Education Commons^™

Attachment Injury-Related Responses From The Offending Partner And Forgiveness In Romantic Relationships, Shruti Pillai

College of Education and Human Sciences: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Attachment injuries in romantic relationships carry the potential for several negative outcomes for the injured partner, the offending partner, and the relationship. Forgiveness can serve to repair the damage caused by such an injury. The concept of forgiveness, however, has predominantly only been studied as the responsibility of and of primary interest to the injured partner. There is a growing need for closer examination of what the offending partner can do to promote forgiveness. The Attachment Injury Resolution Model (AIRM) proposes eight distinct steps including actions for each partner that can lead a couple towards recovery. This study examined the …

Exploring Supervisor Experiences Of Hope In Clinical Supervision: A Phenomenological Approach, Robert Byrom Jr.

College of Education and Human Sciences: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Supervisory experiences have been identified as one of the primary resources for the clinical training of psychotherapists with respect to both the development of necessary skills and the ability to cope with encountered difficulties. This phenomenological study explored the experiences of clinical supervisors in a current supervisory relationship with one or more supervisees. Specifically, this study explored how supervisors experience their supervisory relationships, how supervisors conceptualize hope as it relates to supervision, how supervisors express hope for their supervisees, and how supervisors promote hope within supervision. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with between 3 to 15 individuals recruited from counseling psychology …

Power, Privilege, And Fraternity Men's Perceptions Of Sex And Sexual Violence: A Phenomenological Study, Justine Diener O'Leary

College of Education and Human Sciences: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Sexual violence is a prevalent concern on college campuses (see Washington Post & Kaiser Family Foundation, 2015; Cantor et al., 2015). Men are the primary perpetrators of sexual violence (Black et al., 2011), with particular groups, such as fraternity men, particularly prone to perpetrating sexual violence (Foubert et al., 2007). The CDC (2014, 2021) recommends utilizing a social-ecological model of prevention that address risk factors at four levels: individual, relational, community, and societal. The purpose of the present transcendental phenomenological pilot study was to explore fraternity men’s perceptions of systemic influences on sex, consent, and sexual violence. Utilizing a modified …

Pennsylvania Principals’ Describe Their Work, Examined Through The Theory Of Transformational Leadership, Shannon O'Donnell

College of Education and Human Sciences: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Being raised in a district composed of rural and suburban communities and later spending years teaching in urban and suburban school districts, I was able to define one key factor: successful students had one or more significant adult who provided them with meaningful guidance and support. For many, a classroom teacher and the experiences, mentorship, and compassion they provided happen to be that significant factor that changed the lives. I observed that as a classroom teacher, individuals are only responsible for designing instruction and activities, and regularly interacting with 20-30 students on a consistent basis. I felt that as an …

Organizational Supports And School Climate, Wendy Kemling-Horner

College of Education and Human Sciences: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

School climate is the perceptions and attitudes that are evoked by a school’s environment and affects every aspect of the school surroundings. Therefore, it is essential that principals have the resources they need to positively affect the climate in their buildings. In fact, a positive school climate has been linked to not only the achievement of students, but also the satisfaction and retention of the school staff. A positive school climate does not come easily; instead, it is the result of significant devotion to the school’s safety, disciplinary environment, and the relationships between constituents.

District leaders have a strong desire …

Non-Nutritive Suck Burst Pattern Stability In Extremely Premature Infants, Alejandra Marquez

College of Education and Human Sciences: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

The development of non-nutritive suck (NNS) burst dynamics in preterm infants reflects the integrity of the brain and is used clinically to assess feeding readiness and orofacial motor development (Mizuno and Ueda, 2005). The application of NNS analytics in the present report represents one outcome measurement set that is part of an ongoing clinical trial involving extremely preterm infants (EPI’s,[GA]) randomized to receive either pulsed orocutaneous stimulation therapeutics or a sham (blind pacifier), in conjunction with salivary sampling twice weekly to map gene expression of key proteins involved in neural development and molecular sensing of feeding related pathways in the …

The Effects Of Bilingual Education On Dual Language Learners' Academic Outcomes, Lauren Thayer

College of Education and Human Sciences: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

The population of dual language learners (DLLs) in the United States continues to grow. As the population grows, so does the need to research their unique development. Additionally, considerations for their education come to the forefront. This meta-analysis will analyze one option for DLLs – bilingual education programs. These programs offer the opportunity for DLLs to receive educational support in both of their languages. However, there has been controversy over the division of languages; specifically, concerns that children will not become proficient in the language of majority (e.g., English). This meta-analysis seeks to aggregate research on the effects of bilingual …

Examining The Efficacy Of An Intervention Package Delivered Via An Online Learning Tool To Improve Prerequisite Algebra Skill Fluency, Nicole Bricko

College of Education and Human Sciences: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

This dissertation study investigated the efficacy of a multi-component intervention package delivered via an online learning tool on math fluency for prerequisite algebra skills for three 6^th-grade students. Students were referred by their math teacher due to concerns with academic performance. Target skills were individualized for each student based on screening assessments and measured continuously during both baseline and intervention. The multiple-probe across skills design demonstrated that students increased their math fluency on prerequisite skills. A staggered pattern of increases across skills for two participants indicated experimental control was achieved and student’s performance improved. The Quizlet^® intervention …

Association Between Sleep Quality And Dorsal Default Mode Network In College Students, Anna Klets

College of Education and Human Sciences: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

College students often have poor sleep quality, which may change resting state functional connectivity network in the brain. Prior research demonstrated that sleep is associated with structural and functional changes in some specific brain subareas, which are involved in the dorsal default mode network (dDMN). However, no study to date has comprehensively examined all possible individual pairs of functional connectivity in the dDMN in relation to sleep quality among college students. Therefore, the present study hypothesized that sleep quality in college students was linked to any resting state functional connectivity in the dDMN.

Forty nine college students (25 females) underwent …

A Qualitative Study Exploring Attachment Through The Context Of Indian Boarding Schools, Melissa D. Olson (Zephier)

College of Education and Human Sciences: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

This is a qualitative phenomenological exploration looking at how Indian boarding schools impacted Indigenous families and indicators of how their attachment was affected. Thirty-one semi-structured interviews were conducted with 18 individuals who attended Indian boarding schools and 13 descendants of those who attended these schools. The interviews were conducted on a Northern Plains reservation where approval was obtained from that tribal college and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Results indicate knowledge sharers in both groups, individuals who attended boarding schools and those who descended from these individuals experienced critical impacts to their ability to form intergenerational attachments with subsequent generations due …

Micro-Credentialing: Establishing A Wyoming Framework, Ignacia Goicolea

College of Education and Human Sciences: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Micro-credentialing has become a buzz word in professional development. This new frontier has become a national trend in many areas, from business to industry. The landscape is being defined by private vendors instead of traditional educational enterprises. Vendors are competing to define and control the micro-credentialing market and take micro-credentials beyond its current context of primarily professional development to potentially, in their vision, replace testing, credentialing, and higher education overall. With the promise of expedited completion and competency, substantially lower costs, and ease of access, micro-credentialing is becoming a threat and opportunity as a disruptive and catalytic innovation for higher …

Relationship Between Personal Distress And Aggression Is Moderated By Nucleus Accumbens Volume, Yuan Ta Poh

College of Education and Human Sciences: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Studies into the relationship between empathy and aggression has found that the effect is weak (Vachon et al., 2014). This weak relationship is observed through aspects of empathy interacting with aspects of aggression in different ways depending on the types of empathy and aggression being measured. The present study utilized neuroimaging approach to examine the relationship among empathy, aggression and nucleus accumbens (NAc) volume. Forty nine college students underwent magnetic resonance imaging scans and completed the Interpersonal Reactivity Index as well as the Reactive-Proactive Questionnaire. Using FreeSurfer, bilateral NAc volumes were obtained for statistical analysis. Hierarchal regression analyses were utilized …

The Influence Of Proximal And Distal Familial Factors On Preschool Children's Inhibitory Control And Social Emotional Skills, Amy Encinger

College of Education and Human Sciences: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Children in the United States experience higher rates of poverty than any other age group, including elderly adults and the poverty rate of young children (0-5 years) is considerably higher than that of older children (Proctor et al., 2016). There is an extensive body of research examining familial socioeconomic status (SES) and the influence on the skills and behaviors of young children; however, common key indicators of family SES may not fully depict the ways in which children living in poverty/low-income homes are influenced by economic disadvantage. The focus of the current study is to explore the ways in which …

Through Their Eyes: Photo Stories About Family Strengths In Johannesburg, South Africa, Megan Ribbens

College of Education and Human Sciences: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

A study by DeFrain, Asay and Geggie (2010) outlines six characteristics of strong families. This qualitative case study investigates one of the six qualities. Using an adapted photovoice research method, 12 parents in Johannesburg, South Africa describe what spending enjoyable time looks like in their personal and community context. Additionally, they outline the barriers that keep families from enjoyable activities. Qualitative data for analysis included: photographs, written descriptions, compiled activity lists, and focus group discussion. Open, axial, and selective codes and theme analysis were used to analyze the data. This study hopes to contribute to the understanding of the strengths …

The Role Of Faculty In Fostering Psychosocial Wellbeing Among University Students, Kelley Wick

College of Education and Human Sciences: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

The transition to college represents a major life event, and successfully navigating this shift has implications for students’ psychosocial wellbeing. While there is ample support for the idea that social relationships can facilitate student wellbeing during the transition to college, there is limited understanding of the unique role faculty may play in supporting students. The aim of this study was to determine the relation of faculty support to student wellbeing and self-efficacy, independent of peer support and student level of stress. Additionally, the primary questions were to examine whether self-efficacy mediated the relation of faculty support to student wellbeing, and …

Career And Technical Education Teachers’ Beliefs About Developing Students’ Motivation To Write, Katie Graham

College of Education and Human Sciences: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Students in the U.S. write poorly. Although postsecondary and workplace writing expectations continue to rise, writing instruction has largely remained unchanged over time. As a result, student writing outcomes continue to fall below expectations from both an assessment and hirable proficiency standpoint. Career and Technical Education (CTE) provides a unique opportunity to motivate students who are otherwise disengaged in writing (ACTE, 2009). The benefits of helping students develop their writing-self efficacy has well-documented support (Bruning & Horn, 2009; Bandura, 1997; Pajares 2003; Pajares & Valiante, 2006). However, little is known about the writing opportunities provided in CTE classes or CTE …

Emergent And Early Literacy Opportunities For Children With Visual Impairment With/Without An Additional Disability, Susan Pope

College of Education and Human Sciences: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Introduction: This study examined implications of literacy instruction for children with visual impairment (VI) with/without an additional disability at a specialized preschool in a large Midwestern city. Methods: Teachers participated in interviews and revealed their perspectives for providing literacy instruction, and students were video recorded participating in literacy activities. Literacy opportunities were coded for themes. Results: Six themes of literacy opportunities emerged from this study (i.e., literacy opportunities, accessibility, frequency, assessment, settings, and cues for understanding). Results provide evidence of instructional strategies, challenges and strengths described by teachers, types of activities used to promote literacy and the frequency and accessibility …

Assessing The Effects Of Extended Practice On Letter Naming Fluency, Samantha Page Cooper

College of Education and Human Sciences: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

The purpose of this dissertation study was to assess the additive effect (beyond mastery instruction) of extended practice. A multiple baseline design across child participants was used to assess the effects of extended practice of letter names on the rate of correctly identified letter names per minute specific to three Blocks of letters. The study involved three pre-kindergarten children enrolled in preschool located in a medium sized suburban city in Nebraska. Within the study, each child was exposed to three experimental conditions: (A) Baseline, (B) Extended Practice and (C) Outcome Assessment. The (A) Baseline condition covered one, two or three …

Effects Of Informational Text Instruction For Students With Or At-Risk For Disabilities: A Meta-Analysis, Mackenzie Burk

College of Education and Human Sciences: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

The purpose of this meta-analysis was to investigate the impact of informational writing interventions on informational text writing outcomes for 4^th to 12^th graders with or at-risk for disabilities. Informational text writing is heavily used in daily lives and not enough attention is brought to how the informational text writing is taught. A total of nine studies with 39 effects sizes were included. The studies included were coded by the first author and a graduate research assistant for specific design features (e.g., age, interventionist, dosage, teacher effects). The results indicated that informational writing instruction had positive impacts on …

Principal Wellness: Principals’ Managing Their Wellbeing, Leah Richardson

College of Education and Human Sciences: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Principals continue to search for the formula with the power to strengthen their leadership skills that will have an impact on achievement. Principals addressing their wellbeing is a strategy that can benefit the effectiveness of the use of their leadership skills. The purpose of this study was to describe principal wellness through the literature on the topic and to provide strategies for principals to manage their wellness. The review of the research and literature addressed principal wellness and included topics such as: principals working in isolation, developing healthier habits to minimize adverse health impacts on principals, engaging and modeling self-care, …

Grace Steinberg Day: Barrier Breaker, Terri Deayon

College of Education and Human Sciences: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

The purpose of this historical case study was to explore the challenges, issues, life, and legacy of Grace Steinberg Day. The study was designed to identify the personal attributes, professional characteristics, and leadership qualities that Grace possessed. Grace Steinberg Day enrolled at the University of South Dakota Law School, in the late 1940’s (Campbell, 2016). Day was the only female, in the law class of 175 students, as well as the only Jewish student. She graduated, passed the bar, and ultimately launched a solo practice in 1950. During this era, women attorneys were not the norm and Grace endured a …

Vibrotactile Threshold Estimation In Neurotypical Children, Elizabeth Hoffman

College of Education and Human Sciences: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Experimental findings are limited concerning the vibrotactile sensitivity of the glabrous hand and perioral face in neurotypical children. Additional research examining vibrotactile detection thresholds (VDT) in neurotypical children would further understanding of tactile perception in children and help create a more robust understanding of somatosensory development across the lifespan. This research has applications in diagnostics for neurological disorders affecting vibrotactile sensation in the hands and face. The proposed study will use an adaptive single interval up-down threshold tracking algorithm to measure VDTs at 5, 10, 50, 150, 250, and 300 Hz for the glabrous hand and perioral face in a …

Use Of A Novel Whole-Body Imaging Approach To Predict Resting Metabolic Rates In Athletes, Nicole Vencil

College of Education and Human Sciences: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Prediction of energy expenditure allows for calculation of appropriate energy requirements, which is especially important for athletes. Resting metabolic rate (RMR) is the greatest contributor to total daily energy expenditure (TDEE) and is typically measured via indirect calorimetry. Indirect calorimetry is not always available, which results in the need for predictive equations. Most predictive equations have been developed with participants resembling the general population and have not been found to be appropriate for athletes, as they may incorrectly predict RMR due to the unique differences of body composition between athletes and the general population. The purpose of the present study …

Ecological Art Exhibition As Transformative Pedagogy, Stacey Skold

College of Education and Human Sciences: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Environmental degradation is considered one of the biggest issues facing humankind. The problem is deep and global with fast fashion playing a significant, yet underrealized role. Scholars have established that developing the sustainable behaviors necessary to mitigate the effects of environmental degradation is a complex process, that knowledge of environmental degradation alone is insufficient to develop sustainable behaviors, and that both attitudinal and behavioral transformations are necessary for global environmental action and stewardship. As a result, researchers have called for new approaches to environmental education to promote transformative learning.

Art experiences can function as a powerful tool in learning and …

The Development Of Generativity Among College Student Leaders Who Mentor: A Growth Curve Analysis, Hannah Sunderman

College of Education and Human Sciences: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

The purpose of this longitudinal study was to examine generativity development among college student leaders who mentor. There were four research objectives: (a) the nature of change in generativity among college student leaders who serve as a Leadership Mentor for three years, (b) the predictive relationship between generative concern and generative behavior at Time One, Time Two, and Time Three, (c) the moderating effect of having been or currently being an informal or formal mentee on generativity levels and generativity development, and (d) the influence of participant sex (i.e., male or female) on generativity level and generativity development. Participants completed …

Experiential Learning Tools For 5th Grade Scientific Concepts, Megan Cramer

College of Education and Human Sciences: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

The experiential learning theory (ELT) has been integrated in educational programs through wildlife conservation education, Human-Animal Interaction (HAI), and Equine Facilitated Learning (EFL). The goal of this study was to evaluate the effect of different experiential learning tools, specifically animals and equine, on gaining knowledge through measuring the retention of 5th grade scientific concepts. Students attending the Institute of Wilderness Studies (IWS) at Pine Cove Camps in Central Texas were used to evaluate student knowledge through a quantitative assessment (n=142). Student knowledge was measured a total of three times using three assessments, one pretest and two posttests. Overall, the total …

The Role Of Prenatal Empowerment In Predicting Parent And Infant Outcomes Among Working Women, Yao Yao

College of Education and Human Sciences: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

The current study examined the relationship between women’s prenatal empowerment and children’s social-emotional competence. A longitudinal study was conducted in Nebraska that included (N = 38) working women and their infants. Mothers’ prenatal empowerment and infants’ social-emotional competence, parental stress, parent-child relationship, and mothers’ knowledge of infant development were measured. Results from the current study did not support a direct association between mothers’ prenatal empowerment and infants’ social-emotional competence. However, mothers’ prenatal empowerment and infant’s social-emotional competence were both significantly related to parental stress. These findings indicate that prenatal empowerment may have an indirect relationship with infants’ social-emotional development. …

A Longitudinal Examination Of Bedtime Routines And Sleep In Toddlers, Amanda Prokasky

College of Education and Human Sciences: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Ample research has examined the impacts of sufficient and high-quality sleep on children’s health, development, and well-being (Chen, Beydoun, & Wang, 2008; Gregory & Sadeh, 2012; Touchette et al., 2009), yet less research has focused on the factors that contribute to sufficient and high-quality sleep in early childhood. The bedtime routine is one environmental influence on children’s sleep that has received little attention in the literature base and therefore is the focus of the current study.

In a sample of 399 30-month old toddlers studied over the course of one year, three aims were investigated: the within-age consistency of the …

Elementary Student Engagement Through Stem Lessons, Leigh Blankenship

College of Education and Human Sciences: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Integrating science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) subjects can be engaging for students and can help build real-world connections. Integration of STEM disciplines can also promote student engagement, as well as promote problem-solving and critical thinking skills. This action research study employed qualitative methods to investigate whether student participation in content areas changes when integrated STEM lessons are introduced in an elementary classroom. The participants of this study were nine students in a fourth-grade rural elementary classroom. Data sources included student surveys, a teacher journal, student work samples, and student interviews before and after each STEM lesson over a three-month …

Oxygenation And Activation Of The Vastus Lateralis During Dynamic Constant External Resistance Leg Extension Muscle Actions In Older Women With And Without Sarcopenia, Brianna D. Mckay

College of Education and Human Sciences: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

The purpose of the present study was to compare muscle strength, size, activation, and oxygenation between older women with and without sarcopenia during dynamic fatiguing leg extension bouts with high (5-repetition maximum[5-RM]) and low (30% of estimated 1-RM[30%1-RM]) loads. Eleven women (n = 6 non-sarcopenic [mean ± SE; age = 75.8 ± 2.6y] and n = 5 sarcopenic [age = 74.5 ± 3.1y]) were screened for eligibility and sarcopenic status. Descriptive assessments including demographics (age, height, and weight), body composition by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (fat mass[FM], fat-free mass[FFM] and percent body fat[BF%]), muscle size by ultrasonography (leg extensor muscle cross-sectional …