How Transformational Leadership Improves Instructional Practices: The Mediating Role Of Teachers’ Change-Oriented Organizational Citizenship And Appreciation, Mariam Mohamed Alhammadi

Dissertations

Enhancing educational outcomes in the education system of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) hinges on improving teaching and learning practices. This study investigates the influence of transformational leadership approaches on instructional practices within science classrooms while examining the potential mediating effects of enhanced change-oriented organizational citizenship behaviors and heightened organizational appreciation, in the cultural context of the UAE public school system. Data are gathered from 297 teachers in UAE government schools through survey instruments featuring modified existing organizational context scales and scales inspired by the PISA, 2015 cycle’s teacher and student questionnaires. The collected data are analyzed using SmartPLS software …

Synthesis And Structure-Property Relationships Of Sustainable Nanostructured Materials Towards Energy And Environment Applications, Nizamudeen Cherupurakal

Dissertations

This doctoral research aims to advance clean energy technologies by developing specialized nanostructured materials. The study covers significant research themes, each forming separate sections in the thesis, explaining the important role of nanostructures in enhancing the efficiency and sustainability of energy devices and photocatalytic technologies.

The enduring effort toward stabilizing and improving the efficiency of Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells (DSSCs) has stirred the solar research community to follow innovative approaches. The primary objective of the research is centered on electrode materials design, which improves photoanodes' Light-Harvesting Efficiency (LHE). To improve the Photoanode of DSSCs, a Metal-Organic Framework (MOF) derived porous photoanodes …

Policymaker's Perspectives And Student Experiences Of Bullying At Schools In The Uae: A Mixed-Method Approach, Alfan Saghayir Alketbi

Dissertations

Bullying is a significant issue in schools worldwide, including Abu Dhabi, the UAE. This dissertation aims to explore the dynamics of school bullying and improve anti-bullying interventions through a mixed-method approach. The primary goal is to investigate current anti-bullying efforts in the UAE and develop a comprehensive framework for school-based bullying intervention, considering policymaker perspectives and student experiences.

The study includes a systematic scoping review, qualitative studies with policymakers, a SWOT analysis of Abu Dhabi's anti-bullying approaches, and a cross-sectional survey of students' perceptions, attitudes, and awareness in Al-Ain City. These methods provide an integrated view of bullying in the …

Enhancing Health Analytics: Secure And Private Federated Learning Solutions, Nisha Thorakkattu Madathil

Dissertations

Federated Learning (FL) is a collaborative method allowing individuals to train a model jointly without sharing their local datasets. It utilizes decentralized data sources to protect privacy, making it particularly promising in medical contexts where data confidentiality is paramount. FL facilitates the use of diverse datasets from various healthcare organizations while upholding patient confidentiality. It also plays a crucial role in advancing medical research and healthcare services while adhering to data distribution and compliance requirements. The primary challenges within federated healthcare encompass privacy preservation among sensitive distributed data, ensuring efficient communication, addressing data heterogeneity, and ultimately guaranteeing model accuracy. To …

One Hand Doesn't Clap: The Moderation Of Individual Factors On The Relationship Between Leader Narcissism And Followers' Outcomes, Wafa Mohammed Al Wahedi

Dissertations

Drawing on leadership and social exchange theories, the purpose of this study is to examine the adverse impact of the toxic triangle; namely, Leader Narcissism (LN), Perceived Unethical Climate (PUC) and Followers' Submissiveness (FS) on followers' outcomes, particularly Psychological Capital (PsyCap) and Constructive Deviance (CD) through the mediation of Leader-Member Exchange (LMX). The study introduces Moral Identity (MI) as a moderator. The conceptual framework was put to the test with data collected from both leaders and their followers in UAE-based organizations. Hierarchical linear model analysis was run on leaders and followers' dyadic data for testing whether moral identity moderated the …

Exploring The Nexus Of Community College Faculty And The Actual Application Of Generative Artificial Intelligence Technologies In Courses And Syllabi, Jamie Pang

Dissertations

This study's basis was examining the specific pairing of higher education and Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) Technologies. For this study, Generative AI technologies is defined as technology that is prompted by text to produce text, images, media, or other end products. A survey was conducted with community college faculty members at a research site that did not have an institutional Generative AI technology policy or mandate on how Generative AI technologies can or cannot be used in the classroom or by students. In a quantitative analysis, this study looked at the convergence and relationship between community college faculty characteristics, perceptions, …

An Analysis Of The Effects Of Parent And Family Engagement Programs On The Academic Success Of 4th Grade Students In Title I Elementary Schools, Farah Leila Henderson

Dissertations

Parent and family engagement has become an essential part of education reform for schools across the United States. There were over 50 years of research on the topic and its impact on student achievement. The purpose of my evaluation was to study how implementing specific parent and family engagement activities at Title I elementary schools affected the reading achievement of fourth-grade students. The context of this inquiry was a large urban public school district where Parent Engagement Liaisons (PEL) were placed in Title I schools to coordinate the district-directed Parent and Family Engagement (PFE) program. I used a mixed-methods design …

A Qualitative Phenomenological Study Examining The Experiences Of Substance Use Disorder Clients Engaging In Adventure Therapy, Heather Cresswell

Dissertations

Drug overdose deaths in the United States continue to rise. In 2019, over 70,000 drug overdose deaths were recorded, marking a 4% increase from the previous year (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2021). More recent estimates suggest the death toll exceeded 100,000 in a twelve-month period ending in April 2021, indicating a significant rise (Johnson, 2021). The high mortality rate linked to addiction highlights the necessity for effective interventions for individuals diagnosed with SUD. The study presented focused on the impact of Adventure Therapy (AT) as an addition to the treatment of adults diagnosed with SUD. The chosen research …

Impact Of Financial Literacy And Financial Capability On Students' Self-Efficacy, Darren Scott

Dissertations

Low-income, first-generation college students experience unique obstacles in their pursuits of a college degree. One of the biggest stressors that exist within this population is financial stress which has led to money being the number one reason students do not persist to graduation. Despite this being one of their biggest stressors, many higher education institutions do not put an emphasis on financial literacy initiatives that research has shown can help alleviate this type of stress. This mixed methods study explores the impact financial literacy and financial capability has on a students’ self-efficacy. This research is guided by Albert Bandura’s Self-Efficacy …

The Impact Of Student Behavior And Motivation On Intercultural Competence, Marki Alexander

Dissertations

Intercultural competence has become an important trait for university graduates to possess, but an investigation into the influence of multiple factors on the achievement of intercultural competence has not been undertaken. This research examines the influence of academic and social behaviors, motivation, and student demographics on the attainment of intercultural competence through a mixed methods study. Undergraduate students taking a course focused on human diversity responded to intercultural situational judgement tests and the Expanded Cultural Intelligence Scale. The qualitative findings show a need to refine previous understandings of the development of intercultural competence. Some support for the influence of motivation …

An Evaluation Of The Factors That Lead To The Development Of Deferential Interactions Between Teachers And Students, Shondra Browne-Bolton

Dissertations

Schools have historically maintained a hierarchy with an expectation that students show deference. The purpose of this study was to analyze the factors that caused students to treat teachers disrespectfully. This mixed-methods inquiry included K-12 teachers and administrators who responded to a social media post and participated in surveys and interviews. Based on my findings, the factors that led to the development of deferential interactions between teachers and students included establishing trusting relationships, reciprocated respect, clear schoolwide behavior expectations, positive communication with parents, and teachers' professional dress. My recommendations were for establishing clear schoolwide behavior expectations, for school districts to …

The Organizational Socialization Of K–12 Classified Employees, Steven Dunlap

Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of this mixed methods study was to identify to what extent newly employed classified staff in K–12 school districts in Southern California experienced organizational tactics (content, context, and social) to support their socialization process during the 1st year of employment (G. R. Jones, 1986). In addition, it was the purpose of this study to identify and describe the degree to which newly employed classified staff saw these tactics as effective in supporting their socialization to their new role (role clarity, social acceptance, and task mastery).

Methodology: This study used a sequential explanatory mixed methods design to engage …

Initiating A Mobile Wayfinding Application At A Verterans Affairs Medical Center: A Current State Assessment & Needs Analysis, James Machauf

Dissertations

Wayfinding within medical facilities is complex and challenging resulting in missed appointments, late appointment check-ins, and even procedural/surgical delays which further patients' frustration, stress, and anxiety.

This project aims to perform a current state of wayfinding assessment and a needs analysis of a potential mobile wayfinding application at a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Center within the surgical service's pre-anesthesia testing (PAT) check-in desk.

Increasing The Usage Of Mychart Bedside By Nurses And Patients In The Acute Care Setting: An Integrative Review, Laura Darnell

Dissertations

Teach-back has been a proven model to teach patients about their disease process, medications, or dressing changes in a simple-to-understand language that often includes a return demonstration. Teach-Back isn't just a tool to be used with patients, it can be used to help anyone understand something new. Based on the Technology Acceptance Model, people are less inclined to use new technology if they do not find it easy to use or useful in their day-to-day jobs. This integrative review aims to support the use of the Teach-Back method of instruction with staff, including return demonstration, to prove the ease of …

On Pills And Needles: Students' And Clinical Nursing Faculty's Lived Experience Of A Nursing Students' First Med Pass In The Clinical Setting, Cindy K. Paradiso

Dissertations

Learning and teaching medication administration is a substantial component of prelicensure nursing education. The emphasis of the Quality and Safety Education for Nurses initiative is to prepare nursing students to provide safe, quality care. Medication administration, which falls under this initiative, is a challenge for nursing students to learn and for clinical nursing faculty to teach. Consequently, nursing students graduate feeling unprepared to administer medications in their practice. This issue is prevalent and long-standing within nursing education. Most of the research studies conducted, though, are from senior nursing students and nurses. There is little research from the beginner nursing student …

Impact Of Brøset Violence Checklist On Safety Events In An Adult Mental Health Unit, Maritess B. Bernardo

Dissertations

Background: Workplace violence (WPV) is an escalating issue in healthcare that needs to be addressed to improve patient outcomes and staff satisfaction. Inpatient mental health facilities are at higher risk for safety event occurrences.

Problem: There is a practice gap in the assessment of possible violence at the practicum site with higher tolerance and acceptance that this is an acceptable event. The policies on deescalation are poorly implemented.

Methods: A pre- and post-intervention design was used to investigate the impact of the BVC tool on safety events. Data analysis included outcome measures on BVC scores, safety events, and de-escalation intervention. …

Confidence In Crises: School Nurses' Perceptions Of Self-Efficacy In Active Shooter Emergency Preparedness, Titilayo Idowu

Dissertations

The incidence and number of mass school shootings have increased since the first reported school shooting in 1840. Since then, extensive research has been conducted to explore school violence's underlying causes and precursors, resulting in many recommendations for preventative and mitigating practices. However, no national standard or legislation currently dictates the minimal requirements for competencies and training among school nurses in preparation for active shooter incidents. This interpretive qualitative phenomenological study was conducted to explore the lived experiences of postlicensure K-12 school nurses regarding their self-efficacy and confidence to prevent, protect, mitigate, respond, and recover from a school shooting incident. …

Adaptive Leadership During Times Of Great Change And Opportunity: Building Adaptive Capacity As Perceived By Community Emergency Response Team Program Managers, Ramona Gresham

Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of this phenomenological study was to identify and describe the strategies used by Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program managers to build an adaptive capacity based on the five key characteristics of adaptive leadership identified by Heifetz et al. (2009).

Methodology: This phenomenological study explored the lived experiences of 1` to build an adaptive capacity. The purposeful, convenience sampling frame was used to identify 10 participants who met the study’s criteria. The semistructured, open-ended interview protocol was developed by a thematic research team of nine peers and three faculty advisors. The data collected from interviews and artifacts …

The Effect Of Teacher Identity On The Level Of Cultural Inclusion In The Classroom, Jennifer Jones

Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative phenomenographical study was to investigate high school teachers’ perceptions of cultural inclusion and the impact of teacher identity on the level of cultural inclusion in the classroom. This research study utilized semi-structured one-on-one interviews as the primary source of data and participant surveys and researcher notes taken during the interviews as the secondary sources. This study sought to address two research questions: (1) What can we learn from teachers' experiences at a southeastern suburban high school regarding the post-COVID perceptions of cultural inclusion in the classroom? (2) How does teacher identity affect cultural inclusion in …

Participation Mandatory, Learning Not Required: A Phenomenological Study Of Diversity Training In Education And Law Enforcement, Jamie Martin, Tabari Asim Coleman, Toni J. Fall, Crystal L. Isom, Jennifer L. Niebrzydoski

Dissertations

This study provides a timely, qualitative exploration of the perceived efficacy of cultural competency training for both law enforcement officers and educators. It comprises 18 semi-structured interviews, 10 of which were conducted with education professionals and 8 with law enforcement officers. Drawing four main themes from the interview sample, findings show participants held a complex perception of training efficacy. Interviews featured multiple anecdotes from participants concerning the application of culturally competency skills, as well as important takeaways concerning their desired topics/format of professional development sessions and their favored characteristics of facilitator approach. Our analysis further reveals implications of participants’ identity …

For Black Women - When The Rainbow Was Not Enough (Shange, 1976, New York City): An Autoethnographic Collection About Spirit Assassination, Teresa Quarles, Tamika Galvin, Sherrie Mcclellan

Dissertations

ABSTRACT

We live in an America where the higher you elevate in your career as a Black woman, the greater your chances of being subjected to racism, discrimination, isolation, and bullying. We are underrepresented in various elevated roles, but we will not let that stop us. As Black women, we can attest to the experiences that we are subjected to with no question about our mental health. The Black community in America has been subjected to a considerable presence of systemic racism, oppression, and violence - with the objectives of exercising authority and oppressing the Black community, as well as …

Ethnic Studies And White Identity, Aimee Snelling, Kara Cisco

Dissertations

Abstract

This dissertation addresses white individuals’ experiences in ethnic studies courses and addresses concerns that there is too little research in this area. Drawing on the theoretical frameworks of Critical Whiteness Studies and Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis, this qualitative research study examines the lived experiences of white individuals who have taken at least one ethnic studies course in high school and explores the extent to which these experiences influence the development of their racial identity in the present. An extensive literature review includes the most recent research on Critical Whiteness Studies, white racial identity development, ethnic studies, and Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis. …

Enhancing Teachers’ Tpack And Self-Efficacy Through Content-Based Technology Professional Development, Chloe Wilson

Dissertations

The purpose of this quantitative research study was to examine the impact of content-based instructional technology on teacher’s TPACK, specifically the technology related knowledge domains, and instructional technology self-efficacy. Demographic data was compared for correlations with TPACK or self-efficacy ratings. Additionally, the professional development model was evaluated by gathering teacher perceptions. A pre- and post-intervention survey was conducted to gather TPACK, self-efficacy, and perceptions of professional development. Findings were consistent and built upon previous research. Teachers experienced growth in all TPACK technology knowledge domains and displayed increased instructional technology self-efficacy ratings. Additionally, suggestions from previous research regarding best practices for …

Uncovering The Lifeworlds Of College Students Who Are Food Insecure: An Interpretive Phenomenological Inquiry, Amber L. Kolesar

Dissertations

Food insecurity (FI) is a concern for many college students, and contributes to significant physical, mental, and academic stressors. Experts have described the need for qualitative research. A better understanding of the experience of FI among college students may help to inform future research and interventions to support students on their educational journey. This study sought to interpret the lived experience of FI, with specific focus on the sociocultural context in which students experience FI, and its' contributing factors. Incorporating the philosophical perspective of Merleau-Ponty, the researcher utilized interpretive phenomenological analysis to uncover the life-worlds of food-insecure college students.

Understanding Social Determinants Of Healthcare Access From The Perspective Of Hispanic Latino Immigrants In Louisville, Ky, Jean S. Edward

Dissertations

In the last decade, the total foreign-born population in the U.S. has grown exponentially, with the Hispanic Latino immigrants (HLI) experiencing the greatest growth. The literature clearly identifies that HLI experience significant health disparities as a result of the negative impact of influential social determinants of health, such as access to healthcare services. Barriers to healthcare access among HLI are related to the access dimensions of accessibility, availability, affordability, and acceptability. Despite research on the barriers to healthcare for this population, issues of access from the perspective of immigrant community members are poorly understood. There is an increased need to …

Unraveling Biases And Customer Heterogeneity In E-Commerce Recommendation Systems, Sachin Sharma

Dissertations

This research explores the biases present in AI algorithms within e-commerce recommendation systems, focusing on how these biases prioritize popular, sponsored, and private-label products over actual customer preferences. We extend the responsible AI discourse by critically examining these biases and their implications for fairness in e-commerce. To strengthen the current understanding of AI fairness in the fields of information systems and computer science, we aim to challenge the assumption that AI fairness is objective and the same for everyone. We examine how individual differences, such as equity sensitivity and exchange ideology, contribute to users' varied perceptions of AI fairness. Through …

Peer Collaborative Clinical Decision-Making In Virtual Reality Nursing Simualtion, Thye Peng Ngo

Dissertations

In nursing education, it is common for students to collaborate and make decisions as a group in simulations. One of the vital nursing competencies is students' ability to make sound clinical judgments and decision-making in simulation. Teamwork among students in simulation significantly affects their critical thinking and clinical reasoning. However, how students collaborate and make decisions in simulation is a complex phenomenon and not well studied and understood. In addition, most existing decision-making frameworks, such as Tanner's Clinical Judgment Model and the National Council of State Boards of Nursing's Clinical Judgment Measurement Model, focus solely on individual decision-making. Alternatively, teamwork …

Deficit-Oriented Language Use: Understanding The Effects Of Deficit-Oriented Labeling On First-Generation Students, Jeff Foulkes, Jeff Foulkes

Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of this sequential mixed methods study was to describe how first- generation undergraduate college students perceive that deficit-oriented and strengths- based language has impacted them during their first year of study. A further purpose of this study was to identify how these students overcome the negative influences that are associated with deficit-oriented language.

Methodology: A sequential mixed methods research design was chosen to address the research questions for this study. Using a convenience sampling approach, the survey was disseminated to all first-year students in a specific program at a single university. Once the quantitative survey data were …

The Impact Of Social-Emotional Competence On Academic Achievement And Career Success Within Urban School Systems, Lashanda R. Boone, Keesha Byrd, Susan Grimes, Jamesha Purdiman, Cierra Wourman

Dissertations

Abstract

This dissertation investigates the critical role of social-emotional learning (SEL) in urban education through the lens of educators working in a diverse middle school setting in St. Louis, Missouri. With a focus on understanding educators' perceptions and experiences, this study aims to explore the effectiveness of SEL programs in addressing the various needs of students, particularly those from marginalized communities. The researchers use a qualitative approach, utilizing surveys with open-ended questions to gather insights from middle school teachers, counselors, support staff, and administrators. The study dove into various aspects of SEL implementation through rigorous data collection and analysis, including …

A Phenomenological Study On The Effectiveness Of Induction Programs To Prepare Second- And Third-Year Teachers To Meet The Needs Of All Students After The Covid-19 Pandemic, Mary Henschel

Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of this phenomenological qualitative descriptive study was to identify and describe how second- and third-year elementary school teachers who participated in induction programs perceived the efficacy of the induction programs in preparing them to design and implement effective instructional programs to meet the needs of all students after the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methodology: This phenomenological qualitative descriptive study explored and described second- and third-year teachers participating in induction programs to learn how the induction programs support new teachers after the COVID-19 pandemic. Using convenience sampling, structured interviews were held with 12 participants from Los Angeles County to learn …