Digital Commons Network^™

Study Of Yoga Intervention To Reduce Secondary Traumatic Stress Among Public School Educators, Leslie Marie Hillen

Dissertations

A problem in education was the great amount of stress teachers were under. Secondary Traumatic Stress “is the emotional duress that results when an individual hears about the first-hand trauma experiences of another” (The National Child Traumatic Stress Network, n.d.). When teachers feel they cannot work or are overwhelmed with the demands of education, this can be attributed to Secondary Traumatic Stress (STS) (Caringi et al., 2015). Many teachers felt there was not enough support from the administration, as they not only deliver curriculum, but they also worried about the students’ mental health, home lives, hunger, and how to support …

Thai Choral Music In Intercultural Choral Literature: A Guide To Thai Choral Music, Dolhathai Intawong

Dissertations

Amid the evolving landscape of intercultural choral literature, Thai choral music emerges as a compelling yet underexplored genre, distinguished by its integration of unique linguistic and Thai musical elements. Despite the diverse choral repertoire in global music scene, the lack of resources on Thai diction and practical approach to Thai choral works for teaching and performing Thai choral music has resulted in its absence from choral global repertoires.

To address this gap, this research examines a comprehensive approach to Thai diction, providing a foundation for understanding the intricacies of Thai pronunciation which is applicable to a wide range of vocal …

Twentieth-Century Chinese Piano Sonatas: An Exploration Of Selected Works By Ding Shande, Guo Zurong, And Chu Wanghua, Qingrui Li

Dissertations

At the turn of the nineteenth to twentieth century, with the arrival of the piano and the increasing cultural exchange between China and the West, China has experienced more than one hundred years of exploration and experimentation, gradually shaping a uniquely Chinese piano culture. The piano sonata, as a classic European genre imported to China, has evolved into an “experimental art form.” Its complex and organized structure and broad space for expression become an outlet for Chinese composers in the twentieth century to experiment with technical means and explore instrumental aesthetics, while also exhibiting a unique style of artistic expression …

Lennie Tristano’S Pedagogical Model In Jazz Education: A Critical Analysis Of Pertinent Components From The 1950s For Current Classroom Implementation, Robert Ngobi

Dissertations

Lennie Tristano's pedagogical model, established in the mid-20th century, transformed jazz education by focusing on ear training through singing with solos and melodic development based on a systematic, individualized approach to teaching and learning. This dissertation explores Tristano's model through the lens of educational psychology and cognitive science. While it does not profoundly explore either field, it highlights aspects relevant to Tristano's pedagogical strategies. The study addresses the following research questions: (1) What are the specific components of Tristano's model, and how did they reshape the jazz educational landscape of the 1950s? (2) How can these components be adapted to …

Exploring The Motivations And Aspirations Of High School Senior Latinas: A Phenomenological Constructivist Study Of Advancement Via Individual Determination And Non-Advancement Via Individual Determination Student Experiences, Marina Rodriguez

Dissertations

While student support programs aim to offer guidance on college information and resources, not all student support programs offer a class curriculum targeted toward college and career readiness. The Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) program offers AVID as an elective class in a student’s academic schedule. Similar programs that support students include the Migrant Education Program, TRIO, and Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs. The purpose of this study was to establish a greater understanding of the motives and aspirations to attend a higher education institution of Latina high school seniors who have participated in an AVID program …

After The Bullets: Managing A Mass Shooting Resource Center Explored Through Autoethnography, Karen Allene Schweihs

Dissertations

The rate of mass shootings has more than doubled over the past 10 years in the United States (Gun Violence Archive, 2024). The focus of this study was a thorough exploration of my personal experiences in designing a response center after a mass shooting occurred in Boulder, Colorado. This study utilized a qualitative narrative inquiry form of research methodology called autoethnography. Autoethnography has been utilized to capture more than the raw data collected, but to offer a more expansive and detailed description of a unique experience. The following research questions were studied:

• Q1 What might I learn about my own …

Artificial Intelligence, Machines, Devices, And Robots: Mobilizing Humanness And Intelligence In The American Techno-Landscape, Carlos A. Batres

Dissertations

This dissertation is an ethnographic inquiry of artificial intelligence (AI) in the techno-landscape of three major metropolitan areas in the United States. It traces the ways in which both experts and non-experts talk about their interactions with AI via machines, robots, and other devices, and how the ways in which people deal with AI-technologies have come to shape how we think about our own ways of going about doing things. The goal is to discern what the social ramifications of this technology may be as relationships and relations are formed betwixt and between people and artificially intelligent things.

The Role Of Task-Based Language Assessment In English Language Learning And Learner Autonomy Enhancement In An Efl High School Context In The Uae, Eman Yousef Mahmoud

Dissertations

Assessment plays an integral role in education, incorporating various types that serve multiple purposes. In language education, the proper integration of formative assessment practices, such as Task-Based Language Assessment (TBLA), is crucial to improve students’ language learning. This study explores the impact of implementing TBLA in an English as a foreign language (EFL) high school context on language learning. It also investigates whether and to what extent TBLA application promotes Learner Autonomy (LA). Furthermore, this study examines the teacher’s and students’ perceptions of the intervention and its impact on linguistic and non-linguistic skills. The study used an experimental mixed methods …

Oral Language In A Literacy-Based Intervention, Rachel Chappell

Dissertations

The problem of practice I studied in this investigation was how to effectively and intentionally merge oral language support with a comprehensive literacy-based intervention (Reading Recovery®) for a student population exhibiting oral language concerns. This mixed-methods study focused on dual and monolingual students with limited language development, which resulted from various root causes. Through my investigation, I sought to evaluate the impact of additional language-related strategies within the literacy-based intervention with the primary purpose of learning advancement and student reading proficiency improvement. I found that explicit instruction in language-related errors and complex book language in comprehensive literacy-related interventions demonstrates a …

Mutual Enjoyment: A Levinasian Conception Of Freedom, Aaron Darrisaw

Dissertations

Established scholars typically regard the philosophy of Emmanuel Levinas as one that offers a morally elevated, and even religious, sense to the meaning of ethics. He uses many descriptions to encapsulate his understanding of ethics, but a common shorthand is “the calling into question of freedom.” This dissertation aims to answer the following question: What becomes of freedom after it has been submitted to Levinas’s ethical critique? Engaging this question emphasizes the distinctively political significance of Levinas’s philosophy, a significance that is often regarded as lacking. However, my project treats freedom as a unique prism through which to interpret Levinas’s …

A Descriptive Case Study Of An Innovative, University-Based Coaching System For Resident Teachers, Matthew J. Wester

Dissertations

Teacher residency programs (TRPs) have emerged over the past two decades as an effective model of teacher preparation. Within this alternative pathway to teacher certification, pre-service teachers, known as resident teachers, engage in a lengthy clinical teaching experience under the guidance of a trained mentor teacher and field supervisor while concurrently completing closely aligned, graduate-level coursework.

A key element of successful teacher residency programs is the use of a structured coaching system to support resident teachers — defined in this study as the components that form the coaching framework for resident teachers within a defined educational context, operating together to …

Navigating The Landscape: Perceptions, Motivations, And The Journey Of Data Professionals In Implementing Data Processes And Procedures, Willie Rivers

Dissertations

This explanatory study investigates the motivations behind data professionals' willingness or resistance to implementing data policies and procedures, utilizing the Theory of Planned Behavior and Psychological Ownership as frameworks. Through interviews with 21 data professionals, the research explains how factors such as perceived control, ownership, and attitudes towards data processes influence their motivation. The study tests key propositions, including the impact of perceived time burdens, bureaucratic procedures, and organizational expectations on data governance engagement. The findings underscore the critical role of control and access to information in motivating the adoption of data policies, providing insights for organizations aiming to enhance …

Examining Mentoring As A Catalyst For Nurse Work Engagement And Professional Development, Cherryl A Rainey

Dissertations

Abstract

Research literature has identified mentoring as a strategic intervention for employee professional development. The Business and Psychology disciplines have used mentoring widely for employee development, but it has not been used extensively in nursing.

Nursing has unique challenges and is constantly changing with a need to meet some of those needs by advancing the development of nurses to serve as leaders and fill positions due to nurse shortages and high turnover rates. Mentoring has also been identified as a vehicle to promote work engagement.

The purpose of this study was to examine mentoring as a catalyst for nurses’ professional …

Organizational Characteristics As Drivers Of Employer Attraction, Naomi L. Akins-Osuma

Dissertations

This research study examined perceptions of attraction to different organizational characteristics based on an individual’s Career Stage in Super’s (1980) life-span model. Using a diverse sample of 230 participants in the U.S. workforce 18 years or older, the study manipulated the opposing Reputation and flexible working arrangement (FWA) conditions of a hypothetical hiring organization in the technology industry. The results indicated that the main effects of Reputation and FWAs on general attraction, intention to pursue, perceived economic citizenship, and perceived ethical citizenship were significant. Although the high levels of Reputation and FWA yielded the highest mean scores among the dependent …

Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder In Secondary Instrumental Music Ensembles: A Qualitative Intrapersonal Inquiry, Christopher Sakowski

Dissertations

Executive function is deficient in individuals with ADHD. Playing a musical instrument has been shown to improve executive functions. This study examined if participants with ADHD perceived a connection between playing an instrument in a music ensemble and improved executive functioning, as well as improved ADHD presentations. The research design used for this study was a basic qualitative design, focusing on phenomenological intrapersonal inquiry. Data collection was done entirely through 60-120 minute semi-structured interviews with both music educators and non-music school personnel that participated in instrumental music ensembles as young students. Interviews were recorded using Zoom, transcribed using Microsoft Office …

A Randomized Controlled Trial Comparing A Companion Dog Walking Intervention To An Attention Control Education Intervention On The Psychological Health Of Adult Intensive Care Unit Survivors: The Pooch Study, Lindsey Nelson

Dissertations

Intensive care unit (ICU) survivors are at risk for persistent anxiety and depression after hospital discharge that contribute to the psychological component of post intensive care syndrome (PICS). Quality evidence supporting innovative home and community-based interventions that improve psychological health in ICU survivors is needed. The use of companion dogs to improve the health and wellbeing of ICU survivors is a novel strategy not previously explored in the ICU survivor population. The purpose of this randomized controlled trial (RCT) was to evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of a companion dog walking intervention compared to an attention control education intervention for …

The Relationship Of A Dominant Teaching Perspective And Student Perception Of The Classroom Learning Environment, Cindy L. Farris

Dissertations

The scholarship of teaching includes the ability to explore the most effective means of meeting the learning needs of students (Boyer, 1990). For this quantitative study, the research question proposed considered a relationship between nursing faculty dominant teaching perspectives and nursing student's perception of the classroom environment. A total of 12 nursing faculty responded to a demographic questionnaire as well as the Teaching Perspective Inventory (TPI) to determine personal dominant teaching perspectives. Overall, 422 nursing students from four regional public university campuses in the Midwest completed a demographic questionnaire and the College and University Classroom Environment Inventory (CUCEI) to determine …

The Relationship Between The Perception Of Nurse Caring, And The Phase Ii Cardiac Rehabilitation Patients' Depression, Anxiety, And Adherence, Jo Ann Kim

Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine if there was a relationship between perception of nurse caring and Phase II cardiac rehabilitation (CR) participant's depression, anxiety, and adherence. Duffy and Hoskins (2003) Quality-caring model © was used as a theoretical framework to guide the descriptive correlational study. A convenience sample of 109 outpatients lived in the mid-Atlantic portion of the United States. The four data collection instruments included the Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression Scale (CES-D), State-Trait Anxiety Inventory- Y-1 (STAI-Y-1), Caring Assessment Tool-IV (CAT-IV), and a Phase II CR Patient's Program Data Sheet. Pearson's product-moment correlational analysis was used …

Development And Evaluation Of A Nurse Leader-Led Acuity-Based Nursing Assignment Program And Its Outcome On Peripheral Intravenous Infiltrations And Extravasations In Pediatric Patients, Cassandra D. Dike

Dissertations

In this evidence-based project, the team developed a model of patient assignments for nurses in a pediatric acute care setting based on workload and acuity as opposed to hours per patient day (HPPD). The team used a plan-do-study-act, or PDSA, cycle of quality improvement methodology to demonstrate that assignments based on acuity as opposed to ratios would improve patient outcomes. The outcome measure was peripheral intravenous infiltrations and extravasations (PIVIEs). In the 6-week time frame only two PIVIEs were identified, and they occurred on shifts in which the ideal acuity score was not met for the nursing assignments due to …

A Qualitative Exploration Of Associate Degree Nurse Educators' Teaching Experiences Regarding Health Literacy, Connie Marshall

Dissertations

Worldwide health literacy levels are low. Nurses should be able to lead the improvement of the health literacy of the populations they serve. During a comprehensive review of the literature, it became apparent that previous research regarding the provision of health literacy education within Associate Degree Nursing programs was not available. The Associate Degree is the initial degree that allows the graduate to take the NCLEX-RN board exam, so it was interesting to determine how learners are prepared to discern the health literacy levels of the patient population. The research question, "How do nurse educators describe their experiences with health …

Hors-Piste Universal Anxiety Prevention Program In American High Schools: A One Group Pre-Test/Post-Test Quantitative Study, Lucia Poole

Dissertations

Anxiety disorders are one of the most common types of psychiatric disorders and have been on the rise since the COVID-19 pandemic. Anxiety disorders disrupt the daily lives of young people and are associated with a risk of anxiety and depression in adulthood. Anxiety disorders in adolescents interfere with the daily lives of students and often result in a decline in academic performance. There is a pressing need to implement universal anxiety prevention programs in students' main environment, the school. Along with academics, student mental health should be a top priority for school leaders. School leaders are tasked with implementing …

Improve Exclusive Breastfeeding Rates Through Early Breastfeeding Initiation, Camille Chua

Dissertations

Exclusive breastfeeding can be challenging to maintain. At the project site there was an inconsistent process for breastfeeding support, so an evidence-based solution was sought. The purpose of this quantitative, quasi-experimental quality improvement project was to determine if or to what degree the implementation of the World Health Organization (WHO) Guideline’s Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI) Step Four would impact exclusive breastfeeding rates (EBFRs) when compared to current practice among adult postpartum patients in an acute care hospital in Southern California over four weeks. Nola Pender’s middle-range nursing theory utilizing the health promotion model (HPM), and Kurt Lewin’s change theory provided …

Undergraduate Nursing Students' Test Anxiety And Performance Based On Testing Time Limits, Miranda E. Knapp

Dissertations

Test anxiety is a debilitating problem for many prelicensure nursing students. Effects of test anxiety can result in poor academic performance, inability to complete programs or pass license exams, and ultimately contributes to nursing shortages. Faculty-based methods to decrease nursing students’ test anxiety levels have not been thoroughly explored. Testing time limit suggestions vary significantly from one minute per question to more than two minutes per question. The effects of different testing time limits on test anxiety levels, testing duration, and testing performance has not been studied.

How Teachers And Students Create And Experience Social Presence Through Community Building And Self-Disclosure In Middle School Synchronous Online Learning Environments: A Qualitative Case Study, Jennifer Trail

Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative case study was to investigate middle school teachers’ and students’ attitudes toward online learning, and more specifically how they created and experienced social presence. To date, there has been promising research conducted on the achievability and the effects of social presence in postsecondary online learning. However, there is a practical knowledge gap in the literature regarding how middle school students and teachers experience social presence. This is problematic due to the increasing number of K-12 students enrolling in online learning and because strong student-teacher relationships are necessary to meet the emotional needs of middle schoolers …

Conceptions Of Latinos And Latinas About The Grieving Process And Associate Concepts Of Dying, Death, Bereavement, And Loss: A Covid-19-Post-Pandemic Case Study, Rosario Garcia Ortiz

Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to recognize the grieving process and the related concepts of Latinos who lost a loved one to the COVID-19 pandemic. Death and dying have been studied in the United States, with limited studies focusing on the Latino culture. The COVID-19 pandemic was a devastating experience for the world and continues to be studied for understanding and lessons in the aftermath. This research included four participants from the Latino culture who lost a loved one during the COVID-19 pandemic. An inductive approach and data analysis were used to form theoretical constructs. Three main categories were …

Structural Behavior Of Corroded Reinforced Concrete Beam Elements Repaired With Fabric-Reinforced Matrix Composites, Youssef Ibrahim Elmezayen

Dissertations

Advanced methods for rehabilitation of reinforced concrete (RC) beams with corroded reinforcement were designed and implemented in this research. The nonlinear flexural and shear behaviors of RC beams with corroded reinforcement repaired with fabric-reinforced matrix (FRM) composites were investigated. Numerical simulation models were developed to predict the flexural response of flexure-deficient continuous RC beams before and after repair with FRM composites. A novel sustainable repair solution that involves the use of cement-free geopolymeric matrix reinforced with nonmetallic fabrics was also introduced for rehabilitation of shear-critical RC beams with corroded stirrups. Simplified and easy-to-use analytical approaches were adopted to estimate the …

The Implementation Of Stream In Mathematics Classrooms In Abu Dhabi Primary Schools: Prospects, Priorities, Processes, And Problems, Nadeia Rashed Alalawi

Dissertations

This study shed light on implementing science, technology, reading and writing, engineering, art, and mathematics (STREAM) in mathematics classrooms in Abu Dhabi primary schools. The study aimed to explore mathematics teachers’ views on the prospects, priorities, processes, and problems of the implementation of STREAM in their classrooms. The study employed qualitative methods to collect and analyze data to support the findings using interviews, classroom observations, and document analysis. Fifteen in-service mathematics teachers were interviewed to explore their views about the application of STREAM in their classrooms regarding prospects, priorities, processes, and problems (4 Ps). Then, three of them were observed …

Optimizing Photoacoustic Imaging With Advanced Reconstruction Techniques: Compressive Sensing And Deep Learning, Mary Anjaley Josy

Dissertations

Photoacoustic Tomography (PAT) is a noninvasive medical imaging technique that combines the advantages of optical imaging and ultrasonic detection, offering deep tissue visualization with high resolution. Despite its potential, the effectiveness of PAT is dependent on the accuracy and efficiency of the underlying imaging algorithms. This thesis aims to enhance the resolution and speed of PAT imaging through the integration of compressive sensing (CS) and deep learning techniques, targeting both full-view and limited-view sensor configurations. Two model-based CS iterative algorithms are developed: relaxed-basis pursuit via alternating direction method of multipliers (rBP-ADMM), and split Bregman total variation (SBTV) formulation. Additionally, Plug-and-Play …

The United Arab Emirates Birth Cohort Study: A Pilot Examination Of Maternal And Infant Health Outcomes, Sharon Mutare

Dissertations

The first 1,000 days of life represent a critical window for influencing optimal fetal growth and establishing lifelong health foundations. Recent evidence underscores the significant association between maternal health and nutrition during this period and the subsequent risk of non-communicable diseases, which are responsible for 74% of global deaths. Despite the rapid globalization and urbanization experienced in the United Arab Emirates in recent years, there remains a paucity of research on how maternal health and nutrition impact perinatal outcomes among Emirati women.
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Trauma-Informed Teaching In Uae Schools: Investigating Teachers’ Experiences And The Effect Of A Cognitive Behavioral Intervention For Students Affected By Trauma, Hadeel Mohsen Saleh

Dissertations

This study explores UAE teachers’ experiences and knowledge regarding trauma-informed teaching and assesses the effectiveness of a cognitive-behavioral intervention for two elementary school students with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in a general classroom setting. It also examines parents’ perceptions before and after the intervention. The study addresses two primary concerns: 1) the preparedness of UAE teachers to support trauma-affected students in schools, and 2) the efficacy of a targeted cognitive-behavioral intervention aimed at improving students' emotional regulation and behavioral outcomes. Using an exploratory sequential design, qualitative data from seven semi-structured interviews with UAE teachers revealed a significant gap in training …