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An Examination Of The African American Male Perception Of Church Attendance, Edward D. Gaston Jr. Dec 2023

An Examination Of The African American Male Perception Of Church Attendance, Edward D. Gaston Jr.

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The variances among religious groups in the U.S. have been presumed to have weakened, yet class and ethnic variances have been largely overlooked by sociology (Wilde et. al., 2018, as cited in Pyle & Davidson, 2014). Though some research focuses explicitly on African American (AA) men, (Fitzgerald, 2010; Davis, 2020; Truss, 2018) the researcher discovered little evidence emphasizing AA men who are de-churched (Trends in the black church: More faithful, but not immune to decline, 2021; Dechurched: Witness & Outreach, 2021, para 1). The purpose of this qualitative, phenomenological study is to understand why AA males are increasingly becoming religiously …


Career Pathway Of Women In Higher Education Leadership: A Qualitative Transcendental Phenomenological Study, Avel Shenika Fulp Aug 2023

Career Pathway Of Women In Higher Education Leadership: A Qualitative Transcendental Phenomenological Study, Avel Shenika Fulp

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This qualitative transcendental phenomenological study aimed to explore the real-life experiences of women serving in senior-level higher education leadership positions in higher education institutions. The theory guiding this study was the Self-Efficacy Theory, as presented by theorist Albert Bandura, was used as a theoretical guide, identifying if participant's self-efficacy could be or was affected by whether or not they were successful in the studied environment, along with how others within the environment contributed to that perception as imposed by their experiences. This research employed a qualitative method, with the design being a transcendental phenomenological study. Purposeful and snowball sampling identified …


A Phenomenological Exploration Of Adjunct Faculty Perceptions Of Job Satisfaction With Multi-Year Teaching Appointments, Nestor Montilla Sep 2021

A Phenomenological Exploration Of Adjunct Faculty Perceptions Of Job Satisfaction With Multi-Year Teaching Appointments, Nestor Montilla

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Grounded in the extant literature, the purpose of this qualitative study was to explore adjunct faculty perceptions of job satisfaction with multi-year teaching appointments at two campuses of a public urban university system in the Northeastern United States. The study utilized Herzberg et al.'s motivation-hygiene theory, also known as two-factor theory, and Husserl's transcendental phenomenological research design. The central research question was "What are adjunct faculty perceptions of job satisfaction with multi-year teaching contracts?" The data collection consisted of a demographic questionnaire, open-ended semi-structured interviews with twelve adjunct faculty who taught under multi-year contracts from 2017 to 2020, a focus …


High School Teachers' Perceptions Of Student Cell Phone Use In The Classroom: A Case Study, Summer Dawn Dupont Apr 2021

High School Teachers' Perceptions Of Student Cell Phone Use In The Classroom: A Case Study, Summer Dawn Dupont

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative intrinsic case study discovered high school teachers’ perceptions of student cell phone use in the classroom at Battery Creek High School. The theory which guided this study is based on Vygotsky’s (1978) sociocultural theory and social constructivism as it pertains to the environment children grow up in affects how they think and what they think about. The case study utilized semi-structured interviews of teachers, a teacher survey, and followed by focus groups created from common themes found. The data gathered was analyzed through the method of open coding and selective coding using bold/italics and then …


A Case Study Of The Perspectives Of Black Children's Parents Regarding Their Role In Addressing The Achievement Gap, Jennifer Lona Harris Apr 2021

A Case Study Of The Perspectives Of Black Children's Parents Regarding Their Role In Addressing The Achievement Gap, Jennifer Lona Harris

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative, collective case study was to understand the perspectives of Black children's parents regarding their roles in addressing the Black student achievement gap in their Virginia school district. For this study, the achievement gap referred to the disparity of academic performance between Black and White students. The theories guiding this study were social constructivism and social equity as they both support understanding the world based on participants’ experiences. The research questions are as follows: (1) What do parents of Black children identify as their roles in their children’s education? (2) How do parents of Black children …


The Influence Of School Level On Perceptions Of Components Of Professional Learning Communities In Traditional Public Schools, Jennifer Metz Hollingsworth Jun 2020

The Influence Of School Level On Perceptions Of Components Of Professional Learning Communities In Traditional Public Schools, Jennifer Metz Hollingsworth

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this study was to compare the influence of school level to schools’ perceptions of school leadership, instructional practice and support, and professional development, components of professional learning communities. Participants included traditional public schools serving students in kindergarten through twelfth grade in North Carolina. Instrumentation for the study included select questions from the North Carolina Teacher Working Conditions survey and the Active LEA (School District) School Report from the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction. Designed as an ex-post facto causal comparative study, a two-sample t-test between percents was used to analyze the data. No significant differences in …


An Urban District's Middle School Response To The Impact Of Relational Aggression: A Case Study, Billy Thompson Dec 2019

An Urban District's Middle School Response To The Impact Of Relational Aggression: A Case Study, Billy Thompson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The proposed study is a qualitative design that utilizes a collective case approach. The purpose of this study is to examine administrator response to the academic and social impact that relational aggression has on girls between sixth through eighth grade at Thorn Rose Public Schools. The participants in this study are administrators from the district with diverse racial, gender identity, and ethnic backgrounds. The theories that guide this study are Relational-Cultural Theory (RCT) founded in the work of Jean Miller, M.D., and Erikson's Stages of Psychological Development. The (RCT) theory assumes that humans have a natural drive toward acceptance and …


Student Perceptions Of Learning Introductory Mathematics In An Online Environment In Higher Education, Jamie Lynn Brooks Nov 2019

Student Perceptions Of Learning Introductory Mathematics In An Online Environment In Higher Education, Jamie Lynn Brooks

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to describe the essence of student perception of learning introductory mathematics courses in an online environment at the college level. The central research question was, “What are the lived experiences of students who have completed introductory college mathematics courses in the online learning environment?” The phenomenon described was that of the beliefs and attitudes of the students who participated in introductory mathematics courses on the college level. The ideas explored were if students believe they learn effectively in this environment and how they believe they can best learn. Student beliefs and attitudes …


Secondary School Principals' Perceptions Of Inclusion For Students With Autism: A Causal-Comparative Study, Jason Brent Conaway Dec 2018

Secondary School Principals' Perceptions Of Inclusion For Students With Autism: A Causal-Comparative Study, Jason Brent Conaway

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

A person’s perceptions define their reality, and behavior is based on what one believes to be real; therefore, perception is the path to belief, and one usually acts upon belief (Colaianni, 2015). According to Hallinger and Murphy (2012), “Today, we view instructional leadership as an influence process through which leaders identify direction for the school, motivate staff and coordinate school and classroom-based strategies aimed at improvements in teaching and learning” (p. 7). The purpose of this quantitative, causal-comparative study was to contribute to a body of research surrounding the perceptions of secondary school principals toward the inclusion of students with …


A Case Study Of The Stakeholders' Perception Of The Effectiveness Of A South Carolina District Mentorship Program, Donna Floyd Aug 2018

A Case Study Of The Stakeholders' Perception Of The Effectiveness Of A South Carolina District Mentorship Program, Donna Floyd

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this case study is to understand the perceptions of participants in St. John’s County School District concerning the effectiveness of the mentorship program in the county. The Theory of Teacher Development (Fuller, 1969; Katz, 1972) guided the research. This theory states the induction programs should follow pre-service preparation, which will reduce the teacher attrition rate. A single case study was chosen so that the mentorship program could be studied using the perceptions of the participants in the program. The two research questions that guided the study is as follows: “What are the beginning teachers’ perceptions of the …


A Study Of The Relationship Between Students' Self-Reported Self-Esteem Levels And Their Perceptions Of Teacher Behaviors, Shane Grant Apr 2018

A Study Of The Relationship Between Students' Self-Reported Self-Esteem Levels And Their Perceptions Of Teacher Behaviors, Shane Grant

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Research has shown that self-esteem, particularly among female students, can decline during the elementary school years and beyond. Self-esteem is a very important indicator of how well students will adapt to their surroundings and perform in and outside of the classroom setting. Very little research identifying the impact of students’ perceptions of teachers’ controlling or supportive behaviors in relation to self-esteem has been studied among middle school high-ability math students in the United States. The purpose of this quantitative, predictive, correlational study was to examine the effect of the criterion variable of self-esteem based on the multiple predictor variables of …


An Investigation Of The Relationship Between Factors Of Beginning Teachers' Development Within A Mentor-Based Induction Program, James Davis Sep 2017

An Investigation Of The Relationship Between Factors Of Beginning Teachers' Development Within A Mentor-Based Induction Program, James Davis

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This dissertation was a quantitative, correlational study that examined the impact of the mentor component of a mentor-based induction program on three factors of new teacher development and support. The focus of this study was on beginning teachers participating in a district-supported mentoring program designed to support and acclimate teachers to the role of professional teacher as well as to support and acclimate teachers to the policies, procedures, and culture of the district. A convenience sample totaling 130 teachers at a large urban school district in southeast Georgia participated in this study. The participants represented varied levels of degree completion, …


A Qualitative Phenomenological Study Of First-Year College Students’ Perceptions Of Direct And Symbolic Inputs Influencing Sense Of Identity, Jonathan Butler Apr 2017

A Qualitative Phenomenological Study Of First-Year College Students’ Perceptions Of Direct And Symbolic Inputs Influencing Sense Of Identity, Jonathan Butler

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The research describes a qualitative, transcendental phenomenological investigation of students’ perceptions of the reflected appraisals they receive from the college community regarding their behaviors. The study includes 11 first-year college student participants from the School of Education at Higher Matters University, a pseudonym. A pseudonym was assigned to each participant to protect privacy. Data collection utilized focus groups with the sample in two groups, and semi-structured interviews with each participant. Both efforts were accurately transcribed. Observations of the students in the classroom setting served as a third means to gather data, focusing on students’ body language, appearances of comfort, engagement, …


How Math Avoidance Influences Degree Completion For Bible College Students: A Case Study Of A Small, Private Institution In Upstate New York, Bonnie Novak Sep 2016

How Math Avoidance Influences Degree Completion For Bible College Students: A Case Study Of A Small, Private Institution In Upstate New York, Bonnie Novak

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this instrumental case study was to describe math perception and avoidance for ministerial undergraduate students at a small, private Bible college in upstate New York. In the research, math avoidance was generally defined as the participants’ perception of math, their delay in completing a credit-bearing math course until their senior year or not at all, and their own learning or degree completion as a result. The theories guiding this study were Tinto’s Retention Theory/Model of Institutional Departure, Bandura’s Social Cognitive Theory, and Estep’s Theory of Christian Formation. The central question was: How does math avoidance influence persistence …


Outside Looking In: A Phenomenological Study Of Non-Residential African American Fathers’ Perceptions Of Their Roles In The Academic Process Of Their Male Children, Chaundra Creekmu Jul 2016

Outside Looking In: A Phenomenological Study Of Non-Residential African American Fathers’ Perceptions Of Their Roles In The Academic Process Of Their Male Children, Chaundra Creekmu

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental, phenomenological study was to understand the perceptions of non-residential African American fathers’ roles in the academic process of their male children in in a suburban city in the Eastern region of Georgia. The following questions guided the study: (a) What roles do non-residential African American fathers play in the academic process of their male children? (b) What factors shape non-residential African American fathers’ perceptions of their roles in the academic process of their male children? (c) What do non-residential African American fathers perceive as the value of their involvement in the academic process of their …


Educators' Perceptions Regarding Common Core State Standards And Professional Development, Christine Hipsher Mar 2014

Educators' Perceptions Regarding Common Core State Standards And Professional Development, Christine Hipsher

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this multiple case study was to explore the impact of the implementation of the Common Core State Standards in Georgia K-12 on the professional development needs of educators. Across the United States the enactment of a Common Core State Standards went into effect. The primary goal of the Common Core State Standards movement was to clarify standards. Accordingly, this study reviewed Social Learning Theory and Constructivism. The research questions in this study examined the types of support educators requested. The research conducted in this multiple case study analyzed teachers' perceptions about the implementation of the CCSS and …


A Study Of How Selected Public School Junior-High Students Perceive The Effect Of Popular Music On Classroom Behavior, Christopher Mc Allister Aug 2013

A Study Of How Selected Public School Junior-High Students Perceive The Effect Of Popular Music On Classroom Behavior, Christopher Mc Allister

Masters Theses

The objective of this study is to further the understanding of how junior-high students in the public schools perceive the effects of popular music on their behavior in the classroom. Two primary research questions serve as the foundation for this study. The first question investigates how themes disclosed in interviews of selected public school junior high students help to explain their personal perceptions of how popular music affects their behavior in the academic environment. The second question seeks to determine whether students that listen to a particular genre of popular music have different or similar perceptions of how music affects …


Student Perception Of Professional Education Organizations, Amanda Mcmillian Apr 2010

Student Perception Of Professional Education Organizations, Amanda Mcmillian

Senior Honors Theses

Topics covered in this thesis include the development of qualities of effective teachers, field experiences within teacher preparation programs, the definition of professionalism, pre-service teachers and professionalism, the perceptions of in-service teachers of professional development, education organizations, the psychological details of organizational dynamics, benefits of membership in professional education organizations for both pre-service and in-service teachers, and community involvement. Topics also include current research on teacher satisfaction with professional organizations and Liberty University’s professional education organizations. The investigation of the aforementioned topics will reveal the correlation between professional education development training and undergraduate professional education organization involvement. This thesis will …


Teacher Perceptions Of Student Support Team And Response To Intervention, Lynn Russell Bailey Mar 2010

Teacher Perceptions Of Student Support Team And Response To Intervention, Lynn Russell Bailey

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this study was to investigate teacher perceptions of Student Support Team (SST) and Response to Intervention (RTI) effectiveness. While an effective, researchbased framework is certainly paramount to the success of either endeavor, the teachers involved in the process and their perceptions directly impact the effectiveness. Teacher perceptions of their familiarity with SST and RTI, adequacy of training, qualifications to implement, the effectiveness of SST and RTI, eligibility requirements for special education, weaknesses of the frameworks, and reasons for non-referral are examined in the study. The sample population for the survey consisted of teachers (n=342) from around the …