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Exploring Phonics Instruction For Students With Dyslexia: A Phenomenological Study Of Special Education Teachers’ Insights And Approaches, Jennifer Nicole Tuthill

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to understand the lived experiences of elementary special education teachers who implemented multi-sensory, evidence-based phonics interventions for their students with dyslexia at public elementary schools in suburban Northern Virginia. The theoretical framework for this study was Bottom-Up Processing Theory. It was important to note that foundational reading skills such as phonemic awareness, phonics, decoding, and fluency are necessary building blocks for comprehensive understanding, especially for students with dyslexia. These students were identified as having a Specific Learning Disability (SLD) in reading with characteristics of dyslexia, based on federal and local evaluation criteria. The …

The Lived Experiences Of U.S. Army Leaders Transitioning To Civilian Educational Leadership Roles: A Transcendental Phenomenological Study, Emily M. Cassner

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to explore the lived experiences of transitioning into civilian educational leadership roles for U.S. Army leaders at educational institutions throughout the Southwestern and Eastern United States. Guided by Goleman’s emotional intelligence theory, this study addressed the lack of transition mentorship by examining the lived experiences, motivations, transition challenges, and existing support programs for these leaders. Utilizing a qualitative, transcendental phenomenological design, data were collected through semi-structured interviews, reflective journals, and artifacts. The findings revealed four central themes: identity reconstruction and loss of purpose, leadership style adaptation, emotional intelligence as a developed competency, …

Exploring How School Leaders Support The Academic Resilience Of Foster Youth: A Case Study, Melissa Gasser Myers

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this case study was to understand the resilience of foster care students in Oklahoma public schools. The study was guided by Garmezy’s resilience theory, which highlights the critical role of resilience in helping children recover from past trauma and thrive in academic settings. The central research question was: How do school leaders nurture academic resilience in foster children? This study was conducted using qualitative research methods. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews, physical artifacts, and journal prompts. The data first underwent analysis through open coding, followed by a round of axial coding and finally selective coding. Informed …

Comparative Analysis Of Metabolic Vulnerability In The Standard American And Carnivore Diets Using The Mvx Plus Biomarker Panel, Susan E. Fitzgerald

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Poor diet is a leading cause of mortality, contributing to an estimated one million deaths in the United States and eleven million deaths annually worldwide, with diet-related chronic disease accounting for approximately 85% of U.S. healthcare spending. The Standard American Diet (SAD) is widely recognized as causing systemic inflammation, while the carnivore diet is under-researched with unknown long-term effects. The purpose of this cross-sectional secondary analysis was to examine the impact of these two dietary patterns on metabolic vulnerability using the Metabolic Vulnerability Index Plus (MVX Plus), a multidimensional biomarker panel that quantifies systemic inflammation, metabolic malnutrition, and metabolic resilience …

Recommendations To Solve The Problem Of High Levels Of Burnout Among Special Education Teachers At Waite High School In Ohio, Byron Scott Swartz

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this study was to provide recommendations to solve the problem of high levels of burnout among special education teachers at Waite High School in Ohio. The problem was that 45% of special education teachers at Waite High School reported feeling burned by their current jobs. The rationale for this study was that it was critical to reduce feelings of burnout among special education teachers since improving feelings of burnout may lead to better performance in the classroom teachers and fewer staffing shortages. The central research question was as follows: How can the problem of high levels of …

A Phenomenological Study Exploring Administrators’ Experiences Supporting Career And Technical Education Teacher Self-Efficacy, Korbin T. Shoemaker

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenological study was to understand the support of career and technical education teacher self-efficacy development for secondary public-school administrative leaders at West Central Maryland school districts. The theory guiding this study was behavioral leadership theory, as it provided a lens for understanding how leaders’ observable actions and interactions intentionally influence teachers’ confidence and professional growth. The central research question guiding this study was: What are the lived experiences of secondary public school administrative leaders as they support the development of self-efficacy in CTE teachers? This qualitative study utilized a hermeneutic phenomenological design informed by van …

A Causal-Comparative Study Of The Effect Of Developmental Education Courses On College Persistence In Higher Education Among First-Year College Students, Tosha J. Mobley

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this quantitative causal-comparative study was to examine differences in institutional integration scores among first-year college students based on enrollment status and gender assigned at birth at a public southern university. This study was important because previous reform efforts intended to improve college persistence and graduation rates have not eliminated the need for developmental education or learning support courses within higher education. The independent variables included enrollment status and gender assigned at birth. Institutional integration was measured using the Institutional Integration Scale–Revised (IIS-R). The sample was composed of 107 first-year college students enrolled in developmental (support) and traditional …

Navigating The Maternal Health Crisis: Enhancing Maternal Health Outcomes In New Jersey, Nyrobi Barnes

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of the study was to better understand the implications of race and ethnicity on perinatal health experiences and maternal health outcomes in non-Hispanic Black women (nHBw) in New Jersey and mitigate the maternal health crisis. A secondary outcome was to propose an evidence-based initiative to elicit equitable care in New Jersey via grant-funded programs at the New Jersey Department of Health. Although New Jersey has made progress in improving maternal and infant health outcomes, racial disparities continue to persist. The research aims to further understand implications of race and ethnicity on adverse perinatal health experiences and maternal health …

Restoring Trust And Relational Depth In The Philadelphia Seventh-Day Adventist Church Through Structural Family Therapy Interventions, Laundale Leopold Munroe

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This Doctor of Ministry action research project addressed the challenge of unclear relational and leadership boundaries associated with reduced trust, emotional comfort, and healthy communication within the Philadelphia Seventh-day Adventist Church in Bronx, New York. The purpose of this project was to implement and evaluate an eight-week Structural Family Therapy-informed intervention designed to strengthen trust, emotional comfort, leadership clarity, relational boundaries, and healthy communication among church members. The goals were to increase participants’ awareness of congregational relational patterns, encourage healthier interpersonal interactions, and cultivate practices that support sustained relational health. A mixed-methods action research design was employed with eighteen adult …

The Effect Of Covid-19 On Maryland Community College Students: Mental Health, Learning, And Environmental Challenges, Vickie R. Braxton

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study will be to describe the lived experiences of minority students attending a community college in the state of Maryland during the COVID-19 pandemic. The theories guiding this study were Hobfoll’s Conservation Resources Theory as it focuses on the impact of a lack of external and internal resources on mental health when recovering from a prolonged disaster; the Theory of Transformative Learning as it focuses on how new learning processes affect cognitive abilities in different study environments; and The Theory of Connectivism as it focuses on how individuals learn digitally through experiences outside their control …

For Love Or Green Card: Exploring Intermarriage Experiences Of African American Women To West African Men In The First Decade Of Midlife From A Historical, Cultural, And Psychosocial Perspective, Kelley Owusu Asante

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This transcendental phenomenological study explored the lived experiences of African American women who married West African men during the first decade of midlife. It investigated the historical, cultural, and psychosocial factors that shaped the women’s perceptions and experiences of intermarriage. The guiding theories were social exchange theory, competitive market theory, marital paradigm theory, and sex ratio imbalance theory. Social exchange theory, developed by George C. Homans in 1958, provided a framework linking behavioral psychology and microeconomics. The study centered participants’ narratives to understand how love, commitment, and cultural negotiation unfolded in these unions. The sample comprised 12 African American women …

Stem Afterschool Enrichment Programs On Post-Secondary Minority Students In Southern California And Their Educational And Professional Pathway: A Phenomenological Qualitative Study, Lavar Jamaall Watkins

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to describe the lived experiences of ethnically and racially minority students who participated in STEM afterschool enrichment programs at middle schools in Southern California. Guided by social cognitive career theory (SCCT), this phenomenological study addressed how participation in STEM supplemental programming served as a predictive motivator that encouraged ethnically and racially minority students to pursue careers in STEM professions. SCCT provided the theoretical framework for understanding how self-efficacy, outcome expectations, and contextual influences shaped students’ perceptions, motivations, and career decision-making related to STEM. The central research question guiding this inquiry was: What …

Transferable Teacher Leadership In Professional Military Education (Pme): Case Study, Jarrod W. Stoutenborough

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative case study was to examine the techniques of teacher-leader development for civilian teachers within a professional military education (PME) environment in the northeastern United States. Guided by transformational leadership theory, the study employed a holistic, explanatory case study methodology, utilizing document analysis, direct observations, and semi-structured interviews with 12 civilian faculty members. The central research question that guided this study was: How can teacher-leader development of civilian teachers in a PME environment in the northeastern United States be transferred to other higher education institutions? The findings revealed a deeply embedded and intentional culture of teacher …

A Natural Fit: Reconceptualizing The Work Of Oregon's Silent Era Sister Exhibitors, Karen Caverly-Molineaux

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Inspired by the quadrupling of women theater owners in Census reports between 1910 and 1920, this dissertation focuses on women theater owners in the state of Oregon and brings their experiences of theater ownership to the forefront for historical inquiry. The 1920 Census reported nineteen women theater owners for Oregon, yet the research here only found eighteen. Of the eighteen found, only two women’s Census records indicate them as theater owners – meaning this dissertation’s study found more than the Census accounted for. However at the same time, many have yet to be located. Scholarship claims women’s work as happening …

Digital Forensic Skill Gaps Among Law Enforcement And Implications For Modern Criminal Investigations, Chip Thornsburg

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Digital evidence has become a routine component of modern criminal investigations; however, many law enforcement agencies face challenges in developing the personnel, training, and resources needed to manage increasingly complex digital evidence. The purpose of this explanatory sequential mixed-methods study was to examine digital forensic skill gaps among Texas local law enforcement agencies and their implications for modern criminal investigations. Guided by Human Capital Theory and Routine Activities Theory, Phase I employed a statewide survey of agencies to assess digital forensic resources, training, competency, and digital evidence usage. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Kruskal–Wallis tests, chi-square tests of …

The Doctrine Of Salvation In The Old Testament: Elective Grace Through Faith In The Triune God, Yoojeung Kim

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The doctrine of salvation in the Old Testament (OT) remains a contested topic in biblical theology, particularly its coherence with New Testament (NT) soteriology. Much of this debate centers on the tension between distinct redemptive administrations across history and the specific means of salvation, such as the relationship between covenantal obedience and elective grace. This dissertation addresses whether OT believers were saved differently from NT believers or if a unified redemptive pattern spans both Testaments. The dissertation asserts that Old Testament believers were saved in the same manner as New Testament believers: by God’s elective grace through faith in YHWH, …

A Qualitative Case Study On The Negative Impact The Global Pandemic Had On The Oil And Gas Industry, Sarah Denise Hagans

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this flexible-design single-case study was to expand the understanding of the reasons behind the negative impact the global pandemic had on international trade in the oil and gas industry. The research was critical to understanding the turbulent period for the oil and gas industry during the global pandemic. The study was essential because the possible negative effects of the global pandemic on the oil and gas industry were not fully determined or understood because of the volatility in upstream, midstream, and downstream production. The research aimed to determine the driving factors and explanations for how the negative …

Faculty Members' Lived Experiences Using Generative Ai During Course Development At A Midwest Faith-Based Institution Of Higher Education In The United States: A Phenomenological Study, Cassandra J. Huckstep-Spangler

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to explore the lived experiences of course developers using generative AI during course development at a Midwest faith-based institution of higher education in the United States. The theory guiding this study was the Technology Acceptance Model and subsequent extensions to the model including TAM2 and TAM3 as it explores the perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use, contextual factors that align with social influence processes, and experiences with implementation interventions. The central research guiding this study was: What are the experiences of faculty members using generative AI during course development at a …

The Perceptions Of Leadership Styles On Educator Job Satisfaction Leading To Retention In Rural Title I Elementary Schools: A Transcendental Phenomenological Study, Savannah Spotz

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to describe the administration leadership style on job satisfaction retention for elementary educators at rural Title I elementary institutions in Delaware. The problem was that elementary teachers have limited job satisfaction retention influenced by administrator leadership style. This study was guided by Herzberg’s motivation-hygiene theory. The study applied a purposive sampling technique to recruit 10 elementary educators of any race, gender, and ethnicity who have worked for two or more years at a rural Title I institution in a Northern state. Individual semi-structured interviews were used to gather data, along with long-answer …

The Practical Application Of The Greatest Commandments In Mark 12:28–34: A Holistic Framework For Spiritual Formation, Mark R. Williams

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Christian spiritual formation is a field abundant in materials, resources, and programs to help people become fully devoted followers of God. Yet a disconnect appears to exist between the biblical concept of discipleship, which encompasses both a process and an event, and the lived reality of Christians in the United States today. A new model that lays the foundation for a new spiritual formation framework grounded in the practical application of the Greatest Commandments may be of benefit. This dissertation develops a model that includes orthodoxy and orthopraxy to apply the Greatest Commandments in an easy-to-understand framework in a practical, …

Improvisation, Ear Training, And Sight-Reading Ability In Class Piano Students, Kimberly Witt

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Sight-reading is considered an essential functional piano skill for music majors and a component of keyboard proficiency exams in the university setting. While many studies have been completed on sight-reading over the years, research on developing sight-reading as a skill is lacking or incomplete. Additionally, conflicting results among studies have created uncertainty about how to develop sight-reading as a skill. Developing sight-reading skills is crucial for class piano students who need functional piano skills relevant to their future profession. Studying the correlation between improvisation, aural skills, and sight-reading development may show how sight-reading can be built as a skill and …

Predicting Fourth-Grade Mathematics Performance: Disability Status And Udl-Aligned Pedagogy In Inclusive Elementary Classrooms, Shannon W. Davis

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This quantitative, non-experimental, predictive correlational study examined the extent to which student disability status and mathematics instructional pedagogy predicted fourth-grade mathematics performance in inclusive elementary classrooms. Persistent mathematics achievement gaps between students with disabilities and their nondisabled peers highlight the need to identify instructional and student-level predictors of academic outcomes. The sample consisted of 109 fourth-grade students from inclusive elementary classrooms in a large southeastern public school district. Mathematics performance was measured using the Winter i-Ready Diagnostic Assessment for Mathematics scores. In contrast, instructional pedagogy was measured using a validated teacher self-report survey assessing alignment with Universal Design for Learning …

Las Vegas Police Protective Association V. Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department Citizen Review Board, 142 Nev. Adv. Op. 55 (Aug. 20, 2026), Enya Dinca

Nevada Supreme Court Summaries

Under Las Vegas Police Protective Association v. Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department Citizen Review Board, the CRB must identify officers under review on public meeting agendas, and officers lack a nontrivial privacy interest in names and badge numbers that are already publicly disclosed.

Castillo V. Atkinson, Watkins & Hoffmann, Llp, 142 Nev. Adv. Op. 54 (Aug. 20, 2026), Shannon Chapman

Nevada Supreme Court Summaries

Attorney fees are capped under NRS 7.095 when the substance of the claim sounds in professional negligence under Limprasert, regardless of claim title.

Deamicis V. State Of Nevada, 142 Nev. Adv. Op. 53 (August 20, 2026), Khadija Bhatti

Nevada Supreme Court Summaries

Under NRS 200.471(1)(a)(2), a defendant may be convicted of assault for each person the defendant intentionally places in reasonable apprehension of immediate bodily harm.

The Indiana Statesman, August 20, 2026, Indiana State University

Student Newspaper

Welcome Week; Your guide to campus employment; Kicking off the new semester across campus

Effects Of A Standardized Anesthesia Nursing Curriculum On Training Outcomes, Pin-Hsuan Chen, Hsueh-Hsing Pan

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Purpose: Following the integration of anesthesia nursing into Taiwan’s national nurse practitioner system in 2020, a standardized and outcome-oriented training curriculum has become essential. Historically, anesthesia nursing education varied across institutions, resulting in inconsistencies in training quality. This study examined how training duration and instructional hours influence academic, technical, and competency-based outcomes among anesthesia nursing trainees.

Methods: This cross-sectional study included 30 anesthesia nursing trainees from three training groups between 2022 and 2025. Group A (n = 17) and Group C (n = 8) completed a 12-month curriculum with 266–288 instructional hours, whereas Group B (n = 5) completed a …

From Relicensing To Revalidation: Strengthening Nursing And Midwifery Regulation In Ghana, Bibha Simkhada, Philomina Woolley, Ransford Akrong, Padam Simkhada, Charles Adjei, Ampem Darko Oklodu-Abbey, Susan Jones, Osei Agyei Duodu, Dennis Ekow Addai, Manish Parajuli, Hari Krishna Neupane, Precious Adade Duodu

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Background: Nurses and midwives play a vital role in achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) (WHO, 2025). Strengthening regulatory systems is crucial to produce competent nurses and midwives, maintain professional and public confidence (WHO, 2021). The Nursing and Midwifery Council (N&MC) of Ghana sought to strengthen its regulatory framework by introducing revalidation and improve its Management Information System (MIS). Recognising reflective practice in nursing, the Council incorporated it into pre-registration curricula (N&MC Ghana, 2021a & N&MC Ghana 2021b). To address gaps in post-registration practice, a 12-month project was launched to strengthen licensing regulation and prepare …

The Nurses’ Perceptions Of Shared Governance, Psychological Empowerment, And Turnover Intention, Emma Maniago Aquino-Maneja, Linda Searle Leach, Hong Li, Juli Mcginnis

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Background: A major challenge in healthcare is the significant shortage of experienced nurses. Although evidence shows that shared governance (SG) is a key strategy for retaining nurses, gaps remain in understanding its relationship and predictive pathways to psychological empowerment (PE) and turnover intention (TI).

Purpose: The study explored the relationships and predictive pathways among nurses' perceptions of SG, PE, and TI in acute care hospitals. It also aimed to compare how nurse leaders (NLs) and clinical nurses (CNs) perceive these factors, and to examine the influence of their socio-demographic characteristics on these perceptions.

Method: The study employed a descriptive, correlational, …

Diagnostic Accuracy Of A Single-Item Happiness Index For Screening Mild Depressive Symptoms, Shun Chan, Aderonke Odetayo, Jasmine Cheung, Anson Chui Yan Tang, Lorna Kawi Ping Suen, Simon Ching Lam

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Background: Depression symptoms are a mental health problem with rising prevalence globally. To enhance the estimation of depressive symptoms in epidemiological studies, a 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) has been widely used. Some local research found that a single-item General Happiness Index (GHI) highly correlated with the scales used for screening the depressive symptoms. This study hence aimed to explore the sensitivity and specificity of GHI for screening mild or more severe depressive symptoms based on the secondary data analysis in the Chinese population.

Methods: This methodological study used the data collected in the General Happiness Survey 2024 and 2025 …