Digital Commons Network^™

Community-Based Participatory Research In Developing Online Nutrition Tools: A Pathway To Relevance And Engagement, Laura Justice, Stacy Phillips

EFNEP

This article explains how Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR) can strengthen the design of digital nutrition tools by ensuring they are culturally relevant, accessible, and grounded in community needs. By engaging participants as equal partners, CBPR enhances trust, usability, and long-term impact. The approach aligns with EFNEP’s mission to deliver inclusive, community-driven nutrition education and provides a framework for developing sustainable, adaptable tools that reflect the lived experiences of the families Extension serves.

Who Gets To Be Taken Seriously? Three Atypical Scholars Navigate Doctoral Education At The Intersections Of Race, Neurodivergence, And Veteran Identity, Sr. Richard De La Garza

Dissertations

As a first-generation, neurodivergent, Mexican American/Chicano veteran, I entered the University of San Diego's doctoral program having had experiences that most institutional intake processes would label as risk factors. The Findings chapter of this dissertation begins by describing those experiences—not as a confession, but as the foundation for a systematic inquiry into how doctoral legitimacy is produced, withheld, and defended. The description of my life experiences is followed by a discussion of the doctoral journeys of two other study participants who also were atypical doctoral candidates.

The central argument being advanced is this: What higher education calls "fit," "rigor," and …

Elementary Music Teachers’ Perceptions Of The Impact Of Class Size On Tonal And Phonemic Awareness In Second-Grade General Music Classes, Ariel A. Supinger

Masters Theses

The purpose of this non-experimental, quantitative study was to investigate elementary music teachers’ perceptions of the impact of class size on tonal and phonemic awareness in second-grade general music classes. The researcher-designed questionnaire was sent to elementary music teachers who teach second-grade general music in elementary schools within urban, suburban, and rural school districts.

The Impact Of Teacher Verbal And Nonverbal Communication On Student Motivation, Claire E. Haines

Masters Theses

The classroom environment is one of vast areas of scholarly literature yet may levels of understanding classroom communication remain unexplored. This study provides an in-depth analysis of the lived student experience with how teacher communication impacts student motivation in general as well as intrinsic forms of communication. Data for this research was taken directly from student accounts of verbal and nonverbal interactions with teachers that impacted their motivation. One of the key findings of this research was the observed process that participants described through interviews. This observed three step process displayed how verbal and nonverbal communication were expressed to have …

Unlocking The Colleague Next Door, Yoshihiko Ariizumi

Learning, Teaching, & Researching Optimization

The structural barriers that isolate faculty from one another—individualistic reward systems, professional identity protection, disciplinary silos, fragmented time—have been documented in detail elsewhere. This paper begins where that analysis ends. Its sole focus is solutions: what actually works, what you can do without waiting for your institution to change, and most importantly, what you can do today. It is organized in three movements: evidence-based institutional strategies, community-level structures any group of faculty can build, and a granular map of the smallest possible individual first steps—the ones that cost almost nothing and have an outsized probability of changing how you experience …

The Silent Silos Of Academia, Yoshihiko Ariizumi

Learning, Teaching, & Researching Optimization

We work in an environment rich with latent brilliance. Walk down any corridor of a modern university building, and you pass office after office housing world-class expertise, profound pedagogical insights, and raw intellectual power. In terms of human capital, academic faculty represent arguably the most concentrated pool of cognitive resources on the planet. Yet, a strange paradox haunts higher education: despite living and working in such proximity, university faculty remain profoundly isolated. We operate as solitary islands, locked within our own intellectual silos, rarely leveraging the immense potential of our peers.

This isolation is not a personal choice, nor is …

Perceptions Of Novice Career And Technical Education Teachers Regarding Teacher Evaluations, Felix Quayson, Chris Zirkle

Journal of Research in Technical Careers

As states expand funding for alternative teacher-licensure pathways, this qualitative descriptive case study examined how 38 novice Career and Technical Education (CTE) teachers in a Midwestern research university’s alternative licensure program perceived teacher evaluation during their first years in the profession. Analyses yielded ten major themes with three subthemes each, which were synthesized into the DEEPS conceptual evaluation framework: Development, Evaluation, Engagement, Partnerships, and Skills. We arranged the acronym DEEPS based on data analysis for conceptual coherence rather than order of occurrence. Participants described evaluation as misaligned with the specialized demands of CTE instruction and called for tools that better …

Interest Requires Knowledge: Initial Development Of A Measure Of Career Knowledge, Sarah Ferguson, Marjorie Blicharz, Kara Ieva, Christopher J. Winkler, Theresa Cann

Journal of Research in Technical Careers

This paper details a measurement development study conducted in multiple phases to establish the reliability and validity of scores from a measure of career knowledge that can be specified to career fields. The initial development study focused on surveying and mapping careers in the engineering technician cluster, in alignment with a larger intervention study on career exploration of STEM technician and technologist careers. A short seven-item measure of perceived career knowledge was developed and piloted to address the need for empirical data on students' career knowledge, an outcome of interest to practitioners and researchers in career development. Exploratory and confirmatory …

Breaking Academic Silos: A Guide To Faculty Collaboration And Intellectual Growth, Yoshihiko Ariizumi

Learning, Teaching, & Researching Optimization

This is a guide to make academic collaboration easy and doable.

Music Education For Diverse Learners: An Undergraduate Curriculum To Prepare Pre-Service Educators To Adapt Music Instruction, Phoebe Winey

Masters Theses

Music educators are required to work with students of all levels and abilities. Christian music educators understand that all students are created by God fearfully and wonderfully (Psalm 139:14, English Standard Version) and that humanity is Christ’s workmanship (Ephesians 2:10). Christians in education must perceive all students as the workmanship of Christ and work to provide them with fidelity and excellence in education. Music education has proven to be a critical method for developing the minds of learners with exceptionalities; therefore, music educators must be adequately prepared to educate students with diverse exceptionalities through accommodations that improve cognitive abilities and …

The Other Summer Soundtrack: Mass Bands, Hbcu Influence, And The Future Of Culturally Relevant, Community-Driven Music Education, Thomas L. Jones Jr.

Masters Theses

This study examines the roles of mass bands, community bands, and all-star bands and explores how they can offer culturally relevant, community-driven alternatives to traditional summer music education programs. This is especially important for students from diverse and lower socioeconomic backgrounds. Traditional marching musical arts programs require students to have access to sufficient funding and transportation, effectively locking out low-income and culturally distant groups. This research explores how alternative band models offer a viable option for supporting young students in music education, social skills development, and leadership. The multiple-case study focused on three diverse program types. Over the course of …

Recovering Persuasion In A Post-Truth Classroom, Lydia James

Masters Theses

Modern composition pedagogy embraces pluralism and expressivism that in turn reduces persuasion to mere self-expression or genre performance rather than disciplined inquiry. This thesis argues that the historical shift in composition’s values has created a civic gap. Within this gap, students adopt either powerful or reluctant attitudes due to the lack of ethical responsibility attached to their agency. Surveying the negligence of classical definitions of persuasion in modern models, this research traces the collapse of ethical deliberation through the movements of expressivism, pluralism, and postmodern skepticism. While these movements intended to avoid the rigid dogma that existed over time, they …

Homeschool Music: The Predictive Relationship Between Parents’ Homeschooling Approach And Religiosity For Music Learning Choices, Ashley Virginia Finke

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this quantitative predictive correlational study was to examine how accurately the combination of parents’ homeschooling approach and parents’ religiosity predict music learning choices for homeschooled students. A Florida Department of Education report showed an increase in homeschooling between the 2013-14 and 2023-24 school years, while an Institute of Education Sciences report documented that 49 percent of homeschooled students in the United States participated in music in 2016. Despite these reports, limited research exists of homeschool music education in the United States and, specifically, in Florida. This study resulted from the related literature and the dearth of current …

Exploring The Impact Of Athlete-Coach Relationship On Self-Worth: A Phenomenal Study Of Perceptions And Dynamics, Jada D. Harris-Wilson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This research investigates how the coach-athlete relationship affects athletes' self-worth, emotional dependency, and resilience, using the single-parent or two-parent family dynamic as a moderating factor. Using self-determination theory, attachment theory, and social identity theory as frameworks, the current study explores how coaching styles influence the psychological well-being of athletes. This research utilizes interviews, questionnaires, and observations to analyze perceived coach support, emotional dependency, and resilience themes. The study's findings indicate that autonomy-supportive coaching helps athletes develop self-esteem, coping skills, and mental resilience. On the other hand, controlling coaching styles is associated with increased pressure and lower levels of resilience. Also, …

Factors Influencing High School Band Enrollment For Eighth Grade Students In Ohio Small Town School Districts, Jon Steven Kauffman

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Many factors influence the choices of eighth-grade students as they decide whether to enroll in high school band. While musical ability and achievement can play a role in this decision, research suggests that social influences, such as peer relationships, a sense of belonging, and the band program's cultural environment, often have a greater impact on students' decisions. The Ohio Department of Education classifies school districts into four categories: Urban, Rural, Suburban, and Small-town. Although similar to other designations, small-town districts require a distinct label because of the unique mix of factors in these locations. They lack the population density of …

Social Networking Influences In The Challenges Of West African Immigrant College Students In Kentucky – A Hermeneutical Qualitative Study, Martin Chukwusolum Akwari

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative hermeneutical phenomenological study is to explore how social network groups modulate the lived experiences of West African immigrant students in colleges and universities in Kentucky. Grounded in Bourdieu’s social capital theory and informed by a social constructivist interpretive framework, this study explored how shared experiences within social network groups influence how West African immigrant students interpret their academic and social environments during college years. The study is anchored on a central research question: How does social interaction with others influence how immigrant students of West African origin interpret their lived experiences in higher education institutions …

Self-Care Professional Development On Preschool Teachers’ Mindful Self-Care And Burnout: A Quantitative Research Study, Tiffany Gibby

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this quantitative, experimental, pretest-posttest control-group design study with random assignment is to determine if self-care training changes mindful self-care and burnout scores of preschool teachers. The study fills the gap in the literature on whether an ongoing professional development approach to self-care is effective. The issue is more research is needed to determine if there is a difference in self-care activity and burnout scores between preschool teachers who receive self-care training and those who do not receive self-care training, when controlling for pre-test scores. The sample was 125 full-time, preschool teachers working in childcare centers drawn from …

Assessing Non-Performance Based Standards Of The National Core Arts Standards In Georgia Public Middle And High Schools, Richard Brian Horne

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Developing a well-rounded musician must be the goal of every music teacher. In today’s modern educational system, assessment is a tool used to help shape the curriculum of all subjects. Music assessment must be no different. The National Core Arts Standards (NCAS) utilize anchor standards for assessment in four categories: creating, performing, responding, and connecting. Standards that fall within performing are quickly evaluated in formal and informal assessments, but other standards, such as creation, responding, and connecting, often need exploration. One needs to craft assessments to determine student understanding of performance and non-performance standards and explore development in those areas. …

Parental Understanding Of The Influence Of Ecological Systems On The Educational Experiences Of The Dependent Children Of Enlisted And Officer Families Stationed In Japan: A Hermeneutic Phenomenological Study, Nortia M. Miller

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenological study was to explore how enlisted and officer parents stationed in Japan understand and described how different ecological systems influence the educational experience and academic performance of their dependent children. The theory that guided this study is Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems theory as it provided a comprehensive framework for understanding the inter-influential relationship between the children and the different ecological systems in their environment. The central research question provided a conduit for further exploration by asking how do enlisted and officer parents understand and describe how different ecological factors from Bronfenbrenner’s systems theory shape the …

Exploring The Lived Experiences Of Young Single Mothers Enrolled In A Four-Year Public University In The Piedmont Triad Region Of Nc: A Hermeneutic Phenomenological Study, Ashley I. May

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenological study was to explore the lived experiences of young single mothers between the ages of 18-24 enrolled in a four-year university in the Piedmont Triad Region of North Carolina focusing on challenges encountered while navigating university resources and support services. The theory guiding this study was Norman Garmezy’s theory of resilience as it relates to the resiliency of young single mothers enrolled in a four-year public university in the Piedmont Triad Region of North Carolina. A hermeneutical phenomenology research design, combined with snowball and convenience sampling, facilitated an in-depth exploration of challenges faced by …

Delegating Authority: How Student Leadership Influences The Workload And Well-Being Of Secondary Orchestra Directors, Lori M. Buonamici

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Although it is standard practice for secondary orchestra directors to engage students in leadership roles to assist with instruction and ensemble management, music education research provides teachers with little guidance on creating and maintaining student leadership organizations. The current literature provides abundant evidence of the benefits of offering leadership opportunities to support student development. Still, little research examines the additional work this creates for the orchestra director. Drawing on Vygotsky’s constructivist worldview and the theory of the zone of proximal development, this study examines how guided support facilitates the development of student leadership skills. Granting student leaders authority may either …

A Quantitative Analysis Of Cardiovascular Adaptations To Exercise And Endurance Performance Among Male And Female Collegiate Athletes, Ronnie Wayne Eggleston Jr.

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Cardiovascular adaptations to exercise are prominent among endurance athletes. While heart rate is used to determine exercise prescription and to measure overall health, little research has explored the influence of sex-based differences on changes in heart rate and performance outcomes. The purpose of this study is to investigate and compare cardiovascular adaptations to exercise in male and female endurance athletes, with a focus on heart rate and performance times. A quasi-experimental longitudinal design was used with a sample of 19 (nine males, ten females) collegiate triathletes on a university club sports team. Data was collected at the beginning and end …

Perceptions Of Recent Special Education Graduates Of The Transition Programming Taxonomy: Transcendental Phenomenological Research, Karen Sue Rozmus

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological research study was to develop an understanding of recent special education graduates' perceptions of transition programming taxonomy at a southern coastal community. Maslow’s theory of the hierarchy of needs was used. This theory directly relates to the study showing how important understanding the perceptions of support the recent special education graduates during their lived experiences as they transition into adulthood. The Central Research Question was: What are recent special education graduates’ perceptions of transition programming taxonomy? This transcendental phenomenological research study of 10 participants was designed to use data collected from independent interviews, focus …

The Faculty Advisor's Role In Student Retention And Success: A Case Study From The Student Perspective, Alice Lorraine Buchanan

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this collective case study was to understand the role of faculty advisors in student retention of traditional full-time undergraduate students in their final year of study at a four-year university. Guided by Bean’s theoretical model of student attrition, this study examined how organizational interactions influence students’ attitudes, advising satisfaction, and subsequent intent to leave. The Central Research Question was: How do faculty advisors influence student retention for traditional full-time undergraduate students in their final year at a four-year university? The setting was a small, faith-based, highly residential, private university in the Midwestern United States, where faculty advisors …

The Influence Of Burnout And High Teacher Turnover On Student Performance In A Kansas County School System: A Case Study, Matthew J. Chambless

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This embedded single-case study aimed to discover the influence of high teacher turnover in a school district in Kansas. The theory guiding this study was Herzberg's two-factor theory, as it addressed job satisfaction that determines teachers' intent to either remain in or leave the teaching profession. Individual interviews, focus groups, and document analysis were employed to answer the central research question investigating the effect of teacher turnover on student performance. Data were collected from 10 participants in a sample pool of over 480 teachers and administrators in the selected Kansas school district. Data analysis employed axial coding, triangulation, and theme …

The Role Of Leadership Style On Perceived Effective Communication And Job Satisfaction In The Community College Virtual Workplace, Julie I. White

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Advances in technology enable the creation of virtual workspaces, allowing geographically dispersed virtual employees to collaborate in teams and complete tasks. We must understand the advantages and challenges that virtual teams encounter. This research examines the relationships among leadership styles, perceived effective communication, and job satisfaction within virtual teams, specifically in community colleges. Transformational, servant, and authentic leadership styles of virtual leaders in higher education were evaluated. Participants include full-time and part-time virtual faculty from community college institutions. Data was collected through online surveys. A quantitative correlation research design was employed to explore the experiences of virtual faculty working at …

Higher Education Faculty Members’ Perspectives On Implementing Student Engagement Practices In Courses, Kimberly L. Williams

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

No abstract provided.

Childcare Center Administrators’ Challenges To Using Trauma-Informed Approaches With Children Experiencing Toxic Stress, Jessica Lynn Pierce

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

No abstract provided.

A Phenomenological Study Of Principals Leading Learning Recovery, Charlene Catherine Burroughs

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to understand the lived experiences of principals who worked to support the recovery of the learning lost by the school's fourth graders from a large, urban school district in Texas. Three centralized research questions guided this study. How did principals describe the lived experience of working to support the normalization of the educational experience so that the learning lost by the school’s fourth graders was recovered? How did principals describe their work as leaders who supported the educational process by developing resilience in the face of crisis? How did principals describe the impact …

From Educator To Entrepreneur: The Role Of Social Media In Shaping Digital Entrepreneurship In Music Education, Jennifer A. Fabianski

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Social media has become a vital component of music education, providing new opportunities for students and teachers to connect, collaborate, and create. While its use in education continues to grow, a noticeable gap remains in understanding the connections between social media and music programs. This is particularly evident regarding how it encourages entrepreneurship in music education. As digital platforms reshape how educators teach and learn, it is essential to leverage these platforms to actively build a strong digital presence. Incorporating this mindset will drive creative ventures that promote and market music programs on a global scale. This research examines the …