Digital Commons Network^™

Efficacy Of Deep Learning In Support Of Smart Services, Basheer Mohammed Basheer Qolomany

Dissertations

The massive amount of streaming data generated and captured by smart service appliances, sensors and devices needs to be analyzed by algorithms, transformed into information, and minted to extract knowledge to facilitate timely actions and better decision making. This can lead to new products and services that can dramatically transform our lives. Machine learning and data analytics will undoubtedly play a critical role in enabling the delivery of smart services. Within the machine-learning domain, Deep Learning (DL) is emerging as a superior new approach that is much more effective than any rule or formula used by traditional machine learning. Furthermore, …

Exploring Referee Abuse Through The Lens Of The Collegiate Rugby Coach, Brittany Lauren Jacobs

Dissertations

Referees are a valuable contributor to the legitimacy of a sporting contest. Despite this, abuse in sport has become a growing concern and is regularly noted as an obstacle with which referees must contend. Continued abuses have been associated with referee discontinuation and have been noted as a key factor influencing the recruitment and retention of referees. Sporting organizations, coaches, and players all feel the impact when there is an inadequate supply of referees. Though the continuance of the referee is related to the continuance of the sport itself, little research has focused on the referee.Further, the studies that have …

The Influence Of Minimalist Compositional Techniques On Literature For Wind Ensemble, Justin Thomas Zanchuk

Dissertations

There is an abundance of literature that has been and is currently being written for the wind ensemble that is influenced by the compositional techniques utilized in minimalism, one of the most significant musical styles of the late twentieth-century, and is associated with the music of LaMonte Young, Terry Riley, Steve Reich, Philip Glass, John Adams, and Michael Torke. This influence has expanded the vocabulary of the expressive musical language of the wind ensemble in regards to musical elements such as form and process, melody, harmony, rhythm, texture, and sound. By identifying minimalist compositional characteristics, as well as examining the …

A Recipe For Success In The ‘English World’: An Investigation Of The Ex-Amish In Mainstream Society, Jessica R. Sullivan

Dissertations

As a largely understudied and misunderstood religious group, the Amish appear to be a relic of more traditional times. Because they are a secluded group with little influence from the outside world, they remain relatively untouched by technology and social media. This results in a strict, fundamentalist church community with extremely high rates of retention. Distancing themselves from outsiders and temptations in the English world aids in retaining strong church boundaries, and results in a population that doubles every 20 years (Kaufmann 2010). Acknowledging these aspects, this research delves into the lives of those who have defected from the church …

Paying For Performance: Public School Property Taxes And Public-School District Performance In Missouri, Keenan Daniela Kinder

Dissertations

An increase in the property tax rate of a school district creates an increase in local revenues for the district (Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. [MODESE], 2017). The overarching question becomes: Do increases in the local tax levy compare to improved student performance? The purpose of this quantitative study was to examine the difference between property tax rates of Missouri public school districts to student performance as viewed through the lens of benefit tax theory (Duff, 2004). Secondary data were obtained via the MODESE which included property tax rates and information from the Annual Performance Reports for public …

Understanding The Experiences Of Students Re-Admitted After Academic Suspension As Part Of A University-Initiated Process: A Qualitative Study, Gary L. Versalle

Dissertations

Student persistence and retention continues to be a major issue facing most institutions of higher education. With ever more diverse student populations, researchers studied a multitude of groups and sub-groups of students based on ethnicity, sex, socioeconomic status, or age. These studies looked at how these various student groups can be supported and retained. Students who returned to school after having been academically dismissed are one group which has been consistently underreported. Reentry practices remained largely unchanged and still require the student to initiate the process. This phenomenological study examined the experiences of students accepted into the Reclaim the W …

Scaffolded Discourse Within A Comprehensive Literacy Model, Kimberlee Wagner

Dissertations

Research has shown that successful models of school change have several common features: a balance of teacher autonomy and accountability, high-quality professional development, quality leadership, and the support of an outside partner. One model that has these features is the comprehensive literacy model within the Partnership of Comprehensive Literacy model. This mixed methods study examined the language of scaffolding that occurred in three settings within the model: grade level meetings, coaching and mentoring, and small group instruction. Participants in this study included the literacy coaches, interventionists and first-grade teachers at two schools within the PCL network. Three levels of scaffolding …

Construction Of Efl Teacher Educators’ Knowledge Base In A Teacher Education Program In Nicaragua, Angel María Dávila

Dissertations

AN ABSTRACT OF THE DISSERTATION The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to understand and describe the sources of Nicaraguan EFL teacher educators’ knowledge base, the types of knowledge and skills that constructed their knowledge base, and the relationship of this knowledge base and classroom practices in a teacher education program at a Nicaraguan University. This study presents a literature review on the sources of knowledge and knowledge base of EFL teacher educators in the field of language teacher education. I used a purposeful sampling technique to select both the research site and the six EFL teacher educators who …

Documentary Production As A Site Of Struggle: State, Capital, And Precarity In The Contemporary Chinese Documentary, Jiachun Hong

Dissertations

Documentary filmmakers have been considered artists, authors, or intellectuals, but rarely as labor. This study investigates how the nature of work as well as life is changing for those who work in the expanding area of TV documentary in China, in the midst of China’s shift towards a market-based economy. How do documentary makers reconcile their passion for documentary making with the increasingly precarious conditions of work? And, how do they cope with and resist the pressures of neoliberalism to survive in increasingly competitive local and global markets? Based on data gathered through the interviews with 40 practitioners from January …

Are Experienced Principals More Likely To Implement The Attributes Of The Three-Minute Walkthrough Program Than Less-Experienced Principals?, Trent Mosley

Dissertations

Today, in this era of accountability, school improvement rests heavily on the shoulders of building principals. Apart from being managers of school operations, disciplinarians, and community leaders, these individuals are also expected to be strong instructional leaders (Crum & Sherman, 2008). Principals now must engage in strategies that will lead the cycle of continuous improvement. One such strategy that has emerged is classroom walkthroughs (Cervone & Martinez, 2007). Classroom walkthroughs serve as a vehicle through which principals can engage teachers in a process that can lead to positive effects on teaching strategies through instructional conferences (Blasé & Blasé, 1998; King, …

The Effect Of Item Stem And Response Option Length On The Item Analysis Outcomes Of A Career And Technical Education Multiple Choice Assessment, Tina M. Koepf

Dissertations

Critical decisions in Career and Technical Education (CTE) can be based on assessment outcomes, requiring an essential focus on continuous improvement initiatives to provide increased multiple choice (MC) assessment validity. Previous research has determined that the presence of flawed test items negatively impacts student success; therefore, an MC taxonomy has been established and used in the assessment industry. While rigorous and successful Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs that enroll high-level academic students exist, many CTE programs enroll students with a wide spectrum of academic ability. Because many CTE students often have inferior reading skills, it is necessary to take …

Becoming Malala: A Discourse Analysis Of Western And Middle Eastern Print And Broadcast Coverage Of Malala Yousafzai From 2012-2017, Tamar Meguerditchian Gregorian

Dissertations

Deutsch Wells’ Kyle McKinnon called her the “most famous teenager in the world” (McKinnon, 2013). Her name is Malala Yousafzai, and at the age of 14 she stood up to the Taliban for threatening her right to an education and was shot in the head. In less than a decade, she became one of the youngest and most influential activists, known to the world simply as Malala. As a Middle Easterner, Muslim and “media darling,” Malala is no doubt an interesting activist to study.

This discourse analysis examined the media coverage of Malala in Western and Pakistani media from 2012-2017; …

The Prologue To Management: The Effects Of Historical Anthropogenic Activities On Forest Ecosystems And Current Management Opportunities In Southwestern Illinois, John Timothy Lovseth

Dissertations

Forest disturbance occurs on a wide gradient of selectiveness and creates new growth opportunities for adapted species. Across the spectrum of disturbance, anthropogenic disturbance influences community assembly in the Midwest more than other mechanisms but is its role in shaping and maintaining ecosystems is inadequately considered in most discussions on the historic range of variability (HRV). Forest resiliency is threatened by unprecedented agents of ecosystem change such as invasive species and reduced regeneration potential of native species. Historic anthropogenic disturbance largely resulted in forest conditions which commonly contained high value attributes like heterogeneity across habitat types and landscape diversity, yet …

Teacher, Tutor, Scholar, Administrator: Preparation For And Perceptions Of Graduate Writing Center Work, Katrina Bell

Dissertations

This research uses a mixed methods approach to explore the both the preparation for and perceptions of graduate consultant writing center work. A review of literature shows a gap in both the knowledge surrounding graduate writing consultant education and the long-term outcomes or transfer of writing center training and work to post-graduate careers. The survey instruments in this study draw from two established studies, the Peer Writing Tutor Alumni Research Project and the National Census of Writing, while a request for curricular artifacts draws on case study research conducted by Jackson et al. Findings indicate that graduate consultants are being …

A Change Plan For District Professional Learning And Teacher Collaboration In The Area Of Elementary English Language Arts Instruction, Scott Carlson

Dissertations

This change plan used Wagner et al.’s (2006) framework to assess the arenas of culture, context, conditions, and competencies of a small suburban school district to create a plan for professional learning and teacher collaboration in the area of English Language Arts instruction. However, a backmapping approach could be used to plan professional learning in any subject area. Building on the judgments and recommendations from my program evaluation, I hope to move the school district toward a more comprehensive model of transformational learning. A secondary goal of this change plan is to build the capacity of the district’s staff development …

Creating Conditions For A Collaborative Relationship Between Principals And Their Supervisors: A Change Initiative, Noah Riley

Dissertations

ABSTRACT

Studies by Kelley and Peterson (2002), Drago-Severson, Blum-DeStefano & Asghar (2013) and other researchers, have shown that in order for principals and other building leaders to be able to demonstrate the required expectations of “new” principal standards, they must engage in ongoing supervision, evaluation, coaching, and continuous career-long professional development. These studies also suggest that school districts, in their support and development of principals’ growth in competency capacity building, are more effective when the principal supervisor works in collaboration with principals they supervise/evaluate in a trusting, mutually respectful relationship of shared accountability for improving instruction and learning. This change …

The Meaning Of A Family History Of Colorectal Cancer In Black Families In The United States, Cassandra Loggins

Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to understand the meaning of a family history of colorectal cancer (CRC) for first-degree relatives of Blacks diagnosed with CRC. Even though CRC is more preventable than other cancers because of effective screening tests for prevention and early detection, Blacks experience a disproportionate burden of CRC compared to other groups. Interventions to increase CRC screening among Blacks have not produced a significant reduction in CRC disparity. Underutilization of CRC screening and low perceived risk of CRC are major factors contributing to CRC disparity. The informing methodological approach employed in this study was hermeneutic phenomenology, …

Teacher Perceptions Of Ability In Implementing A Culturally Responsive Educational Practice For Culturally Linguistically Diverse Students With Dis/Abilities, Melanie Ziebatree

Dissertations

All children in the United States have the right to an equitable education, regardless of gender, religion, class, race, culture, language, or dis/ability. The literature demonstrates that financial, educational, and legal outcomes are disproportionately negative for those students falling outside of white able-bodied norms and that educational institutions often perpetuate exclusive policies and practices that disproportionately impact culturally linguistically diverse students with dis/abilities. A critical examination of the sociopolitical and contextual factors that fortify the barriers faced by marginalized groups highlights the need for a culturally responsive approach to educating students with multidimensional identities.

To serve the needs resulting from …

Unmasking Whiteness: Progressing Toward Cultural Responsiveness Within A Rti Framework, Melinda F. Scheetz

Dissertations

Response to Intervention (RTI) developed out of educational policies and practices that comprise NCLB and IDEA. RTI is a system to ensure all students receive high-quality instruction that meets their needs, increases opportunities to learn, and prevents reading failure. A culturally relevant RTI framework offers the most promising pedagogical approach to quality instruction and educational equity. The purpose of this study was to understand, describe, and explore the intersection of culturally relevant practices and RTI. The research questions that guided this study were: What can be learned about a culturally responsive approach to RTI by listening to teachers’ perspectives and …

The Dreaded Performance Appraisal: Can The Process Ever Be Comfortable?, Lauren Labat

Dissertations

Previous research has indicated that individuals dislike and resist the performance appraisal process. Fewer studies have examined reasoning for unintentional rating distortion that may result from a lack of training and clear understanding of how to effectively evaluate behaviors. Researchers have shown that the appraisal process is uncomfortable for raters, but empirical studies have yet to explore how to reduce this discomfort. Rater training research has revealed that trained raters have improved observational skills, a more precise vocabulary to describe behaviors, and improved rating accuracy. This research explored the relationship between performance appraisal discomfort and trait motivational factors (i.e., personality …

Religiosity And Attitudes Toward Psychological Health, Distress, And Help-Seeking Among Coptic Orthodox Parishioners, Sandy Guergues Aziz

Dissertations

This study was undertaken to provide information and insights enabling mental health professionals to better understand and treat clients who follow the Coptic Orthodox religion. Using the heuristic phenomenological method dialogues with six members of the Coptic Orthodox church were conducted to learn how religious orientation influences attitudes toward psychological distress and psychological help-seeking in the Coptic Orthodox community. Qualitative analysis of responses revealed the following eight themes: culture informs religiosity, experiencing psychological distress, sources of psychological distress, attitudes toward psychological distress and help-seeking, devotion to the church, dealing with psychological distress religiously, carrying the cross, and priests as psychological …

Perceptions Of Accommodation Enhancements On Student Academic Achievement In Higher Education, Cheryl Lynne Coleman

Dissertations

The researcher used a series of qualitative research techniques to gain a perceptual understanding of how the use of reasonable accommodations relates to academic achievement outcomes for postsecondary students with disabilities. In the research all student participants reflected on their personal experiences about the value of accommodations in the instructional setting at a small private Midwestern liberal arts university. The research captured the views of the target population to investigate this phenomenon. The use of an online survey and audiotaped focus group were the research tools used to conduct this qualitative study. The research included students’ perceptions on an array …

An Evaluation Of Early Childhood Education Programs: The Parents’ Perspective Of Quality Care, Buu Chau Thai

Dissertations

Early childhood education (ECE) programs play a critical role in the social, emotional, and cognitive development of children and help to prepare them for kindergarten. Recognizing the benefits of ECE programs, state and federal governments have made notable efforts to make these programs more accessible. However, with various federal, state, and local governments involved in administering and funding ECE programs, a complex, fragmented, and oftentimes confusing system ensued, making the ECE landscape very difficult for parents to navigate. Parents are often the primary decision-makers when selecting educational programs for their children. Studies often focus on practitioners’ or researchers’ perspectives on …

Teacher And Administrator Knowledge, Beliefs, Attitudes, And Practices Related To Equity In A Suburban California School District, Arcia Dorosti

Dissertations

This dissertation is a case study of one district’s efforts to reduce the disparities in

educational outcomes among its ethnic groups as well as the disparities in educational

outcomes between its economically disadvantaged students and its students that are not

economically disadvantaged. The literature reviewed began with the larger historical

context around equity issues in education and then discussed in-school and out-of-school

factors affecting educational outcomes. The methods used included interviews with

teachers and administrators, site visits, and classroom observations. The results

summarized the successes and remaining challenges facing the district as it continues its

desired journey towards more equitable …

Critical Praxis Círculos: The Impact Of Culturally Responsive Teacher Development, Raul Silva Lomeli

Dissertations

Building positive relationships with students and employing relevant pedagogy

informed by Community Cultural Wealth will undoubtedly contribute to a more engaged community of learners that are vested in their community and academics. Aronson and Laughter (2015) amongst many others, studied and analyzed over 200 studies on the topic of culturally relevant education (CRE), and found convincing results that speak to the academic outcomes that are consistently reached whenever teachers employ CRE in the classroom (Cammarota, 2014; Covarrubias, 2017; Gay, 2010; Ladson-Billings, 1995; Paris, 2012;

approaches have demonstrated success, they are not being practiced and replicated in many parts of the …

What About Us? For Girls Between Worlds: How Black Girls Navigate White High Schools, Cryslynn C. Billingsley

Dissertations

This qualitative study is about the experiences and challenges Black girls have while attending predominantly White high schools and what they are doing to navigate that particular space. The purpose of this study was to explore and understand more about how Black girls navigate White space as minority members of a system that was not originally intended for them. Through semi-structured interviews, Black girls were asked directly to share their lived experiences. This study hopes to illuminate and amplify the voices of Black girls and help others see them by giving them a platform to discuss and tell their stories. …

From The Desert To The City: The Innovative Leadership Of Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President And Prime Minister Of The United Arab Emirates (Uae) And Ruler Of The Emirate Of Dubai, Saeed Almansoori

Dissertations

The main purpose of this research is to explore and analyze the leadership of Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Ruler of the Emirate of Dubai, and how his leadership has transformed the culture of a society. The research focuses on Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid’s leadership styles and how he transformed a desert in the Middle East into one of the world’s premier cities. The study analyzes the persuasion he used with the citizens to encourage and help them adapt to this rapid change. He dealt with a …

A Case Study On Licensed Practical Nursing Program Outcomes: Exploring Factors Affecting Successful Program Completion And Licensure, Holley Goodnight

Dissertations

Student retention is important to higher education institutions (Shoemake, 2017). Nursing programs strive to choose admission criteria which identify students who show the best chance of successfully completing the program and passing the National Council Licensure Examination (Bremner, Blake, Long, & Yanosky, 2014; Chen, Heiny, & Lin, 2014; Knauss & Wilson, 2013). The crisis of a nursing shortage, compounded by the void retiring nurses place on healthcare industries, creates the need for nursing programs to graduate more qualified nurses (Kubec, 2017; Mooring, 2016). The purpose of this mixed-methods study was to investigate factors which influenced completion of a practical nursing …

The Relative Effects Of Religion, Empathy, Anger, And Apology On Forgiveness, Christine P. Lopez

Dissertations

Researchers have begun elucidating the complex relationship between religion and forgiveness. This study examined the effects of religious measures on forgiveness beyond the variance explained by empathy, anger, and apology. Utilizing hierarchical multiple regression, this study investigated the predictive power of religious coping and Catholic religiosity on state forgiveness after controlling for the effects of the strongest known predictor variables: state empathy, state anger, and received apology. A discriminant function analysis allowed this researcher to conceptualize the religious variables further by comparing religious coping with Catholic religiosity. Parishioners from local Catholic churches were invited to participate in an online survey …

A Mixed Method Study Examining Corrective Reading Implementation Models In An Urban Midwest School District, Claudette Denean Vaughn

Dissertations

In this mixed methods study, the researcher analyzed three school years of third through fifth-grade students’ reading scores on the NWEA MAP reading test to determine possible differences in students’ reading growth relative to the instructional delivery model used to provide Corrective Reading as supplemental reading intervention. Students received Corrective Reading intervention with the classroom teacher, the afterschool teacher (both large groups), or in small-groups with the Title I Reading Teacher. Five elementary school principals and 15 teachers answered interview questions related to experiences with Corrective Reading, perceptions of student academic and behavioral outcomes, and perceptions of the three instructional …