Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

The Strategic Impact Of China's Artificial Islands In The South China Sea And Their Influence On U.S. And China Relations, Steven Roy Ma

All Student Scholarship

This is an integrative literature review of various perspectives of different authors of previous scholarly articles discussing the impact of China’s artificial Islands in the South China Sea and how it affects U.S. China relations in the region. This research covers a range of parameters surrounding how the artificial islands were made and how they affect the overall security of naval operations and will also discuss international waterway rights within the South China Sea, one of the World’s biggest trading routes. A review of current events in the region is discussed highlighting the potential powder keg that could explode and …

An Examination Of Response To Intervention Development And Implementation Relative To Best Practices, Paul W. Austin Phd

All Student Scholarship

For the past 30 years, public education in the United States has been under fire for its failure to address a long decline in student performance. Education reform has been a focal point of the country, calling for improved student performance, and a reduction of the achievement gap for students struggling to meet academic standards. Following the passage of No Child Left Behind (NCLB), the U.S. Department of Education reauthorized the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) in 2004 (U.S. Department of Education, 2006). One important issue addressed in the reauthorization was the criteria needed to identify children under the …

A Pilot Benefit And Cost Analysis Study Of Sponsors Of Registered Apprenticeships In Maine, Jonathan R. Payne Phd

All Student Scholarship

A skills gap exists in Maine because of lack of diversity in educational opportunity offered to students. Preparation for college and career readiness has become conflated. High schools focus primarily on core academic knowledge, often forsaking the knowledge necessary to prepare for jobs that do not require college educations. College is not for everyone, and some students fail to graduate, leaving them without a credential, often in debt, and lacking any skills that would lead to meaningful employment.

In countries across the European Union, the United Kingdom, and Canada those issues are addressed through apprenticeship, and empirical research suggests that …

Breaking Barriers To Achieve The Superintendency, Becky J. Foley Phd

All Student Scholarship

The purpose of this dissertation was to explore the phenomenon of the external and internal barriers that exist for women administrators in Maine seeking to reach the school superintendency. During the 2014-2015 school year in Maine, females comprised only 21 percent of all superintendents. While there is research about the shortage of superintendents nationwide, there is scant research from the female perspective. This research provided insights from women’s perspectives about why gender inequality exists at the superintendent level in education in the state of Maine. Through the use of phenomenological interviews, this qualitative research study focused on the views of …

Exploring The Nature Of Perfectionism And Middle School Student Achievement, Jean M. Beaulieu Phd

All Student Scholarship

The purpose of this dissertation is to describe a doctoral research study designed to explore the nature of perfectionism and middle school student achievement. Perfectionism is currently perceived as a multi-dimensional construct with both adaptive and maladaptive features. This qualitative research study focuses on the views of nine seventh grade participants who were identified as adaptive or maladaptive perfectionists in a survey of students in one seventh grade cohort using the Almost Perfect Scale-Revised (Slaney, Mobley, Trippi, Ashby, & Johnson, 1996). Each of the participants met with the researcher and completed three individual interviews and two focus group sessions. Data …

Exploring Principal Leadership In Improving Elementary Schools, Brian A. Porter Phd

All Student Scholarship

As schools in Maine, and across the nation, are increasingly held to greater standards of accountability in terms of insuring higher levels of student academic growth and achievement, some schools are improving and some are not. Even beyond the constraints of tightening financial impositions and increasing accountability mandates, some are "defying the odds" and producing positive results. This research study sought to explore and understand the characteristics of principal leadership in improving elementary schools in Maine.

Grit And Self-Control As Predictors Of First-Year Student Success, Stacyann B. Stewart Phd

All Student Scholarship

The objective of this exploratory quantitative study was to investigate the relationships between grit, self-control, and the first academic semester of college students, and determine if the relationships differed by gender. Two research questions were examined; (1) What are the relationships between the individual factors of grit, self-control, and first-semester college GPA? And do they differ by gender? and(2) What combinations of factors (grit, self-control, high school GPA, and SAT scores) best predicts first-semester college GPA? And do they differ by gender? The study investigated 88 first-time, first-year college students and their academic success during their first college semester using …

Resource Allocation In Maine's More Efficient Public High Schools, Andrew R. Dolloff Phd

All Student Scholarship

This mixed-methods study compared three-year average operating expenditures and resource allocation practices and policies of nine Maine high schools that had been identified in a previous study as being "more efficient" with those of nine "typical" Maine high schools. The study attempted to determine if more efficient schools allocate resources differently than typical schools.The quantitative portion of the study considered expenditures of 18 Maine high schools over a three-year period using three resource models: The Maine Department of Education(MDOE) warrant article model: The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) account code model: and ( the Roza and Swartz (RS) School …

The Influence Of Engagement Upon Success And Persistence Of Online Undergraduates, Paul D. Dexter Phd

All Student Scholarship

Institutions of higher education, states, and government agencies are seeking avenues for increasing access, improving learning outcomes, and increasing student retention. The majority of chief academic officers polled indicate that online learning is key to the growth of their institutions, while simultaneously indicating concern that online learners are less likely to succeed and persist. A common construct for how institutions can facilitate student success and persistence is the notion of engagement . Since 2000, campuses have relied upon the National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE) to guide institutional policies and practices supporting student success.

Uncovering The Characterisitics Of Elementary-Aged Student Engagement, Mark F. Schrader Phd

All Student Scholarship

Researchers agree that students who are actively engaged in their own educations have more successful educational experiences. Studies show a connection between engagement and success in all stages of academic growth. However, researchers have made assumptions about the definition of student engagement by defining it through the adult lens. Some research suggests that engagement measured by visible behavior may be measuring only the appearance of engagement, not necessarily active engagement. (Lankshear & Knobel, 2005; Pope, 2001) The purpose of this research was to uncover the characteristics of student engagement from the source: the child. Research has shown that lack of …

A View From The Bottom: The Self-Perception Of Highly Regarded Teachers' Experiences In A Time Of Multiple Policy Implementation, Jane Heselton Crowley Phd

All Student Scholarship

The goal of educational policy is to improve the teaching and learning process within public schools. The qualitative study was designed to add depth of understanding to the process of educational policy implementation . The study focused on the classroom implementation of three policy initiatives impacting public schools in Maine: Teacher Evaluation System (TES), Response to Intervention (RtI), and Proficiency Based Education (PBE).

An Examination Of Standards-Based Education Relative To Research-Based Practices In Instruction And Assessment, Kathryn M. Hawes Phd

All Student Scholarship

Public schools in the United States face constant political efforts to reform our educational system. One of the major reforms, standards-based education, links all aspects of classroom instruction and assessment with identified , measureable , learning targets. Currently, there is a lack of empirical evidence that standards-based education results in improved student achievement. Explanations for that are: a wide variation in implementation across states, regions, districts, schools, and classrooms; the lack of a clear and consistent purpose and understanding of standards-based instruction; and the fact that reporting practices do not always translate into adjustments to classroom instruction.

The Personal And Professional Characteristics Of Master Therapists And Matched Controls, Barbara A. Granville Phd

All Student Scholarship

This dissertation is an attempt to replicate the results of a study conducted by Len Jennings(1996) which provided the data underlying the "cognitive, emotional, and relational" (CER) model of therapist excellence. As outlined in Jennings'(1996) research protocol, data were gathered through semi-structured interviews with ten master therapists chosen through a snowball sampling technique. Unlike the original study, this dissertation includes a matched control group intended to provide insight about the generalizability of the categories/domains of CER.

The Decision To Self-Regulate: A Comparative Study Of Marinas In New England And The Netherlands, Carry J. Oostveen-Buterbaugh Phd

All Student Scholarship

This research investigates the participation of marinas in the New England region of the United States, and in the Netherlands in environment self-regulation , while examining specific sources of influence on the decision to self-regulate. Environmental agencies in both countries have implemented industry specific self-regulatory programs, the Clean Marina Program, and the Blue Flag Program, to encourage marinas to implement best management practices, and reduce the environmental impacts of nonpoint source pollution.While traditional economic theory asserts that taking on environmental responsibilities beyond those required by law will jeopardize a business' economic performance, many small businesses have chosen to self-regulate.

Women Leaders Of Environmental Advocacy Organizations : A Qualitative Study, Lisa M. Pohlman Phd

All Student Scholarship

This study takes a phenomenological and grounded theory approach to the exploration of women's leadership in environmental advocacy organizations, a relatively new but growing phenomenon in the U.S. environmental movement. The findings are drawn from interviews with 12 women who led state-level ,nonprofit environmental advocacy organization across the United States in 2010-2011. The study analyzes these leaders' perspectives on what it means to be effective in their roles as organizational and policy leaders and what challenges they face as women leaders in their work. The study is relevant to public policy because of the insights it provides on how women's …