Education Commons^™

Facilitators And Barriers To Treatment Engagement In A Behavioral Parent Training Program, Holland Hayford

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This quantitative study sought to analyze caregivers’ perspectives regarding facilitators of, and barriers to, attending the behavioral parent training programs (BPTs) known as Helping Our Toddlers, Developing Our Children’s Skills (HOT DOCS) and Developing Our Children’s Skills K-5 (DOCS K-5). Participants included 43 caregivers who successfully completed their respective DOCS program. These caregivers answered two questionnaires which contained items addressing demographic variables (i.e., gender, race, ethnicity, household income, level of education, number of children, and program attendance) and logistic factors of the DOCS programs (i.e., course location, class length, time of day, course duration, availability of transportation, availability of childcare). …

The Culture Of Learning Disabilities, Race And Athletics: An Examination Of Student-Athlete Experiences In Predominantly White Institutions Of Higher Education’S Division One College Football Programs, Ashley L. White

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Students’ educational experiences vary. The differences in these experiences can be attributed to a variety of factors, including but not limited to geographic location, socio-economic status, age, gender, race, ability, and individual experiences before and during schooling. In this study, the researcher examined the intersectionality of race and disability in the context of postsecondary education and student-athletes through the experiences of participants who identified themselves within select categories, namely as Black/African American and student-athlete. Of equal importance, participants struggled to meet normalized standards of learning during their P-12 educational experiences and/or were identified with a categorical learning disability. As will …

K–12 Teachers’ Experiences “With Or Without” Breastfeeding/Pumping Policy In The School Workplace, Michelle Mae Phillips

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This study examines the experiences of classroom teachers who are lactating and expressing milk in a situation with or without school/district policies related to lactation and breastmilk expression. As there is little in the published literature that describes postpartum K–12 teachers' experiences while pumping breastmilk in the workplace. There is a need for studies that highlight these experiences and explore how policies impact breastfeeding teachers. The study was guided by three research questions: (1) How do classroom teachers who are, or have been, lactating and expressing milk during their workday experience school/district policies related to lactation and breastmilk expression? (2) …

Temporal Discounting And The Assessment And Treatment Of Academic Procrastination, Anthony Concepcion

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Many individuals engage in procrastination at some point in their lifetime. Although procrastination is usually not detrimental, for college students, academic procrastination is correlated with adverse health effects (e.g., anxiety, depression, sleep hygiene) and poor academic performance (Akinsola, et al., 2007; Ferrari, et al., 1995). Furthermore, the prevalence of academic procrastination is high with reports of up to 95% of college students engaging in detrimental amounts of procrastination (Hussain & Sultan, 2010). Notably, students enrolled in online courses are likely to be at greater risk to experience adverse consequences associated with procrastination (Elvers, et al, 2003). Previous studies have focused …

Care In Context: Constructing A Theory Of Care In One Fifth Grade Classroom, Emily J. Wingate

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

With a culmination of evidence suggesting the perception of caring relationships is associated with students' well-being (Natvig, Albrektsen, & Qvarnstrøm, 2003; Siddall, Huebner, & Jiang, 2013; Suldo, Friedrich, White, Farmer, Minch, & Michalowski, 2009), there is a need to better understand the ways in which care operates in the classroom. Further, there is a need to move beyond a prescription of caring behaviors to investigate the ways in which care, control, and conflict interact to impact classroom relationships. In the current study, I took a mini-ethnographic case study approach to investigate the concept of care within one fifth grade classroom. …

Early Adolescents' Basic Psychological Need Satisfaction And Frustration, Motivation, And Verbal Divergent Thinking Within An Out-Of-School Context, Megan Louise Atha

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Early adolescence is a vital time for the development of creative thinking and behaviors (Barbot et al., 2016) as well as for examining factors that influence the motivation of youth to engage and persist in creative processes and to develop creative abilities (Beghetto & Dilley, 2016). In order to support the motivation towards creative pursuits that may be unique to early adolescent youth, the satisfaction of basic psychological needs for competence, autonomy, and relatedness may be important. Since out-of-school contexts are an increasingly important element of adolescents’ day-to-day experiences, research that investigates how contextual factors contribute to the development of …

Exploring Refugee Students’ Second Language (L2) Motivational Selves Through Digital Visual Representations, Nhu Le

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

While the ‘travel ban’ immigration executive order, ‘build a wall’ proposal, and ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) raids under the Trump administration are still hot-button issues, the United States (US) is urged to maintain its leadership in addressing a rising global refugee crisis with over 65 million (70.8 million updated from United Nations High Commissioner on Refugees (UNHCR)’s website, https://www.unhcr.org/en-us/figures-at-a-glance.html, as of April 2020) individuals displaced all over the world (Khurma, 2017). Millions of refugee families have fled from life-threatening conditions in their homelands, making perilous journeys to reach host countries in search of a better life. While settling into …

"You Want To Teach What?" An Examination Of Physical Education Teacher Candidates' Motivation To Teach Physical Education, Rebecca C. Wylie

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This study examined the reasons individuals choose to become physical educators. Understanding these PE teacher candidates’ motivating factors for choosing this career is important as nearly half of all new teachers will leave the profession within the first three years of teaching (Ensign & Mays Woods, 2017). Using the theoretical framework of Deci and Ryan’s self-determination theory, (1984) motivation levels of the PE teacher candidates’ were also examined. For this study, six PE teacher candidates answered both the Attractors and Facilitators for Physical Educators questionnaire and the Academic Motivation Scale. The participants also participated in two semi-structured interviews examining their …

Textbooks As A Tool For Planning And Facilitating Mathematical Discourse, Denise L. Polojac-Chenoweth

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Across the nation, mathematics teachers are struggling to help their students meet the demands of high stakes testing while adhering to state standards for content and teaching and dealing with the time constraints imposed by school activities, paperwork, and testing schedules. Classroom mathematical discourse is touted as a central element of a quality mathematics learning environment. Nevertheless, many teachers struggle to implement mathematical discourse effectively. This dissertation aims to explore the use of textbooks as tools to support teachers in the planning and facilitation of mathematical classroom discourse.

In this study, I employed a mixed-methods design to investigate (1) how …

Opportunities Provided In Mathematics Methods Textbooks For Pre-Service Teachers To Develop Mathematical Knowledge For Teaching Fractions, Irem Ercan

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

I explored using qualitative content analysis what type of opportunities in mathematics methods textbooks are provided for pre-service elementary teachers to develop Mathematical Knowledge for Teaching Fractions (MKTF). Specifically, I examined all fractions tasks that are located in fraction chapters of mathematics methods textbooks in order to explore the ways they support pre-service teachers’ Subject Matter Knowledge and Pedagogical Content Knowledge of fractions.

I used qualitative content analysis of three mathematics methods textbooks to analyze how MKTF is offered for pre-service elementary teachers. In particular, I investigated the chapters that are designated to fraction concepts using both deductive and inductive …

Teacher Leadership: The Value Of Action Research In The Development Of Science Teacher Leaders, Vanessa Vernaza-Hernández

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The past few years have seen the establishment of many professional development programs for science teachers leaders aimed at improving the process of teaching and learning of science. One of these is the Robert Noyce Master Teacher Fellows (MTF) program, which is part of a research university in the southeastern United States. This is an extended teacher development program with the purpose of developing effective science and mathematics teachers into successful teacher leaders, professional development providers, curriculum developers, and formal mentors. One of the characteristics that distinguishes this MTF program is that, as part of the leadership development experiences, the …

Female Identity And Sexuality In Contemporary Indonesian Novels, Zita Rarastesa

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This project focuses on female characters’ identity and sexuality in four contemporary Indonesian novels, selected based on historical settings highly significant to the discussion. First, The Girl from the Coast (2002) by Pramoedya Ananta Toer takes place during Dutch colonialization, and the second, The Dancer (1982) by Ahmad Tohari, during the transition of power from President Soekarno to General Suharto, a period when the Indonesian Communist Party was still active. Durga/Umayi (2004) by Y. B. Mangunwijaya and Saman, a Novel (1998) by Ayu Utami both take place during the New Order era when Suharto was president of Indonesia.

The project’s …

An Exploration Of The Retention And Attrition Factors For The Campus-Based Fraternity/Sorority Student Affairs Professional, Viancca J. Williams

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

A higher education administrator who provides oversight, education, and accountability for fraternities and sororities is the fraternity/sorority advisor. Long-term retention in this role is low, with the average amount of time spent in the position being 3.33 years (Koepsell & Stillman, 2016). Limited research has been conducted to understand why. The purpose of the study was to explore the factors (including characteristics and experiences) contributing to the retention and attrition of campus-based student affairs professionals working in the fraternity/sorority life functional area. This qualitative study included 23 participants who at the time served in the role for longer than eight …

Understanding Campus Support Programs: How Universities Are Assisting Foster Care Alumni In Achieving Success, Bonnie Wilson Brown

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Young adults with foster care experience encounter a number of challenges related to obtaining a college degree. To assist this population in reaching their academic goals, many colleges and universities have created campus-based support programs. These programs are designed to assist former foster youth through an array of services, which range from financial aid to mentorship. However, little is known about how these programs are designed or implemented, or how effectively they are meeting the needs of this population. This dissertation sought to build upon previous research that examined the barriers faced by former foster children who are pursuing a …

Syrian Female Refugees: Exploring Identity And Online Language Learning, Alia Hadid

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was three-fold. First, it aimed to focus on the experiences of Syrian female refugees studying English online and examine their reactions. Second, it researched the impact learning English online had on their identity as language learners. Third, it investigated how learning English online affected their daily life interactions in their new environment.

The participants in this study were nine Syrian female refugees, but the stories highlighted the experiences of two focal participants. Through narrative inquiry, I collected stories about their perceptions of the online English course and how they used English in and out of …

There Is No I In Team: A Case Study Exploring Co-Teaching Relationships In Preschool Classrooms, Stefanie Claire Lynch

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Co-teaching is a highly complex phenomenon where two teachers work together in some capacity. Co-teaching is an accepted practice in preschools across the United States to meet state licensing standards and state ratios. There is a paucity of research done on this topic in preschool classrooms in the United States. The purpose of this study is to explore co- teaching relationships in preschool classrooms. This study was guided by three research questions: What are teachers’ notions about co-teaching? What are co-teachers’ experiences working in preschool classrooms? How does care manifest in co-teaching relationships? This study delves into the ways in …

A Policy Analysis Of Performance-Based Funding In The State University System Of Florida, Monika Alesnik

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Performance-based funding in the State University System of Florida is the principle legislative based funding method for the states 12 public universities. The system and the policy is governed by the Florida Board of Governors. However, Florida’s legislative branch has ultimate authority in regards to the policy. There is a gap of knowledge on the critical factors which led to the development, implementation and adoption of this policy. Data were collected using primary and secondary document analysis as well as through interviews with individuals in the following groups: elected officials, higher education leaders, staff, financial or policy influencers and other …

Examining Role Breadth, Efficacy, And Attitudes Toward Trauma-Informed Care In Elementary School Educators, Mikayla J. Drymond

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Children growing up below the poverty line are at heightened risk for developing complex symptoms of trauma caused by repeated exposures to a variety of traumatic events. The detrimental effects of repeated traumatic exposures on developing children living in low-income environments are now considered a public health concern (APA Presidential Task Force on Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Trauma in Children and Adolescents, 2008; Crosby, Howell, & Thomas, 2018). Increased awareness of the negative effects of trauma early in life and the need for combative care has accelerated the movement for educators to become trauma-informed, which can be demonstrated through altered …

Intensive Longitudinal Data Analyses And Sample Size Considerations In Intervention Studies With Dynamic Structural Equation Modeling, Zhiyao Yi

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Dynamic structural equation modeling (DSEM) has been proposed to analyze intensive longitudinal data (ILD). This dissertation provided a tutorial for the DSEM model specification practices in the context of intervention designs. Specifically, I illustrated using equations, verbal descriptions, and figures three two-level DSEM models based on three common intervention designs, including a single-arm trial with repeated measurements before and during intervention, randomized control trial (RCT) with repeated measurements during intervention, and RCT with repeated measurements before and during intervention. Mplus syntax and results from the analysis were also provided for each model along with the interpretations and inferences of parameter …

Digital Stories Students Tell: An Exploration Of Doctoral Sla Students’ Beliefs About Storytelling And Educational Technology, Patrick Mannion

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Educational technology (ET) plays a major role in second/foreign (L2) language teaching and learning. Some factors influencing the ways in which teachers employ ET in L2 education are the teachers’ personal beliefs about how teachers and students should use ET to learn target languages. To develop a better understanding of influences on L2 teachers’ ET-related subjective positions, a need exists to explore the ET-related perceptions and beliefs of current and future teacher educators who are, or will be, responsible for the design and implementation of curricula and learning activities in teacher education programs. In these teacher education programs, future teachers …

Potential Roles Of Speech-Language Pathologists In Advancing Early Intervention And Prevention Within A Multi-Tiered System Of Supports (Mtss) Framework, Meaghan A. Mckenna

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Multi-tiered system of supports (MTSS) is a framework that promotes school improvement through tiered deployment of research-based academic and behavioral practices. MTSS employs a systems approach whereby data-based problem solving integrates effective assessment and instruction designed to meet the academic, behavioral, and social emotional needs of all students. Many speech-language pathologists (SLPs) are interested in better understanding their role within MTSS and others have a desire to lead efforts at their school site or the district level, but are unsure of where to begin. This dissertation includes three papers that explore potential roles and responsibilities of SLPs within a multi-tiered …

Exploring A Boundary-Spanner's Beliefs, Tensions, And Decision-Making As A Methods Course Instructor And University Supervisor: A Self-Study, Wendy Baker

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

High quality teacher preparation is essential for the future of education. Researchers have examined the connection of theory and practice as an imperative to prepare preservice teachers. Methods course instructors and university supervisors are key players in bridge theory and practice, but rarely does the same individual get to be both methods course instructor and university supervisor. While it is important for teacher education programs to consider how to connect theory and practice, it is equally important to understand how to support preservice teachers when the same person acts as methods course instructor and university supervisor. Using self-study, the purpose …

Assessing Teacher Data Use: A Validation Study Of The Teacher Data Use Survey (Tdus), Alice Renee Foran

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Student achievement data have been the cornerstone of state and national accountability efforts for decades, and the focus on data-based decision making and evidence-based practices in education from policymakers, the public, and researchers continues to increase. Underlying the various pressures and incentives on educators to use data is a basic logic model: if teachers use data, their practice will change, and those changes will lead to improved student outcomes. The simplicity of the model belies the complexity of the practice of data use. Many individual- and organizational-level factors, such as attitudes and beliefs, competence, supports, and context play a role. …

Training Observers In Class-Wide Behavior Data Collection Using Behavior Skills Training, Nicholas L. Scheel

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Training individuals to conduct classroom observations typically requires practice in an analogue setting using one or a combination of strategies, including behavior vignettes, role-play, or video clips of target behaviors (Cooper, Heron, & Heward, 2007; Hartmann & Wood, 1990; Bass, 1987). However, researchers have yet to determine if these strategies are effective and to develop a standard approach to training observers. This investigation was a part of a larger study that looked at the effectiveness of tiered teacher training to facilitate implementation of an interdependent group contingency in the classroom. For this study, I utilized a concurrent multiple-baseline design to …

The Effects Of Augmented Reality (Ar)-Infused Idiom Material On Iranian Students’ Idiom Achievements, Motivation, And Perceptions, Babak Khoshnevisan

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Idiomatic competence poses a unique challenge on the second and foreign language learning process (Liontas, 1999). Multiple researchers have explored the perceptions and beliefs of language learners regarding idioms (Kömür & Çimen, 2009; Liontas, 2002a; Liontas, 2007). Other scholars have studied the role of technology in learning idioms (Amer, 2014; Andarab & Rouhi, 2014; Khoshnevisan, 2018a; Liontas, 2006). Additionally, researchers have widely investigated the impact of augmented reality (AR) on literacy development (Cheng & Tsai, 2014; Solak & Cakir, 2015). However, a thorough review of the related literature indicates few researchers have, to date, explored language learners’ perceptions about the …

Medical Model Vs. Eco-Behavioral Model: School Psychologists’ Conceptualization Of Consultation, Patricia Y. Hanson

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to explore the ways in which school psychologists conceptualize culturally responsive consultation based on their description of using an ecological approach or an intrapsychic approach to consultation. Additionally, this study aimed to address barriers school psychologists may face when providing culturally responsive consultation based on the consultation method they describe using. I conducted a secondary analysis of 1 to 2-hour, semi-structured interviews of 15 school psychologists throughout the United States. I used a constructivist paradigm to understand participants’ approaches to consultation and how these approaches related to their descriptions of culturally responsive consultation. I …

Students’ Experience With Interleaved Homework In High School Mathematics, Carrie Toreky

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

There has been discussion for many years about how much homework teachers give or whether they ought to give it at all. Some studies have shown that homework has a positive effect on high school students’ learning as measured by achievement tests or course grades. Additionally, there is an increasing interest among educators, policy makers, and researchers to identify instruction that can raise achievement levels and promote equity.

This study used an exploratory embedded comparative case design. The case study approach was used to explore students’ overall experiences with interleaved homework in high school mathematics classes. The subunits for this …

Ghostly Entanglements: Exposing Temporal Matter(Ing)S In Social Studies Education With (Re)Photography, Bretton A. Varga

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Visual resources offer a variety of pedagogical advantages. Regardless of content, images can be leveraged to build critically analytical skills and used to cultivate dialogic literacies (i.e., articulations of thinking) about the social world. Further, images can be used to introduce and grapple with complex/abstract ideas. Given the relationship that social studies has to temporality (i.e., subjective engagements with the past, present, and future), visual resources also present teacher(s) (educators) with the opportunity to explore (theoretical) concepts foregrounding manifold relationships making up the social world (i.e., a world consisting of complex entanglements between non/human entities).

The purpose of this research …

Exploring The Relationship Between Pre-Medical Student Motivation And Academic Performance: Strategies To Improve Student Success, Lauren Albaum

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Colleges and universities are under increasing pressure to meet post-baccalaureate graduate and professional school outcomes, with the majority of students indicating their central reason for attending college is to “landing a better job” (Eagan et al., 2016). Thus, even as interest in medical school and veterinary medical school continues to rise (Eagan et al., 2016), thereby increasing the competition to obtain an acceptance, students and parents continue to hold an expectation that their undergraduate institution will adequately prepare them to successfully matriculate into medical school or veterinary medical school. Although a variety of factors influence acceptance to professional school, earning …

Breakthroughs In Obtaining Qm/Mm Free Energies, Phillip S. Hudson

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The computation of free energy is pivotal to understanding the fundamental nature of chemical phenomena. That is, whether a specific molecular outcome occurs spontaneously or is inherently unfavorable. The need to do this with consistent accuracy begs for the use of quantum mechanical (QM) methods. However, techniques for directly computing free energy differences with QM or mixed QM/MM methods are untenable, as the computational expense is quite exorbitant. At present, the most feasible approach for obtaining QM/MM free energies is employing the so-called indirect cycle, which relies on accurately computing free energy differences between low (e.g., molecular mechanical, MM) and …