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School Leadership Behaviors And Practices, Teacher Turnover, And Teacher Retention In The United Arab Emirates: A Triangulation Approach, Ayeda Abdulla Al Shebli

Dissertations

School leadership and school leaders' behaviors and practices can significantly affect the behavior of teachers. Retaining teachers in the teaching profession is important. Unfortunately, many teachers around the world have left or are deciding to leave this profession, a phenomenon called “teacher turnover”. High teacher turnover affects the overall quality of teaching and learning. Based on 2015 data from the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, teacher turnover is high in the United Arab Emirates. There are many factors that contribute to teacher turnover. This study investigated the factors affecting teachers' turnover by exploring the role of school leadership behaviors …

The Impact Of Internal And External Factors On Female Enrollment In Vocational Training Institutes In The United Arab Emirates: A Phenomenological Qualitative Study, Saada Mubarak Amro

Dissertations

Educational institutes around the world and vocational training institutes, in particular, are concerned with students’ participation and enrollment rates. Great emphasis is placed on the vocational sector and its role in establishing a knowledge-based economy in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), as articulated in the UAE Vision 2021, its economic foresight 2030, and in the recent 50th-anniversary statement released in 2019 by HH Mohammed Rashed Al Maktoum. The importance of this sector is its significance in diversifying the economy, providing employment, and equipping both employed and unemployed nationals with the vocational skills required by local and international markets and industries. …

The Impact Of Performnace Scorecard On Drilling Operations Effectivness: The Case Of Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (Adnoc), Adnan Mohamed Almenhali

Dissertations

The balanced scorecard (BSC) has been newly introduced to drilling operations. This research evaluates the impact of performance scorecard implementation on drilling operations in Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) and the ability to develop and construct a new framework for performance scorecards. The oil and gas sector is critical to the UAE since it is one of the main sources of income driving the economy. UAE is one of the leaders in the region in oil and Gas production. As a result, studies to enhance the performance of the industry and UAE companies are critical for overall economic wellbeing. …

Key Internal Factors Affecting Safety Performance In The Aviation Industry, Yasser Salah Elyan

Dissertations

Continuously improving aviation safety and enhancing its performance at both the organizational and individual levels is always considered a high priority by the aviation industry in all sectors. In addition, governments and aviation regulatory authorities have put significant efforts into creating a safety culture with clear safety practices at all levels of the organization. Moreover, international aviation organizations and associations worldwide have established safety standards, guidelines, and management systems that are essential to ensure the successful implementation of safety practices. However, based on the reviewed literature and the researcher's knowledge in this area, there is a clear perception gap concerning …

Contextualizing The Emotive & Experiential Trajectories Of Arab Bilinguals In Higher Education: An Exploratory Sequential Mixed Method Study, Sabahet Bruncaj

Dissertations

Higher Education institutions in the UAE are increasingly adopting English as a Medium of Instruction. For native Arabic speakers, this educational practice has established a lingual impasse that relegates entry and serves as a signifier of ability. This study explores the experiential and emotional histories of conducting academic studying in a second language. The study is grounded in the theoretical framework of Emotions, whereby the exploration of affect and emotion-specifiers on bilinguals within the EMI in HE experiences and identified. The study applied an Exploratory Sequential Mixed method design led by Qualitative semi-structured interviews with Ph.D. students (n=11). This framework …

The Impact Of Ecosystem Drivers On Investor Satisfaction In Dubai's Hospitality Industry For Destination Competitiveness And Investment Attraction, Ayesha Mohammed Binlootah

Dissertations

The travel and tourism industry accounts for more than 10% of the global GDP and has become a driver for foreign investments and destination competitiveness. The main objective of this dissertation is to examine the impact of ecosystem drivers (i.e., [C] Core Resources and Attractors, [S] Supporting Factors and Resources, [D] Destination Management, [P] Destination Policy, Planning and Development, and [Q] Qualifying and Amplifying Determinants) on Investor Satisfaction in Dubai's hospitality industry to achieve destination competitiveness for investment attraction. As part of the methodology, a partial least square is used to assess the interaction and impact of the ecosystem drivers …

An Intersectional And Relational Approach To Investigating Narratives And The Suggestions Of Cultural Sociology: How Young Black Men Make Sense Of Violent Victimization And The Prospects Of Help-Seeking., Dale Aaron Dan-Irabor

Dissertations

Black men experience fatal and non-fatal violent victimization at a rate higher than any other dyadic group of race and gender in the U.S. (Harrell, 2009; CDC 2019; Rich 2009). However, there is not enough research focused on investigating how these men make sense of their victimization experiences and manage the consequences of exposure to violence. Therefore, using 55 interviews of young Black men, who came of age in New York City area, and self-reported recent serious violent victimization experiences, the present study details the results of an intersectional and relational approach to examining the suggestions of Cultural Sociology, to …

Improving Nurse Mentor Retention Through The Use Of Nurse Residency Programs, Morgan Newman

Dissertations

Graduate nurses beginning their nursing career require a collaborative relationship with an expert nurse mentor to make this transition successful. However, high turnover among these experienced nurse mentors is causing a problematic gap in knowledge transfer, experience, and expertise in the nursing workforce. This project investigated whether nurse mentors who mentored in a Nurse Residency Program (NRP) remained with the organization longer and were more satisfied with their mentoring experience than nurse mentors who mentored outside of a NRP. The diffusion of innovations theory was used to support the project and process of dispersing information on the outcome of the …

Particular Pains, Particular Sufferings: Using Sista Circle To Explore Belongingness As A Factor Affecting The Academic Persistence Of Black, Women Doctoral Recipients At Predominantly White Institutions In The South, Jasmine Denise Thornton

Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to understand if belongingness, or the need to belong, is an inhibiting factor for Black women to the completion of doctoral programs, specifically at Predominately White Institutions (PWIs) in the South. This qualitative study employs the Sista Circle methodology to discuss the lived experiences of Black female doctoral recipients from Southern PWIs. The Sense of Belonging Model and the Sista Circle Methodology is used to inform the experiences of Black women doctoral students in relation to their academic persistence and overall programmatic experience. The findings from this study can also provide insight for diversity, …

The Impact Of A Burn Injury On Family Caregivers Of Adult Burn Survivors, Diana Kidd

Dissertations

The survival rate of burn injuries is over 90 percent. Physical and emotional recovery from a burn injury may be prolonged. Family support is an important component of this recovery. However, little is known about the impact on caregivers. The purpose of this interpretive phenomenological study is to explore the impact of a burn injury on family caregivers of adult burn survivors. An improved understanding of the stressors, challenges, coping, and involvement of family caregivers in caring for burn survivors will enable clinicians to better assist burn survivors and their family caregivers throughout the recovery process.

Single-Parent Nursing Students In Associate Degree Nursing Programs: The Social Supports That Buffered Their College-Related Stress And Fostered Their Academic Success, Dawn R. Bunting

Dissertations

The purpose of this exploratory case study was to describe single-parent associate degree nursing students' reports of the social supports that buffered their college-related stress and fostered their academic success. The study was designed to elicit participants' descriptions of the stressors experienced as a result of being a single-parent community college nursing student and the types and sources of support that were helpful in buffering their college-related stress and fostering their academic success.

The conceptual framework used in this case study was House's (1981) model of social support. According to House, social support is defined as "a flow of emotional …

The Ecology And Evolution Of Species Rarity In Oaks (Quercus Spp.), Yingtong Wu

Dissertations

Rare species are susceptible to extinction due to ecological and genetic factors. Understanding the distribution, ecology, and evolution of rare species can provide useful information for effective conservation. To investigate species rarity, this dissertation focuses on a species-rich and ecologically diverse genus, Quercus (oaks). In Chapter 1, I aimed to understand how interactions between hosts and soil microbes contribute to habitat restriction in oak species. I performed a soil inoculum experiment on two pairs of sister oak species that show habitat divergence. I found that host-specific soil microbes contribute to habitat divergence and exclusion among sister species of oaks, but …

Chess, Robotics, And Speech And Debate: An Analysis Of Critical Thinking-Oriented Afterschool Programs, Marc Leffler

Dissertations

Many high school students graduate lacking several key 21st-century skills needed for college, career, and life. Among 21st-century skills, researchers deem critical thinking fundamental to meeting life’s increasingly complex challenges, as it underlies primary thought processes such as reasoning, analyzing, and decision-making. This quantitative, quasi-experimental study compares the critical thinking ability of high school students involved in three programs: robotics, chess, and speech and debate. The study aims to determine whether these groups have statistically significant differences in critical thinking levels. Critical thinking ability was measured by scores on the Critical Thinking In Everyday Life assessment, a valid measure of …

Factors Impacting Multidisciplinary Team Communication And Patient-Centered Communication Along The Cancer Care Continuum, Jessica Beckham

Dissertations

The deployment of navigators as liaisons between cancer patients and their Multi-Disciplinary Teams (MDT) affords a high level of coordinated care that is otherwise difficult to attain. Highly functioning navigators provide a multitude of support roles, the primary being the dissemination and interpretation of information to and from patients and providers in a manner that is digestible to all recipients. Navigators face hurdles in the form of communication breakdowns within the MDT which can negatively impact level of care and lead to patient uncertainty. Patients face additional barriers of their own which serve to further heighten uncertainty and cause patients …

Perceptions Of Role Transition Among Nurses Working In Both Clinical And Faculty Positions, Teresa A. Wenner

Dissertations

In response to the current nurse faculty shortage and the anticipated return of a nationwide shortage of Registered nurses (RNs), the use of part-time clinical nurse educators has been increasing. It was not known how nurses experience the work-role transition from clinical expert to part-time clinical faculty member when they subsequently work in both a clinical and an academic setting. Thus, the purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to explore this population. Research questions were: 1) How do part-time clinical nurse faculty members perceive the work-role transition from clinical expert to clinical instructor when they continue to maintain their …

Utilizing The Expectancy Theory As A Predictor Of Student Academic Success On The Illinois Nurse Assistant Competency Examination, Kelli D. Whittington

Dissertations

This study researches the relationship between motivation and academic success by utilizing the concepts of Vroom's Expectancy Theory: Valence, Expectancy, and Instrumentality. In order to quantify motivation, the Valence, Instrumentality, Expectancy, and Motivation Score (VIEMS) was used. The population assessed consisted of 375 nurse assistant students in the state of Illinois. The self-reported survey tool was evaluated to assess the constructs of Vroom's Expectancy Theory, thus investigating their motivation level. This level was then compared to their performance on the Illinois Nurse Assistant Training Competency Examination.

A Delphi Study Of The Most Effective Actions Taken By Rural Superintendents In California To Improve Achievement For English Learners, Diana Jimenez

Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of this Delphi study was to have rural school superintendents whose districts have shown academic improvement as measured by the California School Dashboard identify the actions they have taken to improve academic achievement for English learners. In addition, it was the purpose to rate the effectiveness of the identified actions, and to describe the best methods for implementing the five most effective actions identified from the ratings. Methodology: This study employed a Delphi method, comprising three rounds to collect data. In Round 1, participants were asked to identify what actions they have taken to increase academic outcomes …

Software Protection And Secure Authentication For Autonomous Vehicular Cloud Computing, Muhammad Hataba

Dissertations

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is changing every technology we deal with. Autonomy has been a sought-after goal in vehicles, and now more than ever we are very close to that goal. Vehicles before were dumb mechanical devices, now they are becoming smart, computerized, and connected coined as Autonomous Vehicles (AVs). Moreover, researchers found a way to make more use of these enormous capabilities and introduced Autonomous Vehicles Cloud Computing (AVCC). In these platforms, vehicles can lend their unused resources and sensory data to join AVCC.

In this dissertation, we investigate security and privacy issues in AVCC. As background, we built our …

Nurse-Policymaker Process Improvements: Legislative Action Interest Group Participation In Policymaking, Brooke Newman

Dissertations

Governmental officials influenced health care decision-making rather than dialoguing with nurses, which was a call to action for Doctor of Nursing Practice leaders to mitigate the legislative governance process problem. The local professional nursing organization, action coalition, and I aimed to disrupt the systemic nursing practice problem, identifying the Future of Nursing (2020-2030) report recommendations at the legislative advocacy forums. For members of professional nursing organizations and action coalitions in California (P), will a Legislative Action Interest Group (LAIG) bi-weekly forum (I) compared to no policy participation forum (C) improve nurse policy participation by 10 % (O) over 8 weeks …

Principals' Knowledge Of Special Education Policy And Procedure And The Special Education Teachers' Intent, Tara Clark

Dissertations

Teacher shortage has been a growing problem. With the increase of teacher shortages, some areas are being impacted more intensely. Special education is one of the areas most impacted by the shortages. Common reasons exist as to why teachers are leaving the field or profession. These reasons may be personal or professional related. Some of the professional reasons for leaving pertain to the school’s administration and the way special education teachers are treated. Principal support is cited as one of the primary indicators of teacher satisfaction. Literature supports the analysis that a principal’s leadership heavily determines a teacher’s job satisfaction. …

The Protective Benefits Of Sexual Surrogacy In Dissatisfying Romantic Relationships, Ryan Liu-Pham

Dissertations

The study tested whether the negative effects of dissatisfaction in romantic relationships can be mitigated by sexual surrogacy, an imagined sexual relationship with a celebrity or other socially distant target. I conducted a cross-sectional experimental study to examine my question. Participants were first randomly assigned to a relationship threat task asking them to reflect on insecurities in their romantic relationship or a friendship (control). Then were randomly assigned to reflect on either a celebrity crush or their desire to travel (control). Afterward participants were asked to complete measures of relationship satisfaction and well-being (happiness, loneliness, and affect). I predicted that …

A Qualitative Study On Teachers' Perceptions Of Virtual Instruction During The Covid-19 Pandemic In A Midwest Public School District, Tina Lauer

Dissertations

During the COVID-19 pandemic, schools closed to in-person instruction and forced teachers and students into virtual learning environments. Schools and districts had to create new ways to deliver curriculum to their students, and most chose to switch to an online/virtual learning environment. In this learning environment, the teachers taught from a distance, and students received their instruction through synchronous and asynchronous methods. This change in content delivery was a new experience for most educators. Teachers worldwide expressed their frustrations with virtual instruction and dissatisfaction with student engagement through social media and mainstream media outlets. The study aimed to determine teachers’ …

A Study Of The Perceptions Of Relationships Between Teachers And Students And Possible Effect On Standardized Test Scores, Rachel Quintana

Dissertations

This research study sought to determine correlations between the perceptions of teacher and student relationships and personality traits with academic achievement as measured by End-of-Course (EOC) summative exams in a rural midwestern high school. As a firm believer in the importance of relationships in the classroom, the researcher created a survey instrument and provided it to teachers and students who enrolled in courses that took End-of-Course (EOC) exams in the Spring of 2021. The researcher-designed instrument categorized teachers and students based on their perceptions of relationships and four common personality traits to determine if correlations to EOC scores existed.

The …

Communication Matters: A Study Of Communication Between Emergency Managers And Water Systems Professionals Regarding Insufficient Access To Drinking Water, Paula R. Buchanan

Dissertations

In 2021, the United States – specifically the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation – declared its first-ever drinking water shortage for the Colorado River and the Hoover Dam, resulting in cuts to water access for the southwestern United States. Unfortunately, incidents like this one are increasingly likely to occur as access to drinking water has become a more pervasive issue that not only impacts the work of water systems professionals, but also impacts the field of emergency management and its practitioners. In addition, these incidents underscore the need to put a spotlight on communication processes between water systems professionals and emergency …

Cultivating Teacher Expertise In The Landscape Of Green Chemistry: The Development Of Pedagogical Content Knowledge In Beyond Benign’S Lead Teacher Program, Philip Charles Nahlik

Dissertations

Chemistry Education, Green Chemistry, Pedagogical Content Knowledge, Professional Learning Communities, Sustainability, Teacher Training

The Effect Of Universal Design For Learning On Student Engagement And Achievement In A Southwest Missouri School District, Amber D. Hainline

Dissertations

The researcher’s primary purpose in this mixed-method study was to investigate if teachers who applied Universal Design for Learning (UDL) to a unit of study noted increased engagement in students overall and in teacher-identified students considered “disengaged” compared to students in the same unit of study without the UDL methods applied. Additionally, the researcher sought to determine if students in a UDL course had more significant achievement than students in the same unit of study without the UDL framework applied. Primarily, the researcher aimed to ascertain if UDL would benefit the participating district's students, particularly those not utilizing special services. …

A Past Not Present: Memory, Christianity, And Indian Removal Mission Sites In The Great Lakes And The South, Sean Thomas Jacobson

Dissertations

American Indians, cemeteries, Christianity, historic preservation, memory, public history

Burnout, Collective Efficacy, And The Social Network Of A Unit, Amy Kiefer

Dissertations

Burnout, Collective Efficacy, Social Network, Social Network Analysis

Consistency Of Sleep Across Development And Relations To Executive Functions; Applications To Emerging Adults Transitioning To College And Adolescents With Spina Bifida, Laura Nicholson

Dissertations

College Students, Development, Executive Functioning, Inhibition, Sleep consistency, Spina Bifida

The Impact Of Peer Supportive Accountability On Use Of A Mindfulness App In Depressed College Students: A Mixed Methods Study, Carol Hundert Gonzales

Dissertations

Depression, Mental Health App, Mindfulness, Supportive Accountability