Education Commons^™

A Phenomenological Investigation Of North Carolina's General Pre-Kindergarten Teachers' Attitudes And Perceived Self-Efficacy Toward Inclusion, Susanne Williamson Carter

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to investigate and describe North Carolina’s general Pre-Kindergarten teachers’ lived experiences concerning their attitudes and perceived self-efficacy towards inclusion. The theories guiding this research study were Bandura’s social learning theory and Ajzen’s theory of planned behavior. The social learning theory laid the foundation for the importance of positive attitudes and a high sense of self-efficacy toward inclusion. The theory of planned behavior grounded the idea that teachers’ attitudes influence their behaviors and actions. Therefore, negative attitudes can cause teachers to be negative towards including special needs children. Ten general NC Pre-K teachers …

Neurodiversity Persistence In Stem Programs: A Phenomenological Study Of Self-Efficacy Among Autistic Students In Higher Education, Cecil Anthony Banning

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to examine the perceptions of self-efficacy among neurodiverse students in STEM programs at four-year universities. Albert Bandara’s social cognitive theory (SCT) guided this study as it relates to the influence of environment, social interaction, and communication on learning development and academic mastery. Improving academic self-efficacy among neurodiverse students in STEM programs in higher education begins with understanding how these students encounter the academic world. SCT provided the framework for this study to answer the central research question and sub-questions: (1) What are the self-efficacy experiences of neurodiverse students currently enrolled in a …

The Perceived Influence Of Mathematics Anxiety On Self-Efficacy Among Adult Learners At A Technical College In Georgia: A Phenomenological Study, George Asare Ofosu-Anim

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to discover the perceived influence of mathematics anxiety on self-efficacy among adult learners at a technical college in Georgia. The theory of self-efficacy introduced by Albert Bandura which explains how learners develop their self-efficacy beliefs by executing a series of actions while dealing with diverse situations, guided this research study. The central question, “What is the perceived influence of math anxiety on adult learners at a technical college in Georgia?” was answered through this study. Data collection followed a systematic criterion with 10 interviews conducted from a purposeful consideration of the diverse …

The Perceptions Of Principals, English Language Arts Teachers, And Librarians Regarding The Role Of School Librarians In Their Schools Being Identified As National Blue Ribbon Award Winning Exemplary Achievement Gap-Closing Schools: A Qualitative Case Study, Beth Mcguire

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this case study was to discover the perceptions of the role and programs in school libraries that support academic achievement in the school community for educational professionals at National Blue Ribbon Schools in the United States. Perceptions regarding the role of school librarianship surrounding academic achievement were explored from four National Blue Ribbon Schools locations during 2022 and 2023 in kindergarten through Grade 12. The theory guiding this study was Bandura’s self-efficacy theory. The central research question was: How did educational professional self-efficacy influence the implementation of school library programs during the attainment of the National Blue …

Multiple Perspectives Examining How A High School Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (Jrotc) Program Affects Student Development: A Case Study, Kurt Duane Barry

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this case study was to examine how a high school’s Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (JROTC) program affects student development of their personal responsibility and a sense of accomplishment by fusing the perspectives of the school administrators, JROTC instructors, and school guidance counselors for a more holistic view. The theories guiding this study are Abraham Maslow’s theory of motivation and Albert Bandura’s theory of self-efficacy, which relate to secondary student development for cadets in the JROTC program. The central research question focused on the benefits of a school’s JROTC program to the cadets enrolled. The research setting …

Fear Of Failure In High School Band Sight Reading: Effects On Student And Teacher Experiences, Andrew D. Lightner

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Students' fear of failure among social, cultural, experiential, and internal pressures influence sight-reading abilities in the high school band classroom. Investigating the error culture in band sight-reading skills can affect the learning and teaching methods found in current practice, emphasizing the need to understand the experiences of both students and teachers. Band teachers may refine their teaching and learning methods to address student fears while enhancing sight- reading skills implied throughout the study. Although copious research exists on high school sight-reading methodology and rehearsal strategies to help music educators provide an all- encompassing musical experience, students may need help applying …

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 …

Quality, Meaningful Educational Experiences: An Autobiographical Study Of Teaching And Learning Algebra 1, Marya Ray

Curriculum and Instruction (Ed.D.) Dissertations

This autobiographical study of teaching and learning Algebra 1 was developed to examine classroom experiences through the lens of the researcher and to explore the perceptions of teachers and students involved in the study. The goal was to identify the quality, meaningful educational experiences in the classroom which led to the development of algebraic thinking and self-efficacy among students who previously demonstrated a struggle to learn mathematics. The inspiration for this study was my personal experience as a student, as I also struggled to develop algebraic thinking as a high school student. The school district in which this study was …

Teachers' Lived Experiences Of Implementing Reading Interventions At The Middle School Level In Small Rural Districts To Meet The Requirements Of The Colorado Read Act: A Phenomenological Qualitative Study, Misty M. Cronsell

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to understand the lived experiences of small rural middle school teachers who are mandated by the Colorado READ Act to implement reading interventions for all students on READ plans. The theory guiding this study was Bandura’s theory of self-efficacy as it pertains to the self-efficacy beliefs the teachers have who are providing these reading interventions. The study involved 10 middle school teachers from across the state of Colorado who were responsible for the reading interventions at the middle school level. The use of individual interviews, focus interviews, document analysis, and a self-efficacy survey …

Exploring The Writing Center's Role On At-Risk Students' Self-Efficacy And Writing Performance: A Phenomenological Study, Lacey Sipos

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative transcendental phenomenological study was to explore the beliefs and attitudes regarding at-risk higher education students’ experiences with using their institution’s writing center services at a public state university in the Northwestern United States. The research was a transcendental phenomenological approach that used psychologist Moustakas's methodical data analysis procedures and guidelines to construct descriptions that captured the essence of the lived experiences of at-risk students who participated in the study. Bandura’s self-efficacy theory provided the theoretical framework for this study. Previous research continues to examine multiple factors that may contribute to at-risk student populations' underutilization of …

The Impact Of Trauma-Informed Training, Self-Efficacy, And Work Task Motivation On Meaningful Work For K-12 Public Education Teachers, Alicia M. Kahrs

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Over the past decade, schools have increasingly adopted trauma-informed practices (TIP) due to research confirming the negative impact of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and trauma on children and youth. This study explored how trauma-informed training affects teachers’ experiences of meaningful work. The study is based on the theoretical frameworks of Deci and Ryan’s self-determination theory (SDT) and Bandura’s self-efficacy theory, as well as Rosso et al.’s (2010) research on meaningful work. The research used a quasi-experimental, nonequivalent group posttest-only design to measure the impact of trauma-informed training on teachers’ sense of meaningful work. Additionally, this study examined the relationship between …

Implementing Writing Strategies In Secondary Classrooms Across Multiple Content Areas, Julia R. Campie

Master's Theses & Capstone Projects

This school improvement plan integrates different writing strategies, such as (a) collaborative writing; (b) peer editing; (c) technology integration; and (c) writing for a specific task, purpose, and style to improve writing scores in a rural school district in the Midwest. Through the use of a pilot team, members will test what specific writing strategies are effective in each content area and apply it in their own classrooms. Then, the pilot team will coach staff members in writing strategies and implementation in their own content areas for a building-wide initiative to increase self-efficacy with writing and improve student Iowa Statewide …

The Effects Of Self-Efficacy On The Accuracy Of Self-Assessments, Griffin Forberg

Master's Theses & Capstone Projects

Self-efficacy plays an important role in academic performance and self-concept development. This action research investigates the effects of self-efficacy on self-assessment accuracy among engineering students during a 3D modeling unit. Utilizing a mixed-methods approach, the study contains Likert scales to assess self-efficacy and quantitative methods to determine student's predicted and actual performance. Findings reveal that while self-efficacy improves over time, students become more likely to underestimate their abilities. The study suggests the need for a variety of feedback sources and highlights potential limitations in the tested self-assessment practices. Future research should explore other subject areas and different assessment formats to …

Self-Efficacy And Student Experiences In A Corequisite Developmental Math Course, Jessica Edmiston

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to discover the role of self-efficacy in a corequisite developmental math course for college students at a community college in South Central Texas. In this study, a student’s math self-efficacy in a college developmental math course was generally defined as how one’s belief in one’s capacity in math influences the necessary behaviors to perform certain attainments in mathematics. The theory guiding this study was Bandura’s self-efficacy theory. The central research question was how self-efficacy influences the experiences and perceptions of students in prerequisite developmental math courses. The methodology was a transcendental phenomenological study …

Parent Self-Efficacy And Its Relationship With Children's Screen Viewing: A Scoping Review, Stephanie C. Milford, Lynette Vernon, Joseph J. Scott, Nicola F. Johnson

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

This scoping review examines the relationship between parent self-efficacy and children's screen viewing, to provide context, identify gaps and limitations of the current body of literature, and provide recommendations for future research. We identified 111 studies from a search of four academic databases, of which sixteen were within scope and met inclusion criteria. This review found that parents who identified as more self-efficacious in task-specific areas related to screen time had children with less screen viewing time. This finding suggests that parents who identify as more self-efficacious in these areas may implement more mediation strategies, in line with current public …

How High School Dropouts Perceive And Describe The Influence Of Lived Experiences On Their Feelings Of Self-Efficacy As They Enroll In An Alternative Educational Environment: A Phenomenological Study, Cathy Walker Ellison

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to understand the influence of lived experiences on high school dropouts’ feelings of self-efficacy as they enrolled in an alternative education program in a rural county in a southeastern state. Purposive sampling was used to select the research participants from the program. Document review of enrollment forms ensured participants were high school dropouts. Bandura’s theory of self-efficacy, which explains the influence of learning experience on feelings of self-efficacy, guided this study. The focus of the proposed study was the following central research question: How do high school dropouts perceive and describe the …

The Effects Of Communicative Language Teaching Methods (Clt) Of Teaching Ancient Greek On Student Motivation, Language Learning Experience, Self-Efficacy, Facilitating Anxiety, And Debilitating Anxiety Compared To The Grammar Translation Method (Gtm), Dustin J. Humphreys

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this quantitative, causal-comparative study was to determine if ancient Greek language programs that use communicative language teaching methods (CLT) produce different student motivation, language learning experience, self-efficacy, facilitating anxiety and debilitating anxiety scores than programs that primarily use the grammar-translation method (GTM) of teaching ancient Greek. This study is critical because the comprehensive teaching of the ancient Greek language has been on the decline in recent decades. This research aims to inform colleges, seminaries, and other language learning schools that teach classical languages, such as ancient Greek, about the potential positive effects of CLT on student motivation, …

Third-Grade Students’ Poor Performance On The Math Section Of The Stanford Achievement Test At Chapel Hill Elementary School: An Instrumental Exploratory Qualitative Single-Case Study, Giovanny Guillermo Gaviria

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this instrumental exploratory qualitative single-case study was to explore the understanding of the principal, teachers, and parents related to the poor performance on the math section of the Stanford Achievement Test and the related factors of self-determination and self-efficacy of third-grade students in a private Christian elementary school in a city (pseudonym, Chapel Hill) in the Western United States. The theory guiding this study was Bandura's social cognitive theory, which is the foundation of self-determination theory, academic self-efficacy, and school-related parental monitoring. This case study contained a purposeful sample of ten participants (one principal, four teachers, and …

Qualitative Case Study Regarding Experiences Of Freedom Of Speech On College And University Campuses In The United States, Jeffrey Dana Ward

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this study was to examine how suppression of free speech on college and university campuses in Southtown, USA affects student self-efficacy. The theory guiding my study is Bandura’s social cognitive theory as it will evaluate the interplay between the system and environment sources of influence at Secular university Christian university in Southtown, USA. How has freedom of speech on college and university campuses affected the self-efficacy of college students in faith-based organizations? Interviews and focus groups were utilized to collect data for this central research question. Thematic analysis and coding was utilized to analyze the data collected. …

Exploring Leadership Support And Its Influence On Self-Efficacy: The Lived Experiences Of Novice Teachers, Lauryn Elizabeth Stripling

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This phenomenological study aimed to understand the retention influence of leadership support for novice teachers at a southern Georgia school district. At this stage in the research, the retention influence of leadership support was generally defined as the systems available to novice teachers that raise levels of morality and motivation, influencing new teachers to continue in the education field (Burns, 1978). Bandura’s social cognitive theory guided the exploration of novice teacher retention relating to leadership system support. The investigation was guided by sub-questions that delve into self-efficacy, novice teachers’ attitudes, and social norms. Participants were teachers with no more than …

From Becoming To Being: How Stem Teachers Develop Leadership Identities, Kelsey Quaisley, Wendy M. Smith, Brett A. Criswell, Rachel Funk, Anna Hutchinson

Secondary Education Faculty Publications

The development of STEM teacher leadership identity empowers K-12 teachers to make changes to improve teaching and learning. Identity development might not be productively supported in all school settings, however. Hence, external professional development programs should offer opportunities to supplement this identity development. We construct and propose a Can't-to-Becoming-to-Being model to describe STEM teacher leadership identity development as a progression of stages from weak to strong identity. Using interview data over two points in time with 127 STEM teacher leaders, we illustrate four stages of development: Can't, Can, Should, and Being. We also elucidate the conditions that teachers identify as …

College Major Area And Career Commitment: Rethinking Steam In Educational- Vocational Guidance, James Hutson, Sara Bagley, Colleen Biri

Faculty Scholarship

Objective: The exigency for higher education to exhibit outcomes aligning with career competencies has intensified, driven by external pressures favoring job-specific training. Amidst shifting career tendencies of Generations Y and Z and the advent of artificial intelligence-led automation, the valuation of different college majors has come under scrutiny. This study aims to dissect the prevailing assumptions and explore the satisfaction and career commitment levels among individuals with career-focused degrees.

Methods: Utilizing a mixed-methods approach, the study delves into the relationships among areas of study, career commitment, self-esteem, and self-efficacy among alumni from a private Midwestern liberal arts college. Instruments …

An Exploratory Study Of Pre-Service Teachers’ Perceptions Of Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge Of Digital Games, Yu-Chun Kuo, Yu-Tung Kuo

College of Education Faculty Scholarship

This study investigated pre-service teachers’ perceptions of technological pedagogical content knowledge of digital games (TPACK-G), the correlation of TPACK-G constructs, and the relation of TPACK-G to personal factors and levels of motivation and self-efficacy. Participants were 96 pre-service teachers from a university in the northeastern United States. Data were collected using online surveys. Quantitative approaches were performed to analyze the data. Results indicated that game content knowledge (GCK) and game pedagogical knowledge (GPK) significantly predicted pre-service teachers’ game pedagogical content knowledge (GPCK), with GPK being the strongest predictor. Pre-service teachers with high levels of motivation or self-efficacy for digital game …

The Ability Of Autism-Specific Professional Development And Years Of Experience To Predict Teacher Self-Efficacy For Those Working With Students On The Autism Spectrum, Kathleen M. Howard

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this quantitative predictive correlation study was to examine teacher self-efficacy while working with students on the autism spectrum (ASD), as related to autism specific professional development and years of experience. Autism is being diagnosed at an exceptional rate, resulting in a greater emphasis being placed on educators to provide effective interventions, in both the general education and special education classrooms. Positive self-efficacy among teachers working with students on the autism spectrum is critical to improving educational outcomes for this unique population. A random sample of 73 teachers from six schools in a rural Virginia school district completed …

College-Level Foreign Language Instructor's Perceptions On The Incorporation Of Mobile Technology Devices And Their Learning Applications In Curricula: A Collective Case Study, Bellisa Reichelt

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this case study was to understand the integration of mobile technology devices (MTDs) and their learning applications (apps) into foreign-language curricula by foreign-language instructors at two colleges in the Mid-Atlantic region of the U.S. The theory guiding this study was Bandura’s self-efficacy theory, which examined how self-efficacy affects college-level foreign language instructors’ integration of MTDs and their learning apps into foreign language curricula. In this project qualitative case study design was used to explore and investigate the issue of having limited technology knowledge and skills to integrate MTDs and their learning apps into foreign language classes. A …

Recommendations To Solve The Problem Of A Lack Of Computer Skills Among Clb 4 And 5 Learners At The Linc Center, Samir Hanna Sefain

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this study was to provide recommendations to solve the problem of a lack of computer skills among Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 4 and 5 learners at the Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada (LINC) Center. The problem was that CLB 4 and 5 learners do not have basic computer skills. When the school switched to online mode during the pandemic, most teachers were not sure how to teach and assess learners using technology. Around 75% of learners asked the coordinator to withdraw from the program as they felt they did not get the same teaching quality as …

A Case Study Exploring Teachers' Perceptions Of The Effectiveness Of Professional Development On Their Implementation Of Culturally Responsive Pedagogy, Self-Efficacy, And Student Outcomes, Cala M. Allison

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative single case study was to explore teachers’ perceptions of the effectiveness of the professional development program on their implementation of culturally responsive pedagogy, self-efficacy, and student outcomes at Wyatt Elementary School. The theories guiding this study were Bandura’s self-efficacy theory and the culturally responsive pedagogy framework. Combining these theoretical frameworks contributed to understanding how teachers internalize and implement culturally responsive pedagogy based on the knowledge obtained during professional development. This study utilized a single case study design to examine teachers’ perceptions at Wyatt Elementary School (pseudonym), an urban family school in the Mid-Atlantic United States. …

The Relationship Between Self-Efficacy, Years Of Experience, And Stress Scores For Special Education Teachers In Central Tennessee, Deborah Joy Ellison

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this quantitative, correlational study was to identify the relationship between stress levels, years of experience, and feelings of self-efficacy for special education teachers in central Tennessee. High levels of stress for special education teachers have impacted classrooms and education systems in recent years. This study built on previous and existing research on special education teacher stress by studying how stress impacts feelings of teacher self-efficacy for special education teachers and whether years of teaching experience plays a role in this. The 74 participants came from a convenience sample of elementary, middle, and high school special education teachers …

The Experiences Of Tier 3 Early Reading Intervention Providers Three Years After A School Closure: A Phenomenological Study, Sue Ellen Nilena Washington

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to describe the lived experiences of Tier 3 early reading intervention providers at the Urban Independent School District in Texas three years after a school closure. The central research question was, what are the lived experiences of Tier 3 early reading intervention providers in the Urban Independent School district three years after a school closure? Sub-questions explored early reading intervention providers’ beliefs, attitudes, mental states, and actions three years after a school closure. This study was guided by two central theories: the Vygotskian sociocultural theory of human learning and Bandura’s self-efficacy theory. …

Health Sciences Instructor Self-Efficacy And Professional Development Experiences: A Phenomenological Study, Melanie Elizabeth Castle

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study aimed to understand the lowered self-efficacy of higher education health sciences faculty at the community college two-year degree level due to deficient professional development in a Mid-Atlantic state. The central research question guiding this study was: What are the professional development experiences of higher education health sciences faculty that affect self-efficacy? The theory guiding this study was Bandura’s social cognitive theory, as it focuses on the behavior determinant of self-efficacy of the participants. A hermeneutic phenomenological methodology was used for this qualitative research design. Criterion sampling was used to interview fourteen faculty individually, followed …