Digital Commons Network^™

The Impact Of Educational Backgrounds On Academic Success At A Private Work College In The Midwest, Abbey Nicole Vogt

Dissertations

More families in the United States are beginning to choose private or homeschool education for children instead of a public school education (Hanna, 2011); therefore, college administrators must begin to evaluate each student’s educational background in order to help all students achieve academic success at the college level. The purpose of this study was to determine differences in multi-year college academic performance among public, private, and homeschool graduates who attended a private work college in the Midwest. The variables analyzed consisted of students’ final high school GPAs and ACT test scores, college cumulative GPAs and work point average (WPA) scores, …

An International Quantitative Comparative Content Analysis Of Reading Curriculum Using A 21st Century Framework, Tameka Tammy Moore

Dissertations

Research in the area of 21st century learning suggested the American public education system lacked educational preparation for students to compete in a global/connection economy. The United States performed lower than other nations on the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) 2012 reading performance. However, the United States had a higher number of 21st century skills and knowledge embedded in the curriculum. The 21st century skills, referred to as the 4Cs (collaboration, communication, creativity, and critical thinking) served as the foundation of this research. Moreover, while the United Sates performance on the PISA was no match to other developed nations; …

A Qualitative Study Of Workplace Perceptions By Postpartum Women, Chelsey K. Taylor

Dissertations

Working mothers face the challenge of balancing multiple roles while adhering to or rejecting the societal norms associated with those roles. The unique perceptions of the effects motherhood places on the working mother can shed light on the current and best practices in providing support for working women transitioning into working mothers. The purpose of this study was to identify and evaluate workplace and relationship perceptions of postpartum women employed in higher education. A qualitative, case study approach was developed and framed with three theoretical perspectives: the theory of work adjustment, role theory, and Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. To complete …

“No Cosby Show”: Single Black Mother Homes And How Black Men Build Romantic Relationships, Maia Niguel Moore

Dissertations

This qualitative study explored the lives of 11 Black men to better understand how Black men who were raised in single Black mother homes build romantic relationships with Black women. One focus group and a series of individual in-person interviews were conducted with the participants who ranged between 23 and 43 years of age. Participants were asked questions that inquired about their family of origin, messages they received about relationships, how they define masculinity, their perceptions of Black women, and their previous and current experiences building romantic relationships. Guided by a narrative approach, several different coding methods were used to …

The Elements Of The Clinical Supervision: Exporting Concepts To Japan, Makoto Miyoshi

Dissertations

The current Japanese counseling profession is in the process of reforming and uniting the system and training together for counseling and related professions. Supervision is one of significant training piece in this profession; however, its familiarity among Japanese counseling professionals is very unclear. This study explored how Japanese counseling professionals conceptualize the ideal figure of a clinical supervisor based on the identified fundamental elements of clinical supervision in the US. The preliminary analysis indicates that each aspect of the U.S. clinical supervision models might be adoptable to Japanese counseling professionals. Yet the small sample size does not confirm the conceptual …

Changes In Health And Behavior During The Business Cycle, Mohammad Sediq Sameem

Dissertations

This dissertation considers to what extent changes in the unemployment rate – a proxy for the business cycle – drives changes in mortality and crime. I use a panel of U.S. counties from 1990 to 2013. I allow changes in the unemployment rate to have different effects upon mortality / crime in large versus small counties as well as between increases versus decreases in the unemployment rate. My results show great nuance along both these dimensions, suggesting that the effects of the business cycle are more subtle than what previous studies report. These results also give one greater insight into …

The Use Of The Expanded Health Belief Model (Ehbm) To Evaluate Osteoporosis Attitudes, Knowledge, Beliefs And Self Efficacy Of Nez Perce Tribal And Non Nez Perce Tribal Members In Nez Perce County, Id, Victor Nollen White

Dissertations

AN ABSTRACT OF THE DISSERTATION OF VICTOR NOLLEN WHITE, for the Doctor of Philosophy degree in Health Education, presented On November 14, 2014, at Southern Illinois University Carbondale. Title: THE USE OF THE EXPANDED HEALTH BELIEF MODEL (EHBM) TO EVALAUTE OSTEOPOROSIS ATTITUDES, KNOWLEDGE, BELIEFS AND SELF-EFFICACY OF NEZ PERCE TRIBAL AND NON NEZ PERCE TRIBAL MEMBERS IN NEZ PERCE COUNTY, IDAHO. Major Professor: Dr. Dhitinut Ratnapradipa According to the State of Idaho, the National Osteoporosis Foundation, and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, osteoporosis is a public health concern nationally among non-Native American (NNA) and Native American (NA) …

Is There Justice For Sexual Trauma? A Structural Model To Examine Factors Influencing Posttraumatic Growth And Distress, Danielle Grace Fetty

Dissertations

The current study employed an exploratory approach to examine how specific sets of variables map onto a theoretical framework of posttraumatic growth (Schaefer & Moos, 1998). Specifically, the predictive capacity of belief in ultimate justice, optimism, and supportive relationships on outcomes of posttraumatic growth (PTG) and distress were examined, as mediated by supportive spirituality, meaning making, and problem solving. Secondarily, the factor structure and internal consistency of the English translation of the Belief in Immanent and Ultimate Justice Scale (BIUJS; Maes, 1998a, 1998b) was tested, which had yet to be used in the United States or with sexual assault survivors …

Access Versus Success: An Examination Of The Effectiveness Of The Summer Developmental Program In Mississippi Higher Education, Amanda Susanne King

Dissertations

Historical racial segregation within Mississippi’s public universities and colleges has led to litigation that spanned 25 years and eventually led to sweeping changes in policies and practices. Among these changes were the standardization of admission criteria and the creation of the Summer Developmental Program (SDP). This study sought to better understand the intentions and motives behind the creation and implementation of the SDP at all of the four-year public institutions in Mississippi stemming from the United States v. Fordice (1992) higher education desegregation case. This study compared retention and graduation rates of SDP participants to non-SDP participants from the first …

Is There A Relationship Between Physical Fitness And Student Academic Achievement?, William Rushton Parker

Dissertations

The study utilized a quantitative approach to identify the relationship between students’ levels of fitness to students’ academic achievement as well as addressing the attitudes of elementary administrators, fifth grade regular education teachers, and elementary physical education teachers towards physical fitness and academic achievement. Instruments used in the study were the Mississippi Curriculum Test, 2^nd Edition (MCT2) and the FITNESSGRAM. The data from the FITNESSGRAM and MCT2 were archival, coming from the 2013-2014 academic school year. The MCT2 provided scores from the areas of language arts, mathematics, and science, and the FITNESSGRAM provided the fitness scores of those students. …

Our Voice, Our Choice: Race, Politics And Community Building On The Pages Of Five Historically Black College And University Newspapers From 1930 To 1959, Sheryl Monique Kennedy Haydel

Dissertations

From 1930 to 1959, the black college student-run press was a prolific voice leading discussions about ways to eradicate racial discrimination, amass political currency, and nurture communal solidarity. Embedded in their mission was a desire to awaken their readers intellectually and emotionally to join a mounting movement toward racial liberation. Yet, historians have ignored this expansive network of black collegian editors and writers, who were a philosophical extension of the professional Black Press.

Like their mentors in the Black Press, black college student editors and writers vigorously advocated for racial equality, took a combative stance against political gerrymandering that left …

Energy Management Mechanisms Employed At The Human-Material Interface Of Traditional And Minimalist Shod Running, Nadine M. Lippa

Dissertations

From recreational to elite athletes, greater than 50% of runners sustain overuse injuries each year, prompting substantial research efforts to identify causes of—and solutions to—the high injury rate. Different shoe types and material property degradation have been related to injury. Two popular footwear types are traditional shoes with thick graded soles and minimalist running footwear with thinner foam and/or non-graded soles. Notwithstanding 45 years of significant modifications to shoe design features, gained knowledge in kinesiology, and advanced technologies in polymer science, runner injury rates have not decreased and EVA foam has remained the primary running shoe midsole material since the …

Social Media As A Tool To Effectively Communicate With Stakeholders: School Administrators And Superintendents' Perceptions, Steven Coleman Hampton

Dissertations

This quantitative research study analyzed the perceptions of school administrators on the effectiveness of using social media outlets to communicate with stakeholders. School administrators throughout the State of Mississippi completed an online survey developed by the researcher identifying the social media outlets they use to communicate with their stakeholders and the effectiveness of using social media outlets. Superintendents, Assistant Superintendents, Principals, Assistant Principals, and Public Relations Directors with various years of experience completed the survey. The study revealed there was a statistical significant difference between age groups of the school administrators with the concerns of using social media outlets as …

The Voice And Action Of Service: Exploring Nonprofit Volunteerism From A Dual Perspective, Colleen L. Mestayer

Dissertations

Key factors emerged for communicating with volunteers and staff in the nonprofit sector using a mixed methods approach in two phases. Phase I sought to explain volunteer satisfaction through the development of a new model that included motivation, identification with the nonprofit organization, attachment to the nonprofit organization and its mission, and the impact of interpersonal relationships formed between staff members and volunteers. Findings indicated that the model was an accurate predictor of volunteer satisfaction, and all variables were significantly correlated to volunteer satisfaction. Phase II sought to discover the communication patterns used by internal stakeholders of the nonprofit organization …

The Experience Of Professional Identity Development In Graduating Nursing Students, Anne M. Fitzgerald

Dissertations

This dissertation examined the experience of nursing professional identity development from the perspectives of both associate degree nursing (ADN) students and baccalaureate degree nursing (BSN) students in their final semester of study. This study filled gaps in the research by providing insight into the experience of the nursing professional identity itself and the factors identified by nursing students that supported or revealed a lack of professional identity development. This research helped to develop an understanding of two main experiences: (a) what is the meaning of a nurse’s professional identity to students in their final semester of nursing school? and (b) …

A Qualitative Study Of Sport Event Volunteer Management, Janet Howes

Dissertations

The management of many events may involve the need for a number of people to staff various positions within an organization in order for the event to come to a productive conclusion. Many of these positions cannot be filled with paid employees as this would be too costly for the administration. Organizations may need to acquire volunteers to help run the events. Some of these positions may require a person to take on the role of manager and to supervise and train other volunteers. The sport event volunteer manager takes on the responsibility to coordinate and lead a sport event …

A Qualitative Study Of The Process Of Learning Nursing Skills Among Undergraduate Nursing Students, Michael Douglas Aldridge

Dissertations

This qualitative, phenomenological study sought to answer the question: How do undergraduate nursing students learn to perform psychomotor skills within the full complement of nursing skills? Nine senior nursing students from a nursing school in the south central United States participated in this study. In-depth interviews using open-ended questions were conducted, recorded, transcribed by the researcher, and then analyzed using Colaizzi’s method to identify recurring themes. These themes were validated with the participants using a member checking process. An audit trail was kept to enhance dependability and confirmability. Six themes were identified: (a) the umbrella of emotion; (b) practice, practice, …

Building Successful Collaborative Practices Among Early Childhood Educators: Understanding The Role Of Educator Preparation Programs, Amani S. Alsalman

Dissertations

This qualitative case study was designed to explore the role of early childhood education and early childhood special education personnel preparation programs in providing training in effective professional collaboration knowledge and skills to preservice early childhood professionals. Effective collaboration practices are important processes that contribute to the creation of successful inclusion programs. Preparing preservice educators to demonstrate effective collaboration skills is critical to promoting positive attitudes and initiating successful collaboration practices that support inclusion in preschools. The evidence was collected through different sources such as interviews with program faculty and undergraduate students, reviews of course documents, and observations of classes. …

Sex Education Programs, Motivation, And The Seeking Of Educational Versus Erotic Material: A Comparison Of Abstinence Only Until Marriage And Comprehensive Programs, Paul Dale Kleinert

Dissertations

Adolescents in different parts of the United States begin formally learning about human sexuality at different times based on state curricula. When students learn about sex, they may be inherently motivated to learn more than the information in the specific available curriculum. This study reviews different theories of motivation and investigates the most current and common forms of sexual education curricula that exist in schools in the United States and their differences. This study attempts to address a potential relationship between motivation felt in the classroom and learning about human sexuality away from the classroom. Reviewed are implications associated with …

I Don’T Like The Talking Part: The Use Of Videogames To Facilitate Grief Therapy For Adolescents With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Kyle Brent Johnson

Dissertations

Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder often experience difficulties interacting with peers and expressing their emotions, characteristics that may complicate their grief experiences. This qualitative study was designed to explore the experiences of four adolescents with ASD who participated in grief therapy facilitated through the use of videogames. Each participant engaged in 10 weekly grief counseling sessions. Participants and caregivers were interviewed prior to counseling, mid-way (participants only), and after completion of therapy. All counseling and interview sessions were video- or audio-recorded, and transcripts were created from these recordings. All data were analyzed and coded through the lens of the different …

Outdoor Education And Mobile Learning: An Autobiographical Narrative Using Application-Based Information And Resources, Ivan Nikolaeff

Dissertations

Although mobile learning using smartphones and applications or apps have the potential to inform and educate individuals in an outdoor environment, users may find that connectivity issues and basic knowledge of outdoor environments, including both physical and emotional, could be limited by what this technology provided. This study provided my perspective as both participant and researcher on a journey over 150 miles on the Colorado Trail, using my iPhone as my primary tool for navigation and information for learning how to survive in an outdoor environment. From the beginning, the physical effects were difficult to overcome, but it was the …

Revenue Management In The Sport Industry: An Examination Of Forecasting Models And Advance Seat Section Inventory In Major League Baseball, Micah Seth Mcgee

Dissertations

Technological advances in data storage and processing have led to more sophisticated ticket pricing strategies in professional sport. Sport organizations are beginning to adopt a form of revenue management known as dynamic ticket pricing. Effective pricing strategies such as dynamic ticket pricing require an in-depth understanding of the nature of advance ticket inventory and accurate forecasting models to predict remaining inventory at various time horizons prior to game time. The purpose of this study was to gain an understanding of the nature of advance seat section ticket inventory. The study built on and contributed to work in sport revenue management. …

Mathematical Teachers’ Perception: Mobile Learning And Constructing 21st Century Collaborative Cloud-Computing Environments In Elementary Public Schools In The State Of Kuwait, Nadeyah Alqallaf

Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine Kuwaiti mathematical elementary teachers’ perceptions about their ability to integrate M-learning (mobile learning) into their current teaching practices and the major barriers hindering teachers’ ability to create an M-learning environment. Furthermore, this study sought to understand teachers’ perceptions about their ability to create a collaborative cloud-computing learning environment that corresponds with the 21st century skills and possibly explain their readiness for future reformation of education in Kuwait. Using an Internet-based format to this study quantitative and qualitative data, the Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge (TPACK) and barriers survey gleaned quantitative information about how …

A Deconstruction Of The Distance Learning Milieu: Affinity Spaces In Higher Education, Kelly Mckenna

Dissertations

This research investigated the learning environment and social setting of a distance graduate higher education program. An embedded mixed methods design with a focus on qualitative research involving both faculty and students was employed. The methodology consisted of a multiple case study and cross-sectional survey completed by 22 students and three faculty. The research explored the learning space, who the stake holders are, how the space is defined, and how the space is utilized. The creation of tangible visualizations allowed for an alternate perspective and enlightened insight into the distance learning space. An affinity space lens was applied in examination …

Evaluation Of Students' Interest, Effort Beliefs, And Self-Efficacy In General Chemistry, Brent Ferrell

Dissertations

The research described in this dissertation is outlined in three phases and is focused on the measurement, interrelationships, and understanding of self-efficacy, interest, and effort beliefs among general chemistry students. The primary drive behind this research was to provide measurement tools to chemistry education researchers and practitioners as a way to evaluate novel and alternative teaching strategies and interventions. The first phase of this study involved gathering evidence for validity and reliability of four previously published scales that measured initial interest, maintained interest, self-efficacy, and effort beliefs. These scales were taken from other disciplines, with the exception of the self-efficacy …

Evolution And Biological Roles Of Three-Finger Toxins In Snake Venoms, Cassandra M. Modahl

Dissertations

Snake venoms are complex mixtures of many enzymatic and non-enzymatic proteins, as well as small peptides. Several major venom protein superfamilies, including three-finger toxins, phospholipases A2, serine proteinases, metalloproteinases, proteinase inhibitors and lectins, are found in almost all snake venoms, from front-fanged viperids (vipers and pit vipers) and elapids (cobras, mambas, sea snakes, etc.) to rear-fanged colubrids. However, these proteins vary in abundance and functionality between species. Variation in snake venom composition is attributed to both differences in the expression levels of toxin encoding genes and occurrence of amino acid sequence polymorphisms. Documenting intraspecific venom variation has both clinical (antiserum …

Biological Distance In Middle And Late Archaic Populations Of The Mid-South United States, Meadow Lea Campbell

Dissertations

This dissertation used osteometrics to assess the level of congruence between biological distance and long-distance material exchange in three Middle and Late Archaic groups living in the mid-South United States. Dental and cranial data support greater biological affinity between groups in southern Illinois (represented by individuals from the Black Earth site) and central Tennessee (individuals from Eva and surrounding sites) while groups in the Green River region of western Kentucky (Shell Mound Archaic) were somewhat more removed or perhaps more isolated. Females were more biologically variable than males for the majority of metrics used. This finding is suggestive of a …

Naturally Striated Muscle: Examining The Ideographic Crystallization Of, Dustin L. Briggs

Dissertations

In U.S. America and much of the Western world, natural is a venerated symbolic placeholder for any number of assumed virtues and ideals. Present conflicts have brought forward questions about what natural (which I argue functions as an ideograph) should mean in contexts that seem to call for a formal, enforceable definition. In this study, I use the vocabulary of Deleuze and Guattari (1987) and the context of bodybuilding to work towards a theory of how ambiguous ideographs become "striated" or “crystallized.” Within this discussion I present instances where natural has been employed as a vehicle to cause harm, and …

#Socialsupport For Diet And Physical Activity Via Web 2.0: A Qualitative Study Of College Women, Bethany Kies Kies

Dissertations

Like other adults in the U.S., college students, have high rates of obesity and overweight, and they have a pattern of poor diet and physical inactivity. Emerging adulthood is a key developmental period for building life-long habits and behaviors, and health theory suggests that one’s social environment and amount of social support affects health behaviors, particularly among women. With the technological advances of Web 2.0, or social media, the opportunity for providing social support for health behaviors through the online social environment now exists; social media is a game changer for both research and practice related to understanding the social …

Remittances As Contributor To Risk Management And Poverty Reduction In Grenada, Dianne Jntl Rosemary Forte

Dissertations

A Small Island Development States (SIDS) viewpoint is underrepresented in the existing migration literature. That perspective is necessary because SIDS geography creates a unique set of social and economic circumstances that predisposes small states to high vulnerability to external shocks from environmental events and influences emigration decision making. Like other SIDS, Grenada is characterized by small land mass, small population, limited opportunities for productive labor, and limited resources to efficiently support all the requirements of modern institutions. This has resulted in high levels of emigration and a pattern of circularity as Grenadian households make rational decisions to manage risk and …