Digital Commons Network^™

Self-Efficacy In Teacher Education Majors: Development And Maintenance During The Capstone Internship Semester, Deebe M. Milford

Theses and Dissertations

This study explores the process of self-efficacy development in baccalaureate seeking teacher education majors from the teacher candidate's perspective. Using the mixed methods, quasi-experimental approach, the study measures the impact of a 16-week internship capstone experience on self-efficacy levels of early childhood, middle childhood, and secondary level teacher education majors at five universities in a southeastern state. Key research questions framing the study include those pertaining to the level of change in early childhood, middle childhood, and secondary education teacher candidates' levels of efficacy in the dimensions of classroom management, classroom instruction, and student engagement, noting factors that influenced the …

The Influence Of Organizational Climate On The Use And Quality Of Evidence-Based Practices In School Mental Health, Katherine Knies

Theses and Dissertations

Organizational climate is defined as the reflection of workers’ perceptions of, and emotional responses to, the characteristics of their work environment (Glisson & James, 2002). While previous research explored the importance of organization climate for the adoption of evidence-based practices (EBPs) in mental health settings, there is a dearth of organizational climate focused research in school mental health settings (SMH). The current study examines the influence of organizational climate on two separate dependent variables: the extent to which EBPs were used and the quality of clinician delivery for the evidence-based practices used in a quality improvement intervention for SMH practitioners. …

Transforming A System: Leadership To Implement An Intervention And Referral Services Process That Assists Teachers, Michael Lee

Theses and Dissertations

Improving instruction to meet diverse student needs via early, intensive, and continuing intervention is an essential part of a comprehensive strategy to serve all students now and to produce the graduates 21st century society requires. Yet, meaningful school reform with transforming leadership, innovative vision, conversations among teachers, and authentic student achievement still remains elusive today. Our limitations in putting new ideas into practice come not from a lack of will or effort, but, in part, from the influences of our personal stories, mental models, and an immunity to change. This action research study explores educators' perceptions and behaviors in implementing …

Considering Distributed Leadership And Its Effects On Teacher Leadership Practices And Student Achievement Leadership Practices And Student Achievement, Justin Finney

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation examined the construct of distributed leadership in schools. This work presents the results of a theory building study investigating the following research questions: (a) In schools, is there a relationship between distributed leadership practices and increased student achievement? (b) How does distributed leadership shape and inform the experiences, practices, and agency of teachers and school administrators within a school that espouses a distributed paradigm with regard to its leadership and management practices? These questions were considered through a longitudinal mixed methods study of the leadership practices at Grantham Middle School and Bishop Elementary. The findings suggest that distributed …

Evaluating The United Nations Development Assistance Framework (Undaf) As A Strategic Programming Tool At The National Level, With Special Reference To Egypt, Rasha Mahmoud

Theses and Dissertations

The unique character of the United Nations (UN) imposes strategic challenges on the organization’s leadership and management structures at the national and the international level. In response to these challenges, the UN reform efforts, introduced in 1997, paved the way for the UN system effectiveness, efficiency and coherence. Emerging from the reform, the United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF) engages various development stakeholders in identifying and achieving national development priorities. This review found that the UNDAF is an effective strategic instrument that well-positions the UN at the national level and it enhances national capacities and supports national governments in identifying …

Distinguishing Assessment From Accountability: Honoring Student Learning And Values In Assessment, Erin Elizabeth Pearce Thomas

Theses and Dissertations

Accountability is documented as one of the two major forces for engaging in assessment (Ewell, 2002, 2009; Keeling, 2006; Keeling et al., 2008; Love & Estanek, 2004; Terenzini, 1989). Due in part to neoliberalism's influence on education assessment rhetoric and discourse, accountability dominates how assessment is understood and practiced. The dominance of the accountability rhetoric effects how student affairs educators perceive and value assessment. The purpose of this study is to explore why assessment is not a pervasive or consistent practice within student affairs. Through an interpretivist case study examination of Manresa University's division of student affairs, participant observation, document …

Building Parent Support For Implementation Of Assessment For Learning ( A4 L ) At The High School Level, Sarah Highfill

Theses and Dissertations

Researchers articulate the positive effects of parental engagement with education. Networking with parents has become a recent focus for educational leaders working to enhance learning. With parent presence diminishing within secondary schools and emphasis on formative assessments rising, this study examined the possibility of family support to supplement the Assessment for Learning (A4L) reform implementation. Using an action research framework, four research questions were addressed. These included what attracts parents to support Assessment for Learning (A4L) reforms at the high school level, the value parents place on assessment reform, and what affects parent perceptions and influences their support of the …

Transforming The Culture Of The Stem Disciplines: A Multiple Case Study Of Successful Strategies For Inclusive Excellence, Telesia Evon Davis

Theses and Dissertations

In spite of the myriad initiatives promoting diversity and inclusion in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) disciplines at colleges and universities across the country and the increased funding for these types of initiatives, colleges and universities have experienced modest gains and, in some cases, slight declines in the graduation rates of women and underrepresented minorities (URMs). In addressing this issue, some institutions rely on traditional or “deficit” approaches that place primary responsibility on students for their success in the STEM fields. A growing number of institutions, however, embrace the concept of inclusive excellence, which is an assumption that underrepresented …

Problematic Eating Behaviors Among College Women: Suggesting A Subgroup, Danielle Genovese

Theses and Dissertations

Problematic eating behaviors and attitudes are a major problem for men and especially women across the country. A particularly vulnerable group of women to eating disorders and skewed perception of their bodies are college women with 86% of women reporting onset of their eating disorder by the age of twenty (ANAD, 2000). Previous research suggests that women in sororities report higher insistences and experiences with eating behaviors and attitudes associated with eating disorders. The current study hypothesized that sorority women will have higher reported levels of problematic eating behaviors and attitudes associated with eating disorders than non-sorority women. The participants …

Utilization Of Emotional Intelligence Traits By Public School Superintendents In The State Of Arkansas, Lisa Ann Adams

Theses and Dissertations

A leadership shortage has been documented across professions. Emotional intelligence skills, traits, and abilities have received much attention as a tool for business leaders in the past decade as a way to increase leadership skill, meet organizational goals, and enhance profits. The study sought to determine whether public school superintendents in the state of Arkansas who self-reported high levels of emotional intelligence traits on the Test of Emotional Intelligence Questionnaire-Short Form (TEIQue-SF) managed school districts with higher student achievement and larger school district budgets as compared to superintendents who reported lower levels of emotional intelligence traits. If so, results might …

Social Innovation And Innovation Champions: An Analysis Of Public And Private Processes, Alisia Daily

Theses and Dissertations

This research intends to gain deeper insight into the social innovation processes within public and private organizations. The purpose of the study will be to determine if public and private organizations are influenced more by internal organizational factors or external organizational factors. Using Roger’s diffusion theory, Mohr’s internal determinants and Berry and Berry’s unified theory as a foundation, this research will endeavor to prove hypotheses which suggest that private organizations are influenced more by internal organizational factors and public organizations are influenced more by external organizational factors although not exclusively. The research method for this study will involve a mixed …

The Effect Of Group Level Factors On Affective Convergence In Teams: An Agent Based Model, Chaunette Marie Small

Theses and Dissertations

Previous research supports the idea that affective convergence occurs in teams. The phenomenon of group affect has been well documented, however the group level conditions through which affective convergence emerges has received very little research. The current study helps to fill this gap by using agent-based modeling to examine affective convergence under varying group conditions. Agent-based modeling is a recently developed approach to research that uses the power of computers to model individual level behaviors and examine group level emergent constructs. The current study examined display rule presence, display rule breadth, social influence, interdependence, and team size on affective convergence. …

The Relationship Between Teachers’ Levels Of Cultural Competence And The Nomination/Referral Process For Gifted Identification Of Culturally And Linguistically Diverse Students, Patrice C. Wilson

Theses and Dissertations

This study examined the extent to which teachers’ levels of cultural competence is a factor in the nomination/referral process for gifted identification of culturally and linguistically diverse students. Specifically, this study compared the self-assessed perceptions of second and third grade elementary teachers’ cultural competence to the various factors included in the gifted referral process. A quasi-experimental quantitative study was used. However, this study superficially included some qualitative exploration due to the nature of the open-ended survey questions and secondary data set analysis. Quantitative data were collected via an adapted version of the Cultural Competence Self-Assessment for Teachers survey created by …

Measuring The Efficacy And Quality Of A Professional Development Training On Prejudice Reduction And Reflective Practice: Transforming The Delivery Of Change Through Collective Insight And Informed Action, Berdine Gordon-Littrean

Theses and Dissertations

The overall objective of school improvement planning is an enhanced level of student achievement through an enhanced leadership framework and successfully implemented program. The improvement plan process requires focus on specific priorities to effect real change. The purpose of this action research study was to provide professional training as part of a continuum change initiative. The study analyzed the salient factors or areas of critical concern, impacting prejudice and controversial issues settings. These variables included levels of leadership, and significance of the following: diversity of identity and experiences, stereotyping, internalized oppression, building pride and capacity, becoming allies, making commitments to …

A Study Of The Impact Of Workplace Spirituality On Employee Outcomes: A Comparison Between Us And Mexican Employees, Jose Luis Daniel

Theses and Dissertations

The concept of workplace spiritualty (WS) has gained importance in the last years. However, most of the research has been qualitative and focused on culture in the United States. The purpose of this study is to expand the understanding of workplace spirituality by conducting an empirical analysis of its impact on employee outcomes such as job satisfaction, organizational commitment, turnover intention, and individual innovative behavior in Mexico and the United States. The research model predicts that workplace spirituality will have an effect on all employee outcomes. A total of 304 employees from different industries in Mexico and the US were …

Towards Reengineering The United States Department Of Defense: A Financial Case For A Functionally-Aligned, Unified Military Structure, Luke R. Stover

Theses and Dissertations

This research examined the potential financial and non-financial benefits of working towards reengineering the Department of Defense (DoD) through the adaptation of a functionally-aligned, unified organizational structure. Based on historical analysis of the DoD's current structure, a proposed DoD structure is presented that aligns operational functions under functional corps and support functions under existing defense-wide agencies and field activities. An analysis of overlapping functionality between services provided the basis for quantitative analysis of size-of-force and budget request data for Fiscal Year 2013 (FY2013). This analysis enabled the comparison of operational efficiency between services. These rates were used to benchmark operational …

An Analysis Of Total Force Integration In Red Horse Organizations, Grant R. Bloom

Theses and Dissertations

Total force integration (TFI)--the operational linking of geographically proximate active duty (AD) and air reserve component (ARC) units with similar missions--has become a prevalent method for greater utilization of ARC forces to reduce operating costs. This research examines TFI implementation in Rapid Engineer Deployable Heavy Operational Repair Squadron, Engineers (RED HORSE), a subset of Air Force civil engineering, in terms of the outcomes units receive from being in a TFI initiative, what factors contribute to causing those outcomes, and how those outcomes may be improved by manipulating the contributing factors. Four cases of RED HORSE TFI were studied using case …

A Change Management Approach To Enhance Facility Maintenance Programs, Stanton P. Brown

Theses and Dissertations

A recent study assigned a grade of D+ on the nation's public infrastructure. Because of this poor asset condition, many organizations tend to respond to maintenance in a reactive mode; however, relying on corrective maintenance leads to increased maintenance costs due to unplanned downtime, increased labor costs, and inefficient use of personnel. To address this situation, asset management (AM) principles should be employed to transition organizations towards a proactive maintenance program. Unfortunately, it has been shown that two-thirds of the organizations failed to implement general change efforts. Therefore, an organizational change management framework should be followed to implement a change …

A Method To Determine An Organization’S Compatibility With Hybrid Workspaces, Richard T. Ellis

Theses and Dissertations

Facing fiscal constraints, organizations should investigate new ways to ensure their weapons, equipment, facilities and personnel operate with improved efficiency. The adoption of hybrid workspaces offers a unique solution to improve both space utilization and workplace efficiency. The premise behind hybrid workspaces is that workspaces are not assigned to individuals; instead, a variety of different work areas are constructed to allow individuals to choose where they accomplish their work-related tasks. However, hybrid workspaces are still an emerging concept and represent a radical departure from traditional workplace setups. Current use of hybrid workspaces falls primarily in the private sector and there …

An Explanatory Mixed-Methods Approach To Tracing “Career Pathways” Policy In Virginia: How School Counselors And Student Demographics Influence Implementation Fidelity, Michael Ormsmith

Theses and Dissertations

This explanatory mixed-methods policy analysis describes how school counselors' thoughts and attitudes contribute to the implementation fidelity of the Academic and Career Plan (ACP) policy in a suburban Virginia school division. A quantitative survey investigated counselor thoughts about the policy, implementation behaviors, and counselor ideas about equity issues related to providing college and career planning services to at risk students. Counselor interviews were conducted to provide deeper insight about the street level implementation practices and beliefs of counselors. Findings reveal that counselors place substantial value in the ACP policy and think the process is useful for connecting student interests and …

Strategic Human Resource Management And Organizational Performance: A Case Study From An Egyptian Nonprofit Organization, Nivin Abdelmeguid

Theses and Dissertations

This study examines the relationship between strategic human resource management (SHRM) and organizational performance outcomes in Egyptian nonprofit organizations. The study uses a mixed-methods approach where quantitative research is followed by in-depth interviews to test the proposed relationships among variables at a growing human services nonprofit organization operating in Cairo. Data helped in identifying relationships between four unique SHRM configurations (retention, acquisition, training and internal labor market) and two workforce characteristics (employee intent to leave and human capital) proven by empirical literature to have a direct impact on perceptual measures of organizational performance. While research results suggested that measures of …

The Construct Of Self Within A Multicultural Context: A Critical Analysis, Amy Kim

Theses and Dissertations

This critical analysis of the literature explores the construct of self from indigenous perspectives to increase cultural responsiveness in psychological theory, research, and practice. Mainstream psychology addresses various aspects of self, including self-esteem, authentic self, self-actualization, and true self (Elliott & Coker, 2008; Kernis, 2003; Kernis & Goldman, 2006; Maslow, 1964; Rogers, 1961), without defining self or what it means to be a human being. Theories of self are essentially theories of what it means to be a human being (Logan, 1986). Despite the breadth of interest, research, and theory in self, there is a pervasive omission of clear and …

A Resource Manual Of Bullying Intervention Programs For Parents, Educators, And Community Officials In The Los Angeles Area, Angel Michelle Roubin

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to develop a resource manual for teachers, educators, and community officials in the Los Angeles area to facilitate identification of an intervention program that meets their specific needs. The methodology of this project involved several steps. First, Internet research identified bully intervention programs in the Los Angeles area, who were contacted for participation in the research study. A total of seven programs were interviewed regarding program elements, including use of "effective" intervention strategies, as identified by previous research. The interview data was organized into a resource manual, along with information about bullying (i.e., definitions, …

Successful Reorganization Of Rural North Dakota Schools With Declining Enrollment, Steven Lewis Johnson

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to identify perceptions of North Dakota leaders who had been involved in successfully reorganized school districts resulting from declining enrollments and reduced resources. All reorganized districts in this study were affected by serious declining enrollments in their respective rural communities. These successfully reorganized school districts developed reorganization plans and positive cultures within their communities that resulted in each plan being passed by a voting citizenship. The school districts studied laid the groundwork for reorganization with neighboring districts by forming cooperative agreements in athletics, shared staff, and shared special education services.

The researcher sought answers …

Educator Perceptions Of Digital Game-Based Learning In The Instruction Of Foreign Languages In Japanese Higher Education, Stephan J. Franciosi

Theses and Dissertations

Digital Game-Based Learning (DGBL) is an innovative educational approach that is becoming increasingly popular among researchers and practitioners in technologically advanced countries in the West, but is largely unknown or ignored in the instruction of Foreign Languages (FL) in Japanese higher education. This is problematic because more interest in research and implementation among faculty in Japan would likely contribute to the development of DGBL and improve the quality of FL education. The purpose of the present study was to better understand the lack of interest in DGBL in Japan by employing Everett Rogers' Innovation Diffusion Theory to explore the perceptions …

The Evolution Of A Learning Organization: The Evaluation Of Corporate Learning Groups In A Knowledge Management Effort, Karen Ann Kearns Manz

Theses and Dissertations

There exists considerable interest in the development of successful knowledge management program initiatives across every industry. This research aims to improve the overall discipline of knowledge management within the context of a corporate environment, so that competitive advantages can be realized from cultivating and sharing tacit knowledge routinely among a company's employees. The analysis of a well-resourced knowledge management program will allow guidelines to be developed to prescribe successful future knowledge management programs. Prior studies may have missed the human factors elements related to how employees learn and build knowledge in the workplace. Specifically, the learning group (LG) portion of …

Critical Competencies Needed For Successful Outside Sales Managers: A Delphi Study, Christie Cooper

Theses and Dissertations

As the world is rapidly advancing in technology and organizations are changing to become flatter, leaner, more efficient and more profitable it is critical for leaders and managers to keep their skills relevant to the world. In particular, outside sales managers once thought if they were outstanding performers as a sales person the next logical promotion would be to an outside sales manager. Therefore, it is vital to the success of an organization and the human capital in the organization, that leaders, in particular outside sales managers, have the necessary skills or competencies to be successful. The purpose of this …

Ileadership: The Leadership Style Of Steve Jobs, Christopher J. Valentine

Theses and Dissertations

In a technology-driven society, the global hunger for innovative products has put increased pressure on organizations to think differently. The pressure from shareholders on management to drive innovation and deliver financial results has forced leaders to adapt and look for new solutions to meet this demand. The solutions for which organizations are searching may reside in a new form of leadership required to achieve this expectation of performance. The purpose of this dissertation was to discover what leadership characteristics are required to achieve a high-performance technology organization. The primary goal was to review and decode archival scholarly and contemporary literature …

Leveraging The Power Of Social Media To Maximize Organizational Learning And Drive Performance, Camilla C. Nguyen

Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative ethnographic study addresses the phenomenon of rapid social media expansion, which creates organizational challenges. Ongoing development of advanced technology products means that effective organizations must be more adaptive and receptive to new approaches and changes in their environment. In a hyper connected society, one where workers are linked through social media--at work, home, vacation, in a restaurant, or anywhere else--organizations need to unify their communication systems to leverage the potential that enhanced and collaborative communication can yield (Meister & Willyerd, 2010). The research undertaken is directed at obtaining data on levels of social media penetration into organizational learning …

Exploring Leadership Styles From A Mediator's Perspective: A Phenomenological Study Examining Four Specific Organizational Leadership Styles And Their Relationship To Four Mediation Styles As Summarized By Leonard L. Riskin, Thomas J. Gajewski

Theses and Dissertations

If a successful organization is one where internal strife is minimized, then it stands to reason that a successful leader is an individual who knows how to handle conflict. Handling conflict, though, should not be approached intuitively, as the field of mediation has developed numerous techniques to understand and address conflict. To date, though, these techniques have not been categorized by leadership styles. The purpose of this study was to develop such a framework to understand how conflict resolution relates to the disciplines of mediation, organizational behavior, and organizational leadership. To further this endeavor, four themes were developed. These themes …