Digital Commons Network^™

A Phenomenological Study Of Southern California Charter School Leaders’ Perceptions Of Creating An Inclusive School Culture, Barbara Hale

Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of this phenomenological study was to identify and describe the culturally responsive leadership practices that charter school leaders use to create a culture of inclusiveness. A second purpose of the study was to identify and describe the supports and barriers charter school leaders perceive affect the development of a culture of inclusiveness for students. Methodology: This study identified and described the culturally responsive leadership practices implemented by charter school leaders to create a culture of inclusiveness and identify the supports and barriers the leaders perceived to affect the development of the inclusive culture. I interviewed 10 participants …

Adaptive Leadership: Strategies Used By U.S. Navy Command Senior Enlisted Leaders To Build Adaptive Capacity In Times Of Great Change, Derek Wayne King

Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of this phenomenological study was to identify and describe strategies used by U.S. Navy command senior enlisted leaders (CSELs) to build an adaptive capacity based on the five key characteristics of adaptive leadership identified by Heifetz et al. (2009).Methodology: This phenomenological study explored the lived experiences of U.S. Navy CSELs. Purposeful, convenience sampling was used to identify 10 participants who met the study’s criteria. The semistructured, open-ended interview protocol was developed by a thematic research team of nine peer researchers and three faculty advisors. Data collected from the interviews and artifacts were analyzed to identify themes related …

An Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis Of Counselor's Experience Of Breathwork And Its Impact On Their Therapeutic Practice, Jennifer Zúñiga Agüero

Dissertations

Breathwork, a transpersonal and experiential approach to psychotherapy, has been used for healing and transformation throughout the years. When applied in clinical practice, breathwork can serve as a conduit to access nonordinary states of consciousness for self-exploration and transformation. Traditional psychotherapy does not engage with nonordinary states of consciousness as part of the therapeutic process; thus, research in relation to counselors’ experiences of breathwork and their impact on therapeutic practice has yet to be explored.

Counselors’ experiences of breathwork and the influence they have in clinical practice is the phenomena explored in this research study. Exploring counselor experience with a …

Role-Ing While Bipoc: Understanding The Experiences Of Table Top Role Playing Game Players Of Color, Jordan K. Posey

Dissertations

In 2015, controversy surrounded the interactive computer game Mission US: Flight to Freedom. The game was unveiled as an accessible way to teach about American chattel slavery by mixing elements normally associated with roleplaying games (RPGs), Tabletop Roleplaying Games (TTRPGs), and social studies curriculum. The conversations surrounding the game exemplify the complicated history of RPGS/TTRPGs and the limitations of gamification in educational settings. This qualitative study aimed to analyze aspects of gaming culture through a critical race lens by documenting the experiences of Tabletop Roleplaying Game (TTRPG) players identifying as Black, Indigenous, and a Person of Color (BIPOC). Using a …

Assessing Alexithymia In Law Enforcement: The Role Of Service Tenure And Sex, Elfego J. Gallardo Jr

Dissertations

ABSTRACT

Alexithymia, characterized by difficulties in identifying and expressing emotions, has significant implications for professions requiring emotional intelligence and trauma-informed response. Law enforcement officers routinely navigate high-stress encounters that demand emotional regulation, clear communication, and empathy, yet those with alexithymic traits may struggle in these areas, potentially affecting interactions with victims, suspects, and the community. This study examined the prevalence of alexithymia among front-line police officers in suburban municipal agencies within the Chicago metropolitan area, using the Toronto Alexithymia Scale-20 (TAS-20) as a standardized assessment. The research addressed three questions: (1) What proportion of officers exhibited normative or elevated levels …

A Comparison Of The Factors That Affect Graduation Rates Of Students Enrolled In Dropout Prevention Programs, Catina R. Thomason

Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to compare the factors that affected the graduation rates of students enrolled in five charter high school dropout prevention programs that utilized the same online accelerated curriculum model. The overarching research question was: what factors affected the graduation rates of students enrolled in dropout prevention programs? A mixed methods design was employed to evaluate extant data on graduation rates and attendance rates surveys and semistructured interviews were completed by administrators and teachers to compare data across the five schools. This approach allowed for a comprehensive analysis of both quantitative and qualitative data, providing a …

Assessing Psychologists’ Clinical Knowledge Of Geriatric Depression: A Validation Study Of The Later Life Depression Knowledge Questionnaire, Abigail J. Laine

Dissertations

Because the US population is rapidly aging, generalist clinicians will increasingly be called upon to provide mental health services to older adults. Unfortunately, most generalist clinicians do not possess the specialized knowledge to provide clinical services to this population and will require training. Professional training efforts are currently hindered by the lack of psychometrically supported scales of clinical disorders specific to aging. Without such scales, it is difficult to evaluate the impact of continuing education programs. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the psychometric properties and scale dimensionality of the Later Life Depression Knowledge Questionnaire (LLD-KQ), a …

Leadership Practices For High-Performance Teams: Insights From Veteran Active-Duty United States Air Force Leaders Using A Conceptual Framework For Team Development, Yves Daos

Dissertations

Purpose: This mixed methods study investigated how influential veteran active-duty United States Air Force (USAF) leaders leverage clarity, connection, and communication to build high-performance teams (HPTs). Qualitative data provided in-depth insights into leadership practices in diverse operational settings, while quantitative data assessed the perceived importance of these competencies.

Methodology: This mixed methods approach combined qualitative and quantitative methods that allowed for a comprehensive understanding of how veteran active-duty USAF leaders build HPTs (Creswell & Creswell, 2018; McMillan & Schumacher, 2010; Patten & Newhart, 2018). The qualitative data obtained through interviews of eight studyparticipants details and context on how veteran active-duty …

Exploring Leadership In Physical Therapy: How Clarity, Connection, And Communication Influence Team Engagement, Burnout, And Achieving Organizational Objectives, Jason Collin

Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of this mixed methods study was to identify and describe how highly effective PT leaders use the three competencies of HPTs (clarity, connection, and communication) to increase engagement, prevent burnout, and achieve organizational objectives. The second purpose of this study was to determine the degree of importance that highly effective PT leaders perceive the three HPTE core competencies impact their leadership for creating HPTs.

Methodology: The mixed methods study identified and described eight PT leaders’ perceptions of how they use clarity, connection, and communication to build and sustain HPTs. PT leaders were selected through purposive and snowball …

Primal Leadership In Healthcare: A Phenomenological Study Of Emergency Medicine Physicians And Their Perspective On Effective Leadership, Zoe Zaidi

Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of this qualitative study was to identify and describe how emergency medicine (EM) physicians in leadership roles use the six EI leadership competencies related to relationship management (inspiration, influence, developing others, change catalyst, conflict management, and teamwork and collaboration) to lead teams and accomplish effective results. Methodology: This phenomenological study described the lived experiences of emergency medicine (EM) physician leaders in San Bernadino, Riverside, and Orange counties in Southern California. The participants were selected through nonprobability purposeful sampling and met the criteria “as leaders” for achieving effective results. Data were collected through semistructured interview questions and analysis …

Leadership Practices For High-Performing Teams: Insights From Senior Military General Officers And Flag Officers, Kimberly Mitchell

Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of this mixed methods study was to identify and describe how senior military general officers and flag officers (GOFOs) used the three competencies of high-performance teams (HPTs; clarity, connection, and communication) to achieve objectives in their organizations. The second purpose of this study was to determine the degree of importance that senior military GOFOs perceived the three high-performance team effect (HPTE) core competencies impacted their leadership for creating HPTs.

Methodology: This mixed methods study identified and described nine senior military officers’ perceptions of strategies to lead HPTs while focusing on the three core competencies: clarity, connection, and …

Intimate Partner Violence Screening Education For Nurses In Emergency Department, Martha I. Wydra

Dissertations

This quality improvement project aims to increase nurses' knowledge, confidence, and skills in IPV assessment in the ER using an education program and the PREMIS tool.

Earthing Practice For Mental Health Among Adults In The United States: A Phenomenological Inquiry, Natalie Greenberg

Dissertations

This study aimed to explore the lived experience of adults in the United States who practice earthing for mental health.

The Experience Of Transition To Self-Management For Saudi Adolescents With Type I Diabetes, Aeshah M. Almulhim

Dissertations

In Saudi Arabia (SA), between 2011 and 2021, there has been a 108% increase in death rates due to diabetes. Every year, around 3,800 Saudi children and adolescents under the age of 19 are diagnosed with Type I Diabetes (TIDM). Saudi adolescents with TIDM have less glycemic control than adults and younger children. If left untreated, inadequate glycemic control may hasten the onset of diabetes complications and early death. As adolescents with TIDM grow older, they are expected to take on more independence in Self-Management (SM) of their diabetes. The poor clinical outcomes of adolescents with diabetes, the onset of …

A “Scary Time” To Be A Man? Comparing Men’S Engagement With Anti-Sexual Violence Discourses In The Private And Public Sphere, Melissa A. Kinsella

Dissertations

The prevalence of sexual misconduct and its consequences for individuals and society remain pressing issues in the United States. While the #MeToo movement has emerged as a prominent response to these challenges, it has faced criticism for emphasizing a singular survivor narrative. Similarly, the study and theorization of sexual violence within sociology have remained limited in scope. This work extends empirical and theoretical perspectives on sexual misconduct by analyzing #MeToo’s utilization in Twitter1 posts from 2017 to 2022, as well as how individuals discuss sexual misconduct in relation to the movement. Additionally, I examine the influence of gender, race, and …

Examining The Current Utilization Of Conceptual Data Modeling In Database Modeling Practices: Mixed Methods Research, Abhishek Sharma

Dissertations

The database system is essential to modern life and helps us in our day-to-day existence, even though it is invisible to us. The most optimal way to architect a new but efficient database is a modeling technique called conceptual data modeling. Despite this importance, research studies have suggested a divergence between actual practice and the ideal expectation from practitioners. Therefore, it was imperative to establish the ground truth in this context and explore the reasons behind the gap between practice and expectation. This mixed-method study used a survey and interviews to establish that only a small fraction of practitioners consistently …

Embodied Freedom: Nietzsche On Agency, Health, And Value, Nathan University Berthiaume

Dissertations

This study examines Nietzsche’s views on freedom to show how they inform a notion of human flourishing. I argue that while Nietzsche denies the existence of a metaphysical freedom in which the self is an unconditioned cause of events, he affirms an embodied freedom in which our consciousness can function as part of the causal explanation for action in virtue of its ability to alter the expression of bodily drives. However, I demonstrate that agential power in this sense can only function in conjunction with other causal factors that constitute constraints on freedom. As such, I argue that there is …

Evaluating Sympton Clusters In First-Time Ischemic Stroke Survivors Who Discharge From The Hospital To Home, Paula De La Pena

Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine symptoms and relationships between those symptoms in first-time ischemic stroke survivors who discharge home after their initial stroke. Current measurement of recovery after stroke places emphasis on the physical aspects of recovery when current literature suggests that other, more subtle symptoms may be equally contributory to recovery. This descriptive, exploratory research study was conducted via a secondary analysis of both structured and unstructured data in a study cohort of 115 first-time ischemic stroke survivors from a tertiary academic medical center in the Midwest. Unstructured clinical notes were analyzed for the presence of …

The Impact Of Race And Gender On Benevolent Sexism Endorsement, Kelsey Berryman

Dissertations

Research investigating the influence of race and gender conjointly on sexism endorsement is limited. Much of this existing research exclusively focuses on difference between Black and White women and men or have focused on race and gender as separate entities. The goal of this study is to investigate gender and race difference in benevolent sexism (BS) endorsement while considering relevant cultural factors for each race-gender group. A mixed-method design examined differences in endorsement of BS for Asian, Black, Latina/o, and White women and men. A meditational model using each race-gender group as independent variables examined difference in BS as mediated …

School Psychologists’ Experiences And Roles In Trauma-Informed Practices, Taylor Williamson

Dissertations

Due to a wide breadth of training, school psychologists are uniquely qualified to provide indirect and direct services outlined by best practices, such as school-based mental health services, special education evaluations, and trauma-informed practices. Professional standards indicate that school psychologists are equipped to identify trauma response symptoms and provide evidence-based services when supporting students with trauma histories. However, an identified gap between best practices and the present realities of school psychologists' has been identified in the literature. The few studies that explored the experiences of school psychologists endorsed a lack of training and confidence with identifying trauma response symptoms and …

Like Teacher, Like Student: An Exploration Of Racial Matching On Black Student Identity Development In Secondary Education, Crystal Gloria Lennix

Dissertations

Research on racially matching teachers of color with students of color has demonstrated a plethora of benefits, whether it is in West-Indian teachers with West-Indian students (Warikoo, 2004), Mexicana educators with Mexicana students (Sosa-Provencio, 2019), or Black students with Black teachers (Brooms, 2017). Black teachers are warrior spirits, acknowledging education as a “racial, cultural, linguistic, and spiritual reclamation” for Black students (Sosa-Provencio, 2018). In this study, I sought to understand how the racial matching between Black teachers and Black students can impact Black students’ identity and achievement. Numerous studies say racial matching helps students, but only a few focus on …

Teaching Since 2020: Inhabiting Professionalization, Autonomy, And Classroom Teaching, Melissa Fisher

Dissertations

This study explores teacher professionalization Since 2020 by examining control over teachers’ work as constructed by classroom teachers. Using a conceptual framework combining the teacher disempowerment perspective, inhabited institutionalism, and professionalization, I focus on the question: Given the recent years of upheaval the profession of education has sustained, how are teachers inhabiting the role of "professional teacher," particularly regarding control over their own work? This qualitative study utilizes semi-structured interviews with fourteen teacher participants in an Indiana public school district. This study finds that participants are constructing a new Since 2020 teaching reality. Participants converged on professional challenges including disruptive …

Investigating The Role Of The Nsp15 Amino-Terminal Domain In Nsp15 Function, Viral Replication, And Pathogenesis, Monika Evdokimova

Dissertations

Identifying conserved mechanisms used by viruses to delay host innate responses can reveal potential targets for antiviral therapeutics. Here, we investigated coronavirus nonstructural protein 15 (nsp15), which encodes a highly conserved endoribonuclease (EndoU). EndoU functions as an immune antagonist by limiting the accumulation of viral replication intermediates that would otherwise be sensed by the host. Despite being a promising antiviral target, it has been difficult to develop small molecule inhibitors that target the EndoU active site. We generated nsp15 mutants of SARS-CoV-2 and mouse coronavirus MHV-A59 and identified conserved residues within the amino-terminal domain that are required for EndoU activity. …

A Phenomenological Study Exploring Superintendent’S Perceptions On Four Servant Leadership Characteristics For Developing High-Performing Teams, Katie Chin-Berry

Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore and describe public school superintendents’ perceived impact of four servant leadership characteristics established by Spears (2010) on developing and maintaining high-performing teams. Methodology: This phenomenological research study explored and detailed how superintendents perceived the influence of four servant leadership characteristics on developing and maintaining high-performing teams. Eight participants were chosen using nonprobability purposeful and convenience sampling based on specific criteria, which required at least 4 years of experience in their district, a minimum of 10 years of experience in the K–12 public school system, and employed in a K–12 district …

Leadership’S Impact On Employees’ Perception Of Their Safety Culture In A Public Transportation Organization, Paul Hadley

Dissertations

Purpose: This nonexperimental quantitative study aimed to examine the relationship between various leadership styles using the Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire (MLQ; Bass & Avolio, 1995) and employees’ perceptions of their organization’s safety culture based on a developed Safety Perception Questionnaire (SPQ) within the context of a public transportation agency. Methodology: This study used a quantitative approach to collect data from employees in a public transportation agency. Leadership characteristics were assessed using the MLQ, which is a self-report tool designed to measure three distinct leadership styles. The employees’ MLQ scores were correlated with their results on the SPQ, which evaluates perceptions of …

How Teachers Use Adversity And Challenging Organizational Environments To Achieve Exceptional Organizational Goals, Matthew Avalos

Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of this mixed methods thematic multivariable Delphi study was to identify the personal qualities effective teacher–leaders possess when faced with adversity using Maxwell’s (2021) selected practices leaders employ to overcome adverse situations. Methodology: This mixed methods multivariable Delphi study recruited expert Teachers on Special Assignment (TOSA), or TSA, to serve on a Delphi panel to gather consensus through three rounds of surveys. TOSAs were asked to answer three questions focused on the personal qualities teacher leaders use to meet their instructional goals by connecting their teaching to the organization’s vision, making appropriate decisions or good choices, and …

A Phenomenological Study Exploring Servant Leadership Characteristics For Developing High-Performing Teams As Perceived By Public School District Early Childhood Leaders, Reggi'e Faye Webster

Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore and describe how exemplary public school district early childhood leaders apply four key characteristics of servant leadership (listening, stewardship, building community, and commitment to people’s growth), as defined by Spears (2010), to develop high-performing to support early learning programs.

Methodology: A qualitative, phenomenological approach was selected to explore participants’ experiences and perceptions of how they use four servant leadership characteristics to develop and sustain high-performing teams within early childhood programs on public school elementary and secondary school campuses. Participants were purposefully chosen based on specific criteria and recommendations from an …

A Phenomenological Study Exploring Servant Leadership Characteristics For Developing High-Performing Teams As Perceived By Public School District Early Childhood Leaders, Reggi'e Faye Webster

Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore and describe how exemplary public school district early childhood leaders apply four key characteristics of servant leadership (listening, stewardship, building community, and commitment to people’s growth), as defined by Spears (2010), to develop high-performing to support early learning programs.

Methodology: A qualitative, phenomenological approach was selected to explore participants’ experiences and perceptions of how they use four servant leadership characteristics to develop and sustain high-performing teams within early childhood programs on public school elementary and secondary school campuses. Participants were purposefully chosen based on specific criteria and recommendations from an …

Adaptive Leadership: Strategies Used By U.S. Navy Command Senior Enlisted Leaders To Build Adaptive Capacity In Times Of Great Change, Derek Wayne King

Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of this phenomenological study was to identify and describe strategies used by U.S. Navy command senior enlisted leaders (CSELs) to build an adaptive capacity based on the five key characteristics of adaptive leadership identified by Heifetz et al. (2009).Methodology: This phenomenological study explored the lived experiences of U.S. Navy CSELs. Purposeful, convenience sampling was used to identify 10 participants who met the study’s criteria. The semistructured, open-ended interview protocol was developed by a thematic research team of nine peer researchers and three faculty advisors. Data collected from the interviews and artifacts were analyzed to identify themes related …

The Impact Of A Paid Work Experience On High School Students With Mild To Moderate Disabilities From The Parental Perspective, Lori Lee Schleinkofer

Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of this phenomenological study was to identify and describe how the parents/guardians of high school students with mild/moderate disabilities in Southern California perceive the impact that working while in high school has on their students with respect to confidence, independence, motivation, responsibility, self-advocacy, self-esteem, and social skills. The central research question was “How do parents/guardians of high school students with mild/moderate disabilities perceive the impact that working while in high school has on their students?” Methodology: Interviews were conducted with 11 parents of participants in paid work experience programs. A qualitative interview question development matrix was used …