Education Commons^™

One Stop Along The Corridor Of Shame: A Portrait Of Public Education In Marlboro County In The Post-No Child Left Behind Years, Jackson Branch

Graduate Theses

In the years following the passage of the historic No Child Left Behind (NCLB) legislation, South Carolina has dropped to having one of the lowest ranked public education systems in the United States. As many schools in South Carolina are rural and in high poverty areas, this should have been a state where the federal legislation made great strides towards closing the education gap. One of the greatest struggling counties in the state, Marlboro, has seen its share of troubles since the passage of NCLB. This thesis will look at Marlboro County in the post-NCLB years and will examine (1) …

Assessing Stress In College Students After Breathing Meditation With And Without Music, Joshua L. Le Clerg

Graduate Theses

College students face increased levels of stress due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which can adversely affect their academic performance. Therefore, it is critical for students to have access to practices that reduce stress, such as breathing meditations and listening to calming music, which are cost effective and require minimal time commitment. This study aimed to examine the efficacy of combining breathing meditation and listening to music for five minutes a day, five days a week, for two weeks. Fifteen undergraduate students completed the study and were randomly assigned to a control group who completed the breathing meditation without music (n=8) …

Importance Of Social Support In Athletics As It Relates To Injury Recovery And Preparedness To Return To Play, Haleigh Gray

Graduate Theses

Background: Recent studies have evaluated the physical problems as well as the psychological complications that arise from sport injuries. However, little research has been done on techniques to address or mitigate these psychological issues. Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate how social support was perceived during the injury rehabilitation process and how it influenced return to play preparedness. Setting: National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I mid-major university. Participants: A total of 21 previously injured student-athletes participated in the study. Methods: Through this mixed method study, each student-athlete completed a validated social support survey that evaluated perceived …

Encouraging A "Kaleidoscope Of Views": Graphic Literature As A Tool For Informative Text Comprehension In The Secondary English Classroom, Chelsea Ellen Bergmann

Graduate Theses

Over the past decade, graphic literature has fueled the conversations of theory and criticism among scholars and educators alike. With the critical need to teach informative texts and college-ready skills in secondary schools, the debate arises on how these mediums can be further used to extend the capabilities of young readers in a 21st century global community. Thus far, the scholarship on graphic literature in the secondary English classroom proves to be helpful in certain areas, while revealing a gap in others. Missing wholly are discussions about targeted reading comprehension skills particularly related to informative texts and their writer’s purpose, …

Post-Concussion Symptom Score As A Possible Predictor Of Protracted Recovery In High School Athletes, Kimberly Dawn Phillips

Graduate Theses

As concussion research shifts from diagnostic to managing return to play (RTF), many studies have sought to establish safe guidelines for recovery. Computer-based neuropsychological programs measure cognitive function performance typically affected by brain injury and include a self-report post-concussion symptoms scale. The use of the total score of a post-concussion symptoms scale as a possible predictor of protracted recovery in high school athletes following injury is still being researched. This study used stored data obtained from the Vanderbilt Sports Concussion Center involving concussed high school athletes with a post-concussion symptom score and subsequent documentation of recovery time. A one-way ANOVA …

The Student-Teacher Relationship: Impacting Student Intrinsic Motivation And Enjoyment In College Physical Activity Classes, Tyler M. Wozniak

Graduate Theses

The purpose of this research was to examine the association between the student-teacher relationship and the intrinsic motivation for physical activity exhibited by students (n = 127) in college physical activity classes.

Perceived Job Satisfaction Of Campus Recreation Student Employees And Their Intent To Stay, Quintin B. Tucker

Graduate Theses

The purpose of this exploratory study was to investigate the relationship between Campus Recreation student employee’s levels of satisfaction and their intent to stay at the job, at the university, and within the recreation profession. Eighty-three participants from nine universities within the southeast United States completed an online survey. Descriptive statistics and frequencies were used to describe the population, and correlations examined relationships between satisfaction and the intent to stay items.

Perceived Importance Of Resistance Training In Collegiate Dancers, Kayla Major

Graduate Theses

Dancers are artistic athletes that use their bodies as their instrument. Dance is a sport that requires significant skill and higher levels of fitness. Unfortunately, dancers are not as physically fit as sport athletes. This may not only increase their risk of injury, but also limit their maximum dance performance. Resistance training offers significant physical and psychological health benefits. But, there is very limited research regarding dancers’ resistance training habits. The results of the few studies that exist unanimously suggest that there is no detriment to the aesthetics of dance, rather improvements in dance elements as a result of improved …

Factors That Effect Lower Extremity Muscle Strains In Collegiate Track And Field, Syrena Spanburgh-Hess

Graduate Theses

Both the number of recreational and competitive runners and the number of injuries have increased over the past decade. Track and field includes a variety of events, which differ in volume and intensity. The variability of the sport causes both chronic and acute injuries. Although chronic injuries are most prevalent, muscular strains are the most frequent acute injury (Jacobsson et al., 2011). Muscular strains have accounted for approximately 17% of all track and field injuries (Kluitenberg et al., 2014). A variety of predisposing factors for muscular strains have been described. The purpose of this study was to investigate causative factors …

The Effect Of Four Different Stretching Protocols On Muscular Power, Zachary Hartman

Graduate Theses

This review of literature explores the varying amount of evidence available for different stretching protocols included in the warm-up period. The objective of a comprehensive warm-up is to increase core temperature and improve muscle elasticity to prepare muscles for the demands of activity. Static (held) stretching and dynamic (slow moving) stretching seem to be utilized more often, and they are most studied in the bulk of stretching research. There has been less research published on the effect of ballistic (rapid bouncing movement) stretching. The overwhelming majority of literature has found that when compared, dynamic stretching increases power activity performance significantly …

Virtual And Authentic Tennis: Similarities And Differences Of Three Common Tennis Strokes, Kristy M. Noble

Graduate Theses

The purpose of this mixed-methods multi-phase study was to compare the similarities and differences of three common tennis strokes performed by National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I tennis players in an authentic and motion-based video game (MBVG) environment. Moreover, the perceived effectiveness of using MBVGs as a pedagogical tool was also examined. Statistical analyses revealed that the forehand, backhand, and serve were performed significantly different in the authentic and MBVG environments. However, the participants perceived that the MBVG forehand and serve were similar to the authentic environment. In addition, the participants perceived several positives and negatives of utilizing MBVGs when …

Perceptions Of Ncaa Division I Baseball Pitchers On Treatment Modalities For Pitching Arm Health, Thomas Williams

Graduate Theses

Throwing athletes of all sports have similarities, even if the sport itself is very different. Throwing an object creates a great amount of stress on the body, particularly at the shoulder and the elbow. A baseball pitcher should train and compete in all three planes of movement-sagittal, frontal and transverse. Training for throwing athletes has two main goals: to increase throwing power and to reduce throwing injuries. Analyzing training habits of a throwing athlete includes an understanding of the modalities they perform in order to prevent potential injuries from occurring. Baseball pitchers are extremely susceptible to throwing injuries, and must …

A Relationship Study Comparing Satisfaction, Participation, And Commitment To Intramural And Club Sports With Students' Intention To Return To Campus, Kevin Reynolds

Graduate Theses

Recruitment and retention is a crucial and central goal for almost all higher education institutions. Therefore, it is important for universities and colleges to provide diverse activities and events to keep the students and prospective students interested and engaged. Previous research suggests that intramural and club sports programs are activities that could help increase recruitment and retention (McElveen & Rossow, 2014; Kampf & Teske, 2013). There is still a need, however, to show the impact of participation in intramural and club sports on a student’s intention to return to campus. This study examined how participation, commitment, and satisfaction levels effect …

Recreational Participation And Perceived Stress Levels Of College Students And If Leisure Satisfaction Mediates Their Relationship, Andrew Montgomery

Graduate Theses

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between campus recreation participation and perceived stress in college students and if leisure satisfaction mediates their relationship. Participants for this research were 342 college students at a southeastern university. Students completed a survey about their demographics, perceived stress (PSS-10), campus recreation participation and their leisure satisfaction (LSS). Correlations and mediation was then calculated using the statistical analysis program SPSS. Participants of recreational services perceived stress was not significantly correlated with students who do not use recreational services. Leisure satisfaction was inversely correlated with perceived stress in the participants. Out of …

Physical Activity Differences Related To Gender And Grade Level In Middle School Students, Casey Reeves

Graduate Theses

In the last 35 years, the United States youth has experienced a significant rise in obesity levels, and a significant decline in physical activity levels (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2015a; CDC, 2009). A variety of research has been conducted on the implications of decreasing levels of physical activity (PA). However, theories are mixed on when this rapid decline of participation in PA is occurring. The purpose of this study was twofold: 1) to identify a significant gap in PA levels between females and males and 2) to identify the age/grade in which the projected discrepancy develops. The …

The Effects Of The Fifa 11+ Warm Up Program In Female Collegiate Soccer Athletes, Stacey O’Neill

Graduate Theses

As of 2010 there were over 265 million registered soccer athletes worldwide, and in particular, the number of women players were rapidly increasing (Soligard, et al., (2010). Consequently, playing soccer accounts for approximately one quarter of all injuries in sport, and due to its nature of jumping, pivoting and cross-cutting, the majority of these are non-contact, lower extremity injuries. Therefore, playing soccer entails a substantial amount of injury risk for its participants. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of the FIFA 11+ Warm Up Program in collegiate female soccer athletes.

The Effect Of Music And Television Viewing On Enjoyment During Aerobic Exercise, Nicole Swank

Graduate Theses

A majority of individuals exercise with an entertainment device that promotes a positive distraction during aerobic exercise. It is however unclear if certain entertainment promotes a greater enjoyment and feeling state than others. The purpose of this study was to examine if television viewing and music would increase enjoyment and feeling state during aerobic exercise. Fourteen males and sixteen females (n=30) between the ages of 18-30 participated in the study. The participants were randomly assigned to one of three conditions: music, television viewing (TV), and control. Participants could choose between the elliptical and treadmill, and exercise was self-paced for 30 …

Flow: Individual V. Team Sport, Andy Worthington

Graduate Theses

Flow is a psychological state that is often described as everything coming together or an effortless performance. A variety of studies have examined the flow state to better understand how to measure flow, to gauge athlete’s experiences with flow, and even to gauge new methods to promote flow. However, few studies look at flow within sportspecific setting. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether differences exist between the flow experiences of team athletes and the flow experiences of individual athletes. Sixty-four NCAA Division I athletes participated in the study. All athletes completed the Flow State Scale, as well …

The Effects Of Training Programs Using Free Weights And Free Motion Machines On Strength In Untrained College-Age Females, Katherine Milton

Graduate Theses

No abstract provided.

Analyzing Student Perceptions Of Starting A New Football Program At A University, Zachary Ringlein

Graduate Theses

Background: Student support is a critical factor that colleges and universities must consider when determining whether to add a football team to the athletic program. The student body is a large population that may attend games, purchase merchandise, attend athletic social events, tailgates, pep rallies, and homecoming, and join student oriented athletic fan clubs. Understanding the level of student support is important for prospective football programs

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the perceptions of current students on beginning a college football program.

Methods: Current college students at a public university in the southeastern …

Can Wearing Headgear Decrease Symptoms Of Concussions Among Soccer Players?, Dustin Payne

Graduate Theses

No abstract was provided.

Validation Of The Simple Activity Measurement Instrument (Sam) Using Heart Rate And Pedometry; Simple Activity Measurement Instrument (Sam) For Measuring Mvpa In Physical Education, Joseph P. Anaya

Graduate Theses

In order to battle obesity in our schools, Physical Education standards are working to become more and more in accordance with the Physical Activity Guidelines set by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and the American College of Sports Medicine. Physical Education teachers would benefit from a tool that measures the amount and type of activity that students are involved in while they are in Physical Education. Many of the instruments that teachers use to assess students’ physical activity are too expensive, too difficult and can be time consuming. The purpose of the current study was to test …

The Role Of Intercollegiate Athletics On An Athlete's Decision To Attend College, Holly Hefflinger

Graduate Theses

The purpose of the study was to determine if California community college athletes would attend college if intercollegiate athletics were not offered and to examine differences in gender, races/ethnicities, socioeconomic statuses, and sports. The goal of the study was to provide useful information to college administrators that are considering initiating, adding, or eliminating intercollegiate athletic programs. Participants in the study include student-athletes attending California community colleges that participate in one of three sports: basketball, soccer, or tennis. A survey questionnaire was the method for collecting data.

Effects Of Booktalking In Regards To A Students' Motivation To Read, Melissa Smith

Graduate Theses

This study investigates whether the use of booktalking presentations enhanced adolescent students’ motivation when conducted in a sixth grade departmentalized classroom setting. This research study was ongoing for one semester and conducted at a private school in the Permian Basin. Reading builds literacy. As literacy expands, so does language and conceptual development until reading becomes the instrument of empowerment and opportunity. An appreciation for books, along with a desire to read should be supported by teachers (Blass, 2002). The results from this qualitative study indicated that booktalking is an effective motivation tactic for struggling, reluctant and motivated readers.

Making A Case For Arts Administrators: Maintaining Interdisciplinary Arts Programs In Public Schools, Samantha Jardon-Peppard

Graduate Theses

For decades interdisciplinary arts programs have been developed and implemented in public schools throughout our nation. Much research has been dedicated to proving the benefits of interdisciplinary arts education, results of which can be found in reports such as Champions of Change and Project Zero. However, little research has been dedicated to how an interdisciplinary arts program is maintained in a school once it has been initiated and who is responsible for its development and sustainability. Chapter one of this thesis reviews some history of arts education, why the arts have become a vital part of education, and how arts …

Developmental Bibliotherapy In Practice: A Study Of Bibliotherapy Effects On Kindergarten Behavior, Courtney Hawley

Graduate Theses

Bibliotherapy is the use of books and other print media for the purpose of instructing the audience about a certain topic. Developmental bibliotherapy is a form of bibliotherapy in which a teacher or other facilitator presents a book to a group in order to help instruct a desired behavior. This study was conducted to determine the effects of developmental bibliotherapy instruction over the course of a six weeks time period in the Kindergarten classroom. I wanted to determine the effectiveness of the bibliotherapy program as it related to teaching problem solving behaviors for a small group of students. The students …

Secondary School Students' Attitudes Towards Physical Education In Trinidad, Gina Ragbir

Graduate Theses

It is important to understand secondary school students’ attitudes toward physical education since they will be future members of the workforce who will need to use their knowledge to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Students’ perceptions and feelings contribute to their attitudes toward specific content areas and toward their school experience in general. The purpose of the proposed study was to examine attitudes that secondary school students have toward physical education in Trinidad. The study also sought to ascertain whether there was a link between gender or race and, activities seen as most liked in the physical education curriculum and students’ …

Attitudes Toward Psychotropic Medications Among Psychotropic Medications Among Psychiatric Outpatients And The General Population, Stephanie A. Fife

Graduate Theses

Attitudes and beliefs towards psychotropic medication were evaluated among psychiatric outpatients, patients seeking buprenorphine for substance abuse, and nonusers in a general population. The Drug Attitude Inventory scale (DAI-10) and the Beliefs about Medicines Questionnaire General (BMQ-G) were used to assess attitudes and beliefs of 49 participants. The general population had a negative attitude toward psychotropic medication and the psychiatric groups showed positive attitudes. Compliance and noncompliance were not associated with attitudes or beliefs toward psychotropic medication. Other findings include that females had less positive attitudes and beliefs towards psychotropic medication than males. The current findings expand and support research …

The Effects Of A Season-Long Relaxation Program On Anxiety And Performance In Female High School Track & Field Throwers, Jeremy Walker

Graduate Theses

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of a season-long relaxation breathing program on anxiety and performance in track and field throwers. It was hypothesized that the relaxation breathing technique would help to reduce anxiety and increase overall performance. Use of a single-subject research design was used to allow ongoing monitoring of each athlete’s anxiety levels and performance. Results indicated that 2 of the 3 participants had improved performance and reduced trait anxiety over the course of the season. Additional results indicated that there was no significant difference in performance between participants and non-participants and that the …

Preferred Coaching Behaviors Of Male And Female Basketball Players: Gender And Level Of Competition, Ryan Kettler

Graduate Theses

The purpose of this study was to investigate similarities and differences in coaching preferences among male and female basketball players based on gender and level of competition. Participants were 20 male and female basketball programs (2 NCAA Division I Teams, 4 High School Teams, and 4 Middle School Teams). The ages of the players ranged between 12 -24 years of age, with males and females having a comparable age distribution. The instrument used to collect data was the revised Leadership Scale for Sports (LSS) athlete preference version (Zhang & Jensen, 1997). The results of the statistical analyses using a two …