Education Commons^™

A Phenomenological Study Of Faculty Experience With Service-Learning, Kelli M. Hiller

CUP Ed.D. Dissertations

Service-learning is a high impact practice that is considered a new pedagogical shift in higher education. Even with the evidence of the benefits of this pedagogical method, college faculty are not using service-learning in their classrooms. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore community college faculty experience with service-learning pedagogical practices. The research question for this qualitative study was: How do community college faculty experience service-learning pedagogical practices? The study employed a qualitative methodology with an interpretative phenomenological analysis design. The primary sources of data were semistructured interviews, follow-up surveys, and a focus group discussion from a pool …

Leadership Influence In The Adoption Of Innovation By Critical Care Nurses, Michael Mceachern

CUP Ed.D. Dissertations

Innovation is critical to the survival and continued success of hospitals. Public and political criticism coalesces around costs, quality, and access. This qualitative research study was conducted to discover strategies that may be useful to nurse managers in supporting innovation adoption. The research design of this case study is useful in understanding how managers and nurses experience innovation in critical care settings. Data collection was carried out on the campus of a university-affiliated research hospital located in the southeastern U.S. A semistructured, protocol-driven, interview process, was used to collect data from 12 participants including nurse leaders and staff nurses. Emphasis …

Team-Based Academic Interventions At An Urban High School And Their Impact On Student Achievement, Erica E. Wolfskill

CUP Ed.D. Dissertations

Academic improvement is a concern for urban schools (Jacob & Ryan, 2018) therefore it is significant to focus on requisite skills, which contribute to student success. The purpose of this qualitative research study was to explore how team-based academic interventions impact student achievement. This study examined how public, high school student­­–athletes, ages 14–17, understand and describe their experience with academic study table program as part of their athletic practices. Additionally, the study examined student–athletes’ perception of participation in team-based activities and the influence of academic achievement and how the implementation of study tables during athletic practices impact student–athletes’ academic success. …

Perceptions Of Early Childhood Educators Who Left The Field: A Case Study, Tosca Grimm

CUP Ed.D. Dissertations

Early childhood education (ECE) educators’ roles in promoting the positive development of children are consistently deemed essential in research. Research also presents the severe problems of burnout and turnover in the ECE field. Specific factors such as low compensation, lack of professional development opportunities, and high-stress environments are causing continued rates of burnout across the early education arena, resulting in ECE educators leaving the field. Therefore, it is important to understand the reasons ECE educators are leaving so these challenges are recognized and remedied. A qualitative descriptive case study was used to examine the issue of ECE educator turnover due …

Leading Through Ambiguity: A Phenomenological Examination Of Chief Diversity Officers, Shawn L. Washington

CUP Ed.D. Dissertations

The purpose of this phenomenological study is to explore the experiences of chief diversity officers (CDOs) with leading through ambiguity in their roles. It is critical to provide support and structure to senior-level administrators leading diversity efforts at colleges and universities. “Ambiguity,” for the purposes of my study and main research question, relates to a CDO’s experience with an ill-defined organizational structure that governs their role. A qualitative phenomenological study was employed to document the experiences of 14 CDOs in higher education. Open-ended interviews facilitated capturing the essence of the lived experiences of CDOs leading despite the ambiguity in their …

Teacher Engagement In Central European International Schools, Joseph Leonetti

CUP Ed.D. Dissertations

Employee engagement is a growing area of interest that organizational leaders are increasingly recognizing as central to organizational success. In an increasingly competitive market, international schools must also consider the importance of employee engagement. Current research on international schools include studies which focus on retention and turnover issues, yet research on teacher engagement in international schools is nonexistent, leaving a gap in the literature. This study followed an interpretive phenomenological analysis approach to investigate teacher engagement in Central Europe. A qualitative design utilized semistructured interviews to understand the lived experiences of 11 international school teachers and develop an understanding of …

How Career And Technical Education Teachers’ Attitudes And Perceptions Of Students With Disabilities Influence Inclusion In Career And Technical Education Courses, Theresa M. Cortney

CUP Ed.D. Dissertations

This qualitative case study investigated how the attitudes and perceptions of Career and Technical Education (CTE) teachers toward students with disabilities influenced inclusion in CTE courses. The purpose of this study was to explore how positive or negative experiences of CTE teachers toward students with disabilities impacted the number of students accessing CTE courses. Fifteen high school CTE teachers, along with a focus group of six high school CTE teachers were interviewed. Results of this study revealed that despite positive attitudes toward inclusion in CTE courses, CTE teachers felt unsupported by special education and reported they felt CTE was being …

The Understanding And Involvement In Shared Governance By Faculty Who Have Transitioned To Higher Education From Industry, Trisha Ann Waldman

CUP Ed.D. Dissertations

The purpose of this single case study was to explore how faculty who transitioned to higher education from industry understand shared governance, how their understanding of shared governance was formed, and how these faculty perceive their involvement in shared governance.

The study was conducted at a small private college located in the Midwest, with a sample size of 14 full-time faculty members who transitioned to higher education from industry. The conceptual framework for this study was based upon the theory of transformative learning (Mezirow, 1991). Data were collected through interviews, demographic surveys, and a review of institutional qualitative data. The …

Peer Tutoring In Middle School: How It Changes Student Achievement And Attitudes, Lois A. Wright

CUP Ed.D. Dissertations

Research literature shows that mathematics is a gatekeeper to success. Providing alternative opportunities for students to strengthen mathematical reasoning over algorithmic computations while problem-solving in a collaborative environment helps to prepare students to compete locally and globally. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to investigate how an afterschool Peer Tutoring Club (PTC) affected academic performances and attitudes of Grade 6, at-risk or “at-promise,” (Samuels, 2020), middle school mathematics students. The gap found in literature revealed a need for additional research involving rigorous multistep problem-solving within peer tutoring programs. This study collected data from 46, 1-hour, afterschool peer tutoring …

A Case Study Of Military Transition To Civilian Life, Debbie J. Castaneda

CUP Ed.D. Dissertations

Service members experience significant challenges reintegrating into the civilian sector following military service. To research causes of the challenges new veterans face, a qualitative case study was conducted in which military veterans were interviewed and participated in a focus group to obtain information about their perceptions of military leadership and the transferability of their skills to the civilian setting. A review of artifacts, such as military basic training and leadership manuals, was conducted to check the consistency with which military veterans perceived their leadership and transition experience to match the military’s stated expectations and training. The conceptual framework for this …

Examining How Participation In A Youth Development Program Prepared African American Men For College, Shaniece Mcgill

CUP Ed.D. Dissertations

African American male retention and graduation rates in higher education are drastically lower than men of other races. In response to this, institutions are focused on diversity and creating programs and services in an attempt to increase African American male’s feelings of inclusion and belonging on campus. To explore the challenges related to the African American male experience in higher education, this study examined how participation in a youth development program prepared African American males for college. This qualitative descriptive study explores the experiences of youth who participated in a youth development program while attending high school. The study reflects …

Tribal Colleges: Influences On Native American Students Completing Stem Degrees, Daniel J. Henry

CUP Ed.D. Dissertations

This qualitative case study explored the experiences of 13 Native American higher education students attending a Tribal College and University (TCU) and pursuing a degree in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). The case study also investigated a focus group of TCU faculty members who taught STEM courses. The case study also contains an observation of 13 Native American students during a bridge program activity at a TCU, used as a recruitment tool and preparation strategy for potential STEM students. The research was intended to explore the influence and strategies currently employed by TCUs to help Native American students successfully …

Bridging The Gap: Self-Efficacy And The Desire To Continue In Music Education, Janet Levine

CUP Ed.D. Dissertations

This study sought to explore the problem of student retention in music, specifically between eighth and ninth grade. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether there is a relationship between eighth-grade band students’ self-efficacy beliefs and their desire to participate in band. Bandura’s (1977) four sources of self-efficacy (mastery experiences, vicarious experiences, verbal/ social persuasions, and students’ physiological state) were the theoretical framework that guided this study. The participants in this study consisted of 68 eighth grade band students who had at least one year of band experience. This quantitative study used the Music Performance Self-Efficacy Scale, specially …

The Effects Of Alternative Certification Program Type On Teacher Self-Efficacy: A Causal-Comparative Study, Tonda Handy

CUP Ed.D. Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of alternative teacher certification program type on teachers sense of efficacy in classroom management, student engagement, and instructional strategies. Teacher self-efficacy has become the industry standard to measure a teachers sense of confidence in instructional tasks (Lauerman, & König, 2016). Measuring teacher self-efficacy of new teachers can indicate how teacher preparation program plays a role in establishing teacher self-efficacy. The study was built upon the conceptual framework of the teacher self-efficacy theory, which is a subset of the self-efficacy theory (Tshannen-Moran & Woolfolk-Hoy, 2001). Participants in this study were new …

Secondary Teachers’ Descriptions Of Blended Learning And Professional Development: A Case Study, Melinda Payton

CUP Ed.D. Dissertations

Teachers who were born before the proliferation of computers are a large part of the education workforce. Therefore, it is important to understand how that group of teachers describes the use of technology in their classroom, as well as professional development that they have taken which focused on the implantation of blended learning in their classrooms. The purpose of the qualitative descriptive single case study was to understand how teachers describe technology and blended learning in their classrooms, as well as their descriptions of professional development that focuses on technology regarding blended learning. The overlying research question for the study …

Job Satisfaction And Compassion Satisfaction Among Orthotic And Prosthetic Practitioners: A Descriptive-Multiple Case Study, Donna D. Atherton

CUP Ed.D. Dissertations

Orthotic and prosthetic practitioners are faced with heavy caseloads of patients that impact symptoms of burnout, which is another word for stress. This qualitative, descriptive-multiple case study investigated Orthotic and Prosthetic (O&P) practitioners in the United States and their views on whether job satisfaction influences compassion satisfaction, while working with patients who have lost one or more limb(s). The research study also included whether burnout or depression have a significant effect on job satisfaction and compassion satisfaction. This research study was conducted using a three-phased data collection process that included in-depth interview sessions, along with researcher’s notes, a prepared open-ended …

Christian Spiritual Exemplars: A Phenomenological Study Of Exemplary Christian School Graduates In Hawaii, Lacey Vasquez

CUP Ed.D. Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative-phenomenological study was to understand how Christian school graduates view their lived experiences in their high school education in relation to their Christian spiritual formation (CSF) and to understand the Christian high school experiences associated with highly developed CSF. This study was conducted amongst a nondenominational church in Hawaii. The phenomenological research approach was used to deduce from a variety of accounts of the Christian school experience, the common essences associated with exemplary Christianity as defined by experts within the community. A purposive snowball sample was used to identify the study participants who were nominated to …

Explicit Inclusion Of Fun In Instruction As A Catalyst For Academic Success, Kimberly Tyskiewicz

CUP Ed.D. Dissertations

Low graduation rates, rising drop-out rates, and increasing apathy and disengagement in learning has prompted the need for new strategies and interventions in education. This case study provides an analysis of the perceptions of high school teachers related to the impact of the explicit, intentional inclusion of fun in direct instruction. The participants included approximately 20% of the faculty in a semirural high school of approximately 1,325 students. The case study involved individual interviews with half of the participants and the other half participating in a focus group conversation. Six participants in each group were observed. All comments and concepts …

A Phenomenological Study: How Minority Immigrant Teachers Perceive Inner-City School Climates, Comfort Ihedinachi Ndukwe

CUP Ed.D. Dissertations

Inner-city school environments include the location, size, demographics, and diversity of the school population, working conditions, and administrative support. In this study, I explored the perception of minority immigrant teachers about inner-city school climates. A phenomenological research design was chosen as a method to explore the detailed descriptions of the phenomena and interpretation of the data. Cultural identity, critical race, and multicultural teacher theories served as the framework for the research. Study participants were minority immigrant teachers who received formal education up to high school in their home countries and currently work in inner-city schools. The participants were asked to …

Leading Change: A Phenomenological Study Of Collaboration For Mission At Marianist Universities, Jessica González Uhlig

CUP Ed.D. Dissertations

Using transformational leadership theory as a foundational framework, this qualitative phenomenological study explored the ways lay and religious leaders at three Catholic and Marianist universities in Hawaii, Ohio, and Texas, live out, strategize, and sustain mission and identity through intentional collaboration. The problem addressed was that due to membership declining within the religious congretion in these Catholic institutions of higher education, leadership roles for strategizing for mission have shifted from vowed religious members of the congregations to lay professionals. Semistructured interviews were conducted with professional lay staff and faculty, lay executive administrators, and members of the Marianist order. The research …

A Phenomenological Study Of The Lived Experiences Of International Educators Working Abroad: A Global Perspective, Sarah Thomas

CUP Ed.D. Dissertations

Teaching and leadership assignments abroad have become highly sought after largely due to globalization and the opportunities for educators to explore the world, gaining cultural sensitivity and awareness while utilizing his or her educational qualifications. The rationale of this qualitative phenomenological study was to understand the complexity surrounding the experiences of international school teachers and administrators and their decisions concerning longevity with international schools. Twelve veteran international educators participated in this study sharing their lived experiences in working in international schools outside of their home countries. The study was designed to answer four research questions: (a) What lived experiences do …

A Correlational Study Of The Relationship Between Holistic Self-Care Practices And Burnout In Middle School Teachers, Laura Fitzpatrick

CUP Ed.D. Dissertations

Teachers, particularly at the middle school level, are experiencing feelings of burnout, leading to high attrition rates. Wellness initiatives have been implemented in schools to help combat burnout, but few have taken a holistic approach to self-care. The theory of holism supports that teachers who take care of all aspects of self—physical, essential, creative, coping, and social—are ultimately able to be more engaged, effective teachers. The goal of this study was to determine the relationship burnout has with holistic self-care practices, gender, and years within the profession for full-time middle-level educators. A total of 196 full-time teachers of grades six, …

The Power Of Play: An Action Research Study Examining Teachers’ Use Of Gamified Learning Practices To Develop Habits Of Mind In Elementary Students, Christina Clark

CUP Ed.D. Dissertations

The development of specific habits and skills is critical to students’ academic success. Costa and Kallick (2008, 2009) created a framework of these habits over their 25 yearslong collaboration called habits of mind. In this framework, Costa and Kallick detail the habits that students need to develop to be successful in school and beyond. An action research study was conducted to determine the influence of gamified learning practices to help students develop habits of mind in elementary students. The study participants were elementary teachers from upper elementary school in a large, suburban school district. Over eight weeks, five participants spiraled …

Qualities Of Transformational Learning In The High School Orchestra Classroom: A Heuristic Study, Linda F. Versprille

CUP Ed.D. Dissertations

High school orchestra students demonstrate a high degree of comfort in the orchestra classroom by spending out-of-class time in the room. Climate inventories do not address the constituents’ particular to the experience of the orchestra student. This heuristic phenomenological study explored the identification and description of qualities of transformational learning in the high school orchestra classroom that contributes to a positive classroom learning environment. Six seasoned high school orchestra directors with a minimum of ten years of experience participated in semistructured interviews to recall events during their high school years or as a teacher. Each was able to provide anecdotal …

Teacher Perceptions On The Impact Of Professional Student–Teacher Relationships On Economically Disadvantaged Student’S Effort, Audra Funk

CUP Ed.D. Dissertations

The value of relationships in education continues to grow as educational leaders raise awareness for social emotional learning. This phenomenological research study examined teacher perceptions of the connection between student–teacher relationships and student effort with economically disadvantaged students. A brief overview of research involving popular educational leadership styles led to the evaluation of student–teacher relationships’ impact on student effort. Answering the central research question, how do teachers perceive the impact of student–teacher relationships on student effort of economically disadvantaged students, study participants shared their experiences in education that yielded value to relational connections with students. Interpreted through the lens of …

Professional Mentoring At A Christian Predominantly White Institution: Impacts On The Social Connections Of African American Students, Steve Taylor

CUP Ed.D. Dissertations

Private Christian universities with predominantly Caucasian student bodies have historically faced difficulty when attempting to become more diverse. Often these colleges’ student populations have mimicked that of the founding parent church, although many desire to broaden the student ethnic background. The purpose of this qualitative single case study research was to examine the impacts of mentoring by professional, full-time, university employees on African American students’ social connections. Positive, social connections improve student retention and satisfaction. This study was conducted at a single Christian PWI university in the Midwest. Data included personal interviews and a combined focus group with four African …

Nurse Educators Fostering Critical Thinking In First-Year Students In An Associate Degree Nursing Program, Pamela Rogers

CUP Ed.D. Dissertations

Nurse educators are required to prepare students with the CT skills to solve complex problems, make sound clinical judgments, and decisions in nursing practice. This study explored the strategies used by nurse educators to foster critical thinking in nursing education for first-year nursing students in a community college. The research questions of this study were aligned with Bloom’s revised taxonomy, based on the work of Anderson et al. (2001) and Krathwohl (2002), who focused on the learner’s cognitive processes that transfer knowledge to a higher level of thinking. The selected method was a qualitative methodology with a phenomenological design. The …

Black Women's Journey To Executive Leadership, Belinda Higgs Hyppolite

CUP Ed.D. Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative case study was to gain an understanding of the journey of Black women into executive leadership positions at predominately White institutions of higher education within the United States. One research question guided this study: What are the experiences of Black women at predominately White institutions (PWIs) of higher education serving in executive leadership positions? Participants were a purposeful sample of 10 Black women executives who currently serve in executive leadership at various institutions across the country. The data collection instruments were structured interviews, member checking interviews, and a personal reflective narrative. The typological analysis approach …

Perspectives Of Secondary Science Teachers And Adult Secondary Science Students On Technology Integration In A Science Curriculum, Tamekia Whitfield

CUP Ed.D. Dissertations

This qualitative intrinsic case study explored the perspectives of secondary science teachers and adult secondary science students on technology integration in a science curriculum in a high school program at a community college in North Carolina (NC). The researcher sought to answer the following research questions: How do secondary science teachers practice technology in a science curriculum in a high school program at a community college in North Carolina? How do adult secondary science students in a high school program at a community college in North Carolina experience technology in their science curriculum? Data were gathered utilizing three sources: individual …

How Latino Male Students Perceive The Effects Of Social Engagement On Degree Completion, Gerardo Camacho Lewis

CUP Ed.D. Dissertations

Latino males are entering higher education at increasing rates, yet they are not graduating at the same rate as their peers. Latino males remain the smallest group to have a college degree, limiting opportunities for continuing education and obtaining gainful employment. The purpose of this study was to explore how Latino male university students perceive the effects of social engagement on degree completion. A hermeneutic, phenomenological approach was utilized enabling the study participants the opportunity to describe their experiences of the explored phenomenon and increase comprehension as to why they interpret their experiences in the manner that they do. Questionnaire …