Digital Commons Network^™

Exploring Factors Related To Customer Service Representatives’ (Csrs) Performance In Call Centers., Ruth R. Jayson-Polk

Theses and Dissertations

This study provides critical research on individual change and its impact on individual performance using the ADKAR change management model. This applied dissertation was designed to research improvement in call monitoring performance scores between two groups of customer service representatives’ (CSRs): the experimental group receiving the ADKAR change management intervention, and the control group, who did not receive the ADKAR change management intervention. The ADKAR change management model (Hiatt, 2006) provided the theoretical framework for the study.

The literature review revealed that change management is a critical component of organizational change but is driven by individual change. The literature informs …

Optimizing Recommendations For Clustering Algorithms Using Meta-Learning, Adam Jilling

Open Access Master's Theses

The field of machine learning (ML) has seen explosive growth over the past decade, largely due to increases in technology and improvements of implementations. As powerful as ML solutions can be, they are still reliant on human input to select the optimal algorithms and parameters. This process is typically done by trial and error, as researchers will select a number of algorithms and choose whichever provides the most desirable result.

This study will use a process called meta-learning to evaluate and analyze datasets and extract a series of meta-features. These features can then be used to intelligently recommend an optimal …

The Relationship Between Personality Of Students In An Intergenerational Program And Attitudes Toward Older Adults, Maryam Marzban

Open Access Master's Theses

With the rapid aging of the population as well as increasing diversity in United State, research on ageism and intergenerational relationships is increasingly warranted. Ageism, or the prejudicial attitudes towards older adults, is seen as one of the most prevalent preconceived judgments that can cause poor treatment, and may even decrease levels of confidence, happiness, and health for older adults (Bishop, 2016). Intergenerational programs can provide many benefits for both younger and older adults, including developing positive changes in attitude towards aging (Wescott & Healy, 2011). Currently, the University of Rhode Island (URI) Engaging Generations: Cyber-Seniors program was developed to …

Data Analytics For Wearable Iot-Based Telemedicine, Rassoul Diouf

Open Access Master's Theses

Parkinson’s disease (PD, Parkinson’s) is a common neurodegenerative disease affecting over 10 million individuals worldwide. Its main marker is the loss of dopamine-producing neurons in the substantia nigra, an area of the midbrain. The root cause of PD is currently unknown. Besides, the disease is progressive, and the symptoms worsen as the ones affected grow older. Motor symptoms such as tremors, slowness of movement, and muscular rigidity, along with other non-motor ones, such as trouble with sleep, may occur. The current solutions for PD are medication and, in cases when the disease does not respond to it as much as …

The Role And Function Of School Counselors In Charter Schools, Allison Grabias

Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

Charter schools have become a mainstream educational reform over the past two decades. Charter schools are public schools, but have autonomy to make decisions independent of local school boards. School counselors across the country use the American School Counselor Association National Model to create and evaluate their comprehensive school counseling programs. Charter schools are based on the idea of innovation and educational reform. Consequently, job roles are frequently redefined. Charter school counselors have been absent from the research. The purpose of this study was to explore the role and function of school counselors in charter schools and examine if their …

A Grounded Theory Approach To Studying Community College Retention And Success Initiatives In Tennessee, Duane D. Gregg

Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

With the introduction of the Tennessee Promise and Tennessee Reconnect, approximately 24 percent of the college student population in the fall of 2018 in Tennessee was made up of community college students. The community college retention and graduation rates need to increase significantly for Tennessee to meet its Drive to 55 goal for degree attainment. The purpose of this grounded theory research study was to identify and understand the different programs, initiatives, and strategies that have been utilized at the five Tennessee community colleges with the highest retention rates between fall 2015 and fall 2017. The theoretical framework for this …

Teachers' Evaluation Of Usefulness Of Professional Development Activities: Examining Roles Of Teacher Collaboration And Administrative Support, Joseph Grovogui

Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

This study uses a national sample of middle and high mathematics teachers from the Schools and Staffing Survey (SASS) to predict the usefulness of professional development on mathematics reading instruction. We found that teacher collaboration is significantly related to teachers perception of useful professional development on mathematics reading instruction. Although administrative support is expected to provide incentives and opportunities for teachers to grow, this study found that it has no influence in teachers perception of useful professional development in any of the models of the study. With regards to the influence of teacher collaboration and administrative support, our findings showed …

The Effects Of Self-Leadership On The Job Satisfaction And Job Performance Of Online Instructors, John Hall

Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

AbstractHall, John R. Ed. D. The University of Memphis. July 2019. The Effects of Self-leadership on the Job Satisfaction and Job Performance of Online Instructors. Major Professor: Dr. Wendy Griswold.Innovations in technology and media have led to changes in the way that higher education is experienced. Today, the convenience, accessibility and flexibility of online learning are embraced by students across the globe. In response to these progressive advancements along with increasing competition for enrollment growth and budgetary concerns, many college and university leaders are framing online education as key element of their strategies for the future. Rising demands for online …

Effect Of Flipped Classroom Approach On Middle School Students Math Motivation And Math Anxiety In India, Smita Jain

Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

The purpose of this experimental posttest-only study was to determine the effect of the flipped classroom approach (FCA) instructional strategy on motivational orientations of middle school students in math in India. The research questions focused on the effect of FCA on students value component (intrinsic goal orientation, extrinsic goal orientation, task value), expectancy component (self-efficacy and control beliefs), and affective component (test anxiety). These variables were measured using the Motivated Strategies for Learning Questionnaire (MSLQ).Two intact sections of eighth-grade students (n=66) from a private K-12 school in India participated in the study. Participants were randomly assigned to one of two …

Mama Bear Conversations: A Template Analysis Of Mothers Message Board Discussions Of Hpv Vaccination And Weight Management For Their Pre-Adolescent And Adolescent Children, Kristin Whitten Johnson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

The growth of the Internet has allowed users to gather in online spaces to share thought processes and information about any number of topics, and mothers in particular have found value in these communities as they seek to navigate the rough waters of motherhood. The aim of this research is to examine three message board forum threads at Cafemom.com where mothers gather to discuss two specific health care concerns for their pre-adolescent and adolescent children: human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination and weight management. In an attempt to understand how mothers gather in these spaces to discuss these important pre-adolescent and adolescent …

The Black Experience And Responses To Anti-Black Racism, Samaiyah Jahaan Jones Scott

Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

In this dissertation, I focus on aspects of the Black experience concerning African American responses to anti-Black racism in the United States. The ideas I examine allow me to further the dialogue concerning quintessential questions pertaining to anti-Black racism that arise from the Black experience in America that are now reformulated to help African Americans respond to current forms of anti-Black racism. Have Black intellectuals historically accepted shared responsibility for racism? Do contemporary shared responsibility models hold African Americans responsible for anti-Black racism? Is national minority status a viable response to anti-Black racism? In each chapter, I enter the respective …

An Examination Of The Relationship Between Associate Degree Program Preadmission Grade Point Average (Gpa), American College Test (Act) Scores And Degree Completion And Success On The National Council Licensure Examination-Registered Nurses (Nclex-Rn), Anthony Jouvenas

Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

AbstractAN EXAMINATION OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ASSOCIATE DEGREE PROGRAM PREADMISSION GRADE POINT AVERAGE (GPA), AMERICAN COLLEGE TEST (ACT) SCORES AND DEGREE COMPLETION AND SUCCESS ON THE NATIONAL COUNCIL LICENSURE EXAMINATION-REGISTERED NURSES (NCLEX-RN).Associate Degree Nursing programs in Alabama have more applicants than available spots, making them highly competitive programs to gain entry. The community colleges that offer these programs are facing many challenges including performance-based funding, open-enrollment policies, and high attrition rates. Given these conditions, program directors institute an application grading process in an effort to select applicants whom the programs believe is most likely to graduate and to be successful …

The Effects Of Intergroup Contact On Intergroup Anxiety And Transgender Prejudice: An Examination Using Structural Equation Modeling, Yasuko Kanamori

Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

Background: Evidence suggests that transgender individuals face high levels of prejudice, discrimination, and violence. Despite the known negative impact of transgender prejudice, research is lacking on interventions to reduce transgender prejudice. One possible solution might be found in the intergroup contact theory, which has substantial empirical support as an effective strategy to reduce prejudice across diverse populations and situations. Aims: The present study sought to apply the intergroup contact theory to the study of transgender prejudice. First, the study developed and pilot tested the performance of the Transgender Affect Misattribution Procedure (Transgender AMP), a measure of implicit transgender prejudice. Second, …

Profiles Of Spirituality And Religiosity Among Diverse Young Adults: Relationships With Meaning-Making And Well-Being, Caroline Cecil Kaufman

Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

Spirituality and religiosity are salient constructs in the lives of young adults and are associatedwith several positive physical and mental health outcomes. A significant body of researchsuggests that these constructs should be assessed concurrently and multidimensionally to gain afull understanding of these phenomena. The current study examined patterns ofspirituality/religiosity, associations between such patterns and positive outcomes, anddemographic predictors of patterns in an understudied population. A total of 199 racially diverse,non-university attending young adults were recruited from a job-preparedness program situatedin the Midsouth United States. Participants completed measures of demographics, multiplemeasures of spirituality and religiosity, meaning-making, and well-being. Latent profile analysiswas …

Health-Related Quality Of Life, Obesity, Disrupted Sleep, And Psychosocial Problems Among Youth With Craniopharyngioma, Kimberly Lauren Klages

Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

Patients with craniopharyngioma experience hypothalamic dysfunction, weight gain, disrupted sleep, excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS), fatigue, and psychosocial problems that negatively impact health-related quality of life (HRQoL). The extent of hypothalamic tumor involvement (HI) has been shown to be associated with higher rates of these impairments; however, the direct and indirect effects of these relations have yet to be investigated. The goal of the current study was to examine relations between HI, body mass index (BMI), sleep disruptions, EDS, fatigue, psychosocial problems, and HRQoL among youth with craniopharyngioma. 84 youth with craniopharyngioma (Mage =10.27 + 4.3 years, 53.6% female, 64.3% White) …

Graduate Survey, 2018-2019, Hart Career Center, Illinois Wesleyan University

First Destination Survey

No abstract provided.

Something In The Air: Effect Of A Narrative-Account Podcast On Empathy And Client-Centeredness In Occupational Therapy Students, Stephanie Bullard Lancaster

Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

Empathy and client-centeredness are aspects of professionalism essential to the effectiveness of occupational therapy services. As such, both are key components of the educational process of occupational therapy students, as highlighted by the integration of both concepts in the standards set forth by the accrediting body of occupational therapy education programs. Additionally, although a host of anecdotal accounts support the significance of empathy and client-centeredness in the work of occupational therapy practitioners, there is limited evidence in the literature supporting specific treatments in addressing either in the education of occupational therapy students. In response, an investigation was conducted of the …

Exposure To Health Warning Labels On Waterpipe Tobacco Packages: An Application Of The Modified Extended Parallel Process Model On Quitting Behavior From Three Waves Of The Path Study, Jayaprakash Kumar

Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

The prevalence of waterpipe (WP) smoking has increased steadily in the United States despite growing evidence of its serious health consequences and addictive potential. Although, health warning labels (HWLs) on cigarette packages are effective in preventing initiation and cessation of smoking, the effect of HWLs on WP tobacco packages have seldom been studied. This study modified the extended parallel process model (EPPM) by adding motivation as a mediating construct and applied to examine if it predicts the effect of health warning label on waterpipe tobacco packages on quitting behavior. Data from the three waves of the Population Assessment of Tobacco …

Influences Of Parent Physical Activity Support And Physical Activity Modeling On Adolescent Physical Activity Engagement And Weight Status, Cardella Lashay Leak

Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

Childhood obesity rates continue to rise with adolescents (12-19 years old) having the highest prevalence (20.6%) across all age groups. Previous studies have indicated the importance of physical activity (PA) to assist with reducing obesity rates among adolescents. Parents influence their adolescents PA as they are typically adolescents first exposure and gatekeepers to both direct and indirect PA behaviors through their support and modeling of PA. This dissertation used parent-adolescent dyads from the Family Life, Activity, Sun, Health, and Eating (FLASHE) study to examine the associations between parent PA support and PA modeling and adolescent moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) engagement …

Premature Treatment Termination In Integrated Primary Care: A Mixed Methods Investigation Among African American Adults With Chronic Pain, Courtney Maclin

Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

Despite the growing number of U.S. patients impacted by chronic pain (Nahin, 2015), many, particularly African Americans go without adequate treatment due inequitable care (Anderson, Green, & Payne, 2009; Resnik, Rehm, & Minard, 2001). Even when the gold-standard treatment is accessible, many African Americans do not remain in care, electing to prematurely terminate treatment (Bonham, 2001; Green, Baker, Sato, Washington, & Smith, 2003). The Behavioral Model for Healthcare Utilization (BMHU) is widely used to understand how individuals engage in health care treatment and was recently expanded to be more inclusive for racial minorities (Bradley et al., 2002). However, little research …

The Role Of Executive Function In Supporting Reading Fluency In Students With Dyslexia: A Latent Growth Curve Analysis, Ashley Mayhew

Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

AbstractThe purpose of this study was to examine the role of executive function (EF) skills (i.e., working memory, cognitive flexibility, and inhibition) in supporting the development of reading fluency in elementary school students with dyslexia. Participants were 47 students (i.e., second to sixth grade) attending a private school in the Mid-South region of the United States that provides an intensive day-treatment program for students diagnosed with dyslexia. Latent Growth Curve Modeling (LGCM) was used to explore the concurrent and predictive relation between EF and oral reading fluency across a school year. Overall, results from the study indicated that executive function …

Behind The Veil: Mothering Empowerment, Rebecca Darby Mitchell

Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

As Toni Morrison states in her text, The Site of memory, early slave narratives were written with the purpose of providing a historical account that was representative of the race and of enticing readers to see the worth and human nature of the subjects. In doing this, Morrison notes that the authors fell short of revealing the interior life as it was often dubbed too terrible to relate. After examining the interior lives of the mother figures in the texts of Harriet Jacobs, Toni Morrison, Dolen Perkins-Valdez, and Valerie Martin, it becomes clear that these maternal figures were not merely …

Physical Disabilities And Theatre: We Discover What It Is To Be Human And What Is Possible For Humans To Be., Jennifer Annette Nettleton

Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

This dissertation examines the portrayal of physically disabled characters in dramatic literature over the course of the late nineteenth through the twentieth into the twenty-first century. My core argument is that performance art, sideshows, and theatre are safe means by which people have been able to look fixedly at those who are different. Additionally, this project will address the historical context of certain plays productions and how our evolving understanding of, representations of, and conceptions about those who are different change over time. Theatre allows individuals to be seen and to see; thus, by utilizing the core concepts and ideas …

Assessing The Factor Structure And Classification Accuracy Of The College Alcohol Problems Scale Using A Population Of Students With Disabilities, Kristi L. Nobbman

Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

Alcohol use on college campuses is an issue of public health. Sixty percent of college students consume alcohol on a monthly basis. Identifying students risk of alcohol related problems is compounded when working with academically at-risk students. Students with disabilities (SWD) are considered an at-risk group and make up 11% of student population on college campuses. The College Alcohol Problems Scale (CAPS) is widely used on college campuses and has shown versatility with African American students, deaf and hard of hearing students, and Spanish speaking students. The purpose of this study was to determine if the two-factor model of CAPS …

Pap Testing Screening Experiences Of Hiv-Positive Women, Siri Alicia Ogg

Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

The Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted disease, and is known to cause genital warts, cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN), and cervical cancer. HIV-positive women are at greater risk of contracting HPV, experiencing CIN, having more advanced-grade CIN, and developing cervical cancer due to their compromised immune status. Since becoming an essential part of womens preventive healthcare, the Papanicolaou test, commonly known as the Pap smear, has helped to reduce cervical cancer incidence and mortality; however, many HIV-positive women do not meet recommended Pap test screening guidelines. This study addressed the following research question: What psychosocial, cultural, contextual, …

Psychometric Evaluation Of A Theoretically-Derived Waterpipe Nicotine Dependence Instrument For Adolescent Waterpipe Smokers, Mohammad Masudul Alam

Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

Introduction: Waterpipe smoking has become a global phenomenon in recent years, especially among adolescents. Some users exhibit symptoms of nicotine dependence (dependence), but instruments have not been developed to assess dependence in this population. This dissertation utilized 28 self-report items related to multiple features of dependence that were generated by work conducted at the Syrian Center for Tobacco Studies (SCTS). These 28 items were used to develop and psychometrically evaluate an adolescent-specific waterpipe dependence instrument.Methods: From a five wave (two year) school-based cohort study of 498 8th and 9th grade students in Beirut, Lebanon, 192 current (past month) waterpipe smokers …

Sociocultural And Academic Acculturation Challenges Encountered By Saudi Female Students In The United States, Samar Ali Aldhahri

Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

Coming from a completely different culture, Saudi female students encounter a number of challenges adapting to the American culture. These acculturation challenges may affect their academic, social, and life experiences in the United States. The purpose of this study was to explore the acculturation challenges encountered by Saudi female students in the United States and their strategies to cope with their challenges. The study also aimed to investigate the roles of participants demographic variables and the historical changes in Saudi Arabia on their experiences in the United States. To achieve these objectives, a mixed methods research was adopted implementing an …

A Study Of Saudi Teachers And Students Attitudes Toward The Use Of Esp At A Saudi Military Academy, Sulaiman Rashed Algofaili

Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

English for Specific Purposes (ESP) classes address the specific professional and technical fields of students learning English and attempt to use appropriate materials and approaches to do so. At the King Abdulaziz Military Academy (KAMA) in Saudi Arabia, ESP classes prepare students for military careers. However, officers who graduate from KAMA notice that their level of English is lower than that required to command non- Arabic speakers, and they struggle in communicating with others in English. The reason behind the students low competence at KAMA is still not clear but could result from the choice of approaches or texts used …

Investigating Sequential Vocabulary Learning Strategies As A Means Of Improving L2 Vocabulary Acquisition, Adel Marzouq Alharbi

Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

One of the key aspects to learning a language is building good vocabulary knowledge. However, building vocabulary is considered to be as hard a process as developing the language itself in the long term. In second language acquisition (SLA), the larger vocabulary size has been connected to intelligence and as a major determinant of successful language use. With the constant use of vocabulary learning strategies (VLSs), language learners have reported successful growth of their language learning. The current study investigated SpanishEnglish bilingual speakers beliefs and practices about sequential VLS processes as a means of improving second language vocabulary acquisition. The …

Saudi Esl/Efl Learners Metacognitive Online Reading Strategies In Arabic And English, Hamad Mohammed Alluhaydan

Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

Historically, Saudi readers have demonstrated poor metacognitive reading skills and literacy practices. This study investigates what online metacognitive reading strategies ESL and EFL Saudi learners believed they used more frequently in Arabic and English. It also shows perceived differences between Saudi male and female ESL/EFL learners in their strategy use while reading online texts. The lack of practice reading in Arabic or English affects comprehension skills; less than 25% of participants felt they could answer reading comprehension questions in class. Male and female participants did not differ in their use of global, support, and problem-solving metacognitive online reading strategies when …