Digital Commons Network^™

Environmental Beliefs Among Evangelical Leadership, Jeffrey Stark

Dissertations

There has been consensus among climate scientists for over a decade about the reality of human caused climate change. Even with this consensus, the public understanding of this issue remains divided based on factors generally unrelated to the science. Evangelical Protestants are one group which consistently polls as more skeptical of climate change. This is true not only when compared to the general population but also when compared to other religious demographics. Most large-scale surveys of evangelicals assume the demographic to be a monolith and do not attempt to break the demographic down further. In this mixed methods study, we …

A Mixed-Methods Design-Based Research: Study Of Teacher Self-Efficacy And The Implementation Of Social Emotional Learning In The High School Classroom, Avia Brown

Dissertations

The escalating mental health crisis among adolescents, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, positioned schools as critical intervention sites for supporting student well-being (K. McNamara, 2020). However, teacher capacity and self-efficacy in implementing social-emotional learning (SEL) competencies remain significant barriers to effective, sustainable practice. This mixed-methods design-based research study examined the efficacy of professional development and instructional coaching in enhancing teacher self-efficacy and supporting the implementation of SEL competencies in high school classrooms.

The researcher employed a comprehensive, five-stage design thinking framework (empathize, define, ideate, prototype, test) to develop and evaluate a structured eight-week professional development and coaching intervention targeting SEL …

Elucidating Differences In Constitutionally Isomeric Diamine- And Bisphenol-Based Polybenzoxazine Networks, Benjamin L. G. Morasch

Dissertations

This dissertation aims to expand the fundamental understanding of diamine-based benzoxazine chemistry by examining how synthesis influences the network properties of 4,4’-ddm and phenol-based (P-ddm) benzoxazine, compared to the constitutionally isomeric bisphenol-F and aniline-based (BF-a) benzoxazine. While bisphenol-based benzoxazines such as BF-a have been studied more extensively, diamine-based benzoxazines are still relatively unexplored due to the competition with the formation of 1,3,5-hexahydrotriazine intermediates and the inconsistent thermal and mechanical properties reported in the literature. These inconsistencies stem from factors including synthetic methods, curing conditions, and degradation during polymerization that have been overlooked.

To address these issues, this dissertation is organized …

General Education Teachers' Perspectives And Practices For Supporting English Language Learners In Memphis Charter Schools, Ijiah Hargrove

Dissertations

The growing enrollment of English Language Learners (ELLs) in U.S. schools, particularly within urban charter settings, presents unique challenges for general education teachers who are often underprepared to meet both linguistic and academic needs. The purpose of this study was to explore the instructional strategies, perspectives of their ability of self-efficacy, and institutional factors that shape how K–8 charter school teachers in Memphis support ELLs. This work is significant because teachers’ beliefs, preparation, and available resources directly impact ELL achievement and equity in education.

A qualitative single-case study design was employed, with twelve general education teachers recruited through purposeful sampling. …

Exploring Faculty Perspectives Of Roadblocks To Accommodating Students With Disabilities In Community Colleges, Shalither S. Cushenberry

Dissertations

This qualitative study explores faculty perspectives on student accommodation in the community college setting. The one-on-one, semi-structured, in-depth interviews with faculty and perspectives of accommodation experts will result in outcomes that better prepare faculty, as a workforce, to support students with accommodations. The study utilized the social cognitive career theory (SCCT) to understand how increasing faculty awareness and engagement through professional development can enhance their ability to provide services to students with accommodation requests. The study underscores the critical importance of understanding the rationale for students with granted accommodations and faculty members supporting their academic success. The findings revealed gaps …

Exploring The Use Of Culturally And Linguistically Responsive Practices Within The Multi-Tiered System Of Support (Mtss) Framework When Supporting Students With Disabilities At A Dual Language Immersion School, Sylvia Simmons

Dissertations

The integration of culturally and linguistically responsive practices (CLRP) within the Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS) framework has been recognized as a promising method for improving learning opportunities for diverse students. However, little to no research has been conducted on the intersection of CLRP within the MTSS framework to support students with disabilities in dual language immersion schools (DLI). This lack of research has posed challenges for educators seeking effective strategies to support diverse learners with disabilities in such settings. Therefore, the purposes of this qualitative case study were to (a) explore how a dual language immersion school utilizes the …

Civics Teachers’ Perceptions Of Disciplinary Literacy Strategies That Use Primary Sources: A Case Study, Whitney Williams

Dissertations

This study has been designed as a case study to examine teachers’ perceptions of document-based strategies when combined with primary sources as pedagogical tools. The participants were ninth grade civics teachers. Semi-structured interviews, focused observations, and artifact collection were the sources of collected data. As the researcher, my constructivism guided this study through the lens of Albert Bandura’s social cognitive theory (SCT). Therefore, the participants’ perception will be interpreted through SCT concepts such as personal influences, behavioral influences, and environmental influences. Findings show a handful of disciplinary literacy strategies that occurred most often across all participants. Teachers valued an emphasis …

“The Goal Is To Help The Community”: Motivations And Experiences Of Diverse Families In A Special Education Parent Advocacy Program, Diana Cruz

Dissertations

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA, 2004) entitles parents of eligible students with disabilities to meaningful participation in their children’s educational planning. Despite this mandate, many parents encountered barriers that limited their ability to participate in special education processes. These challenges were amplified for culturally and linguistically diverse (CLD) families who often lacked the social and cultural capital needed to navigate the system (Trainor, 2010b). Culturally and linguistically diverse parents experience systemic barriers such as limited interpretation, discrimination, and cultural differences that restrict their engagement (Buren et al., 2018; Doucet, 2011; Harry, 2008; Kalyanpur et al., 2000; Sanders-Smith et …

Exploring The Integration Of Social And Emotional Learning In Chinese High School Music Courses, Yao Lu

Dissertations

Social and emotional learning has become increasingly important in recent years, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic. The mental health and emotional well-being of students have received unprecedented attention. However, in China, social and emotional learning is still a relatively new concept. High school students are in a critical period for self-identification and the development of values. Academic competition and peer comparisons have increased significantly, making them more in need of systematic, operational SEL support. Music, as a “natural carrier” of emotions, can externalize, identify, and regulate individual emotions, and can also cultivate empathy and relationship skills in collaborative settings such …

The Interpretation And Historical Performance Practices Of Black Choral Music: The Spiritual And Gospel Music, A Comparative Study, Travis Terrence Kornegay

Dissertations

African American spirituals and gospel music are two foundational folk traditions that have profoundly shaped the American musical landscape and continue to influence cultural identity and sacred expression. Emerging from the resilience and faith of enslaved African Americans, spirituals often carried coded messages of liberation. Meanwhile, gospel music developed in the early twentieth-century urban Black church, blending elements of spirituals, blues, and jazz to communicate collective and personal religious experiences. Although linked by shared cultural lineage, the genres diverge in their historical development, linguistic expression, and performance practices, necessitating comparative scholarly inquiry. This dissertation investigates the similarities and key differences …

A Line In The Sand: Investigating Late Pleistocene-Holocene Stratigraphy And Large-Scale Morphodynamic Evolution Along The Mississippi Coast, Carrie Miller

Dissertations

The imprints of past geomorphic evolution are embedded in the geologic record, providing valuable insights into the mechanisms that induce changes within coastal systems and the magnitude of those changes. Large-scale paleo morphodynamic evolution often occurs due to cyclonic activity, variations in sediment supply, and relative sea-level rise. The landscape of the U.S. Gulf Coast reflects a combination of erosional, depositional, hydrological, and climatic factors that remain of ongoing interest to geoscientists seeking a holistic understanding. Low- lying coastal plains, such as those along the Mississippi and Louisiana coasts, are particularly susceptible to future sea-level rise. Projected sea-level rise over …

Finding Utopia: An Examination Of Pedagogical Approaches To Teaching Utopianism In U.S. College Classrooms, Brittany Page Brake

Dissertations

This dissertation investigates how, and if, utopianism is being taught in college classrooms across the United States. Long considered impractical, overly idealistic, and/or politically dangerous, utopianism has been largely marginalized in political science and American culture. However, this project finds that there are instructors teaching utopianism and they are using the concept to challenge students to think differently about governance, justice, and institutional design. Drawing from political theory literature, course syllabi submitted by faculty from different U.S. universities, interviews with instructors, and personal case studies of my own courses at Central State University and Manchester University, I explore how utopian …

Existence, Difference, And The Nigerian Woman: A Feminist Praxis Beyond Patriarchy, Hannah Yemisi Ajewole

Dissertations

This dissertation investigates the postcolonial condition of Nigerian woman through a critical philosophical engagement with feminist theory, focusing particularly on Simone de Beauvoir’s existentialism and Irigaray’s ethics of sexual difference. It interrogates the historical processes through which gender became the basis of hierarchy in the Nigerian society, arguing that colonial and patriarchal override precolonial forms of relationality—marked by dual-sex relationship and age-based hierarchies—into rigid, male-dominated structures of authority and representation. Drawing also on Oyèrónkẹ́ Oyěwùmí’s critique of western gender epistemologies, the work contextualizes the Nigerian woman’s experience within a broader matrix of colonial imposition, cultural displacement, and epistemic violence. This …

Machine Learning-Aided Design Of High-Performance Aluminum Rotors For Enhanced Regenerative Braking Efficiency In Electric Vehicles, Sai Krishna Kancharla

Dissertations

This thesis investigates automotive brake system improvements through computational fluid dynamics (CFD), experimental testing, additive manufacturing, and machine learning techniques. The primary objective is to develop realistic simulations and eco-friendly brake materials for enhanced performance and sustainability. Initially, a CFD model was developed using ANSYS CFX to analyze brake rotor interactions with aluminum NASA alloy material supplied by the company. Preliminary tribological assessment on a Universal Mechanical Tester (UMT) confirmed the material suitability. Multiple rotor geometries provided were modeled and simulated under FMVSS 135 hot stop conditions. Friction performance was validated through scaled-down UMT tests using commercial brake pads and …

Exploring Hiring Managers’ Strategies For Recruiting Diverse Educators In A Southeastern State, Keisa K. Davis Ma

Dissertations

This dissertation examined the strategies applied by hiring managers within one state in the southeastern United States to recruit diverse teachers. The purpose of the study was to explore hiring managers’ experiences and knowledge of minority teacher recruitment. The primary research question for this study was: What strategies do hiring managers in the school district under study find most effective in overcoming barriers to recruiting minority educators, and how do they measure their success? Data was collected through semi-structured interviews, and thematic coding was used to arrive at emerging themes, patterns, and perceptions. The findings revealed that while hiring managers …

Title I School Principals And Academic Coaches’ Perceptions Of School Strategic Planning, Implementation, And Monitoring On Plan Outcomes: A Case Study, Elizabeth A. Mize

Dissertations

This qualitative case study involved a sample of Title I elementary schools, their principal, academic coach, and district Title I supervisor, who are involved in the school strategic planning process. The study aimed to explore the strategies and processes Title I schools use to develop, implement, and monitor their school strategic plans to grow student achievement. Data collection methods included a demographic questionnaire, a document analysis of each school’s strategic plan and mid-year monitoring plan, and one-on-one semi-structured interviews. The findings highlighted the importance of well-developed plans that incorporate implementation processes and strong monitoring used to adjust, if needed, the …

Navigating The Intersection: Black Women’S Leadership Journey In Educational Technology, Monika Davis

Dissertations

Despite the significant underrepresentation of Black women in district-level leadership for public school districts, diversity in educational technology leadership has been recognized as essential for student success. This phenomenographic study investigated the experiences and perceptions of Black women in district-level educational technology leadership roles within public school districts across the United States. The study addressed two research questions about how these leaders perceive and interpret the intersectional challenges of race, gender, and technology, as well as the variations in their experiences. Using two questionnaires and in-depth semi-structured interviews with seven Black female educational technology leaders, the study explored their lived …

Trailblazing Pathways: Personal Traits Fueling Success For Underrepresented Minority Entrepreneurs, Rebecca P. Wilson

Dissertations

This study examines how entrepreneurial personality traits influence business outcomes among underrepresented minority entrepreneurs in the United States. Specifically, it investigates the effects of entrepreneurial self-efficacy, locus of control, risk tolerance, and extraversion on entrepreneurial performance, as well as the moderating role of grit and the mediating role of business networking. Although underrepresented minority entrepreneurs contribute significantly to innovation and economic growth, they continue to face persistent barriers, including limited access to capital, mentorship, and supportive entrepreneurial ecosystems. Guided by Trait Theory of Entrepreneurship and Social Cognitive Theory, this study employed a quantitative, cross-sectional survey design with embedded open-ended questions …

The Effects Of Learning Environment Resources And Psycap On Student Burnout And Outcomes, Elisandra Rodriguez Moreno

Dissertations

This study examined links between learning environmental resources (i.e., social support and feedback environment), burnout, and student outcomes (i.e., satisfaction and academic performance) among 198 graduate healthcare students. The study also investigated whether Psychological Capital (PsyCap) moderated these relationships. Social support and feedback did not predict overall burnout, but both were significantly linked to the burnout dimensions, specifically: emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and academic efficacy. PsyCap did not moderate most relationships, yet it was consistently associated with lower levels of burnout and higher satisfaction. One exception emerged—for social support and depersonalization, PsyCap served as a compensatory resource, where students with lower …

An Exploration Of Sleep Experiences Among Family Caregivers Of Older Adults With Alzheimer’S And Related Diseases, Caroline Bollettiero

Dissertations

As we age our sleep experiences decline in quality and our sleep disturbances increase with chances of full effective sleep diminishing. Older adults do not sleep as well as younger adults, with many older adults lacking an effective circadian rhythm. This lack of a proper circadian rhythm has been known to affect cognition and cause an increase in memory impairment. For older adults (OA) with Alzheimer’s and related disorders (AD) poor sleep affects not only their memory impairment and cognition but often impacts family caregivers (FGCs) sleep experiences. FCGs of community dwelling OA with AD are faced with a variety …

Development And Characterization Of Sustainable Aluminum Metal Matrix Composites With Date Palm Agro-Residues As Reinforcement, Ansar Kareem

Dissertations

Aluminum Matrix Composites (AMCs) are extensively used in various industrial applications owing to their exceptional mechanical, material, and tribological properties. This led to the development of AMCs with every possible aluminum alloy as matrix, incorporated with various reinforcement materials to achieve desired material properties. There has been an increasing trend in the utilization of agricultural and industrial waste products as reinforcement material in AMCs. Date palm trees produce huge quantity of agricultural waste in different forms. Usually, these wastes are burned or disposed of in landfills which cause environmental pollution. Date palm agro-wastes can be incinerated to produce date palm …

Problems In Extremal Graph Theory And Spectral Graph Theory, Fareeha Jamal

Dissertations

Spectral graph theory is a subfield of algebraic graph theory that studies the matrices associated with graphs. It lives at the nexus of Linear Algebra and Combinatorics. Many intriguing results in the domains of Matrix Theory and Combinatorics have come from studying the eigenvalues of graph matrices; in fact, several open problems in both areas have been resolved. Beyond its theoretical appeal, spectral graph theory has found meaningful applications in theoretical chemistry, particularly in the mathematical classification of chemical graphs. These classifications underpin quantitative structure–property relationships (QSPRs), facilitating the prediction of physicochemical properties such as enthalpy of vaporization, molar refractivity, …

Rehabilitation Of Reinforced Concrete Columns Pre-Damaged By Corrosion Using Advanced Composite Materials, Feras Farid Abu Obaida

Dissertations

Reinforced concrete (RC) columns exposed to aggressive environments are highly susceptible to corrosion-induced deterioration, resulting in significant reductions in load-carrying capacity. This research investigates the structural performance of RC circular short columns with varying levels of corrosion damage and evaluates the effectiveness of two composite-based repair techniques, namely carbon fabric-reinforced cementitious matrix (C-FRCM) and carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (C-FRP) composites, combined with concrete cover replacement. The study aims to establish these methods as practical solutions for rehabilitating corrosion-damaged columns under concentric and eccentric loading conditions. The experimental program included 30 RC column specimens tested in two phases. Phase I involved thirteen …

Virtual Reality In Esl Teaching And Learning In A Hybrid Learning Environment In The United Arab Emirates, Basma Abdulla Abri

Dissertations

This study examines the impact of Virtual Reality (VR) on the oral proficiency of EFL learners in the UAE context, with exploring the instructors and students’ perspectives on using VR as a language learning tool. The study involved 44 Emirati higher education students enrolled in an English Communications Program divided into a control group using traditional methods, and an experimental group using VR tools for communicative activities. Data collection employed mixed-methods research through questionnaire surveys involving college students and interviews with EFL instructors over a ten-week period. According to the findings, the experimental group demonstrated higher oral proficiency than the …

Exploring The Experience Of Nursing Students During Their Community Health Nursing Clinical Placement At Schools, Lina Ghosn Nouwayhed

Dissertations

Community health nursing is an exciting, challenging, and evolving field that creatively integrates various areas of nursing practice with public health knowledge (Stanhope & Lancaster, 2016). Learning in practical settings is invaluable for student nurses; that is why clinical placements account for 50% of nursing curriculum requirements (Henderson, 2011). At Makassed University of Beirut, the community nursing practicum takes place in schools, with school nurses serving as mentors during these placements.

This research study aims to:

• Explore the experiences of student nurses during community clinical practice.
• Develop guidelines to enhance learning during community clinical practice.

The study sample consisted of …

Cyclical Matters: Black Labor, Temporality, And The Incomplete Reconstructions Within African American Literature, Courtney Walton

Dissertations

This dissertation examines the role literature plays in understanding black life post-reconstruction and post-civil rights movement. Specifically, I explore the continuation of injustices and mistreatment for black workers, the role black labor plays during the first and second post-reconstructions, and how literature can be used in framing this discussion. The similarities between these periods help us to better understand the cycle of racist societal expectations and the challenges black workers face integrating into society, discriminatory mandates required of black workers, the unfair job market, and forced labor. These periods interact cyclically in that the second post-reconstruction models the first post-reconstruction. …

The Development And Validation Of The Measure Of Critical Reflection, Yea Jin Chang

Dissertations

Critical reflection, a component of critical consciousness, is defined as a metacognitive ability that is engaged when identifying, critiquing, and transforming social oppression. This study developed and validated the Measure of Critical Reflection, with items that assess participants’ cognitive ability to critically reflect and are framed to be generalizable across time and social contexts. Items were generated through literature review and interviews with critical consciousness educators and data was collected across two samples for factor structure analysis (N = 300) and replication and validation (N = 286). Results confirmed that a unidimensional model was most appropriate to represent the data …

The Social Aesthetics Of Recognition, Italo Alves

Dissertations

The history of social philosophy is a history of suspicion toward the aesthetic (1). However, since we apprehend social reality fundamentally through its aesthetic appearances, an account is needed of how “the aesthetic” must enter the social-philosophical discourse, particularly in reconstructive models of social critique. I call this account “social aesthetics.” Social aesthetics illuminates how certain social experiences generate normative claims even in the lack of discursive articulation. (2) I argue that the philosophy of recognition, concerned with this relationship between social experience and normative claim-making, contains an unacknowledged aesthetic dimension, which I uncover through a critical reading of Axel …

The Effects Of Targeted Interventions On Student Engagement With Feedback: A Meta-Analysis, Andy A. Accettola

Dissertations

ABSTRACT This meta-analysis examines the effects of classroom interventions aimed at enhancing student engagement with feedback in K–12 and higher education settings. Drawing on the framework developed by Winstone et al. (2017), interventions were categorized into four major feedback engagement categories and 14 subcomponents. A systematic review identified eligible experimental studies published between 2014 and 2023, each reporting outcomes relevant to student feedback engagement. Effect sizes were calculated using standardized mean differences, and subgroup analyses explored the relative influence of intervention categories, subcomponents, and moderators. Findings from this meta-analysis indicate that targeted interventions to enhance student engagement with feedback generally …

The Influence Of Defects: Oxidation Of Non-Planar Transition Metal Model Catalysts, Maxwell Gillum

Dissertations

Metal-catalyzed oxidation reactions are a major application of heterogeneous catalysis and are a widely applied synthetic route for the production of chemicals and reagents essential to modern society. However, as the intricacies of heterogeneous surface catalysis are slowly being unraveled, minute details of the catalytic environment have been revealed to play outsized roles in the catalytic activity of the surface. The experiments herein further investigate the interplay between surface geometry and the formation oxygen-induced surface structures. Understanding how defects influence surface reactivity is a necessary step in gaining the ability to accurately model heterogeneous catalytic environments. Two different aspects of …