Digital Commons Network^™

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 …

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

A Comparison Of Education In Post-Revolutionary Mexico And Post-Independence India, Yver Alonso Melchor-Hernandez

Dissertations

Comparison, Education, History, India, Mexico

A Longitudinal Study Of Pain In Youth And Young Adults With Spina Bifida: Three Studies Based On The Bio-Neuropsychosocial Model, Diana Margaret Ohanian

Dissertations

Family Functioning, Neuropsychology, Pain, Pain Coping, Psychological Adjustment, Spina Bifida

Assessing Nursing Student Engagement In Clinical And Simulation Experiences, Karrie Osborne

Dissertations

clinical education, nursing education, student engagement

Influences Of Child And Caregiver-Directed Home Visitor Behaviors On Caregiver Engagement And Caregiver-Child Interactions, Mary Kienstra Frese

Dissertations

Home Visiting, Parent Support, Prevention

Risk Factors Of Cyberbullying Victimization: The Impact Of Developmental Trauma, Yuliya Mykytyn

Dissertations

Trauma has been considered as one of the significant causes of psychological distress, especially if the traumatic event occurred in the childhood. At the same time, due to wide popularity of social media as a source of communication, cyberbullying emerged as a new way to harass someone, with specific focus on adults and young adults. The area of focus of this research project is to investigate whether experienced trauma, specifically developmental trauma might serve as a risk factor for cyberbullying victimization. Additional focus was on the differences in traumatic experiences and their impact for people with diverse cultural and ethnic …

The Perceived Impact Of The Five Areas Of Spiritual Intelligence Of California Community College Administrators On The Integrated Spiritual Intelligence Scale And Their Ability To Lead, Senorina Saldivar

Dissertations

The Perceived Impact of the Five Domains of Spiritual Intelligence on the California Community College Administrators on the Integrated Spiritual Intelligence Scale and Their Ability to Lead by Senorina S. Saldivar Purpose: The purpose of this mixed method study was to explore and describe the perceived impact and use of the five areas (consciousness, grace, meaning, transcendence and truth) of Integrated Spiritual Intelligence Scale (ISIS) on California Community College CalWORKs Directors/Coordinators’ leadership. Methodology: This mixed-method study explored and described the perceived impact that the five areas of ISIS (consciousness, grace, meaning, transcendence and truth) have on eight California Community College …

Teacher Leadership: A Delphi Study, Critical Leadership Skills And Personal Dispositions Necessary For Teacher Leaders To Effectively Lead Educational Change Initiatives In Tk–12 Public Schools, Jennifer E. Larson

Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of this mixed-method Delphi study was to identify and rate the most important leadership skills and personal dispositions that effective teacher leaders use in leading educational change initiatives based on the Center for Strengthening the Teaching Profession (CSTP) Teacher Leadership Skills Framework. Additionally, this study explored how effective teacher leaders describe the leadership skills and personal dispositions that are most important in leading education change initiatives.

Methodology: This mixed method Delphi study identified and described the most critical leadership skills and personal dispositions used by expert teacher leaders in public schools in Sonoma and Marin County. Round …

Implementation Of The Massachusetts Policy On Youth Sport-Related Mild Traumatic Brain Injuries: Perceptions Of Key Personnel At Massachusetts Public And Charter Schools, Gretchen A. Kilbourne

Dissertations

The major purpose of this cross-sectional, descriptive, and explanatory survey research was to assess key school personnel's perceptions of barriers to and facilitators of implementation of the Massachusetts (MA) policy on youth sport-related mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) to guide, inform, and increase awareness of implementation of this policy.

Organizational Factors As Barriers To Racially And Ethnically Diverse Nursing Students, Janine Lynn Johnson

Dissertations

Increasing the nursing profession's diverse make up is thought to improve health disparities. To improve this diversity, it is essential for nursing students from diverse backgrounds to be successful in nursing school. The purpose of this phenomenological study using critical race theory for the framework was to discover racially and ethnically diverse students' perceptions related to organizational factors impacting their success in an undergraduate nursing program. Organizational factors included the policies and practices at the course, department, and institutional levels. The aim of this study was to determine how nurse educators and schools of nursing can increase the diversity among …

The Phenomenological Study On The Impact Of Servant Leadership For Establishing A Culture Of High Performance As Perceived By Middle School Principals Of Title I Middle Schools, Freddie Chavarria

Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore and describe Title I middle school principals’ perceived impact of the seven servant leadership constructs developed by Patterson (2003) on establishing a culture of high performance.

Methodology: The qualitative phenomenological method was used to describe and explore the middle school principals’ perceived impact of the seven servant leadership constructs developed by Patterson (2003) on establishing a culture of high performance. This method was selected by a thematic team of eight peer researchers to best examine the core meanings of K-12 leaders lived experiences. The sample for this study was middle …

Health-Care Seeking Behaviors Of Puerto Ricans With Diabetes Mellitus Who Live In South Florida: An Exploratory Study, Laura N. Gonzalez

Dissertations

Latinos are the fastest growing minority population in the United States (U.S.) and have the worst access to health care of any ethnic group. The chronic disease of diabetes is twice as common in adult Latinos as in non-Latino whites, and the risk of death related to diabetes is twofold. Reasons for this disparity have yet to be clearly identified. This study had two purposes: 1) to explore cultural beliefs regarding health-care seeking behaviors in Puerto Ricans with diabetes who live in South Florida; and 2) to examine Puerto Ricans' perceptions about their health-care providers. The cultural phenomena of interest …

The Relationship Between Equity Funding Levels And Success Of African American Students At California Community Colleges, Yulian Ligioso

Dissertations

Purpose. The purpose of this quantitative study was to determine what relationship exists between equity fund spending and the student success measures of graduation rates, associate degrees and certificates awarded, and transfers completed by African American students in single college community college districts in California.

Methodology. This study employed a quantitative research design using archival data. Correlation and regression analysis was performed to determine the relationship between funding and student success outcomes. The study population was the California community college (CCC) system, and the sample was 49 single college districts.

Findings: As expected, funding was positively correlated with total number …

La Vraie Bouillabaisse: An Investigation Into The History And Current Practice Of The Provencal Dish Bouillabaisse, And Its Significance As A Traditional Dish, Mathieu Belledent

Dissertations

This thesis examines the history and the current practices (popularity, service styles, and recipes) of the Provencal dish bouillabaisse. It aims to establish the evolution and the traditional characteristics of the dish. It also explores the historical and contemporary popularity as well as the everyday role that bouillabaisse plays in the regional identity of Provencal cooking. Finally, the research questions if bouillabaisse would benefit from a European Union quality schemes protection or official recognition by UNESCO. This research uses an exploratory sequential mixed methods model combining qualitative and quantitative data collection which are analysed in a sequence of phases. …

Impact Of Immigration Parent-Child Separation Policies On Children’S Attachment Experiences, Daisy Casasnovas

Dissertations

This critical literature review (CRP) project explores the consequences of child-parent separation by deportation laws. Considering the number of Latinx immigrant families immigrating to the United States, this review focused on how the unexpected separation by deportation impacted immigrant families and how these separations affect their children’s development, attachment style, and overall well-being. The review explored the short- and long-term consequences for immigrant children and their families, including children who are U.S.-born and remain in the country without their parents. Results from the review indicate an extensive and significant impact on attachment style and overall developmental impairments. The unexpected separation …

Trauma And Effects Of Being Raised By A Parent With Bipolar I Disorder: A Theoretical Approach Utilizing Internal Family Systems, Daniella Vasquez

Dissertations

Bipolar I disorder (BD) is a somewhat rare mental health disorder that impacts not only the person diagnosed but also their family (Chang et al., 2001; Cook et al., 2005; Wearden et al., 2008). Children of parents with BD may experience complex trauma as inconsistencies in parenting, conflict within the household, and possible neglect or abuse may be present (Chang et al., 2001; Rusner et al., 2009; Wearden et al., 2008). Multiple developmental areas can be impacted for individuals who have endured complex trauma to include attachment, somatic distress, affect regulation, biology, behaviors, cognition, and identity (Cook et al., 2005; …

An Investigation Of The Unintended Consequences Of Florida’S Stand Your Ground Law And Leadership’S Role In Both Implementing The Law And Revising It, Anthony Keel

Dissertations

The State of Florida has become a negative representation of the Stand Your Ground Law due to the three unintended consequences which developed since that law was passed in 2005. They are the disparity of African American incarceration rates when the law is applied, the increase in justifiable homicides, and the exponential increase in concealed carry permits. The intent of this qualitative research study was to inspire the leadership of the state of Florida to actively support and participate in reexamining, reassessing, and revising the Stand Your Ground Law. The literature review suggested that the law is ambiguous because it …

Community College Faculty Perceptions And Use Of Pedagogical Translanguaging In The Academic Esl Classroom, Jennifer Talley

Dissertations

Low retention rates and poor progression have plagued academic ESL students for decades. While these students aspire to eventual matriculation into an academic or vocational program, the vast majority will fall victim to attrition. The time has come for administrators and faculty leaders to reject the status quo and advocate for programmatic changes that have proven, substantive positive impact on student outcomes. One strategy that has proven effective in other contexts is the adoption of a translanguaging approach to English instruction, yet this pedagogy is not yet widely accepted in postsecondary institutions. This study relies on frameworks developed by linguists …

Formation Of Oil Particle Aggregates And The Impact On The Fate Of Oil, Wen Ji

Dissertations

Spilled oil slicks are likely to break into droplets offshore due to wave energy. The fate and transport of such droplets are affected by suspended particles in local marine environment, through forming oil particle aggregates (OPAs). OPA formation is affected by various factors, including the properties of the particles and oil, the mixing energy and duration, etc. To investigate the impact of these factors, lab scale experiments are conducted by using seawater (both artificial and natural) and kaolinite and silica to simulate the formation of OPAs in baffled flasks. In the first experiment, 9 gm and 3 gm spherical silica …

Patient Perception Of Intensive Care Unit Discomfort, Essa Hakamy

Dissertations

Background: Discomfort has a significant effect on patient health and well-being; however, the symptoms are often difficult to address in ICU. Most patients in ICU are unable to communicate, making it difficult for physicians and nurses to distinguish between pain and discomfort. For example, artificial airways and assisted ventilation prevent patients from communicating. Patients may also have difficulty communicating due to delirium, fatigue, sedation, or neurological disease. Rationale: Discomfort has a considerable influence on patient health outcomes and well-being if not identified and addressed. Researchers have not explicitly explored discomfort apart from pain, which underscores the importance of studying the …

Cultural Intelligence Practices Community College Presidents Use To Lead Their Organization, Jennifer Marta

Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of this qualitative multicase study was to discover and describe the cultural intelligence practices California community college presidents use to lead their organization through the four dimensions of Ang et al. (2007) cultural intelligence (CQ) framework. Lastly, this study will examine the CQ practices of California community college presidents through the four dimensions of Ang et al.’s (2007) CQ framework.

Methodology: This qualitative multicase study was conducted through semistructured interviews of four California community college presidents to discover their use of CQ practices. Artifact collection and review was used to further describe how they use CQ practices …

A Phenomenological Exploration Of The Lived Experience Of Military Spouses Of Veterans With Combat-Related Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Teresa W. Yambo

Dissertations

A phenomenological study was conducted to explore the essence of the experience of military spouses living with veterans with combat-related Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Husserlian phenomenology was chosen as the theoretical framework because it allowed a deeper understanding of the unfolding o f the spouses' day-to-day experience. A purposive sample of 14 spouses living with veterans with symptoms of PTSD participated in unstructured interviews. Data were analyzed using a modification of Colaizzi's method. Four major themes were identified from data analysis: Recognizing Life is No Longer the Same, Living with Unpredictability, Bearing the Burden, and Creating a New Life. Spouses …

How System Efficacy Affects Risk Perception: Comparison Of The United States, Iran, And China Throughout The Covid-19 Pandemic, Nazanin Bani Amerian

Dissertations

The current study fills a gap in the risk and health communication literature that deals with perception of risk. The extended parallel process model (EPPM) and associated Risk Behavior Diagnosis Scale lack consideration for attenuated perceptions of risk when people believe that some agent (e.g., government agencies or first responders) will protect them from a hazard. This project’s intention is to establish the validity of a new concept, system efficacy, as an addition to the EPPM model. System efficacy supplements current use of self and response efficacy. In addition, this study tries to investigate how culture affect risk perception by …

Effects Of Excessive Student Technology Usage On Student Cognitive Engagement, Kristina Leah Loveland

Dissertations

Technology in the classroom has educators asking the question of whether technology engages students on a deep cognitive level or whether technology is holding students back. Educational technology has the potential to increase student engagement (Norris & Coutas, 2014). Wexler (2019) found technology is holding students back because they prefer the virtual setting to a real-world setting. The purpose of this mixed-methods research study was to determine if there is a connection between student cognitive engagement and excessive technology use. Developed by Antonetti and Stice (2018), the four components of Powerful Task Design were identified as the conceptual framework that …

Brenno Blauth’S Compositional Style Elements: A Study On The Sonata For Flute And Piano, T.5., Thiago Bohm Bottega

Dissertations

The Sonata para Flauta e Piano, T.5, by Brenno Blauth (1931-1993), is a standard of the Brazilian flute repertoire. This document studies its folk and Brazilian popular music elements in order to better understand Blauth’s compositional rationale.

In 1959 Blauth was responsible for the creation of the group Movimento Musical Renovador. Based in Rio de Janeiro, MMR gathered renowned composers and performers with the goal of promoting Brazilian classical music. Chapter III is dedicated to the group’s initiatives, taking its political and cultural contextualization into account.

Chapter IV is dedicated to the study of Blauth’s compositional style shifts …

The Development And Testing Of An Instrument To Measure Decision Making In Emergency Department Triage Nurses, Kelly J. Cone

Dissertations

An emergency department may be the initial entry site for health care for the critically ill client; the triage nurse is the frontline provider to prioritize care. Decision-making skills are important in the accurate direction of client care. To date, no published research was available about triage nurses' decision-making skills in the triage setting. The conceptual frameworks for this study were diagnostic reasoning and Benner's theory of novice to expert.