Digital Commons Network^™

A Finite-State Morphological Analyzer For Q'Eqchi' Using Helsinki Finite-State Technology (Hfst) And The Giellatekno Infrastructure, Cody Scott Christopherson

Theses and Dissertations

Finite-state morphological modeling has been used in natural language processing for many years particularly when dealing with lower resource languages. The present study details the development of an open-source finite-state morphological model for the Q'eqchi' Maya language using Helsinki Finite-State Technology (HFST) and the Giellatekno infrastructure. This project represents the first comprehensive morphological analyzer for Q'eqchi' and sets a foundation for future work in data annotation for this language. The resulting transducer consists of 4,439 lexemes, 2,610 states and 9,558 transitions and covers between 75% and 85% of tokens in a Q'eqchi' corpus. The success of this project lays the …

Evaluating Teachers’ Perceptions Of The Social Validity Of Psychological Report Writing Styles, Adam Weseloh

Theses and Dissertations

Psychologists spend a significant portion of their time writing psychological reports. Oftentimes these reports are highly technical and written at a level which the literature has suggested is often difficult for teachers to utilize in their classrooms. Several previous research studies have examined psychological report writing practices and offered suggestions for improvement. One of these suggestions (theme or referral-based report writing) has not been as thoroughly examined in the literature. The purpose of this study was to examine this report writing style compared to more traditional report writing practices. This study utilized a novel approach to assessing teachers’ perceptions of …

Study Of Augmentations On Historical Manuscripts Using Trocr, Erez Meoded

Theses and Dissertations

Historical manuscripts are an essential source of original content. For many reasons, it is hard to recognize these manuscripts as text. This thesis used a state-of-the-art Handwritten Text Recognizer, TrOCR, to recognize a 16^th-century manuscript. TrOCR uses a vision transformer to encode the input images and a language transformer to decode them back to text. We showed that carefully preprocessed images and designed augmentations can improve the performance of TrOCR. We suggest an ensemble of augmented models to achieve an even better performance.

Shifting The Academic Leadership Paradigm: Culturally Responsive Associate Deans In Illinois Community Colleges, Cathy Y. Taylor

Theses and Dissertations

This study explored how associate deans in Illinois community colleges understand and practice culturally responsive leadership (CRL) in their institutions. The conceptual framework for this study is composed of the Culturally Responsive School Leadership (CRSL) model in the K-12 system first proposed by Khalifa et al. (2016) and the Applied Critical Leadership (ACL) model for higher education leaders by Santamaria et al. (2016). The study used the convergent parallel mixed-methods approach to simultaneously collect quantitative and qualitative data from associate deans in Illinois community colleges to measure how they understood and practiced culturally responsive leadership in their institutions. The study …

Examining Social Factors Influencing Latino Students' Academic Learning In Rio Grande Valley Via A Quantitative Design, David T. Smith

Theses and Dissertations

This research study aimed to examine the social factors that could influence the academic learning experiences of Latino college students. Hispanic students are pursuing post-secondary degrees at a higher rate than in previous years. Many Hispanics represent their respective family members as the first members of their respective families to attend college (Trevino & DeFreitas, 2014). The academic achievement of Latino college students is becoming a major concern in the United States due to their growing population and special needs (Trevino & DeFreitas, 2014).

It is imperative to examine the social factors that could affect the academic learning experiences of …

Relationship Between Socioeconomic Status And Incidence Of Specific Learning Disability: A Quantitative Study, Nora Nevarez

Theses and Dissertations

This quantitative study used a linear regression model to determine if a relationship exists between one independent variable (i.e., Socioeconomic Status) and one dependent variable (i.e., Specific Learning Disabilities). State level data was collected from publicly available databases in the State of Texas that delineate the percentage of students diagnosed with and placed in special education under the umbrella of Specific Learning Disabilities. These percentages were aggregated into the 20 Texas Educational Regional Service Centers. Additionally, national data was collected from publicly available databases listing the percentage of students at or under the age of 18 years old …

Meeting Students’ Needs To Improve Motivation And Higher Academic Achievement In Rio Grande Valley Schools, Tanya Jessica Reyes

Theses and Dissertations

Educational systems are to prepare students for future success in our ever-changing world. Administrators must realize that before a student is willing to learn, crucial needs must be met, especially in low-socioeconomic areas such as the Rio Grande Valley. Some basic needs consist of food and shelter, which are vital for survival. Other needs deal with one’s social and emotional needs that support a child's safety, sense of belonging, and their self-esteem. In this study, focus groups were conducted with sixth, seventh, and eighth grade student participants that gathered the phenomenon of their experiences and their fulfillment of needs …

Analyzing How Resiliency, Family Support, And The College Assistance Migrant Program (Camp) Contribute To Latina/O/X Migrant Farmworker Students' Ability At A South Texas Hsi To Continue Into The Second Year Of Study And To Degree Completion, Angelica Yvette Gonzalez

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of the study is to identify the primary difficulties Latina/o/x migrant farmworker students face compared to non-migrant farmworker students regarding completing higher education and how they can overcome those barriers. Latina/o/x migrant farmworker students experience educational inequity that affects their potential to continue into higher education successfully. Although there is extensive research that analyzes the CAMP program effectiveness, migrant farm-worker students experiences, and the difficulties faced by migrant farmworker students in education, there is a gap in the literature that focuses on migrant farmworker students and their success in …

The Importance Of Emotional Intelligence And Leadership Development In Principal Efficacy, Lorine Olivarez Bazan

Theses and Dissertations

Recently, public schools have seen an increase in obstacles and challenges in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, and school leaders have had to pivot and adjust to meet these ever-changing demands (McLeod & Dulsky, 2021). Principals in today’s schools have had to discover new and innovative ways to successfully lead, motivate and support their school communities. This emerging leadership includes the leader’s ability to utilize emotional intelligence and leadership skills effectively and intentionally.

The purpose of this qualitative study was to take a deeper look at investigating the school principal’s utilization of emotional intelligence and effective leadership skills. This …

Level Of Opportunity For Translanguaging In A One-Way Dual Language Program, Cristina Flores

Theses and Dissertations

In the context of language diversity in schools, this research underscores the persistence of monolingual academic standards despite linguistic variety. Bilingual education, historically intertwined with sociopolitical agendas aligning with dominant societal power structures, necessitates a paradigm shift. Bilingual educators must empower students to utilize their complete linguistic repertoire, fostering creative language expression through translanguaging (Sánchez et al., 2018, p.13). This approach challenges superficial language norms, potentially deviating from the standard language codified by a powerful central group.

The study delves into the types of language practices teachers permit, promote, or prohibit and examines teachers' perceptions regarding the constraints of a …

Examining The Increasing Prevalence Of Academic Dishonesty: An Investigation Of Students’ Perceptions Of Academic Integrity In Higher Education, Luis Angel Garcia

Theses and Dissertations

A primary concern in academic institutions is the high frequency of academic dishonesty among students. Concerns surrounding this issue negatively affect the institution’s reputation and the acquisition of external funding. The purpose of this research was to explore the increasing prevalence of academic dishonesty at higher education institutions. Furthermore, the aim of the study is to investigate the frequency of students engaging in academic dishonesty, reasons for academic dishonesty, and awareness of academic dishonesty. Increasing awareness, prevention, and education regarding academic dishonesty can bring a positive environment to students in higher education. The participants were students enrolled in The University …

The Impacts Of Caregiving And Social Support On Stress For Multiple Sclerosis: A Study On Informal Caregivers, Jacqueline Mercado

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of the present quantitative study was to gain an increased understanding of the impacts of caregiving and social support on stress for unpaid informal caregivers of persons with Multiple Sclerosis. Caregiving for MS can be rewarding yet stressful. Informal caregivers are the primary source of ongoing home care for family members or friends with MS. Due to the complexity of care, caregivers are especially vulnerable to higher strain as they often feel unprepared for this role. This study examined perceived social support and demographic variables on caregivers' stress to gain insight into mediating caregiver psychosocial challenges. …

A Victim No More: An Arts-Based Autoethnographic Inquiry, Richard D. Edmonson

Theses and Dissertations

Heteronormative culture and curriculum have traditionally prevailed within the college classroom (MacGillivray, 2000). Many LGBTQQIA+ students still find challenges regarding acceptance and integration which may impact their learning experiences (Nodin 2022). Addressing heteronormative curriculum and pedagogy includes discussing the relevance of LGBTQQIA+ inclusivity, visibility, and histories. For schools to become safe and welcoming environments for members of the LGBTQ+ community, and for the negative consequences of heterosexism to diminish for all, homophobia, heterosexism, heteronormativity, and heterosexual privilege must all be explicitly addressed and interrogated in students’ learning (Nunn & Bolt, 2015). One of the ways to do this and ameliorate …

The Relationship Between The Volume And Complexity Of Books Read Based On Accelerated Reader Assessment Data And The 5th-Grade Students’ Reading Achievement Scores, Glenda Edna Rodriguez

Theses and Dissertations

This study examined the reading performance data for a grade level of fifth graders using the Web-based Accelerated Reader assessment program. Based solely on student archival data, this study focused on the hypothesized relationship between the volume and complexity of quizzes taken from books read using the Accelerated Reader assessment program and academic performance on the state’s standardized reading achievement portion of the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR) test. An independent sample t – test was also performed to investigate if there were any differences between the gender, language, and socioeconomic status of the subgroup …

Being A Trafficked Teacher: An Asiancrit Autoethnography Exploring The Exploitation Of Filipino Migrant Teachers In Louisiana, Christopher R. Jose

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this autoethnographic study is to critically explore the lived curriculum of Filipino migrant teachers trafficked by a Louisiana school district using the theoretical lens of AsianCrit. Using the different tenets of AsianCrit, this study wrestles with the injustices of this lived curriculum as connected to a broader set of hegemonic curricular experiences and demonstrates the ways such injustice still permeates the lived curriculum of migrant teachers. It explores its discussion on critical race theory in education, migrant teachers and human trafficking in the United States. This study shares the effects of human trafficking of teachers and the …

How An Instructor's Noticing For Equity Can Foster Students' Sense Of Belonging And Mathematical Confidence, Sthefania Espinosa

Theses and Dissertations

There are many aspects a teacher can notice inside the mathematics classroom, and the more a teacher notices, the more difficult it is to teach. In this study, I particularly focus on noticing for equity, which describes the role of the teacher in attending to students’ mathematical thinking through an equity lens that can allow the instructor to notice the aspects of classroom mathematical activity that can make students feel less or more empowered in their mathematical practices (van Es et al., 2017). There exists few research about how students perceive their instructor’s effort to promote equity and …

Prosodic Pitch And Intensity In Autistic Individuals, Cassidy Gooch

Theses and Dissertations

This study is an examination of how prosodic pitch and intensity compare in autistic individuals and neurotypical individuals. Ten-minute recordings of casual conversation were taken and analyzed. Participants included 11 autistic individuals and 11 neurotypical individuals with six males and five females in each group. The Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule, 2nd Edition (ADOS-2; Lord et al., 2012) prosody rating scale was used to collect a perceptual evaluation of each participan's prosody, and Praat acoustic analysis software was used to collect measures of pitch and intensity over the 10-minute period to investigate how speech characteristics change with conversation partner familiarity. Results …

Reframing Writing Teachers As Writers: Using Online Messages As Teaching Tools During Crisis And Beyond, Emily Capan

Theses and Dissertations

College writing teachers compose and write professionally often in our positions, but how often are we recognized as writers and not only as teachers of writers? During the sudden shift to emergency online learning during the COVID-19-interupted Spring 2020 semester, online communication became the primary, if not the only, way that college writing instructors were able to communicate with undergraduate students. Relying on surveys, interviews, and written artifacts, this dissertation investigates how college writing instructors at one Midwestern university learned to compose crisis communication messages to students in 2020–and what we have continued to learn and practice as online communicators …

The Experiences Of Microaggressions Among Latiné Health Service Graduate Students And The Supervisory Relationship, Mackenzie Callahan

Theses and Dissertations

Although data has shown that psychology graduate programs are actively recruiting more Students of Color every year, there is not as much evidence that these programs are able to adequately support these students once they arrive. The purpose of the current study is to examine how Latiné graduate students’ experiences of microaggressions from their supervisor affects their supervisory relationship, as well as their perceptions of their graduate program climate. I collected survey data from 80 Latiné psychology graduate students from across the United States and conducted small focus groups with five participants. I found that exposure to microaggressions within supervision …

Dispensing With Humans In Human-Computer Interaction Research, Courtni L. Byun

Theses and Dissertations

Machine Learning models have become more advanced than could have been supposed even a few years ago, often surpassing human performance on many tasks. Large language models (LLM) can produce text indistinguishable from human-produced text. This begs the question, how necessary are humans - even for tasks where humans appear indispensable? Qualitative Analysis (QA) is integral to human-computer interaction research, requiring both human-produced data and human analysis of that data to illuminate human opinions about and experiences with technology. We use GPT-3 and ChatGPT to replace human analysis and then to dispense with human-produced text altogether. We find GPT-3 is …

Student Learning And Literacy Practices When Video Games Are Incorporated Into A Secondary Classroom, Amy Smith

Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative study explored high school students’ engagement with a unit where video games and video game materials were incorporated into an English Language Arts classroom. Over several weeks, students engaged with video game content and composed their own video games using the free online platform, Scratch. The purpose of the study was to examine students’ learning during the unit, focusing on students’ products, individual interviews, and whole class and small group discussions. The research questions were: 1. What can be learned about secondary students' learning and literacy practices when video games as a text are incorporated into the secondary …

Towards Critical Reflexivity In Gifted Education Teacher Preparation, Inna Kruvi

Theses and Dissertations

Ever since the emergence of gifted education in the United States in the beginning of the twentieth century, the concept of giftedness has been used to marginalize, segregate, and exclude students of particular backgrounds from specialized academic programs. Among the factors that contribute to unequal access to gifted education for ethnically, culturally, linguistically, and economically diverse (ECLED) students, teacher bias, deficit thinking, and insufficient teacher preparation have been identified as especially significant (Coleman et al., 2015; DeWet & Gubbins, 2011; Mansfield, 2015). Among various approaches to mitigate underrepresentation of ECLED students, the concept of cultural humility (Tervalon and Murray-Garcia, 1998) …

Sun Protection Behaviors And Skin Cancer Risk Among Children Of Color, Williana Magloire

Theses and Dissertations

Sun protection is beneficial for children of color as it decreases the risk for sunburns, hyperpigmentation, and most importantly, skin cancer. Invasive melanoma is commonly seen in children of color due to inadequate sun protection. Parental and caregiver modeling of sun protection behaviors may decrease the likelihood of skin cancer among children of color. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP, 2011) has suggested that pediatricians adopt the role of informing parents about the benefits of using sun protection products for their young children. They recommended that providers discuss sun protection behaviors with both the parent/child beginning at the age of …

A Grounded Theory Of Relational Masculinity In Brazil, Douglas M. Wendt

Theses and Dissertations

Many societal problems in Brazil, including sexual assault, intimate partner violence, and fatherlessness, are said to be related to hegemonic masculine development, commonly known as toxic masculinity. Very little research has been conducted in Marriage and Family Therapy and related fields that explores masculinity in the context of family systems and within relational frameworks. Current research in this area focuses largely on the negative aspects of traditional masculinity that reinforce narrow stereotypes rather than highlight possibilities of relationally healthy masculine development. The aim of this study was to develop a constructivist grounded theory of relational masculinity in Brazil by interviewing …

Tale Of Two Toddlers: An Exploration Of Policies And Procedures For The Magnet School Process, Mary A. Schloz

Theses and Dissertations

School choice is often utilized in school districts for access and opportunity. Researchers have found that school choice does not inherently provide access to students. The goal of this mixed methods study was to determine if implementing a new platform for families to apply to magnet programs in an urban district would mitigate barriers. Along with the implementation of a new application platform, a survey was conducted by families to determine perception of school choice, along with barriers for families. Findings indicated the application platform that was implemented did not significantly change the magnet school enrollment by race. They also …

An Analysis Of Paid Agent Contracts Utilized In The Recruitment Of International Students At University System Of Georgia Institutions, Jeremiah Lee Pitts

Theses and Dissertations

Many colleges and universities view international student recruitment as the solution to their financial pressures, but they lack the ability to effectively reach international markets. While many students desire to study internationally, they lack the knowledge and resources to explore their options. Paid agents bridge the information and opportunity gaps between institutions and prospective international students. However, the use of paid agents is fraught with many dangers. Paid agent contracts govern the relationships between these entities in the absence of regulations. This study explored the paid agent contracts employed by colleges and universities within the University System of Georgia to …

Teachers’ Perceptions Of The Implementation Of Differentiated Instruction With Grade 3 Students In A School District In Central Georgia, Letasha Pope

Theses and Dissertations

It is a promotional requirement for grade 3 students to pass the Reading Georgia Milestones Assessment. Teachers are also expected to implement Differentiated Instruction (DI) with their students. The problem addressed in the study was to examine third grade teachers’ perceived effectiveness of Differentiated Instruction with students who must pass the Reading Georgia Milestones Assessment. The purpose of this bounded, case study was to describe teachers’ perceptions of implementing DI with grade 3 students in a school district located in central Georgia. The research paradigm that was used in this study was qualitative. This study included semi structured interviews of …

Building Leadership Capacity To Support International Educators: A Professional Learning Series, Amanda Hajji Minnillo

Theses and Dissertations

Due to teacher shortages, school districts across the country are hiring international educators to fill their staffing needs. This is particularly the case for world language and dual language immersion programs that seek to hire multilingual individuals. Educators who come from different countries need differentiated support in their acculturation process to the American education system. Rarely does training for instructional coaches or educational leaders provide the cross-cultural knowledge and content-specific training needed to support international educators. The purpose of this mixed-methods action research study is to understand international educators’ experiences coming to teaching in an American school district and leverage …

Critical Literacy And Student Engagement: Disrupting The Canon In The Secondary English Classroom, Katherine Burdick Ramp

Theses and Dissertations

Canonical literature is typically featured on the required texts list of secondary English classes while culturally relevant literature is frequently eschewed. Students struggle to understand and connect with the canonical literature as there are limited cultural connections that are relevant to their lives. As a result of this lack of culturally relevant literature in modern English curriculums, there has been a decrease in student engagement. The purpose of this study was to determine whether students’ engagement and their academic performance increased through the inclusion of these culturally relevant texts. Two research questions guided this study: (1) What effect does the …

Truth And Knowledge In A Literary Text And Beyond: Lydia Chukovskaya’S Sofia Petrovna At The Intersections Between Selves, Culture, And Paratext, Angelina Rubina

Theses and Dissertations

Although Lydia Chukovskaya’s novella Sofia Petrovna (1965) is not considered to be an autobiographical work, the life story of its protagonist, Sofia Petrovna, and the life of Lydia Chukovskaya herself have certain parallels. Chukovskaya’s very own fate, which she described in the foreword to the novella and in her other biographical works, is often viewed inseparably from the novella. However, among the many connections between the fictional fate of Sofia Petrovna and the real fate of Lydia Chukovskaya, one aspect that has not been properly explored by the critics is the “dialogue” between the author and the protagonist with respect …