From Trauma To Triumph: The Relationship Between Psychological Resilience And Academic Resilience In Graduate School Students With Adverse Childhood Experiences, Jade Gingue

Theses and Dissertations--Educational Leadership Studies

This dissertation investigated the relationship between adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), psychological resilience, and academic resilience among graduate students. Grounded in resilience theory and interpreted through a trauma-informed, strengths-based lens, the study examined whether psychological resilience functions as a buffering moderator or as a direct protective factor among graduate students.

Using a quantitative design, data were collected via Qualtrics from graduate students (n = 391). This study used three previously validated instruments, including the Adverse Childhood Experiences Questionnaire (ACE-10), the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC-25), and the Academic Resilience Scale (ARS-6), along with demographic measures. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses were conducted …

The Development Of Self-Efficacy Among New Residence Life Professionals, Kenyatta S. Jeter

Theses and Dissertations--Educational Leadership Studies

New professionals in student affairs, particularly those working in housing and residence life, face complex job responsibilities that demand a high level of confidence and preparation. The purpose of this study was to increase resident directors’ sense of self-efficacy as they transition into their new role. This study employs a mixed methods action research (MMAR) design to explore the development of an effective onboarding and training framework to support housing and residence life professionals in successfully transitioning new resident directors into their roles.

An intervention plan was developed in collaboration with key stakeholders to increase resident directors’ sense of self-efficacy …

Enhancing International School Implementation Capacity: Supporting Contextualized Learning At An International Baccalaureate School In China, Christopher J. Hayden Iv

Theses and Dissertations--Educational Leadership Studies

International schools allocate substantial resources to implement progressive curricular innovations; however, the advantages offered by these developments are contingent on their effective execution within classroom settings. This mixed methods action research (MMAR) study examined the implementation of the International Baccalaureate (IB) Global Context (GC) Strategy in the Middle Years Programme (MYP) at an international school in China and asked how the school might strengthen its capacity to enact this and similar innovations. Following a sequential MMAR design, a reconnaissance phase combined a whole-staff survey (n=87) with qualitative interviews to diagnose the individual, organizational, and contextual factors shaping implementation. Analyses identified …

Unveiling The Shadows: An Exploratory Study On Ghostwriting, Gray Markets, And The Ethics Of Contract Cheating, Micah Crawford

Theses and Dissertations--Educational Policy Studies and Evaluation

Contract cheating has become an increasingly complex challenge for higher education, particularly as digital platforms, global academic labor markets, and generative artificial intelligence reshape the production and detection of academic work. While much of the existing literature examines contract cheating from the perspectives of students, faculty, and institutions, less attention has been given to the individuals who produce ghostwritten academic work. This dissertation addresses that gap by exploring how shadow scholars understand their roles, ethical boundaries, and participation within the academic integrity ecosystem.

Using an exploratory qualitative design, this study draws on twelve semi-structured narrative interviews with six freelance academic …

Effects Of Yoga And Mindfulness On Emotional Regulation, Behavior, And Teacher Burnout, Sara E. Smith

Theses and Dissertations--Education Sciences

This dissertation comprises three studies that examine the effects of physical activity, yoga, and mindfulness interventions on students' emotional regulation, behavior, and academic outcomes in rural Kentucky schools. These studies as a whole contribute to understanding how movement-based and mindfulness practices can enhance social-emotional and academic well-being in schools.

The first study describes the effects of classroom-based physical activity on student achievement and social-emotional well-being. Forty-five elementary students participated in a 6-week intervention with two 7-minute movement breaks per day. Results indicated statistically significant improvements in Reading (t(44) = 2.55, p < .001, d = .38), Math (t(44) = 4.63, p < .001, d = .69), and social-emotional competence (t(44) = 3.67, p < .001, d = .55). These findings demonstrate that brief, structured physical activity can meaningfully enhance academic and emotional outcomes when implemented by classroom teachers.

The second study shows the effects of a five-week …

Exploring High School Students’ Learning Interests And Information Sources On Viruses And Covid-19, Sahar Alameh, James W. Keck, Elizabeth Loh, Lin Xiang, Scott M. Berry, Anna G. Hoover, Abigail Knapp, Savannah Tucker

Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Education Faculty Publications

This study investigates high school students’ health-information seeking behaviors related to COVID-19 and viruses in a rural area of the south-central United States, and how these behaviors relate to students’ knowledge, perceptions, and learning interests. Survey data were collected from 83 students in Spring 2023, during the post-pandemic period, as part of a STEM and public health unit. Drawing on frameworks from Health Information-Seeking Behavior and student interest, the study examines students’ COVID-19 information sources, how these sources relate to their knowledge about viruses and their perceptions of COVID-19, and the specific topics about which they were most interested in …

From Mandate To Meaning: Designing Implementation Supports For Organizational Readiness In Behavioral Health Service Planning, Lauren K. Mergen

Theses and Dissertations--Education Sciences

Behavioral health agencies often struggle to translate the Transformational Collaborative Outcomes Management (TCOM) framework into practice when implementation is externally mandated. This study examined how educational leaders can support meaningful use of TCOM tools under a Midwestern state’s October 2024 requirement that behavioral health providers use the state Child and Adolescent Needs and Strengths assessment in service planning.

Using a Mixed Methods Action Research design, the study progressed through six phases: Diagnosis, Reconnaissance, Planning, Acting, Evaluation, and Monitoring. The Diagnosis Phase identified a knowledge-to-practice gap and weaknesses in implementation support infrastructure. Practitioner surveys administered immediately after training and six months …

Critical Discourse Analysis Of Nil Policies: Examining Institutional Control And Economic Opportunities For Division I Football Athletes In Power Four Universities, Allen T. Alvarez

Theses and Dissertations--Educational Policy Studies and Evaluation

The adoption of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) policies has redefined the economic landscape of collegiate athletics, expanding opportunities for student-athletes and reshaping institutional authority. This dissertation nvestigates how NIL policy language at Division I universities frames economic possibilities for football student-athletes and sustains systems of governance. Through a Critical Discourse Analysis of policy documents from Power Four and mid-major institutions, this study reveals that NIL participation is persistently conditioned by institutional approval, compliance monitoring, and ambiguous definitions, especially regarding boosters and collectives.

Policy language presents NIL as an opportunity but embeds institutional control through oversight structures. The analysis further …

The Operationalization Of Student Success: How Institutions And Divisions Of Student Affairs Define And Align Non-Academic Student Success With External Accountability Expectations, Madeline N. Trudeau

Theses and Dissertations--Educational Policy Studies and Evaluation

This qualitative multi-case study investigates how higher education institutions and their divisions of student affairs publicly discuss and define non-academic student success through their strategic planning, within the context of external pressures from state legislatures and accrediting bodies. Grounded in Organizational Learning Theory, Transition Theory, and Theory of Student Involvement and Engagement, this study analyzes the alignment and divergence between external policy expectations and internal institutional and divisional strategic plans.

The findings reveal a fundamental tension; while external stakeholders increasingly demand quantifiable outcomes tied to economic productivity - like post-graduate wages and employability metrics - divisions of student affairs continue …

Digital Technologies And Calculus: Students’ Peaks And Pits, Ricela Feliciano-Semidei, Kevin A. Palencia Infante, Alcibiades Bustillo-Zarate

Faculty Articles, Papers, and Other Scholarship

Understanding calculus students’ perspectives can provide valuable insights into their learning needs and help develop strategies to enhance persistence in STEM programs. Numerous studies have shown that the use of digital technologies (DT) influences student engagement, motivation, and mathematics achievement. In this project, we explored students’ perspectives on using DT in calculus. We interviewed eight calculus students from a midwestern doctorate-granting institution in the United States and used thematic analysis informed by the didactical tetrahedron, accounting for internal and external factors that may influence the teaching and learning process. Students reflected on their use of technology, identifying various benefits, including …

Comparing Strength Testing Measures And The Association Of Strength And Body Composition In Young Children, Abigayle R. Spong

Theses and Dissertations--Kinesiology and Health Promotion

Muscle strength is an important component of physical fitness; however, measuring it with isokinetic dynamometry (IKD) is expensive and requires dedicated space. Handheld dynamometry (HHD) provides a practical alternative for field and clinical settings. Thus, the purpose of this study was to compare peak knee flexion and extension torque measured by IKD and HHD in 37 children (ages 5-11 years) and examine relationships with body composition. Participants completed a RAMPing protocol at 90^o knee flexion consisting of two warm-up contractions at 50% and 75% effort followed by three maximal voluntary isometric contractions. Body composition was assessed via DXA scans. …

Students Can't Access Education Without Being There: A Systematic Look Into One School's Approach To Improve Access, Shawn A. Bernard

Educational Leadership Professional Doctorate Dissertations

This improvement science dissertation focused on understanding and reducing the frequency of out-of-classroom removal of students exhibiting challenging behavior in one elementary school. Classroom removals result in lost instruction and reduced access to the general education environment. Baseline data indicated an average of 27.8 classroom removals per day, reflecting a systemic issue impacting both student outcomes and staff capacity. The goal was to reduce classroom removals to fewer than 10 per day by June 2026. The leadership team conducted a root cause analysis to inform a theory of improvement grounded in positive behavioral interventions and supports (PBIS). The team selected …

Organizational Causes Of Chronic Absenteeism: Unpacking The Conditions For Learning To Increase Regular Attendance, Melissa Glover

Educational Leadership Professional Doctorate Dissertations

This study employed an improvement science methodology, using plan-do-study-act (PDSA) cycles of improvement, to address the persistent problem of chronic absenteeism within the Gateway School District, where annual absentee rates hovered around 45% and were historically 10% higher for students with disabilities compared to their nondisabled peers. The leadership team engaged in a thorough review of parent and student perceptions of school and aligned findings with Chang’s (2019) conditions for learning framework to pinpoint actionable areas for growth. These findings were then organized into a theory of action using a driver diagram approach. This foundational work led to the identification …

Academic Hardiness And Its Relationship With Academic Self-Efficacy Among Secondary Students At Ajloun Governorate From The Hashemite Kingdom Of Jordan, Tahani Abdullah Abuwardeh

Journal of Educational and Psychological Studies

The current study aimed to identify the levels of academic hardiness and academic self-efficacy among secondary school students in Ajloun Governorate in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, and to examine the predictive ability of academic hardiness for academic self-efficacy. The descriptive and predictive approach was used. To achieve the objectives, the academic hardiness scale was developed, and the academic self-efficacy scale, which was used by Abo-Allymoun & AlRabee (2022), was applied. After confirming the validity and reliability of the two scales, they were administered to a sample of (367) students, (177) males and (190) females were selected using the cluster …

Supporting Risky Outdoor Play Through Professional Development: A Quasi-Experimental Study Of Tk–6 Educators’ Attitudes, Justin Ross Burrill

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

Children’s opportunities for active outdoor risky play have declined in many educational settings, despite evidence that manageable risk supports physical activity, self-regulation, confidence, resilience, and social participation. Educator attitudes and school culture may play an important role in determining whether children are offered developmentally appropriate opportunities for challenge, exploration, and autonomy. This quasi-experimental, single-group pretest-posttest study examined whether participation in a single-session professional development workshop was associated with changes in educators’ tolerance of risk in children’s play. Thirty educators attended a workshop focused on risky play, hazard-risk differentiation, inclusion of children with disabilities, loose-parts play, environmental affordances, and practitioner-informed implementation …

Perceptions Of Georgia Elementary School Administrators Toward Elementary Agricultural Education, Addie Tucker

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

Elementary agricultural education (EAE) is a growing component of K-12 agricultural education, yet limited research exists on how school leaders perceive its value. The purpose of this study was to explore the perceptions of Georgia elementary school administrators regarding the implementation and value of EAE programs. Specifically, this study examined elementary principals’ and district superintendents’ views on the benefits, effectiveness, and value of EAE. A descriptive research design was used. Georgia elementary principals and district superintendents with active EAE programs during the 2025-2026 academic year were surveyed in the fall of 2025. The sample consisted of 18 principals and 18 …

Identifying The Knowledge And Skills That Students Enrolled In Agricultural Systems Technology Degree Programs Need: Perspectives From University Faculty, Jerry Blake Kennedy

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

National trends have highlighted the need for a knowledgeable, skilled workforce in advanced agricultural systems. University-level Agricultural Systems Technology (AST) undergraduate degree programs and closely-related degree programs are vital to equipping the agricultural workforce with the knowledge and skills needed to support the industry. Ensuring that AST curricula are relevant and appropriate is vital to equipping undergraduate students in such programs with the knowledge and skills they need to succeed in the modern agricultural workforce. This study sought to identify the essential knowledge and skills needed by undergraduate AST degree program students from the perspectives of university-level faculty across the …

The Effect That Positive And Negative Self-Concepts Have On Adolescents' Behavior And Personalities, Portia L. Davis

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

Abstract

The development stage of adolescence is a complex process in which adolescents begin to explore their identity and form either a positive or negative self-concept. Self-concept plays a crucial role in shaping adolescents' personalities and behaviors. Self-concept includes how adolescents view themselves and how others see them. An adolescent's self-concept can influence their self-confidence, social relationships, and decision-making abilities. This study examines the relationship between overall self-concept and adolescents' personality traits and behaviors. To gather this information, a quantitative research design is used, in which adolescents complete assessments such as the Tennessee Self-Concept Scale (TSCS), the Woodcock-Johnson IV (WJ-IV), …

Wired For Inclusion: Leveraging Strengths Of Neurodivergent Special Educators, Brok Hess, Teresa Clark Ed.D.

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

Special education teachers face unique challenges, and neurodivergent special educators possess distinctive strengths that can allow them to excel in the classroom. However, barriers, stigma, and ableism persist that have prevented neurodivergent individuals from accessing this career, receiving support, and thriving as special educators. Self-efficacy and executive functioning both correlate to success and retention within education. This research analyzed the relationship between special education teachers’ self-efficacy and executive functioning, specifically among neurodivergent special educators. Results concluded that a significant positive correlation exists between neurodivergent special education teachers’ executive functioning and self-efficacy. Attention to these results will highlight the importance of …

Comprehensive Postsecondary Transition Planning For Students With Intellectual Disability In Florida, Sonia Y. Clark-Rosier

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the impact of early transition planning on parents’ postsecondary expectations for their child with an intellectual disability and to examine the benefits of planning, particularly when considering higher education opportunities. This study also probed the factors that contribute to the development of self-efficacy in special education teachers facilitating comprehensive transition planning. Schlossberg’s transition theory, with its four S’s—situation, support, self, and strategies—served as the theoretical framework. The data collection methods were document analysis, focus groups with special education teachers, high school teachers, and parents, and researcher observations. Seven themes emerged to …

The Economic Impact Of The Georgia Young Farmers Association On Georgia's Economy, Robert E. Bodiford Iii

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

Agriculture is Georgia’s largest economy, generating billions of dollars annually. Sustaining this sector requires ongoing investment in human capital through education, training, and leadership development. While research has extensively examined youth agricultural education, limited attention has been given to the economic contributions of adult agricultural education programs. The Georgia Young Farmers Association serves as a primary provider of structured adult agricultural education in the state, offering continuing education through meetings, farm tours, workshops, and leadership development activities. The purpose of this study was to estimate the economic impact of the Georgia Young Farmers Association on Georgia’s economy[BL1] . The …

Academic Growth From Preact To Act: The Influence Of Socioeconomic Status And Attendance In A Rural Alabama High School, Stacy L. Tinch

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this quantitative correlational study was to examine academic growth from the PreACT to the ACT among students attending a rural public high school in Alabama and to investigate whether socioeconomic status (SES) and attendance were associated with differences in that growth. Guided by Opportunity-to-Learn Theory, the study explored whether students demonstrated academic growth during high school and whether SES, attendance, or the interaction between these variables influenced growth outcomes. Archival student-level data were collected from four graduating cohorts. The final sample consisted of 384 students with complete records for PreACT scores, ACT scores, attendance, and socioeconomic status. …

Career And Technical Education Readiness Trends Across Kentucky High Schools And Workforce Regions: A Longitudinal Analysis, Brittany Forgey

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

Career and Technical Education (CTE) has become an increasingly important component of Kentucky’s educational accountability system and workforce development initiatives. Despite expanded emphasis on career readiness and technical skill attainment, limited research has examined long-term trends in CTE readiness across Kentucky public high schools. The purpose of this quantitative, non-experimental, longitudinal study was to examine trends in CTE readiness indicators from 2011 through 2025. Human Capital Theory and Social Capital Theory provided the conceptual framework. Publicly available data from the Kentucky Department of Education School Report Card, KYStats, Supplemental Career and Technical Education reports, and other Kentucky Department of Education …

From Aid To Looting: Justice And Sovereignty Issues In The Ukraine–U.S. Mineral Deal, Petra Gümplova

Emancipations: A Journal of Critical Social Analysis

This essay identifies three central moral and political issues with the the Ukraine–U.S. Mineral Deal. First, by linking financial and military assistance to access to Ukraine’s natural resources, the deal entrenches a form of resource conditionality that is highly problematic from the moral standpoint of international justice and other ethical principles. Second, the absence of a commitment to a just peace—including the restoration of territorial integrity, reparations, and security guarantees—renders the conditions for secure, long-term investment in Ukraine’s extractive economy a distant prospect, while raising the risk that a substantial portion of Ukraine’s resource wealth unlawfully seized by Russia will …

An Innovative, Interdisciplinary Intervention For Justice-Involved Emerging Adults, Courtney M. Holmes, Jeff Ciak, Marianne Lund, Zehra Sahin Ilkorkor, Grace Kye, Miguel King, Karen Akom, Sarah Jane Brubaker, Molly Hyer, Gary Cuddeback

Teaching and Supervision in Counseling

Interdisciplinary collaboration is an effective training model for counselors in training. As it is becoming increasingly likely that counselors will work in multidisciplinary teams post-graduation, engagement in clinical and research intervention teams is essential to promote learning. Benefits for counseling students include the development of self-efficacy, cultural humility, research skills, counseling skills, and interdisciplinary communication and collaboration skills. This article will discuss a federally funded, interdisciplinary intervention for justice-involved emerging adults that provides supported employment, trauma-informed mental health counseling, and peer support interventions. We will outline the interventions, structure of the project, as well as research and assessment outcomes. Future …

Neofeudalism: The Messy Political Economy Of Transitioning To Something Worse, Jodi Dean

Emancipations: A Journal of Critical Social Analysis

No abstract provided.

Standardizing Embolization Terminology In Non-Variceal Upper Gi Bleeding: Therapeutic, Preventive, And Empiric Approaches, Nurlan Aliyev, Lei Yu, Fedja A. Rochling, Ishfaq Bhat

Graduate Medical Education Research Journal

N/A

Research Productivity Variation In Applicants Who Matched Into Home Orthopaedic Surgery Programs, Frances Akwuole, Cole Christenson, Freddy Jacome, James Macleod, Omar Shaikh, Michael W. Pullen, Avani Chopra, Owen Lema, Justin Lee, Sia Cho, Annemarie K. Leonard, Alfonso Mejia

Graduate Medical Education Research Journal

Background. Research output among orthopaedic surgery applicants remains an important factor in the orthopaedic surgery residency selection process. However, there is limited literature comparing objective measures such as research productivity across different types of orthopaedic surgery applicants. We aim to determine if students who match at their home programs have significantly different research productivity and, secondarily, Alpha Omega Alpha (AOA) membership rates, compared to those who match at external programs.

Methods. This study was conducted in April 2024. A list of orthopaedic surgery residents was acquired from publicly available websites using a Python script. Programs were stratified into four geographic …

Salt Vs. Scalpel: A Surprisingly Simple Solution To Pyogenic Granulomas, Richard M. Regester, Kimberly Eisenstein

Graduate Medical Education Research Journal

Background. Pyogenic granulomas (PGs) are benign vascular lesions commonly encountered in primary care settings. They are often linked to trauma, hormonal changes, infections, or medications. While traditional treatments such as excision, curettage, and silver nitrate application are the treatment of choice, recurrence is possible, and they may result in discomfort, anxiety, or scarring. This case highlights the successful use of salt packing, a low-cost, minimally invasive alternative, for a PG resistant to conventional therapy.

Case. A 57-year-old female presented with a 10 mm PG on the right ventral thumb, which bled intermittently and increased in size over three months. An …

Case Study: The Economic And Legal Challenges Moving From A Township To A City, George F. Dierberger Dr., Ibrahim Keita Dr., Cory Erickson

Journal of the North American Management Society

The paper examines the economic and legal challenges moving from a township to a municipality in the state of Minnesota. One of the authors was a member of the township board as they went through the process of educating the citizens on the risks and rewards of changing from a township to a municipality.