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Full-Text Articles in Education

Caregiver And Professional Experiences With Social-Emotional Leaning In The Classroom For Young Children With Inherited Bleeding Disorders: A Phenomenological Study, Christy L. Miller Mar 2024

Caregiver And Professional Experiences With Social-Emotional Leaning In The Classroom For Young Children With Inherited Bleeding Disorders: A Phenomenological Study, Christy L. Miller

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenology is to explore caregivers’ and professionals’ experiences of supporting young children’s social-emotional learning in the classroom and its impact on early education in Western Pennsylvania. The theory guiding this study is Bowlby’s theory on attachment as it focuses on how positive interactions with caregivers boost the psychological health and feelings of security that lead to expansion of positive social-emotional relationships with others. This qualitative research design was completed by interviewing eight caregivers and three professionals of young children with inherited bleeding disorders who are members of the local chapter of the Hemophilia Federation of …


A Qualitative Descriptive Case Study Of Special Education Teachers' Experiences Utilizing Interactive Whiteboards For Students With Autism Spectrum Disorder In Elementary Self-Contained Classrooms, John P. Terrell Nov 2023

A Qualitative Descriptive Case Study Of Special Education Teachers' Experiences Utilizing Interactive Whiteboards For Students With Autism Spectrum Disorder In Elementary Self-Contained Classrooms, John P. Terrell

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative descriptive case study was to describe the experiences of special education teachers who use Interactive Whiteboards (IWBs) to instruct students diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in elementary self-contained special education classrooms. The theoretical framework for this study includes the persuasive technology theory and the social learning theory. Ten special education teachers from two elementary schools in a suburb of north Georgia will be asked to participate in this study. Data collection included an individual interview, and participant letters, followed by a focus group. Data analysis consisted of categorical aggregation, development of naturalistic generalizations, and …


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 Nov 2023

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 …


A Transcendental Phenomenological Study Of What Schools Can Do To Retain Lumbee Indian Students With Disabilities Through High School To Graduation, Telisha Daniell Locklear Aug 2023

A Transcendental Phenomenological Study Of What Schools Can Do To Retain Lumbee Indian Students With Disabilities Through High School To Graduation, Telisha Daniell Locklear

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to explore what schools can do to retain Lumbee Indian students with disabilities through high school to graduation. The theory guiding this phenomenological study was Maslow’s theory of human motivation. It relates to the motivation to satisfy a series of basic needs before individuals can meet their full potential. There were 12 special education teacher participants in this study who serve Lumbee Indian students. Data were collected through participant interviews, open letters, and focus groups. Data were analyzed thematically using the Van Kaam methodology. Five major themes emerged from the analyzed data. …


Teachers’ Experiences With Providing Multi-Tiered Student Support For Students With Borderline Intellectual Functioning: A Qualitative Case Study, Teresa Davis Kelso Aug 2023

Teachers’ Experiences With Providing Multi-Tiered Student Support For Students With Borderline Intellectual Functioning: A Qualitative Case Study, Teresa Davis Kelso

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative case study is to understand the obstacles that rural public school teachers encounter while delivering Multi-Tiered Student Support interventions for students with borderline intellectual functioning. The central question guiding this study was: What are the experiences of rural South Carolina public school teachers tasked with providing Tier III interventions for students with borderline intellectual functioning? The theory guiding this study was Bandera’s self-efficacy theory in that teachers are more effective when they are confident in their ability to use appropriate strategies and materials. The setting for the qualitative study was in a small rural district …


Describing The Lived Experiences Of K-12 Teachers Addressing The Unique Needs Of Black And Marginalized Twice-Exceptional Students: A Transcendental Phenomenological Study, Toyka-Eve Whitley Jul 2023

Describing The Lived Experiences Of K-12 Teachers Addressing The Unique Needs Of Black And Marginalized Twice-Exceptional Students: A Transcendental Phenomenological Study, Toyka-Eve Whitley

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to describe the lived experiences of K-12 teachers addressing the unique needs of Black and marginalized twice-exceptional students in the United States. At this stage in the research, Black and marginalized twice-exceptional (2e) students are minority students that are gifted students that have a disability. The theory guiding this study was the teacher expectancy theory. This study was a transcendental phenomenological study. The study took place in the United States. Pseudonyms were used to protect the identities of the participants. The central research question asked, what are the lived experiences of teachers addressing …


Twice-Exceptional Autism And Home Education: A Phenomenological Analysis, Tiffany Brook Hartman May 2023

Twice-Exceptional Autism And Home Education: A Phenomenological Analysis, Tiffany Brook Hartman

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

It is common for autistic and particularly twice-exceptional (2e) children to be schooled from home at a higher rate than their neurotypical peers. Much of the current research investigating this phenomenon is conducted from the perspective of the public school system. This point of view is generally critical of the curriculum taught in the home, has largely limited parental voices in the literature, and overlooks possible circumstances in the public school system that might have led families to choose to homeschool. This qualitative analysis conducted open-ended interviews of parents with twice-exceptional autistic children who have home-educated or currently educate their …


Public Vocational School Teachers' Experiences And Perceived Self-Efficacy In Working With Students With Disabilities In An Inclusive Environment: A Phenomenological Inquiry Study, Amber Jean Caproni Apr 2023

Public Vocational School Teachers' Experiences And Perceived Self-Efficacy In Working With Students With Disabilities In An Inclusive Environment: A Phenomenological Inquiry Study, Amber Jean Caproni

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Full inclusion of students with disabilities within the general education classroom has been a longstanding goal of many school districts within the United States. Many studies have been conducted to understand what attributes are needed for successful inclusion with the evidence pointing to the need for teachers to have a strong sense of instructional self-efficacy when working with students with disabilities. Copious research concerning teachers’ experiences with inclusive education has been conducted across typical public-school settings; however, scant information is known about inclusive education experiences of general education teachers employed in vocational high schools. The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological …


A Transcendental Phenomenological Study Regarding Teachers' Attitudes And Efficacy Toward Students With Disabilities In An Inclusion Classroom Environment, Kimberly Lovett Edwards Apr 2023

A Transcendental Phenomenological Study Regarding Teachers' Attitudes And Efficacy Toward Students With Disabilities In An Inclusion Classroom Environment, Kimberly Lovett Edwards

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative transcendental phenomenological study was to understand elementary-level general education teachers’ attitudes and efficacy regarding teaching students with disabilities in an inclusion classroom environment. Bandura’s self-efficacy theory guided this study of teachers’ relationships with their attitudes and efficacy levels with educating students with disabilities in the inclusion classroom environment. The research questions addressed the teachers’ attitudes toward the inclusion of students with disabilities in the inclusion classroom environment. Ten teachers from local elementary public schools participated in individual interviews, and 4 engaged in a focus group interview. The individual and focus interviews were recorded, digitally transcribed …


A Phenomenological Study Of The Shared Responsibility Experiences Of Secondary Co-Teachers, Stuart Brady Apr 2023

A Phenomenological Study Of The Shared Responsibility Experiences Of Secondary Co-Teachers, Stuart Brady

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to describe co-teachers’ experiences regarding shared instructional responsibility in North Georgia secondary schools. Shared responsibility is generally defined as both teachers perceiving each other as co-equals in instructional responsibility and that neither teacher perceives the other as the subordinate or primary teacher in the co-taught classroom. The frameworks that guided this study is sociocultural theoretical framework, as developed by Vygotsky extended in recent co-teaching literature and Howlett and Nguyen, and teacher belief theory, developed by Parajes and adapted for co-teaching research by Kim and Pratt, which is supported by Bandura’s social cognitive theory. …


Positively Reinforcing Parent Communication With Students In Special Education Classrooms For The Reduction Of Attention Maintained Maladaptive Behaviors In A School Setting, Jennifer Rose Harmon Apr 2023

Positively Reinforcing Parent Communication With Students In Special Education Classrooms For The Reduction Of Attention Maintained Maladaptive Behaviors In A School Setting, Jennifer Rose Harmon

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

A mixed-method multiple-baseline experimental design explored the relationship of frequency of attention-maintained maladaptive behaviors and positive parent communication in a fourth through sixth grade special education classroom using visual analysis and a Wampold-Warsham (Wampold & Brown, 2005) statistical design. The obtained result of -11.021 was found to be the 6th highest mean difference across all 24 possible outcomes, resulting in a p-value of 6/24 = 0.25, which is not statistically significant with α = .05 (one-tailed). However, when looking at the visual analysis of the multiple baseline design graphs, one can see a clear decrease in each of the participants …


The Effect Of Language Used In The Home On Academic Achievement In English Language Learners With Special Needs, Rebecca Dawn Bramblett Dec 2022

The Effect Of Language Used In The Home On Academic Achievement In English Language Learners With Special Needs, Rebecca Dawn Bramblett

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The number of students classified as English language learners enrolled in schools in the United States continues to multiply yearly. An increasing number of these students also qualify for special education services. Students in either group have underperformed compared with their general education peers for years, and the basic academic proficiency levels of these students are concerning when either language proficiency or disability is considered separately. However, when a lack of language of proficiency is compounded with a disability, academic proficiency levels become even more concerning. While student language proficiency and disability are well-researched in terms of academic performance, the …


A Transcendental Phenomenology Of Teachers' Experiences With Common Referral And Assessment Practices Of Twice-Exceptional Minority Students, Margeaux Kittles Dec 2022

A Transcendental Phenomenology Of Teachers' Experiences With Common Referral And Assessment Practices Of Twice-Exceptional Minority Students, Margeaux Kittles

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study is to understand which common practices are perceived to be the greatest contributors to the disproportionate representation of 2E, minority students in gifted education programs in north Georgia. The theories guiding this study are the theory of cognitive dissonance and the theory of social cognitive development. The theory of cognitive dissonance asserts that some level of dissonance is unavoidable when individuals are deciding the best course of action for 2E minority students. The theory of social cognitive development describes the influence of peers, adults, and culture on the cognitive development of a child. The …


Predictors Of Self-Efficacy Of Christian School Teachers Toward Inclusion Of Students With Disabilities, Lisa Halsey Joyner Nov 2022

Predictors Of Self-Efficacy Of Christian School Teachers Toward Inclusion Of Students With Disabilities, Lisa Halsey Joyner

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this quantitative correlation study was to determine how accurately self-efficacy for inclusion of students with special needs could be predicted from a linear combination of predictor variables (pre-service training in special education; in-service professional development on topics related to special education; years of teaching experience) for general education teachers in Christian schools. When the factors that predict teachers’ self-efficacy for inclusion of students with disabilities (SWD) are understood, school leaders can tailor more effective professional development and training to improve the willingness and effectiveness of teachers to create inclusive school environments. An online survey of teachers’ self-efficacy …


The Involvement Of Parents Of Students With Disabilities In Rural Early Head Start Programs: A Case Study, Cassandra Annette Justice Oct 2022

The Involvement Of Parents Of Students With Disabilities In Rural Early Head Start Programs: A Case Study, Cassandra Annette Justice

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative collective case study was to describe parent participation for home-based educators and parents at an Early Head Start home-based program in rural Appalachia. Parental participation in the Early Head Start home-based program was generally defined as the active participation of children with disabilities’ parents in a home-based program guided by home-based educators through the implementation of early intervention services. Maslow’s hierarchy of needs guided this study, as it relates to both identifying barriers that may prevent parents from being involved and illuminates how Early Head Start educators help families meet growth and developmental needs. The …


The Lived Experiences Of General Education Teachers' Consultative Interactions With Special Education Team Members: A Transcendental Phenomenological Study, Meredith Kearney Auscavitch Oct 2022

The Lived Experiences Of General Education Teachers' Consultative Interactions With Special Education Team Members: A Transcendental Phenomenological Study, Meredith Kearney Auscavitch

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to describe general education teachers’ lived experiences of consultative interactions with special education team members in an urban school in New England. Information regarding desired outcomes of consultation as well as general education teacher-identified outcomes was explored. The theory that guided this study was the collaboration theory identified by Lee Vygotsky, which details the benefit of collaboration with others to gain knowledge of a task or process using a partnership to support a deeper understanding. A sample of 10 general education teachers provided their perspectives on consultation with special education team members. …


Leaders And Restraints: Investigating How Attitudes Of School Leaders Predict The Number Of Physical Restraints, Sarah S. Ulmer Aug 2022

Leaders And Restraints: Investigating How Attitudes Of School Leaders Predict The Number Of Physical Restraints, Sarah S. Ulmer

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study investigates how attitudes of school leaders predict the number of physical restraints that occur in schools that serve students under IDEA. This study focuses on the attitudes of school leaders from the geographical regions of Virginia in public and private schools. The “Educational Leadership and Behavioral Interventions” survey was used to gather research from 33 schools within Virginia. After collecting the data through the survey, the data was analyzed using a predictive correlation research design. The bivariate linear regression was used to analyze the predictor and criterion variables using SPSS. Based on the results of the data analysis, …


A Phenomenological Study Of The Experiences Of Graduate Occupational Therapy Students Using A Magic Trick-Themed Intervention, Kevin Wayne Spencer May 2022

A Phenomenological Study Of The Experiences Of Graduate Occupational Therapy Students Using A Magic Trick-Themed Intervention, Kevin Wayne Spencer

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenological study was to examine the lived experiences of graduate occupational therapy students in the delivery of a magic trick-themed intervention in their fieldwork to gain a deeper understanding of the factors that may influence their decision to adopt or reject this approach. This study was qualitative, employing a hermeneutic phenomenological approach guided by the theoretical framework of diffusion of innovations theory. The aim was to gain a deeper understanding of the interpretation of their experience and the factors that may influence how and why an arts-integrated, evidence-based practice is adopted or rejected by the …


Developing Strategies To Improve Collaboration Between Special Education Teachers And Paraprofessionals: An Applied Study, Brianna Noel Wilbanks Jan 2022

Developing Strategies To Improve Collaboration Between Special Education Teachers And Paraprofessionals: An Applied Study, Brianna Noel Wilbanks

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this applied study is to find ways to increase collaboration between teachers and paraprofessionals in Title I, K-2 schools, and to find strategies to best train teachers and paraprofessionals to address this problem. This research study seeks to answer the following questions: Central Question: How can the problem of lack of collaboration between special education teachers and paraprofessionals be solved at Mountain Elementary School (a pseudonym) in North Georgia? To answer this question, interviews, focus groups, and a survey were used to collect data. Next, the data were transcribed and analyzed for themes. Finally, based on this …


Improving Transition Services For Students With Intellectual Disability At Giles County High School, Catherine Claire Paul Jan 2022

Improving Transition Services For Students With Intellectual Disability At Giles County High School, Catherine Claire Paul

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this project was to improve transition services available to high school students with intellectual disabilities in Giles County, Tennessee. The problem was there is a lack of consistent transition planning in Giles County, Tennessee. The central research question was, “How can transition services for students with intellectual disabilities be improved at Giles County High School in Giles County, Tennessee?” This project was conducted through interviews with administrators and educators, surveys of parents, and a document analysis of available information in Giles County for transition services. The information was then coded and analyzed for a mixed-methods research design. …


Perceptions Of General Education And Special Education Teachers Towards Inclusion: A Quantitative Study, Charity Leigh Kinneer Sep 2021

Perceptions Of General Education And Special Education Teachers Towards Inclusion: A Quantitative Study, Charity Leigh Kinneer

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study examined the attitudes of general education teachers and special education teacher of the inclusion classroom in the middle and high school levels. Using casual- comparative and survey methodology, the level of agreement or disagreement of these teachers’ attitudes towards the inclusive procedures was assessed in four areas: Planning, Classroom/School Environment, Collaboration/Team Partners, and Resources/Supports/Professional Development. The survey measured general education teachers and special education teachers in the middle and high school levels using a 19- item, five-point Likert scale. To address the research questions, an ANOVA was initially proposed. However, due to the low sample size of administrators …


Recommendations To Improve Co-Teaching Strategies In The Secondary Inclusion Classroom, Linda A. Stephen Sep 2021

Recommendations To Improve Co-Teaching Strategies In The Secondary Inclusion Classroom, Linda A. Stephen

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this applied research study was to improve co-teaching strategies at Belmont Middle School (a pseudonym), in north Georgia. The researcher used a multi-method design that included qualitative and quantitative data. Three data collection strategies were used in this applied research study; interviews from general education teachers, a focus group with special education teachers, and a survey completed by general education and special education teachers. The central question that guided the research study was: How can co-teaching be improved at Belmont Middle School located in north Georgia? Common themes that emerged revealed that co-teachers desired more time to …


The Experience Of Special Education Graduates Who Received Pull-Out Social Skills Instruction: A Phenomenological Study, Sharon Diane Flucker Aug 2021

The Experience Of Special Education Graduates Who Received Pull-Out Social Skills Instruction: A Phenomenological Study, Sharon Diane Flucker

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to describe the lived experiences of high school graduates who received special education services, in part, through a pull-out program that focused on the development of social skills in the northeast region of the state of South Carolina. The theory guiding this study was Bandura's social cognitive theory as it addressed the role of the environment, modeling, goal setting, evaluation, and sense of efficacy in human development and learning. The central research question and three sub-questions were based on the triadic reciprocality causation in Bandura’s theory. The sample size was 12. Purposeful …


The Impact Of Inclusive Middle School Classrooms On Students’ Academic Self-Efficacy During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Ashley Barbara Reichert Jul 2021

The Impact Of Inclusive Middle School Classrooms On Students’ Academic Self-Efficacy During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Ashley Barbara Reichert

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The effects of the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) pandemic continue to be unveiled. The pressures and stipulations for inclusion can cause great stress for teachers and administrators to attempt ways to create a least restrictive environment (LRE) for students with Individualized Education Programs (IEPs), while maintaining rigor and safety for all students in the midst of changing policy and practice. Self-efficacy allows individuals to measure their beliefs in the ability to complete a task. The pandemic led to a need of examining students’ self-efficacy within the inclusive environment. The purpose of the study was to examine the differences in academic self-efficacy …


A Causal-Comparative Study Of Student Teachers' Skill In Classroom And Behavior Management, Laura Heitritter Apr 2018

A Causal-Comparative Study Of Student Teachers' Skill In Classroom And Behavior Management, Laura Heitritter

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Because many new teachers leave the field within the first five years of their first teaching job, a looming teacher shortage calls for further examination. An often-cited reason is new teachers’ perception of unpreparedness for handling classroom and behavior management tasks; thus, teacher preparation programs are under national pressure to design programs that produce well-prepared, effective teachers. The purpose of this study was to examine whether there was a difference in the classroom management performance of student teachers who are earning only a general education teacher license and those who are earning dual licensure in general and special education. The …


The Impact Of Co-Teaching On General Education Students In Seventh Grade Math, Kenneth Lamar James Jun 2015

The Impact Of Co-Teaching On General Education Students In Seventh Grade Math, Kenneth Lamar James

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Federal legislation has mandated that all students, including students with disabilities, perform at or above a certain level on standardized tests. Students with disabilities consistently have scored below the required minimum score. Educators have begun implementing co-teaching strategies in the general education classroom in order to better serve the students with disabilities. This has caused concern among some parents and other educators as to how the inclusion of special education students in the general classroom will affect the achievement of general education students. This quantitative study is designed to gather data from the math section of the Criterion Referenced Competency …


Comparing The Perceptions Of Inclusion Between General Education And Special Education Teachers, Debra Bruster Apr 2014

Comparing The Perceptions Of Inclusion Between General Education And Special Education Teachers, Debra Bruster

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This causal-comparative, quantitative study compared the perceptions of inclusion of students with disabilities in the mainstream classroom that are held by high school general education teachers and high school special education teachers that teach in inclusive settings. The study determined there is a difference between the perceptions of inclusive education between teachers with different teaching assignments. Special education teachers were clearly more positive than general education teachers about the inclusion of students with disabilities, the influence of students with disabilities on the general education classroom and its students, and the management of behavior in the inclusive classroom. There was no …


The Perceptions Of Caucasian Female Elementary Teachers And The Overrepresentation Of African-American Males In Special Education, Thomas Seaberry Jan 2014

The Perceptions Of Caucasian Female Elementary Teachers And The Overrepresentation Of African-American Males In Special Education, Thomas Seaberry

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

There is a disproportionate amount of African-American males in special education programs. Several factors have been offered by researchers as to why this phenomenon continues to be a problem throughout the county. The purpose of this study was to understand how Caucasian female teachers' perceptions of African-American male students might influence their overrepresentation in special education. This qualitative study employed an ethnographic case study method, and relied primarily on a pilot study and teacher interviews to obtain data related to this phenomenon. Using this research design, the researcher established six themes related to the research phenomenon: (1) cultural discontinuity between …


Comparing Types Of Student Placement And The Effect On Achievement For Students With Disabilities, Patricia Mason Nov 2013

Comparing Types Of Student Placement And The Effect On Achievement For Students With Disabilities, Patricia Mason

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Since implementing No Child Left Behind, schools have improved student achievement while also preparing students for the 21st century. Schools continue to strive for 100% proficiency in all subgroups by 2014, but achievement gap exists for students with disabilities. This study used a causal comparative research design to test the concept of co-teaching by comparing types of placement for students with disabilities and the effect on student achievement. For this study, placement was considered where the student received instruction in either a general education class or a co-taught class during 9th through 11th grade. Student achievement was based on the …


A Collective Case Study Of The Perceptions And Implementation Of Self Advocacy From Four Educators Of Students With Disabilities, Heather Heap Apr 2013

A Collective Case Study Of The Perceptions And Implementation Of Self Advocacy From Four Educators Of Students With Disabilities, Heather Heap

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This qualitative study identified four educators' perceptions and their implementation of teaching advocacy to students with disabilities within a public secondary educational setting. Federal mandates, such as Public Law 94-142, requested educators including administrators, counselors, special educators, and general educators to help facilitate self advocacy skills in the public educational setting. Using observations, comprehensive interviews, and available documentation, this collective case study identified four educators' experiences (an administrator, a counselor, a special educator, and a general educator) in developing student self advocacy as it pertains to the educators' perceived role in working with students with disabilities. This study identified their …