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Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

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Best Learning And Study Strategy Predictors Of Gpa For Vocational Adult And Traditional Learners, Lachelle M. Rosenbaum Jun 2015

Best Learning And Study Strategy Predictors Of Gpa For Vocational Adult And Traditional Learners, Lachelle M. Rosenbaum

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Vocational education has gained support and endorsement from the Obama Administration as a way to advance the American public in economic and social prosperity in this coming age. Time and resources are crucial as traditional and adult learners seek the skills they need for competitive employment. The purpose of this quantitative study was to examine the predictive relationship between learning and study strategies and academic performance (GPA) among first semester vocational adult learners and vocational traditional learners. The participants for this study were selected from a convenience sample of vocational college students at a northwestern, rural, four-year college with an …


An Examination Of Differences In Leadership Description, Emotional Intelligence, A Self-Reported Satisfaction Profile, And Vocational Status In A Mixed Sample Of Doctor Of Ministry Students, Dwight Cecil Rice Jun 2015

An Examination Of Differences In Leadership Description, Emotional Intelligence, A Self-Reported Satisfaction Profile, And Vocational Status In A Mixed Sample Of Doctor Of Ministry Students, Dwight Cecil Rice

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study examined differences in ministerial students’ leadership description, emotional intelligence, self-reported levels of satisfaction, and whether or not a participant experienced a forced resignation or termination (i.e., vocational status). Using a cross-sectional, non-experimental design, 110 Doctor of Ministry students at an evangelical seminary in the southeastern United States responded to the survey. Statistically, data was analyzed using ANCOVAs, Bonferroni corrections, and t-tests. Due to the sample’s small N=110, most comparative analyses showed no significant differences among groups. As a result, the present findings do not allow for definitive conclusions or inferences regarding differences in participants’ leadership description, emotional intelligence, …


Desiring Diversity: A Phenomenological Approach To Understanding The Experiences Of K-12 Educators Who Volunteer For The District's Diversity Committees, Lisa A. Lindley Jun 2015

Desiring Diversity: A Phenomenological Approach To Understanding The Experiences Of K-12 Educators Who Volunteer For The District's Diversity Committees, Lisa A. Lindley

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

In the United States, K-12 public school classrooms are becoming increasingly diverse in ethnicity, culture, language, exceptionalities, religion, family, socioeconomic status and political backgrounds. Achievement gaps between students in these diverse subgroups and typical White students have prompted educational leaders to identify strategies to improve academic performance across all subgroups. One area of focus in K-12 school districts has been on improving inclusiveness through the utilization of school diversity committees. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to understand the experiences and perceptions of K-12 educators in their role as volunteers on a diversity committee at the All Inclusive School …


A Case Study Examining The Restorative Justice Practices Implemented In Three California High Schools, Michael K. Zulfa Jun 2015

A Case Study Examining The Restorative Justice Practices Implemented In Three California High Schools, Michael K. Zulfa

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This qualitative study uses a multiple case study research design to examine the implementation and development of restorative justice (RJ) practices currently adopted by three high schools in California. Interviews were held at each of three participating public high school sites with the principal, an administrator in charge of student discipline, and a school counselor. Documentation, such as office referrals, and archival records were analyzed as part of the data collection process. The participating high schools are all located in California and have enrollments between 1,600 and 2,000 students. Each of the schools adopted RJ programs to address student misbehavior …


Gifted And Talented Selection Criteria Of North Carolina: An Investigative Study, Jan Darice Johnson Jun 2015

Gifted And Talented Selection Criteria Of North Carolina: An Investigative Study, Jan Darice Johnson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this research study was to examine the correlation between the alternative gifted selection criteria (e.g., Pathways, Gateways, and Multiple Assessment Combinations) used in six counties in North Carolina for the placement of selected Non-White populations into the gifted and talented (GT) program, in order to identify whether alternative gifted selection criteria were correlated. A correlation design was used in this quantitative research study based on the examination of ex post facto data. The paradigm for this study was pragmatism, as developed by Dewey (1938; 1964), in which it is held that truth is tested by consequences and …


A Qualitative Collective Case Study Investigating The Motivational Factors Of Elementary-Aged Students In Physical Education Class And Leisurely Physical Activity, Jesse Tanner Beam Jun 2015

A Qualitative Collective Case Study Investigating The Motivational Factors Of Elementary-Aged Students In Physical Education Class And Leisurely Physical Activity, Jesse Tanner Beam

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative collective case study was to increase understanding of the influential motivating factors of elementary-aged students in physical education (PE) that foster positive reinforcement to manage student engagement. The study was conducted at three different elementary schools in a school district in the southeastern United States. To determine the factors that influence the students' motivation in PE and leisurely physical activity, a set of data collection sources was used. Student interviews, caregiver surveys, and teacher journal entries were utilized to collect purposeful data that identified the specific factors associated with participation. Data was then transcribed and …


A Comparison Study Of Graded Assessments Between Teaching Modalities In Radiologic Technology, Angela M. Lambert Jun 2015

A Comparison Study Of Graded Assessments Between Teaching Modalities In Radiologic Technology, Angela M. Lambert

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The research conducted in this study focuses on student learning outcomes for students of Radiologic Technology. A comparison between non-traditional teaching using MOODLE® and traditional lecture delivery as related to written and practical assessment results is the focus. This study is important due to the need for programs of Radiologic Technology to produce competent radiographers upon completion of such programs in order to assure patient care and safety standards are met. The surge in online and non-traditional course delivery methods may jeopardize this necessity. The purpose of this research was to compare the use of non-traditional delivery and traditional delivery …


A Comparative Analysis Of Worldview Development And Religious Commitment Between Apostolic College Students Attending Apostolic Christian And Secular Colleges, Carolyn Potts Simoneaux Jun 2015

A Comparative Analysis Of Worldview Development And Religious Commitment Between Apostolic College Students Attending Apostolic Christian And Secular Colleges, Carolyn Potts Simoneaux

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Among young people of college age in the United States a growing number who come from Christian homes are embracing a humanist/socialist worldview. The prominent purpose of a Christian education is to mold students into biblical thinking, or a biblical worldview as part of developing spiritually. The purpose of this quantitative, causal-comparative study was to examine the difference between worldviews and religious commitment of students who attend an Apostolic Christian college and Apostolic students who attend secular college, and to determine if there is a statistically significant difference in the two groups. The PEERS instrument was used to measure biblical …


The Impact Of Co-Teaching On General Education Students In Seventh Grade Math, Kenneth Lamar James Jun 2015

The Impact Of Co-Teaching On General Education Students In Seventh Grade Math, Kenneth Lamar James

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Federal legislation has mandated that all students, including students with disabilities, perform at or above a certain level on standardized tests. Students with disabilities consistently have scored below the required minimum score. Educators have begun implementing co-teaching strategies in the general education classroom in order to better serve the students with disabilities. This has caused concern among some parents and other educators as to how the inclusion of special education students in the general classroom will affect the achievement of general education students. This quantitative study is designed to gather data from the math section of the Criterion Referenced Competency …


The Teaching Of Explicit Phonics Effects On Kindergarten Reading Readiness Scores, Shannon Michele Price May 2015

The Teaching Of Explicit Phonics Effects On Kindergarten Reading Readiness Scores, Shannon Michele Price

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this quasi-experimental study was to examine the impact of an explicit phonics program, entitled Ten Minute Phonics, on kindergarten reading readiness scores when compared to students receiving phonics through an integrated curriculum approach. The problem studied ways to determine if the Ten Minute Phonics program participants' mean overall standard scores, alphabetic principle scores, and phonics scores on the STAR Early Literacy test would be significantly higher than kindergarten students who did not complete the program. The population of students was chosen from a school in a suburb of Atlanta. Using a small group format, the treatment group …


Interactive Whiteboard Technologies In High School: A Quantitative, Quasi-Experimental Comparison Of Their Impact On The Levels Of Measure That Determine A Return On Investment, Joseph Michael Schipper May 2015

Interactive Whiteboard Technologies In High School: A Quantitative, Quasi-Experimental Comparison Of Their Impact On The Levels Of Measure That Determine A Return On Investment, Joseph Michael Schipper

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This quantitative, quasi-experimental, non-equivalent group study will examine the impact on levels of measure that determine a return on investment (ROI) of differing forms of interactive whiteboard (IWB) technology utilized with a class\room technology package consisting of a video projector, a document camera, and a computer at a high school in a suburban school district in southeastern Virginia. Three forms of IWB will be compared: a full screen IWB, a mobile interactive whiteboard (MIWB) and a tablet based whiteboard app (IWBAPP). Student performance and survey data will be analyzed to determine the impact on students and teachers who were exposed …


The Effect Of Student-Generated Case Studies On Conflict Resolution Style Development, David Dean Nemitz May 2015

The Effect Of Student-Generated Case Studies On Conflict Resolution Style Development, David Dean Nemitz

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

With recent technological advances, which not only impact the manner in which we deliver higher education but also the essential outcomes pertaining to the disciplines, curriculum design must also advance. Designing pathways to engage students with activities that allow them to deepen their understanding of concepts but more importantly equip them to apply the concept is of high value. The following research outlines a quantitative study of the effect student-generated case studies have on the conflict resolution style development using a quasi-experimental design. This study examined experiential learning theory as it relates to developing conflict resolution styles by comparing conflict …


Winning With Morals: A Qualitative Study Of The Impact That College Coaches Have On The Character Of Their Athletes, Ronald Dalton Lupori May 2015

Winning With Morals: A Qualitative Study Of The Impact That College Coaches Have On The Character Of Their Athletes, Ronald Dalton Lupori

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Through sports athletes are thought to build admirable character traits such as discipline, hard work, sportsmanship, and teamwork. Additionally, there are moral character traits like honesty, integrity, respect for others, and fair play. Research suggests that coaches can and do influence these characteristics both positively and negatively (Van Mullem, Brunner, & Stoll, 2008; Brown, 2003; Gould, Collins, Lauer, & Chung, 2007). The purpose of this ethnographical, phenomenological study is to understand and describe the views and priorities that Division II and III varsity college coaches have toward the development of moral character of their athletes, as well as insight into …


An Analysis Of Technical College Student Motivation To Pursue A Higher Grade In Core Academic Classes, Jeffrey Charles Hoffman May 2015

An Analysis Of Technical College Student Motivation To Pursue A Higher Grade In Core Academic Classes, Jeffrey Charles Hoffman

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this predictive correlational study was to investigate the motivation of students seeking a vocation in the technical college setting. The study used Vroom's expectancy theory as it relates to students' beliefs in their ability to attain a higher grade (expectancy) and their desire for that grade (valence) to the effect on student academic effort (motivational force). The study's participants were selected from degree seeking students at a technical college in the Middle Georgia area. For the correlational element of the study, Hierarchical Multiple Regressions models were used and a statistically significant correlation was found, p < 0.05, thus supporting the use of the expectancy theory as an effective model for predicting student motivation resulting in a mean adjusted R² = .66. Further analysis from this data found that the predictors -valence and expectancy- can predict effort levels of motivation in the technical college degree student with near identical (p = .942) squared semi-partial correlation coefficients of .325 and.324 respectively. This correlational design, employing a within-persons decision-modeling research approach is an attempt to fill the gap in the research in the area of student motivation as it relates to technical college students, whose academics are designed for the sole purpose of preparing the student for employment in areas as diverse as accounting and welding.


Experiences Of Boys In A Single-Gender, Military-Style High School Educational Environment, Jefferey Warren Chandler May 2015

Experiences Of Boys In A Single-Gender, Military-Style High School Educational Environment, Jefferey Warren Chandler

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

In an effort to improve academic achievement and student performance, some school systems across the United States are starting to consider some form of single-gender education. As many school systems have considered single-gender classes, previous research on single-gender education has focused on its effect on academic achievement. Other research has focused on adverse student behavior in the classroom. One area of single-gender education not addressed in previous research is the experience of boys in a single-gender, military-style high school educational environment from the lens of those in that environment. The purpose of this multiple-case study was to describe the experiences …


The Effects Of Service-Learning Courses And Traditional Lecture Courses On Students' Academic Achievement And Level Of Course Engagement, Jamie Rife May 2015

The Effects Of Service-Learning Courses And Traditional Lecture Courses On Students' Academic Achievement And Level Of Course Engagement, Jamie Rife

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this ex-post facto research was to examine the theory of Experiential Learning in the context of service-learning and its relationship at a university to the academic achievement and student level of course engagement in service-learning courses as compared to traditional lecture courses. An ex post facto research design was utilized to examine the relationship between participation in a service-learning or traditional lecture course on the course grade of the students and level of course engagement as measured by the Student Course Engagement Questionnaire (SCEQ). The study determined that participation in either a service-learning course or traditional lecture …


Exploring Successful Women's Ministry Employment: A Comparative Case Study Of Two Churches In Virginia, Melissa Small May 2015

Exploring Successful Women's Ministry Employment: A Comparative Case Study Of Two Churches In Virginia, Melissa Small

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The following qualitative case study explored the phenomenon of successful implementation of a fulltime women's ministry staff position in Southern Baptist churches to provide foundational research for a best practices guide for successful implementation of women's ministers in churches. For the research, successful implementation of women's ministry staff was generally defined as fulltime staff position devoted specifically to women's ministry in a church. The use of interviews and focus groups provided information from the church leaders and women who were directly involved in the phenomenon. The setting took place in two Southern Baptist churches, located in the state of Virginia, …


A Multi-Case Study Examining Co-Teaching Approaches And Practices In High School Mathematics And Literature/Composition Classes, Patti A. Cleaveland May 2015

A Multi-Case Study Examining Co-Teaching Approaches And Practices In High School Mathematics And Literature/Composition Classes, Patti A. Cleaveland

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Special education provides a variety of instructional models to ensure the success of students with disabilities. The increasingly utilized model of co-teaching allows students with disabilities access to the general education environment with the support of special education teachers. The co-teaching model consists of one general and one special education teacher who work together to ensure the success of both the special education and general education students. This qualitative study investigated and explained the co-teaching approaches and practices used by co-teaching partners participating in the academic areas of literature/composition and mathematics classes at the high school level. A multiple case …


What Factors Of Motivation Predict Achievement Of College Readiness? A Study Of Self-Determination And College Readiness, Laura Meeks Hudson May 2015

What Factors Of Motivation Predict Achievement Of College Readiness? A Study Of Self-Determination And College Readiness, Laura Meeks Hudson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This predictive, correlational study examines the association between the fulfillment of the three basic psychological needs (relatedness, competence, and autonomy) described by self-determination theory and the academic achievement of college readiness as measured by ACT scores. Self-determination theory posits that fulfillment of the three basic psychological needs is associated with greater academic achievement. Juniors from a public high school complete the Basic Psychological Needs Scale questionnaire and the results will be analyzed using hierarchical multiple regression to determine whether or not relatedness, competence, and/or autonomy may be predictors of college readiness achievement.


The Effect Of Thinking Maps® On The Reading Achievement Of Middle School Students: An Ex Post Facto Causal Comparative Study, Karen Ogden Woodford May 2015

The Effect Of Thinking Maps® On The Reading Achievement Of Middle School Students: An Ex Post Facto Causal Comparative Study, Karen Ogden Woodford

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this study was to determine what, if any, relationship existed between Thinking Maps® instruction used as a school-wide strategy and student achievement in middle school students in the area of reading as reported by the Virginia State Standards of Learning Test scores. The association was tested through full implementation and instruction of Thinking Maps® as a school-wide strategy. Using a quantitative design, this ex post facto, causal comparative included a comparison of sixth, seventh, and eighth grade students' Virginia Reading SOL scores from 2011, 2012, and 2013 after schools implemented Thinking Maps® as a school-wide strategy compared …


The Impact Of Non-Band Music Participation On The Academic Achievement Of 6th Grade Mathematics Students, Sherica Denise Jones-Lewis May 2015

The Impact Of Non-Band Music Participation On The Academic Achievement Of 6th Grade Mathematics Students, Sherica Denise Jones-Lewis

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

It is hypothesized that participation in non-band music has a positive impact on mathematics achievement. Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs, the theory of self-determination, multiple intelligence theory, and brain research provide a theoretical foundation in support of this conjecture. This causal comparative study seeks to address three questions related to the hypothesis: a) is there a difference between the academic achievement of 6th grade mathematics students based on non-band music participation status; b) is there a difference between the academic achievement of 6th grade males based on non-band music participation; and c) is there a difference between the academic achievement of …


Living For Eternity: A Predictive Analysis Of Manifestations Of Biblical Worldview Of University Freshmen, Sharon Edge Wilkie May 2015

Living For Eternity: A Predictive Analysis Of Manifestations Of Biblical Worldview Of University Freshmen, Sharon Edge Wilkie

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This quantitative study includes a predictive analysis of factors contributing to worldview and acts of volition, a correlative analysis of a biblical worldview, a non-biblical worldview, and acts of volition, and a comparative analysis of the influence of gender on worldview. The research design used a non-randomized, convenience sample and a Likert-type scale, which included original questions. The instrument measured three components of worldview: biblical, non-biblical, and acts of volition. Analysis of the data included multiple linear regression, bivariate correlation (Pearson product-moment correlation coefficient) and a univariate analysis of variance (ANOVA). Participants were freshmen attending a liberal arts Christian university. …


Using Two Ipad® Apps That Provide Graphic Organizers And Explicit Curricular Vocabulary Instruction For Students With Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Single Subject Multiple Probe Study, Mary Fay Briggs Apr 2015

Using Two Ipad® Apps That Provide Graphic Organizers And Explicit Curricular Vocabulary Instruction For Students With Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Single Subject Multiple Probe Study, Mary Fay Briggs

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study represents a quantitative approach to research, which was focused on information retrieval in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), who attended inquiry-based classes in British international primary schools in Hong Kong. A single-subject multiple probe across behaviors, with concurrent replication across five participants, was the research design, which was used to study the effects of both the Popplet app and Futaba Classroom Games for Kids app on the ability of 7-11 year old children with ASD to learn vocabulary words for an International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme (PYP) Unit of Inquiry. The study also examined the effects of …


Academic And Affective Outcomes Of Computer-Based Instruction On Developmental Math Students, Eric M. Kohler Apr 2015

Academic And Affective Outcomes Of Computer-Based Instruction On Developmental Math Students, Eric M. Kohler

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

A study aligning the positive aspects of technological-based learning with the high-risk population of developmental math students was conducted to ascertain the academic and affective outcomes of an "emporium model" of instruction on students with a case history of mathematical failure. By running parallel course sections in both emporium (treatment) and lecture-based (control) formats at two comparable universities, the quasi-experimental research design examined the effects of instructional delivery on students' academic completion rates, pass rates, and retention rates. Affective responses, namely mathematics anxiety levels and locus of control, were also studied using pre-post survey data to identify students' within-group emotionality …


Understanding College Students With A Learning Disability - A Phenomenological Study, Will Licht Apr 2015

Understanding College Students With A Learning Disability - A Phenomenological Study, Will Licht

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological research study was to describe the essence of what it means to be a college student at Midwest Christian University who is identified with a learning disability (LD) after beginning a collegiate learning experience. The theory that guided this study was three-fold. Combining Bandura's study of self-efficacy, the concept of resiliency, and a biblical worldview of learners, the study investigated the effects of a delayed LD identification on the academic and emotional lives of the participants. Additionally, the study analyzes steps that can be followed to alleviate the effects of the phenomenon. Data was collected …


The Teachers' Perspective Of Critical Thinking Skills Development In Middle School Gifted Students In The Social Studies Classroom Through The Use Of Primary Sources, Lara Elizabeth Henry Apr 2015

The Teachers' Perspective Of Critical Thinking Skills Development In Middle School Gifted Students In The Social Studies Classroom Through The Use Of Primary Sources, Lara Elizabeth Henry

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Gifted education, although having been a part of the United States educational fabric since the early 1900s, has various definitions and programs throughout the nation. Many gifted students are being placed in regular education programs without consideration of their needs. In 1991 Wineburg began researching and proposing using primary sources for analyzing and research skills in social studies classrooms as a possible way to meet the needs of gifted students while teaching problem solving and critical thinking skills. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to discover two connected concepts: The perception middle school social studies teachers' have toward critical …


Exploring Successful Women's Ministry Employment: A Comparative Case Study Of Two Churches In Virginia, Melissa Small Apr 2015

Exploring Successful Women's Ministry Employment: A Comparative Case Study Of Two Churches In Virginia, Melissa Small

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The following qualitative case study explored the phenomenon of successful implementation of a fulltime women's ministry staff position in Southern Baptist churches to provide foundational research for a best practices guide for successful implementation of women's ministers in churches. For the research, successful implementation of women's ministry staff was generally defined as fulltime staff position devoted specifically to women's ministry in a church. The use of interviews and focus groups provided information from the church leaders and women who were directly involved in the phenomenon. The setting took place in two Southern Baptist churches, located in the state of Virginia, …


The Influence Of Health Assessments On Motivating College Students To Become More Physically Active, Keith Lawrence Mckelphin Apr 2015

The Influence Of Health Assessments On Motivating College Students To Become More Physically Active, Keith Lawrence Mckelphin

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Motivating individuals has become a major initiative in higher education, and many different strategies are being implemented on campuses. The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of health assessments on motivating college students to become more physically active. The research aimed to interpret the knowledge gained from an individual's health assessments as an effective strategy. The knowledge gained can be used to assist the college-aged population in adopting active lifestyles that will lower their health risks. The researcher used the self-determination theory to examine community college students' motivation to be physically active; the transtheoretical model of change …


The Lived Experience Of Nursing Students Following A Clinical Rotation: A Phenomenological Inquiry, Kathryn Mauch Apr 2015

The Lived Experience Of Nursing Students Following A Clinical Rotation: A Phenomenological Inquiry, Kathryn Mauch

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Nursing education is in the midst of change as it relates to current clinical education approaches. In the United States, numerous nursing boards have restructured their clinical guidelines for licensure to include high-fidelity patient simulation as an acceptable form of clinical education. In response to these educational changes, a thorough review of the literature was performed and revealed a gap related to student outcomes when combining traditional clinical education and high-fidelity patient simulation during clinical courses. The purpose of this qualitative study was to provide a richer understanding of how a student's clinical education impacts his or her educational experiences. …


Understanding Mathematics Anxiety: The Relationships Between Fourth Grade Students' Math Anxiety, Multiplication Fact Fluency, And Problem Solving Ability, Julie Anne Dutko Apr 2015

Understanding Mathematics Anxiety: The Relationships Between Fourth Grade Students' Math Anxiety, Multiplication Fact Fluency, And Problem Solving Ability, Julie Anne Dutko

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The necessity of math skills is evident in everyday life, as well as job-specific tasks. Unfortunately, math anxiety has become a growing problem among people of all ages. Understanding more about potential indicators or predictors of math anxiety at a young age may help alleviate some of the impacts math anxiety has on mathematics achievement throughout life. This study considered the relationships between mathematics anxiety, multiplication fact fluency, math problem solving ability, math confidence, prior achievement, and demographic variables of fourth grade students. Fourth grade students at two suburban elementary schools in North Georgia were surveyed about their math anxiety …