Digital Commons Network^™

Intrinsic Motivation In The General Education Classroom, Rachel E. Deaton

Honors Theses

This research is investigating how to increase intrinsic motivation within the general education classroom using classroom lessons and procedures. Research was gathered using One Search on the University of Mississippi library website. After narrowing down the research, I used information to inform the making of my Unit by Design and procedural guide. Through research we found that in order to support intrinsic motivation that students need three psychological needs to meet: relatedness, competency, and autonomy. The best ways to meet these needs in classroom gamification, teacher motivation, and movement integration. There are things that you can do to help support …

Exploring Mathematics Faculty Perceptions Of Instructional Design In Ai-Integrated Tools: A Phenomenological Study, Taylor Victoria Moreau

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to explore the lived experiences of higher education mathematics faculty implementing artificial intelligence tools in their classrooms. The theory that guided this study was Piaget’s cognitive learning theory, which emphasizes that learners absorb knowledge by building upon previous understandings and experiences. The central research question guiding this study is: What are the lived experiences of mathematics faculty in higher education who utilize AI tools to support instructional design in their classrooms? Purposeful sampling was used to recruit full-time or visiting mathematics faculty members from four-year colleges and universities in the eastern United …

Teacher Perception Of Attention Deficit- Hyperactivity Disorder And Acceptability Of Interventions For Students With Attention Deficit- Hyperactivity Disorder, Andrea S. Thompson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a prevalent neurocognitive disorder, highly diagnosed in students. Teachers play a crucial role in the detection of ADHD and in implementing interventions. However, their perceptions, confidence, and barriers influence how interventions are applied in the classroom. The purpose of this study was to examine teachers’ perceptions and knowledge of ADHD and their perceptions of the evidence-based interventions for students with ADHD. The study also explored the role of student-teacher relationships on academic outcomes, perceived barriers to implementation, and factors influencing teachers’ willingness to implement interventions. Participants included 25 certified teachers, teaching core subjects in grades …

Measuring Comfort Levels Of General Education Students When Interacting With Peers With Severe Disabilities: A Quasi-Experimental, Pretest-Posttest, Quantitative Research Design, Kaila Olivia Khai

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this quantitative, quasi-experimental, pretest-posttest research study was to determine whether a disability awareness program would increase high school students' self-reported comfort level when interacting with peers with disabilities. This study is important because student comfort levels when interacting with peers with disabilities has a direct impact on inclusion, social acceptance, and positive relationships throughout the school and community; therefore, this study adds to the literature regarding comfort levels by examining the difference between comfort levels of general education students that have and have not received a disability awareness program. The sample was composed of 90 high school …

A Causal-Comparative Study On The Difference Between Elementary, Middle, And High School Special Education Teachers’ Emotional Exhaustion Based On Years Of Experience, Stacey Spruill Earp

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this study was to determine whether emotional exhaustion differed among special education teachers at the elementary, middle, and high school levels in the southern United States while controlling for years of teaching experience. This study is significant because emotional exhaustion is a central component of burnout and has implications for teacher well-being, retention, and the quality of services provided to students with disabilities. A quantitative, non-experimental comparative design was employed. Data was collected from a sample of 158 special education teachers working in public schools in the southern region. Participants completed the Maslach Burnout Inventory-Educators Survey through …

The Impact Of Transformational Leadership Tenets On The Soft Skills And Self-Efficacy Of Individuals From A Performing Arts Program: A Phenomenological Study, Carissa Hawksworth

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative hermeneutic phenomenological study was to understand the lived experiences of university students who develop soft skills and self-efficacy while working with a director who utilizes transformational leadership qualities to direct a performing arts event. The theory guiding this study was Bass’s theory of transformational leadership, which encourages leaders to develop as individuals, thereby enhancing the performance of the entire group. The central research question was, “What are the lived experiences of university students who participate in a performing arts program led by a transformational leader?” This qualitative, hermeneutic phenomenology study focused on understanding the lived …

A Transcendental Phenomenological Study On The Ethical Use Of Artificial Intelligence In Instructional Practice, Jan David Bagwell

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to understand the instruction of the ethical use of artificial intelligence through the lived experiences for teachers at Little Texas High School, North Carolina. The theory guiding this study was Mishra and Koehler’s technological pedagogical content knowledge theory, which explains how teachers can use their knowledge of content, pedagogical practices, and technology to integrate the three skill sets to best instruct their students. This framework aligns with the ethical use of artificial intelligence because it recognizes artificial intelligence as a technological tool that can be used with a teacher’s content knowledge to …

Teachers’ Perceptions Of How Daily Explicit Writing Instruction May Contribute To Early Foundational Reading Skills: A Case Study, Jamie Shenk

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this single case study was to explore how K-3 elementary teachers’ perceptions of how daily writing instruction contributes to early foundational reading skills. The theories guiding this study were Sweller’s cognitive load study and Bartlett’s schema theory. The central research question was: How do educators perceive connections between an explicit, daily writing approach and its influence on foundational reading skills? A single case study was used for this research in order to focus on K-3 teachers who had completed a one-year study on explicit writing instruction. The participants were 12 K-3 teachers in one Title I school …

The Experiences Of Service-Learning From The Perspectives Of Physician Preceptors: A Phenomenological Qualitative Study, Claudia Moore

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to describe the lived experiences of supervising medical students for physician preceptors at service-learning sites in the mid-Atlantic region of the United States. The theory guiding this study was the experiential learning theory, posited by Dewey and refined by Kolb, concerning service-learning and undergraduate medical education. This study explored four research questions presented to physician preceptors to examine the barriers to implementing service-learning requirements at medical schools. These questions stemmed from the central research question: What are the lived experiences of supervising medical students for physician preceptors at a service-learning site? This research …

Associate Degree Nursing Students’ Lived Experiences With Simulation: A Qualitative Phenomenological Study, Jamie O'Connor Florez

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This qualitative phenomenological study examined the lived experiences of prelicensure associate degree nursing (ADN) students related to skills acquisition and workplace readiness through simulation-based learning at community colleges in California. Skills acquisition and workplace readiness were defined as students’ perceptions of their ability to competently perform nursing skills and prepare for entry into the healthcare workforce. Guided by Kolb’s experiential learning theory, data were collected from 13 ADN students through questionnaires, semi-structured interviews, and reflective journaling and analyzed using Braun and Clarke’s six-phase thematic analysis.

Three themes emerged: varying emotions from excitement to feeling overwhelmed; experiences of collaboration and unprofessionalism …

A Phenomenological Study Of The Experiences Of Higher Education Faculty Towards Inclusion Of Racial And Ethnic Minority Students With Disabilities, Aimee Grace Regala

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to describe the lived experiences of higher education faculty toward the inclusion of racial and ethnic minority students with disabilities at a historically Black college and university in the mid-Atlantic region in the United States. The theory guiding this study was Alexander Astin's input-environment-outcome (I-E-O) model. Transcendental study captured the essence of higher education faculty's experiences in implementing inclusive practices for racial and ethnic minority students with disabilities. Data were collected through in-depth interviews, observations, and focus group interviews. Data were analyzed through epoché, phenomenological reduction, and imaginative variation to answer the …

The Perceived Influence Of Co-Curricular Support Systems On The Educational Leadership And Development Of High-School-Aged Children In Single-Parent Homes In South Florida: A Transcendental Phenomenological Study, Jonathan A. Biles

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to describe the perceptions of co-curricular support systems regarding the educational leadership and development of high-school-aged children in single-parent homes in South Florida. Focusing on the Tri-County area of South Florida, the theory guiding this research is Erik Erikson’s eight stages of psychosocial development, which pertain to the adolescent stage of development. The central research question was: What is the perception of co-curricular activities' influence on the academic achievement of adolescent-aged students raised in single-parent homes? Using multiple data collection methods: questionnaires, personal interviews, and focus groups, the data gathered was used …

A Hermeneutic Phenomenological Study Exploring Inclusion Of Latinos In Higher Education In Bilingual Programs, Carmem Charette

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenological study was to understand the lived experiences of promoting the inclusion of Latino/a students through bilingual programs at higher education institutions in the United States. To include Latinos in higher education administrators redesigned courses originally taught in English into Spanish and Portuguese at several colleges and universities nationwide. This qualitative research was designed as a hermeneutic phenomenological study, and three data collection methods were used: journal prompts, individual interviews, and focus group interviews. Data were collected from educational leaders, including administrators, deans, faculty coordinators, advisers, and professors, who shared their perspectives and experiences as …

The Lived Experiences Of Secondary Algebra Teachers Working With Students With Math Anxiety: A Phenomenological Study, Chanly Kong Henderson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenological study was to understand the lived experiences of working with students with math anxiety in algebra classrooms for secondary math teachers at the Sunflower School District in the Western United States. The study was guided by attentional control theory, which explains how anxiety disrupts attention and working memory. The central research question was: What are the lived experiences of secondary math teachers working with students with math anxiety in algebra classrooms? Ten participants were selected through purposeful sampling. Data were gathered through semi-structured interviews, focus group interviews, and a journal prompt, and were manually …

A Case Study Examining Why Students Succeed When Exposed To Peer Tutors, Van E. Carpenter

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this instrumental case study was to identify the impact of online peer tutoring on students’ perceptions of their success for students who participated in online peer tutoring at Summit Faith University (a pseudonym used for this research). This research was grounded in Bandura’s self-efficacy theory, which provided a comprehensive framework for examining the factors influencing the effectiveness of peer tutoring among students. This study answered three research questions: How do online students use peer tutoring at Summit Faith University, how does online peer tutoring at Summit Faith University shape students’ perceptions of their success at Summit Faith …

The Experiences Of The Free Application For Federal Student Aid In Parents Of First-Generation College Students: A Phenomenological Study, Travis Anthony Richard

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to investigate the experiences of parents of first-generation college students in the Free Application for Federal Student Aid process. The theory guiding this study was the Cultural Capital Theory, initially conceptualized by Pierre Bourdieu, as it focused on how cultural capital was transmitted within families and how it reinforced class distinction. With the increasing emphasis on higher education as a pathway to socioeconomic mobility, understanding the barriers and facilitators faced by these parents was crucial. The central research question guiding this study is: "What are the lived experiences of parents of first-generation college …

The Successful Transition Of Military Veterans To Higher Education: A Phenomenological Study, Kenneth Hollis

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenological study was to explore the lived experiences of student veterans as they transition into 4-year universities in the southern region of the United States. The problem guiding this work is that student veterans often face significant challenges in achieving academic and personal success during the transition from military service to civilian campus life. The theory guiding this study was Schlossberg's transition theory, as it provides a framework for understanding the factors that influence individuals' experiences during change and transition how veterans navigate the academic, social, and psychological dimensions of this pivotal life change. The …

Neuroinclusive Teaching Practices For Open Pedagogy Projects, Amanda C. Larson, Hanna N. Primeau

All Things Open

In this presentation, we will share how we intentionally incorporated neuroinclusive teaching practices into our three-credit General Education course Information, Citizenship, and Social Justice where students participated in a semester-long open pedagogy project culminating in the publication of a Pressbook. We will offer best practices for attendees who would like to do the same in their courses. Situated within evidence based practices, such as Universal Design for Learning and empathetic pedagogy, we will share practical in-person teaching recommendations, student reactions to our interventions, as well as asynchronous recommendations so as to accommodate a range of teaching types with low barriers …

The Impact Of Principal Preparation Program Components On Self-Efficacy Development In Aspiring School Leaders, Michelle Price

Theses and Dissertations

Leaders with high self-efficacy demonstrate greater persistence when facing adversity, implement organizational change more readily, and establish higher goals for themselves and their organizations. This qualitative study examines which components of principal preparation programs most strongly contribute to self-efficacy development among aspiring school leaders in Utah, specifically in instructional leadership and management for learning. Through semi-structured interviews with 19 recent graduates from three Utah universities, the research explores how program components influence candidates' confidence to lead schools effectively. Grounded in Bandura's self-efficacy theory, the findings reveal that while cohort-based models and faculty characteristics provide foundational support for overall efficacy development, …

Offloading Learning To A Stochastic Parrot: Generative Ai’S Impacts On Academic Integrity And The Current State Of Best Practices, Mary Broussard

Faculty Journal Articles

Writing-from-sources assignments (also known as research papers) are an integral part of a college education and primarily how librarians support information literacy skill development. While students have always found ways to circumvent learning through plagiarism, generative AI systems’ ability to complete entire assignments means that past recommendations to discourage plagiarism are insufficient. This article reviews previous plagiarism-deterrent recommendations, what has changed in the age of generative AI, and provides suggestions for how teaching faculty and librarians can respond.

Wired Youth: How Technology Shapes Adolescent Minds And Behavior, Kimario Davis '26

Honor Scholar Theses

Social media and digital technology are a huge part of adolescent life, and people worry a lot about how they affect mental health, behavior, and brain development. It’s easy to think technology is either “good” or “bad,” but the reality is more complicated. This thesis looks at social media’s evolution from early platforms controlled by users to today’s algorithm driven, highly visual environments and how these spaces interact with the developing adolescent brain, which is especially sensitive to social feedback and reward. These features make online interactions feel more intense and harder to step away from. At the same time, …

The Life And Legacy Of Sherwood Fiske Brown: A Case Study In The Evolution Of American Higher Education, Alden Small '26

Honor Scholar Theses

This thesis pursues various avenues of inquiry. I analyzed a multitude of primary sources related to Sherwood Fiske Brown, including his undergraduate thesis, master’s thesis, and doctoral dissertation. I visited Colby College over the summer of 2025 and uncovered many biographical documents and papers related to his time at Colby, as well as his sabbatical at MIT in 1957. Of particular interest is a biographical information packet completed by Brown upon his date of hire, which provides his occupational and familial history. I also obtained information from St. Lawrence University, MIT, UMass Lowell, and the Framingham Historical Society. These sources …

Roll Me A History Check: Role-Playing Games In Education, Andrew Thede '26

Honor Scholar Theses

Roll Me a History Check explores the use of Role-Playing Games (RPGs)—a style of narrative game where players create and pilot distinct characters and play through a storyline run by a Game Master (GM)—in education. The primary goals of the project align with its three principal parts. First, a brief review of the existing literature on the benefits of both purely educational and purely entertaining RPGs, with Reacting to the Past and Pathfinder first edition serving as respective examples, will demonstrate the merits of a hybrid system. Next, the rules for the new system, Ludus, will be presented to bridge …

Cultivating Empathy Through Exhibit Design To Engage Students In The Ai And Handheld Tech Era - Three Case Studies, Angela R. Whitlock

The Primary Source

This article examines how exhibition environments can foster empathy, participation, and meaningful connection among student visitors within an increasingly digital and technologically mediated cultural landscape. Through a comparative multi-site case study, it analyzes three exhibition environments that engage students through immersive design, participatory technology, and interpretive framing: the African American Military History Museum in Hattiesburg, Mississippi; the Ulysses S. Grant exhibit space within Mitchell Memorial Library at Mississippi State University in Starkville, Mississippi; and the in-progress redesign of the Southern Literary Trail exhibit, also located within Mitchell Memorial Library and scheduled for completion within the next year. While each site …

Building Better Schools: Evaluating Canadian Restorative Justice Programs For U.S. Implementation, Courtney Marsh '26

Honor Scholar Theses

The pervasiveness of problems within K-12 education in the United States requires systemic change in order for education to be more equitable and keep students engaged in the classroom. Exclusionary disciplinary actions, while designed to deter misbehavior, in reality have very costly impacts. Pushing students out of classrooms in the wake of zero tolerance policies disproportionately punish minority students, create harsher consequences for problems that can be solved person-to-person, facilitates a growing adversity to schools, social ostracization, fuels the unignorable school-to-prison pipeline, hinders students’ academic achievement, and avoids the behavioral growth of conflict resolution. Keeping students in the classroom and …

Effective Leadership Strategies For Character Education, Kim Fricke Bilanko

Dissertations

Although character education has been widely studied, limited research has examined the specific leadership strategies building administrators use to implement and sustain comprehensive character initiatives. This qualitative study investigated the leadership practices of building administrators whose schools were designated as National Schools of Character (NSOC) in order to better understand how character education is institutionalized and maintained over time. Guided by an exemplar model and informed by constructivist grounded theory methods, the qualitative study explored (a) the leadership strategies administrators identified as essential to implementation and (b) the challenges they encountered, and the responses used to address them.

Semi-structured interviews …

Lanthorn, Vol. 60, No. 14, April 6, 2026, Grand Valley State University

Volume 60, August 4, 2025 – April 20, 2026

Lanthorn is Grand Valley State's student newspaper, published from 1968 to the present.

Family Support And Counseling: Predicting Family Relationship Quality And Self-Management In Women With Epilepsy, Tiffany A. Winch

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2020 - Present

Epilepsy, a neurological disorder characterized by recurrent seizures, can impede many aspects of daily life for individuals diagnosed with it (Beghi, 2020; Kanner & Bicchi, 2022). The problem is that women with epilepsy may struggle with family relationships and epilepsy self-management, and it is not known to what extent family support and epilepsy counseling ameliorate this detriment. The purpose of this quantitative correlational study was to examine the extent to which family support and epilepsy counseling predict family relationship quality and epilepsy self-management among women who suffer from the condition. Surveys measuring the variables family support, epilepsy counseling experience, family …

Development And Evaluation Of An Iot-Based Data Analytics System For Optimizing Football Learning In Higher Education, M. Said Zainuddin, Sudirman Sudirman, Ahmad Zakaria

Indonesian Journal of Research in Physical Education, Sport, and Health

Background: While smart technology and big data have advanced, football instruction at Indonesian universities lags. Most local classrooms lack high-tech tools, presenting an opportunity to modernize sports science. Objective: This research aimed to develop an IoT-based system and analytics platform for higher education, equipping students and coaches with data-driven insights for modern football training. Methods: Conducted at Universitas Negeri Makassar over five months (August–December), the study followed a Research and Development approach with six phases: needs analysis, design, development, expert validation, field trials, and effectiveness evaluation. Participants included Physical Education students divided into experimental (IoT system) and control (traditional methods) …

Cardiorespiratory Fitness In Indonesian Adolescents: Limited Role Of Bmi And Dominant Influence Of Age And Sex In A Large Cross-Sectional Study, Anies Setiowati, Sri Sumartiningsih, Nur Ilhaini Sucipto, Fatih Hazar, Philip X. Fuchs

Indonesian Journal of Research in Physical Education, Sport, and Health

Background: Cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) is a crucial indicator of long-term cardiovascular and metabolic health. Whether body mass index (BMI) independently predicts CRF beyond demographic factors in large, real-world adolescent cohorts remains inconsistently defined. Objective: To determine the independent contributions of body mass index (BMI), age, and sex to cardiorespiratory fitness among Indonesian adolescents using a large community-based dataset.. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted using community-based fitness screening data from Central Java, Indonesia. A total of 2,730 adolescents aged 10-18 years (mean 13.3 +/- 2.2 years; 49.6% male) were included. The primary outcome was CRF measured by the 1,600-meter run …