Digital Commons Network^™

Teacher Perceptions Of The Motivational And Influential Strategies Of Their Principals, And That Effect On Teacher Retention, Carl Henry Semler

Student Theses and Dissertations

Teacher Perceptions of the Motivational and Influential Strategies of Their Principals, and that Effect on Teacher Retention This study explored the connections between perceived principal motivational and influential leadership strategies and their impact on teacher retention. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 12 highly-qualified grades 9-12 teachers to gain insight through their perspectives of the experiences of principal leadership and how it influenced job satisfaction and teacher retention in culturally-diverse schools. Transformational Leadership Theory and Critical Race Theory were selected as the guiding framework for this study, which was best applied to comprehend the nature of the alignment between perceived principal …

Preparation Of Novice Teachers In Special Education, Shayna Miles

Student Theses and Dissertations

This study investigates the perceptions of ten novice special education teachers regarding their preparation for teaching in public school classrooms. Using Pedagogical Content Knowledge (PCK) theory as a lens, the research reveals a mixed sense of preparedness among participants, who generally felt knowledgeable about core subject areas yet struggled to apply this knowledge effectively in practice. Key gaps were identified in their training, particularly concerning technical skills related to Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) devices and communication and collaboration with other educational stakeholders. Participants expressed challenges in accessing practical assessments and highlighted the need for further training in managing classroom …

Perceptions Of Mentoring Relationships And Novice Teacher Self-Efficacy And Attrition, Renee Dunwoody

Student Theses and Dissertations

A study of over 400 new Level 1 licensed teachers in New Mexico found that mentorship relationships directly correlate to a teacher's self-efficacy and their likelihood of leaving the profession. The study surveyed traditionally trained and alternative licensure teachers employed in New Mexico and in their first 3 years of teaching. The results revealed that teachers who had high-quality relationships with their mentors, as scored on the Leader- Member Exchange 7 Questionnaire, had a stronger belief in their own self-efficacy and were less likely to consider leaving the teaching profession. In contrast, teachers who rated their mentors highly on the …

A Qualitative Exploration Of The Factors Influencing The Academic Experiences Of African American Division I Collegiate Athletes In Mississippi, Deshannon Smith

Student Theses and Dissertations

African American collegiate athletes make up a large percentage of Division I athletic programs in Mississippi, particularly in high-revenue sports such as football and basketball. Despite access to strong coaching, facilities, and support services, African American collegiate athletes graduate at lower rates than their peers. The problem addressed in this study was the consistently low academic achievement among African American collegiate athletes in Division I athletic programs in Mississippi. The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological research study was to investigate the lived experiences that contributed to the academic achievement of African American collegiate athletes in Division I athletic programs in …

Band Directors: Risk Factors For Vocal Dysphonia, Brianna Bumpous

Student Theses and Dissertations

The voice is an extensively utilized tool for high school marching band directors, which places them at risk for vocal disorders due to the profession's demands. Responsibilities such as leading rehearsals, teaching instrumental techniques, and directing require extensive vocal use in acoustically challenging environments, including football fields, large open indoor practice areas, and loud acoustic spaces. Research exists regarding vocal health for teachers, coaches, and musicians, yet little research has been conducted for high school marching band directors. This non-experimental exploratory study aimed to analyze if high school marching band directors experience dysphonia due to their occupation and if female …

College Preparedness: Exploring Faculty Perceptions Of First-Year Students’ Literacy Skills Transitioning From High School, Shanell Glass Bailey

Student Theses and Dissertations

This study explores faculty perspectives on the literacy skills of incoming freshmen at small community colleges in southern Mississippi, where literacy challenges affect student success. The problem addressed is the preparedness of freshmen in reading and writing, which impacts their academic performance and development through college. The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to examine the lived experiences of faculty who teach entry-level English courses and to identify the support students need to succeed in literacy. Constructivist learning theory served as the guiding framework, emphasizing the ways prior knowledge, active engagement, and social interaction influence how students construct meaning …

The Adverse Mental Health Effects Caused By Acculturative Stress And Its Influence On First- And Second-Year Immigrant Students In The United States, Sara Sparks

Student Theses and Dissertations

Relevant literature points out the adverse effects of acculturative stress, particularly on the mental health of immigrants. Recent studies also emphasize that immigrant students are academically behind their U.S.-born, native English-speaking peers. However, few studies explore how the adverse mental health effects of acculturative stress influence immigrants’ academic performance. This gap in literature is significant given the academic disparities. Applying Berry et al.’s (1987) acculturative stress conceptual framework, as well as Sirin et al.’s (2019) framework on the mental health outcomes caused by acculturative stress, research was conducted focusing on factors that cause acculturative stress, its mental health implications, and …

Psychological Impacts Of Caring For Individuals With Fluent Versus Nonfluent Aphasia, Allisyn Rae Converse

Student Theses and Dissertations

This investigation sought to explore the mental health differences between caregivers of individuals with fluent aphasia versus caregivers of individuals with nonfluent aphasia with a focus on their levels of depression, anxiety, and stress. This study had a quantitative, non-experimental between group research design, utilizing a Qualtrics survey including the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and the Perceived Stress scale to collect all data. Both caregivers of individuals with nonfluent and fluent aphasia can experience psychological impacts of serving as a caregiver such as elevated stress, anxiety, and depression. However, this study reveals that caregivers of individuals with nonfluent aphasia …

Mississippi Teachers' Perspective Of Professional Learning Supports And Their Effects On Student Learning Outcomes When Implementing High-Quality Instructional Materials, Mandy Michael Johnson

Student Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative study was to identify and describe the perspectives of Mississippi teachers on the professional learning support and outcomes associated with implementing high-quality instructional materials (HQIM) in their classrooms. Grounded in Vygotsky's sociocultural theory of cognitive development, this study surveyed eleven elementary teachers from a Mississippi school district to determine their perspectives on the professional learning support provided for an HQIM, based on their experiences, and its effects on student learning outcomes. After analyzing the data using Braun and Clarke's six-phase thematic analysis method, it was concluded that teachers rely heavily on state-level literacy coaches for …

Change Management In Higher Education: The Role Of Non-Academic Staff In The Change Process., Scott Robert Kuttenkuler

Student Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to explore the lived experiences of non-academic staff regarding preparedness and response to significant institutional change within higher education during the COVID-19 pandemic. Guided by Kotter’s (1995, 2012B) Change Model, the study examined how non-academic personnel perceived leadership effectiveness, readiness for change, and resistance to change amid an unprecedented disruption that reshaped higher education operations worldwide. Fifteen non-academic staff members employed at two-year colleges in the South-Central United States participated in semi-structured interviews designed to elicit in-depth, descriptive accounts of their experiences. Participants represented four primary functional areas—front-facing support, information technology, facilities …

The Role Of Athletic Department Staff And The Effects On Student-Athlete Persistence, Makenzie Brooke Mcgaha

Student Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this case study is to determine what collegiate student-athletes believe contributes to their motivation to persist and achieve their goals as a student-athlete. In-person and virtual interviews were conducted using four student-athlete participants and four athletic staff participants. The data was then transcribed and evaluated using McClelland’s Need Theory (1961) for theme development. For student-athletes this included the importance of community, supports, and student-athlete identity. For athletic staff members this also included student-athlete community, supports, and unpreparedness. Overall, the findings of this study depict that there are supports, services, and athletic staff members that can impact student-athletes’ …

K-3 Southern, Rural, Public-School Teachers’ Perspectives On Literacy Post Covid, Venesia Dreon Griffin Brown

Student Theses and Dissertations

Over the years, research has been undertaken to find what works to improve proficiency in literacy skills. However, most of the research has been done in urban areas. Therefore, the problem addressed in this study is K-3 literacy in southern, rural areas where students are below grade level and falling further behind, increasing the risk of student-drop out in their later years. The research is rooted in the interviews of 11 teachers in four states, Alabama, Arkansas, Louisianna, and Mississippi. They gave their perspectives and experiences on literacy education post Covid. Consequently, the purpose of the qualitative phenomenology study was …

Examining The Influence Of Cultural Sameness Or Difference Of Principals And Teachers On Students Perceived Connectedness, Asmaa Fahmy Kabel

Student Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative, phenomenological study explores how cultural sameness or difference between students and their teachers and principals influences students’ perceived sense of belonging and connectedness to their school community. Drawing on Cultural Intelligence Theory (Earley & Ang, 2003) and Social Learning Theory (Bandura, 1977), this study investigates the nuanced ways in which students internalize and interpret their relationships with school personnel, with attention to shared and differing cultural attributes beyond race alone. Twelve participants, all one to five years post–high school graduation from traditional public schools, were selected through purposive and snowball sampling. Participants completed a demographic questionnaire followed by …

The Impact Of Applying For A Post-Secondary Opportunity When Coming From A Low Socioeconomic Status, David Marlow Price

Student Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to explore the lived experiences of high school seniors attending a socioeconomically disadvantaged high school as they navigated the process of applying for postsecondary education. Grounded in Social Cognitive Theory (Bandura, 2001) and Achievement Motivation Theory (McClelland, 1968), the study examined the barriers and motivators influencing students’ pursuit of higher education. Despite national efforts to improve college access, significant gaps persist for students from low-income households due to limited financial resources, inadequate guidance, and minimal exposure to postsecondary options. The study was conducted at a rural high school in western Tennessee where …

Stories From Former Foster Youth College Graduates: The Positive Impact Of K-12 Schooling And Related Educational Policy, Amanda Moon, Kristen D. Seay

Faculty and Staff Publications

Youth in foster care face disproportionate challenges when it comes to education and personal well-being. Many studies use a deficit lens when evaluating these challenges. In contrast, this study is asset-based, centering first-person accounts from five former foster youth college graduates. Using a counter-narrative framework, we conducted semi-structured interviews with participants to reveal key supports in K-12 schooling participants believed helped them achieve academic and life milestones. These were relationships with teachers and coaches, access to extracurricular activities, and literacy-rich environments. We also reviewed 11 relevant federal educational policies to identify provisions and implementation needs that aligned with participant experiences. …

Volume Cxlv, Number 10, January 23, 2026, Lawrence University

The Lawrentian

No abstract provided.

Relating To Ai, Nick Breems

Faculty Work Comprehensive List

"As users of technology, we do have a choice."

Posting about ­­­­­­­­exercising discernment in using technological tools from In All Things, an online hub that offers insight into maintaining and faithful and orthodox Reformed Christian worldview while fearlessly engaging in every aspect of contemporary life – until all is made new.

Relating to AI

A Universal Of Human Social Cognition: Children From 17 Communities Process Gaze In Similar Ways, Manuel Bohn, Julia Christin Prein, Agnes Ayikoru, Florian M. Bednarski, Ardain Dzabatou, Michael C. Frank, Annette M.E. Henderson, Joan Isabella, Josefine Kalbitz, Patricia Kanngiesser, Dilara Keşşafoğlu, Bahar Köymen, Maira V. Manrique-Hernandez, Shirley Magazi, Lizbeth Mújica-Manrique, Julia Ohlendorf, Damilola Olaoba, Wesley R. Pieters, Sarah Pope-Caldwell, Katie Slocombe, Robert Z. Sparks, Jahnavi Sunderarajan, Wilson Vieira, Zhen Zhang, Yufei Zong, Roman Stengelin, Daniel B.M. Haun

School of Psychology

Theoretical accounts typically assume that key features of human socio-cognitive development are universal. This paper reports a large-scale cross-cultural study (17 communities, diverse ethnicities, N = 1,377, 709 female, mean = 5.50 years, -collected March 2022 to January 2024) on gaze following in early childhood. To test for universality, cognitive processing signatures were derived from a computational model treating gaze following as social vector estimation. Results showed substantial variation between communities and individuals. Yet, the processing signature was found in all communities. Individual differences in performance were related to children's familiarity with the data-collection device but not opportunities for social …

Communication Disorders Graduate Student: Perspective Of Voice, Maycie Brentney Terrell / Blankenship

Student Theses and Dissertations

This study examined the influence of training in SPEAK OUT!® on the perceptual ratings of voice and speech made by communication disorders (CD) graduate students. The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of SPEAK OUT!® training by comparing those who have undergone SPEAK OUT!® training with those who have not. To address this, 36 participants who attend communication disorders graduate programs within the United States were recruited. Data were collected through a Qualtrics survey distributed via email and analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS). The findings indicate that perceptual ratings across most voice …

The Influx Of Public-School Students In Private Schools And The Effects On The Classroom Management Strategies Used By Private School Teachers, James Moore

Student Theses and Dissertations

In the current climate of expanding school choice, epitomized by Arkansas’s LEARNS Act, a significant number of students are transitioning from public to private schools. With policy debates centering on access and funding streams, the impact of this demographic shift remains critically underexplored by researchers. This interpretive phenomenological study addresses the significant gap that exists in examining the classroom management strategies and lived experiences of 12 private school teachers in Central Arkansas. The common misconception is that behavior may be the biggest challenge for teachers; however, findings indicate that the most significant challenge for students transitioning is the academic rigor. …

Examining The Influence Of Principals’ Perceived Authentic Leadership And Teachers’ Psychological Capital On Teachers’ Burnout Syndrome And Turnover Intentions In Catalan Schools, Eduardo Torrecillas Sanchez

Student Theses and Dissertations

This study was performed in the Spanish region of Catalonia. The purposes of the current study were fourfold: Firstly, the study explored whether authentic leadership, psychological capital, or burnout syndrome differed between teachers' genders or experiences. Secondly, the current study investigated whether aggregate measures and/or the dimensions of authentic leadership and psychological capital were associated with burnout syndrome. Third, this study examined whether burnout syndrome predicted turnover intentions. Lastly, this study examined whether authentic leadership moderates the relationship between psychological capital and burnout syndrome, as well as turnover intentions. The multidimensional Maslach’s theory of burnout was selected as the guiding …

A Phenomenological Inquiry Into Kindergarten Teacher Perceptions Of Literacy Skills, Angela Shelton

Student Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative phenomenological study explored kindergarten teachers’ perceptions of the literacy skills of students from households with limited financial resources, compared to students who attended the universal preschool program located in District A with those who did not. The study addressed three research questions: 1. How do teachers perceive the literacy skills of these students? 2. How do teachers describe their experiences teaching literacy to these students? and 3. What resources or professional development do teachers identify as helpful in supporting literacy instruction? Semi-structured interviews with kindergarten teachers were conducted and analyzed to identify common themes. Participants reported that children …

Factors Affecting Teacher Satisfaction At Two School Districts In North Carolina Post Covid-19 Pandemic, Thomas Young

Student Theses and Dissertations

The COVID-19 pandemic caused an interruption to instruction for teachers and students across the United States and left educators unsure of the future as they returned to in-person classes. This phenomenological qualitative study concluded on the lived experiences of middle school teachers in two North Carolina districts to help uncover the reasons why they are satisfied or dissatisfied with their jobs after returning to the classroom since the pandemic. Inspired by Herzberg’s Motivation-Hygiene Theory, this research investigated the extent to which working conditions influence teacher morale, retention, and job satisfaction. Fourteen teachers of various subject areas, years of experience and …

Online Student Perspectives Of Impactful Feedback, Kathleen Mcnichols Irvin

Student Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative study examined how online graduate students perceived and experienced instructor feedback, focusing on its role in learning, the challenges of applying it, and preferences for formative, summative, or blended approaches. Fifteen students participated in semi-structured interviews, and four joined a follow-up focus group. Findings revealed that students viewed feedback as fundamental to understanding course expectations, improving academic work, and fostering motivation. However, vague or delayed feedback was seen as unhelpful and discouraging, often limiting opportunities for improvement. Three central themes emerged: the value of feedback as a learning tool, barriers to engaging with feedback effectively, and preferences for …

Should I Stay Or Should I Go? Principal Experiences And Persistence In Title I Kindergarten Through Eighth Grade Central Texas Schools, Lisa Islas Walls

Student Theses and Dissertations

The role of the school principal is among the most challenging and influential positions in education. Research demonstrates that principals are the second most significant in-school factor affecting student achievement, after classroom instruction, and that stable, effective leadership is crucial for fostering a positive school culture, promoting teacher retention, and improving student outcomes. Yet, principal turnover remains high, particularly in Title I schools serving low-income and minority populations, where unfavorable working conditions and limited systemic support exacerbate instability. This qualitative phenomenological study explored the perspectives of individual principals on their lived experiences within Title I K-8 public school districts located …

Community And Individual Risk Factors Associated With Tuberculosis Treatment Outcomes: Ca, Md, And Oh, [2017-2021]., Kadiatu Banjoko

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

There are unsuccessful treatment outcomes with Tuberculosis (TB) disease, although effective therapies exist. This study aimed to identify predictors of unsuccessful treatment using the socioecological model. A quantitative cross-sectional study and multinomial logistic regression analysis were used to measure the associations between long-term care (LTC), homelessness, correctional facility, Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), diabetes, excess alcohol, illicit drug use, and TB treatment outcomes of death, lost to follow-up, and treatment refusal. The sample consisted of 7,589 individuals aged 15 and older with pulmonary TB between 2017 and 2021, residing in California, Ohio, and Maryland. Findings indicated a correlation between community factors …

High Impact Service Learning: College Student Reflections On Out-Of-School Programming For Youth With Type 1 Diabetes, Eddie Hill, Ron Ramsing, Rowan Williams

ACA National Camp Research Forum Abstracts

No abstract provided.

From Forest Aversion To Pro-Environmental Attitudes And Behaviors: Impacts Of A 3-Day Culturally Informed Camp, Candace Jones, Xiangyou Shen

ACA National Camp Research Forum Abstracts

No abstract provided.

Exploring The Conceptual Value Of Different Program Models In Seriousfun Children's Network, Gemma Kiernan, Suzanne Guerin, Nina Meret Zumbrunn, Monika Hernek, Ann Gillard

ACA National Camp Research Forum Abstracts

No abstract provided.

Summer Staff Burnout, Empathy, And Belongingness In Disease-Specific Camps, James Rujimora, Amanda Dediego, Ann Gillard

ACA National Camp Research Forum Abstracts

No abstract provided.