Education Commons^™

Understanding Students’ Perceptions Of Sustainability And Social Media Utility For Sustainability Communication: Evidence From Malaysia And Thailand, Mohamad Saifudin Mohamad Saleh, Miao Huang, Ali Mehellou, Teerada Chongkolrattanaporn

Higher Learning Research Communications

Social media has become an increasingly prominent platform for information dissemination among university students. This exploratory qualitative study explored Malaysian and Thai communication university students’ perspectives on the importance of social media and students’ role in learning about sustainability communication. A face-to-face focus group discussion (FGD) was conducted with 18 seniors who were majoring in communication at the School of Communication of Universiti Sains Malaysia and the faculty of Communication Arts of Chulalongkorn University, Thailand. The results showed that most respondents understood the concept of sustainability communication and its importance to the sustainable development goals (SDGs). Respondents also discussed the …

College Students’ And Teachers’ Biases Regarding School Children Based On Appearance, Sex, And Clothing, Lauren K. Decoste, Terry F. Pettijohn Ii

Journal of Educational Research and Practice

This research explored how appearance, sex, and clothing differences influence adults’ perceptions of primary school students across two studies. Male students were predicted to be rated higher in academic ability, behavior, and likeability compared to female students, while formally dressed students were expected to receive more favorable ratings than informally dressed students. Study 1 included college students (N = 160), and Study 2 included employed teachers (N = 112). Participants rated formally and informally dressed male and female students on perceived behavioral, academic, and social skills, likeability, and engagement. Results showed that model sex influenced several perceptions, with male students …

Chatgpt Employment Anxiety And Career Confidence: Discipline-Contingent Evidence From Malaysian Undergraduates, Fahd A. Raza, Abtar D. Singh, Rabia Anwar, Jonathan Js Kovilpillai, Analisa Hamdan, Fumiko Konno, Husna Hr Azami, Murali Raman

Higher Learning Research Communications

Background: The rapid diffusion of generative artificial intelligence (AI) has raised concerns about graduate employability, yet evidence on how ChatGPT employment anxiety relates to career confidence remains limited, particularly in non-Western contexts.

Objectives: We examined whether ChatGPT employment anxiety is associated with career confidence among Malaysian undergraduates and whether academic discipline or usage intensity moderates that association.

Methods: Using the Malaysian subset of the 2024–2025 Global ChatGPT Student Survey (Aristovnik et al., 2025; N = 315 ChatGPT users), we constructed a four-item employment anxiety index (α = .80) and estimated hierarchical ordinary least squares (OLS) regressions predicting a single-item measure …

Infrastructure Versus Ethnicity: An Examination Of Digital Competency Development Among Vietnamese Preservice Teachers, Tieu Thi My Hong, Le Thi Van Anh

Higher Learning Research Communications

Objectives: This study examined digital competency levels and influencing factors among Vietnamese ethnic minority preservice teachers to test whether infrastructure transformation challenges deficit-based assumptions about ethnic minority students’ digital competency.

Methods: Using an explanatory sequential mixed-methods design, we surveyed 1,405 preservice teachers across Vietnam (41.4% ethnic minorities) using a DigCompEdu-adapted instrument across five domains, followed by semi-structured interviews with 24 participants.

Results: Ethnic minority preservice teachers demonstrated competency equivalent to Kinh-majority peers (M = 3.57 vs. 3.59, p = .541, d = .02) across all five domains. Preparation pathway was statistically associated with competency, although the effect was small …

A Systematic Review Of Cipp Model Implementation In Educational Program Evaluation: A Comparative Study Of Türkiye And Indonesia, Zahid Zufar At Thaariq, Memet Karakuş, Fatma Altun

Higher Learning Research Communications

Objectives: This study compares CIPP (context, input, process, product) evaluation model implementation in educational programs across Türkiye (Turkey) and Indonesia through a systematic literature review. Despite structural similarities as Muslim-majority countries, no comparative research has examined how national contexts shape CIPP application in both settings.

Methods: Following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, a Scopus search yielded 25 empirical studies (seven from Türkiye and 18 from Indonesia) analyzed using directed content analysis and comparative methods.

Results: Findings reveal two contrasting national patterns: (1) Türkiye’s “systematic formalism,” characterized by structured processes, standardized methodologies, and European Union policy …

Urban Secondary Teachers’ Perspectives On Their Experiences With Ai-Generated Lesson Plans To Support Instructional Practices, Jennifer Amend

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Urban secondary schools are increasingly encouraged to integrate AI tools into instructional planning. The problem many teachers remain uncertain about the effectiveness of AI-generated lesson plans. Grounded in Hall and Hord’s concerns-based adoption model, the purpose of this project study was to explore urban secondary teachers’ perspectives of their successes, challenges, and resource needs related to the use of AI-generated lesson plans to support instructional practices at PUHS. For this basic qualitative design, data were collected through semistructured interviews with 11 secondary teachers and analyzed using first-cycle coding and second-cycle pattern coding. Six themes emerged: AI as an Efficiency and …

Counselors-In-Training’S Perceptions Of Counselor Educators’ And Supervisors’ Roles In Developing Grief Counseling Self-Efficacy, Tonya Andrews

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Counselors-in-training (CITs) encounter grieving clients despite limited grief-specific preparation. Understanding these experiences could inform preparation for supporting grieving clients. Guided by Bandura’s self-efficacy theory, this qualitative hermeneutic phenomenological study explored these perceptions. The purposive sample included 10 CITs who were master’s-level students completing field experience or postgraduate counselors under clinical supervision, lacked independent licensure, attended or graduated from Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP)–accredited programs without required stand-alone grief coursework. None had a direct supervisory, instructional, or evaluative relationship with the researcher. The research question was: How did CITs perceive and make meaning of the role …

Sustaining Small Tutorial, Coaching, And Shadow Education Operations In Nigeria, Adeyinka Adebose Dawodu

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Some tutorial and training center managers lack effective strategies effective business sustainability strategies, resulting in poor performance and reduced profitability. Tutorial business stakeholders realize that failure of these centers creates a loss of opportunities for Nigerian youth who depend on their training and preparatory services. Grounded in the performance prism framework, the purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to identify and explore effective strategies that Nigerian Tutorial/training center managers use to sustain their centers beyond 5 years. The participants were six managers of tutorial/training business centers who have sustained their centers in nonaffluent areas of Lagos and Ogun …

Medical School Admissions Officers' Perceptions On Lower Admissions Rates Of Black Applicants In Georgia, Wanda Sebrena Thomas

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The problem addressed through this study was the disproportionate lower admission rates of Black students compared to their White counterparts at a Georgia medical school. Grounded in Bourdieu’s theory of social reproduction, the purpose of this study was to explore admission officers’ perceptions on the factors contributing to lower admission rates of Black applicants at a Georgia medical school. For this basic qualitative design, semistructured interviews with 10 admissions officers were conducted. Through Saldaña’s first- and second-cycle coding procedures, the following nine themes emerged: (a) Medical College Admission Test scores create barriers for Black applicants; (b) unequal educational resources and …

Teachers’ Perceptions Of The Challenges Related To Science Vocabulary Instruction In Wyoming Elementary Schools, Alexis Barney

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Science vocabulary supports conceptual understanding, engagement in scientific discourse, and achievement across content areas. The problem addressed in this study was Wyoming’s low literacy and science performance, as indicated by standardized and national test scores, highlighting the critical need for improved vocabulary instruction to close gaps in content-specific terminology that hindered elementary students’ understanding and achievement. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore Wyoming elementary science teachers’ perceptions of challenges, instructional strategies, and recommendations for improving science vocabulary instruction. Guided by Vygotsky’s (1978) constructivist theory and the concept of the zone of proximal development, the study included …

Agree To Disagree? Classification Agreement Among Discrepancy-Based Sld Models Used In School Psychology, Emma M. Ferns, Carlos O. Calderón-Tena

Journal of Educational Research and Practice

For decades, school psychologists have attempted to operationalize the federal definition of the most prevalent disability under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), specific learning disability. These attempts have led to three major identification method camps: the severe discrepancy approach, the patterns of strengths and weaknesses (PSW) approach, and the response-to-intervention approach—all of which are federally permissible under the IDEA. This study aimed to determine whether three operationalizations of the severe discrepancy approach (simple severe discrepancy using 1 and 1.5 standard deviations and the regression approach) identified the same students as those classified by their school as having an …

Teachers’ Perspectives On Student-Centered Technology Integration, Kiyana Janise Bell

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The problem that was addressed through this study was the inconsistent integration of student-centered technology among elementary teachers in an urban school district in the southeastern United States. Grounded in the technological pedagogical content knowledge framework, the purpose of this study was to explore teachers’ perspectives on the factors influencing their integration of student-centered technology. Using a basic qualitative design, semistructured interviews were conducted with 10 experienced certified K–5 teachers with at least 1 year of experience integrating technology into the curriculum. Data were analyzed through two-cycle inductive coding and thematic analysis resulting in six themes: teachers (1) demonstrated foundational …

Empowering Generations: The Role Of Family And Consumer Sciences In Advancing Financial Literacy And Resilience, Stephen Molchan

Journal of Educational Research and Practice

In this article, I explore the critical role of family and consumer sciences (FCS) in advancing financial literacy and resilience across generations. By addressing systemic financial challenges and integrating financial education into its curriculum, FCS empowers individuals and families to make informed decisions and build secure futures. The article highlights strategies such as early intervention, culturally relevant programs, and community outreach, emphasizing how FCS equips individuals with practical skills in budgeting, saving, debt management, and risk assessment. I discuss the importance of advocacy for financial inclusion and consumer protection as a means to create equitable opportunities for financial well-being, underscoring …

Effects Of A Filial Therapy Program On Gifted Children’S Self-Regulation And Academic Perseverance, Helin Yarcel, Fuat Tanhan

Journal of Educational Research and Practice

The aim of this study was to examine the effects of a 10-session filial therapy program delivered to mothers on gifted children’s self-regulation and academic perseverance. Participants were 45 gifted students attending a Science and Art Center (Bilim ve Sanat Merkezi [BİLSEM]) in Eastern Türkiye and their mothers, who were randomly assigned to an experimental, placebo, or control group. Self-regulation and academic perseverance scales were administered as pre-test, post-test, and 6-week follow-up measures. Given the sample size, data were analyzed with non-parametric tests, including the Kruskal–Wallis H, Friedman, Wilcoxon signed-rank, and Mann–Whitney U tests. Results showed improvements in self-regulation …

Leveraging A Model Of Intergroup Competencies: A Reflexive Tool For Developing Diversity Leadership In Higher Education, Arig Al Shaibah

Journal of Educational Research and Practice

Despite, or perhaps precisely because of, the current partisan pushback against equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) efforts in Western higher education institutions, universities may be well served to renovate their approaches to leadership diversity development to build greater capacity for advancing mission-critical inclusion excellence priorities. This article describes a promising educational intervention that has broad applicability to more meaningfully develop leadership proficiencies that better enable the advancement of EDI goals in higher education. While individual diversity leadership development programming is a micro-level intervention, it could prove beneficial—though insufficient on its own—as a prerequisite for macro-level equity and inclusion policymaking and …

Mentorship As A Catalyst For Change Readiness: A Qualitative Study Of How Effective Mentoring Mitigates Burnout And Turnover During Organizational Transformation, Jeffery M. Camp

Journal of Online Mentoring

This qualitative study examined how effective mentorship mitigates burnout and attenuates turnover intention during organizational change, foregrounding the perspectives of experienced mentors. Drawing on Biggs’s presage–process–product (PPP) model, data were collected through semi-structured interviews (n = 12) and two focus group discussions (n = 6 each), engaging 18 unique mentors employed in organizations with 1,000 or more employees. Thematic analysis following Braun and Clarke’s six-phase protocol yielded four themes: (1) mentorship as strategic facilitation of organizational change; (2) mentorship as provision of emotional and psychological support; (3) empowering mentees through relationship-building; and (4) applying adaptive and reflective strategies. …

School Principals’ Perspectives Regarding Successful Professional Development, Kathryn L. Bauserman, Diana Quatroche, Linda E. Martin

Journal of Educational Research and Practice

This descriptive study examined K–12 principals’ perspectives on providing and supporting school‑based professional development in one Midwestern state. Survey responses from 300 principals explored how they defined successful professional development, how they determined teacher learning needs, and the challenges they encountered. Findings revealed that principals valued professional development aligned with instructional improvement, yet many relied on their control of decision‑making processes. Professional development was commonly delivered by school or district personnel, funded through limited local and state resources, and typically offered in short sessions. Principals identified success through surveys, observations, and student achievement data while noting challenges related to funding, …

Staff Members And Students’ Perceptions On Retention In A Trio Student Support Services Program, Gregoire N. Lee

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The problem that was addressed in this study was the low retention rates and consequent low completion rates of students who are low-income, first-generation, and/or disabled who did not participate in a TRIO Student Support Services (SSS) program at Urban University. Grounded in Tinto’s student integration theory, Dweck’s mindset theory, and Duckworth’s grit theory, the purpose of this study was to determine staff members and students’ perceptions on the helpfulness of the TRIO SSS program in improving retention from Year 1 to Year 2 at Urban University. For this basic qualitative design, semistructured interviews with nine students and four staff …

From Awareness To Engagement: University Students’ Perceptions Of The Sustainable Development Goals And The Role Of Higher Education Institutions, Ajda Fosner

Higher Learning Research Communications

Objectives: This study examines how university students perceive the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with a focus on their self-reported knowledge, attitudes, and views on the role of institutions in promoting sustainability.

Methods: An online survey was conducted among students in Slovenia.

Results: The results show that most students are aware of the SDGs and support their integration into education, although their personal engagement with sustainability practices is more reserved. Statistical analysis revealed that both the level and field of study significantly influence students’ SDG awareness, with advanced and social science students reporting higher familiarity. Regarding institutional roles, students placed the …

Title I Middle School Mathematics Teachers’ Perspectives On Student Digital Distractions Related To Technological-Pedagogical Knowledge Interactions In Knowledge Spaces, Spencer Rebecca Ward Fraley

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The problem that was addressed through this study is the gap in literature on Title I middle school mathematics classroom teachers’ perspectives on student digital distractions related to teacher technological-pedagogical knowledge (TPK) interactions in knowledge spaces. Grounded in the technology pedagogical content knowledge framework, the purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore Title I middle school mathematics teachers’ perspectives on student digital distractions related to teacher TPK interactions in the Southeastern Coastal United States. Data were collected through semistructured interviews with six teachers and analyzed through two coding cycles and three analytical stages. Even though the results must …

Preschool Teachers' Perceptions In Supporting Students Experiencing Trauma, Ann F. Gorbett

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Early childhood teachers are often the first to observe behaviors that could be a result of trauma. The problem that was addressed in this study is that preschool teachers are not adequately trained to effectively address the social, emotional, and academic needs of children who have experienced trauma. Framed by Bandura’s theory of self-efficacy, the purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore preschool teachers’ preparedness and training needs to effectively respond to children who have experienced trauma. Data were collected through semistructured interviews with 10 general education preschool teachers, who have at least 2 years of teaching experience. …

Texas Teachers’ Perspectives On Work Experiences That Influenced Their Decision To Leave Their District Or Profession Following The Onset Of The Pandemic, Rose Pham Tran

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The problem that was addressed through this study is the over 10% departure of K-12 teachers following the onset of the pandemic, contributing to widespread teacher shortages in the classrooms in Texas. Guided by Bakker and Demerouti’s job demands and resources framework, the purpose of this study was to explore K-12 teachers’ perspectives on the demands and responsibilities as well as their reasons to leave the district or profession following the onset of the pandemic. For this case study, semistructured interviews were conducted with 10 teachers from the same district who voluntarily left between 2020 and 2025. Additional data on …

Parents’ Perceptions Of Their Children With Disabilities’ Mental Health During The Rapid Transition To Online Learning At The Time Of The Covid-19 Pandemic, Arnell Rorie Footman

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The COVID-19 pandemic prompted an abrupt shift to online learning, raising significant concerns about the mental health of children with disabilities. Existing research highlights increased rates of anxiety, depression, and social isolation during due to the disruptions in structured routines and in-person support systems. This generic qualitative study, guided by Bronfenbrenner’s EST was conducted to explore parents’ perceptions of the mental health challenges experienced by their students with disabilities during the rapid transition to online learning at the time of COVID-19 pandemic. Data was obtained through semi-structured interviews in which parents voiced their perceptions and experiences concerning their children’s mental …

Challenges Early Childhood Educators Encounter When Balancing Play-Based Learning With Preparation For Standardized Testing, Shanette Damar Mcbride

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The problem addressed through this study was that emphasis is being placed on standardized testing, which is causing early childhood educators to feel pressured to eliminate or reduce playtime in their classrooms. Framed by Vygotsky’s theory of social development and Lave and Wenger’s situated learning framework, the purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore the experiences of early childhood educators in a southcentral U.S. state regarding the challenges they face in balancing a play-based learning curriculum and the support they need, while emphasizing information about standardized testing. The data were collected from semistructured interviews with 12 certified kindergarten …

Staff Education To Implementation Of Fall Prevention Education To Improve Fall Prevention Knowledge Among Nurses And Cnas In A Nursing Home, Margret Nkechi Anabaronye

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This project was a staff education initiative designed to enhance fall-prevention knowledge among nurses and certified nursing assistants (CNAs) in a nursing home setting. The practice problem addressed was the high incidence of patient falls among older adults, which is a persistent safety concern in caregiving facilities since it leads to injury, decreased quality of life, and heightened healthcare costs. The project aimed to determine whether implementing a fall-prevention educational initiative would enhance staff knowledge and confidence levels on fall prevention. Analytical strategies used in this project included quantitative pre- and posttests and descriptive statistics to measure changes in participants’ …

The Application Of Knowledge Graphs In Education: A Bibliometric Analysis, Rui Yin, Jundi Teng, Ningwei Sun, Huimin Li, Ting Cheng

Journal of Educational Research and Practice

With the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies such as ChatGPT, the use of knowledge graphs (KGs) has increased substantially in educational applications. As a technology for knowledge representation and management in AI, KGs play a pivotal role in personalized learning, educational resource integration and management, and learning performance prediction. Their scalability and semantic interpretability were particularly evident in online education during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. However, systematic reviews of their application in education remain limited.

To address this gap, our study analyzed data from the Web of Science (WOS) Core Collection (high-quality Social Sciences Citation Index …

Prekindergarten Teachers' Perspectives On Coaching Following Professional Development On Early Childhood Programs, Donna Renee Morton

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Coaching is recommended for prekindergarten (PK) teachers following professional development (PD) to increase implementation of instruction practices with fidelity in early childhood (EC) programs. The problem addressed in this study was PK teachers were challenged to engage in coaching experiences after PD to implement instructional practices with fidelity in a large EC program located in the Mideastern United States. Framed by Knowles’s adult learning theory, the purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore PK teachers’ perspectives on coaching experiences after receiving PD to implement instructional practices with fidelity. Semistructured interview data were collected from eight PK teachers who …

Fellowship Graduates’ Perceptions Of The Professional Competencies Developed In A Local Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy Program In The Southern United States, Margaret Elaine Lonnemann

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Orthopedic manual physical therapy (OMPT) fellowship programs focus on improving clinical skills and professional development in physical therapy. OMPT fellowship programs are 1–3-year postprofessional subspecialty training programs in manual physical therapy requiring prior orthopedic clinical experience. The problem that was addressed in this study is that professional competencies are not adequately assessed after program completion of an OMPT fellowship in the Southern United States. Grounded in Dreyfus’s skill acquisition model, the purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore OMPT fellowship graduates’ perceptions of the professional competencies developed and recommendations for assessing these competencies in future graduates. Data were …

Kindergarten Classroom Educators’ Perceptions Of Social Emotional Learning Implementation, Thomasina A. Millner

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The problem addressed in this study was that research on social emotional learning (SEL) has largely focused on student outcomes, program effectiveness, and implementation practices, but limited research has examined kindergarten classroom educators’ perceptions of implementing SEL. Grounded in the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning framework, the purpose of this study was to explore kindergarten classroom educators’ perceptions of SEL implementation. For this basic qualitative design, semistructured interviews with nine kindergarten educators who had at least 1 year experience implementing SEL were conducted. Through thematic data analysis the following five themes emerged: Educators noted (1) that SEL is …

A Narrative-Restorative Framework For Addressing School Bullying, Tristan Patel, Michelle Myers, Daniel Stewart

Journal of Educational Research and Practice

Bullying in schools is often addressed through punitive deterrence practices, solution-focused counseling, or restorative conferencing. These approaches often fail to recognize or account for the power imbalance that ultimately sustains bullying. This article discusses a narrative-restorative intervention to address bullying as a relational and communal issue, rather than relying on isolation or deterrence practices. The limitations of the dominant models discussed highlight the role of power in shaping bullying dynamics and connect legal and ethical responsibilities of narrative-restorative practices. Situated within the framework of California education law and professional ethical standards, at its core, undercover anti-bullying teams aim to redistribute …