Digital Commons Network^™

Unpacking Exclusion: A Narrative Literature Review And Discrete Analysis Of Preschool Suspension And Expulsion, Megan Pheterson

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

This thesis explores exclusionary disciplinary practices in preschool settings, where children from marginalized groups, particularly racial minorities and those with disabilities, face a higher risk of suspension and expulsion. This thesis provides a qualitative overview and interpretation of existing literature, pointing trends and gaps in research and highlighting four main themes: (1) Navigating the layers of exclusionary practices: From policy to practice; (2) Exclusionary practices: An adult decision with complex consequences; (3) Exclusive education: Who is left out and why in early childhood settings; and (4) Resistance as a tool for inclusion. Through a Disability Critical Race Theory framework, this …

Preparing Educators To Effectively Engage With Postsecondary Stem Students With Autism, Luzconsuelo Gavaldon

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a lifetime mental disability (Boucher, 2009). Because the brains of people with autism work differently than their non-neurodiverse peers (Kuzminskaite et al., 2020), they tend to respond to external stimuli in a hypo- or hyper-sensory fashion. One of the primary considerations that must be accounted for when working with individuals with autism is that the brains of these persons are each neurologically distinct. In other words, there is no "one-size-fits-all" means by which individuals with ASD learn and develop and, consequently, no single way to therefore engage with said individuals (Anderson & Butt, 2017; Kuzminski …

The Inclusion Of Metacognition In Source Evaluation Instruction, Anthony Tardiff

Communications in Information Literacy

Though the ACRL Framework holds metacognition as crucial to exercising information literacy, its emphasis was reduced from prominence in early drafts to a single mention in the final document. At the same time, few of the frequently-taught sets of source evaluation criteria include a step for self-awareness. This raises the question: do librarians explicitly teach metacognitive concepts when they teach source evaluation? Online library guides about source evaluation from various colleges and universities in Washington state were analyzed, and librarians who taught source evaluation were surveyed to determine whether and to what extent metacognitive concepts were included as part of …

Parenting With Grace, Eva Nelson Cole

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

Parents are often caught off guard by the upheaval of adding children to their lives. Feelings of guilt, shame, isolation, and depression can arise when parents are faced with the demands and stressors that come along with having children. Studies have shown that children who have distressed parents endure lasting negative outcomes that can extend into the primary school years (Mihelic et al., 2018). Educating parents and giving them some awareness about what to expect can make a real difference. To have these conversations, I created a two-part parenting workshop for new parents at Parents’ Place in Pacific Grove, CA. …

A150: Analysis Of The Mechanism Of Resveratrol's Action On Myocardial Energy Metabolism In Exercise-Induced Fatigue Rats, Shang Xu, Jinru Cai, Yulong Hu

International Journal of Physical Activity and Health

Background/Purpose: Promotional effects of resveratrol on myocardial mitochondrial energy metabolism in exercise-induced fatigue rats were investigated by network pharmacology and animal experiments.

Method: In the present study, the effects of resveratrol on myocardial energy metabolism were assessed using network pharmacology with enrichment analysis. Forty-eight healthy male SD rats of 6–8 weeks of age were selected and randomly divided into blank control group (C), resveratrol administration group (R), exercise fatigue group (E), and exercise fatigue + resveratrol administration group (ER) with 12 rats in each group. Rats in E group and the exercise fatigue + ER group were weight-bearing 5% swimming …

Leveraging Ai Tools In University Writing Instruction: Enhancing Student Success While Upholding Academic Integrity, Daisuke Akiba, Rebecca Garte

Publications and Research

The emergence of AI-powered Large Language Models (LLMs), such as ChatGPT and Google Gemini, presents both opportunities and challenges for higher education, particularly regarding academic integrity in writing instruction. This exploratory study examines a novel pedagogical approach that integrates LLMs as required feedback tools in a university-level psychology writing assignment. The exclusive online approach emphasizes improvement through revision, requiring students to obtain AI-generated feedback on ungraded initial drafts based on an instructor-provided rubric, with final assessment focused on the quality of subsequent revisions. Analysis of survey data from 39 undergraduate students, incorporating both quantitative measures and qualitative responses, revealed several …

An Examination Of The Perceived Factors Of Internship Programs That Lead Students To Remain With An Organization After Completing An Internship, Dorance Renard Miles Ii

Masters Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

Over the past decade, there has been considerable growth in the number of undergraduate students completing internships in the United States (US). Through increased awareness and participation, internships have become known for developing career readiness skills, gaining first-hand experience in the workplace, and bridging the transition from academia to the world of work. As illustrated by the elevated number of college graduates reporting an internship experience upon graduation, internships are becoming a high-impact practice within the collegiate experience. Identified as a gateway to recruitment and hiring by organizations, internships are structured to provide students with direct work experience related to …

A176: Meta-Analysis Of The Effects Of Phototherapy On Sleep Quality Across Different Populations, Zhen Chen, Wenqiang Wu

International Journal of Physical Activity and Health

Background: Sleep, a fundamental physiological need for humans, significantly impacts an individual's physical and mental health. Phototherapy, a non-pharmacological intervention, has been extensively researched in recent years to improve sleep quality. This study aimed to systematically evaluate the effects of phototherapy on sleep quality across different populations through a meta-analysis, using Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index as the outcome measure, thereby providing a scientific basis for improving the population health levels and life quality.

Method: As of March 1, 2024, this study conducted a systematic search of four databases: Web of Science, PubMed, Embase, and CNKI. A comprehensive set of inclusion …

Student Loan Debt Disparity Among White, African American And Hispanic Women: A National View, Arnoldo Trejo

Theses and Dissertations

Published research into the student loan debt problem reveals a disproportionate impact on underrepresented groups within higher education, notably Hispanics, African Americans, and women students. Research on student loan debt underscores that lower-income and first-generation college students are significantly more affected when compared to their higher-income counterparts. The escalating trends in student loan debt are forcing college-going students in the United States to postpone major life events such as homeownership, marriage, and starting a family. The burden of high student debt negatively influences the accumulation of family wealth, including critical aspects such as home ownership, retirement savings, investments, and other …

Understanding Social Media As A Communicative Tool To Facilitate Critical Discourse: Using #Blackgirlmagic To Explore How Black Women In Higher Education “Talk Back", Crystal Spruill Carter

Theses and Dissertations

Black women have engaged through social media platforms, as a mechanism to uplift their embodiment, despite being relegated to the margins. The hashtag #BlackGirlMagic (BGM) is linked to narratives of Black women in higher education that are empowering and problematic. The development of the popular social media movement during a time when Black women were being portrayed negatively made engaging in the discourse "talking back" possible. This study explores the lived experiences of Black women college students and recent graduates, using currere as an analytical tool for my own communication journals entries as a data source to structure my reflections …

Leveraging A Community Of Practice To Advance Stem Education Reform And Promote Teacher And Student Self-Efficacy, Ruth Renee Colyer

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation examined the impact of the CREST-MECIS community of practice on K-12 STEM teachers and undergraduate and graduate students, addressing the urgent need for innovative approaches in science education to meet the challenges of the 21st century. The study was grounded in response to three primary problem statements: 1) the significant learning losses and socio-emotional challenges stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic, 2) the inadequacy of traditional instructional methods in post-pandemic classrooms, and 3) the need for culturally relevant and inclusive teaching practices that acknowledge students’ lived experiences. Data were collected through pre- and post-interviews, survey analyses, and qualitative feedback …

An Examination Of The Effect Of The Implementation Of A Trauma-Informed School Initiative On The Attitudes Of The Staff In A School, Michael Riddell

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological case study was to investigate the change in the attitudes of teachers pre and post implementation of a trauma-informed school initiative in a school in the Eastern Grand Region of Tennessee. As adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) have become more recognizable in school age children by teachers and school staff members due to an increase in knowledge about ACEs, there has been an increase in the number of trauma-informed initiatives undertaken by schools across the United States. Due to the challenges associated with the implementation of trauma-informed initiatives in schools, it is important for administrators …

Resilient Students: Traumatic Experiences, Aces, And Resources That Influence University Students’ Perceptions Of First-Year College Adjustment, Audrey W. Besch

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The history of understanding the impacts of trauma on individuals has shifted from a narrow focus on physical injuries to a multidimensional understanding of how trauma influences the development of psychological and emotional interactions. This evolving understanding has informed the implementation of trauma-informed practices and interventions across various sectors. Tennessee institutions of higher education recognize the connection between trauma, student success, and systemic interventions. University students who have experienced Adverse Childhood Experiences have heightened vulnerability to stressful events as they transition from high school to college, increasing the likelihood of lower educational attainment, higher drop-out rates, and higher rates of …

College Student’S Learning Experiences During Covid-19 Among Traditional And Post-Traditional Students Enrolled In Institutions Affiliated With The Appalachian College Association, Jo Anne Smith

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine the differences in the learning experiences, feelings and emotions, level of study support, and online learning during the COVID-19 pandemic between traditional and post-traditional college students enrolled in an institution affiliated with the Appalachian College Association.

A two-group comparison research design using a web-based survey was used for the study. Using the College Student’s Learning Experiences during COVID-19 among Traditional and Post-Traditional Students Enrolled in Institutions Affiliated with the Appalachian College Association survey, the research questions were analyzed with a sample size of N = 58, traditional college student group and N=33, …

Perceptions Of School Readiness Through The Lens Of Sel, Lisa Goncalves

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

School readiness includes a range of competencies and is influenced by both parental beliefs and teacher perceptions. Despite its significance, only a small number of states have an established definition of school readiness, which raises questions about how well stakeholder understandings align and the effectiveness of parental activities in promoting school readiness. In New Jersey, significant investments are being made to expand early educational opportunities, emphasizing the critical nature of this topic. With no standardized definition of school readiness and given the gaps in existing research, it is essential to explore the alignment between parent and teacher perceptions of school …

Insights From Father-Toddler Communication Via Tiktok, Joy Lee Hernandez, Abha Gupta

Teaching & Learning Faculty Publications

This qualitative study investigates the characteristics of interactions between fathers and toddlers, as well as their influence on language development. By utilizing video clips from the social media platform TikTok, this research observes and analyses fathers' responses and interactions with their toddlers. The findings indicate that fathers play a crucial role in supporting language development by engaging in conversations, expanding vocabulary, and providing emotional support. The study underscores the significance of fathers' involvement in nurturing language skills during early childhood. However, further longitudinal research is necessary to establish a definitive link between fathers' language input and toddlers' language development. Overall, …

Employee Development And Employee Resilience In The Post-Covid-19 Workplace: A Quantitative Study Of High School Educators, Amy Keiser Maffei

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The problem addressed by this research is the need for protective factors to support teacher resilience. Organizations that fail to develop employee resilience risk failing to enjoy the positive outcomes associated with it. Research-based methods to improve resilience may benefit organizations, including school districts. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between employee development provided by a school district and the resilience of its high school teachers in the post-Covid-19, in-person workplace. Conservation of Resources theory served as the framework to guide the research. Study participants completed a questionnaire with Likert-style response options, with items to assess …

Understanding Support For Former Foster Youth: Independent Living Coordinators Perspectives On Resiliency For Foster Youth In Higher Education, Aaron Abbott

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation examines the resilience of former foster youth in higher education, focusing on the perspectives of Independent Living Coordinators (ILCs) in Arkansas. The study explores the support systems and challenges that foster youth encounter, assessing factors that contribute to or hinder their educational success. Using a qualitative methodology with semi-structured interviews, it identifies key protective factors such as emotional support, stable mentorship, and institutional programs that promote resilience among foster youth. The findings suggest that tailored interventions and a strengths-based approach can significantly improve outcomes for this vulnerable student population. This research contributes to existing literature by offering insights …

Demystifying Research Paradigms: Navigating Ontology, Epistemology, And Axiology In Research, Lynette Pretorius

The Qualitative Report

A sound understanding of research paradigms is crucial for developing coherent and philosophically grounded research designs, particularly in the humanities and social sciences. This paper offers an accessible overview of the most common research paradigms: positivism, post-positivism, constructivism, social constructionism, interpretivism, pragmatism, and critical realism. These paradigms differ in their approaches to ontology (the nature of reality), epistemology (the nature of knowledge), and axiology (the role of values in research). The paper also discusses the methodological and ethical implications of these paradigms. Reflexivity and ethical responsibility are emphasised, where researchers must account for how their own biases and values influence …

Exploring The Impact Of Leaders’ Emotional Intelligence On Employee Retention And Job Satisfaction: An Employee-Centric Perspective, Stacia Mccambridge

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Employee retention and job satisfaction are crucial for the success of higher education institutions, as turnover incurs high costs and disrupts operations. This qualitative phenomenological study explored how leaders’ emotional intelligence, as defined by self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, and relationship management emotional intelligence, impacts employee satisfaction and retention in university settings in Southern California. The theoretical framework used for this study was the emotional intelligence theoretical framework of Goleman et al. (2002), which includes self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, and relationship management competencies to conduct surveys and interviews. The two research questions that guided this study of how employees described, based …

Nonacademic Factors That Effect Early College High School Student's Resilency, Amy Draper

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative descriptive study was an exploration of how counselors in early college high

schools (ECHSs), administrators in ECHSs, and the technical coaches who support the ECHS

model contribute to students’ resilience toward academic recovery. Using semistructured

interviews and survey questions, a sample of 15 counselors, administrators, and technical

coaches shared factors that impact ECHS recruiting practices, attrition rates, and the educational

success of individual ECHS students. Three themes were extracted from a sample of educators’

descriptions regarding their perception of the ECHS environment and the benefits and challenges

they experienced while working with ECHS students. They included the combined …

Argument Schema Of Undergraduate Engineering Students, Anu Singh

Dissertations and Doctoral Documents, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2023–

Critical thinking is one of the most desired skills in the workplace, as it assists an individual in solving complex problems and making informed decisions, resulting in their workplace success. Argumentation is one instructional approach that provides students an opportunity to engage in higher-order thinking and improve their communication skills. Argumentative writing provides opportunities to engage in multiple perspectives of a problem, provide evidence for the claim, evaluate evidence, engage in reasoning, and acknowledge self-bias, which automatically engages students in critical thinking. Previous literature has shown that despite the use of interventions and scaffolding approaches, students' argumentative texts lack elements …

Occupational Performance With Formstack: Academic Fieldwork Coordinator's Perceptions And Experiences, Sara Clark

Dissertations

This multiple descriptive case-study explored the perceptions and experiences of eight occupational therapy program academic fieldwork coordinators (AFWCs), regarding their usage of Formstack, as an online fieldwork data collection system. Previous survey research revealed that AFWCs had positive feelings about the new AOTA Fieldwork Performance Evaluation (AOTA, 2020) housed within Formstack (Sanders & Carpenter, 2024), but the AOTA AFWC national list-serve suggests frustration with the online platform itself. Past research by Sanders and Carpenter (2024) also recommended further investigation into the usability of Formstack. To this end, this inquiry focused on two research questions: (a) How do AFWCs at multiple …

Understanding Levels Of Perceived Racism And Discrimination When Utilizing Perinatal Care, Alexandria S. Evans

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Social and structural determinants of health, grounded in historical racism and discrimination, significantly influence maternal health outcomes. Because of this, communities of color experience a higher burden of maternal health disparities. In the last several decades, there has been an increased awareness of the need to integrate critical race theory into public health research to address maternal health disparities in the context of perinatal care delivery, policy, and funding decisions.

This three-manuscript dissertation utilized mixed methods to examine the ways in which systemic racism and discrimination are perceived and how it impacts the utilization of perinatal care services in historically …

Self-Regulated Learning Through Self-Concordant Goals, Social Modeling And Sustainability Focus, Oana Mandrutiu-Iancu

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Research has shown that when students spend time reflecting and autonomously selecting their college goals, they show high intrinsic motivation, low extrinsic motivation and improvement in emotional and social adjustment over the first several months of college. Despite of this, it is estimated that 77% of first- and second-year students are undecided on their major and many remain undecided as they transition into their junior and senior year. Moreover, in education settings the primary emphasis is on academic success, but focusing solely on academic goals is limiting. As learning is inherently social, academic and social domains cannot be separated, while …

Development And Testing The Predictability Of An Instrument Based On The Multi- Theory Model (Mtm) Of Health Behavior Change For Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (Prep) Uptake Among People Of Color, Siddharth Raich

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

HIV/AIDS continues to be a significant public health problem in the US and globally. In the US, it disproportionately affects people of color. In 2012, Pre-exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) was approved by the FDA for HIV prevention. PrEP reduces the chances of acquiring HIV by 99% among people at high risk. However, PrEP uptake among people of color remains low. Therefore, this study aimed to develop and test the predictability of an instrument to describe the intent to initiate and sustain PrEP use among people of color. This research utilized an exploratory sequential mixed methods design based on the fourth-generation, multi-theory …

Developing A Remote Gamma Spectra Collection System For Radiation Sciences At The University Of Nevada, Las Vegas, Haven Searcy

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Educational institutions of all levels have been significantly impacted by the COVID-19 epidemic with none more so than higher education. The challenges faced by researchers are numerous while performing a study and have only increased since the pandemic. Many colleges or universities have halted research to cut off unnecessary contact in order to protect study participants and research personnel. In the Department of Health Physics and Diagnostic Sciences (DHPDS) at the University of Nevada Las Vegas, a solution was developed that would allow scientists and students alike to be able to analyze already prepared samples either in the lab or …

Designing Technology-Enriched Learning Environments: The Effects Of An Agent-Based Computer Model On Biology Students' Understanding Of The Covid-19 Pandemic And The Nature Of Models In Science, April Sullivan

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Science education researchers have called for increased attention to the science practice of modeling to engage students in authentic scientific inquiry. A major challenge to integrating the modeling practice into science instruction is that students tend to conceptualize models as static end-products of research rather than generative tools for theory-building. Engaging students in using computer models, specifically agent-based computer models (ABMs), to explain and predict scientific phenomena could improve students' understanding of models in science. In this design-based research project I investigate the effects of an ABM-supported learning environment on high-school biology students' understanding of the COVID-19 pandemic and the …

The Impact Of Generational Trauma In Educational Spaces: Inherited Strategies And Tools For Coping, Conrado Abando Julian Iii

Education Dissertations

This phenomenological study explored the impact of generational trauma on educational spaces. This research involved narratives from eleven participants with diverse ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds and explored the nuanced ways in which generational trauma impacted the academic settings and how it influences students' social, emotional, and academic experiences. It identified three primary themes: the perception of generational trauma, its impact on academic experiences, and the coping mechanisms employed by individuals. Findings revealed that participants experience innate pressure to excel, often driven by familial expectations, alongside a lack of support which hindered academic motivation. Coping mechanisms such as various involvement in …

Emotional Intelligence And Self-Direction Orientation: An Examination Of Non-Academic Factors In Post-Pandemic Community College Students In Kansas And Missouri, Ashley Rader

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Post-pandemic learners face academic and non-academic challenges due the educational disruption caused by the COVID-19 virus. ACT college admissions test scores dropped to a 30-year low in 2023, falling the most significantly and rapidly during and after the pandemic (ACT, 2023) and recovery from these childhood and adolescent learning deficits has not been seen to date (Betthäuser et al., 2023). Research on non-academic factors, not as widely studied as academic factors, is crucial to understand where these learners’ deficits further lie. Two of those factors – emotional intelligence and self-direction orientation – were the key concepts of interest in this …