Education Commons^™

A Study Exploring Elementary School Counselor’S Experience Of Self-Efficacy, Bonni Alice Behrend

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

School Counselors are vital to a healthy school system. However, due to the multifaceted nature of the work, the role of an elementary school counselor can be challenging to define. This increases the likelihood for role ambiguity in the workplace which can lead to a lowered sense of efficacy. Because not much research exists on the internalized process of efficacy with elementary school counselors, the purpose of this study was to explore how elementary school counselors manifest self-efficacy in the workplace. Findings suggest that the efficacy of the elementary school counselors interviewed was primarily based on the quality of the …

A Comparative Analysis Of Student Survey Results From Non-Traditional University Students, Cheryl Lynn Betz

Ed.D. Dissertations

This study addressed the student support service needs of non-traditional undergraduate students at University D. An analysis of student satisfaction survey results from 2012 – 2014 allowed for a longitudinal comparison of the data for commonalities and potential relationships. The results indicated that importance ratings did not vary greatly from year-to-year, while satisfaction ratings variation ranged from .05 to .89. Further, the relationship between importance and satisfaction ratings were deemed positive and statistically significant but the relationships were found to be mainly moderate or weak. Cronbach’s α was not obtained beyond the level recommended of .70 or above in order …

Peer Educators In National Panhellenic Conference Sororities, Kelsey Kathleen Elam-Geuting

Masters Theses

National Panhellenic Conference (NPC) member organizations have numerous officer positions that might be informally defined as peer educators based on their position responsibilities. Little is known about these officers’ experiences as peer educators, the amount of training they receive, and their effectiveness in providing relevant and purposeful programs for their chapters. The purpose of this study was to better understand peer educators’ experiences within NPC sororities. If the experiences and leadership development of peer educators in NPC sororities are better understood, more can be done to support them in creating meaningful programs and services for their sisters. By supporting small …

Dual Enrollment Efficacy On College Readiness As Perceived By High School Dual Enrollment Teachers And Counselors In South Alabama, Shulanda Stallworth Franks

Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine the perceptions of Dual Enrollment teachers and high school counselors to compare and determine whether there are significant differences between their perceptions of college readiness among DE participants in South Alabama. Data was analyzed and presented based on its relevance to effectiveness. This study is relevant because scholars are unclear about the effects of DE on college readiness.

This research was designed to close some of the gaps in the literature and help education stakeholders to identify effective mechanisms to continue to develop and promote the Dual Enrollment program. This study examined …

The Relationship Between Different Dating Violence Profiles, Mental Health Problems And Mental Well-Being Among Canadian Youth, Kelsey E. Macdonald

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

The current study examined the relationships among teen dating violence, mental health problems and mental well-being in 338 adolescents aged 14-21 (54% female). Secondary data were retrieved from an evaluation of a small groups healthy relationship program. Participants were grouped into four different dating violence profiles based on self-reported perpetration and victimization: not involved, perpetrators, victims and combined. Generalized Linear Models were used to examine the similarities and differences across types on depression, anxiety, mental well-being and binge drinking. Results suggested that the victims and combined profiles experienced greater mental health problems and decreased mental well-being compared to other profiles. …

Peer Advising 101: A Training Workshop For Peer Advisors In Study Abroad, Anna Marter

Capstone Collection

Peer advising and peer education programs have been prevalent in all areas of higher education. Recently, there has been growth in peer advising programs in study abroad offices to address the gap between student advising needs and the time constraints of professional staff. While initially intended to take pressure off understaffed offices, other benefits emerged from the use of students as paraprofessionals. Peer advisors were able to encourage students to go abroad, as well as provide valuable insider information about specific programs. While a lot has been written on the topic of peer education in other areas of higher education, …

Cultivating Moral Student Leaders: The Relationship Between Experience As A Resident Assistant And Moral Development, Jeremiah Gallego

Selected Honors Theses

This study compared two groups of college students, resident assistants and non-resident assistants, on their increases in moral development assessed by the Sociomoral Reflective Objective Measure ñ Short Form (SROM-SF), a moral judgment measure. The study utilized a pre-test/post-test design. Participants were recruited through in-person communication, classroom presentations, or email. Participants responded to the SROM-SF on an online version in the beginning of a fall semester and completed the same online version of the measure again at the end of that fall semester. Results indicated that the RAs exhibited a greater increase in SROM-SF scores over the course of the …

Implementing Talking Circles In A Living Learning Community, Shaniqua Jones

All Capstone Projects

Restorative Justice is a collaborative decision-making process that has been integrated as an alternative approach to historic means of justice systems globally for thousands of years. Restorative justice began to impact higher education in 1998 in order to strengthen student ties to their respective colleges and universities by enriching student voices and experiences in various areas of academic and student life, including living learning communities. Talking Circles are one of many restorative practices used to facilitate effective dialogue among shareholders because it fosters a similarity of integration, motivation, and values. The purpose of this research is to determine if the …

A Metaevaluation Of School Counseling Program Evaluations, Saeed Mohammed Almueed

Dissertations

School counseling programs have been recognized as an educational component that ultimately benefits student achievement at most developmental stages. Comprehensive school counseling programs are executed in alliance with a specific school counseling model, such as the Comprehensive Developmental Guidance model, or more recently, The American School Counselor Association National Model (ASCA, 2003, 2005, 2012). Although the school counseling literature reports positive outcomes associated with comprehensive school counseling programs, there are still challenges in their implementation and evaluation. Program evaluation as stressed in The ASCA National Model is to confirm the effectiveness and value of these programs and interventions. Yet, the …

Identifying Best Practices For A College Admission Counselor Fly-In Event, Alexander G. Zotos

Higher Education Student Work

As demographic shifts and economic factors have increased the potential pool of college students in the United States, thoughtful, comprehensive admissions strategies matter to the advancement of higher education (Miller, Valle & Engle, 2014). The focus of this study was to examine the best practices for college admission recruitment strategies, which specifically focused on a national counselor college fly-in event at a medium sized comprehensive institution in New England. The impact that secondary school counselors have on college enrollment is not well documented in the literature. In this project, a survey was distributed to XX secondary school counselors who attended …

Assessing The Role Of Academic Advisors In Retention Of International Students, Shreelekha Girish

Higher Education Student Work

The retention of international students should not be viewed as the responsibility of only international student advisors on the college campus. Instead, as suggested by Mamiseishvili (2012), it should become a joint responsibility of a broader campus community, including faculty, academic advisors, English language program staff, and student affairs professionals. Inspired by these ideas, this qualitative research study focused on international students' experiences during their advising sessions with their academic advisors at a four-year, post-secondary private institution in Massachusetts. The study was conducted by interviewing ten international students from different majors. This research explored the necessary information and resources international …

The Influence Of Mentorship: A Study On How Academic Advising Can Facilitate A Positive College Student Experience, Timothy Lebel

Higher Education Student Work

At American colleges and universities, academic advising has been traditionally utilized as a tool to aid students in course registration and making sure they are on track towards graduation. However, as the student population continues to diversify, their needs and concerns need continual adaptation to be met as well. Students need an outlet to not only discuss their academic progress, but also to converse about how to tie in their interests and passions, extracurricular involvement, social life, and career and future aspirations with their academics. This opportunity for positive mentorship can go hand in hand with academic advising. Through this …

Understanding The Push-In/Pull-Out Method: Why Support Matters For Socialization, Christina L. Raiti

Senior Theses and Projects

My research combines qualitative and quantitative methods in order to answer: How do the social dynamics of children with autism change as they transition throughout the day from general ed to special ed settings in a Hartford public school? Findings are based upon coded observations of three third-grade students with autism for more than twenty hours in various classroom settings, and also thematic analysis of interviews with three of their classroom educators at the site in Hartford, Connecticut. The findings shows that students with autism are more likely to have positive physical and verbal interactions in structured environments rather than …

The Intersection Of Adolescent Mental Health And Academic Performance: A Case Study Of Ten Urban High School Students, Kristy Forrest

Community Engagement Student Work

This research paper summarizes the results of a study entitled, The Intersection of Adolescent Mental Health & Academic Performance. The purpose for this research was to evaluate the socioemotional well-being vulnerable students and the mental health services available to them within public high school institutions. The idea is to enhance mental health and social-emotional well-being support services for vulnerable students, decreasing interruptive impact on academic performance. Research increasingly points to the link between students’ academic success and adolescent social, emotional, and behavioral health. Given that public school systems access large numbers of adolescents, they are most commonly identified as the …

Bullying Prevention And Intervention In Education Through The Visual Arts: An Instrumental Case Study, Eugene Neglia

Theses and Dissertations

According to the American Educational Research Association (AERA) (2013) bullying is one of the greatest health risks to children and young adults in the United States. It is harmful in its impact to the victim, the bystander, and the bully and is often less visible and less identifiable than other public health concerns. The effects on victims, offenders, and bystanders can be long lasting and can affect an individual’s development (AERA, 2013).

The impact of bullying on education is profound. As a result of bullying, a child’s academic achievement can be greatly affected (Petrosino, Guckenburg, & DeVoe, 2010). As mandated …

Desirable Conversations: Sexuality And Women With Intellectual Disabilities, Neera Malhotra

Dissertations and Theses

The American Association of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (AAIDD, 2011) assert that individuals with intellectual disabilities, irrespective of gender, have an equal right to learn about and experience their own sexuality. A review of the extant literature indicated that the voices of women with intellectual disabilities on the topic of familial culture, as it relates to sexuality, are rarely included (McCarthy, 1993; Shakespeare, 2000; Siebers, 2012).

The purpose of this qualitative study was to examine the role of familial culture and lived experiences of women with intellectual disabilities, ages 21-35, in understanding their own sexuality. Eight women participated in individual …

A Teacher-Friendly Mentoring System, Hsiao-Ling Chen

Morehead State Theses and Dissertations

A capstone submitted in partial fulfillment of the Requirements for the degree of Doctor of Education in the College of Education at Morehead State University by Hsiao-Ling Chen on March 11, 2016.

An Investigation Of School-Based Specific Learning Disability Identification, Bonnie Heather Bartos

Dissertations and Theses

Researchers have described the special education identification process for students with specific learning disabilities (SLD) as "muddled and confused" (Bocian, Beebe, MacMillan, & Gresham, 1999) and "haphazard" and "capricious" (Shinn, 2007, p. 603). Bocian, Beebe, MacMillan, and Gresham (1999) proposed the theory of competing paradigms as a way to explain why researchers and school-based eligibility teams identify different groups of students as SLD. This qualitative study had two research questions: a) To what extent did interviews of secondary resource teachers reveal the concepts of relativity, acceptability, and profitability as they reflect on the SLD process? and b) What other themes …

Spirituality And Happiness Of English-Speaking South African School Children: A Psychometric Analysis Of Spirituality And Well-Being Instruments, David Hartman

Education Dissertations

This study addresses the role of spirituality in student happiness among intermediate elementary students. Surveys addressing temperament, spirituality, and happiness were administered to a sample of South African students. There is a debate in the developmental literature on whether the effects of spirituality on happiness can be reduced to temperament in elementary school students. This study helps to establish the psychometric properties of several instruments and looks for a unique contribution of spirituality to happiness. The results indicate that most of the instruments used show good psychometric qualities and that spirituality possesses a statistically significant impact on happiness independent of …

Interrupting The Silence: An Action Research Study To Transform A Juvenile Justice Culture For Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, And Intersex (Lgbtqi) Youth, Dawn N. Mcrae

Theses and Dissertations

This action research (AR) study explored practitioners’ knowledge of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Questioning, and Intersex (LGBTQI) youth issues in a juvenile justice setting. A research and service approach was employed to develop a LGBTQI policy and training. This study was motivated by three research questions. Does sensitivity training increase practitioner knowledge concerning LGBTQI youth in juvenile justice? What are the attitudes of juvenile justice practitioners concerning the stigmatization of LGBTQI youth in a juvenile correctional setting? How can the findings of this study improve support networks for LGBTQI youth in a juvenile correctional setting? To examine these questions, pre-test …

Exploring The Impact Of An Ld Diagnosis On The Self-Determination Of Women In Poverty, Cynthia Jakes Stadel

Dissertations and Theses

This collective case study explored the impact of a later-in-life learning disability (LD) diagnosis on women in poverty. The study focused on the perspectives of four women who were not identified with LD as children but accessed assessment services as adults receiving Oregon's Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF). All four reported painful awareness of learning differences as youths; as adults they voluntarily engaged in a "labeling event," furthering a process toward personal transformation and enhanced well-being initiated by their own awareness and curiosity. The women described critical social and emotional support systems and relationships that helped them integrate understanding …

What Are The Barriers And Conduits To College Success For Academically Vulnerable Students?, Marisol Zacarias

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

What are the barriers and conduits to college success for academically vulnerable students? Employing two theoretical frameworks—ecological systems theory and intersectionality—this thesis interrogates two concepts: grit/persistence and support. To do this, data were collected from a group of academically vulnerable students of color from low-income backgrounds via two methodologically different venues: a focus group in 2012 and follow-up one-on-one interviews two years later, in 2014. From the focus group, two themes emerged: discouraging messages and hope. Two years later the follow-up one-on-one interviews produced two additional themes: balancing act and support. Building positive peer relationships was identified as a key …

An Ethnographic Study Of The Culture Of Twelfth Grade Upward Bound Students In The Midwest, Neffisatu Dambo

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to better understand the culture of an Upward Bound College Preparatory Program in the Midwest and how it interacted with the culture of 12th-grade UB participants. In particular, the study examined how UB and the cultures that 12th graders belonged influenced students' decisions, progression, and adult transitions. UB serves at-promise high school students who are highly susceptible to academic, career, financial, and psychological challenges during their 12th-grade progression and transition. Therefore, the researcher conducted an ethnographic study that included observations, documents, semi-structured interviews, and focus groups with (N = 70) participants in the Midwest. …

The Relationship Among Post-Traumatic Growth, Religious Commitment, And Optimism In Adult Liberian Former Refugees And Internally Displaced Persons Traumatized By War-Related Events, Hannah Acquaye

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

One of the myriad consequences of war is displacement and refugee-ism. People become refugees when they no longer feel safe in their country of origin. Before, during, and after the journey towards safety, refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs) endure several challenging circumstances which stretch their normal abilities to cope. In their efforts to cope, these people report several mental health challenges like sleeplessness, hypervigilance, anxiety, and depression. The reported mental health challenges are normal in this population; however, when they persist, they result in posttraumatic stress disorder. Surprisingly, some also report obtaining psychological growth due to their challenging circumstances. …

An Investigation Of The Influence Of Cyber-Sexual Assault On The Experience Of Emotional Dysregulation, Depression, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, And Trauma Guilt., Kelley Holladay

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Over the past decade, cyber-sexual assault (also known as "nonconsensual pornography" or "revenge porn") has gained the attention of legal experts, the media, and most recently, the counseling profession. Whereas this nonconsensual sharing of sexually explicit images online, through social medial, or other forms of technology has been demonstrated to have significant impacts on victims, researchers have focused heavily upon the legality of these actions (i.e. should there be consequences for posting nude/semi-nude photos of non-consenting adults to the internet), but there has been a lack of attention to the mental health consequences of cyber-sexual assault on victims. The purpose …

Development And Validation Of The Client Ratings Of Counselor Competence: Applying The Rasch Measurement Model, Hang Jo

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

An important part of becoming a counselor is developing strong counselor competence, particularly for counselors-in-training. Thus, the main goal in counselor education is to develop students' competence to be capable to practice as a professional counselor. Assessing the competence of counselors-in-training remains the primary focus in counselor education and supervision (Bernard & Goodyear, 2014; McAuliffe & Eriksen, 2011; Swank & Lambie, 2012). There have been various attempts to measure the true construct of counselor competence (e.g., Hughes, 2014; Swank, Lambie, & Witta, 2012; Urbani, Smith et al., 2002). Those attempts tried to involve diverse voices around counselor competence in more …

The Experiences Of School Counselors Who Integrate Yoga Into A Comprehensive School Counseling Program: A Phenomenological Approach, Julia V. Taylor

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this phenomenological qualitative study was to explore the experiences of school counselors who implement yoga into a comprehensive school counseling program. Over the past decade, yoga has gained popularity as a prevention and intervention tool in public school settings. Prior to this study, the role of the school counselor in this process has not been explored. This study investigated the lived experiences of 10 school counselors who integrate yoga into a comprehensive school counseling program. Through data analysis, five significant themes and subsequent subthemes emerged: 1) intentionality (personal experiences with yoga impacts professional intentions, yoga intentionally tied …

A Descriptive Study Of International Students’ Needs And Service Satisfaction At South Dakota State University, Xiaoyu Guo

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The growing international educational marketplace attracts students from all over the world. These students not only bring economic benefits to the host countries, but bring their cultures and languages as well. However, international students face challenges and have needs and expectations when studying abroad. They often do not know how to find services or information they need across the university to adjust smoothly in this new environment. Meanwhile, the host universities may not fully address these international students’ special needs because they have limited useful information to understand these students. This researcher conducted a study seeking to identify international students’ …

The Relationship Of Growth Mindset And Goal-Setting In A First-Year College Course, Chelsea E. Sorensen

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Previous research has found that mindset and goal orientation are intricately related in motivation and academic achievement, which holds significant implications for students in higher education (Dweck, 2009). While growth mindset-focused intervention has been studied, finding improvement in mastery goal-setting (Blackwell, Trzesniewski, and Dweck, 2007), goal-focused intervention accounting for student mindset has not. Firstyear college students’ implicit theory of intelligence, or mindset, was measured before they were randomly assigned to set either a mastery- or performance-based goal in relation to their first exam in a difficult chemistry course. Upon receiving their first exam score, students were free to set whatever …

Best Practices In Tutoring Services And The Impact Of Required Tutoring On High-Risk Students, Lara Kristin Vance

Online Theses and Dissertations

This study examined the best practices in tutoring high-risk, first-year students. The study was conducted in three phases. First, the study investigated the tutoring practices at two four-year universities with similar admissions standards as Eastern Kentucky University (EKU) but with higher retention rates: Austin Peay State University and the University of Alabama in Huntsville. The qualitative and quantitative results of that phase of the study revealed five best practices.

The second phase of the study focused on the extent to which EKU’s tutoring practices align with the best practices found in phase one. The data revealed that, at least to …