Education Commons^™

Accommodating The Needs Of Field Dependent Learners In Simulation Gaming Environments, Ahmet Feyzi Satici

Doctoral Dissertations

The field dependency and independency cognitive style affects the academic performance of students. It has been generally accepted that the needs of field dependent students could be accommodated in learning environments. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of two instructional support features (model transparency and feedback) on the performance of field dependent and field independent students in a Web-based simulation environment.

In this study, there were two treatment groups. One group, consisting of 14 participants, received a black-box simulation (no model transparency) with no feedback (black-box + no feedback), and another group, consisting of 8 participants, …

The Child Fatality Review Process: A Tennessee Profile, Charity Sue Smith

Doctoral Dissertations

The Child Fatality Review Process: A Tennessee Profile examines the perceptions of Tennessee’s judicial district child fatality review team members concerning the team members’ participation in child fatality review, the preventability of specific causes of childhood fatalities, the effectiveness of the Tennessee child fatality review process, and current educational initiatives used to prevent childhood fatalities. The study was completed using the new instrument entitled “Tennessee Child Fatality Review Team Members: Role in the review process.”

The research study was designed to 1) develop a valid and reliable survey instrument to assess Tennessee judicial district child fatality review team members’ perceptions …

Men’S Experiences Of Depression: A Phenomenological Investigation, Brian D. Spillman

Doctoral Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to understand and describe the experience of living with depression among a clinical sample of men. In order to participate in this study, men had to (a) define themselves as having depression, (b) be currently receiving psychotherapy for depression, and (c) have been diagnosed with depression by a mental health professional. In addition, men who were diagnosed with Bipolar disorder, or were currently suicidal or psychotic were not eligible for this study.

Ten men participated in phenomenological interviews by describing their experiences with depression. The interviews were transcribed, analyzed using methods developed from Colaizzi …

Climate And Student Performance In Tennessee Middle Schools, Myrna Gail Summer

Doctoral Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to extend previous research by investigating the relationship between school climate and student performance (value-added gains) in selected middle schools. In order to confirm previous research with the selected instrument, school climate and student achievement were also compared.

This study used a correlation analysis design. Forty middle schools from across Tennessee were used as a population sample. The data sources were the School Climate Inventory (SCI), and the State of Tennessee Report Card, 2005. Criterion referenced data and value-added gain data were collected from the Report Card. Aggregate achievement scores and aggregate performance (value-added) …

Inflammatory Response Following Moderate And Vigorous Aerobic Exercise, Carolyn Albright

Doctoral Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to establish the effect of an acute bout of moderate and vigorous aerobic exercise on production of the inflammatory cytokine interleukin-6 (IL- 6) and the acute phase protein C-reactive protein (CRP). Ten male recreationally trained cyclists (average age 30.3 ± 5.7 years) completed two 40-minute cycling bouts on two separate occasions. A moderate-intensity exercise bout was performed at 50% of VO_2max and a vigorous-intensity exercise bout was performed at 80% of VO_2max. Blood samples were taken before exercise, 30 minutes into exercise, and then 15, 30, 45, 60, 90, 120, 180, …

Administrators' Perceptions Of Corporal Punishment In Hamilton County Elementary Schools, Kathryn Hunt Hawkins

Doctoral Dissertations

Corporal punishment is probably one of the single most controversial and enduring issues in American education. Though more and more states continue to outlaw the practice, it still continues in certain regions of the country, primarily in the South is used most frequently in the elementary grades and used on black males more than on any other students.

Some teachers believe corporal punishment is the only deterrent in an overcrowded, chaotic classroom. Studies show, however, that the use of corporal punishment in the school has steadily declined.

Opponents of corporal punishment have linked the term to child abuse. Such means …

German Olympians’ Experiences Of Competing At The 2004 Athens Games, Sebastian Brueckner

Doctoral Dissertations

The purpose of the present study was to provide a detailed description of German Olympians’ experience of competing at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens. In-depth, open-ended phenomenological interviews were conducted with twelve German athletes who competed in Athens. The athletes represented various sports but in order to keep their identity confidential their names were not disclosed. The interviews, originally in German, were transcribed and served as the primary source for data analysis. In a cross-cultural setting where some of the interviews were translated into English, a method informed by hermeneutic analysis was used to derive a thematic structure of …

Development Of A Measure Of Sport Injury Anxiety: The Sport Injury Appraisal Scale, Camille Mclain Cassidy

Doctoral Dissertations

The relationship between trait anxiety (TA) and injury incidence has been previously examined, but the results of these studies have, for the most part, been ambiguous. Results suggest that higher levels of TA are related to higher injury incidence in athletes; however, the exact relationship between anxiety and injury incidence remains unclear. One reason why only meager support exists for an anxiety-injury relationship may be the measures of anxiety researchers have utilized. Mandler and Sarason (1952) recommended that researchers construct situation-specific measures of anxiety that would allow more systematic examination of the relationship of various sources of anxiety to other …

Technology Proficiency Among K-12 Award-Nominated Teachers In Tennessee: A Survey Of Teachers, Christopher John Greer

Doctoral Dissertations

The integration of technology in K-12 classrooms is a prevalent topic among school faculty and administrations across the United States. There are many teachers that use technology in distinctive ways, whereas others are more reluctant to adopt technology into their teaching methods. The purpose of this study was to examine two groups of teachers in the state of Tennessee and explore how and why they use technology. The first group of teachers has been nominated for a Tennessee Teacher of the Year award over the past two years. The second group of teachers has never been nominated for the award. …

Effects Of Balance Training On Falls Efficacy For Older Adults Residing In Assisted- Living Facilities, James Norman Hurtubise

Doctoral Dissertations

This study investigated the impact of a four-week foam-support balance training program on falls self-efficacy in assisted-living older adults. A Falls Self-Efficacy Scale (FES) and four balance performance measures (single-leg stand, tandem stand, functional reach, and eight-foot up-and-go) were completed to measure functional status and fear of falling. The sample consisted of fifteen older adults from two separate assisted-living facilities. Participants (N = 8) from one facility served as the control group, while those (N = 7) from the other facility represented the intervention group. There were 6 females and 2 males in the control group ranging in age from …

Current Practices In Blended Instruction, Eunjoo Oh

Doctoral Dissertations

Blended instruction usually describes a combination of learning environments in which major components of the instruction are delivered online with the remainder being face-to-face instruction (Marsh & Mcfadden, 2004; Rossett et al., 2004). Recently, blended instructional methods have been introduced as a means of employing the best strategies of both online and classroom instruction and one of the best solutions for the shortcomings of online learning environments by including human involvement.

The purpose of this study was to investigate current practices in blended instruction. In particular, the study sought to examine the predominant characteristics and potential variations of blended instruction …

Pessimistic And Optimistic Personality Traits Among Tennessee Adult Tobacco Smokers And Nonsmokers In Selected Worksites, Kandi Delyn Qualls

Doctoral Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine pessimistic and optimistic personality traits and an adults’ tobacco smoking status.

The study population consisted of three Tennessee worksites that gave written permission for data collection. The worksites were comprised of both blue and white collar employees. A convenience sampling technique was used to collect the data. The study sample consisted of 152 employed adults. The sample included adult smokers, nonsmokers and former smokers. Data was collected using a valid and reliable instrument called “Optimism/Pessimism Instrument” (Dember, Martin, Hummer, Howe and Melton, 1989), and a data sheet which included questions about age, …

The Mental Demands And Coping Strategies Of Professional Motocross Riders: A Qualitative Investigation, Ashwin J. Patel

Doctoral Dissertations

Professional motocross is one of the most physically and mentally demanding of sports. Riders often have to simultaneously execute various motor and cognitive tasks while remaining in a calm and focused state. The only published study suggests that detailed pre-performance planning and mental rehearsal are essential when developing motocross athlete’s performance (Collins, Doherty, & Talbot, 1993). While there has been a good deal of information regarding how elite athletes in other sports like figure skating (Gould, Jackson, & Finch, 1993b), wrestling (Gould, Eklund, & Jackson, 1992), and the decathlon (Dale, 2000) deal with the mental demands of their sport, there …

Alcohol And Analgesic Use In The Baby Boomer Cohort, Martha B. Rider

Doctoral Dissertations

If the population bubble known as the Baby Boomers continue to consume alcohol at higher than expected levels as they age into the middle and older adult categories it could have a substantial impact on future health care needs. This problem will be compounded if Boomers also take analgesic (pain-relief) medications when consuming alcohol. The objective of this study is to determine the prevalence of alcohol and analgesic usage in the Baby Boomer cohort and to ascertain whether there is an association between alcohol, analgesics, and pain. Drinking alcohol while also taking analgesics can have serious health consequences and, depending …

Graphics Calculators In Developmental Mathematics—Policies And Practice: An Investigation Of Factors Affecting Instructors’ Classroom Usage In Tennessee Community Colleges, Joyce Petty Smith

Doctoral Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to investigate the frequency of Tennessee community college full-time developmental mathematics instructors’ classroom graphics calculator usage (percent of class time) and various personal and professional descriptors of those instructors and the graphics calculator policies at each college: number of years of full-time teaching at community college level, number of years teaching mathematics, level of education, amount of formal (workshop or class participant) professional development with graphics calculators, brand of graphics calculator used by their college, percentage of time a graphics calculator is used in the classroom for calculations, percentage of time a graphics calculator …

A Season-Long Mental Skills Training Program For Collegiate Volleyball Players, Taryn Kelly Morgan

Doctoral Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of a season-long mental skills training (MST) program based on a conceptual framework informed by humanism and cognitive-behaviorism on the anxiety, confidence, mental skills usage, quality of life, and performance of an intact team. Participants consisted of a team of 14 female NCAA Division III collegiate volleyball players. The MST program was molded by the players and consisted of relaxation, team building, imagery, goal setting, pre-serve and pre-performance routines, anxiety management, focus words, confidence building, cognitive restructuring (positive self-talk), refocusing after mistakes, and defining roles on the team. The Sport …

A Social Constructionist Approach To The Facilitation Of Professional Development Among Community College Faculty, Linda Mckinstry Randolph

Doctoral Dissertations

My purpose in conducting this research project was to engage in collaborative action research with a group of faculty members in order to learn more about my own facilitation of collaborative learning and to identify ways in which I could improve. The participants and I used dialogue during our group meetings to help each other with the development and implementation of Classroom Assessment Techniques in the classroom and the review of the results. The structure for the semester-long project was the development of a Classroom Assessment Techniques seminar handbook for future use with other faculty in the college. The data …

A Case Study Of Successful Small School Reform: The Construction Academy As A Fundamentally Different Enterprise, Alison E. Buehler

Doctoral Dissertations

In order to move successful school restructuring from the margins of educational dialogue to the center of the debate requires a detailed investigation into how these school reforms are created and sustained within the larger, current and historical educational context. This qualitative case study sought to understand how the small schools movement of school reform, as it was realized at the East Ridge Construction Academy, was able to overcome historical school reform barriers by engaging in systems thinking and forming and maintaining true learning organizations. This study was also designed to examine how remaining inside an existing system, rather than …

A Test Of The Classical Model For Predicting Endurance Running Performance, James Edward Mclaughlin

Doctoral Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of this investigation was to compare the "classic" physiological predictors of endurance performance (V̇O_2max,%V̇O_2max at LT, and RE) with a treadmill performance test (PTV) to see which best predicts performance in a simulated 16 km time trial. A secondary purpose was to identify physiological factors related to PTV. Methods: Seventeen healthy, well-trained distance runners (10 males, 7 females) underwent laboratory testing to determine maximal oxygen uptake (V̇O_2max), running economy (RE), percentage of maximal oxygen uptake at the lactate threshold (%V̇O_2max at LT); running velocity at the lactate threshold (LT) and peak …

'Pick It Up, It's Good' Utilizing Solution-Focused Guided Imagery With Golfers Experiencing The Yips: A Single-Subject Research Design, Robert J. Bell

Doctoral Dissertations

A multiple-baseline across-subjects design was used to test the efficacy of solution-focused guided imagery (SFGI) with four yip-affected golfers (X = 51 years of age) and an average of 33 years playing experience. Yips are defined as jerks, tremors, or a freezing of the putting stroke and in the least can add several strokes per round of golf (Smith et al., 2003). Existing research suggests that the yips are a task-specific dystonia that is prompted and/or exacerbated by psychological factors (e.g., anxiety). Each golfer in this study participated in at least five SFGI sessions, designed to guide the individual …