Experiences Of Women In Higher Education Administrator Roles Through The Salary Negotiation Process At The Time Of Hire: A Phenomenological Study, Nancy Kay Hernandez Feb 2024

The Lived Experiences Of Women In Higher Education Administrator Roles Through The Salary Negotiation Process At The Time Of Hire: A Phenomenological Study, Nancy Kay Hernandez

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to describe the experiences of salary negotiation at the time of hire for women in full-time administrator positions at Texas institutions of higher education. Eagly’s social role theory guided this study to explain gender roles and negotiation. A qualitative research design with a phenomenological approach was used to explore the experiences of women in higher education administrator roles during the salary negotiation process. Institutions within the south-central regions of Texas, including public and private colleges and universities, served as the site for this study. Participants were 12 women in full-time administrator positions at …


Teaching The Teachers: A Qualitative Case Study Of First Year Schoolteachers, Matthew Thomas Stone Feb 2024

Teaching The Teachers: A Qualitative Case Study Of First Year Schoolteachers, Matthew Thomas Stone

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this multiple case study was to understand the challenging experience of first-year teachers at existing classical charter schools in the United States of America. Maslow's theory of human motivation provided the guiding framework into how early year teachers can be effectively supported in schools to prevent attrition, which can have a negative effect on student achievement. This qualitative design utilized a case study approach from two different classical charter schools in the United States of America and featured interviews, journal entries, and the review of first year physical artifacts from ten teachers who are no further than …


Resilience Of Teaching Juveniles: A Phenomenological Study Of Teachers In Juvenile Corrections Facilities, Jessica D. Bradshaw Feb 2024

Resilience Of Teaching Juveniles: A Phenomenological Study Of Teachers In Juvenile Corrections Facilities, Jessica D. Bradshaw

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenological study was to interpret the experience of resilience in teachers in juvenile corrections facilities. The theory guiding this study is the self-determination theory, which Richard Ryan and Edward Deci developed. Self-determination theory is a means to understand human motivation. The methodology to be used is a hermeneutic phenomenological approach using interviews, exhibit scenarios, and a journal reflection prompt from 13 voluntary participants of teachers and former teachers with experience in long-term juvenile corrections facilities from around the United States. Although the education field has challenges in any setting, the challenges specific to working in …


Remotely Close: A Phenomenological Exploration Of How Online Education May Impede Academic Persistence And Social Integration, Daniel Ryan Day Feb 2024

Remotely Close: A Phenomenological Exploration Of How Online Education May Impede Academic Persistence And Social Integration, Daniel Ryan Day

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The aim of this transcendental phenomenological study is to define and describe the lived experiences of those who have taught and taken online classes at post-secondary Assemblies of God schools. Tinto’s theory of academic persistence and social integration served as the guiding theory of the study, as it was an indispensable part of exploring how online education may impede academic persistence and social integration between students and professors. The central question of the study deals with how online educators may improve academic persistence and social integration between their students and themselves by applying Tinto’s model of integration. By strategically utilizing …


A Case Study Examining How Culture And Shared Leadership Practices Improve Literacy, Jennifer Gutierrez Feb 2024

A Case Study Examining How Culture And Shared Leadership Practices Improve Literacy, Jennifer Gutierrez

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this case study is to examine how school leaders create a school culture driven by shared leadership practices to improve literacy in an urban Title I elementary school. Shared leadership practices are defined as transformational and instructional leadership that ensures all stakeholders are included as active participants, and that collaborative objectives are carried out (DeWitt, 2017). The central research question is, how do school leaders create a school culture driven by shared leadership practices to improve literacy in urban elementary schools? The theory guiding this study is Bandura’s self-efficacy theory, as it impacts the direction of behavior …


High School Students’ Expulsion Reintegration Following Alternative School: A Phenomenological Study, Michael Eric Zellous Feb 2024

High School Students’ Expulsion Reintegration Following Alternative School: A Phenomenological Study, Michael Eric Zellous

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was used to understand the lived experience of ninth through twelfth-grade high school expelled students and their perception of support when returning to their home campus in "Pecan Canyon School District" (a pseudonym). This qualitative study examined existing research on exclusionary discipline and documents the expulsion and reentry processes the students faced when leaving and returning to their home campuses. The research, deeply rooted in Moustakas's approach to transcendental phenomenology, has produced a description text of life. Transcendental phenomenology is an attitude of approaching lived experience. Short-term expulsion was the removal of students …


A Phenomenological Multi-Case Study Of Perceptions Of Older Adults’ Loneliness During Covid-19 Within Selected Online Churches, Bethney Wright Sikes Feb 2024

A Phenomenological Multi-Case Study Of Perceptions Of Older Adults’ Loneliness During Covid-19 Within Selected Online Churches, Bethney Wright Sikes

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological multi-case study was to understand the perceptions of older adults regarding their feelings of loneliness related to the lockdown during COVID-19 and to discover if online church platforms for the older adult Christian population at Crosspoint Church in Niceville, Florida, Cross Church in Northwest Arkansas, and Community Life Church in Gulf Breeze, Florida, minimized those feelings of loneliness which may have caused mental, physical, and emotional concerns. Isolation from the church body was generally defined as nonattendance via traditional means or online platforms. The theory guiding this study was Lev Vygotsky’s zone of proximal development. …


The Lived Jiu-Jitsu Training Experiences Of Law Enforcement Officers In Rural Central Texas: A Transcendental Phenomenological Study, Richard Odin Segovia Feb 2024

The Lived Jiu-Jitsu Training Experiences Of Law Enforcement Officers In Rural Central Texas: A Transcendental Phenomenological Study, Richard Odin Segovia

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study is to describe the Jiu-Jitsu training experiences of law enforcement officers in rural central Texas. Grappling and ground fighting martial arts are generally known as, and synonymous with, Jiu-Jitsu. This dissertation employs Brizin and Kernspecht’s general theory of combat, which is principally concerned with utilizing various means to direct ends. Brizin and Kernspecht used Carl von Clausewitz’s combat logic theory as their foundation. A qualitative approach was appropriate for this study and included collecting data from qualitative questionnaires, semi-structured interviews, and naturalistic observations. The qualitative questionnaires, semi-structured interviews, and naturalistic observations indicated that …


Differences In Out-Of-School Suspensions Between Black And White High School Students When Controlling For Student Factors, School Factors, And Delinquency, Steven Craig Davidson Jan 2024

Differences In Out-Of-School Suspensions Between Black And White High School Students When Controlling For Student Factors, School Factors, And Delinquency, Steven Craig Davidson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This quantitative, correlational study aims to determine how accurately out-of-school suspensions can be predicted from a linear combination of student delinquency, in-school delinquency, and prior suspensions for Black and White high school students. Further, a causal-comparative design is used to determine if there is a statically significant difference in out-of-school suspensions between Black and White high school students when controlling for student factors, school factors, and student delinquency factors. The study consists of five guiding theories that inform two general hypotheses. The first hypothesis, referred to as the differential selection hypothesis, is guided by critical race theory (CRT) and implicit …


Increasing The Number Of High School Seniors Meeting The South Carolina "Profile Of A Graduate" Mandate, Cecil Bonner Dec 2023

Increasing The Number Of High School Seniors Meeting The South Carolina "Profile Of A Graduate" Mandate, Cecil Bonner

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This applied study aimed to solve the problem of the inadequate number of high school seniors at Avenger Career Technology Center that meet the requirement of South Carolina's Profile of a Graduate. A multimethod approach was utilized to examine the problem of high school seniors not meeting college and career mandates. Data was collected through interviews with administrators, a focus group of ACTC students, and a quantitative survey from Avenger Career Technology Center teachers. Interviews were conducted with five administrators. A focus group of 10 students was held. Eighteen teachers completed a quantitative survey. Data were analyzed for codes and …


Moral Injury: The Hidden Adversary Of War, Lashell Y. Davis Dec 2023

Moral Injury: The Hidden Adversary Of War, Lashell Y. Davis

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative hermeneutic phenomenological study was to understand the lived experiences of United States Army combat veterans who have supported combat operations at least once over the past fourteen years in either Iraq or Afghanistan who self-identified as suffering from symptoms of moral injury. This study was designed to elucidate the impact of faith on resilience and coping mechanisms and broaden previous research on moral injury and whether Army leaders should identify and mitigate moral injury within the ranks. Phenomenology focuses on the interpretation and meaning of how individuals experience their world within a given context. Seven …