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A Revitalized Educational Conception Of Growth In The 21st Century For Contemporary Education Praxis In Nebraska, Scott Blum

Department of Teaching, Learning, and Teacher Education: Theses and Other Student Research

My dissertation argues for a revitalized conception of growth in the 21^st century and contemporary education. Through reconstruction, re-conceptualizing, and re-emphasis of growth, this revitalization attends to acute challenges in schooling and can impact praxis in education today. This pragmatic and philosophical work places a revitalized conception of growth as the purpose of education and, to the extent that education is life, continual growth as a process for living.

John Dewey provided his conception of growth during the 19^th and 20^th centuries as he valued the natural capacities a human being possesses for experiencing life. He recognized …

"Hear Us, See Us": Constructing Citizenship In The Margins, Tricia M. Hagen Gray

Department of Teaching, Learning, and Teacher Education: Theses and Other Student Research

The meatpacking industry has drawn an increasing number of immigrants to the Midwestern community of Washington River from Mexico and Central America, making it a New Latino Diaspora (NLD) receiving community. Demographic change amidst the sociopolitical landscape of neoliberalism, declining civic engagement, and polarized partisan politics has forced interaction between longstanding residents and newcomers who are socially, culturally, and linguistically different. Historically marginalized groups have sought to claim rights—especially since Donald Trump’s election in 2016—resulting in a deeper fissure of the social landscape.

Washington River High School provided a context in which to explore questions about how students construct citizen …

Analytical Modeling Of A Communication Channel Based On Subthreshold Stimulation Of Neurobiological Networks, Alireza Khodaei

School of Computing: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

The emergence of wearable and implantable machines manufactured artificially or synthesized biologically opens up a new horizon for patient-centered health services such as medical treatment, health monitoring, and rehabilitation with minimized costs and maximized popularity when provided remotely via the Internet. In particular, a swarm of machines at the scale of a single cell down to the nanoscale can be deployed in the body by the non-invasive or minimally invasive operation (e.g., swallowing and injection respectively) to perform various tasks. However, an individual machine is only able to perform basic tasks so it needs to exchange data with the others …

An Unmanned Aerial System For Prescribed Fires, Evan M. Beachly

School of Computing: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Prescribed fires can lessen wildfire severity and control invasive species, but some terrains may be difficult, dangerous, or costly to burn with existing tools. This thesis presents the design of an unmanned aerial system that can ignite prescribed fires from the air, with less cost and risk than with aerial ignition from a manned aircraft. The prototype was evaluated in-lab and successfully used to ignite interior areas of two prescribed fires. Additionally, we introduce an approach that integrates a lightweight fire simulation to autonomously plan safe flight trajectories and suggest effective fire lines. Both components are unique in that they …

The Effects Of Culture On International Advertising Appeals: A Cross-Cultural Content Analysis Of U.S. And Japanese Global Brands, Dan Zhao

College of Journalism and Mass Communications: Professional Projects

An international advertising campaign can be standardized in creative strategy, but localized in execution. As an integral part of the execution, advertising appeals should be tailored to local culture to maximize the effectiveness of international advertising campaigns while minimizing cost. The purpose of this study is to investigate whether advertising appeals mirror predicable differences in cultural values.

This study is based on the influential Hofstede model (Hofstede, 2001; Hofstede & Mooij, 2010), which distinguishes cultures according to six dimensions. While individualism and collectivism have been widely discussed in published studies, other dimensions that are also important indicators of advertising appeals …

Justin Martyr, Irenaeus Of Lyons, And Cyprian Of Carthage On Suffering: A Comparative And Critical Study Of Their Works That Concern The Apologetic Uses Of Suffering In Early Christianity, Aaron Kilbourn

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Suffering in Early Christianity has often been highlighted in martyrdom and the stories surrounding the persecution of the Early Church. The biblical idea of redemptive suffering was not an afterthought to the Christian community or part of what Joyce Salisbury calls, “the unintended consequences of ancient violence,” but it appears to be part and parcel of the Early Christian community as they sought to live faithfully to Christ’s teachings. As the Early Church lived out redemptive suffering, it became apparent to the surrounding culture and critics of Christianity that their suffering was different and it pointed to something else. Through …

An Examination Of The Necessity For Servant Leadership In The Pastoral Role: Biblical Principles Will Be Explored, Fred Jensen

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

In this paper, a detailed analysis of servant leadership in the evangelical church is explored. Realizing that there is much diversity regarding leadership patterns, an examination of servant leadership is essential for impacting the lost and bringing about spiritual change in the church. It is paramount to consider servant leadership as clearly exemplified by Jesus Himself. This document addresses the necessity of servant leadership in the pastoral role as demonstrated by Jesus. This type of leadership needs to be restored to the church. In order for the church to be productive, it is imperative for senior pastors to adopt the …

A Correlation Study Of Professional Development Perception And School Achievement In North Carolina, Kevin Popadines

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Adult learners have distinctly different needs and motivations compared to those of children. These needs and motivations need to be kept in mind to help ensure meaningful and successful learning experiences in professional development offered to educators. The purpose of this correlation study is to determine if the perceptions educators have of the professional development they receive had a statistically significant relationship to the school achievement within their North Carolina public schools. The educator perceptions regarding professional development were measured by using the North Carolina Teacher Working Conditions (NCTWC) Survey. School achievement was measured by the school performance grade score. …

A Case Study Comparison Of Self-Perception Of Latino First Year College Students And Latino Second Year College Students, Corinna Rene Cavanaugh

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative case study was to understand the self-perceptions of Latino students at an institution of higher education in Eastern Pennsylvania. Specifically, first and second year Latino student’s self-perceptions of campus assimilation and involvement in campus activities were studied. Latino assimilation into Western culture has been tumultuous. Although statistics report Latino college enrollment to be the second highest in the nation, second only to Asian enrollment, degree completion rates continue to be the lowest in the nation. Subsequently, a rise in Latino population is dramatically influencing the higher education classroom, and educators are confronted with meeting the …

A Phenomenological Investigation Of Pharmacists' Experiences, Motivation, And Preferences In The Context Of Continuing Pharmacy Education, Laura Beth Ladymon

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to describe select Tennessee pharmacists’ experiences, motivation, and preferences in the context of continuing pharmacy education (CPE). The pharmacists’ experiences, motivation, and preferences related to CPE were generally defined as participating in CPE programming in a manner that meets the needs of the pharmacist. Also, select pharmacists were defined as pharmacists with at least six hours of continuing pharmacy education credit within the last year. This study explored how 12 pharmacist participants in Tennessee experienced CPE as well as what motivated them to attend CPE activities. Additionally, the study investigated pharmacists’ preferences in …

Growing In Favor With God And Man: Attachment To God And Psychological Separation Of Christian, Millennial College Students, David Allen Gregory

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this quantitative, correlational study was to examine whether Christian, Millennial college students’ secure attachment to God relationship could contribute to their psychological separation. This question was addressed by examining (a) the correlation between attachment to parents and psychological separation, (b) the correlation between attachment to parents and attachment to God, and (b) the correlation between attachment to God and psychological separation. Bowlby’s (1969, 1973, 1982) attachment theory was used as the theoretical foundation to explore both the students’ relationships with parents and God. Attachment to parents of Christian, Millennial college students attending a Southern Christian college was …

Parental Involvement Impact And The Academic Success Of African American Fourth Grade Males, Dana C. Madison

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this causal comparative study was to examine if there was a statistically significant difference in the academic achievement of African American 4th grade males who had strong parental involvement and those who had little to no parental involvement. The data for this causal comparative study was obtained through the benchmark and developmental assessment reading scores as well as the results of the Parent Success Indicator Survey. This survey was designed to measure how the parents viewed their involvement in their child’s education. The research questions were (1) Is there a statistically significant difference between the academic success …

Trudy's Triumph: A Narrative Life History Of An Adolescent Survivor Of Abusive Head Trauma, Crystal G. Ledford

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this narrative study was to describe the life history of an adolescent survivor of an abusive head trauma in the Southeastern United States. Abusive head trauma is a form of inflicted brain injury, often occurring because of violence in the form of shaking or impact to the head of an infant under the age of two years old (Chevignard & Lind, 2014). Life history is defined as a first-hand account to convey understanding of a life. The primary participant was a 19-year-old, Caucasian female survivor of an abusive head trauma that occurred when she was five months …

The Effects Of Equine Assisted Leadership Programs On Perceived Professional Development Outcomes, Leighanne Pentecost

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this causal-comparative study was to compare the mean scores of the survey instrument to determine if there were statistically significant differences between the mean pre-test and post-test scores of perceived professional development obtained by participants of the Equine Assisted Learning leadership programs. The participants in the study were chosen by a convenience sampling method. The sample in the study is comprised of 36 members from three (3) EAL leadership programs selected from North Carolina, Ohio, and California. The Leader Attributes Inventory was used to collect pre-test and post-test data from each participant in the study. The paired …

Effects Of Social-Emotional Education On Pre-Kindergarten Student Academic Achievement, Lauren Pierce Starnes

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Social-emotional education is an ongoing area of interest to optimize student achievement and ameliorate problem behaviors. This study examines the systematic effects of social-emotional education on preschool students’ academic achievement testing. A sample of Pre-Kindergarten students from private, suburban preschools was examined for this study. The results of this study yielded strong positive academic achievement scores in the domains of Verbal Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning, and Early Math for students exposed to a social-emotional education program compared to a matched sample not exposed to social-emotional education. The results add to the research on social-emotional education by studying a lesser-studied population of …

Revenue Accrual Quality As An Indicator Of Financial Statement Fraud, Meredith Potts Jackson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study was conducted to address the need for additional financial statement fraud detection techniques. Accruals were chosen as the focus of this study due to the high likelihood of financial statement manipulation using accruals. Using the Dechow/Dichev accrual quality model, this study tested whether or not accrual quality can be used as an indicator of financial statement fraud. The study concluded that the Dechow/Dichev model found non-fraudulent financial statements to have higher quality accruals than fraudulent financial statements. In addition, accrual quality of non-fraudulent financial statements was found to be significantly different from the accrual quality of fraudulent financial …

Science Instruction In A Culture Of High-Stakes Assessment: A Transcendental Phenomenological Study Into The Experiences Of Missouri Elementary School Teachers In A Non-Assessed Grade Level, April Williams

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of the transcendental qualitative phenomenological research is to describe the characteristics and strategies of teachers who share the same experiences in teaching science, a non-assessed content, in a high-stakes assessment environment at the third and fourth grade levels. Teacher curriculum choices are dictated by the need to prepare students to take content area standardized assessments in the grade level taught. Science instruction that focuses on scientific reasoning may lead to Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) careers for students. Teachers who elect to teach science at the elementary level in a manner that develops scientific reasoning are an …

The Examination Of Executive Leadership Succession Planning Strategies In Georgia's Community Colleges, Craig Jackson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The problem addressed observed the lack of succession planning at two-year colleges in Georgia in identifying future leaders in higher education. Due to escalating impending retirements, resignation, and discharge, it is vital that succession plans are implemented within the college for promotions. Leadership succession planning has seldom been incorporated into community college’s strategic planning. The emphasis of this research study was to examine how leadership succession planning can be developed and implemented in the community college arena in Georgia. Challenged by increased enrollments, diminishing state funding, accountability for student success, and increased public oversight, this study intended to provide awareness …

A Study Of Fatherlessness In The African-American Community In Relationship To The Positive Role Of Christianity, Kevin Smith

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The following study is a qualitative investigation into the issue of fatherlessness among African Americans and its relation to the positive role of Christianity. The primary objective of the study is to determine, understand, and describe the circumstances that brought about fatherlessness and what role Christians may play to help address the problem. Also, the study focuses on developing a deep understanding of the consequences of fatherlessness and what role Christians may play to help mitigate these consequences. The results of this research will reconnect, revitalize, recover trust, ease the pain, and implement healing for fathers, children, and all involved. …

The Effectiveness Of High Frequency Word List Instruction On Star Reading Test Scores, Michael Foster

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this quantitative, quasi-experimental study was to test the theory of using high frequency word list (HFWL)-based instruction when teaching beginning reading instruction. This study compared the reading fluency changes of eight classes across three different grades containing 115 students over 5 months as measured by the Standardized Test for the Assessment in Reading (STAR) when intervention students are given identical instruction using different popular HFWLs. One control group received no such intervention. The Fry HFWL was used. The resulting scores were analyzed using an independent-samples t test. The comparisons determined the effectiveness of teaching beginning reading using …

Identifying As Husbands, Fathers, And School Leaders: A Phenomenology Of Doctoral Persistence Among Limited Residency Students, John Patterson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This transcendental phenomenological study investigated doctoral persistence for males (N = 13) who completed their limited residency doctoral program (LRDP) while managing their family roles as fathers and husbands, and while performing their work role as a K-12 lead school administrator. Participants were selected via snowball sampling from private universities that offered a LRDP in the United States. The theories guiding this study were Tinto’s (1975, 1993, 2006) student integration theory (SIT) and Hobfoll’s (1989) conservation of resource model (COR). Tinto’s (1975, 1993, 2006) SIT explained the academic and social interaction between the individual and the institution, while Hobfoll’s (1989) …

The Black Church And Community: A Model For Church Community Engagement And Development, Brye Mcmillon

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This project examines the role of the Black Church in the development of the African American Community and seeks to encourage churches to embrace this role. Support for communities by churches in rural North Alabama is key to improving living conditions and achieving biblically based outreach. This project investigates the church’s theological duties for community outreach and provides a biblical mandate as a part of a larger community development model, while preparing ministry teams for outreach. This paper will consider the equipping methodology that leads to a trained ministry team able to reach, identify, and fulfill the needs of the …

Thailand Church Planting As A Mission Field Through The Korean Church With A Focus On The Church Of Thailand Sarang, Taewan Kim

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This research is a study on planting Thailand churches as mission fields, with a focus on the Church of Thailand Sarang (CTS). Christians in Thailand are estimated to be 0.5 % of the whole population. Bangkok is considered a gateway city for Buddhism in Southeast Asia; the city is strategically important for Christian mission. Thailand has had a Christian influence during the past 190 years, but the number, influence, and self-support of the churches are still weak. Therefore, the necessity for the cooperation between Korean churches in Thailand and Korean missionaries is present. The human, material, and spiritual resources may …

Latinx Students In Stem Education Research: A Crt And Latcrit Analysis Of Nsf Funded Projects, Hortencia Lara

Department of Educational Administration: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

This thesis used Critical Race Theory (CRT) and Latino Critical Race Theory (LatCrit) to conduct an in-depth analysis of whether literature funded through the use of National Science Foundation (NSF) research awards perpetuates race, racism, or other interacting systems of oppression in the research or if the investigators resisted inequalities against Latinx students in STEM research. This thesis examined how the investigators of twenty NSF-funded articles examined the experiences of Latinx students in STEM. From a CRT and LatCrit lens I analyze articles to see if and in what ways researchers are complicit with oppression and which ways they resist. …

Improving Service Delivery Through Provider Training: A Process Evaluation Of The Veterans Affairs Palo Alto Health Care System “Commitment To Serve” Workshop, Ismael Barrera

Master's Projects

As the customer-focused management strategies gradually advances into all of the VISNs [Veterans Integrated Service Networks], the Veterans Health Administration in Palo Alto, California implemented a customer service training program for employees to meet the diverse and complex needs of its customers. This research will analyze whether participants in this training, known as Commitment to SERVE, believe that it is achieving its goal. In other words, does the Veterans Affairs Palo Alto Health Care System (VAPAHCS) staff perceive the Commitment to SERVE workshop as a beneficial customer service training program?

Santa Clara County Senior Nutrition Program Evaluation Report, Tae Hwan Ihm

Master's Projects

Santa Clara County conducts a Senior Nutrition Program (SNP) in conjunction with the City of San Jose, the Outreach Paratransit Program and local community-based organizations (CBOs) like Sourcewise (Lam, 2015). These programs combined represent a significant investment of public funds, with more than 45% of the SNP program’s funding coming from the county General Fund (Lam, 2015). Such a large financial commitment needs to demonstrate some benefit to the participants, and some positive outcomes from the current program design. This study evaluated the SNP’s effectiveness in achieving its primary goals. Primary goals of the SNP are to promote senior citizens’ …

Experimental Design And Data Analysis In Computer Simulation Studies In The Behavioral Sciences, Michael Harwell, Nidhi Kohli, Yadira Peralta

Journal of Modern Applied Statistical Methods

Treating computer simulation studies as statistical sampling experiments subject to established principles of experimental design and data analysis should further enhance their ability to inform statistical practice and a program of statistical research. Latin hypercube designs to enhance generalizability and meta-analytic methods to analyze simulation results are presented.

On Variance Balanced Designs, Dilip Kumar Ghosh, Sangeeta Ahuja

Journal of Modern Applied Statistical Methods

Balanced incomplete block designs are not always possible to construct because of their parametric relations. In such a situation another balanced design, the variance balanced design, is required. This construction of binary, equal replicated variance balanced designs are discussed using the half fraction of the 2n factorial designs with smaller block sizes. This method was also extended to construct another variance balanced design by deleting the last block of the resulting variance balanced designs. Its efficiency factor compared with randomized block designs was compared and found to be highly efficient.

Performance Evaluation Of Confidence Intervals For Ordinal Coefficient Alpha, Heather J. Turner, Prathiba Natesan, Robin K. Henson

Journal of Modern Applied Statistical Methods

The aim of this study was to investigate the performance of the Fisher, Feldt, Bonner, and Hakstian and Whalen (HW) confidence intervals methods for the non-parametric reliability estimate, ordinal alpha. All methods yielded unacceptably low coverage rates and potentially increased Type-I error rates.

A Monte Carlo Study Of The Effects Of Variability And Outliers On The Linear Correlation Coefficient, Hussein Yousif Eledum

Journal of Modern Applied Statistical Methods

Monte Carlo simulations are used to investigate the effect of two factors, the amount of variability and an outlier, on the size of the Pearson correlation coefficient. Some simulation algorithms are developed, and two theorems for increasing or decreasing the amount of variability are suggested.