Education Commons^™

An Evaluation And Exploration Of Nutrition Education In Elementary Schools, Elisha M. Hall

Department of Nutrition and Health Sciences: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Childhood obesity is a significant problem in the United States. Obese children suffer from a variety of physical, emotional, and social consequences. To curb or reduce this problem, school-based nutrition education interventions have become more common. However, little research has been conducted concerning nutrition-related socioeconomic disparities in behavior change constructs for low and high income children, which is integral to forming appropriate theory-based interventions and allocating resources appropriately. Research into classroom teachers’ perspectives is also an area in need of strengthening to better inform interventions. Finally, the School Enrichment Kit Program (SEKP), a current interactive, classroom-based, nutrition and physical activity …

Teacher Reaction To Change In The Lutheran Elementary School: A Grounded Theory Approach, Kim D. Marxhausen

College of Education and Human Sciences: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Schools, and the teachers and administrators who work in them, need the flexibility to adapt to current student needs. Past research has focused on organizations and plans for change; little research has been done on individual teacher reaction to change situations leaving a gap in the literature. The goal of this constructivist grounded theory study was to explore how individual teachers, in LCMS Lutheran elementary schools, react when presented with change. Data were collected through interviews involving an event history calendar to facilitate memory. A theoretical sampling process was used to collect and analyze data utilizing a constant comparative method. …

The Impact Of Sexual Violence On Intimate Relationship Dynamics: A Grounded Theory Study, Nicole M. Lozano

College of Education and Human Sciences: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

This study intended to develop a theory that explains the relationship dynamics of opposite-sex couples in which the female partner has been sexually victimized as an adult outside of the couple relationship. Four couples participated in the study sharing their experiences of disclosing the assault, communicating about the assault, physical intimacy, and salience of the assault to the relationship. Using a constructivist grounded theory approach the model emerged from the data. Overall, the women decided to disclose because they felt secure in their current intimate relationship. Disclosure happened for one of two reasons: (a) either to test the relationship and …

A Model Of How Different Biology Experts Explain Molecular And Cellular Mechanisms, Caleb M. Trujillo, Trevor R. Anderson, Nancy J. Pelaez

PIBERG Publications

Constructing explanations is an essential skill for all science learners. The goal of this project was to model the key components of expert explanation of molecular and cellular mechanisms. As such, we asked: What is an appropriate model of the components of explanation used by biology experts to explain molecular and cellular mechanisms? Do explanations made by experts from different biology subdisciplines at a university support the validity of this model? Guided by the modeling framework of R. S. Justi and J. K. Gilbert, the validity of an initial model was tested by asking seven biologists to explain a molecular …

Using Embedded Institutes As Professional Development To Create A Culture Of Writing Excellence, Melanie K. Farber

Department of English: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

The following thesis addresses the problem of creating a culture of writing excellence at a large, urban school. I will show how the Embedded Institute model helped our school to reconsider our professional development model and to create writing leaders across the content areas. The thesis will make the argument for something larger than test scores through qualitative feedback from teacher participants.

Adviser: Robert Brooke

Geographical Literacy, Attitudes, And Experiences Of Freshman Students: A Qualitative Study At Florida International University, Daniela F. Ottati

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of the study was to explore the geography literacy, attitudes and experiences of Florida International University (FIU) freshman students scoring at the low and high ends of a geography literacy survey. The Geography Literacy and ABC Models formed the conceptual framework. Participants were freshman students enrolled in the Finite Math course at FIU. Since it is assumed that students who perform poorly on geography assessments do not have an interest in the subject, testing and interviewing students allowed the researcher to explore the assumption.

In Phase I, participants completed the Geography Literacy Survey (GLS) with items taken from …

Creating Audience And Environment-Friendly Research Guides: Findings From A User Study, Jessica Alverson, James Lefager, Jennifer Schwartz, Amelia Brunskill

Staff Publications - University Libraries

Like many libraries, our institution had relied on a one-size-fits-all model for our subject research guides without considering the various audiences using our guides, or the different contexts in which students encounter those guides. Learn about our user study that explored how students use these guides, and where they fit into the actual research process. We will discuss how we engaged librarians and created a new model that balances diverse research needs and expectations.

Doctors' Approaches To Psa Testing And Overdiagnosis In Primary Healthcare: A Qualitative Study, Kristen Pickles, Stacy M. Carter, Lucie Rychetnik

Faculty of Social Sciences - Papers (Archive)

Objectives (1) To explain general practitioners' (GPs') approaches to prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing and overdiagnosis; (2) to explain how GPs reason about their PSA testing routines and (3) to explain how these routines influence GPs' personal experience as clinicians. Setting Primary care practices in Australia including men's health clinics and rural practices with variable access to urology services. Participants 32 urban and rural GPs within Australia. We included GPs of varying ages, gender (11 female), clinical experience and patient populations. All GPs interested in participating in the study were included. Primary and secondary outcome measure(s) Data were analysed using grounded …

Why Do Smokers Try To Quit Without Medication Or Counselling? A Qualitative Study With Ex-Smokers, Andrea L. Smith, Stacy M. Carter, Simon Chapman, Sally M. Dunlop, Becky Freeman

Faculty of Social Sciences - Papers (Archive)

Objective When tobacco smokers quit, between half and two-thirds quit unassisted: that is, they do not consult their general practitioner (GP), use pharmacotherapy (nicotine-replacement therapy, bupropion or varenicline), or phone a quitline. We sought to understand why smokers quit unassisted. Design Qualitative grounded theory study (in-depth interviews, theoretical sampling, concurrent data collection and data analysis). Participants 21 Australian adult ex-smokers (aged 28-68 years; 9 males and 12 females) who quit unassisted within the past 6 months to 2 years. 12 participants had previous experience of using assistance to quit; 9 had never previously used assistance. Setting Community, Australia. Results Along …

The Views And Experiences Of Smokers Who Quit Smoking Unassisted. A Systematic Review Of The Qualitative Evidence, Andrea L. Smith, Stacy M. Carter, Sally M. Dunlop, Becky Freeman, Simon Chapman

Faculty of Social Sciences - Papers (Archive)

Background Unassisted cessation - quitting without pharmacological or professional support - is an enduring phenomenon. Unassisted cessation persists even in nations advanced in tobacco control where cessation assistance such as nicotine replacement therapy, the stop-smoking medications bupropion and varenicline, and behavioural assistance are readily available. We review the qualitative literature on the views and experiences of smokers who quit unassisted. Method We systematically searched for peer-reviewed qualitative studies reporting on smokers who quit unassisted. We identified 11 studies and used a technique based on Thomas and Harden's method of thematic synthesis to discern key themes relating to unassisted cessation, and …

Framing Overdiagnosis In Breast Screening: A Qualitative Study With Australian Experts, Lisa M. Parker, Lucie Rychetnik, Stacy M. Carter

Faculty of Social Sciences - Papers (Archive)

Background The purpose of this study was to identify how the topic of overdiagnosis in breast cancer screening is framed by experts and to clarify differences and similarities within these frames in terms of problems, causes, values and solutions. Methods We used a qualitative methodology using interviews with breast screening experts across Australia and applying framing theory to map and analyse their views about overdiagnosis. We interviewed 33 breast screening experts who influence the public and/or policy makers via one or more of: public or academic commentary; senior service management; government advisory bodies; professional committees; non-government/consumer organisations. Experts were currently …

The Role Of Communication In Breast Cancer Screening: A Qualitative Study With Australian Experts, Lisa M. Parker, Lucie Rychetnik, Stacy M. Carter

Faculty of Social Sciences - Papers (Archive)

Background One well-accepted strategy for optimising outcomes in mammographic breast cancer screening is to improve communication with women about screening. It is not always clear, however, what it is that communication should be expected to achieve, and why or how this is so. We investigated Australian experts' opinions on breast screening communication. Our research questions were: 1 What are the views of Australian experts about communicating with consumers on breast screening? 2 How do experts reason about this topic? Methods We used a qualitative methodology, interviewing 33 breast screening experts across Australia with recognisable influence in the Australian mammographic breast …

Injecting Buprenorphine‐Naloxone Film: Findings From An Explorative Qualitative Study, Nancy White, Ian Flaherty, Peter Higgs, Briony K. Larance, Suzanne Nielsen, Louisa Degenhardt, Robert Ali, Nicholas Lintzeris

Faculty of Social Sciences - Papers (Archive)

Introduction and Aims Experiences of buprenorphine‐naloxone (BNX) sublingual film injection are not well documented or understood. We examined how people who inject BNX film seek and share information about this practice, document the methods used to prepare BNX film for injection, and report participants' experiences of this practice. Design and Methods Interviews were (n = 16) conducted with people who indicated that they had injected BNX film since its introduction onto the Australian market. Semistructured interviews were recorded and transcribed. NVivo10 program (QSR International) was used to analyse the data using qualitative description methodology. Results Participants largely reported similar BNX …

Qualitative Research With Families Living With Autism Spectrum Disorder: Recommendations For Conducting Semistructured Interviews, Elizabeth Kate Cridland, Sandra C. Jones, Peter Caputi, Christopher Magee

Faculty of Social Sciences - Papers (Archive)

In this paper, the insights and experiences of a research team involved in conducting qualitative research with families living with autism spectrum disorder are drawn upon to provide reflections and recommendations across all stages of the qualitative research process. Particular attention is given to the steps involved in semistructured interviews, specifically, interview guide preparation, participant recruitment, obtaining informed and voluntary consent/assent, conducting effective interviews, accurate analysis and interpretation of data, ways to involve participants in data analysis, effective communication of research findings, and providing feedback to participants. In addition, reflections and recommendations are provided for maintaining researcher health throughout the …