Digital Commons Network^™

Urban Teachers’ Perceptions Of The Influence Of Their Alternate Route Certification Programs On Their Retention, Jenifer Phillips

Student Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative case study explored how secondary teachers in one urban public school system described their experiences in alternate-route certification programs and how those experiences shaped their decisions to stay in the classroom. As districts continue relying on alternate-route teachers to address ongoing shortages, it is important to understand how teachers interpret their preparation, coaching, and early classroom experiences through the lens of adult learning, or andragogy, and what supports they believe actually helped them succeed with students, particularly in areas such as phonological awareness, classroom management, and foundational instructional practices. A total of 196 teachers met the study’s criteria …

Exploring Teachers' Perceptions Of The Influence Of Social Emotional Competencies On Virtual Students' Academic Success, Melanie Cheyanne Spence

Student Theses and Dissertations

The problem addressed in this study is that the effects of Social Emotional Learning (SEL) competencies on academic achievement for virtual learners in a Grades 5-8 classroom are not well known. The purpose of this qualitative narrative study was to explore teachers’ perceptions of how the practice of SEL competencies by students influence their academic success in a virtual Grades 5-8 classroom. This qualitative narrative inquiry was based around Social Emotional Learning (SEL), a conceptual framework identified by CASEL as including five competencies: self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision-making. The target audience was educational stakeholders who are …

Assessing The Effectiveness Of Wetland Reserve Easements As Habitat For Birds In The Mississippi Alluvial Valley Of Eastern Arkansas, Colin K. Dobson

Student Theses and Dissertations

Globally, wetland habitats suffered major declines during the 20th century. In the 1990s, the United States government created the Wetland Reserve Program (later consolidated into the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program), to combat the loss of wetlands. Despite success in attracting landowners, minimal monitoring of properties enrolled into the program (easements) has occurred. In this study, we monitored avian communities at easements, compared avian diversity at easements to agriculture and bottomland forests, and quantified microhabitat, site-specific, and surrounding landscape features at easements. We also studied the demographic rates of an indicator species of bottomland forests, the Prothonotary Warbler (Protonotaria citrea) at …

Social Media And Health Information Sharing In Nigeria: Trends In Weight Loss And Cosmetic Procedures, Victoria Ochanya Agbo

Student Theses and Dissertations

This study examines the role of social media in facilitating (mis)information on weight loss and cosmetic surgeries in Nigeria. Utilizing the Elaboration Likelihood Model (ELM), the study examines information shared by influencers, audience engagements with such messages, and the factors influencing audience receptivity of the messages. Using a qualitative design, a thematic analysis was conducted on influencer posts and audience responses to such posts across major social media platforms. The findings show that influencers frequently framed cosmetic surgery and weight loss as aspirational lifestyle choices and downplayed the medical risks using means such as testimonials, visual transformations, and authenticity cues. …

"Using A Sledgehammer To Crack A Nut" A Proposal To Re-Frame The Media Industry's Perspective On Generative Ai, Reace Barnett

Student Theses and Dissertations

Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) continues to be a divisive topic in the media industry and there are concerns about technical challenges that may affect GenAI’s trustworthiness and reliability. As such, fears of degraded public trust in media products and services have arisen, and while we have a tendency to trust machines, it is clear that public attitudes toward automated decision-making are contentious. Previous research on machine cues found that they are associated with increased perceived objectivity and willingness to disclose information. Conversational GenAI may reduce political polarization, yet many people remain worried about risks such as bias, hallucinations, improper attribution, …

The Transitional Liver Clinic: Study Protocol For A Stepped-Wedge Cluster Randomized Trial, Lindsay Yoder, Elliot B. Tapper, Richard S. Kalman, Mary Rinella, Nicole Bendin, Manisha Verma, Francis Pike, Naga Chalasani, Neha Nalumasu, Eric S. Orman

Einstein Health Papers

BACKGROUND: Patients with complications of advanced liver disease experience high rates of hospital readmission after discharge. Transitional care models have improved outcomes in other chronic conditions, but their efficacy in liver disease care remains uncertain. This randomized trial evaluates the effectiveness of a tailored transitional care model-the Transitional Liver Clinic (TLC)-in reducing readmissions, improving quality of life, and enhancing patient satisfaction for patients with advanced liver disease.

METHODS: This is a 45-month, stepped-wedge cluster randomized trial enrolling up to 1000 patients with advanced liver disease across 4 academic medical centers. Each site transitions from usual care to the TLC intervention …

Research Networks As Social Infrastructure For Researcher Wellbeing And Inclusion In A Post-Merger Technological University, Shane Francis Conway Phd, James Britton Phd, Alan Naughton

Irish Journal of Academic Practice

As a recently established technological university, Atlantic Technological University continues to evolve its research structures across a distributed, multi-campus environment. As is common in post-merger contexts, there are opportunities to further strengthen cross-campus engagement, collegiality and inclusion. This paper presents a practice-based, research-informed analysis of Research Network formation at ATU, developed under the RISE@ATU programme. It demonstrates how such networks can serve as social infrastructure to support researcher wellbeing, connection and collaboration within a post-merger technological university, with particular relevance to other regionally distributed higher education institutions. The analysis is informed by institutional experience, including a university-wide researcher engagement campaign …

Decent Work In The Platform Economy Convention, 2026: A Preliminary Analysis, Valerio De Stefano

ILO Decent Work in the Platform Economy Convention

This paper provides a preliminary analysis of the Decent Work in the Platform Economy Convention, 2026 (No. 193), the first international labour standard devoted specifically to platform work. It examines the Convention’s scope, substantive protections, and principal interpretive questions, arguing that its significance lies in the cumulative architecture through which platform work is brought within the reach of international labour standards.

Particular attention is given to the Convention’s broad personal scope. Self-employed platform workers are generally included throughout the instrument, while specific provisions permit protections to be adapted to different employment statuses without excluding workers outside an employment relationship. …

Assessing Rural Homelessness: A Mixed-Methods Case Study, Matthew J. Lyons

Faculty Articles

Rural homelessness represents a significant public health and human rights challenge, but research on homelessness in the United States has predominantly focused on urban settings. This case study describes a mixed-methods assessment of the prevalence, causes, and consequences of homelessness in a rural county. Through both surveys and interviews with stakeholders from multiple sectors (including both service providers and those experiencing homelessness), we built a rich picture of the scale and experiential dimensions of homelessness within the county. Here, we present our research methods, the main findings of each primary data collection arm, and the actionable conclusions drawn from the …

The Impact Of Underrepresentation Of Male African American Teachers On African American Students’ (K-12) Classroom Learning, Carenzo George

Student Theses and Dissertations

The persistent underrepresentation of African American male educators in K–12 schools remains a significant concern in the field of education, particularly given the growing diversity of the student population. Despite increasing attention to teacher diversity, African American males continue to represent a small percentage of the teaching workforce. This disparity raises important questions about how representation influences the educational experiences of African American students. The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to explore the perceptions of African American male teachers and administrators regarding the impact of the underrepresentation of African American male educators on African American students’ classroom experiences. …

Perceptions Of Trauma-Informed Trained Campus Leadership, Shelly Hardin

Student Theses and Dissertations

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention define adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) as potentially traumatic experiences that occur in a person’s life between birth and age 17. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (2024), more than two thirds of children experience at least one traumatic event by the age of 16, and this is likely an underestimate, as this percentage represents only those cases reported. The physical, emotional, and neurological impact of traumatic experiences can be detrimental to a child’s education, often contributing to learning deficits and behavioral issues. School leaders have the responsibility of creating …

Practices That Impact The Reading Performance Of Elementary Special Education Inclusion Students, Lynette Hampton

Student Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative phenomenological study investigated teaching practices that teachers perceived impacted the reading performance of second-grade special education inclusion students who spend 80% or more of their reading instructional time in the general education classroom. Despite the significant progress made under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), special education students continue to perform lower academically than their non-disabled peers, particularly in reading. This study aims to identify instructional and non-instructional practices that teachers perceive impact the reading performance of special education inclusion students. The study utilized semi-structured interviews with second-grade teachers in Title 1 K-8 schools in the northwest …

Examining The Influence Of Principals’ Transformational Leadership In Promoting Conducive School Culture And Secondary Esl Teachers’ Self-Efficacy Beliefs, Chanda Yvonne Williams

Student Theses and Dissertations

Secondary ESL teachers face diverse classrooms and complex instructional demands. As the number of multilingual learners continues to increase in secondary schools, ESL teachers must support students’ language development while also helping them access rigorous academic content across subject areas. This phenomenological study explored how principals’ transformational leadership and school culture influence secondary ESL teachers’ self-efficacy. Drawing on Bandura’s Self-Efficacy Theory (1997) and Bass’s Transformational Leadership Theory (1985), the study examined how leadership behaviors and school environments shape teachers’ confidence and motivation. Semi-structured interviews with 10 ESL teachers in a southeastern metropolitan district elicited focused accounts of how specific leadership …

The Implementation Of Restorative Practices Through The Don’T Suspend Me! Professional Development, Bethanie Hale

Student Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative single case study was to examine how participation in the Don’t Suspend Me! (2022) professional development influenced teachers’ beliefs about discipline and their implementation of restorative practices within one public school district. Guided by Guskey’s (2002) Model of Teacher Change, this study sought to answer the research question: How does participation in the Don’t Suspend Me! (2022) professional development influence teachers’ implementation of restorative disciplinary practices and their beliefs about discipline within one public school district? Data were collected through a teacher questionnaire, individual interviews, and researcher reflexive journaling, with trustworthiness supported through triangulation, member …

Integration Of Culturally Responsive Teaching Strategies In High School Science Classes, Pamela Chanell Williams

Student Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative case study investigated the integration of culturally responsive teaching strategies in high school science classes. The problem addressed in this study is that teachers are underprepared to employ culturally responsive teaching strategies to facilitate academic success in science courses for culturally and linguistically diverse students. By investigating the integration of culturally responsive teaching strategies during instruction, improvements can be made to the effectiveness of professional development centered on culturally responsive teaching strategies found in the Ready for Rigor framework. The conceptual framework that served as the foundation for this study was Hammond’s (2015) Ready for Rigor framework. Questionnaires, …

African American Genealogists And Family Historians: Perceptions, Motivations, And Learning Experiences, Vernita A. Morgan

Student Theses and Dissertations

In this qualitative phenomenological study, the motivations, learning experiences, challenges, and triumphs of African American genealogists and family historians will be revealed. The purpose of this study is to bridge the existing gap in the literature regarding the experiences of these individuals. The interconnectedness of self-directed learning and self-determination theory will demonstrate how these genealogists approach researching their ancestors, who were both enslaved and free people of color. Themes that arise from feedback from interviews will be used to offer answers to the research questions.

Re-Entering Public Schools Kindergarten Through 12th Grade After The Pandemic: Perceptions Of General Educators On Teaching Students With Emotional And Behavioral Disorders In Inclusionary Classrooms, Angela Larrison

Student Theses and Dissertations

The COVID-19 pandemic affected the mental health of students and teachers and caused a need for social-emotional learning to be addressed upon re-entry to Kindergarten through 12th grade public schools. Students with social and emotional behavioral disorders have experienced dismal outcomes as they are one to two years behind their peers academically and more likely to receive out-of-school suspensions, expulsions, or placement in alternative learning programs. Students with disabilities showed a loss of progress both academically and behaviorally upon re-entry of school following the COVID-19 pandemic. The problem to be addressed in this study was what effects re-entering public schools …

Understanding Principal Perspectives On What Professional Learning Supports Sustained School Improvements: A Qualitative Case Study, Kristen Hope Fondren

Student Theses and Dissertations

Principals leading schools identified for comprehensive support and improvement face demands related to rapid improvement, instructional reform, and sustaining gains over time. Although districts provide professional learning, limited understanding exists regarding which supports principals perceive as most meaningful in turnaround contexts. This qualitative multiple case study explored how principals in the Florida Panhandle perceived professional learning supports that strengthened leadership capacity, supported exiting improvement status, and sustained school improvement. Guided by a constructivist framework, the study examined how principals constructed meaning from their professional learning experiences. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with six principals who successfully led schools out …

Exploring The Barriers That Preclude Black Males From Pursuing Careers In Education, Marco Darnell French

Student Theses and Dissertations

The underrepresentation of African American males in the K–12 teaching workforce remains a critical issue with implications for educational equity, student outcomes, and workforce diversity. Despite ongoing efforts to diversify the profession, African American males continue to be disproportionately absent from classrooms, particularly in rural settings, limiting opportunities for culturally affirming instruction and mentorship. This study explored the barriers that preclude African American males from pursuing and persisting in careers in K–12 education within a rural Louisiana school district. Guided by Critical Race Theory, this qualitative revelatory single case study centered the lived experiences of African American males to examine …

An Analysis Of How Educators’ Attitudes Toward Individuals With Intellectual Disabilities Impact Assessment Scores Of Students With Learning Disabilities, Felicia Baty Goings

Student Theses and Dissertations

This study analyzed how educators’ attitudes toward individuals with intellectual disabilities impact summative assessment scores of students with learning disabilities. The research problem addressed in this study was the increase in the number of special education students receiving inclusive instruction who scored at Levels 3 or 4 on the Arkansas Teaching and Learning Assessment System (ATLAS) mathematics and English Language Arts (ELA) summative assessment. The findings are relevant to educators and education stakeholders wanting to improve inclusion practices. The purpose of this correlational quantitative study was to determine whether there was a significant difference in students’ summative assessment scores and …

Heritage As Performative Sovereignty: Situated Agency And Environmental (In)Equity In The Arkansas Delta, Faisal Mohammed

Student Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation focuses on the materiality of heritage as a proactive and strategic resource for ensuring survival and reshaping justice in rural places. Set in Phillips County, in the Arkansas Delta, a region where environmental neglect and economic marginalization are visibly apparent in the landscape, this research interrogates how a community responds to environmental crises in a contested landscape using locally driven, art-based initiatives. By centering the Water Story Project in Phillips County, funded by One Nation One Project, a national art-based initiative, I explore a ‘thin institutional ecology’ where the scarcity of regulatory oversight and intermediary civic support has …

The Ecotoxicological Implications Of Switching From Fluorescent To Light Emitting Diode Lighting For Zooplankton Culturing And Whole Effluent Toxicity Testing, Orithea Z. Regn

Student Theses and Dissertations

In the global transition toward light emitting diode (LED) lighting, an understudied area is the impact on the culturing and testing of Whole Effluent Toxicity (WET) testing organisms, more specifically, the zooplankton species. Without comparison to the current lighting used for culturing and testing, it is unknown if there will be an impact on performance, which could affect effluent, regulatory, and product safety decisions. This dissertation investigated if culturing and reference toxicity testing using sodium chloride for Ceriodaphnia dubia, Daphnia magna, and D. pulex under LED lighting was comparable to fluorescent. Comparisons were made between two laboratories and by season, …

College Success Comparison Between First-Generation College Students And Non-First-Generation College Students In The South Texas Plains, Obed Guerrero

Student Theses and Dissertations

This study examined differences in academic success between first-generation college students and non-first-generation college students enrolled in community colleges in the South Texas region. National research has consistently reported that first-generation college students tend to experience lower academic outcomes; however, limited empirical evidence exists regarding whether these disparities persist within South Texas, a region characterized by a high Hispanic student population and a substantial proportion of first-generation students. This gap limits the ability of institutions to make context-specific decisions that support student success. The purpose of this study was to compare grade point average, fall-to-fall retention, and graduation outcomes between …

Fear Of Negative Evaluation And Intrinsic Motivation In Resistance-Trained Individuals: A Comparison Of Novice And Experienced Lifters, Karter Bokker

Student Theses and Dissertations

This study examined the relationship between fear of negative evaluation (FNE) and intrinsic motivation in resistance-trained individuals and compared FNE levels between novice and experienced lifters. Twenty-two male participants (n = 8 novices, n = 14 experienced) completed questionnaires assessing FNE and intrinsic motivation. A Pearson correlation and independent-samples t-test were conducted. Results indicated no significant relationship between FNE and intrinsic motivation (r = -.144, p = .523). However, novice lifters reported significantly higher FNE scores than experienced lifters, (t20) = 2.71, p = .014, with a large effect size (d = 1.20). These findings suggest that while FNE may …

If It Doesn't Hurt You Aren't Working Hard Enough: An Examination Of Coach Experience In High School Debate, Rosie Valdez Block

Student Theses and Dissertations

High school debate coaching constitutes a uniquely demanding educational role, defined by emotional labor, extended work hours, institutional precarity, and systemic inequities. Despite their significant contributions to students’ intellectual and personal growth, the professional sustainability of debate coaches remains underexamined. This dissertation investigates the conditions contributing to burnout among high school debate coaches through the theoretical lenses of Maslach’s Burnout Theory, as contemporized by Edú-Valsania et al. (2022), and teacher self-efficacy theory, to understand how emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and diminished professional confidence emerge in this context. The study is further guided by constructivist grounded theory (Charmaz, 2014), enabling a bottom-up, …

Educator Perceptions Of The Impact Of The Avid Program On Minority Students’ School Achievement, Genia Smith

Student Theses and Dissertations

While Hispanic and African American college enrollment rates have increased over the past 20 years, minority students continue to face structural and educational barriers that make it more challenging for them to prepare for and gain entry to college. The Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) program is a college preparatory initiative designed to provide additional academic and social support for historically disadvantaged students. Guided by a socio-cultural theoretical framework, this mixed-methods survey-based study explored the perceptions of 10 administrators and 10 teachers in a Southeast region school district regarding the impacts of AVID on minority students’ achievement. The findings revealed …

Through Their Eyes: Understanding And Enhancing Retention Among Special Education Teachers Of Color, Barry L. Fargo

Student Theses and Dissertations

Retaining special education teachers of color within public schools remains an ongoing challenge. Although research on teacher retention has expanded in recent years, less attention has focused on how relational and organizational conditions shape the lived experiences of these teachers. Guided by the Four-Capital Theoretical Model of Teacher Retention, this qualitative phenomenological study explored how social and structural capital shaped the retention experiences of special education teachers of color. Participants included 15 special education teachers of color currently serving in K–12 roles in U.S. public schools with at least two years of special education teaching experience. Data were collected through …

Understanding Educational Burnout: An Analysis Of The Perceptions Of K-5 Elementary Teachers, Melody Sebastian

Student Theses and Dissertations

Burnout in the educational environment is highly prevalent among teachers. Studies reveal that workplace burnout is characterized as chronic stress while on the job that persists over time. Although research has examined this issue, there remains a need for further studies focused specifically on elementary teachers’ perceptions and experiences with burnout. The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study aimed to understand the perceptions of K-5 elementary classroom teachers’ experiences with burnout and how they informally built support systems to mitigate burnout. Maslach’s Multidimensional Theory of Burnout served as the theoretical framework for this study. The methodological approach utilized semi-structured, one-on-one …

Efficacy Evaluation Of An Allopathic & Homeopathic Anthelmintic On Small Ruminant Parasite Loads, Kennon Leigh Harrington

Student Theses and Dissertations

This study aimed to compare the efficacy of an allopathic and homeopathic anthelmintic in sheep and goats naturally infected with internal parasites. Animals with a threshold of ≥1000 EPG (n=30) were enrolled. The allopathic group received a single 14.79 mL per 50 lbs. BW drench solution of Prohibit®. The homeopathic group received a mixed herbal aqueous suspension, 2x/day D1-D3, thereafter 2x/day once a week W1-W4. There was an effect of anthelmintic treatment (P=0.0234) and day (P=0.0116) on total EPG, but no interaction effect for treatment by day (P=0.2440). For Initial sampling, there was a weak correlative tendency between weight and …

Impact Of Expanded Core Curriculum On College And Job Placement For The Blind And Visually Impaired, Susan Drake

Student Theses and Dissertations

Students who are blind or visually impaired face persistent barriers in postsecondary education and employment, despite access to academic instruction and legally mandated supports. Although academic accommodations are often provided, less is known about how instruction in nonacademic skill areas influences long-term outcomes. . This study addressed a critical gap by examining the perceived impact of Expanded Core Curriculum instruction on college readiness, employment attainment, and adult independence for blind or visually impaired high school graduates. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore how former students described their access to, understanding of, and benefit from Expanded Core Curriculum …