Digital Commons Network^™

Psychological Capital And Perceived Employability: Exploring Women Veterans’ Military-To-Civilian Career Transition, Tundra Gatewood

Dissertations

The veteran human capital remains integral to the U.S. workforce and sustainment of its competitive advantage (Carter, Schafer, et al., 2017). Women constitute 17% of 1.4 million servicemembers and 10% of 18.4 million veterans, with a projected population growth of 18% by 2040 (Defense Manpower Data Center [DMDC], 2021; U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2020a). Each year, an estimated 30,000 ex-servicewomen enter the national labor force (National Center for Veterans Analysis and Statistics, 2019; U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2020a). Most of these ex-servicemembers turned veterans must navigate the military-civilian divide and negotiate their economic worth in highly divergent and …

Self-Efficacy And Burnout Among Mississippi Mild/Moderate Special Education Teachers, Stacey Anne Price Frye

Dissertations

This study sought to determine if there was a relationship between Mississippi mild/moderate (certification endorsement number 221) special education teachers’ levels of self-efficacy and burnout, as well as to determine which factors influenced self-efficacy and burnout. Teachers from across the state of Mississippi responded to an online questionnaire that collected demographic data, the Teachers’ Sense of Self-Efficacy Scale, and the Teacher Burnout Scale.

The results of the correlation research showed that subscales of Student Engagement and Instructional Strategies are positively correlated. Subscales of Student Engagement and Classroom Management are positively correlated. The Teacher Burnout survey subscale of Coping had a …

Anti-Human Trafficking Training For Law Enforcement: An Assessment Of Practice In A Southern State, Patricia Ann Southerland

Dissertations

Human trafficking, a crime hidden in plain sight, does not answer to civility or the inherent human rights established within societal norms. While several factors influence this heinous crime, the absence of training and the incorporation of best practices among law enforcement personnel impairs the proper identification of victims, as well as the arrest and prosecution of facilitators, traffickers, and buyers (Clawson, Dutch, & Cummings, 2006; Dandurand, 2017; Darwinkel, Powell, & Tidmarsh, 2013; Davy, 2016; Efrat, 2015; Farrell, 2014; Farrell, McDevitt, Fahy, 2010; Farrell, McDevitt, Pfeffer, Fahy, Owens, Dank, & Adams, 2012; Farrell & Pfeffer, 2014, Grubb & Bennet, 2012; …

The Role Of Mate Seeking Motives, Status Acquisition Motives, And Dark Personality In Predicting Responses To An Aggression-Provoking Situation, Savannah Merold

Dissertations

Aggressive behavior is associated with many adverse consequences, prompting extensive research on the potential adaptive functions of aggression. For example, there is evidence that aggression may be beneficial for attaining status and attracting a potential mate (e.g., Buss & Dedden, 1990; Daly & Wilson, 1988; Griskevicius et al., 2009). Additionally, several personality traits have been identified as robust predictors of aggressive behavior (e.g., psychopathic, Machiavellian, narcissistic, and sadistic traits; Chester et al., 2019; Neumann & Hare, 2008; Paulhus & Jones, 2017; Twenge & Campbell, 2003). These two research traditions (i.e., evolutionary and personality) have remained separate, with few studies combining …

Self-Efficacy, Knowledge, And Social Support On Self-Care Among Senior Korean Immigrants With Diabetes, Jung Eun Kim

Dissertations

Diabetes is a prevalent chronic disease that significantly affects morbidity and mortality among senior people. There are diverse ethnic populations in the United States, and Korean immigrants are one of the minority immigrant groups. Many senior Korean immigrants report language inadequacy, lack of social support, discrimination, anxiousness in an unfamiliar environment, and poor economic status. These barriers limit them from accessing adequate health care services and resources. Although self-care is the most important key part in managing diabetes, senior Korean immigrants with diabetes face challenges to perform effective self-care activities related to various barriers. However, studies about related factors on …

Cross-Cultural Adaptation And Validation Of Lung Cancer Screening Health Belief Scale, Fang Lei

Dissertations

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death and the third prevalent disease among Chinese Americans. Lung cancer screening with low dose computed tomography is an effective method to detect lung cancer. Compared to chest X-ray, low dose computed tomography can reduce the mortality rate of lung cancer by 20% in the high-risk smokers. Since 2013, lung cancer screening has been recommended by most health organizations and covered both by private and public insurances. However, the uptake rate of lung cancer screening is still low in the US, and there are few studies on lung cancer screening among Chinese …

Effects Of Resilience Coaching On Behavioral Health Nurse Burnout, Dalila Franklin

Dissertations

Abstract

Background: Inpatient, staff nurse burnout negatively impacts nurses’ mental and physical health, hospital nurse retention and turnover, and patient care. The Stress First Aid for Health Workers program attempts to bolster resilience and subsequently reduce burnout among mental health nurses in this project.

Method: This quality improvement (QI) project was an observational pre-post survey design and was conducted on a cohort sample of inpatient, behavioral health nurses at an urban, mid-sized, Midwestern hospital psychiatric unit to assess personal, work-related, client-related, and overall burnout utilizing the Copenhagen Burnout Inventory (CBI) tool to quantitatively measure burnout pre- and three months post-implementation …

Repeating Accelerated Baccalaureate Nursing Courses: A Qualitative Study Of Stories Of Persistence, Catherine Dillinger

Dissertations

Accelerated baccalaureate nursing programs (ABSN) have grown to meet the needs of the health care industry. These short-term programs attract unique groups of learners that have achieved baccalaureate degrees in other disciplines and are recruited to an intense, fast-paced program that differs from a traditional baccalaureate nursing program. The significance of the topic of retaining, assisting, and success of second-degree learners in an accelerated baccalaureate nursing program is critical to the nursing education specialty. Related factors influencing perseverance need to be better understood to improve academic success among ABSN students. The study addressed a gap in the literature pertaining to …

Factors Associated With New Hospital Nurses' Self-Efficacy In Providing Palliative End-Of-Life Care, Penny Marie Briese

Dissertations

Self-efficacy is defined as confidence in one's competence; the ability to successfully accomplish tasks and achieve favorable outcomes (Bandura, 1997). Many nurses today say they feel their undergraduate education was inadequate for them to feel competent to provide palliative and EOL patient care. (Chiplaskey, 2016; Scherlin & Quinn, 2016; Zheng et al., 2018).). Inadequate EOL preparation also results in nurses experiencing distress, death anxiety, burnout, feeling overwhelmed and leaving practice within just a few years (Friedman et al., 2011; Gaw, 2012; Kovner et al., 2006; Parry, 2008; Silverstein, 2017, November 28; Suzuki et al., 2008; Wilson & Kirshbaum, 2013). This …

Biomarker, Treatment, And Socio-Demographic Factors Affecting Opioid Use Disorder Treatment Retention, Fernand A. De Los Reyes

Dissertations

Increasing mortality from opioid overdose and low treatment engagement are significant public health concerns. Along with increasing health care and criminal justice enforcement costs, there is an urgent need to study the factors associated with treatment retention in opioid use disorder. The study investigated the relative impact of the biomarker cholesterol on treatment retention in an opioid treatment program (OTP) clinic. Further, it examined the medical comorbidities, treatment, and socio-demographic variables that impact opioid use disorder treatment retention. This study was a secondary analysis of patient health records (n=267) in an opioid treatment program clinic. The study employed a hierarchical …

Classroom Climate, Culture, Parenting Skills, And Student Grit, Karen Ochoa

Dissertations

The education system has noted that student motivation and perseverance are lacking, yet the focus on standardized testing over the last decade has increased the rigor and expectations in the classroom. As such, educational researchers are always looking for new and inventive ways to enhance student achievement without increasing the financial burden on the schools. Grit is the non-cognitive skill that a person processes that enable them to work hard, endure, and persevere through challenging times. A person who exhibits grit often succeeds over those who have the cognitive ability but do not have grit. Children in countries with collectivist …

A Look At The Effectiveness Of High School Chemistry Curriculum In Preparing Students For Act, Shanna Nesser

Dissertations

In the ever-changing world, students are challenged with cultivating the skills and knowledge needed to handle the pace and level of understanding required to excel in their future. The foundation for a student's future begins in their formative years, but high school is a prime environment for nurturing the applied, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills needed to move forward into independent, adult life. Mississippi schools are ranked by an accountability score, which is used to determine fund allocation and the development of improvement plans. This score is compiled by looking at various state-tested courses, College and Career Readiness Standards (MS …

Closing The Preparedness-Readiness Gap In New School Administration, Melissa Williams Stephanski

Dissertations

School leadership is a vital aspect of K-12 public education. As graduates exit university principal preparation programs, they possess certification indicating preparedness for the role of a school administrator. Upon being hired, new school administrators frequently find themselves theoretically prepared but, in reality, unready for the myriad of responsibilities, isolation, and accountability accompanying the title. Over the years, the role of the school administrator has become overwhelming, often hindering the effectiveness of those doing the job, especially those new to the profession. The gap between the preparedness and readiness of new school administrators is a critical issue to be addressed …

Lessons Learned From Emergency Remote Teaching And Learning In A Suburban High School, Stephen Beauchamp

Dissertations

The purpose of this mixed methods study was to examine the experience of teachers and students from a Midwest, mid-sized suburban high school during Emergency Remote Teaching (ERT) stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic. The researcher surveyed teachers and students about the challenges, benefits, and what they plan to carry forward post-pandemic. Because the teachers and students, prior to and over the course of the pandemic experienced several schedule options, preferences as to which schedule type they preferred were surveyed. Schedule types included Traditional, Block, Hybrid, or Remote schedules. Results indicated that for teachers, ERT was a time of learning and …

Where Are We On This Path? Faculty Experiences Working With Guided Pathways, Christopher Tombari

Dissertations

In this research study, 14 faculty from 13 community colleges were interviewed about their experiences working within the guided pathways framework. They described how processes and procedures at their colleges were modified in significant ways after adopting guided pathways. Viewed through the lens of institutional logics, data suggested that multiple logics interacted and framed the individuals’ perceptions of guided pathways and their opinions regarding the resulting changes to practice. Where logics coexisted and demonstrated complementary values, guided pathways was viewed favorably. Guided pathways elicited negative reactions where logics coexisted in conflict. This research has implications for college leadership considering implementing …

Investigating Novice Nurses’ Perceptions Of Academic Dishonesty During Nursing Education, Christy Michelle Gough

Dissertations

Academic dishonesty in nursing education has been an ongoing concern to the nursing profession for many decades. There is a concern that students who engage in academic dishonesty in the classroom setting might also engage in dishonest behaviors in the professional setting. Many studies in the literature explored nursing students’ perceptions of academic dishonesty during nursing education; however, there was limited literature on novice nurses’ perceptions of academic dishonesty and its impact on the nursing profession. Novice nurses provided the voice of recent nursing students as well as the voice of a professional nurse. The purpose of this qualitative study …

Pharmacogenomics Translation In A Community Medical Context Using A Diffusion Of Innovations Framework: Provider Perspectives And Evaluation Implications, Sabrina Ewald Holley

Dissertations

Translation, in the context of medical research, is a process that describes how knowledge and innovation move and change into real world applications and outcomes. This study explores the translation of a medical innovation, pharmacogenomics (PGx), from research into clinical practice using the perspectives of medical providers in a community setting. PGx is the influence of a person’s genetics on drug response. Despite being available for over a decade, PGx testing is not widely adopted. Prior research primarily examined PGx translation in large academic medical centers, but not much is known about it in community practice settings. A better understanding …

Universal Pre-K In Comstock Public Schools, Meadow A. Nuyen

Dissertations

In 1971, President Nixon vetoed legislation that would have created federal funding for the education of kids under age five. With the veto, President Nixon reaffirmed that, except for poor children, the education and care of the children is the responsibility of the family, not the government. Yet over 31 years later, 41 states and the District of Columbia provide state-funded preschool (Waxman, 2021). Preschool in the state of Michigan is not automatically provided as K-12 education is. This study examined the beliefs of staff in Comstock Public Schools regarding Universal Pre-K, tuition-free preschool for all 4-year-olds. Participants included district …

Factors That Influence High School Students' Postsecondary Career Decisions In A Guaranteed-Tuition Based School District, Tracy Y. Miller

Dissertations

This study explored factors that influence the postsecondary career decisions of 427 11th and 12th grade students in a guaranteed tuition-based school district in a Midwestern state. Since 2005, this district has had a “Promise” program where eligible students can get up to 100% of their postsecondary tuition paid to attend a college, university, technical, or skilled trade program, or participate in an apprenticeship. Students have up to 10 years after graduating high school to utilize the funding. In addition, students who decide to enter the military after high school have up to 10 years to utilize the funding after …

Algebraic Reasoning And Conceptual Understanding: A Mixed Methods Comparison Of In-Person And Virtual Classroom Strategies, Erneice J. Jackson

Dissertations

Algebraic reasoning is the beginning school of thought to critical thinking. Employers are looking for this 21st century skill. The purpose of this research was to investigate equity in mathematics education using the NCTM Teaching and Learnings Beliefs Survey. Four area were studied: the number of years in education, the degree earned, the grade level taught in education, and the number of years in an educator’s teaching position. A mixed methods inventory was used. Most results were not rejected in this study. Two statements in the survey warranted a discussion. Recommendations were made for further research.

Development Of The Teaching Twice Exceptional Students Scale, Michelle Ann Godzinski

Dissertations

Twice exceptional (2e) students are a unique population of students, who present with a wide range of strengths and weaknesses. For this reason, it is important for teachers to be trained and feel prepared to work with these students. Teacher self-efficacy has been shown to influence both student and personal outcomes (e.g. student perceptions of school, student academic success, teacher retention, etc). The Teaching Twice Exceptional Students Scale (TTESS) was developed as a way to measure teacher’s self-efficacy in regard to working with 2e students, so that districts may better identify gaps in knowledge or training that teachers may have. …

The Experiences Of Beginning Counselor Education And Supervision Faculty In The Supervision-Of-Supervision Relationship, Bonnie Jean Nicholson

Dissertations

This narrative study attempted to explore the experience of beginning counselor educators in providing supervision to doctoral supervisors-in-training. The need for a greater understanding of the supervision-of-supervision process is well recognized within the profession of counseling (e.g., Barker & Hunsley, 2013; Borders & Giordano, 2016). Four counselor educators in the beginning years of employment at a Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (2015) accredited counselor education and supervision doctoral program provided narratives of their own experiences providing supervision-of-supervision. Nine themes and 18 subthemes emerged from the data analysis; the following nine themes were confirmed by the participants …

“I Don’T Believe The World Is Tilted”: Emotion, Struggle, And Relationship In Making Meaning With Texts, Alison Faye Oddie

Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to understand how the social and cultural practices of classroom literacy instruction afforded students opportunities to make meaning with texts. Research was conducted from a sociocultural perspective that focused on students as participants in social learning, in a context of interactive relations. This study was responsive to contemporary developments of the sociocultural tradition, recognizing the importance of emotion and other subjective means for constructing understanding. Two classes of a turnaround school, 18 Second-Grade students and 20 Third-Grade students, were observed as they participated in Interactive Read Aloud and Guided Reading over a period of …

Predicting Nurse Faculty Intent To Stay: A Quantitative Study Of Contributing Factors And Their Influence, Erica Frost

Dissertations

The United States faces a shortage of nursing faculty members, impacting the nation’s ability to meet the demand for more nurses in the workforce. The purpose of this study was to identify factors that predicted nurse faculty members’ intent to stay in academe. Dozens of factors were identified in the literature and grouped using Herzberg’s (1966) motivation-hygiene theory of job satisfaction. An online questionnaire was administered to 402 full-time prelicensure baccalaureate nursing faculty in the United States. The survey measured personal, job, and organizational factors including demographics, emotional intelligence, resilience, educational preparation, self-efficacy, mentoring and orientation, interpersonal relationships, and satisfaction …

The Impact Of Rater Effects On Decision Consistency And Decision Accuracy Under The Many-Facet Rasch Measurement Framework, Haussohou Daniel Edi

Dissertations

The rise of performance-based assessments in high-stakes licensure examinations has brought many challenges in the field of measurement. Although examiners are commonly trained to apply a standardized rating of examinees, the introduction of human subjectivity to the measurement process poses a threat to the reliability and validity of scores from these assessments (Wind & Guo, 2021). Considering the high-stakes decisions based on performance-based assessments when they are used for licensure, it is essential to provide evidence of the consequences that rater effects have on decision consistency and decision accuracy, within and across rating designs. The purpose of this dissertation study …

Self-Regulation In The Learning Experiences Of School Choice Students, Melody Lynn Schmidt

Dissertations

This study explores self-regulation in the learning experiences of school choice students who have attended a traditional public school and a charter public school. Research shows self-regulation is a form of non-cognitive executive functioning characterized by many observable traits children employ in their learning environments. Self-regulation development in the learning investments students make relates to school mobility, social identity, and connectedness while navigating their learning amid school changes (Golden, 2017; Langenkamp, 2016). School mobility may impact students by lowering self-regulation and increasing school dropout through compromised social identity and connectedness (Jdaitawi, 2015; Rumberger & Larson, 1998). Understanding the distinction between …

Higher Education Professional Involved In Or Aspiring To Careers In Strategic Enrollment Management: Competency Development And Career Pathways, Jodi Ward

Dissertations

Strategic Enrollment Management (SEM) is an emergent and evolving field in higher education (HE). While the concept has often been researched as a system or process implemented by an institution of HE to optimize enrollment, this study examined the professionals that currently lead or aspire to lead those systems. The HE competencies areas that current SEM professionals are most engaged with, the activities they participate in to gain and cultivate competency development, as well as their educational backgrounds and career pathways was the focus of this study. Additionally, this study investigated the competency development opportunities available to individuals working in …

Complex Adaptive Systems Leadership In A Volatile, Uncertain, Complex, And Ambiguous (Vuca) Environment: A Case Study Of A First-Year Female Superintendent Of Color, Karika Ann Parker

Dissertations

Superintendents in the K-12 education system in the United States are called upon to ameliorate problems and issues derived from many internal and external forces since its inception. Current literature reveals that, superintendents face complex challenges to improve district level educational outcomes for students within environments that are more volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous (VUCA) and do require a shift from dominant traditional (hierarchal and control) leadership approaches. The aim of this qualitative case study of interviews is to represent the single voice of a first-year female superintendent of color’s (Asian, Indian descent) perspective, perceptions, thoughts, and experiences. The interviews …

Braving The Sea Change: An Interpretative Phenomenological Study Of How Counselors-In-Training Experience Their Interpersonal And Intrapersonal Relationships, Christopher Jess Ward

Dissertations

This interpretive phenomenological analysis asked counselors-in-training (CITs) to reflect on their connections with important others and with themselves, noting any changes which took place within said relationships over the course of counselor training. Seven CITs provided rich narratives around relational shifts and personal/professional development, bringing to the surface superordinate themes of (a) Insecurity and Confusion, (b) Growing Pains, and (c) Overcoming and Resilience. Superordinate themes were further divided into the following sub-themes: Insecurity and Confusion: Professional/Personal Identity Integration, Mental Health and Responsibility, Reassurance; Growing Pains: Relationship Imbalanced and Disequilibrium, Loneliness; Overcoming and Resilience: Ruptures and Repairs, Outright Benefits, Self-Prioritization. These …

Exploring Formative Versus Summative Assessment Models On Creative Mindset Development, Dylan Patrick James Kriescher

Dissertations

The purpose of the current research was to explore how the repeated presentation of process-oriented feedback from multiple task attempts can help develop students’ growth mindset. A standard model of assessment practices often involves a one-time summative assessment at the end of a learning period. An alternative model involves the use of formative assessments as intermittent process-oriented feedback throughout a learning period. The use of formative assessment feedback may demonstrate growth to students, while this opportunity is not offered by the summative assessment model. Using elements of formative assessment and guided by Dweck’s (2006) conceptualization of growth mindset, this study …