Digital Commons Network^™

Test-Driving Interventions For Teachers: A Proactive Method For Improving Treatment Integrity, Stefanie Schrieber

Dissertations

Test-driving is an antecedent method utilized to improve the extent to which teachers adhere to implementation procedures of student interventions (i.e., treatment integrity). The current study aimed to extend the literature on the test-driving intervention with three teacher-student dyads in a high school setting using a multiple baseline design. Teacher/student dyads were recruited based on teacher referral to the schools’ behavioral consultants. Recruited teachers began in a consultation-as-usual phase, where procedures were implemented consistent with the problem-solving consultation model (e.g., problem identification, problem analysis, treatment implementation, and treatment evaluation). Teachers who demonstrated 50% or lower adherence to treatment components were …

The Compliance Training For Children Model On Child Compliance: A Meta-Analysis, James Derieux

Dissertations

The current study was the first study to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis of the literature on The Compliance Training for Children Model developed at The University of Southern Mississippi. Twenty-five studies incorporating treatment components from the model (e.g., effective instruction delivery, time-in, time-out, and contingent praise) were included in the study and evaluated for their effects on levels of child compliance. Results of the study yielded predominately large effect size calculations. A moderator analysis was conducted to evaluate treatment components, intervention setting, primary interventionist, and What Works Clearinghouse Standards (WWC, 2010) as potential moderator variables. Findings determined that …

Role Identity And Engagement Behaviors Of Student-Athlete Alumnae, Matthew Charles Brinton

Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological research study was to explore the meanings volleyball student-athlete alumnae (SAA) from a doctoral granting research institution in the Rocky Mountain region (Rocky Mountain Regional University or RMRU) associate with their lived experiences and how those interpretations shape their engagement behaviors as alumnae. Using Stryker’s (1980) interpretation of Symbolic Interactionism as a theoretical framework, I interviewed seven participants and found that the meaning they associated with their experiences varied by their placement in different types of closed positions, those that require permission, invitation, or special status for membership. My findings suggest that there is …

The Impact Of Perceived Parenting Styles During Childhood Experiences Of Bullying On Emerging Adult Attachment, Callie Kathryn King

Dissertations

Given the prevalence of bullying during youth and the substantial negative outcomes of these experiences during adulthood, this study evaluated youth bullying experiences, perceived parenting style, and emerging adult attachment styles. The purpose was to determine the extent to which perceived parenting style moderates the relationship between youth bullying experience and emerging adult attachment to primary caregivers, romantic partners, and best friends above and beyond what youth bullying experience already predicts. The interaction between youth bullying experience and perceived parenting style were hypothesized to account for a significant amount of the variance in the outcome of emerging adult attachment style. …

Interpersonal Trauma, Adult Attachment, And Self-Compassion: A Relational Model Of Shame, Abigail J. Kimm

Dissertations

The purpose of the present study was to examine the interrelationships among cumulative interpersonal trauma (IPT), the dimensions of adult attachment anxiety and avoidance, self-compassion, and shame based on an integrative theoretical framework in a sample of undergraduate students (N = 310). The results of this structural equation modeling analysis with bootstrapping supported the primary model which showed that higher degrees of exposure to IPT in childhood, adolescence, and the first two years of emerging adulthood directly related to increased levels of attachment anxiety and avoidance as well as decreased levels of self-compassion. The findings further demonstrated that higher levels …

Saudi Arabian General Education Elementary School Teachers’ Attitudes Toward And Perceptions Of Giftedness And Gifted Education, Yaser Khaled Alharbi

Dissertations

The importance of developing the cognitive and affective needs of gifted students to help meet their academic needs as well as support them in achieving to their full potential has been well-established by past research. It is also confirmed by the literature that gifted and talented students have unique social-emotional needs and that the school environment plays an essential role in meeting gifted students’ needs. To better serve gifted students, schools must ensure that general education teachers are knowledgeable and supportive of the distinct cognitive and affective development of these students in conjunction with their academic needs. Different factors influence …

A Photo For Change: A Mixed Methods Study Of Using Photovoice Pedagogy To Foster Transformative Learning Among College Students, Maaly Younis

Dissertations

Learning in adulthood should be a meaningful experience through which adult learners are able to re-examine their values and beliefs acquired over the years. Mezirow (1978a, 1978b) stated that learners’ engagement with this process of reflection and making meaning leads to a change in one’s perspective. To facilitate such a transformational learning experience, adult education scholars explored various pedagogical approaches that cultivates environments conducive to transformative learning, among which are art-based pedagogies. Photovoice is an art-based pedagogy that utilizes photography and storytelling to foster critical reflection and increase learners’ critical awareness. To date, investigating the transformative affordances of photovoice pedagogy …

Veteran Social Network: Peer Support Impact On Mental Health Service Utilization, Stacy A. Harris

Dissertations

Of the 20 million US Veterans, approximately 30% receive health care benefits from the Veterans Affairs system. Research confirms that these Veterans are less likely to seek professional mental health services as a result of a belief that mental illness equates with weakness. Research on peer support with Veterans suggests that Veteran social networks reduce stigma and facilitate help seeking behavior. Most studies on Veteran help seeking for mental health services use subjects who receive health care from the Veterans Health Administration or Department of Defense. The purpose of the current study is to gain an understanding of Veterans who …

Evaluating The Contributions Of Recollection And Familiarity On Testing And Guessing Benefits In Recognition Memory, Kendal Smith

Dissertations

Completing an interpolated memory test or trying to guess non-studied information following study has yielded powerful memory benefits relative to restudy on a final memory test. Across repetitions of testing and guessing, participants may form an expectancy of an upcoming test type, and consequently, adjust their encoding of information in anticipation of the upcoming test. Research has shown that after several task repetitions, participants form an expectancy of the upcoming task type and will encode materials to match task constraints (Huff, Yates, and Balota, 2018). It is uncertain to what extent these expectancy processes aid in facilitating recollection of specific …

An Instrumental Case Study Of Teachers' Perceptions Of Mandatory Professional Development During Educational Reform Efforts, Jennifer Elaine Wakeman

Dissertations

This instrumental case study explored 12 public-school teachers’ perceptions of mandatory professional development (PD) during times of educational reform efforts in the state of Colorado. The participants in this study represented five unique school districts in suburban and semi-rural settings who had experienced 14 hours or more of mandated PD on a single topic in the past 24 months and had at least five years of classroom experience. Two research questions guided this case study: What are teachers’ perceptions of professional development that is mandated as part of a district-wide instructional improvement initiative? What do teachers say they need in …

Hipaa Applied To Jigsaw: A Collaborative Communication Improvement Project, Margaret P. Smallwood

Dissertations

Purpose: To translate the Jigsaw Method of Cooperative Learning into a strategy to improve collaboration in healthcare education through formal online discussions. The Jigsaw Method concept will be utilized to identify any enhancements in collaborative communication among healthcare professionals.

Significance: Communication failures lead to increased healthcare costs, patient care errors, and greater inefficiency in healthcare delivery. This project can improve collaborative communication that can help to eliminate these failures.

Design: The design is a mixed method, using quantitative and qualitative strategies for data collection and analysis.

Method: Online discussions were reformatted into constructive segments using the Jigsaw Technique and implemented …

Using Education To Improve Medication Adherence In Hypertension, Chinyere Oghide

Dissertations

Antihypertensive medication non-adherence is a common problem in healthcare. Currently, the project site has no program to increase medication adherence (MA) in their hypertensive patients. Therefore, the purpose of this quantitative, quasi-experimental quality improvement project was to determine if the implementation of the Million Hearts program impacted the adherence to antihypertensive medication among adult patients, with known hypertension (HTN) in a primary care clinic setting in New York, over a four week period. Orem's self-care theory and Ajzen's theory of planned behavior were the project's theoretical foundation. Data on MA was measured using the Hill-Bone Medication Adherence Scale HB-MAS scale …

Identification Of Primary Care Nurse Practitioner Clinical Procedural Skills Used In Practice: Examination Of Frequency Of Use, Importance Of Skill, And Training For Skill, David R. Want

Dissertations

With primary care NPs functioning in varied settings and roles requiring additional CPS knowledge and skills, NPs have expressed lack of preparedness regarding CPS. Although some evidence identified those CPS considered important to and frequently performed by NPs, the literature provides insufficient evidence to identify the CPS performed most frequently and rated as most important by primary care NPs in practice, and existing curricular standards lack clarity regarding which CPS to include in program curricula. This project aimed to conduct a practice analysis of the most frequently performed and most important CPS to primary care NPs in one region of …

Evaluating The Effectiveness Of Training Used For The Implementation Of A Peer Support Program To Support Second Victims, Karen Adamouski-Marion

Dissertations

In many health care organizations, the needed support for second victims, or care of the caregiver, is lacking or unavailable. This was true of the Inova health system organization at the conception of this project. This paper describes the process of establishing the need for a peer support program and evaluating the effectiveness of the selected peer support training program to meet the needs of the peer supporters, the team members they serve, and the organization. Unfortunately, unanticipated and tragic events will happen to excellent health care team members; the results are often anxiety, depression, guilt, and fear. The effects …

The Role Of Self-Efficacy And Academic Mindset On Middle School Math Achievement For At Promise Youth: An Explanatory Study, Michael Lockwood Mansfield

Dissertations

California’s accountability system has blended its focus on noncognitive factors of achievement as well as evidence of academic growth. School districts are becoming increasingly interested in developing noncognitive factors in their students to help increase student achievement. With the wide variety of mandates and responsibilities schools are shouldering, it will be important to continue developing methods to increase all school accountability metrics in relation with each other. This research aims to explore the relationship between noncognitive factors and mathematics achievement as measured by the Northwest Evaluation Association’s Measure of Academic Progress assessment (MAP). This study surveyed 8th graders throughout a …

Exploring The Deleterious Connection Between Tradional School Discipline Practices And Male Latino Students Who Have Endured Adverse Childhood Experiences: An Exploratory Study In Northern California., Sonia Vargas

Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to critically evaluate the deleterious connection between traditional school discipline practices and male Latino students who have endured adverse childhood experiences. This study examined Latino male students’ testimonials and understanding of their educational trajectories as they encounter adverse childhood experiences as well as their perceptions towards punitive disciplinary practices. This exploratory research utilized a documentary film design methodology and examined the perceptions of Latino male students, counselors, administrators and district official in an urban school district located in northern California. The study drew upon qualitative data collected in video format through student participants’ and …

The Criteria For Developing A Tk-12 Ethnic Studies Model Curriculum, Taunya Marie Jaco

Dissertations

Over the past five decades, educators have been working to develop authentic Ethnic Studies courses that can be implemented in both higher education and K-12 schools. Ethnic Studies has been documented to be effective in growth in several metrics used to assess student "achievement." Despite its results, there is much debate as to whether or not Ethnic Studies should be a high school graduation requirement in California K-12 schools. This study explores key policies on Ethnic Studies in California, particularly the legislative mandate to develop a K-12 Ethnic Studies model curriculum. Through an exploratory documentary film study, this dissertation investigates …

An Evaluation Of The Healthfulness Of The Hospital Food Environment, Cynthia E. Horton Dias

Dissertations

Though nurses may have knowledge about the health promoting benefits of a healthy diet, many do not consume enough fruits or vegetables. For hospital shift nurses to achieve healthy eating while at work, environmental barriers were reportedly the most challenging to overcome. To better understand the hospital food environment from the nurses' perspective, two mechanisms for workplace food acquisition were studied: 1.) hospital consumer food environment, which includes cafeterias, vending machines, and gift shops; and 2.) free food at work.

Improving Patient Satisfaction At An Inpatient Rehabilitation Facility, Ahmed Hariri

Dissertations

Patients hospitalized in Inpatient Rehabilitation facilities (IFRs) have complex needs that impact their satisfaction with care. The project site sought to improve patient satisfaction at discharge. The purpose of this quantitative quasi-experimental quality project was to determine if the implementation of the Studer Group's Hourly Rounding® tool would impact patient satisfaction at discharge among adult patients in an IRF in rural California over four weeks. The theoretical foundations of the project utilized Roy's model of adaptation and Lewin's planned change theory. The total sample size was N=50, n=25 in the comparative and n=25 in the implementation group. Discharge scores were …

Provider-Focused Lgbtqia+ Education: A Quality Improvement Effort, Amir W. Raad

Dissertations

The purpose of this quality improvement doctoral project was to implement an educational session at Southwest Behavioral & Health Services (SB&H) in rural Kingman, Arizona. The provider education focused on promoting transformational change in mental health provider awareness through education on health disparities, health related risk factors, interpersonal communication, and cultural sensitivity specific to the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning, intersex, and asexual/allies population (LGBTQIA+).

Empowering Nurses Of Minority In The Face Of Incivility And Bullying: Through The Lens Of Phenomenology, Corrine M. Floyd

Dissertations

Up to 85% of nurses have reported exposure to incivility in the workplace (Hunt and Marini, 2012). The often-subtle nature of incivility toward nurses in a minority population may partially explain why it remains a problem. Healthcare organizations realize the need for civility to counter the high turnover rate, staff shortages, and low job satisfaction reported by nurses, but lack understanding of how nurses of a minority population perceive incivility and bullying. This study aimed to answer the research question how do nurses with minority representation experience incivility and bullying versus empowerment in the workplace? A descriptive phenomenological design used …

An Examination Of The Impact Of Student Loan Debt On Alumni Giving, Ashley N. Nickell, Molly B. Hurley

Dissertations

This study examined the effect of student loan debt on alumni’s willingness and ability to donate to their alma mater, including other identity-based motivating factors associated with an alumnus’ decision whether or not to donate. Participants of this study were recent (2015-2020) graduates of a doctoral program in the healthcare field in the Midwest, and were purposefully selected to answer questions regarding their income, loan debt, decision to give in monetary or non-monetary ways, and financial literacy education/financial preparedness. Data were gathered from virtual interviews that were transcribed and coded for emergent themes. The findings revealed that the majority of …

Comparison Of Pre-Licensure Bsn Student Outcomes Between Team-Based And Traditional Learning Methods, Tressa J. Pedroff

Dissertations

The increased complexity of healthcare systems requires nurses to have a different skillset, largely not provided in today's nursing curricula. Team-based learning is one possible teaching strategy believed to increase nurses' critical thinking and teamwork self-efficacy. Currently, there is insufficient objective data available that demonstrates improved academic performance and perceptions of teamwork skills in pre-licensure Bachelor of Science in Nursing students.

The purpose of this study is to compare the effects of team-based learning and traditional lecture-format teaching strategies among pre-licensure Bachelor of Science in Nursing students in a Foundations of Nursing Practice course.

Identifying Factors Influencing Pediatric Professionals' Self-Reported Collaborative Practice Behaviors, Susan Kilroy

Dissertations

The aim of this study was to: (1) determine the impact of interprofessional American Heart Association (AHA) resuscitation courses on health care professionals' self- reported collaborative practice behaviors (CPBs); (2) identify differences between the three professions of nursing, medicine, and respiratory therapy on self-reported CPBs; and, (3) describe which specific CPBs were most strongly associated with health care professionals' perceptions of interprofessional teams and enhanced patient care in clinical practice.

The Impact Of The Absent African American Father: Findings And Implications, Tambra Cross

Dissertations

This study focused on the difficulties and challenges experienced by sons who had absent fathers. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the lived experiences of sons who grew up with absent fathers and the effects on them as adults at home, in school, in their neighborhoods, and their decision-making processes. The sample consisted of eight men who grew up with absent fathers. Data were collected using face-to-face, structured and semi-structured interviews. Results indicated that participants' lived experiences of home life were characterized by financial and emotional hardships resulting from not having a father's earnings and care. The …

Emotional Intelligence Education And Civility In Nursing Education: A Basic Qualitative Study, Vicki A. Ireland

Dissertations

Incivility in nursing is a multidimensional problem that requires a new, innovative approach to managing complicated interpersonal behaviors. Emotional intelligence has emerged as an essential skill for the nursing profession, as these competencies have been associated with enhanced interpersonal interactions and may be effective in cultivating a civil academic and clinical environment. As little was known about how nursing faculty integrated such essential concepts in their curriculum and teaching, the purpose of this study was to gain an understanding of how undergraduate nursing faculty incorporated formal and informal emotional intelligence strategies to foster civility in baccalaureate nursing education. Additionally, faculty …

Becoming A Teacher: A Case Study On Student Teacher Professional Identity Construction During The Education Practicum In A Normal University In China, Jingxin Cheng, Xiaodi Li, Ming Yi

Dissertations

Previous studies have presented a clear link between teachers’ professional identity construction and teacher effectiveness and have considered the teacher professional identity as a pivotal factor to teachers’ effectiveness, decision-making about their career, commitment to the profession, as well as engagement in professional development (Beijaard et al., 2004; Day et al., 2005; Lasky, 2005; H. Y. Wang, 2020). Positive experiences in terms of teacher professional identity construction during education practicum holds potential to promote student teachers’ professional commitment, specifically, their belief in the value of the teaching profession (Hong, 2010; M. R. Zhao, 2013). This case study examined teacher professional …

Exploring How Tourism Majors’ Perceived Professional Competence Influences Their Choice Of Tourism Careers In China, Zhixin Sun, Lihong Wang, Miao Zhao

Dissertations

With the rapid development of tourism in China, various economic sectors such as agriculture, sports, food and beverages, cultural heritage, and outdoor adventure have become integrated into the tourism industry. China's tourism industry has changed and these changes now require tourism practitioners to adapt. Chinese universities must also adapt their tourism curriculum and educational practices to reflect changes in the tourism sector. Research suggests that university training programs should increase their emphasis on developing students’ professional competency and expand the range of competencies they address in their curriculum. At the same time, tourism enterprises in China are unable to recruit …

The Role Of Counseling Trainee Adversity, Attachment Style, And Trauma-Informed Principles In Clinical Supervision, Nicole Hurless

Dissertations

Current supervision literature suggests that supervisees with insecure attachment styles may perceive a poorer relationship with their supervisor and feel less satisfied with supervision. Studies across disciplines indicate a relationship between traumatic and/or adverse experiences and insecure attachment; however, this association has not been studied within the context of supervision. This dissertation explores a structural equation model assessing the associations between student’s adverse experiences, insecure attachment, and quality of the supervision relationship. It was hypothesized that greater prevalence of adverse experiences would negatively relate to supervision relationship quality, and this relationship would be mediated by insecure attachment. The results of …

Discovering Hidden Signs And Symptoms Of Heart Failure In The Electronic Health Record Using The Omaha System, Anita Reger

Dissertations

Purpose/Background/Significance: For the past 30 years, heart failure has been in the top 3 readmission diagnoses with patients discharged to community care. This is costly to the healthcare system and negatively impacts the patient’s quality of life. The purpose of this study is to evaluate a community care database to determine if previously under-considered latent variables exist that could provide early detection of heart failure signs and symptoms. Theoretical/Conceptual Framework: The theoretical and conceptual frameworks surrounding this work are the Omaha System and Donabedian’s structure, process, and outcomes theory for healthcare quality improvement supported by Neuman’s Systems Model. The Omaha …