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Articles 31 - 60 of 69
Full-Text Articles in Education
A Mixed-Methods Exploration Of Employee Attitudes, Awareness, And Satisfaction With Regard To The University Employee Wellness Program, Linda Ann Walters
A Mixed-Methods Exploration Of Employee Attitudes, Awareness, And Satisfaction With Regard To The University Employee Wellness Program, Linda Ann Walters
Dissertations
While there was an abundant amount of research supporting the need for and benefits of a workplace health program (WHP), little empirical research existed regarding WHPs in a university setting (Watts, 1992). Compared to other WHP settings, the university setting is unique in that the employee population consists of both faculty and staff, with various work schedules, job responsibilities, and demographics. Universities also provide a unique setting for WHPs due to their access to various internal resources, such as employees with expert knowledge, campus food services, on-site facilities, and students studying health and wellness disciplines (RAND Corporation, 2013). As reported …
Analyzing Students’ Personal Characteristics To Determine Study Outcomes, Jennifer L. Maloney
Analyzing Students’ Personal Characteristics To Determine Study Outcomes, Jennifer L. Maloney
Dissertations
The purpose of this quantitative study was to identify the personal characteristics that predicted the study outcome of students in higher education. Study outcome was defined as a student’s grade point average and re-enrolling for the following semester. Multiple regression analysis was used to evaluate whether a student’s former education, personality characteristics, orientation on learning, and study approach influenced study outcome. Of these 11 explanatory variables analyzed against study outcome, many were found to have a direct impact on study outcome. The results of this study provided insight into the predictive ability of personal characteristics and former education on study …
Exploring An Act Preparation Course As An Intervention Method For African American Students, Theresa Linette Harris Badgett
Exploring An Act Preparation Course As An Intervention Method For African American Students, Theresa Linette Harris Badgett
Dissertations
In recent years, there has been an interest in the effectiveness of college assessment preparation, which has prompted many studies. The majority of these studies researched instruction/coaching on the Scholastic Assessment Tool (SAT). Notably, the college entrance exam has become a growing concern for minorities, particularly African American students. Prior research by ACT, Inc. (2012, p. 2) has shown African American students rank the lowest in American College Test (ACT) scores of all racial groups. Between 2006 and 2011 the average ACT composite scores increased for White, Asian, American Indian/Alaska Native, and American/Pacific Islanders. Hispanic scores remained unchanged and the …
Study Of The Theory Of Mattering And Marginality In Relation To Nontraditional College Students In A Private, Midwestern, Single-Purpose College, Sonya M. Hayter
Study Of The Theory Of Mattering And Marginality In Relation To Nontraditional College Students In A Private, Midwestern, Single-Purpose College, Sonya M. Hayter
Dissertations
The demand for individuals holding a college degree is expected to increase by 16% by the year 2018 with approximately 66% of all jobs requiring some form of posthigh school training (Kelly & Strawn, 2011). Also increasing in numbers is the number of nontraditional college students seeking a degree. Nontraditional students returning to school often have outside barriers that can challenge degree attainment, placing them at risk for dropping out. Using Schlossberg’s (1989) theories of mattering and marginality as a guide and through a qualitative approach to research, data were collected from a private, Midwestern, single-purpose college to explore what …
Barriers To Computer Programming Student Success: A Quantitative Study Of Community College Students In Southwest Missouri, Tiffany D. Ford
Barriers To Computer Programming Student Success: A Quantitative Study Of Community College Students In Southwest Missouri, Tiffany D. Ford
Dissertations
Student success in computer programming courses has been a long-studied problem and computer science major retention has historically been substantially lower than other majors. The issue of retention for computer science majors has become more pronounced in two-year, open-enrollment institutions. This quantitative study, grounded in Gardner’s theory of multiple intelligences, attempted to address some of the causes of poor retention for entry-level computer science majors at two-year colleges by looking for predictors of student success in their first computer programming course. Two of the intelligences from Gardner’s (1993) theory, Logical-Mathematical and Visual-Spatial, were used along with two factors: student success …
Analyzing The Change And Development Of Simulation Self-Efficacy Among Practical Nursing Students, Moulay Abdelkarim Moukrime
Analyzing The Change And Development Of Simulation Self-Efficacy Among Practical Nursing Students, Moulay Abdelkarim Moukrime
Dissertations
The goal of this dissertation was to contribute to research on practical nursing students’ self-efficacy and the sources that build self-efficacy including mastery experience, vicarious learning, social persuasion, and physiological and affective states (Bandura, 1986). Specifically, the focus in this study was on students’ self-efficacy change and development through the measurement of students’ confidence in ability to engage in medical surgical simulations during the last semester of a practical nursing program. The results of this study revealed perceived self-efficacy did not change, but participants indicated an overall strong sense of efficacy to engage in medical surgical simulations. Additionally, students relied …
An Analysis Of The Comparison Between Classroom Grades Earned With A Standards- Based Grading System And Grade-Level Assessment Scores As Measured By The Missouri Assessment Program, Gary L. Greene
Dissertations
This study was designed to examine the ability of traditional and standards-based grading practices to predict student performance on the Missouri Assessment Program (MAP) Grade-Level Assessments at the middle school level. This study also explored the perceptions Missouri middle school teachers and administrators had concerning the use of standards-based grading and identified obstacles educators faced during and after its implementation. The research was conducted in phases to observe two sets of data. Phase One involved the collection and analysis of quantitative data from two schools in Missouri that use standards-based grading in the seventh and eighth grades and two schools …
A Study Of The Perceptions Of First-Year Trio Student Support Service Participants, Raquel Annette Morrow
A Study Of The Perceptions Of First-Year Trio Student Support Service Participants, Raquel Annette Morrow
Dissertations
This qualitative study was designed to investigate the perceptions of participants in the TRIO Student Support Service (SSS) program, a government-funded student retention program for first-generation college students, low-income students, and students with disabilities. There was little research on the perceptions of students who represent the target population in this government-funded program. Tinto’s (2012b) model of student departure was used to interpret the findings. The study was guided by three research questions used to investigate possible barriers or benefits to the participants while attending the university, and also asked participants for suggestions to improve the TRIO SSS program. Interviews with …
A Mixed-Method Investigation Of The Missouri Pre-Service Teacher Assessment Pilot Program At A Private Midwestern University, Robyne Elder
A Mixed-Method Investigation Of The Missouri Pre-Service Teacher Assessment Pilot Program At A Private Midwestern University, Robyne Elder
Dissertations
In order to evaluate the teacher education program for the state of Missouri, the researcher investigated the piloted MoPTA at a private Midwestern university. Through evaluating the piloted MoPTA program, this study aimed to address possible changes needed within the teacher education program itself to better prepare future educators not only for the assessment, but more importantly, the classroom. In order to evaluate the program, the researcher observed scoring sessions for Tasks 1-4 and analyzed feedback from the evaluators of the tasks (university supervisors and faculty) in the fall of 2014 and the spring of 2015. Furthermore, this study examined …
Senate Bill 75: Active Shooter Intruder Response Training Perceptions Of Building Leaders And Teachers From Southwest Missouri High Schools, Jerry Nathan Moore
Senate Bill 75: Active Shooter Intruder Response Training Perceptions Of Building Leaders And Teachers From Southwest Missouri High Schools, Jerry Nathan Moore
Dissertations
This study was focused on the perceptions of teachers and administrators from southwest Missouri high schools regarding the impact of Active Shooter Intruder Response Training (ASIRT). Perceptions of school safety, school climate, and preparedness for an active shooter were collected through focus group interviews. Participants for this study included four teachers and four principals randomly selected from a stratified crosssection of southwest Missouri high schools, based on enrollment. Also interviewed was Senator Dan Brown, primary sponsor of Missouri Senate Bill 75 (2013). Missouri Senate Bill 75 was signed into law by the Governor of Missouri in 2013 and mandates intruder …
Exploring How Older Adults Who Qualify For The Association On Aging With Developmental Disabilities (Aadd) Programs And Services Learn To Successfully Age In Place, Tina Grosso
Dissertations
This qualitative case study explored the ways in which older adults with developmental disabilities (DD) learn to successfully age in place. As more persons with DD reach old age and outlive their natural caretakers, such as parents, it is becoming apparent that there are a multitude of age-related challenges and educational needs that must be addressed. However, information pertaining to the unique learning needs of older adults with DD is scarce. Andragogy (the art and science of teaching adults) and geragogy (teaching the elderly) provided the theoretical frameworks for this study. The main research question in this study was: How …
The Impact Of Trio Student Support Services At A Midwestern Institution, Tajuan Rakeem Wilson
The Impact Of Trio Student Support Services At A Midwestern Institution, Tajuan Rakeem Wilson
Dissertations
First-generation, low-income, and disabled college students are an increasing population (Tinto, 2012). TRIO Student Support Services (SSS) is an academic support program funded by the U.S. Department of Education that seeks to support this demographic to overcome challenges and thrive while in college (Coffman, 2011). Utilizing a mixed methods approach, the goal of this study was to examine the student success outcomes of retention and grade point average of TRIO SSS students compared to students who are similarly qualified but not being served by TRIO SSS at a Midwestern, large, public, four-year institution. In addition, TRIO SSS seniors were interviewed …
Perceptions Of Non-Traditional Programs Within Missouri School Districts, Cherie L. Norman
Perceptions Of Non-Traditional Programs Within Missouri School Districts, Cherie L. Norman
Dissertations
The purpose of this study was to analyze perceptions of Missouri public school administrators regarding twenty-first century learning skills in choice and innovative schools, and to report the research-based best practices those schools are using with students. For this study, qualitative data were collected through a questionnaire and then coded for analysis (Fraenkel et. al, 2014). The questionnaire, used to elicit information from 10 administrators of Missouri public schools housing a choice or innovation program, was the anchor of the research design. The results of this study indicated choice and innovative schools are incorporating a combination of current research-based practices …
Factors Influencing The Integration Of High Fidelity Simulation In Associate Degree Rn And Lpn Nursing Programs, Sheila A. Kaylor
Factors Influencing The Integration Of High Fidelity Simulation In Associate Degree Rn And Lpn Nursing Programs, Sheila A. Kaylor
Dissertations
High fidelity human simulation (HFHS) has become a common feature in nursing education in recent years. This case study explored the practices and perceptions of nursing directors, faculty, and students regarding the integration of HFHS in associate degree RN and LPN programs. The course of study in these particular programs is two years or less in length, presenting added challenges for faculty to introduce new pedagogies into an abundantly full curriculum. Multiple data sources were used and included 41 participants through interviews with nursing directors and instructors, observation of instructors and students during HFHS scenarios and debriefing sessions, and student …
Teacher Evaluation And Student Achievement In Elementary Education, Eric L. Allen
Teacher Evaluation And Student Achievement In Elementary Education, Eric L. Allen
Dissertations
Historically, the state of Missouri has utilized the Performance-Based Teacher Evaluation (PBTE) system developed by Dr. Jerry Valentine from the University of Missouri (Valentine & Harting, 1986). The No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act of 2001 mandated more rigorous accountability standards for state education systems (Moe, 2014). The 2012 revisions of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) provided to Missouri by the U.S. Department of Education relieved the original mandates of the NCLB Act (MODESE, 2015a). However, added were provisions for teacher and administrator accountability which required evaluation of research-based principles of effective instruction (MODESE 2015a). In this study, …
Special Education Teacher Perceptions Of The Characteristics Of A Satisfactory Working Environment, David John Mccauley
Special Education Teacher Perceptions Of The Characteristics Of A Satisfactory Working Environment, David John Mccauley
Dissertations
The special education teacher is a part of any school district and with the position comes responsibility for the teacher, building administrators, and district administrators. These school district personnel must work together to create a safe environment for all students to be successful. In 1983, the U.S. Department of Education’s report, A Nation at Risk, brought attention to the issue of retention of schoolteachers, especially those that worked with special needs students. While working as a special educator, the researcher overheard many teachers express concern about poor working conditions within their respective school districts. They expressed a lack of adequate …
Case Study On The Efficacy Of An Elementary Steam Laboratory School, Mary Paula Armknecht
Case Study On The Efficacy Of An Elementary Steam Laboratory School, Mary Paula Armknecht
Dissertations
A case study was conducted of an elementary STEAM laboratory program in a Midwest Missouri school district, which was unique to the area, and involved risk-taking by the school officials. The delivery model for instruction in the program was inquiry-based learning with a STEAM focus. The planning of the program involved the community, as well as district personnel. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the efficacy of the program at the end of the first year to determine if the goals of the planning committee had been met and if the perceptions of the stakeholders were in favor …
The Impact Of Freshman Transition Programs On Achievement, Jeremy Way
The Impact Of Freshman Transition Programs On Achievement, Jeremy Way
Dissertations
The purpose of this study was to examine the potential effects a freshman transition program has on high school success rates. Results could provide the basis for freshman transfer strategies and help academic success following the No Child Left Behind mandate. The research question asked was: Did program complexity have an impact on the success of freshman students, measured by number of failing grades, percentage of discipline referrals assigned, and attendance rates? To answer the question, the researcher studied three homogenous high schools in the greater St. Louis area. These three freshman transition programs varied in complexity provided for incoming …
An American Public High School Ethnographic Study: Effectively Preparing African American Male Students For Academic Success, Demarius J. Howard
An American Public High School Ethnographic Study: Effectively Preparing African American Male Students For Academic Success, Demarius J. Howard
Dissertations
The purpose of this study was to engage in ethnographic research involving Jack E. Singley High School (JESA), which was part of the Irving Independent School District in Irving, Texas and recognized throughout the state as one of its most successful high schools. Singley High School had a population of 1600, with 88% minority students, who continued to exhibit academic achievement. The researcher evidenced specific interest in the performance of African-American male students at Singley, since this academic performance consistently received national recognition. This sub-population had been described as experiencing an ‘achievement gap’. However at Singley, African- American males were …
The Life And Academic Experiences Of Teenage Mothers And Expecting Teenage Mothers Attending High School In Missouri, Angelo R. Buchanan
The Life And Academic Experiences Of Teenage Mothers And Expecting Teenage Mothers Attending High School In Missouri, Angelo R. Buchanan
Dissertations
The purpose of this study was to discover and understand the life and academic experiences of high school teenage mothers and expecting teenage mothers. The research questions was, How do these teenage mothers and expecting teenage mothers describe their life and academic experiences in a Missouri high school; What challenges do they face to successfully continuing their education; and What would they want and/or need in a high school-based child-care center if it were to be implemented as part of the high school’s intervention with this at-risk population? The study was conducted at a medium-sized Midwestern Urban High School. The …
Retaining Rural Educators: Characteristics Of Teacher Retention Practices Of Rural School Districts, Joshua C. Phillips
Retaining Rural Educators: Characteristics Of Teacher Retention Practices Of Rural School Districts, Joshua C. Phillips
Dissertations
The purpose of this study was to determine the reasons high-quality rural veteran educators choose to remain in small, rural district settings and to identify common factors among small rural school districts that have high numbers of highly qualified veteran teachers. The study is relevant to school leaders and school boards within small rural communities seeking to develop policies and encourage strategies to keep high-quality educators from leaving districts. The motivation-hygiene theory of job satisfaction developed by Herzberg, Mausner, and Snyderman (1993), coupled with Rosenholtz’s (1989) 10 essential components for working together were utilized throughout the study to evaluate the …
An Examination Of The Correlation Between Teacher-Assigned Standards-Based Grades And Teacher-Assigned Traditional Grades And Student Achievement, Ashley L. Tyree-Hamby
An Examination Of The Correlation Between Teacher-Assigned Standards-Based Grades And Teacher-Assigned Traditional Grades And Student Achievement, Ashley L. Tyree-Hamby
Dissertations
The relationship between teacher-assigned standards-based grades and teacher-assigned traditional grades and student achievement on the Missouri Assessment Program was examined for all students of the sample. The 120 participants for this study were third graders during the 2012-2013 school year transitioned to fourth grade during the 2013- 2014 school year. The students were enrolled in Elementary School A in rural Missouri. One hundred twenty students’ permanent traditional and standards-based grade cards and Missouri Assessment Program (MAP) scores provided the data to determine the relationship between teacher assigned standards-based grade cards or teacher-assigned traditional grade cards and student achievement. The findings …
A Study Of The Impact Of Retention On Student Achievement In Three Rural Missouri School Districts, Jon Thomas Johnson
A Study Of The Impact Of Retention On Student Achievement In Three Rural Missouri School Districts, Jon Thomas Johnson
Dissertations
A case study was performed using archival data from retained students in three rural Missouri school districts. The data were examined to determine if a correlation existed between grade level retention and improved student achievement in Math and English Language Arts. A t-test was used to determine the impact retention had on student achievement. Scores were collected from the Missouri Assessment Program (MAP) data from retained students the year before they were retained, as well as the year following when they were retained. Data were collected from 2006-2014. Data from this study revealed students who were retained showed significant gains …
An Examination Of Chronic Absenteeism As Related To Performance On End-Of-Year Missouri State Assessments, John Wesley Collins
An Examination Of Chronic Absenteeism As Related To Performance On End-Of-Year Missouri State Assessments, John Wesley Collins
Dissertations
This study was designed to examine if a correlation exists between regular school attendance and academic success. As an outcome of concern for educational expectations in American schools, the government of the United States increased accountability for schools through the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, requiring schools improve student achievement levels in designated core academic areas (Tyre, Feuerborn, & Pierce, 2011). Unlike the findings of Robert Balfanz and Vaughan Byrnes (2012) of Johns Hopkins University, which found most educational agencies do not keep detailed statistics regarding student attendance, Missouri public school districts do have an accountability structure in …
A Case Study Of A Teacher-Student Mentor Adoption Program At The Elementary Level, Timothy Shane Benson
A Case Study Of A Teacher-Student Mentor Adoption Program At The Elementary Level, Timothy Shane Benson
Dissertations
The purpose of this study was to determine if positive teacher-to-student relationships impacted student academic performance. This case study involved examination of the results of data collected from 43 students who participated in a mentor adoption program initiated with the intent to enhance positive teacher-to-student relationships for the 2013- 2014 school year. Archival data of students who participated in the mentor adoption program were compared to data from a stratified group of students who did not participate in the mentor adoption program. Data from English language arts (ELA) and mathematics (MA) Missouri Assessment Program (MAP) scale scores, attendance rate, and …
A Qualitative Case Study On Parental Involvement In A Midwestern Urban Charter School District: Perspectives Of Parents, Teachers, And Administrators, Amanda N. Aldridge
A Qualitative Case Study On Parental Involvement In A Midwestern Urban Charter School District: Perspectives Of Parents, Teachers, And Administrators, Amanda N. Aldridge
Dissertations
Research has shown that there can be a positive impact on the child’s academic achievement when parents are closely involved with the child’s schooling. When parents are involved in the school, they understand what is being taught in the classroom and are usually encouraged to extend the learning at home. When parents value education, students succeed. When parents are invested and show an interest in their child’s school, they develop a sense of pride for the school and tend to support the school and teachers in their decisions. This cooperative attitude allows for better, open communication and a team attitude …
Merit Pay For Educators: An Investigation Of Components Significantly Impacting Student Achievement, Lisa G. Carlon
Merit Pay For Educators: An Investigation Of Components Significantly Impacting Student Achievement, Lisa G. Carlon
Dissertations
With teacher evaluations, school ratings, and ultimately school funding being linked more and more to student achievement data, U.S. public schools are searching for new and effective ways to boost academic testing scores. This study examined teachers’ and administrators’ experiences with and perceptions of merit pay, with the goal of identifying key program components positively impacting student success. With this information, solid and successful merit pay structures could be implemented in schools across the nation. Professional educators from two Midwest states who were involved in performance pay programs participated in the study through both a survey instrument and personal interviews. …
Integration Of Technology Into The Classroom Environment: A Study Of Student Perceptions As Related To Skill Attainment, Richard M. Sullivan
Integration Of Technology Into The Classroom Environment: A Study Of Student Perceptions As Related To Skill Attainment, Richard M. Sullivan
Dissertations
The purpose of this study was to contribute to available literature by ascertaining student perceptions of benefits of student access to technology as correlated to students’ standardized test scores. Students and teachers were surveyed for perceptions of technology benefits. Survey results were analyzed and Pearson product-moment correlation coefficients were calculated comparing student perceptions to standardized Missouri Assessment Program (MAP) grade-level assessment results. As described in specific detail in this paper, it was found student standardized MAP testing data were positively correlated to the introduction of technology-integrated instruction in the classroom setting. Student perceptions indicated a more positive linear association to …
Achievement Gap In Reading: A Study Of School Practices And Effectual Results, Christina S. Brown
Achievement Gap In Reading: A Study Of School Practices And Effectual Results, Christina S. Brown
Dissertations
While it is important to recognize the economic background of students and home factors contributing to their achievement, the purpose of this study was to discover what best practices schools were implementing with low socioeconomic students to narrow the achievement gap in communication arts (Darling-Hammond & Richardson, 2009; Gorski, 2013; Snell, 2003). The research design incorporated mixed-methods by employing data collected from surveys, interviews, and secondary data sources. A triangulation of data was used to increase the credibility and validity of the study (Fraenkel et al., 2012; Mills, 2014). For this study, the quantitative data were collected using a survey …
The Significance Of Response To Intervention (Rti) To Student Progress In Fourth Grade Students In Missouri, Merlyn W. Johnson
The Significance Of Response To Intervention (Rti) To Student Progress In Fourth Grade Students In Missouri, Merlyn W. Johnson
Dissertations
focus of this research is in the area of Response to Intervention (RTI) and its effect on academic achievement in elementary schools in rural Missouri. In light of the regulations within the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act of 2004 and its accountability requirements for schools, this study is important and timely in order to provide valuable examples of effective RTI processes. The research approach adopted in this dissertation was a quantitative approach; therefore, quantitative analysis was utilized during a statistical comparison of elementary schools in Missouri and a review of information from a survey distributed to elementary principals in Missouri. …