Education Commons^™

Stories Of Stress: Experiences Of Students In A Second-Degree, Graduate-Level, Prelicensure Nursing Program, Holly L. Nerone

Dissertations (1934 -)

This study documented and analyzed through story, the stress-related lived experiences of students in an accelerated, second-degree, graduate-level, prelicensure nursing program. Stress among nursing students has been associated with enduring negative impacts to personal wellness, future professional practice, and patient outcomes. Accelerated, second-degree prelicensure programs are rapid, rigorous, growing in popularity, and associated with the potential to generate high levels of stress among students. Second-degree prelicensure nursing programs have been underrepresented in existing literature on nursing student stress with little research focused on graduate-level options such as Master Entry in Nursing Practice (MENP) and Direct Entry Master of Science in …

Capital Projects As Catalysts For Strategic Change And Transformation In Higher Education, Lora Strigens

Dissertations (1934 -)

University campuses and their physical environments are a visible and symbolic representation of institutions. As the higher education landscape continues to shift and faces ongoing disruption, many institutions are considering significant strategic changes or broad transformation to remain competitive and thrive. As campuses around the country contend with aging buildings and infrastructure, they also have strategic priorities related to the changing needs and expectations of students, and the nature of teaching, learning, and research. Among these complex challenges, there is an opportunity to consider how institutions can leverage investment in the physical campus as a catalyst to support the strategic …

Testing A New Creighton Competency Evaluation Instrument For Pediatric Nursing, Elizabeth Anne Flasch

Dissertations (1934 -)

A descriptive multi-site correlational study design was used to test a modified instrument to determine its ability to assess students consistently across settings using a group of prelicensure pediatric students enrolled in two different pediatric clinical environments. Two participant groups were intentionally recruited including clinical instructors teaching in pediatric clinical environments and their corresponding students practicing in pediatric simulation and traditional clinical environments. Inter-rater reliability of the instrument was achieved. Prelicensure nursing students were deemed competent in the care of children across settings. No statistically significant correlations were found between environments. There was a relationship between student perception of confidence …

Black And Latine Youth Thinking About Punitive And Restorative Approaches In Relation To Race/Ethnicity, Gabriel M. Velez, Amelia Kasper

College of Education Faculty Research and Publications

Restorative practices (RPs) are a growing approach to mitigate racial/ethnic disparities in school disciplinary systems. This qualitative study explores the lived experiences of Black and/or Latine students, examining how they perceive and interpret disciplinary approaches in their schools. Using focus groups across seven high schools (N = 93 participants), we explored how students made meaning of the potential of RP. Overall, participants expressed nuanced opinions regarding the purposes and effectiveness of both punitive and restorative approaches. Specifically, participants demonstrated mixed thinking about punitive and restorative responses, connected the efficacy of responses to context, and stressed the importance of incorporating …

Do Sports Develop Leadership? The Impact Of College Varsity Sports On Leadership Capacity And Self-Efficacy, Benjamin Correia-Harker, Lindsey M. Clark, Jacob J. Capin

College of Education Faculty Research and Publications

Introduction: Effective leadership in sports is associated with better team functioning, physical and psychosocial wellbeing, and reduced incidence of severe injuries. In spite of widespread anecdotal support, few studies have empirically evaluated leadership development in athletes. The purpose of this study was to investigate socially responsible leadership capacity and self-efficacy in college varsity athletes and determine the impact of competitive sports participation on leadership capacity and self-efficacy. We hypothesized that college varsity athletes would (1) exhibit greater leadership capacity and self-efficacy than nonathletes and (2) demonstrate greater growth in leadership capacity and self-efficacy than nonathletes.

Methods: The Multi-Institutional Study of …

Unemployed Black/African Americans With Disabilities’ Treatment Acquisition For Substance Use Disorder And Serious Mental Illness, Jennifer M. Cook, Lee Za Ong, Melissa Deroche, Zevida A. Jones, Kaela Schneider

College of Education Faculty Research and Publications

Black/African Americans with disabilities who live with substance use disorder and/or serious mental illness are an underserved population in mental health treatment. We conducted a quantitative analysis using the 2022 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (N = 317) to identify treatment trends and interpreted results using DisCrit and the Behavioral Model of Health Services Use. We offer discussion and implications to increase service access for this population.

Natural Health Community Program And Well-Being: An Uncontrolled Study Of Women Survivors Of Domestic Violence, Madeline M. Glawe, Lee Za Ong, Karisse A. Callender, Barbara Wesson, Erin C. Schubert

College of Education Faculty Research and Publications

The purpose of this study was to evaluate a local natural healing service program and to explore how engagement in natural healing services related to the well-being of survivors of domestic violence. Using longitudinal secondary data, we conducted t-tests, regression, and correlation analysis on three measures (hope, distress, and empowerment) that were completed by the participants (N = 31). We provided evidence of the positive impact of a community-based natural healing services program on the well-being of survivors of domestic violence, specifically their sense of hope. This research represents the potential for natural healing services provided at the …

How Parents Experience Language During Iep Meetings: A Study Of Elementary School Parents' Perceptions Of Their Children, Michael Anthony Mooren

Dissertations (1934 -)

This qualitative hermeneutic phenomenological study explored how parents of elementary-age students receiving special education services experience the language used by educators during Individualized Education Program (IEP) meetings, and how this language affects their perceptions of their children. The literature review focused on the explanation of four language assumptions that served as foundational components of the study. Seven parents participated through purposive sampling, completing surveys leading up to and semi-structured interviews immediately following their child's annual IEP meeting. The analysis involved coding and led to an interpretation of four key findings that focused on collaborative, emotional experiences; accessibility of clarified language …

An Evaluation Of A Us College Student-Athletes’ Peer Support Training Program: A Pilot Project, Lee Za Ong, Praveen Madiraju

College of Education Faculty Research and Publications

Purpose

This pilot project aims to evaluate the effectiveness of peer support competency training in relation to college student-athletes’ peer support skills and well-being.

Design/methodology/approach

This project included four 90-min training sessions on peer support competency skills based on the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s peer support core competencies guidelines. A mixed-method design was used to evaluate the effectiveness of the training by measuring their peer support ability and through focus groups to gain insight into their experience.

Findings

A two-way analysis of variance yielded a significantly higher well-being score at the posttraining. Qualitative data revealed an increased …

A Comparative Analysis Of In-Person Versus Virtual Literacy Coaching To Support Tutor Intervention Fidelity, Jami Zahrt

Dissertations (1934 -)

Despite the increasing emphasis on instructional coaching to enhance intervention fidelity, limited research has compared the effectiveness of in-person versus virtual coaching modalities in structured literacy intervention programs. This study addresses this gap by exploring how coaching modality affects tutor intervention fidelity within the Reading Corps high-impact tutoring program. The central research question was: How does in-person literacy coaching compare to virtual literacy coaching in terms of tutor intervention fidelity? Using a causal-comparative design, the study analyzed archival fidelity check data from two school years: 2018–2019 (in-person coaching) and 2020–2021 (virtual coaching). The sample comprised four tutors, two in each …

Examining Early-Career Principals' Experiences With Coaching And Self-Efficacy Development In Wisconsin Public Schools, Jeff Carron

Dissertations (1934 -)

Research on principalship reveals that school leaders are entering the position with less experience and staying at their schools for shorter periods of time, resulting in more schools being led by novice principals. Additionally, research highlights how principals have a major influence on student achievement, teacher working conditions, and teacher retention. As a result, district leaders, and the outside organizations that support them, are faced with the challenge of inducting new principals and providing the support they need to be successful. Complicating this support are the myriads of skills, roles, and responsibilities that principals must master to be successful. This …

The Lived Experience Of Wisconsin Generation Z Teachers Remaining In The Classroom Beyond Their Third Year Of Teaching, Sarah Annalee Bennin

Dissertations (1934 -)

Teacher retention is an increased concern across Wisconsin. Teacher retention rates are at “67 percent in the first five years” (Kammerud et al., 2023, p. 25) in Wisconsin. Our current workforce spans five generations, and early career teachers are the newest generation to the workforce, Generation Z. They are at a higher risk of leaving the profession (Carver et al., 2017; Hamidu, 2023; Hanover Research, 2022; Sims, 2020). School systems struggle having enough available staff with experience to stabilize the educational environment and mentor new teachers (Hamidu, 2023). The purpose of this phenomenological study was to understand Generation Z early …

Influences Of Meditation On The Emotional Intelligence Of Participants At Buddha Haksa Temple, Boon Nakhapakorn

Dissertations (1934 -)

This phenomenological study explores the influence of meditation on the emotional intelligence of participants at Buddha Haksa Temple in Waukesha, Wisconsin. Using Daniel Goleman’s (2017) model of emotional intelligence as a theoretical framework, the research examines how meditation affects self-awareness, self-regulation, social awareness, and social skills. The study also incorporates Buddhist teachings, particularly Samatha (concentration) and Vipassana (insight) meditation, to provide a holistic understanding of emotional transformation through mindfulness. Through semi-structured interviews with meditation practitioners, the study investigates four research questions: (1) How does meditation influence emotional intelligence? The study found that meditation enhances self-awareness by fostering emotional recognition and …

Broadening The Evidentiary Basis For Clinical Practice Guidelines: Recommendations From Qualitative Psychotherapy Researchers, Heidi M. Levitt, Andreas Hamburger, Clara E. Hill, John Mccleod, Antonio Pascual-Leone, Ladislav Timulak, Michael B. Buchholz, Joerg Frommer, Jairo Fuertes, Iwakabe Shigeru, Claudio Martínez, Zenobia Morrill, Sarah Knox, Phil Langer, Christopher J. Muran, Hanne Oddli, Tomáš Řiháček, Alemka Tomicic, Rivka Tuval-Mashiach

College of Education Faculty Research and Publications

To improve the provision of psychotherapy, many countries have now established clinical practice guidelines for the treatment of specific disorders and mental health concerns. These guidelines have typically been based on evidence from meta-analyses of randomized clinical trials with minimal consideration of findings from qualitative research designs. This said, there has been growing interest in incorporating qualitative research in guideline development processes from both stakeholders and guideline development bodies. In this international collaboration, 19 qualitative psychotherapy researchers from 10 countries articulated the benefits of including qualitative findings within the guideline development process and generated recommendations for guideline developers. The underlying …

The Mediating Effects Of Disability Impact, Job Satisfaction, And Social Support In The Relationship Between Core Self-Evaluations And Life Satisfaction In Employed People With Disabilities, Rachel Friefeld Kesselmayer, Alexandra M. Kriofske Mainella, Susan Miller Smedema, Paola Cátala Villanueva

College of Education Faculty Research and Publications

The purpose of this study was to evaluate a mediation model of the relationship of core self-evaluations (CSEs) and life satisfaction in employed individuals with disabilities. This was a quantitative descriptive design using Hayes’s (2012) PROCESS macro for SPSS and multiple regression analysis. Two-hundred fifty-nine employed individuals with disabilities were recruited from Amazon Mechanical Turk and completed an online survey. Job satisfaction and social support were found to partially mediate the relationship between CSE and life satisfaction. The direct effect of CSE on life satisfaction remained significant after controlling for the effects of the mediators. Functional disability was not a …

Clients' Preferences For Their Therapists' Relational Styles In Psychotherapy: A Consensual Qualitative Research Study, Gina Di Malta, Mick Cooper, Hanne Oddli, Joshua K. Swift, Sarah Knox

College of Education Faculty Research and Publications

Background

Accommodating clients' preferences is a cornerstone of evidence-based practice. However, little is known of clients' preferences for their therapists' relational styles.

Methods

We conducted a secondary analysis focused on identifying clients' preferences for their therapists' relational styles, using original data from Cooper et al.'s (2023) consensual qualitative research (CQR) study. Initial data collection involved conducting semi-structured interviews with a cohort of 13 clients who had completed up to 24 sessions of pluralistic psychotherapy. Of these participants, 10 identified as female and three identified as male.

Findings

Four themes and six sub-themes emerged: (1) Clients preferred their therapist to be …

Using Institutional Habitus To Position Colleges And Universities As Social Actors, Derria Byrd

College of Education Faculty Research and Publications

In this article, derria byrd contends that more robust interrogation of the organizational contribution to inequity in higher education would be aided by understanding higher education organizations as social actors. Organizational social actor theory demonstrates that colleges and universities are more than inert contexts in which marginalized students' experiences and outcomes play out. They are entities that possess unique dispositional orientations, motives, and inclinations toward action. This conceptual article argues that engagement with institutional habitus, grounded in Pierre Bourdieu's theory of practice, situates colleges and universities as social actors whose structural positions generate interests, beliefs, and behaviors that tend …

The Roles Of Supervisor Care And Trust And Sense Of Belonging In Promoting Internship Satisfaction, Melinda K. Adams, Jody E. Jessup-Anger

College of Education Faculty Research and Publications

This study examines how relational aspects of the internship experience, namely students’ perceptions of a supervisor’s care and trust and students’ sense of belonging, factor into students’ satisfaction with their internship experience. We found that relational aspects impacted internship satisfaction. Although students’ perceptions of a supervisor’s care and trust were not a significant predictor of satisfaction, their sense of belonging was significant. Further analysis pointed to opportunities to use career related skills and gain confidence to pursue future job opportunities as significant in building students’ sense of belonging.

A Critical Examination Of First-Generation Faculty Scholarship: Demonstrating The Need For Intersectional, Empirical Analysis, Derria Byrd, Noreen Siddiqui

College of Education Faculty Research and Publications

The triumphs, tribulations, and trials associated with first-generation status during the undergraduate years are well-established in educational research; however, limited scholarship systematically investigates the dispositions, experiences, and practices of first-generation faculty (FGF)—that is, former first-generation college students who have joined the professoriate. In this critical review of literature, the authors identified and analyzed 173 sources, uncovering five dominant themes—(a) negotiating a discordant culture, (b) reframing success, (c) relating to family, (d) seeking social networks, and (e) leveraging identity—that provide insights into how FGF navigate the social, cultural, and professional norms of the academy. Despite recent expansions that center FGF of …

Using A Community-Engaged Research Approach To Prioritize Self-Management Needs Of Adults With Sickle Cell Disease, Nadine Matthie, Maryellen Potts, Kristin Haglund, Elodie Ontala, Lee Za Ong, Weneaka D. Jones, Elizabeth Devries, Dora L. Clayton-Jones

College of Education Faculty Research and Publications

Background: Sickle cell disease (SCD) is the most common blood disorder in the United States. Self-management is vital for mitigating sickle cell symptoms. However, limited research has reported self-identified priorities and needs for self-management among adults living with SCD, and few researchers have used a community-engaged research approach.

Objectives: We conducted community-engaged, qualitative research to learn about self-management needs among adults living with SCD.

Methods: Focus groups were conducted among adults with SCD and stakeholders in the SCD community (parents of adults with SCD and healthcare providers). A qualitative descriptive design and thematic analysis were employed.

Results: Four focus groups …

Differential Associations Among Psychological Flexibility Components, Depressive Symptoms, And Sense Of Belonging In First Semester College Students, Ti Hsu, Cristina Nardini, Gabriel M. Velez, Elizabeth Raposa

College of Education Faculty Research and Publications

Objective. The transition to college is associated with rising rates of depressive symptoms and decreased well-being. It is critical to identify protective psychological factors for this period. One possible protective factor is psychological flexibility, or the ability to pursue self-identified values despite distressing thoughts and emotions. This study examined associations among psychological flexibility components and well-being outcomes in first semester college students.

Participants: The sample consisted of 238 diverse first-semester college students recruited from five universities.

Method: Using structural equation modeling, we examined associations among three components of psychological flexibility and two dimensions of well-being (i.e., depressive symptoms and sense …

Differential Associations Among Psychological Flexibility Components, Depressive Symptoms And Sense Of Belonging In First Semester College Students., Ti Hsu, Cristina Nardini, Gabriel M. Velez, Elizabeth Raposa

College of Education Faculty Research and Publications

Objective. The transition to college is associated with rising rates of depressive symptoms and decreased well-being. It is critical to identify protective psychological factors for this period. One possible protective factor is psychological flexibility, or the ability to pursue self-identified values despite distressing thoughts and emotions. This study examined associations among psychological flexibility components and well-being outcomes in first semester college students. Participants: The sample consisted of 238 diverse first-semester college students recruited from five universities. Method: Using structural equation modeling, we examined associations among three components of psychological flexibility and two dimensions of well-being (i.e., depressive symptoms and sense …

Urban Colombian Youths’ Perspectives On The Armed Conflict And Possibilities For Ways Forward, Laura Pareja Conto, Gabriel M. Velez, Angelica Restrepo, Holly Recchia, Roberto Posada-Gilede, Cecilia Wainryb

College of Education Faculty Research and Publications

In the aftermath of intractable armed conflict, adolescents can play a critical role in the process of reconciliation and the construction of a culture of peace. The meanings they construct about these processes are a core aspect of their engagement (or lack thereof) in peace-building initiatives. This study sought to document adolescents' perspectives on the Colombian armed conflict and the 2016 peace treaty, as well as their preferred resolutions to move forward after decades of harm and division. We interviewed 77 adolescents (39 girls, 38 boys) ranging from ages 14 to 19 years (M = 16.49, SD = .95) …

Self-Efficacy And Student Support Programs Impact On Campus Experiences: A Study Of First-Generation College Students, Maggie Cinto

Dissertations (1934 -)

ABSTRACT SELF-EFFICACY AND STUDENT SUPPORT PROGRAMS IMPACT ON CAMPUS EXPERIENCES: A STUDY OF FIRST-GENERATION COLLEGE STUDENTS First-generation college students’ degree attainment is far below their continuing generation peers (Whitely et al., 2018). This study aims to offer institutions of higher education better insight into how to provide support to be more effective in retaining first-generation college students. This explanatory sequential mixed methods study examines how first-generation sophomores and juniors with low and high self-efficacy who are either participating in or not participating in formal student support programming experience different institutional interactions meant to support them while at their institution. Quantitative …

Wisconsin Students Reflect On Their Experiences In Dual Enrollment Programs And How Dual Enrollment Shaped Their Educational Trajectory, Gabriel M. Velez, Michael Vazquez, Ali Shana

College of Education Faculty Research and Publications

Research indicates that engaging in dual enrollment (DE) courses positively impacts college performance and degree completion time, evidenced mostly by static outcome measures (e.g., success in college, college admission, grades). These indicators are important, but do not fully examine how students perceive/experience DE opportunities. The current study used focus groups with DE students across Wisconsin (N=49) to explore how they thought about their experiences and how it informed their thinking about their future educational trajectories. Five themes emerged from thematic analysis of focus groups. First, they were able to maximize their experience thanks to onboarding support. Second, they gave a …

From Forgiveness And Reconciliation To Social Capital And Psychosocial Well-Being: An Evaluation Of A Multisite Intervention In Colombia, Gabriel M. Velez, Fabio Idrobo

College of Education Faculty Research and Publications

In 2016, the Colombian government signed a historic peace accord with the FARC-EP after 50 years of armed conflict. Still, widespread obstacles to forgiveness and reconciliation remained. The current study explores the potential of reconciliation centres (RC) in Medellin to help counteract a return to violence. These seven RCs included three branches of programming about forgiveness and reconciliation to support community well-being and social capital. A between-group analysis, as part of a quasi-experimental design, demonstrated no significant growth in participants’ understanding that restoration is different from reparation or awareness that reconciliation involves approaching the other to rebuild. There was enhanced …

A Phenomenological Exploration Of U.S. School Principal Preparation In Leading Mandarin Chinese Immersion Programs, Shuzhen Xie

Dissertations (1934 -)

This qualitative phenomenological study explores U.S. principals' challenges, successes, and best practices in leading Mandarin Chinese immersion programs in high-need rural schools in a Midwestern state. The study addresses cultural efficiency, increasing student enrollment through principalship preparation, and attracting the interest of parents and students. Purposive and snowball sampling associated with semi-structured interview protocols were used to interview 12 participants (N=12), including 10 females and two males. Participants included two elementary principals, two secondary principals, one administrative assistant, one paraprofessional, three English language arts teachers for the Chinese immersion program, and three native Mandarin Chinese immersion teachers. Findings reveal three …

Manywheres: In Pursuit Of Social Justice In Developmental Science, Gabriel M. Velez, Séamus A. Power

College of Education Faculty Research and Publications

In this article, we articulate an innovative framework, manywheres, and argue that it can advance the work of fostering youth-led change and progressive world-making. We first root psychological and development science in an applied framework of developing more just, harmonious, and tolerant social worlds. Then, we introduce manywheres, a guiding framework of propositions of attending to the complexity and nuance of meaning-making across individuals without becoming lost in nihilism, relativism, or ethnocentric views of social justice. This leads to the construction of a more holistic developmental lens considering the age-related, contextual, and internal factors that shape meaning-making individual …

A Case Study On Teacher Perceptions Of The Wisconsin State Educator Effectiveness Requirement: Mandates And Results, Daniel Unertl

Dissertations (1934 -)

Teachers are the essential element in improving student learning in education. The State of Wisconsin requires public school teachers to participate in the Wisconsin Educator Effectiveness System. There is limited research on the links between required participation with the State of Wisconsin’s Educator Effectiveness System and on the experience of teachers and their outcomes for students (Dvorak et al., 2014; Jones, 2017). This qualitative case study explored, through semi-structured interviews, the experiences of Wisconsin educators who engaged with the EE System, teachers’ connections with EE and subsequent changes to their practice. The study addressed whether teachers’ felt the technical elements …

Becoming Hispanic-Serving Institutions (Hsis): Disrupting Institutional Whiteness, Jacqueline Black

Dissertations (1934 -)

Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs) educate disproportionately large percentages of Latinx and other underrepresented minority (URM) postsecondary students. But as most HSIs are also Historically White Colleges, whiteness permeates their campus structures, cultures, and practices. This study bridges gaps in our understanding around how legacies of historical whiteness on campuses that have recently become or are emerging as HSIs affect their efforts to serve Latinx/URM students. The project focuses on the perspectives of those faculty, staff, and administrators most intimately involved in “servingness” work on these campuses: HSI specialists. Employing a critical qualitative approach and guided by Critical Whiteness Studies and Omi …