Digital Commons Network^™

Speech-Language Pathologists’ Perceptions When Supporting Students With Dyslexia, Heather Campbell-Meyer Tellier

Dissertations

This study explored the rationale and significance of integrating speech-language pathologists (SLPs) into the assessment and remediation of dyslexia, traditionally the domain of general and special education teachers. Drawing on their unique qualifications in languagerelated areas, such as phonology, syntax, and semantics, SLPs have emerged as valuable assets in supporting students with dyslexia. American Speech-Language and Hearing Association (ASHA) has recognized the value of SLPs working with students with dyslexia and has set specific guidelines for working with them. Despite these guidelines, recent data have indicated a gap between policy and practice, with only a fraction of SLPs (36%) actively …

Perceptions Of The Differing Preparatory Needs Of Teacher Leaders And Educational Leaders, Kimberly Green

Dissertations

This dissertation explores the differing preparatory needs of teacher leaders and educational leaders through a phenomenographic approach, identifying unique and overlapping elements of these two leadership domains. Grounded in Adult Learning Theory, the study emphasizes self-directed learning and practical knowledge for professional development. Thematic findings reveal that Teacher Leadership Preparation Programs are primarily research-based on the practitioner’s perspective, offering insights grounded in classroom experience, while Educational Leadership Preparation Programs focus on developing supervisory skills for school and district leadership roles. This highlights the different focal points in leadership training, with teacher leadership prioritizing mentorship and educational leadership focusing on supervision. …

Arab Citizens’ Contributions To Investigative Reporting: An Examination Of Arabs' Awareness, Willingness, And Satisfaction Toward Citizen Investigative Reporting, Ahmed Makharesh

Dissertations

This dissertation aims to measure Arabs' understanding of investigative reporting and willingness to engage in investigative reporting practices through a survey of 421 Arab citizens from countries that include the Eastern African, Northern African, Arabian Peninsula, and Fertile Crescent regions. It also aims to measure Arabs' understanding of gatekeeping and their willingness to serve as gatekeepers. Further, this dissertation emphasizes various hypotheses, including that increased investigative reporting would benefit the region's citizens and increase the quality of journalistic work. The gatekeeping theory fits into this dissertation because of the significant development of the news delivery process on social media in …

A Mixed Methods Comparative Analysis Of Missouri Public Charter Schools’ Performance Vs Traditional Public Schools Of Similar Demographics And The Correlation Between Their Performance And Funding, Dearon M. Mckinney

Dissertations

This dissertation presents a comprehensive investigation into the performance of public charter schools in Missouri compared to traditional public schools with similar demographic profiles. The study employs a mixed-methods research design, incorporating both quantitative and qualitative approaches to gather and analyze data. The primary objectives include assessing academic outcomes, examining demographic characteristics, and exploring the relationship between school performance and funding allocation.

The quantitative phase involves a large-scale statistical analysis of academic achievement data, such as standardized test scores and other relevant metrics obtained from both charter and traditional public schools. A careful matching process ensures that demographic factors such …

Investigating Nature-Based Mindfulness In Nurse Anesthesia Students: A Pilot Study, Douglas Lovern

Dissertations

Across the country, the mental health crisis continues to rage. Varying degrees of depression, stress, and anxiety are commonly found in college-age students. The COVID-19 pandemic augmented this crisis, but the pandemic is not the sole culprit for the escalation of mental health disorders in the United States. Students across the globe suffer mental health disorders that include depression, anxiety, and stress. Research has shown that graduate students are six times more likely to develop anxiety and depression than the general population. Student registered nurse anesthetists (SRNAs) are vulnerable to mental health disorders. SRNAs enter labor-intensive doctoral programs fraught with …

Studies On Molecular And Morphological Evolution And Biogeography Of Squids, Abigail M. Pratt

Dissertations

The cephalopod clade Decapodiformes consists of Spirulida (ram’s horn squid), Sepiolida (bobtail squids), Sepiida (cuttlefishes), Myopsida (inshore squids), and Oegopsida (oceanic squids). While many unanswered questions remain regarding this clade, a thorough examination requires a multi-level taxonomic approach due to uneven data coverage within. This dissertation explores a diverse set of topics in decapodiform evolution and biogeography with a hierarchical approach, starting with the “superorder” Decapodiformes, moving to the “order” Oegopsida, and finally zooming in to the family level with Pyroteuthidae. addressing four main questions: 1) Does RNA editing affect the use of transcriptomics in cephalopod phylogenetics? 2) What is …

A Constructivist Grounded Theory Exploration Of Intergenerational Trauma Among Lgbtq+ Bipoc Individuals, Satveer Kler

Dissertations

Many scholars have argued that existing conceptualizations of trauma such as the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (5th Ed.; DSM-5) conceptualization are inapplicable for individuals of marginalized communities. Individuals of marginalized communities may experience historical trauma, racial trauma, identity-related trauma, or collective trauma. Moreover, the effects of these forms of trauma may persist throughout different generations via biological transmission (e.g., epigenetics) or via interpersonal transmission (e.g., emotion socialization, cultural socialization, attachment, communication styles, behavioral socialization). The generational effects of these forms of trauma are referred to as intergenerational trauma. There has been a paucity of empirical explorations of …

Individual Differences In Perceptions Of Organizational Career Culture: A Fit Theory Perspective, Diogo Alberto Seixas

Dissertations

Attracting and retaining talent has been one of the most critical elements for business success. As organizations have different cultures within themselves, the organizational career culture communicates the organizational beliefs and practices valued for career success through organizational signals about career priorities. Using a scenario-based study, we explore individual preferences regarding four career cultures built on two dimensions of career signals: assimilation versus differentiation and intrinsic versus extrinsic rewards. We choose group beliefs, desirability of control, competitiveness, and protean career orientation as important traits because they clearly relate to the career signals and fit nicely in the organization’s career cultures. …

Perspectives Of Academic Nurse Leaders Regarding Mentorship Of Novice Nurse Faculty, Suzanne Campbell

Dissertations

This qualitative descriptive study sought to describe the perspectives of academic nurse leaders (ANLs) in direction of mentorship for novice nurse faculty. By examining the experiences and perspectives of these individuals, vital knowledge gained from this study will benefit future academic nurse leaders, faculty, students, and stakeholders in easing the difficult transition novice nurse faculty face as they enter academia. These perspectives had not previously been studied in depth. Fourteen participants were interviewed who served as deans, directors, or department heads of nursing education programs in Bachelor of Science in Nursing or Associate Degree in Nursing programs at U.S. public …

A Great War Requiem, Kaylene Cypret

Dissertations

The following dissertation is a researched music composition project that utilizes remembrance poetry from the Great War, also called the First World War or World War I, and the Requiem Mass tradition. The purpose of this study is to create a War Requiem composition that brings awareness to female narratives of the Great War by using Great War Poetry by women poets. The dissertation composition combines Requiem aeternam, Lux aeterna, and Requiescant in pace texts from the Requiem Mass.1 In addition, the composition uses Vera Brittain’s poem “Roundel,”2 Winifred Mabel Letts’s poem “Your Name,”3 Margaret Cole’s poems “Rest” and “Falling …

A Comparative Descriptive Study Exploring Undergraduate Versus Graduate Self-Regulated Learning In Online Nursing Courses, Monica Panaitisor

Dissertations

Preparation of new graduate nurses is more important now than ever given the current state of health care. The pandemic has caused online nursing education to be a permanent content delivery modality across all degree programs. Best practices for e-learning only address course organization, instructional materials, learner interaction, course technology, and support while having no regard for the unique learner needs of different degree levels. Online learning success could be determined by how well students are able to self-regulate their learning; however, these behaviors have rarely been measured and compared in nursing students at different degree levels taking online nursing …

A Quantitative Analysis Of The Relationship Between Collective Teacher Efficacy And Its Enabling Conditions With Student Achievement In Colorado’S Elementary And Middle Schools, Amelia Baldwin

Dissertations

This quantitative, correlational study aimed to investigate the relationships between collective teacher efficacy (CTE), its enabling conditions (EC-CTE), and student achievement in third through eighth grades in Colorado. Leveraging the theoretical foundations established by Rotter (1954), Bandura (1977) and expanded by Tschannen-Moran et al. (1998) and Adams and Forsyth (2006), a newly formed construct of CTE was created by using questions from the Teaching and Learning Conditions Colorado (TLCC) Survey. The following research questions guided the study: Q1 Is there a statistically significant relationship between the collective teacher efficacy construct, as measured by selected TLCC Survey questions, and student achievement …

“Freedom From Traditional Prejudice”: Lessons Of Educational Equity At A State Normal School In The American West, 1890-1929, Jamie Fogg

Dissertations

Despite accounting for a majority of college students in the United States, women fill a minority of professional leadership positions often associated with collegiate success. This suggests that educational access alone does not guarantee equitable societal outcomes after graduation, but rather remains shaped by a patriarchal social order. The purpose of this study is to understand the influence of educational experience on perceptions of social influence and opportunity by identifying the historical precedents for persistent issues of equity within higher education and potential solutions. This narrative case study is guided by three research questions: Q1 How did institutional curriculum, policies, …

Empowering Educators: The Impact Of A Professional Learning Program On Collective Teacher Efficacy, Larisa Gray

Dissertations

This study examined the effectiveness of the Exploring Scholars Initiative (ESI) at Alpine International School (AIS) in Europe in enhancing collective teacher efficacy. Established nine years ago, the ESI supports innovation and best practices in professional development. Alpine International School faculty are invited to propose passion projects to grow professionally and develop innovative teaching methods through educational research at Alpine. The ESI at AIS provides staff a unique opportunity to delve deeply into educational issues within their school context by enhancing professional development and enriching the academic environment for all staff and students. The purpose of this study was to …

A Pedagogical Approach To Cello Studies Influenced By The Eshkol-Wachman Movement Notation, Romina Monsanto Colina

Dissertations

The purpose of this research is to create visual and spatial cues for cello students to better learn the instrument through a notation system developed by the author. The research and notation are based on Noa Eshkol and Abraham Wachman's movement notation, which notates general body movement. The new movement notation, developed by the author, is directed to specific movements for cello players. Learning to play the cello by ear has been a primary pedagogical method. Students and professionals struggle to learn new music and techniques because they rely on hearing more than kinesthesia, the sense of movement. Musicians spend …

“I’M Stressed—You Have To Do Something To Help Me:” The Relationship Between Student Academic Entitlement, Academic Stress, And Satisfaction, Rebbecca L. Nemec

Dissertations

Concern over academic entitlement has grown in higher education in the last two decades. Academic entitlement, defined as unfounded expectations of academic success, undeserved services and unrealistic accommodations (McLellan & Jackson, 2017), in nursing students is an under investigated phenomena. The purpose of this study was to examine the impacts of academic stress and general student satisfaction on academic entitlement beliefs in baccalaureate, junior, and senior level nursing students. In this correlational, cross-sectional study, the transactional theory of stress (Lazarus & Folkman, 1987), and Jeffreys’ (2022) nursing universal retention and success model were used to understand how academic stress and …

Exploring The Relationship Of The Noncognitive Variables Of Grit And Mindset In Baccalaureate Nursing Students And Their Impact On Academic Success, Alecia Hollis

Dissertations

The study aimed to evaluate how the noncognitive variables of grit and mindset could impact the academic success of baccalaureate nursing students. With the present and growing shortage of nurses, attrition within nursing programs is cause for concern. Attrition is a multifaceted problem; however, academic failure is one contributing factor. While cognitive factors, such as the standardized aptitude test (SAT), pre-nursing science GPA, pre-nursing GPA, and standardized entrance exams (Al-Alawi et al., 2020; Chisholm-Burns et al., 2021), have traditionally been used for admission criteria, increasing evidence suggests that noncognitive factors, like grit and mindset, play a crucial role in academic …

Enzyme-Enhanced Ecf Bleaching: Improving Pulp Bleachability And Reducing Its Environmental Footprint, Bingyao Zhou

Dissertations

Enzymes have emerged as effective biocatalysts and environmentally friendly agents in pulp bleaching processes. Despite their potential, the fundamental chemistry underlying enzyme action on pulp fibers during bleaching remains poorly understood, limiting their widespread industrial application. This dissertation aims to investigate how enzymes interact with the chemical components of pulp fibers and their impact on elemental chlorine-free (ECF) bleaching in terms of pulp brightness, chemical consumption, and AOX generation.

Enzymatic pretreatment prior to ECF bleaching sequences was conducted on hardwood and softwood kraft pulp. Xylanase pretreatment significantly reduced chlorine dioxide consumption and enhanced pulp brightness in hardwood kraft pulp. Optimal …

Examining Ethnic-Racial Socialization As A Predictor Of Resilience And Ethnic-Racial Stress In Hispanic/Latine Young Adults, Adrian Josue Hernandez

Dissertations

Multiple scholars have emphasized the importance of elucidating how Hispanic/Latine individuals are socialized to navigate issues pertaining to ethnic-racial identity, such as ethnicracial stress from racism and discrimination (Ayón et al., 2020; Umaña-Taylor & Rivas-Drake, 2021). Ethnic-racial stress has been linked to numerous adverse physical and mental health outcomes among Hispanic/Latine people, including poor health-related quality of life and increased depressive symptoms (Alamilla et al., 2010; Andrade et al., 2021).

Attention to the role of ethnic-racial stress in exacerbating health disparities within Hispanic/Latine communities has also stimulated increased interest in understanding Hispanic/Latine resilience (Arce et al., 2020; Bosma et al., …

Counselor Education Doctoral Student Supervisors’ Preparedness To Address Indirect Trauma: Compassion Fatigue, Secondary Traumatic Stress, And Vicarious Trauma, Dynetta Clark

Dissertations

Hearing the painful stories of clients (indirect trauma) has been described as an occupational hazard for professionals working with trauma survivors and is becoming more common among mental health professionals. This might include counselors struggling with intrusive thoughts and having flashbacks of victimization, counselors viewing the world as an unsafe and unpredictable place, and/or counselors experiencing a loss of ability to empathize with clients. Clinical supervision is documented as an effective strategy to reduce the adverse effects of indirect trauma symptomology. A signature component of most counselor education and supervision doctoral programs is the training and preparation of students to …

Black Women’S Instagram Usage And Body Dissatisfaction, Shirlee Buchanan Moore Jr.

Dissertations

Within U.S. culture, girls and women of all ages are subject to experiencing body dissatisfaction. This dissatisfaction often results from direct comparison of one’s body to others, often via media depictions. Viewing these images prompts women of all cultures to engage in social comparison and learn to view themselves through an observer’s perspective. The advent of contemporary social media has increased the accessibility of images of others and, subsequently, social comparison of one’s body to others. Research has noted that women of all racial backgrounds utilize social media and experience varying degrees of satisfaction and dissatisfaction with their bodies. Despite …

Identity Development In Black Caribbeans: A Proposed Model, Shenelle Frederick

Dissertations

The paper is a critical review of the literature exploring factors contributing to Black Caribbean identity development. The paper sought to understand Black Caribbeans’ migratory history, views on mental health, and factors contributing to their identity development in the United States. Migrating to the United States can be a harsh reality for many migrants because they eventually realize that their Black skin is associated with negativity. An exploration of Black Caribbeans’ history and growing up in predominately Black societies could provide some insight that contributes to some of their ideologies and beliefs regarding forms of racism and believing that hard …

Exploring The Degrees Of Ableism Nursing Students With Disabilities Experience, Elizabeth Ruth Brox

Dissertations

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2020) estimated about 24% of adults in the United States live with a disability. However, the literature suggested only 4.4% of healthcare workers reported having a disability in the United States. Stigmatization and ableism have likely led to nurses hiding their disabilities while practicing, creating less diversity and representation in practice. When healthcare workers have little resemblance to the population they serve, it can lead to distrust, uncaring behaviors, and feelings of exclusion. Increasing diversity and helping to recognize the value of disability in practice could begin in nursing school. This study aimed …

Brenno Blauth: A Study Of Two Works For Oboe, Pablo Ramon Dos Santos Hernandez

Dissertations

The purpose of this research is to promote the works of composer Brenno Blauth (1931— 1993) through the analysis of his Sonata for Oboe and Piano T.141 and his Concertino for Oboe and Strings T.17. These two significant pieces in the Brazilian oboe repertoire represent the composer’s compositional style and his use of Brazilian elements in his music expression. In both these works for oboe, Blauth fostered Brazilian nationalism by using popular and folk rhythms, enhancing regionalism folklore as well as European influences such as Neoclassicism, Impressionism and the use of bitonality. A short explanation of Brazilian music history will …

The Impacts Of Gender Minority Stress On Wellness Among Trans And Gender Diverse Adults, Nathan R. Landers

Dissertations

The primary purpose of this study was to examine the impacts of gender minority stress and its connection with wellness among trans and gender diverse adults. Trans and gender diverse (TGD) individuals experience unique and pervasive stress due to living within a society that is hostile towards their gender identities. They are also more than their experiences of gender minority stress. Better understanding TGD wellness is crucial for both researchers and counseling psychologists as a means of holistically viewing TGD communities. The present study examined the impacts that gender minority stress had on the overall wellness among a sample of …

Development And Validation Of An Integrated Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale For Use In Multiple Contexts Using Item-Response Theory, Jordan Lynn Martell

Dissertations

Perfectionistic tendencies have increased substantially over the past 30 years (Curran & Hill, 2019), with additional noticeable increases of both perfectionism and mental health issues since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic (Flett & Hewitt, 2020a). Considered a transdiagnostic process that significantly impacts clinical treatment for a wide array of mental health concerns (Limburg et al., 2017), limitations of current perfectionism measurement necessitate the creation of a scale that can inform prevention and intervention as well as further our understanding of this phenomenon. The purpose of this study was to develop and provide initial validation for a new perfectionism measure …

Secondary Choir Students’ Perceptions Of Inter-District Collaborative Performance Experiences, Juliet Minard

Dissertations

The purpose of this case study was to examine the way students perceive their inter-district collaborative off-campus choral performance experience. That purpose allowed me to empower students' voices as I interpreted why students took part in optional collaborative opportunities off-campus, what they took away from the experience, and how they described the individual and collective significance of their engagement with a new population of peers. Observations, semi-structured interviews, artifact collection in the form of concert programs, song literature, and other student-initiated material, and researcher memos were gathered and analyzed to answer the following research questions: Q1 What are students' perspectives …

Exploring The Psychological Impact, Responses To Loss And Resiliency Among University Students During The Coronavirus Pandemic, Kimberly Crystal Monroe

Dissertations

The COVID-19 pandemic has profoundly impacted university students, affecting their academic and personal lives. This study aimed to explore the multifaceted impact of the pandemic on university students, focusing on the interplay between experienced losses and resiliency levels. The purpose was to understand the overall impact of the pandemic on students and investigate how a resilient mindset, as measured by the Connor-Davidson Resiliency Scale (CD-RISC), predicted reactions to loss (RTL). The research addressed four key questions: (1) Do CD-RISC (resiliency) and cumulative loss predict positive reappraisal, controlling for demographic variables? (2) Does cumulative loss impact scores on the "avoidance" and …

The Development And Content Validity Of An Assessment Instrument In Simulation For Advanced Practice Provider Fellowship Programs: An Exploratory Study, Olivia Nicastro

Dissertations

Advanced practice provider (APP) fellowship programs are comprehensive programs designed for physician assistants (PAs) and nurse practitioners (NPs) to acquire the necessary knowledge and skills to deliver safe, high-quality care in their specialized areas of practice (Advanced Practice Provider Fellowship Accreditation TM, 2023). An APP fellowship program’s mission is to guide the APP fellow to an expected level of confidence in meeting core competencies within a specific specialty (Klimpl et al., 2019; Reville & Foxwell, 2021). The assessment of competence is often a complex process. Simulation has become a learning modality across the globe in medical, nursing, and pharmacy in …

Speech-Language Pathologist And General Educator Perceptions Of The Inclusive Service Delivery Model, Kellie Rine

Dissertations

The inclusive service delivery model is a philosophy of education that involves changing how educators address disability and provide educational services. Arkansas has recently developed a plan to implement inclusion whenever possible to better comply with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act guidelines for students with disabilities. Preparing for implementation, Arkansas leaders compared data from the Every Student Succeeds Act prior to and following the implementation of inclusive service delivery in pilot schools. Data were positive for increased achievement in literacy and mathematics. Arkansas has created a timeline for implementation, setting a goal for fully inclusive practices in Arkansas by …