Digital Commons Network^™

A Study Of Kindergarten Through Eighth-Grade Teachers’ Perceptions Of The Impact Gender Plays On Students Involved In Divorce, Amanda Lukefahr

Dissertations

This mixed-methods study examined the perceptions of kindergarten through eighth-grade teachers on the impact gender had on the academics and behavioral performance of students from divorced settings. The researcher electronically contacted 332 kindergarten through eighth-grade educators from Mid-Missouri. Out of the 332 teachers, 84 chose to complete the on-line survey, Perceptions of Children of Divorce, consisting of 34 Likert-scale items and four open-ended questions. Based on the findings, the researcher determined kindergarten through eighth-grade teachers perceived the gender of the child from a divorced situation influenced the academics and behavioral performance. In addition, teachers perceived there to be more behavioral …

The Importance Of Responsiveness: Improving Health-Related Outcomes Among Ostomates, Carrie Reif

Dissertations

More than 750,000 individuals in the United States live with an ostomy appliance, and additional 130,000 patients undergo ostomy surgery each year (United Ostomy Association of America, 2018). Although a life-saving procedure, patients confront significant physical (e.g., bowel routine and activity levels) and emotional (e.g., poor body image and depression) challenges that impede the adjustment process. When faced with health-related threats, the transactional action model of stress and coping argues that patients use strategies, such as seeking support, to effectively cope. However, because of perceptions of felt and enacted stigma and health-related uncertainty, some patients conceal ostomy-related issues and limit …

Differences In Treatment Utilization Between Fee Paying And Non-Fee Paying Clients In A Counseling Training Clinic, Katherine E. Sammons

Dissertations

Freud’s writings and cognitive dissonance theories assume that paying a fee for mental health services is necessary for client motivation to progress through treatment; however, empirical study has failed to support this assertion. Regular client utilization (as measured by total number of sessions, number of cancellations, and persistence through a planned termination session) is correlated with improved client treatment outcome and is essential for providing counselors-in-training with the opportunity to practice and demonstrate counseling skills. Prior literature illustrates that counseling training clinics may experience premature termination at a greater rate than other outpatient settings due to two primary issues: (a) …

Nevertheless They Persisted: Youth Formerly In Foster Care Who Have Experienced Trauma And Their Journey To Postsecondary Education, Kristin Janine Myers

Dissertations

It is estimated that approximately 60% of children have experienced some form of trauma in their lifetime (Wiest-Stevenson & Lee, 2016). Research in the last 20 years has shown the impact of childhood trauma on human development, social development, and learning, and yet, there is very little literature in school counseling about this topic (Perry, 2001, 2006). School counselors play in essential role in identifying barriers that impede students from receiving a high-quality education (American School Counselor Association [ASCA], 2012), and are charged with reducing the educational attainment gap for the students they serve (Milsom & McCormick, 2015). There are …

Vocal Jazz In The Choral Classroom: A Pedagogical Study, Lara Marie Moline

Dissertations

The history of the vocal jazz ensemble began with popular groups such as The Boswell Sisters, The Pied Pipers, and The Four Freshman during the late 1920 to 1940s. This new vocal style brought about a unique aspect of the jazz idiom in that it expanded upon the vocal jazz style by creating tight harmonies within a group of vocalists that were often only heard within an instrumental jazz big band. Fast-forward to current groups like The New York Voices, The Real Group, The Swingle Singers, and Manhattan Transfer, and the vocal jazz ensemble has become a worldwide phenomenon. Vocal …

The Lived Experience Of Underrepresented Pre-Nursing Students: An Exploration To Diversify The Nursing Workforce, Katie Bagley

Dissertations

Understanding about the experience of underrepresented students making the decision to choose nursing as a career would improve the ability of nursing programs to recruit applicants from a more diverse background. The purpose of this research was to explore the experience of underrepresented students who are considering nursing as a career but have not yet applied to a nursing program. This research was conducted using a descriptive phenomenological research method. Thirteen participants participated in the study. The participant interviews were interpreted as an expression of pre-nursing students from racially or ethnically underrepresented backgrounds who are feeling they are in a …

First-Generation Community College Transfer Students’ Perceptions Of Building A Sense Of Belonging And Its Subsequent Impact On University Retention, Tara E. Benson

Dissertations

Although attendance numbers are rising in both populations, transfer students and firstgeneration students have lower retention and completion rates (Bonet & Walters, 2016; Seider, Clark, & Soutter, 2015). All students, specifically first-generation and transfer students, have a better chance of succeeding if they feel they are academically and socially integrated into the university setting (Seider et al., 2015; Williams & Ferrari, 2015). The purpose of this study was to examine the success gap between firstgeneration transfer students and continuing generation community college transfer students who attend one Midwest university. The mixed methods study included an analysis of quantitative data of …

Student Conduct Officers’ Perceptions Of Restorative Practices Based On Educational And Professional Background, Gregroy William Robert Weaver

Dissertations

Student conduct officers have the ability to provide learning and growth opportunities for every student with whom they interact (Hyde, 2014; Jackson, 2014). It is important that student conduct officers be willing and able to utilize an array of tools, including alternative dispute resolution techniques to provide learning experiences (Bennett, Gregory, Loschiavo, & Waller, 2014; Clark, 2014; Hyde, 2014; Waryold & Lancaster, 2008). The educational and professional experiences of the student conduct officer vary, as many institutions employ conduct officers with an educational background and others employ conduct officers with a more formal legal background (Hyde, 2014; Jackson, 2014). In …

Psychological Well-Being In College: The Role Of Parental Meta-Emotion Philosophy And Romantic Relationships, Lyndsey Marie Evans

Dissertations

According to recent research, numerous components of psychological well-being have indicated Americans are struggling psychologically. Given that psychological well-being has a bidirectional and, in some cases, a predictive relationship with various environmental factors, this study sought to discover the “missing link” of psychological well-being. In doing so, this study organized parental meta-emotion philosophy, emotion expression, romantic relationship satisfaction, and psychological well-being into unique measurement and structural models. Correlations, t-tests and structural equation modeling conducted on a sample of 167 indicated emotion-coaching and psychological well-being were significantly related to romantic relationship satisfaction. Further, emotionally-dismissive parenting was significantly related to emotion expression …

Strategies That Mothers Of Children Who Are Deafblind Employ To Foster Collaboration Within Individualized Education Program Teams, Lanya Lynn Mckittrick

Dissertations

Although active parent involvement is mandated as part of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), parents continue to report dissatisfaction with IEP meetings. Despite increases in parent participation policy since the adoption of IDEA, the parent-professional partnership originally envisioned by lawmakers is arguably not consistent with practice. This is evident for families of all children who represent the thirteen disability categories covered under the auspice of IDEA; however, because of its uniqueness, this study focuses on families of children who are deafblind. Deafblindness is a low-incidence disability with a heterogenous population. Parents of children who are deafblind have unique …

Examining The Effectiveness Of A Basic Functional Behavior Assessment Training Package On Special Education Teachers In Thailand: A Replication Study, Weeramol Locharoenrat

Dissertations

Challenging behaviors are one of the basic problems that all pre- and in-service teachers have to be prepared to deal with in schools. In Thailand, it was found that challenging behaviors of students with disabilities had an effect on teachers’ stress because many teachers perceived that they were lacking the knowledge and skills to deal with these problems. The primary purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a modified version of a basic functional assessment (FBA) training package developed by Loman and Horner (2014) on increasing the knowledge and skills of Thai special education teachers with respect …

Supervision Of Sex Counseling In Counselor Education: A Phenomenological Study From A Sex Positive And Multiculturally Sensitive Perspective, Reka K. Farago

Dissertations

While existing literature indicates the importance of supervision in counselor training (Bernard & Goodyear; 2003; Harris & Hayes, 2008; Lofrisco, 2013) and counseling efficacy with sexual topics (Bidell, 2005; Harris & Hayes, 2008), counselor educators’ role with supervising client sexual issues is unknown. Currently, 50% of American Counseling Association (ACA) members report uncertainty in how to address sexual concerns with clients (Blount, Booth, Webb, & Liles, 2017). As supervision is paramount in counselor training (Bernard & Goodyear, 2003) and Counselors in Training (CITs) increasingly inquire about working with sexual topics, a study in supervisor experiences with sexual topics is timely. …

The Resilience Within: Perspectives From Adults Supporting Foster Children, Andrea Ellen Alvarado

Dissertations

The goal of this qualitative multicase study was to obtain a better understanding of resiliency in placement stable foster children through interviews with significant supportive adults. Case studies were centered on six foster children associated with a child welfare agency in a Rocky Mountain region. Children ranged in age from 5 to 15 years old and lived in foster-to-adopt placements. Information was gathered from the foster parent(s) and the social worker of each child, with a total of 7 foster parents and 4 social workers interviewed. Both within-case and cross-case analyses were conducted using a phenomenological approach to identify common …

Social Media As A Primary Means For Parent Involvement In Missouri Rural Schools: Secondary School Principals’ And Superintendents’ Perceptions, Justin Paul Copley

Dissertations

With a lack of research regarding the viability of social media use as a tool for learning in K-12 education, administrators are struggling to determine if this technology belongs in school settings (Piotrowski, 2015). Educators who have not reviewed current perceptions regarding technology may not use appropriate technology practices with students (Dietze & Kashin, 2013). Furthermore, since social media and technology use is an expected practice in classrooms, the responsibility of attending to this growing trend is assumed by school administration (Piotrowski, 2015). The purpose of this study was to identify the perceptions of school administrators in regard to social …

Integration Of Mindfulness-Based Approaches In The Treatment Of Eating Disorders: A Review Of The Literature, Kimberly Hubinger

Dissertations

In this literature review, mindfulness-based approaches and the effects mindfulness-based approaches have on the treatment of eating disorders was discussed. Professionals are continually seeking ways to enhance the treatment and improve outcomes when working with individuals suffering from eating disorders, and this literature review could help enhance the understanding of incorporating mindfulness techniques. The findings of this paper are meant to benefit clinicians working with patients diagnosed or struggling with an eating disorder.

English As A Second Language: Adult Programs And Their Impact On Second Language Learners’ Aspirations, Hala Gheriani

Dissertations

Over the years, millions of immigrants have made the trek to the United States to start a new life away from the known and the familiar (Lopez, Bialik, & Radford, 2017). English as a Second Language (ESL) centers are often the first formal introduction to the English language, and many immigrants will wait on long waiting lists for the chance to learn proper English and, therefore, ascend to a future identity sometimes years in the making (Jhangiani, Tarry, & Stangor, 2015; National Council of State Directors of Adult Education, 2016). The purpose of this study was to investigate, through a …

The Use Of Clinical Decision Support To Improve Nursing Practice, Kathleen Klimpel

Dissertations

Healthcare information technology is solidly entrenched in most acute care hospitals but the need to demonstrate its positive impact on patient outcomes persists. Clinical decision support (CDS) is an informatics tool that is highly customizable to promote patient improvement activities. Despite its high potential, studies have had mixed results regarding the impact of CDS and it has not been widely studied in the realm of nursing practice. One aim of this dissertation was to analyze the concept of CDS in order to inform the examination of the relationships between CDS implementation and nursing interventions. The determining factors of nurses use …

Moderating Effect Of Homeschooling On Retention And Academic Achievement Of Stem Majors At A Private, Faith-Based, Liberal Arts College, Aresia Watson

Dissertations

Previous research has indicated that homeschooling is a growing trend within the U.S. Previous research has also indicated that less than one half of students who begin a STEM major at postsecondary institutions will complete their degree. This study sought to look at the possible moderating effect homeschooling has on the academic achievement and retention of STEM majors at a private, faith-based liberal arts college using a modified version of Tinto’s Model of Student Departure.

Independent sample t-tests were used to compare means and intercorrelations of homeschooled students and traditionally schooled students in unmatched and matched samples for several academic …

A Study Of Beluga (Delphinapterus Leucas) Vocal Ontogeny, Audra Elizabeth Ames

Dissertations

There is a shortage of literature regarding beluga (Delphinapterus leucas) vocal ontogeny, as presently, there has only been one published study on the vocal development of beluga calves, despite the value of ontogenetic studies for our understanding of sound-centered species. Here I offer the second longitudinal study of beluga vocal development. Using a calibrated digital hydrophone with a sampling rate of 256 kHz, I studied the vocal progression of a male beluga calf in early life. From his first day, the calf produced broadband pulse trains with upper frequency limits extending past the study’s Nyquist frequency (128 kHz); …

Suspended Sediment And Particulate Matter Transport In Mississippi Sound And Bight Assessed With Physical Modeling, Remote Sensing And In Situ Measurements, Stephan O'Brien

Dissertations

Tidal passes between Mississippi Sound (MS Sound) and Mississippi Bight (MS Bight) act as a transport pathway for the exchange of estuarine discharge and suspended particulate matter. A better understanding of sediment and particulate matter exchange can provide insights into turbidity, nutrient supply and aquatic ecosystem health for the region. This work examined the effects of different forcing factors (e.g. wind and tides) on the advection of suspended sediments and particulate matter in the study area. Fieldwork included particle size distribution, Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (ADCP) and conductivity-temperature-depth measurements in the MS Sound and MS Bight from summer 2015 through …

The Effects Of Exercise Training On Cachexia In Mice Bearing The Colon-26 Carcinoma, Nicole Wood

Dissertations

Colon cancer is third the most prevalent cancer in the United States in both men and women. However, it is also a largely preventable disease, as colorectal cancer (CRC) risk is increased by environmental factors such as poor diet and physical inactivity. Furthermore, CRC patients are highly susceptible to significant muscle wasting. Cachexia is classified as a multifactorial metabolic syndrome associated with impairments in immune function, fatigue, and overall weakness, that lead to increased morbidity and mortality. To date, multiple studies have shown that both aerobic and resistance training, individually, are highly effective in their ability to attenuate the deleterious …

Current Perspectives On The Gestalt Of Nursing Curricula, Brandi Lynne Venvertloh

Dissertations

This research study aimed to investigate the current gestalt of the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) curricula in the United States. Presently there is an emphasis in nursing education on the practice–education gap in order to ensure new graduate Registered Nurses are adequately prepared for entry into practice in a dynamic and complex healthcare environment. There has also been movement in nursing education to remove nursing theory from BSN curriculum guiding frameworks and replace them with essential educational standards. The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological research study was to explore the lived experiences and perspectives of faculty curriculum leaders …

Effectiveness Of Simulation In Addressing Stigma, Sundeep Kaur Varaich

Dissertations

Mental health stigma hinders quality nursing care. The aim of this quasi-experimental study was to test if simulation was effective for addressing stigma in nursing education and evaluating student attitudes towards psychiatric conditions. A sample of eight-nine undergraduate nursing students were assigned to a control or treatment group and participated in either a chronic health challenge scenario or a mental health scenario to test the effectiveness of using a mental health simulation to address stigmatizing attitudes. Day’s Mental Illness Stigma Scale was used as the data collection tool for the post-test to measure students’ stigmatizing perceptions in relation to their …

Developing Support Mechanisms For Comprehensive School Physical Activity Program Leaders, Peter Teake Stoepker

Dissertations

In this dissertation, support mechanisms for comprehensive school physical activity program (CSPAP) leaders were investigated. In the first study, a systematic review was completed that explored the effectiveness of CSPAP professional development/training. In total, 8,982 records were screened and two articles matched the eligibility criteria and were included within the review. One study examined effectiveness using qualitative methods (Centeio, Erwin, & Castelli, 2014) and the other using quantitative methods (Carson, Castelli, Pulling Kugh, et al., 2014). Due to the limited number of articles that met the search criteria, it can be concluded that there is limited evidence to fully understand …

Effects Of Teacher Attitudes On Academic Growth And Connectedness For Students With Learning Disabilities: A Quantitative Case Study, Emily Ellen Moulton

Dissertations

The purpose of this quantitative case study was to explore several variables for students with specific learning disabilities (SLDs) and their teachers at the elementary level with a large local school district. I wanted to examine the relationship between teacher perceptions of students with SLDs, academic growth, and school connectedness for this subgroup of students, along with the demographic school characteristics. Existing school-level data were examined, including growth for students with disabilities on state and district assessments of skills in both literacy and math, along with the results of the district’s School Connections Survey (SCS). A newly developed measure of …

Child Maltreatment And Physical Health In Emerging Adulthood: Relationships With Physical Activity And Health Risk Behaviors, Susannah Marie Moore

Dissertations

Child maltreatment is highly associated with physical health problems throughout the lifespan (Schafer, Morton, & Ferraro, 2014; Springer, Sheridan, Kuo, & Carnes, 2007). Yet much is still unknown regarding the trajectory of health problems including the onset of health risk indicators in emerging adulthood. Emerging adulthood also represents a unique timeframe with little demand for healthy behaviors. There is evidence that child maltreatment increases the involvement in health-risk behaviors such as substance use, risky sex, and binge eating (Downey, Gudmunson, Pang, & Lee, 2017; Röhr et al., 2015). The primary purpose of the current study was to examine if emerging …

Together We Move: Exploring Belonging, Basic Psychological Need Satisfaction And Motivational Factors In A Socially Structured University Physical Activity Program, Jessica B. Kirby

Dissertations

Emerging adulthood is a critical developmental life stage for individuals to establish healthy behaviors that enhance wellbeing, including quality relationships and physical activity (PA) engagement. Institutions of higher education are positioned to influence and support the development of these developmental tasks in emerging adults enrolled on their respective campuses. The purpose of this mixed methods study was to explore experiences of belonging, basic psychological need satisfaction (BNS) in PAbased social relationships, and motives to participate in a socially structured PA program among emerging adults on a university campus. Participants: University students who participated in the Fitness Buddies (FB) program (n=10), …

Exploring Successful Partnerships Between Teachers Of Students Who Are Deaf Or Hard Of Hearing And General Education Classroom Teachers, Brittney L. Dorn

Dissertations

The field of deaf education has moved from a direct service model to a primarily indirect service model. This means that teachers of students who are deaf or hard of hearing (TSDHH) increasingly work with school staff as well as with students. However, many TSDHH report feeling unprepared for the consultative aspect of their role, for which training may have been limited during their preparation program. This qualitative study used appreciative inquiry to study what is working in TSDHH and classroom teacher partnerships. Five dyads were selected through a two-step nomination process. The 10 selected teachers (general education classroom teachers …

Blooming Where One Is Planted: Understanding Flourishing Among Rural Nurses, Marnee Lynne Crawford

Dissertations

The reality of the challenges experienced in rural hospital-based care leave sparsely populated areas to face critical losses in nurses and healthcare services within already underserved regions of the nation. Nursing education is uniquely poised to serve as a mitigating agent against shortages in rural nursing workforce by preparing rural graduates to bloom where they are planted. This qualitative interpretive phenomenological research study explored the meaning of human flourishing as it is lived among rural nurses in the northwest region of Wyoming. The research was framed using social constructivism and the lens of rural nursing theory. Data were collected and …

Acute Care Nurses’ Attitudes Toward Nursing Students With Disabilities, Kristy Lynn Calloway

Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to describe acute care nurses’ attitudes toward nursing students with disabilities, how these attitudes were impacted by the acute care culture, and what significance they had for behavior. No studies have been done within the United States in relation to attitudes acute care nurses hold toward nursing students with disabilities practicing and learning in their clinical settings. In this focused ethnography, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 20 acute care nurses who had at least two years’ experience precepting nursing students. While exploring acute care nurses’ attitudes toward nursing students with disabilities, six themes emerged: …