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The Rhetoric Of Law And The Epistle To The Hebrews, Theodore A. Holt Iv

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The Epistle to the Hebrews demonstrates a complex of what scholars label technical legal terms. Enlisting a series of word studies, this thesis attempts to uncover where the author learned the terminology in order to understand more about the anonymous author and the theology of the Epistle to the Hebrews. This thesis examines terms in Heb 2:2-4; 6:13-18; 7:11-19; 8:13; 9:15-18; 10:9.

Role Of Dignity In Rural Natural Resource Governance, Tora Johnson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Dignity is “an internal state of peace that comes with the recognition and acceptance of the value and vulnerability of all living things” (Hicks, 2011, p. 1). Dignity is a crucial element in effective governance arrangements. This study applies dignity theory, and related theories of natural resource governance and environmental communication, to understand and overcome barriers to effective governance of common pool resources in rural communities. Chapter 1 reviews relevant literature on natural resource governance and develops a theoretical framework for dignity. Chapter 2 applies dignity theory to a contentious comprehensive planning process in a small Maine town in order …

From Participation To Differentiation: A Framework For Re-Designing A Socio-Technical System, Victoria Townsend

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Engineers are responsible for re-designing socio-technical systems (STSs). At the same time, the current literature on engineering re-design methodology is predominantly oriented towards technical artefacts. This methodology is not directly transferable to STSs, since STSs differ in the role of workers operating the system in collective activity. Accordingly, the central question of this dissertation is: How can engaging STS operators as participants in re-designing an assembly production system develop an approach for re-designing STSs that operationalizes human value and potential? To this aim, this dissertation develops a framework for re-designing a STS. This framework is developed with design research methodology …

Leadership Experience For Academic Direction (Lead): Perspectives From The Student Success Teachers, Dana Lina Pizzo

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In this case study design I explore the Student Success Teachers (SSTs) perspectives on the impact of a service-learning program, LEAD program has on their students, teacher candidates and themselves in their role. LEAD is presented as a proactive approach for 21st century learning as it promotes resiliency skills for our in-risk youth. I identify the challenges and benefits it presents to the SSTs, teacher candidates, and in-risk students within the two local school boards. Both former and current SSTs were interviewed on their experiences with implementing the LEAD program as part of their student success initiatives within their school. …

Is Politics Really A Man's Game? Women As Political Recruiters And Participants, Anna Phillips Talley

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Women are assumed to participate less often, and less effectively than men. Looking at the way women recruit others to participate, and their participation in protest activity, women seem to be as effective as men. As recruiters, men and women tend to recruit others of their gender, and due to the way women have been historically excluded, there are fewer women in politics who can recruit others to participate. Although they recruit as effectively as men, women are less likely to already be in positions of power that allow them to recruit. These structural barriers to participation reflect structural problems, …

Teacher Self-Efficacy: How Do High-Performing Black Teachers In Under-Performing Schools Negotiate Self-Efficacy?, Tisha Lithel White

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Despite the vast research on efficacy and teacher efficacy, little focuses on high-performing Black teachers who work in low-performing urban schools. This research fills a gap in understanding high-performing Black teachers and provides a voice to a population under-represented in research. Through focus groups, semi-structured interviews, storytelling, and reviewing student work samples, findings showed that high-performing Black teachers in underperforming urban schools participate in specific practices that demonstrate their personal self-efficacy. Teachers were reflective, inquisitive, and generally maintained a positive outlook in all situations. The teachers in this study also carefully adapted their practice by focusing on strong relationships with …

History Of Enlisted Women In The Air National Guard: 1968-2012, Roy Dean Dowdy

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation examines the history and role of Enlisted Women in the Air National Guard, 1968-2012. By examining this previously undocumented agency of women's history, I clarify the political and cultural dynamics that directly factored into the accession of women as enlisted members of the Air National Guard. This dissertation includes a brief look at some of the major highlights of women throughout history from around the world who took up arms during periods of conflict to defend their homes and families. The background and demise of the draft that led to the development of the All-Volunteer Force which today …

Examining The Impact Of School Wide Positive Behavior Support On Teacher Self-Efficacy In Rural Middle Schools, Elizabeth Ann Stratton

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The present study examines the effect of the implementation of School Wide Positive Behavior Support (SWPBS) on teacher self-efficacy in rural middle school. This quantitative study used the Teachers’ Sense of Efficacy Scale (TSES) and the Effective Behavior Support (EBS) survey to acquire results on individual teacher self-efficacy and the implementation of SWPBS in two Title I rural middle schools in the rural South. Middle School A, alias, Andreas Middle school had implemented SWPBS for three years, while Middle School B, alias, Beechnut Middle School had no formal implementation of SWPBS. The TSES and the EBS surveys were administered to …

The Relationship Between Participation In Athletics And Academic Performance Of Male African American High School Students, Angela Lynnette Hargrave

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

A dramatic gap in the academic achievement of African American males and the academic achievement of Caucasian males across this country continues to exist. African American males fail to complete high school at an increasingly high rate or are ill-prepared for postsecondary education upon completion of high school. The disengagement of African American males in schools has been associated with the continuance of this achievement gap. The influence on academic performance that participating in high school athletics had on African American male students who participated in an athletic program as compared to African American male students who did not engaged …

An Ethnographic Case Study Of The Processes And Procedures Used By The Transition Steering Committee To Implement The Report Of The Transition Planning Commission To Merge The Memphis City Schools And The Shelby County Schools, David A. Stephens

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The Memphis City Schools (MCS) and Shelby County Schools (SCS) completed an historical merger July1, 2013. Memphis City School system was a large urban school district and the legacy Shelby County School system was a smaller, mainly suburban school system. The Memphis City School Board surrendered their charter in December of 2010 stating the merger process. Guiding the merger process, the Tennessee Senate approved Tennessee Public Chapter 1 on March 10, 2011 creating a 21-member Transition Planning Commission (TPC). The TPC was charged with creating a transition plan to submit to the Shelby County Board for approval. The Superintendents of …

A Study Of Motives, Challenges, Professional Development, And Beneficial Outcomes Of Single-Gender Classrooms In Coeducational Public Middle Schools, Calvin Mcglown Sr.

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

McGlown, Calvin. Ed.D. The Universityof Memphis. December 2015. A Study of Motives, Challenges, Professional Development, and Beneficial Outcomes of Single-Gender Classrooms in Coeducational Public Middle Schools. Major Professor: Larry McNeal, Ph.DThe purpose of this study was to examine the leading motivations, primary challenges, types of professional development engaged in, and positive outcomes perceived by administrators who have either initiated or inherited the practice of single-gender classes within coeducational middle school settings. To address the four research questions presented within this study, the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) was used to conduct multiple analyses that addressed four groups of …

Somali Parents' Involvement In The Education Of Their Children In American Middle Schools: A Case Study In Portland, Maine, Abdullahi Ahmed

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Across the nation, language minority students comprise one of the largest minority groups in U.S. public schools. The increase of linguistically diverse students, especially Somalis, brings unique challenges to Portland, Maine public schools. Different subgroups have their unique characteristics, yet the U.S. education system treats immigrants and English Language Learners (ELL) as somewhat the same (Barrera, 2006; Hosp & Reschly, 2004). Although there are many reasons for the underachievement of minority students in public schools, one way to mitigate low performance of students is engaging parents by creating mutual relationships between parents and schools and involving all families in the …

Evaluating Positive Behavior Interventions And Supports (Pbis) : Examining Teachers' Perceptions Of Managing Student Conduct And Student Achievement In Pbis And Non-Pbis Schools., Carla Marie Soeder-Kolodey

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This capstone investigated the impact of the implementation of positive behavior interventions and supports (PBIS) in schools across Kentucky on teachers’ perceptions of student behavior and on student academic achievement scores, using a causal comparative design. Schools in Kentucky were selected at random according to school type: elementary, middle, and high school. Special schools, or schools serving populations overlapping into multiple categories, were eliminated from the study. Schools were then identified by their level of implementation of PBIS: Control represented the schools that had not received any training in PBIS, PBIS represented schools that had started the implementation of PBIS, …

Suicide Prevention Strategies In Tennessee Community Colleges: A Case Study, Sandra Perley

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Suicide is the second leading cause of death for college students; annually approximately 1,100 students in institutions of higher education die by suicide. However, most research related to college student suicide was conducted using the sample of 4-year institutions. Community colleges have seldom been included in the sample of suicide research studies. This qualitative case study research explored the student suicide prevention strategies in the 13 community colleges in the Tennessee Board of Regents higher education system. Data were collected from surveys, institutional web sites, and interviews with institutional personnel.

Approximately half of the institutions offer suicide prevention information to …

The Relationship Between Ethical Regard And Academic Misconduct Among College Students, Susan Dickey

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

A correlational quantitative research project was conducted at a large public research institution in the Southeast to investigate the relationship between ethical regard and academic dishonesty among undergraduate college students. An online survey was completed by 273 undergraduates. Participant engagement in cheating behaviors established a Propensity To Cheat (PTC) score, which was then analyzed in conjunction with student characteristics, ethical self-perception, ethical ideology, and perception of cheating behaviors. Data were analyzed using ANOVAs, independent t tests, correlations, and descriptive statistics.

Findings indicate that students aged 22-23 were significantly more likely to cheat than students in other age ranges; Millennials were …

Selected Student Characteristics Related To Academic Cell Phone Use, David Pauley

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The researcher addressed the need for understanding student perceptions and habits of academic cell phone use within a high school environment in regards to student characteristics. Data were gathered and analyzed in order to answer research questions regarding student perceptions of: (a) the usefulness of cell phones as an academic tool, (b) the use of cell phones within school and outside of school for academic purposes, (c) the encouragement of cell phone use to complete assignments, (d) the potential for distractions within the classroom occurring from cell phone use, and (e) the functionality of cell phones for completion of school …

An Examination Of The Perceptions Of Traditional And Nontraditional Student Engagement At Northeast State Community College, Barbara J. Lowe

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between student engagement and overall satisfaction of traditional and nontraditional students at the community college level at Northeast State Community College.

Three professors, 2 staff, 2 administrators, 5 traditional students, and 5 nontraditional students from Northeast State Community College comprised the sample for the study. A descriptive case study was the qualitative approach used. Data were collected in individual in-depth interviews with participants.

The findings of this study could provide community college administrators, staff and faculty with an understanding of traditional and nontraditional students’ engagement and satisfaction and experiences on …

Comparison Of Student Success By Course Delivery Methods At An Eastern Tennessee Community College, E. Ann Cunningham

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to compare academic success based on methods of course delivery for students in a computer applications course at an East Tennessee community college. Additionally, the researcher examined demographic relationships of age, gender, and race to student academic performance in the different delivery methods. The researcher used final course grades as a determinant of academic success. The study was focused on students who took the INFS 1010 Computer Applications course during the academic years, 2011-12, 2012-13, and 2013-14 at a southeast Tennessee community college. The population consisted of 1,177 students who took the INFS 1010 …

Dual Enrollment And Community College Outcomes For First-Time, Full-Time Freshmen: A Quasi-Experimental Study, John M. Grubb

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship of dual enrollment course participation by comparing first-time, full-time traditional community college students who participated in dual enrollment (N=246) to peers (N=986) that did not participate. Dual enrollment participation was defined as taking one or more dual enrollment courses. The population for this study (N=1,232) included first-time, full-time students who graduated from public high schools in the service area of Northeast State Community College over a five year span from 2008 through 2012. Propensity score matching eliminated self-selection bias by controlling for confounding covariates …

Predicting Desired Outcomes From Applicants’ Medical School Admission Data, Mark D. Linville Jr.

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Medical schools in the United States serve to train the next generation of physicians, admitting students who will continue to advance each school’s mission. Admission committees are tasked with identifying those candidates who will be successful academically and who promote the objectives of the school with respect to mission. The Quillen College of Medicine at East Tennessee State University in northeast Tennessee seeks to attract and retain physicians with an interest in rural and primary care medicine. A total of 630 students were included in this study representing classes from 2001 to 2011. This study examined admissions data including MCAT …

Effects Of A Software Program Vs. Constant Time Delay In The Acquisition Of Sight Words For A Student With Significant Disabilities, Turkie Ali Algharbie

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The development of sight words is essential for individuals with significant disability. There is a plethora of research highlighting the acquisition of sight words for this population but to date, most focus on teacher led interventions (Browder, Algrim-Delzell, Spooner, Mims, & Baker, 2009). This study investigated the use of computer technology vs. one-on-one instruction targeting sight words acquisition for a student with a significant disability. Results showed the participant indicated improved performance using the computer based intervention versus the constant time delay instructor led intervention.

Perceptions Of Acceptable Behavior With Social Networking Among Teachers, Parents, And Students In A Northeast Tennessee Middle School: An Exploratory Study, Lisa L. Raper

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to investigate the perception of acceptable use of social media among teachers, students, and parents. In doing so the researcher touched on generational factors, communication, instructional practice with social networking and the perceptions of what was acceptable among these 3 groups within a middle school setting.

This qualitative study examined how students, parents, and teachers perceived the use of social networking. 30 subjects were randomly chosen and interviewed: 10 students, 10 parents and 10 teachers. There were 4 emerging themes: (a) types of social networking preferred and the reason, (b) relationships and acceptable usage, …

The Interaction Of Community Size And Perceived Local Political Efficacy Among Low-Income Individuals, Dylan Allen Brugman

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

As the world’s population continues to urbanize, urban studies are increasingly important. Studying the social science behind the rise of the city and its effect on various social phenomena should be a priority for scholars in the field of politics, sociology, and communication, because of the reasonable assumption that the environment of the city alters the way that a person engages people and systems within the city. This is especially true for peripheral and marginalized populations that often lack access to the social institutions necessary to improve their livelihoods. Using Diffusion of Innovation and urban studies theories of Anomie, Gemeinschaft …

The Czech-Egyptian Arms Deal Of 1955 : A Turning Point In Middle Eastern Cold War History., Thomas Michael Shaughnessy Skaggs

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study focuses on the Czechoslovakian-Egyptian arms deal of 1955 and analyzes how it impacted Middle Eastern Cold War policy. Central to the issue is Egyptian President Gamal Abdul Nasser’s approach to garnering Pan-Arab Nationalist support and his decision to approach the Soviet Bloc for weapons and economic aid. Supporting evidence came from several repositories, including the National Archives in College Park, Maryland, and the Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library. In addition to primary sources, a thorough examination of the existing scholarship was conducted. In conclusion, the Czech-Egyptian arms deal, more than any other event, cemented Nasser's place as champion …

Educational Excellence Through Dual Degrees : Using Symbolic Convergence Theory To Make It Happen Here., Stephanie Ann French

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Interdisciplinary studies is a goal for the University of Louisville as it pertains to the Vision 2020 Plan. Implementing interdisciplinary studies is a part of Educational Excellence, goal number one of five strategic goals in the Vision 2020. Each of the colleges at the university has devised a strategic plan to determine how each will contribute to that goal. This specific research provides an overview of various issues pertaining to implementing programs in interdisciplinary studies. It then explores a specific instance of interdisciplinary possibilities by focusing on a single instance of what might become an exemplar of interdisciplinary studies. Specifically, …

Conflicted Tourism : Heritage Narratives, Sectarian Schism, And Economic Growth In Northern Ireland., Ashleigh Larissa Bixby

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This thesis examines tourism as a politically charged facet of the economic process in Northern Ireland. While violence has abated in the region, sectarian conflict continues to affect Northern Irish society. Tourism has helped develop the economy by opening the market to visitors through the marketing of the region as unique and different. As conflict in the region is ongoing, the rise of tourism as a viable economic strategy raises the question: how does the Northern Irish tourist industry reconcile the past and ongoing conflict in order to present the region as a desirable tourist destination? The answer lies in …

Interdisciplinary Palliative Care Teams : Insights And Experiences Of Chaplain Interns And Social Work Interns., Ann Hayes Ronald

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In 2030, the population of those 65 years and older is projected to be 72 million, which will represent 20% of adults in the United States. This large group will have affected many aspects of our society, including families and healthcare providers. Decisions about medical care, caregiving, financial concerns, and new circumstances in living arrangements will be made. Perhaps no aspect of life will be as important as how one spends the end-of-life. Importantly, the care that individuals receive is likely an important aspect of this end-of-life experience. Interdisciplinary palliative care teams provide effective and comprehensive end-of-life care for patients …

Circulating Angiogenic Stem Cells In Diabetes., Nagma Zafar

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Circulating angiogenic stem cells (CACs) are rare cells found in peripheral blood that have been shown to contribute to endothelial repair and new blood vessel formation. These cells could be biomarkers and/or therapeutic targets for the assessment and prevention of cardiovascular disease (CVD), which is the leading cause of mortality globally and in the United States. Diabetes is an independent risk factor for CVD, and there are inconsistent reports on the role of CACs in diabetic vasculopathy. To study this further we tested the hypothesis that diabetes depletes circulating levels of CACs, due to hyperglycemia or insulin resistance and that …

Immunomodulation Of Myeloid-Derived Suppressor Cells By Particulate B-Glucan In Cancer., Sabrin Husein Albeituni

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSC) are a heterogeneous population of immature myeloid cells that promote tumor progression. In this study, we investigated the effect of dectin-1 stimulation by yeast-derived particulate β-glucan in MDSC function and differentiation in cancer. In vivo treatment of mice bearing lewis lung carcinoma and mammary cell carcinoma with particulate β-glucan decreased tumor weight and splenomegaly, and reduced the accumulation of polymorphonuclear-MDSC (PMN-MDSC) but not monocytic-MDSC (M-MDSC) in the spleen and tumor. In addition, particulate β-glucan differentially modulated the function of different MDSC subsets; it enhanced PMN-MDSC respiratory burst and apoptosis, and induced the differentiation of M-MDSC into …

Learning Support Effectiveness In Mathematics At A Tennessee University, Mark Dula

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Every year thousands of students graduate from high school and move on to higher education, but many of them are not yet prepared for college level courses. The Tennessee Board of Regents does not currently allow 4-year institutions to teach courses that are below college level, so many institutions are using programs such as learning support courses to assist a growing population of underprepared students. The purpose of this study was to determine if the 1-term and 2-term retention rates for students with the same ACT mathematics subsection scores were different between students who took a regular section of Probability …