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Conducting A Qualitative Umbrella Review For Novice Researchers: A Critical Reflection Of Primary Documents, Mónica Fontana, Celia Camilli Trujillo

The Qualitative Report

The need for scientific evidence in education has accelerated systematic reviews. However, the practice of conducting umbrella reviews is not yet common in education. Among the possible reasons for the scarce number of umbrella reviews in education is the lack of knowledge of the steps required to conduct them and the specific challenges of this method. Their usefulness in the educational context lies in their ability to offer new findings of great scope and transferability based on evidence from multiple systematic reviews in an efficient and in-depth manner. This study provides a critical reflection on the methodological implications of conducting …

Low Early Reading Skills In Children Entering Kindergarten In An Urban K-8 Center, Shelly D. Smith-Harding

Theses and Dissertations

This applied dissertation was designed to investigate the preparedness of kindergarten children in early reading skills, drawing comparisons from their experiences in comparable preschool programs and to gain insight about how to address the problem of low early reading skills among children entering kindergarten. Using archival data from i-Ready reading diagnostic tests over a 4-year period (2021-2022 to 2024-2025), the researcher compared students who attended an urban K-8 Center Head Start program (n=47) with students from other preschools (n=33).

The researcher conducted an independent t-test with SPSS, version 30 software, to analyze differences at the baseline (Assessment Period 1) and …

Percepción De Los Líderes De Organizaciones Sin Fines De Lucro De Puerto Rico Sobre La Utilidad De Las Herramientas De La Programación Neurolingüística, Ana Milagros García Del Valle

Theses and Dissertations

El propósito de este estudio fue explorar el grado de aceptación de la Programación Neurolingüística (PNL) como intervención para que los líderes puedan conocer el aprendizaje y desarrollen estrategias de comunicación. El marco teórico utilizado fue la Teoría de Niveles de Dilts (1989) y el Modelo de Cambio de Kotter (1996).

El diseño del estudio fue cuantitativo con enfoque cuantitativo-correlacional y el instrumento consistió en un cuestionario. En la primera pregunta los resultados demostraron un conocimiento moderado sobre los temas relacionados con la Programación Neurolingüística incluidos en el cuestionario. En la segunda pregunta los resultados reflejaron una percepción favorable hacia …

Improving Middle School Students’ Scores On Math Word Problems Through Reading Comprehension, Diane M. Burgess

Theses and Dissertations

This applied dissertation was designed to address the poor performance of middle school students on math word problems attributed to the lack of reading comprehension skills. A review of standardized math assessments for middle school students confirmed that the greater proportion of questions is made up of word problems. Despite having strong mathematical skills, middle school students are likely to fail to find the correct solutions for math word problems. In the middle school classroom, the development of reading comprehension skills and mathematical abilities are tasks required of different teachers. Math teachers at a middle school in Florida did not …

Teachers’ Experiences Implementing An Ai-Supported Reading Program In Kindergarten Through Grade 2: A Generic Qualitative Study, Janet Harrell

Theses and Dissertations

This applied dissertation was completed to explore kindergarten through grade 2 teachers’ experiences implementing an artificial intelligence (AI)-supported reading program during literacy instruction. Guided by a generic qualitative design, the study was designed to examine how teachers prepared to use the program, integrated it into daily literacy instruction, used AI-generated data to inform instructional decision-making, and experienced the instructional and contextual conditions that supported or hindered implementation. Purposeful sampling was used to recruit 10 kindergarten through grade 2 teachers with experience using Amira Learning. Data were collected through semi structured interviews and analyzed using thematic analysis.

Four themes emerged from …

The Implementation Of Small Group Direct Instruction For Reading Domains Of Second- Grade Students, Tarmeka Smith-Bennett

Theses and Dissertations

This applied dissertation explored how implementing small-group direct instruction in an elementary school setting affected the reading performance of second-grade students. The study examined how organized small-group direct instruction can elevate students’ reading achievement in phonics, vocabulary, and reading comprehension. Over a six week instructional period, a mixed-methods research design was used to collect quantitative and qualitative data.

Pretest and posttest students’ reading assessments were collected using quantitative data, while teachers' weekly reflections and surveys were collected using qualitative data. A total of 30 students identified as struggling readers, and three second-grade teachers who implemented small-group direct instruction participated in …

Embarazo Prematuro Y Abandono Escolar En Jóvenes Inmigrantes Hispanas: Estudio De Caso En Una Academia De Educación En Español, Danays Carbonell Dieguez

Theses and Dissertations

Esta disertación aplicada tuvo como propósito explorar las experiencias de jóvenes inmigrantes hispanas que abandonaron sus estudios debido a embarazos prematuros mientras participaban en el programa Success Management Academy (SMA), una academia de educación en español ubicada en el contexto de Miami-Dade County Public Schools. El estudio se desarrolló desde un enfoque cualitativo mediante un diseño de estudio de caso, con el fin de comprender los factores personales, familiares, educativos, socioeconómicos y culturales que influyeron en la interrupción de sus trayectorias escolares.

La investigación incluyó cinco jóvenes inmigrantes hispanas provenientes de Centroamérica que estuvieron vinculadas al programa SMA y experimentaron …

The Interaction Between Academic Self-Efficacy And Social Support: Exploring Moderation Effects On Academic Performance And Emotional Well-Being During The Transition To Secondary School, Luis Josué Ortiz Martes

Theses and Dissertations

The transition to secondary school can intensify academic demands and emotional strain, making it a critical context for examining students’ psychological and social resources. This applied dissertation examined whether perceived social support (SS) moderates the association among academic self-efficacy (ASE), academic performance (AP) and emotional well-being (EWB) among seventh-grade students at a private, multilingual school in Puerto Rico. Using a time-lagged, nonexperimental correlational design, 14 students completed the academic subscale of the Self-Efficacy Questionnaire for Children (SEQ-C) and the Social Support Appraisals Scale (SS-A) at the start of the academic year; EWB was assessed at midyear with the Negative and …

Elementary Teachers’ Perceptions Of Differentiating Tier 1 Reading Instruction Within A Multi-Tiered System Of Support Framework, Ivonne Ciresi

Theses and Dissertations

This generic qualitative dissertation explored elementary teachers’ perceptions and experiences of implementing Tier 1 differentiated reading instruction within a Multi- Tiered System of Support (MTSS) framework. Establishing effective systems and supports for comprehensive reading instruction in the Tier 1 classroom is a critical component of MTSS. Given the range of structures required, including instructional routines, resources, and ongoing professional development, it is important to understand how teachers navigate the challenges of differentiating reading instruction. The purpose of this study was to examine how teachers implement differentiation during core reading instruction, the challenges they encounter, and the role of professional learning …

Teachers’ Perceptions Of Successful Instructional Strategies To Improve The Language Arts Proficiency Of Third Grade African American Boys, Kristen Elena Gregg

Theses and Dissertations

The qualitative study examined instructional strategies that supported the academic achievement of African American boys. These are needed to increase reading proficiency. The study explored how K-6 teachers describe the unique academic needs of African American boys and the instructional strategies and activities teachers used to meet those needs to influence reading growth within the United States.

The study's theoretical foundation is guided by Lev Vygotsky’s Sociocultural Theory. The qualitative study explored whether teachers’ perceptions of pedagogical strategies they use when teaching reading and language arts. The qualitative study identified what instructional strategies teachers find most successful when attempting to …

Examining Language In Exclusionary Discipline Practices: A Mixed Methods Study Of A Medium Florida School District, Kathleen A. Wonnell

Theses and Dissertations

This applied dissertation examined office discipline referrals and the language used by teachers when describing disciplinary incidents. Additionally, it explored the coding assigned by administrators to these office discipline referrals and how those codes impacted the consequences assigned, possibly contributing to the use of exclusionary discipline. This mixed-methods study sought to contribute to the body of research on exclusionary discipline and disproportionate disciplinary outcomes. Office discipline referrals that resulted in exclusionary discipline in two comprehensive high schools were examined and administrators from the same schools who are responsible for coding disciplinary incidents were interviewed.

Themes that emerged from examining the …

The Perceptions Of Parents, Teachers, And Administrators On The Transition Of Latino Migrant Students Into Colleges, Sylma Samuel Ferreira

Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative case study examined the perceptions of Latino migrant parents, teachers, and school administrators regarding barriers affecting Latino migrant students’ transition to higher education in rural Mississippi Delta schools. Guided by achievement goal theory and culturally responsive pedagogy, the study explored how structural, cultural, and institutional factors shape students’ educational pathways. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 15 participants, including parents, teachers, and administrators.

Findings revealed that Latino migrant students face interconnected barriers to higher education, including financial constraints, language barriers, family responsibilities, and limited access to college preparation resources and transportation. Participants emphasized the influence of family …

Increasing Reading Comprehension Of Middle School Students With Hearing Disabilities, Abbis Bivins

Theses and Dissertations

In this study, the effectiveness of researcher-created training sessions for teachers designed to improve reading comprehension in class for students who are deaf or hard of hearing was examined. The training was focused on key instructional components, including morphology, syntax, vocabulary, phonology, explicit feedback, and activation of prior knowledge. Additionally, parent-focused strategies such as collaboration with professionals, reading routines, summarization, interactive reading, and the use of home language were taught. A qualitative research design was used to explore the perceptions for both teacher and parent groups following participation in six 1-hour training sessions.

Teachers’ findings indicated increased confidence, intentional instructional …

Usage Behavior Of Hispanic English Learners With Bilingual Homework Resources In Developmental Mathematics At Community College, Debra Krieg

Theses and Dissertations

This applied dissertation, grounded in the theoretical framework of metalinguistic awareness, was designed to understand how six Hispanic English learners (ELs) were utilizing homework help resources when offered in both English and Spanish. Specifically, the study was conducted at a mid-Atlantic community college with students enrolled in a developmental mathematics course. Homework has long been established as a tool that increases the probability of academic success. The shift to web-based assignments in developmental mathematics from traditional pencil and paper homework has yielded positive results yet little is known regarding how learners utilize bilingual digital assessment tools to achieve mastery of …

Implementing Effective Reading Strategies To Improve Reading Comprehension Among Minority Students, Mirlene Georges Moreau

Theses and Dissertations

This applied dissertation examined teachers' perceptions of instructional strategies used to support reading comprehension among minority middle school students. The purpose of the quantitative, non-experimental correlational study was to examine relationships among teacher-reported instructional strategies, differentiated instruction, culturally responsive teaching practices, and perceived student reading comprehension outcomes. Because the study relied on survey perception data rather than direct achievement data or experimental intervention, findings were interpreted as associations rather than causal evidence. Data were collected through a researcher-developed survey administered to middle school English Language Arts, ESOL, and reading teachers. Descriptive statistics (frequencies, percentages, means, and standard deviations) summarized demographics …

The Continuity And Fluidity Between Emergent Literacy Skills And Literacy Acquisition, Shiesha D. Otokina

Theses and Dissertations

This research study was undertaken because emergent literacy skills are crucial in helping children develop their reading abilities. Research suggests that early intervention is a key strategy for closing the achievement gap, and that early literacy skills develop as early as when children begin to communicate verbally and nonverbally. Studies show that the larger a child's vocabulary is, the quicker they learn to read.This study examined the significance of reading development and a child’s ability to acquire reading skills across the stages of reading acquisition.

This study compared student scores in the experimental and control groups to determine whether the …

Higher-Level Questioning In Elementary English Language Arts, Charity Zawatski

Theses and Dissertations

This exploratory case study addressed the difficulty with higher-level metacognition and questioning in a primary level elementary English Language Arts. This case study was determined as a need based on underperforming scores from the state assessment in ELA.

The research method look at the social phenomenon through inquiry around the rigor in higher-level questioning and the use of hand signals to support connections in learning. The researcher applied a semi-structured interview, an observation checklist, and a random sample of student artifacts as instruments for data collection. The researcher analyzed teachers’ lesson plans for a unit, observed a virtual classroom lesson …

Cultural Heritage Curriculum And Student Identity Development: A Mixed-Methods Study, Alexus Corley

Theses and Dissertations

This applied dissertation was designed to examine the influence of a cultural heritage curriculum on first-grade students’ cultural knowledge, awareness, and understandings of culture. Specifically, the study investigated the extent to which participation in a 4-week cultural heritage curriculum influenced students’ knowledge of cultural history and contemporary contributors, their understandings and perspectives about culture, and the convergence of quantitative and qualitative findings.

Using a qualitative-dominant mixed-methods research design, the study was conducted with 19 first-grade students enrolled in a Title I elementary school in Central Florida. Quantitative data were collected using the researcher-developed cultural knowledge preintervention and postintervention assessment and …

Reading Achievement And Response To Intervention Participation Among Socially Promoted Elementary Students In Grades 3 To 5: A Comparative And Predictive Analysis, Paige Griffin

Theses and Dissertations

This applied dissertation examined reading achievement among socially promoted elementary students in Grades 3 to 5 by investigating the relationship between Response to Intervention (RTI) participation and Spring I-Ready Reading Diagnostic scaled scores. Although RTI is widely implemented as a multi-tiered framework to provide targeted instructional support for struggling readers, limited research has examined reading outcomes among socially promoted students in rural elementary schools using standardized reading assessment measures.

This quantitative, non-experimental, causal-comparative study analyzed secure, de-identified archival student data obtained following approval from the Nova Southeastern University Institutional Review Board and authorization from school district personnel. The study included …

The Influence Of Haitian Immigrants’ Culture On Academic Outcomes At Elementary Level, Tonnette Samuels

Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative study explored how teachers, parents, and administrators perceived the influence of Haitian cultural values and practices on the organizational culture and academic outcomes of elementary students in a southern United States county. Guided by the resource-based view theory, which frames culture as an intangible organizational asset, the study used interpretative phenomenological analysis to examine the lived experiences of five participants, including three teachers, one parent, and one school administrator. Data were collected through semi structured interviews and analyzed to develop personal experiential themes for each participant and group experiential themes across cases.

The study’s findings generated four group …

Preferred Practices For A Student Support Services Program To Improve Retention Of African-Caribbean Students Enrolled In U.S. Universities, Jean F. Edouard

Theses and Dissertations

The problem addressed in this research was the high attrition rate of African-Caribbean students enrolled in U.S. universities. This study aimed to ascertain preferred practices in student support services programs to improve the retention of African-Caribbean students enrolled in U.S. higher education institutions. African-Caribbean students come to the United States with premigration experiences (e.g., language, cultural differences, and financial constraints). This generic qualitative study used semistructured Zoom interviews lasting 45–60 minutes with 12 African-Caribbean students who left their country of origin after age 12; interviews offered insight into their lived experiences and perceptions of U.S. higher education institutions. This study …

Reflexivity And Collaboration In Tesol Research: A Qualitative Review Of Participatory Practices In Global Contexts, Elih Sutisna Yanto

The Qualitative Report

This review critically examines with Building a Culture of Research in TESOL: Collaborations and Communities, edited by Jessie Hutchison Curtis and Özgehan Uştuk, through the lens of qualitative research practice. The volume contributes to the ongoing dialogue on the democratization of TESOL research by introducing collaborative research, autoethnography and reflective narratives. Drawing on a number of global case studies, the book highlights participatory approaches which blur the boundaries between researcher and practitioner, especially in contexts where the language is underpresented. This review explores how the book conceptualizes the partnerships between teachers and researchers as reflexive, context-sensitive production of knowledge …

Opening Paths: Subjective And Professional Trajectories In Psychosocial Intervention For Victims Of The Armed Conflict In Colombia, Edwin Alexander Hernandez Zapata, Diana Vanessa Vivares Porras, Juan David Soto-Fadul

The Qualitative Report

In this study, we analyzed the affective experiences and labor subjectivation processes of community psychologists working in intervention programs implemented by state institutions in Colombia for victims of the armed conflict, a conflict that remains ongoing in various regions of the country. By labor subjectivation processes, we refer (drawing on Foucault) to the ways in which individuals come to relate to themselves and to others through the norms, discourses, and practices that shape their roles within a given historical and institutional context—in this case, the field of psychosocial labor. To conduct this research, we used discourse analysis and semi-structured interviews …

Use Of Generative Ai In Academia: Collaborative Autoethnographic Perspectives From Nnes And Nes Scholars, Tianshi Hao, Ziyue Guo, Jade Winn, Paul Sparks

The Qualitative Report

The advancement of Generative AI (GenAI) has shaped the ways people learn, teach, and perform research in the field of academia. However, there is a lack of studies that explore how GenAI makes differences on both Native English Speaking (NES) and Non-Native English-Speaking (NNES) scholars' academic work and experiences. This study aims to examine the experiences and perceptions of two Asian NNES Ph.D. students and two American NES professors regarding the use of GenAI tools in their academic work, through a Collaborative Autoethnography (CAE) approach. Data were collected through individual and group reflections, analyzed using the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM). …

Poetry’S Role In Shaping Critical Thinking In Indonesian Learners Of English As A Foreign Language, Hamzah Puadi Ilyas, Nani Solihati, Istaryatiningtias Istaryatiningtias

The Qualitative Report

This research investigated the role of poetry interpretation activities in fostering the development of critical thinking abilities among Indonesian English as a foreign language (EFL) students in a higher education setting. Given the scarcity of research in this area, this study contributes to the existing body of knowledge on the subject. To this end, the research posed three research questions: (1) How does poetry influence the development of critical thinking abilities in EFL learners? (2) What types of critical thinking activities are facilitated by poetry? (3) How do students perceive the benefits of using poetry for critical thinking? A total …

My Research Journey Into Family Domestic Work: Methodological Reflections Of Conducting Research With Sister-Maids And Sister-Madams In Limpopo, Percyval Bayane

The Qualitative Report

Research has been conducted on domestic work in South Africa with studies focusing on domestic workers’ conditions during Apartheid and examining the little to no changes post-Apartheid. Domestic work in post-Apartheid South Africa involves the hiring of family and friends as domestic workers, and this is an under-researched area. As a young black man researching family domestic work, I was confronted with methodological challenges relating to negotiating access and conducting interviews with older black women hiring relatives and those working for family members as domestic workers. This reflexive paper reflects on my personal journey and experiences of conducting qualitative research …

Pedagogies Of Peace And Justice In Integrated Israeli-Palestinian Youth Programs, Tchelet L. Tutman, Aviv Cohen

Peace and Conflict Studies

This qualitative study investigates how pedagogical choices in Israeli-Palestinian peace education programs shape the enactment of educational aims related to citizenship, justice, and democratic engagement. Drawing on interviews, observations, and document analysis from four educational organizations working with Jewish and Palestinian citizens of Israel, the study explores how educators navigate core dilemmas including whether and how to address the conflict directly, contend with language asymmetries, respond to participant resistance, and facilitate dialogue during periods of political violence. The analysis develops four pedagogical models: Neither-Nor, Both-And, Encounter, and Conflict Without Meeting, which capture distinct strategies for balancing intergroup interaction with engagement …

Navigating The Storm: A Qualitative Metaphor-Based Analysis Of Resilience And Identity Reconstruction Among Displaced Professionals, Erhan Atay, Serkan Bayraktaroglu, Leo Johannesberg

The Qualitative Report

Building on previous management scholarship, this paper explains how Conceptual Metaphor Theory (CMT) and metaphorical expressions inform organizational resilience and leadership communication in employee support strategies. It tries to capture the interplay between personal sensemaking and collective adaptation. The study aims to provide practitioners with hands-on insights into developing inclusion, resilience, and identity reconstruction in organizational and societal contexts of disruption. The analysis identifies three critical metaphorical themes: resilience, which is likened to "climbing a mountain;" isolation, which is likened to being "trapped in a bubble;" and identity reconstruction, which is likened to "picking up the shattered pieces of a …

Translanguaging In Indonesian Efl Classrooms: Pedagogical Insights And Student Perspectives, Fauzi Miftakh, Elih Sutisna Yanto, Annisa Fitria Harjadi

The Qualitative Report

This study investigates translanguaging practices in Indonesian secondary English classrooms and analyzes how teachers and students use multiple languages to enrich the learning experience. Drawing on observations, interviews, and field notes from two teachers and four students in West Java, the study found that translanguaging fosters student comprehension, confidence, and identity affirmation. Teachers strategically used English, Indonesian, and Sundanese to scaffold instruction across various phases, creating an inclusive learning environment. Students responded positively, pointing to a reduction in anxiety and improved participation. These findings are consistent with sociocultural learning theories and challenge monolingual ideologies. The study concludes that translanguaging is …

Indonesian Efl Learners’ Views Of Fondi Application Toward Speaking Performance: A Qualitative Approach, Toni Indrayadi, Suhaimi Suhaimi, Usman Usman

The Qualitative Report

This study aims to explore English department students’ perceptions regarding the effectiveness of Fondi Application (FA) in enhancing speaking proficiency. FA is a Task-Based Language Teaching (TBLT) application that provides conversations in the form of voice calls packaged like games. This qualitative approach is based on semi-structured interviews and thematic analysis. Five selected participants with FA technology intervention were interviewed about their perception after using the application as self-learning media for two months. Five main themes emerged from the findings; FA is a potential technological tool to enhance speaking proficiency including fluency, lexical resources, grammatical accuracy, and pronunciation. The participants …