Digital Commons Network^™

Intrinsic Case Study On Parents’ Perspectives In Collaboration With Professionals On Transition Services, Chanda Datijan Gonzales

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This case study describes the transition planning for parents collaborating with school and community professionals for students with intellectual disabilities (ID) at the high school level in Guam. The theory guiding this study is Schlosberg’s transition theory, as it supports parents in decision-making to help students with ID adapt to change. This study reviews how collaborative teams can be between schools and the community. The methodology examines parents’ interviews and observations and reviews the Individualized Education Plan (IEP) documents. An intrinsic case study is appropriate to understand parents’ perspectives in transition planning for high school students with intellectual disabilities. The …

Inclusion May Affect Marching Band Members Of Black Universities Differently Than Members Of White Universities: Narrative Inquiry: A Case Study, Derrick K. Yates

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

There is a lack of research on the emotional connection and support students of Historically Black Colleges and Universities may seek through their band experience versus students of Predominantly White Institutions. Some studies demonstrate that those who participate in music ensembles express heightened self-esteem, a sense of connectedness, and a positive impact on their mental and psychological well-being. This narrative inquiry research study focuses on the unexplored perspectives of three band members from historically black and three predominantly white university marching bands, regarding their emotional connections to their programs and the emotional connections and support they receive from them. The …

Predictive Correlation Analysis Of Admissions Criteria To A Doctor Of Physical Therapy Program And Graduation Success, Mark Amir

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this quantitative, predictive correlational study was to examine the relationship between admissions criteria and academic success in a non-traditional, weekend-format Doctor of Physical Therapy program known as Palisades Weekend University. This study contributes to the literature by exploring how cognitive and non-cognitive variables may predict student outcomes. The sample included 112 participants enrolled between 2016 and 2021 at a private university in New York. Data was collected using the General Self-Efficacy Scale via Google Forms, and archival admissions data was obtained from the Physical Therapist Centralized Application Service. Logistic regression analysis assessed the predictive relationship between self-efficacy, …

Understanding Educators’ Experiences With Chronic Student Absenteeism In Rural High Schools In Southwest Virginia: A Phenomenological Study, Tina Louise Dean

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to understand educators’ experiences and the influences chronic absenteeism has on low-income rural high school students in Southwest Virginia. The theory guiding this study was Bandura’s social cognition theory on learning, which develops through interaction and modeling. The central research question was, “How do teachers describe their experiences with chronic student absenteeism in rural high schools in Southwest Virginia?” A hermeneutic phenomenological design was used, and the researcher focused on 10 educators from rural high schools in southwest Virginia who had experienced student chronic absenteeism and/or truancy. Data for this study was collected …

The Experiences Of University Health Science Students Participating In A Short-Term Medical Mission Trip, Peggie L. Williamson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative descriptive phenomenological study was to explore the experiences of university health science students who participated in a short-term medical mission trip (STMMT). Student participation in a STMMT was generally defined as active involvement in an 8-day healthcare initiative undertaken by supervised university health science students who provided medical care and education to underserved regions. Purposeful criterion and convenience sampling were used to select ten participants from a group of university health science students registered for a STMMT to Belize in 2025. The two theories guiding this study were Husserl’s Transcendental Theory, designed to provide a …

Stressors Causing Career And Technical Education Teachers To Experience Burnout: Hermeneutic Phenomenology, Christina C. Perez

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore the stressors and coping strategies for Career and Technical Education (CTE) teachers in career and technical education in Texas’ public education system. The theory guiding this study was the transactional model of stress and coping proposed by Richard Lazarus and Susan Folkman. The use of this theory will impact the lives of CTE teachers facing challenges in their current roles and taking on extra duties compared to non-CTE teachers. The central research question focused on how CTE teachers experience major sources of stress and burnout. In addition, the sub-questions will support …

A Comparison Of School Index Score And Per-Pupil Spending Of Four School Environments, Elizabeth Ann Springer

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This quantitative study examined the relationship between school environment and both school index scores and per-pupil spending across four distinct public school types in Michigan: in-person district schools, in-person charter schools, virtual district schools, and virtual charter schools. The primary purpose was to explore whether significant differences exist in the school index scores and per-pupil expenditures among these school environments, with particular attention to virtual schools, which remain underrepresented within educational policy research. Initial analysis using MANOVA was supplemented with non-parametric testing due to violations of normality assumptions. Findings indicate significant differences in both spending and school index scores across …

How Parents Experience Language During Iep Meetings: A Study Of Elementary School Parents' Perceptions Of Their Children, Michael Anthony Mooren

Dissertations (1934 -)

This qualitative hermeneutic phenomenological study explored how parents of elementary-age students receiving special education services experience the language used by educators during Individualized Education Program (IEP) meetings, and how this language affects their perceptions of their children. The literature review focused on the explanation of four language assumptions that served as foundational components of the study. Seven parents participated through purposive sampling, completing surveys leading up to and semi-structured interviews immediately following their child's annual IEP meeting. The analysis involved coding and led to an interpretation of four key findings that focused on collaborative, emotional experiences; accessibility of clarified language …

Motivational Factors Affecting Female Students' Choice Of Stem And Non-Stem Majors At Us Universities, Buthaina Ruyyashi

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The problem addressed in this study is the persistently low enrollment of female undergraduate students in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) majors within U.S. universities. The purpose of this quantitative study was to examine the relationship between female undergraduate students' choice of STEM versus non-STEM majors and their motivational factors, as measured by the Motivations Influencing Course Choice (MICC) survey. The study was grounded in social cognitive career theory, which emphasizes the role of self-efficacy, outcome expectations, and personal goals in academic decision-making. The analysis assessed the predictive power of career aspiration, interest, helping, and loafing in determining major …

The Influence Of School Closing Mandates On Student Performance During The Covid-19 Pandemic: A Case Study, Cody Ryan Ratliff

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this embedded single case study was to describe the lack of student needs support during the COVID-19 pandemic for parents of middle school students at a county board of education in West Virginia. (Chiwona et al., 2020; Devereux et al., 2020; Dunn et al., 2020). The theory guiding this study was Abraham Maslow’s (1943) theory on the hierarchy of needs, which demonstrated an impact on student performance. This qualitative single-case study utilized an embedded approach. The central research question this study aimed to answer was to describe how a lack of necessary resources affected students during the …

Use Of Single Bout Exercise On Symptoms Of Burnout In Secondary Teachers, Robert A. Campos

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Increased levels of stress, anxiety, and burnout among educators within the United States educational system have contributed to elevated attrition rates and diminished student outcomes. This study investigates the effects of single-bout exercise sessions on reducing of burnout, specifically emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and lack of personal achievement among secondary public-school teachers. Using the Maslach Burnout Inventory – Educators Survey (MBI-ES), this correlational study used a repeated-measures design in which 36 secondary teachers participated in a control (no exercise), aerobic exercise, and anaerobic exercise sessions. Pre- and post-exercise session scores were analyzed to evaluate the immediate effects on burnout elements. Findings …

Growth Mindset Moving From Poverty To Success: A Phenomenological Study Examining The Lived Experiences Of Adults Raised In Poverty, Hermalinda Brown Bolton

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenological study was to understand the lived experiences of overcoming the stigma associated with childhood poverty to become academically successful for adults in the Southwest region of the United States. This study attempted to answer the question: What are the lived experiences of academically successful adults who have overcome the stigma of childhood poverty in the Southwest region of the United States? The participants were recruited through a social media platform, and 10 individuals participated in the research. The theory guiding this study was Carol Dweck's growth mindset theory. The growth mindset theory explains how …

A Qualitative Study On Retention And Engagement At A Private Historically Black College And University Among First-Year African American Students From Rural Communities, Miquelle Latoine Fields

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to understand how the intersection of rural culture and race influences the lived experiences of first-year African American students at a private Historically Black College and University (HBCU). Moustakas's theory on phenomenological research methods, based on Husserl's transcendental phenomenology framework, guided the study. The research focused on how cultural context intersects with the lived experiences of first-year African American students from rural areas. It examined how this diversity affects their retention and engagement at a private HBCU. The central research question was: How do the lived experiences of first-year African American college students …

Emotional Intelligence Of Educators And School Climate Ratings In Title I K–8 Schools In The Southeast United States, Kristen A. Hunt

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this study is to understand the impact emotional intelligence of teachers and administrators has on school climate for students in a Title I K–8th grade schools in the southeast region of the United States and to determine if years of teaching experience moderates this relationship. The theories guiding this study are Bandura’s social cognitive theory and Solovey and Meyer’s theory of emotional intelligence. Bandura’s social cognitive theory explains the relationship between people, their behavior, and the environment. The theory of emotional intelligence by Solovey and Meyer relates to social intelligence by being of the belief that emotional …

Growth, Maturation, And Selection Of Elite Youth Ice Hockey Players, Ryan Podell

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Maturity status may influence the selection of elite youth ice hockey teams in the United States. Assessing biological maturity status could provide insight into the prevalence of maturation related selection biases. Thus, the purpose of this study was to establish normative maturity status ranges, determine if maturity or relative age effect selection biases existed, and compare levels of agreement between methods to predict maturity status for elite youth ice hockey players in the United States. Part one of this study assessed the biological maturity status and birth months for 126 athletes, ranging 9-16 years of age, from an elite youth …

Burned: A Phenomenological Study On Educator Burnout Within Self-Contained Classrooms, Nyausha West-James

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to describe the lived experiences of self-contained special education educators who have experienced burnout in Ozark County in Georgia. The social cognitive theory guided this research. The social cognitive theory can be supported by teaching new behaviors and encouraging educators to participate in behaviors that support self-efficacy. Self-efficacy can support teachers in managing their emotions and reducing educator burnout. The central research question was what are the lived experiences of self-contained special education educators who have experienced burnout? Although there was data that provided evidence on burnout, there was a lack of …

A Quantitative Examination Of School Psychologists And The Relationships Between Work-Life Balance, Burnout, And Turnover Intentions, Brittany Leigh Storti

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Research for the past twenty-five years has documented that there is a national shortage of school psychologists across the United States. It is vital to study the magnitude of school psychologists working in the educational field and the impact of work-life balance has on burnout and turnover intentions. The study surveyed 75 school psychologists who work in a brick-and-mortar, hybrid, and virtual setting across the United States to compare the relationships and to determine if there is a difference between turnover intentions based on work setting. A moderation analysis and an ANOVA determined that the research failed to reject the …

Consequences Of The Double Empathy Problem Within The Clinical Environment: A New Model For Neuroinclusive Care, Sofia Jimenez

Theses and Dissertations

As diagnoses of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) rise, the neurodiversity and autistic self-advocacy movements have challenged traditional deficit-based clinical models and called for more inclusive, affirming approaches to care. Recent research disputes the long-held belief that autistic individuals have deficits in perspective-taking, revealing that miscommunication between autistic and neurotypical individuals results from mutual misunderstanding, a concept known as the double empathy problem (DEP; Milton, 2012), with the triple empathy problem (TEP) extending this framework to healthcare settings. Our study investigates the consequences of the DEP and TEP within clinical environments, focusing on interactions between neurotypical speech-language pathologists (SLPs) and adult …

“I Laughed Along For Years But Hated It Inside:” Understanding Nuance In Peer Teasing Experiences Using A Thematic Analysis, Naomi C.Z. Andrews, Molly Dawes Ph.D.

Faculty Publications

Introduction

Peer teasing is ubiquitous, yet ambiguous in nature. Despite recent attempts to delineate and clarify differences in teasing experienced as playful versus harmful, there remains overlap and complexity in these interactions. In the current study, we present a conceptual model of teasing, which includes many nested features that dynamically interact within a teasing episode. Using this conceptual model to guide our work, the goal of the current study was to use qualitative inquiry to bring further conceptual clarity to the overlap between teasing that is experienced as playful versus harmful.

Method

Using semi-structured interviews, we asked university students ( …

Helping Families Learn About Social Emotional Learning, Madalyn Ross

Masters Projects

Having developmentally appropriate social-emotional skills is an essential component of a growing child, yet many children lack the social-emotional skills necessary to be successful in the classroom. Families play an important role in the development of a child, but research shows that there are significant gaps in the knowledge and use of social-emotional learning (SEL) that families have. This project explores the importance of family involvement and knowledge surrounding SEL by looking at certain aspects that hinder SEL growth, such as trauma and excessive screen time, and aspects that help children excel in SEL development, such as teacher education and …

Perspectives On Career Advising At A Large Private Religious Institution, Lane Toshio Muranaka

Theses and Dissertations

This study examines the role of career advising at Brigham Young University (BYU), a faith-based institution where professional guidance focuses on spiritual development and purpose-driven learning. Through qualitative interviews with career advisors across various disciplines, the research explores how advisors define student success, integrate faith into their advising practices, and support students in aligning their career aspirations with personal meaning and the university's religious mission. Grounded in the belief that holistic education fosters lifelong success, BYU emphasizes the development of the "total person," including moral and spiritual dimensions. Findings reveal that student success is not solely measured by employment outcomes …

Supporting Young Learners With Disabilities In Inclusive Classrooms: A Toolkit For General Education Teachers, Emily M. Raleigh

Masters Projects

Many young elementary students with disabilities often experience difficulty maintaining engagement in their learning and managing their emotions in general education classrooms. These challenges can have a negative influence on their ability to interact with their peers, develop foundational academic skills, and feel a sense of belonging. At the same time, many general educators report a lack of effective training, strategies, and confidence in implementing supports to students with disabilities, particularly in the areas of self-regulation and engagement. This project responds to this issue through the creation of a visual support toolkit developed for use in inclusive early elementary classrooms. …

Understanding Hispanic Cultural Strengths Through Parents’ Voices: Insights For Interdisciplinary School Personnel, David Moran, Johana Rocha, Kristy Carlisle

Journal of Human Services Scholarship and Interprofessional Collaboration

Examining the strengths of Hispanic cultural values among K-12 school students is a generally understudied concept, and from their parents’ perspective specifically. This study sought to take a qualitative approach toward the exploration of Hispanic parents’ perspectives on how their cultural values promote strengths within their school-aged children. Hispanic parents (N = 8) participated in bilingual (i.e., Spanish and English) focus groups, with the results providing content that can inform culturally responsive prevention and intervention strategies to support the roles of interdisciplinary school personnel who regularly interact with the children. Findings pointed to (a) interaction with peers and school …

The Impact Of Cell Phones And Social Media On Social And Emotional Development Of High School Students, Laura Nash

Masters Projects

Studies suggest that social media can have a negative impact on the social and emotional development of adolescents when overused or abused. This paper examines the benefits of social media and several of the adverse effects of problematic social media use. A few of the adverse effects can carry over into the school setting, resulting in students missing valuable instruction time and not being fully engaged in the learning environment. This project proposal is intended to educate parents and school employees about hazards of problematic social media use and the tools that are readily available to monitor the content that …

Understanding And Addressing Chronic Absenteeism: Interviewing Parents Of Chronically Absent Students, Patrick Stickley

LMU Theses and Dissertations

Understanding and Addressing Chronic Absenteeism: Interviewing Parents of Chronically Absent Students The more any child is chronically absent from school, opportunities dwindle for growth academically, intellectually, and socially (Gottfried, 2014). The problem is finding long term solutions to chronic absenteeism. A large percentage of chronically absent students are from the marginalized Black and Latinx student groups, creating a dire social justice situation for those students and their communities (Allison et al., 2019). This purpose of this qualitative study was to find reasons for and suggestions to address the wicked problem of chronic absenteeism by interviewing parents of chronically absent students. …

Resurgent Education In Native American Catholic Schools: The Stories Of Indigenous Educators Who Attended Boarding Schools, William Newkirk

LMU Theses and Dissertations

Although news coverage has discussed the history of Native American boarding schools with more attention, a problematic lack of Native voice has continued to remain in these discussions. In particular, the perspectives of former students of boarding schools are too often missing. Further, there are former residential school students teaching in Native American Catholic schools whose stories and experiences have not yet been documented. This research was not meant to strictly learn from their time as students in the schools, but also their perspectives and successes found within their time as educators. They are teachers with deeply important historical experiences, …

Feasibility Of A Novel Combined Treatment For Apraxia Of Speech, Claire Evans Jensen

Theses and Dissertations

Apraxia of speech (AOS) is a disorder of articulation and prosody interrupting the spatial and temporal planning and/or programming of speech movements and commonly co-occurs with aphasia. Most AOS treatment research has used single case experimental designs (SCEDS) to document the effects of treatment. The strength of SCEDs is that they can demonstrate clear causal relations between intervention and behavior change. The most studied AOS treatment is an articulatory-kinematic treatment called Sound Production Treatment (SPT). This study was designed to examine the effects of a novel treatment, Sound Production Treatment in a Metrical- Paced Frame (SPTMF), on the speech production …

The George-Anne Daily, Georgia Southern University

George-Anne Media Group: Newsletters & Magazines

No abstract provided.

08.04.2025 Ored Connect, Liz Williamson

ORED Newsletter

NIH limits AI use and annual proposals accepted per PI

Buffalo Stories & Science For 4th Graders, Ashley A. Duffy, Larry M. Browning, Matt Miller, Jiyul Chang, Srinivas Janaswamy, Lydia Yellow Hawk, Jessica Larson, Michael Prate, Madhav P. Nepal

iLEARN Teaching Resources

In this culturally responsive science lesson, students explore the ecological and historical importance of buffalo through story and hands-on learning. Using Paul Goble’s Return of the Buffaloes, learners’ journey into Lakota legend to discover how buffalo sustained communities and symbolized connection to land and spirit. Through guided reading, students uncover how buffalo supported Indigenous survival—providing food, shelter, clothing, and tools—while developing an appreciation for traditional knowledge systems and biodiversity. Students then deepen their understanding of food science by making buffalo jerky, connecting past and present preservation methods. As they mix ingredients, shape meat into strips, and observe dehydration techniques, students …