Digital Commons Network^™

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: …

How Community College Conduct Administrators Make Meaning Of Their Experience, Meloni Sue Rudolph Crawford

Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to explore how community college conduct administrators make meaning of their experience. This is a qualitative, constructivist, narrative study utilizing multiple methods of data collection (semi-structured interview, focus group, reading list elicitation, and researcher journal). The setting was multiple community college campuses in one western state that are part of a larger state system of community colleges. The data revealed that to these five administrators, the work is always more than the title reflects. Those who do the work are unique and altruistic, and the institutions at which the participants work had a lack …

Fostering Creativity And Innovation In Gifted Students Through The Eyes Of Gifted Education Educators, Omar Abdullah Alsamani

Dissertations

In this era of advanced technology and with the increasing societal demand for individuals who possess skills in creativity and innovation, understanding educators’ perceptions and experiences fostering creativity and innovation in K-12 settings is a timely and relevant research topic. Prior research has emphasized the need to acquire a deep understanding of educators’ perceptions and experiences fostering creativity and innovation within school contexts. Based on recommendations from in the literature, this qualitative phenomenological study recruited eight trained gifted education educators with varied experiences in the field of gifted and talented education to better understand their perceptions and experiences fostering creativity …

Educational Uses Of Social Media In Learning By University Students, Nora Abdulaziz Ali Almansour

Dissertations

This phenomenological, qualitative research investigated the perceptions of university students in a College of Education about the educational use of social media by examining the experiences of seven graduate students via an analysis of interview transcripts, informal observations, and applicable artifacts. This study was guided by three research questions: Q1 How do university students describe their experiences of using social media for their own learning? Q2 What do university students perceive as advantages or disadvantages in the use of social media for their own learning? Q3 What suggestions do university students make for increasing the use of social media for …

Preparing Pre-Service Teachers To Use Digital Visual Media For Twenty-First Century Teaching And Learning: Practices And Visions Of Teacher Preparation Programs In Saudi Arabia, Haya M. Albaqami

Dissertations

With the increasing use of modern technological media in various areas of life, it has become necessary to develop teaching methods to deal with this change. One key to modernizing teaching methods is the integration of digital visual media into the educational process. The use of these visual media in programs for future teachers has become essential due to the widespread impact of such content in this digital age. Therefore, this study examines the current experiences and perceptions of five teacher educators on the use of digital visual media in pre-service teachers’ preparation programs in Saudi Arabia. The research questions …

Perspectives On English Language Learner Programs: A Case Study, Stacie Thompson

Dissertations

English language programs across the country have experienced a recent swell in English language learner enrollment (McFarland et al., 2017). In this qualitative case study, the researcher elicited the perceptions of multiple groups of individuals directly impacted by the English language program in District B. Two elementary principals, five general education classroom teachers, three English language teachers, two English language paraprofessionals, and five English language learners were interviewed to gain perspective on the current status and effectiveness of the English language program in District B. Little research has been conducted on the perceptions of teachers and the implementation of English …

Classroom Response Systems: Does Instantaneous Feedback Affect Students' Knowledge And Self-Efficacy In A Secondary Science Course, Shani Bourn

Dissertations

Technological advancements have enabled educators to bring excitement in student success with instantaneous feedback utilizing classroom response systems (CRS). A quantitative, quasi-experimental research design was used in this dissertation research to build a comprehensive understanding of the impact of instantaneous feedback with student knowledge and student self-efficacy. The purpose of this study was to illuminate the benefits of instantaneous feedback and student self-efficacy with incorporation of CRS in a secondary science course. Statistical analyses were conducted with quantitative formative scores, summative test scores, and self-efficacy questionnaire results prior to the incorporation of CRS, and perceived self-efficacy questionnaire results after experience …

Differential Mating Motives' Influence On Preferences For Facially Communicated Extraversion, Mitch Brown

Dissertations

Human facial structures communicate personality from which one can infer another’s behavioral intentions, forming a basis for mate selection. One particularly detectable trait through facial structures is extraversion. Extraversion is a trait associated with heightened interest in promiscuous mating strategies and preferred among individuals similarly interested in short-term mating, implicating extraverted mates as ideal trait for short-term mating. Nonetheless, behavioral repertoires associated with extraversion may also pose risks, particularly in long-term mating, as their increased promiscuity may undermine their fidelity to a specific partner, thereby potentially reducing biparental investment in any offspring produced. Thus, a preference for introversion (i.e., low …

A Mixed Methods Approach To Study The Effects Of A Naturalist Summer Program On The Perceptions Of African American Children About Nature, Kendrick Buford

Dissertations

African Americans have been reported to have a more negative outlook on nature than people of other races. Much work has been done to explain this phenomenon through the lenses of social and environmental justice. However, most of this information pertains to adults, and little to no exploration has been done to understand how children could be affected. This lack of information creates a novel research topic. This study addressed the problem using a mixed method analysis to better understand both the narrative of the children and any generalizable conclusions to better understand their attitudes in a summer program titled …

Improving Individual And Group-Wide Behaviors In Head Start Classrooms With Mystery Student Intervention: Assessment Of Effectiveness, Generalization, And Maintenance, Jamie Pasqua

Dissertations

The current study investigated the effects Mystery Student intervention on improving individual and group behaviors in Head Start classrooms. Mystery Student Intervention is a randomized independent group contingency and has only been investigated in one previous study (Pasqua, 2016). A multiple baseline design across three Head Start classrooms was employed to determine the effectiveness of Mystery Student Intervention on decreasing aggregate class and individual child disruptive behaviors. Of further interest was the extent to which the effects of Mystery Student Intervention generalized to other settings and results maintained following its removal. Results indicated that Mystery Student Intervention was effective at …

Bottlenose Dolphin (Tursiops Truncatus) Vocal Responses To Sonar And Spectrally Pink Background Noise, Maria Zapetis

Dissertations

As human populations rise, the level of man-made noise increases globally. Naval sonar and boat traffic are underwater sound sources of particular concern to marine mammal welfare. To better understand the impact of these noise increases on cetaceans, studies can explore animals’ behavioral changes in response to noise. Studies have investigated the ‘dose-response’ relationship between the received sound pressure level of sonar signals and the behavior of cetaceans in the wild, but exposure studies in controlled environments are limited. The studies in this dissertation examined bottlenose dolphin vocal modifications during various experimental noise treatments. Acoustic recordings previously obtained for bottlenose …

The Development Of Socio-Sexual Behavior In Beluga Whales (Delphinapterus Leucas), Malin K. Lilley

Dissertations

The reproductive success of the beluga whale is critical for a species facing extinction in its endangered Cook Inlet, Alaska population. To date, little is known about the mating behavior of these whales in wild populations. On the other hand, observations of beluga whales in human care allow researchers to better understand many aspects of their daily lives and life histories that are difficult to assess in wild populations. Thus far, a catalog of socio-sexual behavior has been established based on observations of belugas; however, the developmental trajectory of socio-sexual behavior is not well-understood. The present study explored how socio-sexual …

Environmental-Based Experiential Learning Activities And Its Influence On Students’ Knowledge, Critical Thinking, Attitude Towards The Environment, And Career Aspirations, Veshell Lewis

Dissertations

Modern advancements in industrialization and globalization are thought to be responsible for the present ecological issues facing the world (Sumen, 2016). Many countries, including the United States, emphasize the importance of increasing environmental literacy within the community and schools (Roth, 1992; Scholz, 2011; Sumen, 2016). It has been suggested that environmental education be taught at all educational levels to increase environmental literacy (Sumen, 2016). The implementation of environmental-based experiential education within the traditional curriculum has proven successful for various educational institutions. Therefore, the implementation of environmental-based experiential learning activities in Mississippi educational institutions may contribute to the increase of scientifically …

Elementary Preservice Teacher Preparation To Teach Mathematics And Science In An Integrated Stem Framework, Kelly Overby Byrd

Dissertations

This study investigated the extent to which successful completion of integrated mathematics and science methods of instruction courses related to elementary preservice teachers’ attitudes toward and confidence in teaching integrated STEM lessons, and the extent to which their attitudes and confidence correlated with their proficiency in planning integrated STEM lessons. A mixed-methods, longitudinal research design, with a sequential, explanatory approach was used. Participants included twenty-four elementary preservice teachers enrolled in their final two semesters of a teacher preparation program at a four-year public university in the southeastern U.S. To address the research questions in this study, both quantitative and qualitative …

The Effects Of Rurality And Education Deserts On The Four-Year Degree Selection Of Aspiring Teacher Education Candidates In A Rural Community College Setting, Alice Faye Sanders

Dissertations

Teacher shortages exist across the nation, with greater shortages in middle school and secondary education (Center for Public Education, 2016). The purpose of this study was to determine the factors and barriers presented to teacher education candidates affecting the selection of their teacher education degrees in a rural community college setting. The research questions were designed to use quantitative survey questions administered to the teacher education candidate population of ABC College. Qualitative interview questions were used to gather data from the Director and Assistant Director of Enrollment Services/Student Development at ABC College. As a result of data analysis, misconceptions were …

Exploring The Homeless Persons Perception Of Living In A Long-Term Care Facility, Janice Woods

Dissertations

Objective:The purpose of this study was to explore the lived experiences of homeless persons admitted to a nursing home facility. Originally, the study was to explore their understanding of and their experience with advance health care planning; coincidently, the participants were more open to their experience of living in a long-term care facility.

Method:A convenience sample of 13 participants (12 male, 1 female) at four long-term care facilities in Southern California were interviewed about their perception of advanced health care planning, including the physician’s orders for life sustaining treatment (POLST); a consent form required in all nursing homes. …

Older Adults’ Implementation Of Discharge Instructions Following An Acute Care Hospital Stay, Brenda Miller

Dissertations

Discharge instructions are a self-care guide for patients after discharge from an acute care hospitalization. The discharge process starts on admission to the hospital and continues until discharged. Many patients rely on informal caregivers to provide support after a discharge. However, it is often unclear whether the patients or caregivers completely understand instructions provided during the discharge process. Key concepts related to how discharge instructions were implemented following discharge to home have been understudied from the patient’s and informal caregivers’ perspectives. Developing effective discharge instructions based on study findings may assist in reducing 30-day hospital readmission rates.
This study was …

Use Of Emerging Technology As Part Of The Experiential Learning Process In Ultradistance Cycling: A Phenomenological Study, William A. Tankovich

Dissertations

Technology is well entrenched as part of our everyday lives and formal learning settings. The role technology plays as part of informal learning of sports and physical activities has not been explored as thoroughly. This study examined the use of technology by ultradistance cyclists as part of their experiential learning process. Data collection was through semi-structured interviews of 10 cyclists who routinely utilized technology in preparing for and participating in ultradistance events. Emerging themes were organized utilizing NVIVO software. While identified themes were similar to the phases of the Kolb (2014) experiential learning model, there was also a strong temporal …

An Exploration Of Staff Training Practices Specific To The Prevention Of Staff-To-Student Sexual Misconduct In General And Special Education, Mary Kirsten Lintz

Dissertations

A United States Department of Education commissioned study found that 10% of kindergarten–12 grade students are victims of staff-to-student sexual misconduct (Shakeshaft, 2004; U.S. Department of Education, n.da). A primary recommendation from that study was that districts provide staff training specific to the prevention of staff-to-student sexual misconduct. However, despite strong and repeated recommendations that all schools include annual staff training that specifically addresses the issue of staff-to-student sexual misconduct (Caldas & Bensy, 2014; Krohn, 2014; Mainella, 2015; Shakeshaft, 2004; U.S. Department of Education, 2008), a majority of districts nationwide have been slow to include this topic in their district …

A Multifaceted Approach To Address Variation In Cannabis Sativa, Anna Louise Schwabe

Dissertations

For thousands of years, humans have cultivated and dispersed Cannabis sativa L. across the globe. Although Cannabis has been largely illegal worldwide for decades, public perceptions and attitudes are changing. Increasing interest in potential Cannabis usage worldwide and nationwide is leading to less restrictions to make way for an expanding and lucrative industry with numerous applications. Although only one species is formally recognized in the Cannabis genus, thousands of years of artificial selection for diverse phenotypes and uses have resulted in two major usage groups; hemp-types which are defined worldwide as having very low levels of THC (< 1.0%), and drug-types which exceed a specified level of THC that varies among nations. The drug-type category includes three commonly used subcategories including Sativa, Indica and Hybrid types, and newly developed high CBD varieties that have more THC than hemp-types but are not bred for high THC. The quality of federally produced Cannabis for medical studies in the U.S. has recently been brought into question, and we included samples to determine the genetic relationship to these groups. Phenotypic variation in Cannabis gives rise to commonly referenced categories, but sources of variation are unclear and understudied. Phenotypes are observable characteristics that results from a combination of both genotype and the environment. The preferred method of propagation for Cannabis is cloning, and therefore variation within varietals should be from differences in environmental factors. Ten microsatellite markers were developed de-novo to investigate four aims: (1) genetic variation within strains, (2) genetic relationships among the common categories, (3) if genetic variation is detectable through olfactory sensation, and (4) how genetic variation is reflected in phytochemical levels. This dissertation includes four manuscript chapters representing each aim and uses a genetic basis for a multifaceted approach to investigate variation in Cannabis sativa. Substantial genetic variation was found within strains from obtained from different facilities. Genetic divergence between hemp and drug-types was genetically supported, but the Sativa, Indica, and Hybrid subcategories were not genetically well defined. The high CBD strains appear to bridge the genetic gap between hemp and drug-types, and federally grown research grade marijuana was genetically more similar to hemp than Cannabis available through the legal cannabis market. Genetic imposters within a strain had measurable aromatic differences, but there was considerable variation in aromas among samples with identical genetic identity. Analyses of both terpene and cannabinoid profiles among individuals with identical genotypes acquired from different sources varied considerably indicating environmental variation has a substantial impact on phenotype in Cannabis. Together these results show a need for the Cannabis industry to implement regulatory checks in the form of genetic testing in order to provide consistency, especially for medical applications. These results demonstrate the need for genotyping in order for phenotypic consistency to be achieved if standard growing conditions can be established. When genetic verification and standard protocols are established, deviations in phenotypic changes can be identified and disclosed to consumers so they are aware that there may be abnormal effects. This investigation highlights the need for additional research to provide consistent products, which is especially important for medical marijuana flower products. In order to provide consumers consistent products, it is imperative to understand sources of variation. Consumers deserve to be provided with quality consistent products as the industry continues to grow on a global scale.

Examining The Roles Of The Receptor Tyrosine Kinase Pvr And The Bone Morphogenic Protein Receptor Thickvein In Regulating Self-Renewal And Division Frequency In The Cyst Stem Cells Of The Drosophila Testis Niche, Nastaran Soleimanibarzi Mues

Dissertations

Adult stem cells live in different tissues, and they support and regenerate both the tissue they reside in and themselves. The stemness behavior is tightly regulated by the niche. The Drosophila testis is a valuable model to study stem cells in their niche. In this niche, there are two populations of stem cells; germline stem cells (GSCs) and somatic cyst stem cells (CySCs). GSCs and CySCs provide the cellular structure required to maintain the production of sperm in Drosophila males. These stem cells co-mingle around a group of non-dividing somatic cells known as the hub, and is the niche that …

Simulation Of A Novel Mediated Oxycombustion System, Hussein M. Al Mrayatee

Dissertations

Global warming and climate changing are serious problems challenging humanity, therefore important steps needed to be taking to neutralize such challenge. From the last century huge amount of carbon dioxide released to atmosphere cause huge damages to our globe. Technologies such as oxycombustion and chemical looping combustion had been discussed to capture and sequestration carbon dioxide at lower cost. Separation air from fuel using chemical looping or separation nitrogen from air using oxygen transport membrane (OTM) then combust pure oxygen with fuel are the main step to capture carbone dioxide in less expensive method. Each technology had its own drawback, …

Confronting Masculinity: The Gen X Novel (1984-2000) And The Sentimental Man, Robert E. Woolridge

Dissertations

Experimental novels written from 1984-2000 by authors associated with Generation X collectively struggle with common sense notions of masculinity in their various decades at the end of the twentieth century. Relying on confessional, first-person narration, first novels written by white men stage a critical engagement of outdated patriarchal norms in an effort to produce a more progressive masculinity based on sentimentality. In the 1980s, McInerney and Ellis novels, Bright Lights, Big City and Less Than Zero chronicle the struggles of empty, yuppie men who cannot make connections with their peers due to their emotionally devoid lives. By the 1990s, Douglas …

Models Of Spiritual Leadership: Strategies For Bridging The Gap Between Policy And Ethics, Rebecca J. O'Brien

Dissertations

Public institutions are finding that strict policies premised on value-free research are incapable of dealing with the social and ethical issues facing schools. Increasingly, research is identifying how spiritual practices can be a source of insight and guidance on ethical issues and other soft leadership skills. Spiritual and servant leadership is a burgeoning area of study in the business world and health care field, but it just beginning to be examined as a guiding tool in the education field. In the current study, I interview educational leaders who self-identify as having a spiritual practice and who are responsible for oversight …

Superintendent Beliefs About The Assessment And Use Of School Climate Data For Continuous Improvement, Anji Buckner-Capone

Dissertations

Academic outcomes and health outcomes are interconnected and reciprocal and school climate has emerged as a way to capture some of this relationship. An increasing trend in education policy is using multiple measures of school success, including school climate, such as California’s Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF). As school climate evolves as a critical component in state accountability there is a need to better understand the role of leaders in facilitating the implementation processes for school climate assessment accountabilities, including their beliefs and their practices. This mixed methods study explored the practices and beliefs of California Superintendents in their efforts …

Bridging The English Language Divide And Building Self-Confidence In Marginalized Communities: An Exploratory Study In Tamil Nadu, India, Radha Aravamudhan

Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to critically evaluate the implementation of a community based English program in villages in Tamil Nadu, India and examine their model from the perceptions of students, parents, teachers, program tutors, trainers and administrators. The study using visual qualitative research methods describes the experiences of various stakeholders in the program. The data for the study was collected in video format through in-person interviews and site observations and edited to produce the documentary film “I Can!” Findings demonstrated that an asset based approach utilizing strengths in the community, culturally responsive teaching practices and a positive teacher …

Experiences Of Adolescent Refugee Students Who Attend Afterschool Programs For Literacy Support, Analiza Filion

Dissertations

Studies on the academic achievement of refugee students cite continuous underachievement in literacy skills. Due to trauma from fleeing their countries of origin, limited school experiences, and language barriers, refugee students struggle with demonstrating progress in academic achievement. Learning challenges continue to take place when classroom teachers are not equipped with the knowledge, skills, and resources to support students with their unique learning needs. Through the use of a documentary research method, this dissertation investigated the experiences of five adolescent refugee students who attended afterschool programs as an additional resource for developing literacy skills.This study also explored how students perceived …