Digital Commons Network^™

Stakeholder Participation And Perceptions In Professional Learning Communities: A Case Study In A Small, Rural School District, Rachel M. Kowalski

Theses and Dissertations

This applied dissertation explored the interplay between collaboration within PLCs and classroom teacher perceptions of PLC implementation within a small, rural district. It examined how the involvement of different stakeholders in PLCs connects to overall perceptions of professional learning communities and how the participation of principals, administrators, and paraprofessionals shapes collaboration. The unique setting of a small and rural school district allowed the study to consider close interpersonal relationships that are common within these settings since these districts have limited human resources and individuals serve in various capacities within the organization. When stakeholders actively participate in PLCs, concerns arise about …

The Predictive Validity Of Sex Offender Treatment Progress Scale (Sotips) Using Iowa Sex Offenders, Holly Kelley-Chown

Theses and Dissertations

This study is a replication study of McGrath, Lasher, and Cumming's 2012 study. McGrath et al.'s population consisted of convicted Vermont sex offenders, while this replication study's population consisted of convicted Iowa sex offenders. Nearly 2,000 sex offenders are under the Iowa Department of Corrections community supervision (Daily Statistics-DOC Offender, 2023). Iowa uses SOTIPS, Static-99R, and the Iowa Risk Revised (IRR) to determine recidivism risk and supervision levels. The Static-99R was developed in Canada and has been validated in several jurisdictions, including Iowa (Statistical validation of the ISORA8 & Static-99 final report, 2010). The IRR was developed in Iowa using …

Perceptions Of Grade-11 Students On The School-Based Assessment In English A And B And Its Impact On Sense Of Self-Efficacy, Karlene Smith-Hines

Theses and Dissertations

This applied dissertation explored how 11th-grade students perceived the English A and B school-based assessment (SBA) and whether their portfolio experience impacted their sense of self-efficacy. Significant research has been conducted on the SBA exploring its benefits, impact, and relevance as well as the challenges and concerns encountered with implementation in various disciplines. Most of the research, however, has focused on teacher perspectives with minimal research exploring student perspectives and the assessment’s impact on them socially and academically.

This qualitative research study adopted an ethnographic approach with a realistic design to conduct this inquiry. This method was used because the …

Evaluation Of Effects Of Behavioral Skills Training In Promoting Three Social Skills In Young Child With Autism: A Multiple Probe Research Design Study, Jennifer Rey

Theses and Dissertations

This applied dissertation was designed to evaluate the effectiveness of the behavioral skills training model in teaching one 4-year-old child with autism to greet others, use an appropriate tone of voice, and use anger control. Moreover, this study assessed the maintenance of newly acquired social skills relying on a multiple probe research design. It was hypothesized that with the use of behavioral skills training the acquisition of the appropriate social skills at an early age would allow the child to engage with peers and adults in the training environment and later in a variety of social situations across other settings …

Harm-Focused Policing: A Comparison Of Citizen And Patrol Deputy Perceptions On The Severity Of Social Harms, Christina Finn

Theses and Dissertations

This study examined the perceptions of Volusia County citizens and patrol deputies regarding the severity of social harms attributed to incidents of criminal activity. Despite the widespread assessments of crime, the perceptions of associated harms remain unclear. Developing a social harm index may provide current insight into the opinions of harm as perceived by both the public and law enforcement agencies. Using a sequential explanatory mixed method design, patrol deputies from the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office and residents of Volusia County, Florida, were invited to complete a series of surveys and follow-up interviews. This study aimed to compare participant ratings …

Western Pacific K-12 Educators’ Adoption Of Digital Game-Based Learning, Lorraine Raqueño Catienza

Theses and Dissertations

Western Pacific educational institutions are investing heavily in technology in classrooms to meet the needs of K-12 students. Measuring the effective use of digital technologies in the learning environment has become a routine part of monitoring and evaluating classroom instruction. One area of technology integration that has seen tremendous growth is digital game-based learning (DGBL). The researcher is interested in examining K-12 western Pacific teachers’ willingness to adopt DGBL through a modified Technology Acceptance Model. This study aims to examine the extent to which teachers’ perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, and technology self-efficacy effects attitude toward adopting DGBL methods. …

Challenges Teachers Face When Implementing Mult-Tiered Systems Of Supports: Recommendations And Interventions, Amber Durrett Drake

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine the challenges that teachers faced when it came to the implementation of interventions and recommendations in the Mult-Tiered System of Support (MTSS). Through the MTSS, educators provided concentrated teaching, detected early signs of issues related to academic, behavioral, and speech deficiencies, and recommended fact-based interventions and practices in response to students’ needs. Identifying students’ deficits early reduced the risk of large student gaps and improved overall progress. Participants were seven Pre-k through Grade 5 teachers working in a Title 1 school located in a large metropolitan city area. Participants were selected through …

Perceptions Of Secondary School Mathematics Teachers Regarding Teaching Mathematics With Conceptual Understanding, Latisa Williams

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation was designed to provide current knowledge on the mindset of secondary school mathematics teachers regarding the use of Conceptual Understanding (CU) as an approach to teaching the subject. It is well-documented that when students learn to engage in mathematical conceptual explanations in meaningful ways, they improve their learning. However, reports have shown that students in secondary schools lack effective skills in explaining and applying CU for successful problem-solving. As a result, teachers struggle with methods of instruction that can effectively improve the level of CU with their students in mathematics.

For this study, the researcher used a qualitative …

Assessing The Needs Of Elementary School Students From Low Socioeconomic Environments Displaying Poor Performance In Reading, Reynaldo Flores

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation was designed to provide current information on the low reading level of students in Grade 4 who are from families of low socioeconomic status (SES). While it was known that SES is crucial to student learning which gave rise to initiates to address the problem, low SES students in elementary school continue to struggle to read at grade level. The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) is used to measure performance index framework in reading along with mathematics, writing, science, and social studies to address and correct deficiencies. The data for the ESSA was drawn from the State of …

Efectividad De Una Estrategia De Gamificación En El Aprendizaje En Un Curso De Microbiología En Una Escuela Superior En Puerto Rico, Frank Gregorio Torres Vélez

Theses and Dissertations

El propósito de este estudio fue determinar la efectividad de una técnica de gamificación en la proficiencia académica de estudiantes sobre estructuras y funciones celulares de organismos procariotas en una escuela especializada en ciencias y matemáticas de Puerto Rico. Esta investigación se fundamentó en la Teoría del Aprendizaje Gamificado de Landers y Teoría de la Autodeterminación de Deci y Ryan. Una muestra de 36 estudiantes del 11mo y 12mo grado, matriculados en un curso de Microbiología, participaron de este estudio cuantitativo de muestreo no probabilístico. Los estudiantes participaron de una clase invertida, ¡una actividad gamificada mediante Kahoot!, completaron preprueba, posprueba …

A Phenomenological Study Of Online Physical Education On Former Students’ Activity Levels And Fitness Concepts Knowledge, Jerry Veshio

Theses and Dissertations

This applied dissertation was designed to provide an understanding of the perspectives of former online physical education high school students and how participation in the course affected their ability to be active post-high school and their knowledge of fitness concepts. A phenomenological design was used to guide the study’s investigation. Participants in the study were interviewed about their experiences in online physical education while in high school and how that experience currently influences their physical activity levels. Additionally, respondents described the positives and negatives of their experience in the course, specifically as it relates to the course materials, assessments, instructor …

Shades Of Service: Navigating Racial Diversity, Mental Health, And Occupational Stress Among Black Police Officers, Manina Jeudy

Theses and Dissertations

This study was conducted to learn about the unique challenges Black police officers face by exploring their lived experiences. This study looked at how these current and retired Black police officers navigate racial diversity, handle occupational stress and how their mental health is affected. The research was prompted by the lack of existing literature that focuses specifically on the lived experiences of Black police officers, as most studies of policing do not address this population in depth. Through Zoom interviews with a small group of officers, this study revealed their struggles at work and in their personal lives. By sharing …

A Descriptive Study Of The Perception Of Emerging Adults Aged 18-25 Years Toward Police Efficacy And Image In The United States, Jude Louis

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to investigate the perceptions of emerging adults toward police efficacy and image. The study was descriptive, used quantitative methodology, and utilized a non-experimental design. Close-ended questions were used in an online format to survey emerging adults aged 18-25 years in the United States. The data was collected using the SurveyMonkey Audience, which was relatively cost-effective, able to gather information from the target audience within a short period of time, and efficient with any sample size. The study occurred over two months in 2024. Emerging adults in the United States aged 18-25 years irrespective of …

A Phenomenological Study On University Students’ Perceptions And Attitudes Of The Effectiveness Of Mobile Apps On Communicative Competence, Leveth Jackson

Theses and Dissertations

This phenomenological study is focused on understanding how university students who are learning English as a foreign language (EFL) perceive and experience using mobile application on their speaking abilities. The primary goal was to examine the perception and attitudes of EFL learners towards using mobile apps for independent English-speaking practice and creating a customized learning experience outside of the classroom.

The researcher also investigated the participants’ views on the challenges and advantages of incorporating mobile apps into university speaking courses. The findings of this investigation may inform language educators at universities on the potential benefits of using mobile apps in …

Engagement Strategies In A Virtual Classroom, Kelly Clarke

Theses and Dissertations

This applied dissertation was designed to determine if cooperative learning strategies increased student engagement in a virtual elementary classroom. The purposes of this study were (a) to determine whether the implementation of cooperative learning strategies increased student engagement and (b) to explore student perceptions of engagement.

In this mixed methods research, the writer utilized a sequential explanatory design. The pre-test and post-test survey used in this study was based on the Elementary Student Engagement: Student Response created by the American Institutes for Research (2023). Convenience sampling was used to select 12 students to complete both surveys. A total of 4 …

Community College Faculty Perceptions Of Their Role In The Academic Achievement Of Minoritized Students, Erin R. Smith

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the perceptions of community college faculty and the impact of those perceptions on the academic success of African American and Hispanic students. Within the context of the achievement gap, finding out how colleges can better serve disadvantaged students supported the aims of this study. This research strove to contribute to the literature on 2-year institutions of higher education and to provide research from the perspective of 2-year faculty. The findings of this study could contribute to faculty professional development, onboarding, and environmental changes for 2-year institutions in support of the academic …

A Post-Pandemic Measurement Of The Required Soft Employability Skills For Business School Graduates, Sean O. Stallings

Theses and Dissertations

This non-experimental descriptive quantitative applied dissertation was designed to identify and analyze the soft employability skills desired by mid-Atlantic employers of business school graduates in a post-pandemic environment. The study evaluated alignment of the competencies possessed by business school graduates and the desired skills of employers. The study explored opportunities to guide change in the development of learning outcomes for business school undergraduates that were influenced by the effects of COVID-19 to ensure adequate postgraduation placement and overall effectiveness of business school graduates.

Workplace readiness or employability also included identifying new hires who had the full package that included hard …

Black Teachers, Black Students, And Cultural Brokering: Leveraging Positionality To Strengthen Academic Identity, Shakasha L. Stevenson

Theses and Dissertations

This study utilized a phenomenological photovoice approach to understand the lived experiences of veteran Black high school teachers. Black teachers are positioned to serve as cultural brokers to support the academic identity of Black students. The prevalence of symbolic violence in the Eurocentric curriculum and other curricular practices continues to hinder successful outcomes for Black students. The study leverages the experiences of Black teachers to understand how their positionalities influence their decision-making and pedagogical practices.

The literature review explored research on the social and political implications of Black education, Black identity development, cultural brokering, and academic identity. More specifically, the …

Should We Disaggregate Latino Youths Based On Ancestral Group When Examining Risk Factors Of Violent And Delinquent Behavior, Elvis G. Sevilla

Theses and Dissertations

Researchers frequently aggregate Latino subgroups during statistical analyses despite findings indicating that cultural distinctions within Latino subgroups have unintended hidden impacts on analyses. This study disaggregated the Latino sample to assess if Latino youth samples differ among subgroups (i.e., Mexicans/Mexican Americans, Cubans/Cuban Americans, Puerto Ricans, Central/South Americans, and other Latinos) who self-reported violent and nonviolent delinquent behavior. Also, this study used Sampson and Laub’s age-graded theory to investigate life-course characteristics that predicted violent and nonviolent delinquent behaviors. A two-step approach analysis determined the differences in violent and delinquent behaviors among Latino subgroups and then which life-course risk factors predicted the …

Victim Advocates' Experiences In The Provision Of Domestic Violence Services For Jewish Women, Michael Sue Jenefsky

Theses and Dissertations

Domestic violence is a serious, dangerous global epidemic and does not discriminate. Domestic violence has no limitations happening in all communities, religions, and cultures. There are many types of abuse, and it is not always physical; however, the underlying threat of violence is perceived by victims. Abusers use manipulative and coercive tactics to gain and maintain power and control of victims. It is deliberate and a choice. Feelings of shame, guilt, blame, failure, helplessness, and being trapped with no means to escape are prevalent among victims. Jewish women have specific feelings and fears that are associated with halakha, Jewish law, …

Examining Digital Hostility Against Black Women: A Thematic Analysis Of The Black Manosphere On Twitter, Nekea Sanders

Theses and Dissertations

The Manosphere is a collective of powerfully influential men who create and control harmful narratives about women online. Individuals within the Manosphere are disseminating their beliefs and garnering support through various online platforms, including social media. This research study sheds light on the Black Manosphere, a group within the Manosphere that has gone under the radar, despite the detrimental and toxic content they publish online about Black women. This qualitative research study examined the hostile rhetoric published by the Black Manosphere on Twitter (now X) about Black women. The research questions guiding this qualitative examination were: (1) What types and …

Campus Police Legitimacy And Campus Crime Reporting: Moderating Effects Of Academic Major, James Earl Lyons Ii

Theses and Dissertations

Investigating crimes on college campuses is a prevalent phenomenon that often requires student cooperation with campus police. Using the procedural justice theory’s process-based approach, this applied research examined the likelihood of students reporting campus crime based on their perceived legitimacy of campus police and whether the student’s academic major moderated the relationship. The study used a quantitative, non-experimental design employing non-probability sampling methods.

Procedural justice is a theoretical approach that explains cooperation with police as the result of interactions. The theory asserts that regardless of the outcome, when citizens perceive interactions with police as procedurally just and fair, they are …

Punitive Experiences: Perspectives Of School Discipline Among Black American Males, Joseph Martin King

Theses and Dissertations

Among student groups within American public schools to date, Black males continue to be one of the most marginalized student groups in America. In spite of all the documented research findings that describe the problem from a research, policy, and practice standpoint, and given the plethora of well-documented knowledge of structural patterns identified and labeled as zero-tolerance policies and/or the school-to-prison pipeline, in conjunction with school reform attempts, Black males remain the largest segment of students who are academically discouraged and disproportionally affected by discipline in American public schools. Among the abundance of academic literature that describes the academic marginalization …

Faculty Experiences Incorporating Universal Design For Learning In Online Course Design At Historically Black Colleges And Universities, Chinyere Yvette James

Theses and Dissertations

Historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) contributed to over 20% of all bachelor’s degrees earned by African American students. Since the 2019 pandemic, HBCUs have provided more online course offerings to their students. The continued success of HBCUs depends on their ability to grow with technology. This study examined the lived experiences of faculty applying universal design for learning (UDL) principles in online courses at HBCUs. This study was conducted to gain insight into the impact UDL had on retention rates, learning experience, and implementation. Online courses at HBCUs are underdeveloped, which poses a problem for continued growth and success …

Examination Of The Differences And Similarities In The Classification Of Multiple Homicide Perpetrators, Lucy M. Papp

Theses and Dissertations

The applied dissertation compares the lifestyle and behavioral characteristics of mass, serial, and spree murderers. Historically, studies have focused on serial murder according to the perpetrator's typology or indicators at the crime scene. The current topics of research lack a comparison of these classifications. While the classification and described typologies are essential for academic and investigative purposes, understanding the impactful lifestyle factors of these perpetrators may also serve as an essential factor in predictive analysis, victimology, and the motive behind their heinous crimes.

The researcher collected data on the classifications for each type of multiple homicide perpetrator: mass, serial, and …

Exploring Communication Preferences And Experiences Of First-Generation Students: Bridging Psychological Distance With Librarians In Online, Hybrid, And In-Person Library Environments—An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis, Sabine Jean Dantus

Theses and Dissertations

This applied dissertation explored the preferred communication methods for reducing the psychological distance between librarians and 17 first-generation students (FG004 – FG020), including graduate and undergraduate participants in the University Libraries’ online, hybrid, and in-person environments. Through interpretative phenomenological analysis, eight themes emerged, illustrating how participants' communication preferences, cultural and linguistic demands, financial obstacles, and early library experiences affected their communication expectations with librarians.

The findings revealed a dichotomy between in-person and online communication preferences, with participants valuing both the immediacy and social presence of face-to-face interactions and the convenience of online tools like chat services. Cultural and linguistic familiarity …

A Qualitative Descriptive Study Of The Perspectives Of Health Care Leaders Concerning The Implementation Of Telehealth, Gary Gerard Camille

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative descriptive study was to explore how healthcare leaders on the east coast United States described the role of implementing, the outer setting, inner setting, individual characteristics, and the process when implementing telehealth in a patient-centered care environment in hospitals and healthcare facilities.

The study used a qualitative method with a descriptive design to capture the descriptions of the participant’s experience during the implementation of telehealth in a patient centered care environment in different health care facilities in east coast of the United States. Due to the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, the interview sessions and …

The Adolescent Community Reinforcement Approach With Contingency Management: Examining The Effectiveness Of Relapse Prevention Program For Adolescents, Gwendolyn Bullard

Theses and Dissertations

This applied dissertation was designed to examine the efficacy of the adolescent community reinforcement approach with and without contingency management to improve the lives of adolescents with substance use disorder in relapse prevention programs. Adolescents with substance use disorder do not have access to effective continuing care and relapse prevention in rural towns in the state of Georgia. There is no ongoing care for adolescents with substance use disorder that incorporates a comprehensive treatment plan that includes community reinforcement approaches along with contingency management.

Relying on a multi-element research design, the researcher investigated the interaction between the adolescent community reinforcement …

Investigating Teacher’S Perceptions Of Equitable Author Choices In Secondary High School Classrooms, Joy Price

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore how English teachers can incorporate diverse authors into instruction. The following research questions guided the study:

1. What do teachers describe as the pros/cons of integrating diverse perspectives into teachers’ instruction, in the form of literature by diverse authors?

2. In what ways and how can incorporating literature by diverse authors benefit students?

3. What challenges may teachers face when integrating diverse literature perspectives into instruction?

4. What might enable teachers to integrate diverse literature perspectives into instruction.

The researcher developed designed and field tested a questionnaire for teachers to take …

Middle School Mainstream Educators’ Perceptions Of Preparedness For Teaching English Language Learners, Jessica Lebron

Theses and Dissertations

This applied dissertation was crafted to investigate the perspectives of middle school educators concerning their preparedness to instruct English language learners (ELL), an expanding subgroup of students. Given that over half of the student population in the target school district communicates in languages other than English at home, there is a heightened emphasis on fostering language and cultural connections between educators and students. Despite this, a significant number of educators within the school expressed a sense of inadequacy in teaching ELL students. In response to these concerns, some educators proactively sought additional, more specialized professional development opportunities to enhance their …