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2017

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

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Full-Text Articles in Education

Adolescent Reading Improvement: A Phenomenology Of High School Students’ Perspectives, Anne Poplin Dec 2017

Adolescent Reading Improvement: A Phenomenology Of High School Students’ Perspectives, Anne Poplin

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore the experience of improvement in reading comprehension of adolescent readers who have made gains greater than what might be predicted based on previous growth in reading comprehension measures. These research questions guided this study: What influences have impacted the lived experiences of these improving readers? What barriers to reading improvement existed for these students? In addition, what school-related reading experiences, if any, hold meaning for these readers? What characteristics are shared among adolescent readers who have experienced better-than-expected growth? Interviews, story chart artifacts created by participants, and observations of students’ process …


A Case Study Investigating Teacher Perceptions Of Obstacles Faced By Eighth-Grade Latino Males, Stanley Mcqueen Dec 2017

A Case Study Investigating Teacher Perceptions Of Obstacles Faced By Eighth-Grade Latino Males, Stanley Mcqueen

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this case study was to investigate teacher perceptions into the educational obstacles of eighth-grade Latino males. For the purpose of this research, educational obstacles are generally defined as anything which obstructs Latino males from receiving a high school diploma. Critical Race Theory and Expectancy-Value Theory provided a lens to view the perceptions investigated in the study. Participants included 12 teachers from different middle schools across Northern Georgia. Teacher perceptions of educational obstacles (intentional or unintentional) were investigated through interviews, focus groups, pilot studies, and observations. Guiding the study was the research question: What are teacher perceptions of …


The Relationship Between Teacher Self-Efficacy And Student Discipline Referrals Written By Secondary Teachers From A Rural School District In A Southern State, Edwin Laughter Dec 2017

The Relationship Between Teacher Self-Efficacy And Student Discipline Referrals Written By Secondary Teachers From A Rural School District In A Southern State, Edwin Laughter

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this quantitative correlational study was to determine the strength of the relationship between teacher self-efficacy and discipline referrals. Participants completed the Teachers’ Sense of Efficacy Scale, which was used as an operational definition of teacher self-efficacy. A Spearman’s correlation coefficient measured the relationship between the predictor variables: classroom management, student engagement, and instructional strategies, and the criterion variable of discipline referrals. Criterion variable data consisted of collected discipline referral records of participants from the participating school district. Data on predictor variables were measured by participant responses on the Teachers’ Sense of Efficacy Scale, which include the three …


Teacher Efficacy Of Secondary Special Education Science Teachers, Celeste Bonton Dec 2017

Teacher Efficacy Of Secondary Special Education Science Teachers, Celeste Bonton

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Students with disabilities are a specific group of the student population that are guaranteed rights that allow them to receive a free and unbiased education in an environment with their non-disabled peers. The importance of this study relates to providing students with disabilities with the opportunity to receive instruction from the most efficient and prepared educators. The purpose of this study is to determine how specific factors influence special education belief systems. In particular, educators who provide science instruction in whole group or small group classrooms in a large metropolitan area in Georgia possess specific beliefs about their ability to …


The Effectiveness Of Dual Language And Sheltered English Immersion Esol Programs: A Comparative Study, Thomas Meyer Dec 2017

The Effectiveness Of Dual Language And Sheltered English Immersion Esol Programs: A Comparative Study, Thomas Meyer

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

During the 2005-2006 school year, 20% of students in the United States spoke a language other than English at home. Projected growth of English Language Learners in the United States is that by 2015 that number will rise to 50%. Research shows that vocabulary development is key to helping young English language learners acquire English mastery, but there is presently no commonly adopted English for Speakers of Other Languages teaching strategy. Dual Language and Sheltered English Immersion are two English for speakers of other languages programs used extensively throughout the United States and exclusively by the school district in this …


A Case Study Comparison Of Self-Perception Of Latino First Year College Students And Latino Second Year College Students, Corinna Rene Cavanaugh Dec 2017

A Case Study Comparison Of Self-Perception Of Latino First Year College Students And Latino Second Year College Students, Corinna Rene Cavanaugh

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative case study was to understand the self-perceptions of Latino students at an institution of higher education in Eastern Pennsylvania. Specifically, first and second year Latino student’s self-perceptions of campus assimilation and involvement in campus activities were studied. Latino assimilation into Western culture has been tumultuous. Although statistics report Latino college enrollment to be the second highest in the nation, second only to Asian enrollment, degree completion rates continue to be the lowest in the nation. Subsequently, a rise in Latino population is dramatically influencing the higher education classroom, and educators are confronted with meeting the …


Unregulated Space: Text-Messaging Habits As A Predictor Of Punctuation Errors In The Academic Writing Of College Students, Robert Ryan Achuff Dec 2017

Unregulated Space: Text-Messaging Habits As A Predictor Of Punctuation Errors In The Academic Writing Of College Students, Robert Ryan Achuff

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Most college-aged students use text messaging to communicate with others (Smith, 2011). Text messaging, though it requires a writer to be concise, makes allowances for “textese,” an informal register of English. At the same time, college students and college graduates are expected to be proficient in writing. Using a theoretical framework influenced by self-regulation (Bandura, 1986), memory (Bartholomae, 1980; Flower & Hayes, 1981; Hayes, 1996; Hayes & Chenoweth, 2006; Kellogg, 2006), and transfer (Perkins & Salomon, 1992; Salomon & Perkins, 1989), a correlational study was conducted to compare the participants’ text messaging habits to participants’ frequency of punctuation errors in …


The Impact Of Financial Aid On Graduation Rates For First-Year Developmental Community College Students In North Carolina, Eric Douglas Barnes Dec 2017

The Impact Of Financial Aid On Graduation Rates For First-Year Developmental Community College Students In North Carolina, Eric Douglas Barnes

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

One of the most significant issues in post-secondary education is persistence. In community colleges, retention and graduation rates are very low. This is especially true for students enrolled in developmental English, reading, and/or math courses. The low cost of community college tuition and fees combined with financial need-based programs in the form of Pell Grants, give all students, including students academically unprepared who require developmental courses, access to a college education and the means to persist and complete a degree program. However, despite the financial resources, these students are not persisting and completing a degree program. This study will be …


A Phenomenological Investigation Of Pharmacists' Experiences, Motivation, And Preferences In The Context Of Continuing Pharmacy Education, Laura Beth Ladymon Dec 2017

A Phenomenological Investigation Of Pharmacists' Experiences, Motivation, And Preferences In The Context Of Continuing Pharmacy Education, Laura Beth Ladymon

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to describe select Tennessee pharmacists’ experiences, motivation, and preferences in the context of continuing pharmacy education (CPE). The pharmacists’ experiences, motivation, and preferences related to CPE were generally defined as participating in CPE programming in a manner that meets the needs of the pharmacist. Also, select pharmacists were defined as pharmacists with at least six hours of continuing pharmacy education credit within the last year. This study explored how 12 pharmacist participants in Tennessee experienced CPE as well as what motivated them to attend CPE activities. Additionally, the study investigated pharmacists’ preferences in …


The Correlation Between Self-Determination And Act Scores For High School Students With Disabilities, Deitra Learchelle Brown Dec 2017

The Correlation Between Self-Determination And Act Scores For High School Students With Disabilities, Deitra Learchelle Brown

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

A significant gap exists between the graduation rate of students with disabilities and their nondisabled. The purpose of this quantitative correlation study was to determine the relationship self-determination had on college and career readiness using ACT scores of students with high incident disabilities. This study was guided by the following questions: (a) Is there a relationship between AIR Self-Determination Scale scores and ACT scores? (b) Is there a relationship between students’ capacity subscale scores on the AIR Self-Determination Scale and ACT scores? A convenient sample of thirty, twelfth grade students with disabilities in two suburban public high schools in the …


The Effects Of Equine Assisted Leadership Programs On Perceived Professional Development Outcomes, Leighanne Pentecost Dec 2017

The Effects Of Equine Assisted Leadership Programs On Perceived Professional Development Outcomes, Leighanne Pentecost

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this causal-comparative study was to compare the mean scores of the survey instrument to determine if there were statistically significant differences between the mean pre-test and post-test scores of perceived professional development obtained by participants of the Equine Assisted Learning leadership programs. The participants in the study were chosen by a convenience sampling method. The sample in the study is comprised of 36 members from three (3) EAL leadership programs selected from North Carolina, Ohio, and California. The Leader Attributes Inventory was used to collect pre-test and post-test data from each participant in the study. The paired …


Effects Of Social-Emotional Education On Pre-Kindergarten Student Academic Achievement, Lauren Pierce Starnes Dec 2017

Effects Of Social-Emotional Education On Pre-Kindergarten Student Academic Achievement, Lauren Pierce Starnes

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Social-emotional education is an ongoing area of interest to optimize student achievement and ameliorate problem behaviors. This study examines the systematic effects of social-emotional education on preschool students’ academic achievement testing. A sample of Pre-Kindergarten students from private, suburban preschools was examined for this study. The results of this study yielded strong positive academic achievement scores in the domains of Verbal Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning, and Early Math for students exposed to a social-emotional education program compared to a matched sample not exposed to social-emotional education. The results add to the research on social-emotional education by studying a lesser-studied population of …


Science Instruction In A Culture Of High-Stakes Assessment: A Transcendental Phenomenological Study Into The Experiences Of Missouri Elementary School Teachers In A Non-Assessed Grade Level, April Williams Dec 2017

Science Instruction In A Culture Of High-Stakes Assessment: A Transcendental Phenomenological Study Into The Experiences Of Missouri Elementary School Teachers In A Non-Assessed Grade Level, April Williams

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of the transcendental qualitative phenomenological research is to describe the characteristics and strategies of teachers who share the same experiences in teaching science, a non-assessed content, in a high-stakes assessment environment at the third and fourth grade levels. Teacher curriculum choices are dictated by the need to prepare students to take content area standardized assessments in the grade level taught. Science instruction that focuses on scientific reasoning may lead to Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) careers for students. Teachers who elect to teach science at the elementary level in a manner that develops scientific reasoning are an …


A Transcendental Phenomenological Study Of Novice Elementary Teachers' Perceived Ability To Implement The North Carolina Multi-Tiered System Of Support With Fidelity, Amy Jackson Dec 2017

A Transcendental Phenomenological Study Of Novice Elementary Teachers' Perceived Ability To Implement The North Carolina Multi-Tiered System Of Support With Fidelity, Amy Jackson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to gain a deeper understanding of novice elementary teachers’ perceived ability to implement the North Carolina Multi-Tiered System of Support (NC MTSS) model with fidelity in a suburban North Carolina school district. For the purposes of this research, fidelity was generally defined as the effective application of the tenets of NC MTSS according to evidence-based best practices as well as federal, state, and local policy (Hill, King, Lemons, & Partanen, 2012). Conducted under the leadership of Dr. Frank Bailey, this study sought to determine the extent to which a sample of 12 …


A Phenomenological Study Of Elementary General Education Teachers' Experiences Teaching Students With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Patricia Massengale Dec 2017

A Phenomenological Study Of Elementary General Education Teachers' Experiences Teaching Students With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Patricia Massengale

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to describe the experiences of elementary general education teachers instructing students diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in a suburban North Georgia inclusion setting. The four research questions that guided this study included (a) How do elementary general education teachers describe their experiences teaching students with ASD in their classrooms? (b) In what ways do teachers describe how the presence of students with ASD influence their beliefs regarding inclusion? (c) How do teachers describe the challenges they faced with students with ASD in the inclusion setting? and (d) How do teachers describe the …


Achievement Gap In United States History End Of Course Assessment Scores In Ga High Schools, Kris Watkins Dec 2017

Achievement Gap In United States History End Of Course Assessment Scores In Ga High Schools, Kris Watkins

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this dissertation study, which employed a quantitative correlational research design, was to determine if the school-level variables of percentage of African American students, the percentage of economically disadvantaged students, and type of school scheduling significantly influence student performance on the Georgia Milestones U.S. History end-of-course assessments (EOCs) for the school years 2014-15 and 2015-16. The study utilized a sample of 163 high schools located in the Atlanta metropolitan statistical area (MSA). Results from simultaneous linear regression analyses showed that school-level percentage of economically disadvantaged students was significantly associated with school-level Georgia Department of Education (GADOE) U.S. History …


A Correlational Study On Critical Thinking In Nursing As An Outcome Variable For Success, Rebecca Porter Dec 2017

A Correlational Study On Critical Thinking In Nursing As An Outcome Variable For Success, Rebecca Porter

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Critical thinking is a required curricular outcome for nursing education; however, the literature shows a gap related to valid and reliable tools to measure critical thinking specific to nursing and relating that critical thinking measurement to meaningful outcomes. This study examined critical thinking scores, as measured by Assessment Technologies Institute (ATI) Critical Thinking Exam (CTE), to determine if a statistically significant predictive association existed between critical thinking scores, successful Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN) program completion, and National Certification Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN®) pass rates. The research was conducted in a semi-urban, hospital-based, ASN program and included …


Identifying As Husbands, Fathers, And School Leaders: A Phenomenology Of Doctoral Persistence Among Limited Residency Students, John Patterson Dec 2017

Identifying As Husbands, Fathers, And School Leaders: A Phenomenology Of Doctoral Persistence Among Limited Residency Students, John Patterson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This transcendental phenomenological study investigated doctoral persistence for males (N = 13) who completed their limited residency doctoral program (LRDP) while managing their family roles as fathers and husbands, and while performing their work role as a K-12 lead school administrator. Participants were selected via snowball sampling from private universities that offered a LRDP in the United States. The theories guiding this study were Tinto’s (1975, 1993, 2006) student integration theory (SIT) and Hobfoll’s (1989) conservation of resource model (COR). Tinto’s (1975, 1993, 2006) SIT explained the academic and social interaction between the individual and the institution, while Hobfoll’s (1989) …


The Effectiveness Of High Frequency Word List Instruction On Star Reading Test Scores, Michael Foster Dec 2017

The Effectiveness Of High Frequency Word List Instruction On Star Reading Test Scores, Michael Foster

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this quantitative, quasi-experimental study was to test the theory of using high frequency word list (HFWL)-based instruction when teaching beginning reading instruction. This study compared the reading fluency changes of eight classes across three different grades containing 115 students over 5 months as measured by the Standardized Test for the Assessment in Reading (STAR) when intervention students are given identical instruction using different popular HFWLs. One control group received no such intervention. The Fry HFWL was used. The resulting scores were analyzed using an independent-samples t test. The comparisons determined the effectiveness of teaching beginning reading using …


The Characteristics Of African American Parental Influence On Academic Success In A Rural School District: A Collective Case Study, Raymond Christian Dec 2017

The Characteristics Of African American Parental Influence On Academic Success In A Rural School District: A Collective Case Study, Raymond Christian

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this case study was to discover the characteristics of African American parental behavior regarding the importance of school, and its influence on their high school children’s academic success in a rural school district, for recent African American graduates in Mountain County, North Carolina. The research study utilized a collective case study approach and included five African American parents and, their children that had graduated from Mountain County High School and gained college acceptance. Guided by Ecological Theory (Bronfenbrenner, 1979), and Risk and Resilience Theory (Catalano, Hawkins, 1996), data collection methods included interviews, document analysis and, focus groups. …


A Correlation Study Of Professional Development Perception And School Achievement In North Carolina, Kevin Popadines Dec 2017

A Correlation Study Of Professional Development Perception And School Achievement In North Carolina, Kevin Popadines

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Adult learners have distinctly different needs and motivations compared to those of children. These needs and motivations need to be kept in mind to help ensure meaningful and successful learning experiences in professional development offered to educators. The purpose of this correlation study is to determine if the perceptions educators have of the professional development they receive had a statistically significant relationship to the school achievement within their North Carolina public schools. The educator perceptions regarding professional development were measured by using the North Carolina Teacher Working Conditions (NCTWC) Survey. School achievement was measured by the school performance grade score. …


Growing In Favor With God And Man: Attachment To God And Psychological Separation Of Christian, Millennial College Students, David Allen Gregory Dec 2017

Growing In Favor With God And Man: Attachment To God And Psychological Separation Of Christian, Millennial College Students, David Allen Gregory

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this quantitative, correlational study was to examine whether Christian, Millennial college students’ secure attachment to God relationship could contribute to their psychological separation. This question was addressed by examining (a) the correlation between attachment to parents and psychological separation, (b) the correlation between attachment to parents and attachment to God, and (b) the correlation between attachment to God and psychological separation. Bowlby’s (1969, 1973, 1982) attachment theory was used as the theoretical foundation to explore both the students’ relationships with parents and God. Attachment to parents of Christian, Millennial college students attending a Southern Christian college was …


Parental Involvement Impact And The Academic Success Of African American Fourth Grade Males, Dana C. Madison Dec 2017

Parental Involvement Impact And The Academic Success Of African American Fourth Grade Males, Dana C. Madison

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this causal comparative study was to examine if there was a statistically significant difference in the academic achievement of African American 4th grade males who had strong parental involvement and those who had little to no parental involvement. The data for this causal comparative study was obtained through the benchmark and developmental assessment reading scores as well as the results of the Parent Success Indicator Survey. This survey was designed to measure how the parents viewed their involvement in their child’s education. The research questions were (1) Is there a statistically significant difference between the academic success …


The Difference Between English And Math High School Teachers' Attitudes And Perceptions Toward The Inclusion Of English Language Learner Students, Ashley Sibert Williamson Nov 2017

The Difference Between English And Math High School Teachers' Attitudes And Perceptions Toward The Inclusion Of English Language Learner Students, Ashley Sibert Williamson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Within the last 10 years, the United States experienced an influx of non-English speaking students, which challenged teachers, administrators, and other educational stakeholders on how to successfully accommodate these English Language Learners (ELL). This causal-comparative study examined the attitudes and perceptions of secondary English and math teachers in relation to ELL inclusion. Specifically, the study presented the main question of whether there is a difference between English and math teachers’ attitudes and perceptions toward the inclusion of ELLs. Teacher attitudes have been found to play a role in determining student academic achievement; therefore, assessing teacher attitudes toward ELLs could be …


Describing The Experience Of Teaching Theological Education Courses Cross-Culturally Using E-Learning Methods: A Phenomenological Study, Michael Loren Bogart Nov 2017

Describing The Experience Of Teaching Theological Education Courses Cross-Culturally Using E-Learning Methods: A Phenomenological Study, Michael Loren Bogart

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study will be to describe how selected Western theological educators have experienced the process of teaching theological education courses cross-culturally using e-learning methods. The essential phenomenon will be explored through the central research question: How do Western ministry educators experience cross-cultural theological education using e-learning formats? The theoretical framework guiding this study will be Knowles’ Adult Learning Theory, with Hofstede’s Dimensions of Culture informing the cross-cultural elements. Participants will be selected from a population of educators within Nicene Christianity with theological bachelor’s degrees and above from accredited Western educational institutions. The methods of data …


Student Engagement: An Assessment Of Motivation Processes During Late Elementary School, Christine A. Akagi Nov 2017

Student Engagement: An Assessment Of Motivation Processes During Late Elementary School, Christine A. Akagi

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Based in Self-Determination Theory (SDT) and Effectance Theories, this correlational study of student engagement assessed the impacts of basic psychological need satisfaction upon engagement in the context of prior achievement during late elementary school. The purpose of the study is to offer another tool for educators to use as they continue personalizing interventions. Multiple regression analyses assessed the predictive value of prior achievement levels alongside present satisfaction levels of each basic psychological need – autonomy, competence, and relatedness – upon engagement. In post-hoc analyses, The Johnson-Neyman technique was also used for the purpose of determining regions of significance across the …


Lessons Learned And Wisdom Earned: A Phenomenological Study Of The Lived Mentoring Experiences Of Ontario's Vice-Principals, Terry W. Burwell Nov 2017

Lessons Learned And Wisdom Earned: A Phenomenological Study Of The Lived Mentoring Experiences Of Ontario's Vice-Principals, Terry W. Burwell

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Succession planning, leadership development, effective instructional methods, and successful mentorship practices are vital to the growth of today’s school boards. Existing research shows those willing to grasp the reins of leadership have benefitted from a district’s formalized mentoring program. The purpose of this phenomenological study is to determine the mentoring needs of beginning Vice-Principals and determine their views of the most critical areas that need addressing in the mentoring program at the Ottawa Valley District School Board (a pseudonym). This study uses a phenomenological design to explore the experiences of ten administrators who are new to the role of Vice-Principal. …


A Phenomenological View Of Teacher Efficacy As Experienced By Secondary Teachers Engaged In The Process Of Instructional Coaching, Shaftina Fiesta Snipes Oct 2017

A Phenomenological View Of Teacher Efficacy As Experienced By Secondary Teachers Engaged In The Process Of Instructional Coaching, Shaftina Fiesta Snipes

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenological was to describe teacher efficacy in the lived experiences of secondary teachers actively engaged in the instructional coaching process. The theoretical framework guiding this study was Albert Bandura’s (1992) social cognitive theory as it expounds upon the role efficacy plays in human agency as it encompasses teacher’s individual beliefs and past experiences, as well as, the extrinsic motivations. Teacher efficacy, the confidence a teacher holds regarding their abilities to enact student learning, can be influenced by interactions with instructional coaches. Criterion-based sampling was used to select instructional coaches (n=2) and teachers (n=10) to participate …


The Impact Of 1:1 Laptop Environments On The English Language Arts Achievement Of Fifth Grade Students From Diverse Socio-Economic Backgrounds, Nicole Miller Sep 2017

The Impact Of 1:1 Laptop Environments On The English Language Arts Achievement Of Fifth Grade Students From Diverse Socio-Economic Backgrounds, Nicole Miller

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This quantitative study extends previous research on the impact of one to one (1:1) laptop environments on student outcomes in English Language Arts (ELA) by focusing on students from various socio-economic backgrounds, while using a new technology-enhanced, state-administered assessment to measure performance. This study is significant because policy makers focus on state test scores when planning educational investments. Therefore, results from this study can assist policy makers in determining best practices related to technology integration to ensure equitable opportunities for all students. A non-experimental ex post facto causal comparative research design was used to explore the impact of 1:1 laptops …


The Pedagogical Influences Of A Value-Added Model Evaluation System From The Perspectives Of Elementary School Teachers In North Georgia: A Phenomenological Study, Kyle Shugart Sep 2017

The Pedagogical Influences Of A Value-Added Model Evaluation System From The Perspectives Of Elementary School Teachers In North Georgia: A Phenomenological Study, Kyle Shugart

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to describe the pedagogical influences of the value-added model of evaluation as experienced by elementary school teachers in a North Georgia suburban school district. A transcendental phenomenological design was used to provide a voice to (N = 12) elementary school teachers evaluated with a value-added model evaluation system through the lens of Bronfenbrenner’s (1976) social ecological model of the educational environment and Bandura’s (1977) social cognitive theory as it related to mastery experiences of the teacher. Data collection methods included interviews, a focus group, and evaluation documentation. The data were analyzed according to …