Digital Commons Network^™

Employee Experiences With Leaders’ Influence On Autonomous Motivation: A Mixed Methods Study, Melissa Wheat

Dissertations

Organizational performance and success require employee motivation (Delaney & Royal, 2017; Devarapalli & Hinkes, 2016; Good et al., 2022; Howard et al., 2016; Mohamud et al., 2017; Olafsen et al., 2018; Ryan & Deci, 2017; Van den Broeck et al., 2021; Wiley, 1997). However, organizational leaders fail to effectively motivate employees to engage in the workplace and achieve high performance (Delaney & Royal, 2017; Fisher, 2009; Good et al., 2022; J. D. Jensen, 2018; Pappas, 2021; Webb, 2007; Workers Are Motivated by Different Drivers and Needs, 2022). This study explored employee experiences with leaders’ influence on autonomous motivation to …

Exploring Local Elected Officials' Capacity To Govern Effectively, Mario King

Dissertations

A successful local government exemplifies inclusivity, innovation, and deliberate decision-making, all advancing responsible management of taxpayers' resources. In this qualitative investigation, a phenomenological approach is employed to delve into the lived experiences of local elected officials. The aim of this study was to gain insights into the capacity of these local elected officials for success in governance. Subsequently, the insights from these local elected officials' experiences are harnessed to evaluate their influence and impact on municipal performance.

The management of municipal performance encompasses the provision of social services, the maintenance of fiscal operations, and adherence to statutory obligations (Avellaneda, 2008). …

Perceptions Of Stress In Community Clinic Nurses During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Jomeka Smith

Dissertations

The COVID-19 pandemic is one of the largest healthcare crises that has affected the entire healthcare industry. Community health nurses in the front-line roles are greatly threatened by the COVID-19 pandemic that has decimated healthcare systems. The well-being of nurses is vital to perform their full potential of adequate patient care. Increased demands and pandemic related stressors can increase the risk of mental health problems. Nurses work in a variety of healthcare settings, however, the expectations, the fear of the unknown, and changes in demands have largely contributed to the unprecedented stressors that accompany nurses in clinical settings. Stress among …

Navajo Folk Elements In Sandpaintings For Piano By Connor Chee, Le Bai

Dissertations

Sandpainting is an art form that exists among the Navajo and Pueblo

Indians and is valued for religious reasons due to its connection with healing ailing individuals. Originally, the sacred sandpaintings were not allowed to be used or created outside of a healing ceremony, because, similar to a musical performance, they only existed during the ritual itself.

Connor Chee (b. 1987) is a Navajo pianist and composer renowned for

fusing classical piano training with his Native American heritage. Chee composed Sandpaintings for Piano in 2021 (revised in 2022), which is based on sandpainting from Navajo culture.

This document discusses Navajo …

The Leadership Experience Of Academic Chief Nurse Administrators In The State Of Georgia During The Covid-19 Pandemic Upon Return To Campus After Full Virtual Instruction: A Qualitative Study, Susie Jonassen

Dissertations

The impact of the COVID-19 global pandemic has been rated as the highest factor of intent to leave the profession in nurses serving in a leadership role. During the pandemic, crisis leadership swept across academia partly because nursing academia was not prepared for the rapid transition to virtual instruction. The reopening of nursing programs, while pandemic restrictions were still required, caused unprecedented disruptions and stress for academic leaders. One-third of nursing faculty anticipate retirement within the next two years. With the present burnout and shortage of nursing academia leaders, there was a need to explore the lived experience of academic …

Diversifying Piano Pedagogy: A Comparative Study Of Brazilian Piano Works And Established Piano Methods, Helber Fernandes Ribeiro

Dissertations

Effectively teaching piano is a highly intricate task due to the diverse backgrounds, personalities, and learning approaches students might possess. Nonetheless, their learning process could be enhanced through the implementation of a diverse and adaptable pedagogical plan that caters to the specific goals and needs of each student. In light of this, the purpose of this study was to contribute to the existing body of pedagogical piano literature by offering supplementary resources to piano teachers. Therefore, this research aimed to assist piano teachers in navigating the unique characteristics of each student. This objective was accomplished by means of a thorough …

Sounds Of Nature: A Jazz Suite For Saxophone And Orchestra, Matteo Sabattini

Dissertations

The rhythmic feature of odd meters is one of the most important characteristics of contemporary jazz music. However, odd meters are not often used in the saxophone and orchestra repertoire. Therefore, in this study, I aimed to write an original suite Sounds of Nature for saxophone and a large ensemble that incorporated aspects of jazz, classical, and improvisation with odd meters and changing meters. This study was unfolded into two parts. The first part was composing the suite in three movements. The second part was discussing and analyzing the odd meters of my composition. I first researched and analyzed music …

Adaptive Instruction Through Reflection: How Preservice Teachers Create And Implement Individualized Literacy Lessons In A University Reading Center, Jennifer Marie Lennon

Dissertations

Modern classrooms are increasingly diverse. Students vary in their academic abilities, personal interests, cultural and linguistic backgrounds, and previous experiences (Allen et al., 2013). To meet the varied needs of students, educators must adapt their instruction so all are able to find success. Modifying lesson plans and changing instruction based on student needs are forms of adaptive instruction (Hoffman & Duffy, 2016; Vaughn, 2019). This study explored the metacognitive processes of preservice teachers (PSTs) as they implemented adaptive instruction within their literacy lessons in a university reading center tutoring program. Adaptive instruction was examined through two lenses: first, as PSTs …

The Impact Of Perceived Principal Efficacy On Instructional Growth Through The Evaluation Protocol, John Richard Thompson Iii

Dissertations

The goal of this study was to investigate the impact of the perception of principal efficacy on instructional growth. The research questions examined what factors determine the perception of principal efficacy, how those perceptions impact instructional feedback during the evaluation process, and how they impact teacher growth. Data were collected in two stages. First, a survey was distributed to all K-12 teachers from a rural Southwest Missouri athletic conference. Participants completed the survey to provide qualitative information on the impacts of the perception of principal efficacy. Stage two consisted of follow-up interviews with the participants who indicated they were willing …

Psychology In A Podcast Context: Do Brand Personality Perceptions And Social Nudges Explain Consumers’ Behavioral Intentions To Subscribe To Breaking Points?, Stephen D. Berry

Dissertations

Two psychological variables are of interest in the study of consumers: brand personality perceptions (per social cognition, beliefs that brands exhibit human-like attributes) and nudges (per behavioral economics, an attempt to influence behavioral change that benefits the consumer without taking away their right to choose). However, no known research exists about whether these variables explain behavioral intentions to consume podcasts, specifically. This is relevant because perceptions of mass media brands are historically negative, and consumers increasingly seek out independent media (e.g., Breaking Points). Therefore, this dissertation’s purpose was to use Breaking Points as an example to study the influence of …

Examining Psychological Capital, Leader–Member Exchange, And Doctoral Student Connectedness, Regina Fowler Spiers

Dissertations

According to Young et al. (2019), doctoral programs in the United States in math, science, engineering, and humanities have a 36–51% attrition rate. Rigler et al. (2017) suggest that online doctoral students' attrition rates average between 50–70%. According to the International Affairs Office ([IAO]; 2020), the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) is the highest academic degree in the United States. Universities award the degree to students who complete coursework to become a PhD candidate before completing and defending an independent research project, or dissertation (IAO, 2020). Relationship quality between PhD candidates and their supervisors is the most common research finding associated …

A Qualitative Study Of Redemptive Intelligence And The Leader’S Opportunity To Grow Performance Through Failure, Jonathan Eastman

Dissertations

This is a qualitative study about the redemptive intelligence of successful leaders and their opportunity to grow their personal and team performance through failure. Leaders who have a strong ability to leverage failures for improved performance for self and team, exhibit high levels of redemptive intelligence. Leaders who have a weak ability to leverage failures for improved performance for self and team, exhibit low levels of redemptive intelligence. After failure happens there are one of three paths that everyone will follow. They are first, a path to improved performance than what was experienced before the failure. Second, a return to …

A Holistic Approach To Leadership Development And Self-Efficacy For Frontline Managers, Alberta Green

Dissertations

According to Clifton and Harter (2019), managers determine an organization’s success. Specifically, managers determine 70% of worker engagement. Researchers (Bandura, 1997; Dwyer, 2019) have associated self-efficacy with leadership strengths. As such, frontline managers (FLMs) need holistic leadership development (HLD) training in the four leadership domains—analytic, conceptual, emotional, and spiritual—to improve their competencies and bolster their self-efficacy (Clifton & Harter, 2019; Ward, 2018). Integrative leadership development models that prioritize organizational resources through holistic leadership development offer a modern approach to addressing FLMs’ leadership skill development and self-efficacy (Guidi et al., 2018). According to Bandura (1997), self-efficacy is how individuals evaluate their …

Demographics And Status Of The Eastern Woodrat In Southern Illinois, Tiffanie Atherton

Dissertations

The objectives of this study were to: (1) quantify levels of genetic intermixing in remnant Illinois eastern woodrat populations augmented with Ozark woodrats, and (2) assess genetic health and population viability in remnant and reintroduced woodrat populations. This dissertation is arranged into 3 chapters. DNA extractions, microsatellite genotyping, and mtDNA haplotype sequencing were conducted for individuals from the western Shawnee National Forest (WSNF) (i.e., LaRue Pine Hills [LPH], Fountain Bluff, Horseshoe Bluff), eastern Arkansas (AR), southern Missouri (MO), and 5 locations in the eastern Shawnee National Forest (ESNF), Illinois. Genetic data provided a strong signal in STRUCTURE which confirmed MO, …

Experimental And Theoretical Investigations Of Novel 2d Magnet Heterostructures And Magnetic Thin Films, Stephen Hofer

Dissertations

Since the first usage of magnets as navigation tools, magnetism has been an integral part of human technology. As such, with increased demand for more sophisticated technologies, the need to understand magnetism and its applications has also increased. In modern times, the focus of new technologies is on scalability, or how things behave on the smallest scales. To this end it is necessary to understand the fundamental and practical behaviors of magnetic materials at this limit. Recent discoveries in the field of true 2D magnets and the field of topological matter demands investigation of the intersection between these two fields. …

Teacher Evaluations, Pbis Implementation, And Student Outcomes, Kasey Catherine Keith Boyd

Dissertations

This study explored the relationship between the Mississippi Department of Education’s (MDE) Professional Growth System school-wide Teacher Growth Rubric (TGR) score averages by standard and student academic and behavioral outcomes (i.e. state assessment scores, discipline referrals, suspensions, attendance.). The study also examined the relationship among Schoolwide Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (SWPBIS) implementation fidelity, MDE TGR scores, and student outcomes. Twenty-seven schools were selected to participate in the study. Fifteen of the schools were implementing with fidelity during the 2021-2022 school year, as measured by the Tiered Fidelity Inventory (TFI), and twelve schools were not implementing SWPBIS during the 2021-2022 …

Development Of Nursing Clinical Judgment Using Lasater’S Clinical Judgment Rubric, Hollyanne Heaton Springer

Dissertations

Nursing clinical judgment is evident when multiple complex decisions are made quickly resulting in positive patient health outcomes (Lasater, 2007; Tanner, 2006). Patient safety is dependent on effective nursing clinical judgment but this skill has been declining among new graduate nurses, resulting in only 9% demonstrating entry-level competency in 2020 (Kavanagh & Sharpnack, 2021). To mitigate this decline, nurse educators need to develop methods to teach this skill with increased effectiveness. Tanner’s (2006) clinical judgment model described four cognitions of clinical judgment. Lasater’s (2007) clinical judgment rubric (LCJR) was developed to build on this model and provide leveled language in …

Examining Middle Eastern Influences On Jazz In The 1950s And 1960s, Sopon Suwannakit

Dissertations

During the 1950s and 1960s, amidst the backdrop of the Cold War, the influences of Middle Eastern music on jazz became more pronounced. In a strategic move, the U.S. State Department dispatched jazz musicians to the Middle East to promote the genre. This initiative inadvertently led these ambassadors of jazz to bring back and incorporate Middle Eastern musical elements into their craft. Today, the echoes of the Middle East are prominently heard in jazz, evident in melodic structures, rhythms, instruments, and beyond. Yet, despite its profound impact, the Middle Eastern music influence remains underacknowledged in jazz circles. This research delves …

Pedagogical Approaches To Polytempor- Ality And Form Process In György Ligeti’S Études Pour Piano, Premier Livre, Dielan Wu

Dissertations

The first book of Études pour piano is the only cycle considered by the composer György Ligeti (1923–2006) among his eighteen piano études. The formal classification of the cycle, the six études fail to fit in the term of classical form due to its highly conceptual nature. According to Ligeti’s description on temporal concept in his études, an examination of the temporal issues is in need to decode the complex rhythmic structures from the perceptual perspective. Through the examination of the temporal organization, the Études is a compilation of in non-directed linear processes, and each étude is a self-containment via …

Tiered Behavior Support To Promote Preservice Special Education Teachers’ Use Of Behavior Specific Praise, Kristy Cardillo Hynes

Dissertations

Strong classroom management skills are the foundation of effective teaching and learning. However, most teachers enter the field unprepared to manage classroom behavior. Many teacher preparation programs offer preservice teachers limited coursework and fieldwork experiences focused on developing classroom management practices. The lack of training in classroom management is particularly concerning for preservice special education teachers who not only teach students with high rates of challenging behavior, but also consult, train, and support administrators and colleagues with implementation of classroom management practices. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of tiered behavior support on preservice special education …

Making Meaning Of Multimodalities In Teacher Professional Learning, Jonathan Doane Shaw

Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to better understand multimodal usage in teacher professional learning. Thus, this qualitative phenomenology study was created and executed to better understand how leaders of teacher professional learning understand and implement modes in courses designed for teacher scholarship. Focusing on leader influences, curricular designs, learning ecologies, systemic functional linguistics, and teachers as students, modalities support learning by providing individuality through universal design. Thematic analysis illuminated four main themes and 10 subthemes were identified. The findings are of interest to a wide range of educators-teachers, professional learning leaders, principals, students, and policy makers. My paper discusses …

Gendered Singing Training: A Comparison Of Estelle Liebling And Richard Miller’S Strategies For Teaching Across Fach., Kristi Muzzio

Dissertations

In the classical singing field, vocal Fach is an important part of a singer’s identity. Fach classification is initially assigned by gender and further separated within each gender based on characteristics of sound and appearance. There is significant debate over the similarity of techniques used to teach each Fach. Discussion among singers and the prevalence of publications related to training one specific voice type suggests that there are notable differences in technique across Fach, and by extension, gender. This research compares Richard Miller’s books on soprano, tenor, and baritone voice training with Estelle Liebling’s courses for soprano, mezzo-soprano, tenor, and …

A Conceptual And Applied Analysis Of Treating Severe Problem Behavior And Reducing The Need For Emergency Interventions, James Matthew Nuse

Dissertations

Special education teachers are tasked with ensuring the implementation of a free appropriate public education, which might also include supporting students who demonstrate severe problem behavior (SPB). Often, students with emotional and behavioral disorders are likely to engage in SPB in various forms such as physical aggression and property destruction. While definitions surrounding the term SPB vary, there is a general consensus within the field for interventions to address these types of dangerous behaviors. Unfortunately, students who demonstrate similarly concerning behavior are likely to experience some type of emergency intervention such as physical restraint or seclusion. These practices are problematic …

An Investigation Of State Teacher Licensure Renewal Policies Related To Students With Disabilities, Lindsey Evelyn Hayes

Dissertations

State teacher licensure renewal policies set standards for continued professional practice while promoting ongoing professional learning and growth. The purpose of this study was threefold: to describe the requirements related to students with disabilities (SWDs) in state teacher licensure renewal policies; to explore how states with high-performing SWDs relicensed teachers; and to investigate the relationship between the rigor of relicensure requirements and student achievement. This study investigated the extent to which current state licensure renewal policies encourage the development of expertise and skills that general and special education teachers need to effectively serve students with disabilities. In the first phase …

A Phenomenological Investigation Of The Meaning Making Experiences Of Christian Women Who Had An Abortion, Anne E. Stocker

Dissertations

Whether or not a woman should have an abortion is a hotly debated topic, and little information is known about how women make sense of their abortion experiences. Even less is known about how women make sense of abortion experiences in the context of their religious or spiritual belief system. This qualitative study explores the phenomenon of how women who have had an abortion make meaning of their abortion experience in the context of their Christian identity. This phenomenon was explored via research questions related to a woman’s experience of having both an abortion history and a Christian identity, how …

Early Carbonate Diagenesis Of The Miocene Dam Formation In Southwestern Qatar, Mohammed Al-Musawi

Dissertations

The timing and mechanisms of platform-scale dolomitization have been the subject of a long and contentious scientific debate known as the “dolomite problem.” The current study provides new insights through an investigation of the Miocene mixed carbonate-siliciclastics-evaporites Dam Fm in southwestern Qatar. Petrographical, mineralogical, and geochemical data are integrated from two research cores, the Dam-01 and Dam-02. The Dam Fm provides an ideal site to investigate dolomitization because these rocks are: (i) relatively young, (ii) have not been deeply buried, (iii) exhibit no evidence of diagenetic resetting, and (iv) characterized by alternating meter-scale depositional cycles that help constrain the relative …

Three Essays On International Migration And Remittances, Mir Tanzim Nur Angkur

Dissertations

This dissertation concerns the effects of international migration and remittances. The study explores two pressing issues: child marriages and livelihood strategies and how the receipts of remittances from abroad influence these outcomes. The research objectives and findings of each of the three essays is summarized below:

The first essay, titled “ Do remittances protect against child marriages? The Rohingyas in Bangladesh”, focuses on the role that remittances could play in combating this harmful practice among the displaced Rohingya population. Nearly one million Rohingya refugees have been living in one of the world’s largest refugee camp in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh. I …

National Emergency Department Sample In Geriatric Subsequent Mild Traumatic Brain Injury Visits And Associations With Sex, Falls, Payor, And Discharge Outcomes, Carrie Ann Barrett

Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to explore the variables of sex (male, female), fall mechanism of injury, payor source, and emergency department (ED) discharge outcomes in patients aged >65 who presented with mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) subsequent ED visits.

A secondary data analysis was performed to assess the relationship among the independent and dependent variables listed above. The independent variables were dichotomous for age (>65, < 65), sex (male, female), and fall mechanism of injury (yes, no), and categorical for payor source (Medicare, Medicaid, Private, Other). The ED discharge dependent variables were categorical [home; healthcare services (including skilled nursing facility, home care, and intermediary care)]. Logistic regression analyses were performed to evaluate specific variables that increase the probability of affecting ED discharge outcomes. The software, SPSS v. 28 was used in the statistical calculations. The study was approved by the Western Michigan University Human Subjects Internal Review Board.

Investigation Of Public Trust In Science In Connection With Views About Tentative Nature Of Science And Epistemological Beliefs, Asghar Pervaiz Gill

Dissertations

Trust in science is contested in everyday discourse and decision-making. Science education research and instruction must delve into and contribute to enhancing public trust in science. In this context, nature of science (NOS), and epistemological beliefs (EBs) emerge as closely related research areas highlighting the tentative NOS and uncertain aspects of knowledge, which can potentially influence trust in science. In a series of three interrelated studies, this research explores the public trust in science in relation to NOS views and EBs.

The first study emphasizes the role of science education in building trust among undergraduate chemistry students. It assesses the …

Measuring Multicultural Competence In Counseling, Martha Mae Golubski

Dissertations

Pedersen (1999) described multicultural counseling as the “fourth force” in psychology. The description is used to imply that multiculturalism is the next theory to understand human behavior, complementary to the other three forces: psychodynamic, behavioral, and humanistic explanations. Despite the attention being given to multiculturalism, professional organizations, training institutions, and service providers are still trying to understand what it means to have competency in multicultural counseling. Researchers have made decades of efforts to define and measure multicultural counseling competence; yet, there is still limited data about how multicultural training efforts influence these competencies and how counselor multicultural competency affects clients’ …