Education Commons^™

Investigating Pre-Service Teachers’ Readiness For Early Reading Instruction: A Mixed Methods Study Of Quantified Knowledge In Phonemic Awareness And Lived Experiences, Kristin Morgan

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation examines the lived experiences of pre-service teachers as they develop their knowledge and instruction skills during a three-week module within their first literacy course in a teacher preparation program. Literacy courses play an important role in equipping pre-service teachers with the knowledge and skills necessary to promote reading development. Research suggests that phonemic awareness is a crucial skill that predicts later reading achievement; however, many teachers lack the necessary experience and knowledge. This gap raises concerns about teacher preparation programs and how pre-service teachers learn. Guided by Vygotsky’s sociocultural theory, this sequential explanatory mixed-methods study sought to understand …

A Case Study Of One-To-One Mobile Teaching And Learning Environments Measuring Creativity In A Rural Elementary School In Deep South Texas, David Warren Hernandez

Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative case study examined how creativity is enacted within rural one-to-one mobile teaching and learning environments in Deep South Texas. Grounded in the frameworks of mobile learning affordances (Klopfer et al., 2002), the Technological, Pedagogical, and Content Knowledge (TPACK) framework, and the SAMR model, the study explored how instructional practices, student agency, and contextual conditions influenced creative learning experiences in an elementary school setting. Data were collected from five elementary teachers at a rural South Texas district and included semi-structured interviews, classroom observations, and samples of student-created artifacts. Data analysis followed a systematic process of first-cycle coding, second-cycle axial …

Impact Of Multicultural Literature Through Reader's Response, Rachel Konrad

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to examine how students respond to using five multicultural read aloud texts and responding to them in a response. The goal of this study was to see if student engagement improved as a result of the study and if student comprehension improved through the use of pre and post assessments. Student data was collected that included a pre and post assessment, anecdotal records of student discussion, responses to texts, and student and parent surveys. Students discovered and discussed themes across texts such as cultural identity, community, and belonging.

Principal Coaching Impact: Elementary Principals' Perspectives On Their Coaching Experience, Kyle L. Hoopes

Theses and Dissertations

School principals face increasing complexity as they navigate instructional leadership, organizational change, and the emotional demands of supporting staff and students. Traditional professional development--often episodic and compliance-driven--has proven insufficient for helping principals translate knowledge into practice. This qualitative phenomenological study examined how 20 elementary principals in a large intermountain district experienced a dual-coach, team-based leadership coaching model and how coaching influenced their leadership practices and well-being. Semi-structured interviews and iterative thematic analysis revealed that coaching shaped three core areas of leadership practice: gaining clarity and direction, prioritizing instructional and organizational goals, and strengthening collaboration within school leadership teams. Principals also …

Integrating Traditional Samoan Music With School-Aged Children In Fostering Culturally Appropriate Behaviors Within The Framework Of Fa'afaletui And Multimodal Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis, Stormi Rachelle Winscot

Theses and Dissertations

Fa’aSamoa, the cultural framework shaping Samoan values, relationships, and daily life, deeply informs educational experiences in American Samoa. Music, as both cultural expression and communal practice, offers a powerful lens through which student engagement can be understood. This exploratory study employed multimodal interpretative phenomenological analysis (MMIPA), guided by the Fa’afaletui framework, to examine how Samoan and Pacific Islander students responded in embodied ways to traditional Samoan, culturally adapted Western, and other Western (folk, classical, pop) music in classroom settings. Drawing on focus group interviews and systematic observations, the study centered students’ movement, vocal expression, rhythmic participation, and peer interaction as …

Comparing The Effectiveness Of Telehealth Training For Parents Using “Help Is In Your Hands”: Joint Attention And Mands, Vivian Desiree Cortez Dominguez

Theses and Dissertations

This study aimed to compare the effects of remote parent training for parents of autistic children in Peru, ages 2-4 years old. Using the Spanish version of the digital program called “Help is in Your Hands” (Rogers & Stahmer, 2026; 3C Institute, 2026), three mothers were trained on how to support their child's ability to participate in joint attention and mand. Autism is a condition in which children present with challenges in engaging with others, such as sharing joint attention and using mands. Several evidence-based trainings target these difficulties. However, accessing these trainings can be expensive and time-consuming. In less-developed …

Evaluating Measurement Invariance Frameworks: A Comparison Of Mg-Cfa, Alignment Optimization, & Bayesian Approximate Measurement Invariance Using The Brigham Young University Counseling And Psychological Services Client Satisfaction Survey, Heidi Lula Lindsey

Theses and Dissertations

Researchers must establish measurement invariance (MI) before comparing latent constructs across groups to ensure construct validity. However, traditional multi-group confirmatory factor analysis (MG-CFA) may impose overly strict equality constraints in applied settings. Alternative MI frameworks are less familiar to researchers, which limits their use. This study compares MG-CFA, alignment optimization (AO), and Bayesian approximate measurement invariance (BAMI) using archival data from the Brigham Young University Counseling and Psychological Services Client Satisfaction Survey (N = 1,278). Participants completed an exit survey after receiving individual (n = 1,063), couple (n = 83), or group (n = 132) therapy, answering 16 five-point Likert …

A Holistic Assessment Of Osteopathic Medical Student Well-Being And Self-Perceived Levels Of Happiness, Stress, And Satisfaction With Life, Brittany A. Mitchell

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this quantitative study was to assess the well-being of medical students and identify the primary factors influencing their well-being. In this manuscript-style dissertation, the empirical article assesses the well-being of medical students through the dimensions of wellness and investigates the significance of differences between each dimension and self-perceived levels of happiness, stress, and satisfaction with life. The practitioner article provides recommendations to practitioners to further support the well-being of osteopathic medical students. The sample for this study was medical students at an osteopathic medical school in the Philadelphia region. Data was collected using seven validated survey instruments: …

"Deep In The Trenches": A Multi-Perspective Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis Of Student Mothers Navigating The Hidden Realities Of Postpartum Anxiety, Rhonda Harris

Theses and Dissertations

Despite availability of effective treatments women with postpartum anxiety (PPA) commonly go untreated because of barriers to care. Student mothers are a particularly vulnerable subgroup of women as they tend to be younger, are less likely to be married, and have lower incomes than non-student mothers. As anxiety rates in college women are higher than the general population and higher than college men, student mothers are at high risk of the adverse effects of untreated PPA. There is a paucity of existing literature about student mothers and mental health. The aim of the current study is to understand the help-seeking …

The Impact Of Principal Preparation Program Components On Self-Efficacy Development In Aspiring School Leaders, Michelle Price

Theses and Dissertations

Leaders with high self-efficacy demonstrate greater persistence when facing adversity, implement organizational change more readily, and establish higher goals for themselves and their organizations. This qualitative study examines which components of principal preparation programs most strongly contribute to self-efficacy development among aspiring school leaders in Utah, specifically in instructional leadership and management for learning. Through semi-structured interviews with 19 recent graduates from three Utah universities, the research explores how program components influence candidates' confidence to lead schools effectively. Grounded in Bandura's self-efficacy theory, the findings reveal that while cohort-based models and faculty characteristics provide foundational support for overall efficacy development, …

No Principal Left Alone: Exploring Elementary Principals' Relationships With Their Full-Time Assistant Principals, Shauna Worthington

Theses and Dissertations

Elementary school principals are often the only administrator in their building; therefore they are left to face the adverse circumstances of their job without the support of an administrative colleague at their school. However, U.S. nationwide data suggests that school districts are more frequently hiring elementary assistant principals. This paper explores perceptions of elementary principals about the nature and dynamic of their relationships with their full-time assistant principals, including accompanying benefits and challenges. This qualitative inquiry utilizes an exploratory, descriptive, phenomenological approach and features the results of in-depth interviews with 20 elementary school principals in two large suburban public school …

Empirical Benchmarks For Interpreting Effect Sizes In Violent Crime Interventions, Kohta James Matsukawa Hansen

Theses and Dissertations

Criminal justice researchers apply Cohen’s (1988) benchmarks to classify effect sizes as small, medium, or large, despite these standards never being meant for broad, decontextualized use (Cohen, 1988; Gies et al., 2024; Goulet-Pelletier & Cousineau, 2018; Lakens, 2013; Milner et al., 2023). Repeatedly doing so may weaken statistical validity, distort findings, and impede effective policymaking. This study introduces the first effect size benchmarks specifically designed for violent crime interventions.

Using a quasi-meta-analysis framework, 1,605 effect sizes from 104 violent crime intervention studies from the CrimeSolutions clearinghouse were converted to Cohen’s d. Three new discrete benchmarking methods were created using a …

Beyond The Binary: Examining The Impact Of A Restorative Justice Intervention On Administrator Perceptions And Disciplinary Disparities For Black Male Students, Arianne A. Booker

Theses and Dissertations

For decades, black students have experienced educational inequalities, particularly when it comes to academic achievement and school discipline. The purpose of this mixed-methods study was to investigate the factors leading to the racial discipline gap among Black male students in middle schools. Black males face more punitive consequences that often result in exclusionary practices than their peers. This problem is due to cultural differences between teachers and students, where teachers’ subjective interpretations of behavior—such as disrespect or defiance—lead to removal from the general education classroom. The theoretical framework that guided this study was Critical Race Theory and Culturally Responsive Teaching. …

Teacher Self-Confidence And Cultural Responsiveness With Multilingual Students: A Mixed Methods Study, Stasha Renee Grooms

Theses and Dissertations

This is an action research study that examined how an eight-week Culturally Responsive Instruction (CRI) Cohort influenced teachers' self-confidence when working with multilingual (ML) students. The primary objective was to explore changes in teachers' empathy toward ML students, uncover shifts in unconscious bias, assess the impact of translanguaging integration on teacher confidence, and evaluate overall self-confidence in serving ML learners. The study used a mixed-methods approach, combining pre- and post-intervention surveys, weekly reflective discussions, and practical classroom assignments to measure growth in teaching strategies and cultural mindset. Findings indicated that participants learned strategies to make instruction more accessible for ML …

“Properly Dependent”: Critical Feminist Narratives Of Wives Of International Students In The United States, Katherine Jane Hopkins

Theses and Dissertations

The F-2 dependent visa in the United States is for spouses and children who accompany a F-1 international student during their studies. One of the defining characteristics of the F-2 visa is that the holder is prohibited from holding any kind of employment. Limited demographic data indicate that the majority of F-2 visa holders are women accompanying their husbands. Many of these women hold advanced degrees and were employed in their home countries prior to relocating to support their husband’s academic pursuits. As a result of the visa restrictions, international student wives typically stay at home while their husbands work …

Effectiveness Of A Problem-Solving Framework That Incorporates Equitable Pedagogy, Three Reads Comprehension Strategy, Cra, And Schema-Based Instruction On Students’ Math Word Problem Solving Abilities, Amanda Julia Laborde

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of a problem-solving framework that incorporated the Three Reads comprehension strategy, Concrete- Representational-Abstract instructional strategy, Schema-Based Instruction, as well as the implementation of equitable pedagogical practices. This mixed-methods action research study was guided by three research questions for which both qualitative and quantitative data had been collected. The first question focused on determining teacher or student strategies within the intervention course that would be a hinderance to the implementation of the prescribed intervention. The second question focused on the impact of the problem-solving framework. The third question focused on the …

Inclusive Postsecondary Education Practices & Staff Beliefs Related To Parent Engagement, Abigail Mojica

Theses and Dissertations

Inclusive postsecondary education (IPSE) programs for youth with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) are expanding across the United States, yet research on parent engagement in these settings remains limited. This study examined current practices related to parent engagement within U.S. IPSE programs and investigated whether specific staff and program characteristics were associated with variations in engagement. A national sample of IPSE program leaders (N = 106) completed an online survey assessing staff demographics, program features, and parent engagement activities. The survey was developed for this study, informed by literature on secondary transition, IPSE programs, and parent engagement in both K–12 …

Strengthening Competency-Based Grading Through Principal Leadership: Developing And Testing A Plc Support Protocol, Kristen Ann Holly

Theses and Dissertations

This Dissertation in Practice addresses inconsistent scoring and grading practices during Charleston CUSD1’s transition to a competency‑based education (CBE) system. Using improvement science, the study identified root causes, including varied teacher interpretations of proficiency scales, limited resources, and a lack of principal‑led structures for support and accountability. In response, the researcher and an improvement team designed and tested a principal protocol aimed at strengthening Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) as the primary mechanism for developing shared understanding and consistent grading practices. Through three Plan Do Study Act (PDSA) cycles, the protocol was refined for clarity, feasibility, and impact. Findings show that …

Teaching The Teachers: A Responce To Legal Illiteracy In Education, Landon Lee Kekoa Fielder

Theses and Dissertations

This action research dissertation aimed to examine the impact of teachers’ knowledge of education law and their perceived understanding of how it impacts their daily functions. This mixed methods study was conducted using digital data collection methods and analysis. The findings of this study revealed an increase in legal literacy among both pre-service and in-service teachers. Quantitative findings indicated an improved understanding of key legal concepts amongst participants. Additionally, qualitative findings expressed a heightened awareness and clarity surrounding legal responsibility for teachers. Across both in-service and pre-service teacher participant groups, participants identified gaps in their understanding and recognized the value …

Rock In Weary Land: The Educational Expertise Of The Black Church, Salondra Daniels Griggs

Theses and Dissertations

Due to a challenging political landscape, Black students receive less educational support from public institutions. As a result, other institutions such as the Black Church have become a “Rock” for Black students to lean on in times of distress. This study examines the educational expertise located within the Black Church. Through a qualitative comparative case study, this comparative case study examines how two Black Baptist Churches in the southeastern part of the United States use their community expertise to support the education of Black student

Principals As Disciplinary Decision Makers: Ethical Tension And The Use Of Exclusionary Discipline For Students With Disabilities, Sarah Te Scaffe Tew

Theses and Dissertations

Students with disabilities are suspended and expelled at disproportionate rates. Previous research regarding principal decision-making has focused on decision-making broadly, and it has been predominantly qualitative in nature. School-level administrators frequently make disciplinary decisions for students with disabilities and report experiencing ethical tension in the process. Stakeholder, organizational, legal, and personal interests have been identified in the research as sources of ethical tension. The purpose of this study is to identify which factors cause the greatest level of ethical tension for administrators when making disciplinary decisions for students with disabilities and to examine the relationship between administrator’s perceived level of …

Examining The Impact Of Active Learning Strategies On Self- Efficacy, Attitude, And Perceptions Of Social Studies Students, Stephanie Aaron Doyle

Theses and Dissertations

Elementary social studies instruction is often characterized by teacher-centered teaching methods, driven by accountability pressures and standardized tests. This approach can cause student disengagement and a decrease in confidence among learners. This action research study explored the effects of selected active learning strategies, specifically cooperative learning, think-ink-pair-share, and project-based learning, on fourth-grade students' self-efficacy, attitudes, and perceptions of social studies. Based on a social constructivist framework and influenced by the gradual release of responsibility model, this study aimed to challenge passive learning structures and promote equitable, student-centered teaching.

Using a convergent parallel mixed methods action research design, both quantitative and …

Supporting Stem Self-Efficacy Using Culturally Relevant Pedagogy For Historically Underserved Black Female Students, Rajdeep Young

Theses and Dissertations

The underrepresentation of Black women in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields remains a persistent concern in education and the workforce. Research suggests that students’ beliefs about their ability to succeed in STEM, referred to here as STEM self-efficacy, may play a critical role in shaping STEM interest, persistence, and career pathways. Grounded in Bandura’s self-efficacy theory and informed by Culturally Relevant Pedagogy and Intersectionality, this study examined the impact of a targeted intervention designed to support and strengthen STEM self-efficacy among Black middle school girls. Using a mixed-methods approach, the study investigated changes in participants’ STEM self-efficacy following …

The Affects Of Purposeful Play, Computer Based Instruction, And The Utilization Of Rotational Learning Stations, As An Intervention For The Academic Development Of Early Childhood Children, Jennifer Fanning Long

Theses and Dissertations

This case study explores how purposeful and structured play and computer-based instruction impacts the academic development of young children. Purposeful play and computer-based instruction positively impact children in so many ways. It impacts their cognitive, social, emotional, and academic development. Students are active learners who learn best while playing and participating in their learning. Play is often left out of Early Childhood classrooms due to time constraints and vast academic goals. This can negatively impact the social and academic development of young students. The following dissertation will examine how the intervention of purposeful or structured play and computer-based instruction positively …

Rethinking Career-Pathway-Based Programs In Career Technical Education Utilizing Improvement Science, Michael J. Parry

Theses and Dissertations

Career technical education (CTE) has traditionally been organized around distinct career pathways designed to develop deep technical expertise within a single occupational field. While this model has been effective in preparing students for entry- level employment, it increasingly limits students’ opportunities to develop transferable technical and professional skills that span multiple pathways—skills now essential in a dynamic, interdisciplinary workforce. This dissertation in practice examined how a career technical education system could redesign pathway-based programming to support cross-pathway skill development while preserving pathway-specific technical rigor.

Guided by improvement science, this improvement work was conducted at Grant Career Center (GCC), a rural …

Thank You For Being A Friend: Exploring Positive Peer Influence In Black Friendships Toward Academic And Social Success, Trini Victoria Woods

Theses and Dissertations

In this focus group study the researcher interviewed seven Black, Title I high school students to understand their experiences with positive peer influence within their friendships. In an effort to present a counternarrative to the majoritarian narrative that Black students are operating at a deficit and need policing, this research provides insight to the academic and social experiences of participants positive peer influence. This research responds to three questions: what do Black students believe is meaningful in friendship and how do they describe the impact of positive peer influence; how do Black students feel their friends’ behaviors and attitudes influence …

You Want A Fight? You Found It: Amplifying High School Students’ Voices To Combat Book Banning’S Silencing Effect, Alicia Sue Weaver

Theses and Dissertations

As a high school English teacher in South Carolina, I was concerned about the silencing of teachers and students through book banning, which limited students’ agency and threatened their perceptions of themselves and others. This mixed-method, embedded-design, action research dissertation tells the story of my effort to resolve this problem of practice and provides recommendations to practitioners facing similar challenges. To better understand the root of the problem, I examined research related to policy, self-censorship, loss of teacher autonomy, and harmful rhetoric. The theoretical framework grounding this study came from two primary lenses: treating literature as windows, mirrors, and sliding …

Leading Improvement In Physical Therapist Assistant Education: A Practice-Based Improvement Science Study, Carl Joseph Swearingen

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation examines the persistent problem of poor first-semester success rates among Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) students at the Technical College of the Lowcountry (TCL). In the past five years, 25% of students entering the PTA program have been unsuccessful, either due to academic failures or non-academic withdrawals. Even more concerning, over 80% of these students did not persist past the first semester. A root cause analysis using the five whys, fishbone diagramming, empathy interviews, local data, and scanning outside the organization was used to help broaden our understanding of the problem and guide further research.

Based on the results …

Teaching English As A Living Language: An Action Research Study Of Communication And Learner Confidence, David Lawrence Brian Levy

Theses and Dissertations

This action research study examines the disconnect between language learning in schools and the ability to use the language as a communication tool. Unfortunately, many educational institutions teach language with an emphasis on grammar rules, written exams, and rote memorization instead of as a living language used for everyday communication. This results in students receiving grades which do not reflect their ability to speak the language effectively. The purpose of this study was to explore how instructional practices influence both students’ communicative competence and confidence levels. It also intends to examine ways to redesign classroom instruction to better support real-world …

The Implementation Of A Manufacturing Curriculum In Secondary Education, John Chieyung Kim Ii

Theses and Dissertations

American manufacturing cannot find workers. By 2030, 2.1 million positions will go unfilled, at a projected cost of one trillion dollars. Secondary schools are not solving this problem. At Ypsilanti Community High School, only 23.7% of graduates pursue postsecondary education. The rest enter the workforce without credentials or technical skills. No manufacturing curriculum existed at YCHS. This Dissertation in Practice built one.

The study used improvement science methodology. Two Plan-Do-Study-Act cycles designed, tested, and refined a precision measurement curriculum aligned to NC3 industry certification standards. Thirty-three students participated across both cycles. Cycle 1 used a traditional theory-first sequence over ten …