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Secure And Trustworthy Hardware And Machine Learning Systems For Internet Of Things, Shayan Taheri Jan 2021

Secure And Trustworthy Hardware And Machine Learning Systems For Internet Of Things, Shayan Taheri

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

The advancements on the Internet have enabled connecting more devices into this technology every day. This great connectivity has led to the introduction of the internet of things (IoTs) that is a great bed for engagement of all new technologies for computing devices and systems. Nowadays, the IoT devices and systems have applications in many sensitive areas including military systems. These challenges target hardware and software elements of IoT devices and systems. Integration of hardware and software elements leads to hardware systems and software systems in the IoT platforms, respectively. A recent trend for the hardware systems is making them …


Analysis Of Sign Language Facial Expressions And Deaf Students' Retention Using Machine Learning And Agent-Based Modeling, Marie Alaghband Jan 2021

Analysis Of Sign Language Facial Expressions And Deaf Students' Retention Using Machine Learning And Agent-Based Modeling, Marie Alaghband

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

There are currently about 466 million people worldwide who have a hearing disability, and that number is expected to increase to 900 million by 2050. About 15% of adult Americans have hearing disabilities and about every three in 1,000 U.S. children are born with hearing loss in one or both ears. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that unaddressed hearing loss poses an annual global cost of $980 billion, including cost of educational support, loss of productivity, and societal costs. These are all evident that people with hearing loss are experiencing several kinds and levels of difficulties. In this dissertation, …


Periodicity Estimation Using Representations In Nested Periodic Dictionaries With Applications In Neural Engineering, Pouria Saidi Jan 2021

Periodicity Estimation Using Representations In Nested Periodic Dictionaries With Applications In Neural Engineering, Pouria Saidi

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

In this dissertation, we investigate periodicity estimation with nested periodic dictionaries (NPDs), a newly introduced family of matrices that can capture periodicity in the data. We address two main problems. First, we study the detection of periodic signals using their representations in NPDs. To this end, the detection problem is posed as a composite hypothesis testing problem, where the signals are assumed to admit sparse representations in a Ramanujan Periodicity Transform (RPT) dictionary as an instance of NPDs. For the binary case, we develop a generalized likelihood ratio detector and obtain exact distributions of the test statistics in terms of …


An Investigation Of Student Mental Health Supports In Florida Public School Districts, Rebecca Carter Jan 2021

An Investigation Of Student Mental Health Supports In Florida Public School Districts, Rebecca Carter

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

The purpose of this study was to determine the mental health services being provided to students in the state of Florida, specifically the identification of mental health concerns among students, prevention strategies, and interventions utilized. This study consisted of a document analysis of the Mental Health Assistance Allocation Plans submitted to, and posted by, the Florida Department of Education, for the purpose of developing a grounded theory to standardize the recommended practices in serving the mental health needs of students. Standardized recommended practices that emerged from the analysis included (a)universal screening to identify students demonstrating or developing mental health concerns, …


An Examination Of Factors Associated With Lgbtq+ College Students' Adoption Of Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (Pep) As An Hiv Prevention Method, Shayna Forgetta Jan 2021

An Examination Of Factors Associated With Lgbtq+ College Students' Adoption Of Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (Pep) As An Hiv Prevention Method, Shayna Forgetta

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

Post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) is an effective human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) prevention medication taken after exposure, yet it is not widely used in the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer/questioning (LGBTQ+) community. Understanding its acceptability is vital, given this population's increased risk for contracting HIV. Drawing from the Health Literacy Skills Framework and the Theory of Planned Behavior, this study provides an examination of PEP-related awareness and knowledge, as well as intention to request and use PEP. Using a cross-sectional survey design, a convenience sample of 131 LGBTQ+ college students from a Southeastern university was recruited through email and social media. …


Examining The Experiences Of New Manager Coaches, Theresa Greer Jan 2021

Examining The Experiences Of New Manager Coaches, Theresa Greer

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

The purpose of this study was to examine new managers' experiences as they transitioned from an individual contributor and coachee to a manager and coach at Blue Sun Corporation (pseudonym). Understanding these experiences was essential to providing appropriate support to help new manager coaches acquire the coaching skills needed to consistently coach and develop their employees. This study's results will guide the design of future new manager training and organizational support initiatives by providing a deeper understanding of new manager coaches' experiences. A phenomenological research design was used for this study because it focused on understanding new manager coaches' experiences …


Health Literacy, Knowledge, Attitudes, And Opioid Use Behavior Among College Students, Khristen Holmes Jan 2021

Health Literacy, Knowledge, Attitudes, And Opioid Use Behavior Among College Students, Khristen Holmes

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

Opioid-related deaths have increased rapidly over the last couple of decades due to the overprescribing of prescription opioids and the availability of illicit drugs from family members, friends, or street dealers. To address this crisis, this research will attempt to identify how health literacy levels affect knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors. Hence, this study is informed by the Knowledge-Attitude-Behavior (KAB) Model. The KAB model is used to determine the influence of knowledge and attitudes on behaviors, which includes prescription drugs, illicit drugs, and fentanyl. This dissertation aims to explore the relationships between health literacy, knowledge, attitude, and behavior for opioids (prescription …


Switchable Slot-Ring Antennas For Customizable Phased Array Applications, Junyi Huang Jan 2021

Switchable Slot-Ring Antennas For Customizable Phased Array Applications, Junyi Huang

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

Switchable-band shared-aperture slot-ring antennas with wide bandwidth and polarization agility are explored in this article for phased array applications. A common antenna aperture can be reconfigured between S-band and C-band arrays using PIN diode switches. A new arraying technique is implemented herein to achieve reconfigurable polarization states. Within each array element, only one port is needed to realize reconfigurable polarization states by providing appropriate phases to each port. Compared with the state of the art, this arrangement can reduce the number of ports of a large phased array by half, therefore significantly reduce the cost and complexity, eliminate the isolation …


On The Strategic Relationship Between Leadership And Innovation In Us Firms, Shabeer Kirmani Jan 2021

On The Strategic Relationship Between Leadership And Innovation In Us Firms, Shabeer Kirmani

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

Leadership is one of the most important factors in organizational success. Innovation is another of most important factors in organizational success. Leaders play a pivotal role in the innovation capabilities of organizations. One of the most important areas in Leadership Studies (LS) is the association between leadership style and the firm's innovation performance, but a lack of understanding and consensus still remains as a major issue. This research aims to address the research gap by reviewing the empirical literature and determining how the ambidextrous leadership (transactional and transformational) styles in top level U.S. management (CEOs) are related with firm ambidextrous …


Challenges Of Duality: Conflict And Satisfaction In Maintaining Roles As Students And Employees, Jade Laderwarg Jan 2021

Challenges Of Duality: Conflict And Satisfaction In Maintaining Roles As Students And Employees, Jade Laderwarg

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

Previous research has overlooked university employees' dual working student role as a potential antecedent to altered job perceptions. Therefore, a causal-comparative, quantitative study was conducted to examine how enrollment affects the job satisfaction, role conflict, and role ambiguity of non-instructional university staff. The researcher tested demographic variables, such as age, gender, racial identity, parental status, marital status, and years of service to determine if they moderated the relationship between enrollment and job perception. Among the 811 full-time university staff members who participated, 197 were enrolled as students and 614 were not enrolled. Participants completed the Measure of Job Satisfaction, the …


Understanding Discourse Of Co-Teachers In Middle School Mathematics Inclusive Classrooms, Amanda Lannan Jan 2021

Understanding Discourse Of Co-Teachers In Middle School Mathematics Inclusive Classrooms, Amanda Lannan

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

The researcher in this study investigated the verbal discourse moves of co-teachers in middle school mathematics classrooms to solicit students' mathematical thinking with a specific focus on students with disabilities. In this examination of two classrooms, students received high-level mathematics instruction from expertly trained co-teachers. A quantitative analysis of the video transcripts using a validated tool for coding teacher behaviors was used to examine the content and context of mathematical discourse in each of the classrooms. The researcher examined qualitative data using a critical discourse framework. Three themes emerged from the discourse analysis: (a) empowerment of co-teachers, (b) strategic use …


Engaging Elementary Preservice Teachers In Reflection For, In, And On Practice During An Approximation Of Practice In Teachlivetm Using Sentence Frames For English Language Learners, Courtney Lopas Jan 2021

Engaging Elementary Preservice Teachers In Reflection For, In, And On Practice During An Approximation Of Practice In Teachlivetm Using Sentence Frames For English Language Learners, Courtney Lopas

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

The purpose of this study was to explore how a teacher educator (myself) and preservice teachers engaged in joint reflection-for-action, reflection-in-action, and reflection-on-action during an approximation of practice in a TeachLivETM setting using sentence frames to support English Language Learners' (ELLs') writing. Four elementary education preservice teachers participated in this study based on set inclusion criteria. This action research study included video-recorded approximations of practice, the sentence frames preservice teachers submitted in the skill seven module, reflective journaling, and analytic memoing. Instructional sequence analysis through transcription, holistic coding, message units, action units, interaction units, instructional sequences, and phase units were …


Male Students Of Color In Stem Through The Lens Of Intersectionality: A Transformative Mixed-Methods Exploration Of Their Science Identities, Relevant Science Learning Experiences, And Decisions To Pursue Science Professions, Regina Mccurdy Jan 2021

Male Students Of Color In Stem Through The Lens Of Intersectionality: A Transformative Mixed-Methods Exploration Of Their Science Identities, Relevant Science Learning Experiences, And Decisions To Pursue Science Professions, Regina Mccurdy

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

The purpose of this 3-phase transformative mixed-methods study was to use intersectionality theoretical framework to explore the science identities and relevant science learning experiences of male students of color (MSOCs) in STEM and their decisions to pursue science professions after college. Phase 1 utilized a researcher-developed survey to analyze differences in science identity scores (SIS), science relevancy scores (SRS), and decisions to pursue science professions of 702 diverse college students enrolled in STEM-related courses at a state college in Southeast United States. While there were no statistically significant differences in SIS and SRS scores regarding race/ethnicity or socioeconomic factors, statistical …


An Examination Of Secondary English Language Arts And Social Studies Teachers' Perceptions And Implementation Of Effective Literacy Instruction Practices In Their Content Area Classrooms: A Correlation Study, Melissa Mitchell Jan 2021

An Examination Of Secondary English Language Arts And Social Studies Teachers' Perceptions And Implementation Of Effective Literacy Instruction Practices In Their Content Area Classrooms: A Correlation Study, Melissa Mitchell

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

According to national assessments of student performance, struggling readers in secondary grades continue to struggle, specifically in the areas of vocabulary development and reading comprehension. As a result, the identified students struggle with content area learning. It is important to examine content area teachers' perspectives and instructional needs about the role of reading/literacy in their content area. This study uses a correlational research design, consisting primarily of collection and analysis of inventory data, collected from 74 secondary English Language Arts (ELA) and Social Studies teachers in grades 6-12. The use of correlational design was selected to examine possible relationships between …


Highly Sensitive Child Scale For Preschool Age Children: Development, Initial Validation Of A New Instrument, Bethany Russell Jan 2021

Highly Sensitive Child Scale For Preschool Age Children: Development, Initial Validation Of A New Instrument, Bethany Russell

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

The health of the caregiver-child relationship is imperative for positive long-term mental health outcomes in children and is dependent on caregivers' understanding of their child's behaviors. Misunderstanding a child's behaviors prevents caregivers from responding to their child in a nurturing manner, which creates disconnection in the caregiver-child relationship. Unfortunately, children with sensory processing sensitivity are particularly likely to experience such misunderstanding in their relationships with caregivers. Sensory processing sensitivity (SPS) is a temperament trait manifesting in stronger neurological and emotional responses to stimuli. To increase understanding of children's needs through proper discovery of SPS, the researcher developed the Highly Sensitive …


Examining The Lived Experiences Of Secondary Teachers Using Visuals And Leveled Texts With English Learners At Various Levels Of Language Acquisition, Jasmine Taylor Jan 2021

Examining The Lived Experiences Of Secondary Teachers Using Visuals And Leveled Texts With English Learners At Various Levels Of Language Acquisition, Jasmine Taylor

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

The purpose of this qualitative, phenomenological Dissertation in Practice was to understand teachers' experience with the creation and use of visuals and leveled texts, written at various English proficiency levels, with English learners (ELs) in English II classrooms at a large high school in Central Florida. The need to examine teachers' experience with these scaffolds arose from the disparity between academic achievement rates of ELs and non-ELs as measured by the Florida Standards Assessment (FSA). This complex problem can be addressed from a multitude of perspectives, and this Dissertation in Practice sought to examine specific practical scaffolds that mainstream English …


Classification Of Ground-Truth Fire Debris Samples Using Neural Networks, Nicholas Thurn Jan 2021

Classification Of Ground-Truth Fire Debris Samples Using Neural Networks, Nicholas Thurn

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

Fire debris samples are currently analyzed according to ASTM E1618-19, which is the "Standard Test Method for Ignitable Liquid Residues in Extracts from Fire Debris Samples by Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry." This method requires that an analyst make a visual comparison to an appropriate reference sample using the total ion and the extracted ion chromatograms. The analyst then provides an opinion about whether an ignitable liquid residue is present in the sample. The method is inherently subjective due to the visual interpretation that is needed. In order to automate this process, this work uses neural networks and a subset of the …


High-Density Neurochemical Microelectrode Array To Monitor Neurotransmitter Secretion, Kevin White Jan 2021

High-Density Neurochemical Microelectrode Array To Monitor Neurotransmitter Secretion, Kevin White

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

Neuronal exocytosis facilitates the propagation of information through the nervous system pertaining to bodily function, memory, and emotions. Using amperometry, an electrochemical technique that directly detects electroactive molecules, the sub-millisecond dynamics of exocytosis are revealed and the modulation of neurotransmitter secretion due to neurodegenerative diseases or pharmacological treatments can be studied. The method of detection using amperometry is the exchange of electrons due to a redox reaction at an electrochemically sensitive electrode. As electroactive molecules, such as dopamine, undergo oxidation, electrons are released from the molecule to the electrode and an oxidation current is generated and recorded. Despite the significance …


Paleoethnobotanical Analysis Of Maya Ceramic Residues From Holtun, Guatemala, Kimberly Batres Jan 2021

Paleoethnobotanical Analysis Of Maya Ceramic Residues From Holtun, Guatemala, Kimberly Batres

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

To the Maya, plant-based foods were not just important for sustenance but also had ritual meaning that was especially emphasized when placed in graves and caches. Food offered during ritual performances created a reciprocal relationship between living individuals, their ancestors, and the gods. The following thesis examines seven ceramic sherds associated with burial and cache offerings of individuals from the lowland Maya site of Holtun, Guatemala, that were found to have contained food offerings. Starch analysis, a method used to determine plant taxa on a microscopic level was performed on the ceramic vessels along with various experimental molecular spectroscopic procedures. …


Cognitive Rehearsal, Self-Efficacy, And Workplace Incivility Among Baccalaureate Nursing Students, Alina Diaz-Cruz Jan 2021

Cognitive Rehearsal, Self-Efficacy, And Workplace Incivility Among Baccalaureate Nursing Students, Alina Diaz-Cruz

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

Workplace incivility is a widespread problem in the clinical work environment that affects present and future generations of nurses. The purpose of this study was to determine if a cognitive rehearsal intervention (i.e., TeamSTEPPS® DESC script) would increase senior nursing students' self-efficacy, decrease workplace incivility experienced in the clinical work environment, and if nursing students' pre-intervention self-efficacy level would be indirectly associated with post-intervention workplace incivility. A quasi-experimental, one-group pretest-posttest study was used to measure the effect of a cognitive rehearsal intervention on nursing students' self-efficacy levels and workplace incivility experienced in their clinical rotation at an acute care center. …


College Students With Autism Spectrum Disorder Enrolled In Stem Disciplines And Their Experiences With Support Systems: A Qualitative Exploration, Michelle Howell Jan 2021

College Students With Autism Spectrum Disorder Enrolled In Stem Disciplines And Their Experiences With Support Systems: A Qualitative Exploration, Michelle Howell

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

As the number of individuals diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) increases, the number of those individuals graduating from high school with the goal of pursuing postsecondary education also increases. For those students with ASD interested in pursuing higher education, Wei et al. (2013) found that they have a propensity to pursue STEM disciplines. The purpose of this qualitative inquiry was to explore the ways students with ASD pursuing STEM disciplines described their experiences with support before and during college. Using Schlossberg's (1984) 4S Transition Model as a framework, the researcher conducted interviews with ten students to explore the challenges …


A Holistic Approach For Power Systems Using Machine Learning And System Dynamics, Bibi Ibrahim Jan 2021

A Holistic Approach For Power Systems Using Machine Learning And System Dynamics, Bibi Ibrahim

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

The growing digital economy has imposed greater demand on the electricity supply's reliability in the past decades, with more consumers and electric vehicles (EV) becoming connected to the electric grid. While the uncertainty of the outcomes is unavoidable, there is a need for more accurate forecasts, modeling tools, and detailed roadmaps that can support the reliable transitioning of power systems. Predicting the electricity demand growth will allow energy managers to understand consumer demand in the near future better. However, there are challenges for forecasting the peak demand growth since it is very difficult to model the various complex features that …


Influence Of Geography On The Healthy Gut Microbiome And The Role Of The Gut Microbiome In Ibd Symptom And Disease Progression, Sayf Al-Deen Hassouneh Jan 2021

Influence Of Geography On The Healthy Gut Microbiome And The Role Of The Gut Microbiome In Ibd Symptom And Disease Progression, Sayf Al-Deen Hassouneh

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

The human gut microbiome is believed to play an integral role in host health and disease. In a microbial community, associations between constituent members play an important role in determining the overall structure and function of the community. To understand the nature of bacterial associations at the species level in healthy human gut microbiomes, we analyzed previously published collections of whole-genome shotgun sequence data, from fecal samples obtained from four different healthy human populations. Using a Random Forest Classifier, we identified bacterial species that were prevalent in these populations and whose relative abundances could be used to accurately distinguish between …


Applying Machine Learning Techniques To Improve Safety And Mobility Of Urban Transportation Systems Using Infrastructure- And Vehicle-Based Sensors, Zubayer Islam Jan 2021

Applying Machine Learning Techniques To Improve Safety And Mobility Of Urban Transportation Systems Using Infrastructure- And Vehicle-Based Sensors, Zubayer Islam

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

The importance of sensing technologies in the field of transportation is ever increasing. Rapid improvements of cloud computing, Internet of Vehicles (IoV), and intelligent transport system (ITS) enables fast acquisition of sensor data with immediate processing. Machine learning algorithms provide a way to classify or predict outcomes in a selective and timely fashion. High accuracy and increased volatility are the main features of various learning algorithms. In this dissertation, we aim to use infrastructure- and vehicle-based sensors to improve safety and mobility of urban transportation systems. Smartphone sensors were used in the first study to estimate vehicle trajectory using lane …


A Framework And Model For Managing And Sustaining A Successful Cross Functional Project Operations Team In A Multi-Project Manufacturing Environment In The Aerospace And Defense Industry, Anisulrahman Nizam Jan 2021

A Framework And Model For Managing And Sustaining A Successful Cross Functional Project Operations Team In A Multi-Project Manufacturing Environment In The Aerospace And Defense Industry, Anisulrahman Nizam

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

Project manufacturing is a production manufacturing mode that develops and produces large and complex systems that is supplemented by project management techniques for planning and execution. Project manufacturing is better understood by examining it along with three other key areas: manufacturing, project management, and team management. Critical success factors for each of these areas have been examined in the literature but have not been examined in a real world setting in the aerospace and defense industry. This research examines the association between perspectives of project teams and senior management on critical success factors along the four identified dimensions of success …


Unmanned Aerial Vehicles In Opportunistic Networks, Salih Safa Bacanli Jan 2021

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles In Opportunistic Networks, Salih Safa Bacanli

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

This dissertation presents novel algorithms for utilizing unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) through various scenarios within opportunistic networks. The opportunistic networks are considered challenging due to the intermittent and unreliable communication between nodes. UAVs can be used for delivering packets within opportunistic networks that can alleviate communication issues. We start examining the UAV usage in opportunistic networks by first investigating their effectiveness and proposing a UAV scanning approach. To validate the usage of UAVs, we evaluated the performance of an opportunistic network with and without using UAVs. The scanning techniques we investigated were random scan, meander scan, and our proposed approach …


Reliable And Efficient Cognitive Radio Communications Using Directional Antennas, Hassan Yazdani Jan 2021

Reliable And Efficient Cognitive Radio Communications Using Directional Antennas, Hassan Yazdani

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

Cognitive Radio (CR) is a promising solution that enhances spectrum utilization by allowing an unlicensed or Secondary User (SU) to access licensed bands in a such way that its imposed interference on a license holder Primary User (PU) is limited, and hence fills the spectrum holes in time and/or frequency domains. Resource allocation, which involves scheduling of available time and transmit power, represents a crucial problem for the performance evaluation of CR systems. In this dissertation, we study the spectral efficiency maximization problem in an opportunistic CR system. Specifically, in the first part of the dissertation, we consider an opportunistic …


Evaluation Of Unconventional Signalized Intersections On Arterial Roads And A Proposition For A Novel Intersection Design, Ma'en Al-Omari Jan 2021

Evaluation Of Unconventional Signalized Intersections On Arterial Roads And A Proposition For A Novel Intersection Design, Ma'en Al-Omari

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

Several unconventional intersection designs were proposed and implemented to enhance traffic safety and operation at intersections. The efficiency of these intersection designs was not sufficiently evaluated in the previous research because of the limited implementation of such designs. However, with the growing interest in the implementation of unconventional intersections by municipalities and transport agencies, it has become a need for a comprehensive evaluation of their safety and operational benefits. Therefore, this dissertation aims to evaluate the safety and operational aspects of unconventional intersection designs by employing different research approaches: crash analysis, microscopic simulation, and driving simulation. Firstly, this dissertation evaluated …


Atomically Thin Platinum-Based Dichalcogenide Materials For Multifunctional Photo-Sensitive Applications, Mashiyat Sumaiya Shawkat Jan 2021

Atomically Thin Platinum-Based Dichalcogenide Materials For Multifunctional Photo-Sensitive Applications, Mashiyat Sumaiya Shawkat

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

Two-dimensional (2D) transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) are a distinct class of atomically thin materials assembled by weak van der Waals bonding. They exhibit 2D layer number-dependent bandgap tunability promising exciting applications in electronics and optoelectronics. Among them, there is a surge of interest in Platinum-based dichalcogenides (e.g., PtSe2 and PtTe2). 2D PtSe2 has a theoretically predicted carrier mobility of > 1000 cm2/(Vs), at room temperature, which is higher than that of most 2D TMDs. Additionally, 2D PtSe2 exhibits a semiconducting to metallic transition with an increasing number of layers. 2D PtTe2 is highly metallic in its few- layer form and exhibits …


An Exploration Of The Intersection Of Critical Disability Theory, Multiple Dimensions Of Identity, And Institutional Policy On Students' Persistence Towards Degree Attainment, Michael Gilmer Jan 2021

An Exploration Of The Intersection Of Critical Disability Theory, Multiple Dimensions Of Identity, And Institutional Policy On Students' Persistence Towards Degree Attainment, Michael Gilmer

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to gain insight into the personal experiences of undergraduate students with learning disabilities and what they identify as impediments to their degree attainment. This study was guided by a conceptual framework connecting the Model of Multiple Dimensions of Identity, Critical Disability Theory, institutional policy/practices, and barriers to the persistence of students towards degree attainment. This qualitative study utilized ten in-depth interviews with undergraduate students who identify as having learning disabilities. The interviews were transcribed and analyzed using Moustakas's (1994) model of analysis. Through this analysis, an understanding was gained of how the participants …