Education Commons^™

Promoting Sophomore Progression: Academic Advocates’ Perceptions Of Holistic Interventions And Data Analytics, Sarah Angela Wray Marshall

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative study explored academic advocates’ perceptions regarding holistic student interventions and data analytics utilization to enhance sophomore success at their institution. This study contributes to the literature on sophomore success by providing an academic advocacy perspective and to the emerging literature using data analytics to enhance retention, persistence, and graduation rates in higher education. Multiple methods of data collection were employed, including four academic advocate interviews, document analysis, and reflexive journaling. A hybrid thematic analysis approach was used to analyze the data. By exploring practitioners’ narratives, the research addressed a gap in scholarship on how academic advocates enact their …

Building Insight One Tray At A Time: A Systematized Review Of Sandtray Expressive Arts On Counselor Trainees’ Self-Awareness, A'Lyse M. Miranda

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This study examines the impact of sandtray expressive art interventions on the self-awareness of counseling students, recognizing the vital role self-awareness plays in counselor development. It is essential for counselors to practice self-awareness so that they may connect effectively with clients, make ethical decisions, and enhance their professional competence. Self-awareness is best identified as a transformative and reflective integration process. While traditional methods like journaling and supervision are commonly studied, the use of sand tray therapy as an expressive art intervention has received limited attention. This review synthesizes existing literature on self-awareness and sandtray expressive art interventions in counselor education, …

Connectedness And Belonging: An Autoethnography About Military Veteran Transition, Benjamin A. Smet

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Military veterans often face profound challenges transitioning to civilian life, yet prevailing narratives focus narrowly on PTSD and combat trauma. This dissertation uses autoethnography to broaden that view, blending personal narrative with theory to explore seven interrelated transition stressors: grief and bereavement, loss of military identity, autobiographical memory, service-connected nostalgia, moral injury, stereotype threat, and socialized masculinity and stoicism. These layered stories illuminate the cultural, emotional, and relational dimensions of transition, showing how isolation, disconnection, and loss of belonging shape veteran experiences as deeply as trauma. The analysis demonstrates that healing emerges not from prescriptive programs but from relational practices …

A Discussion Of Community: An Ethnography Of Designing Asynchronous Video Discussions To Reveal Student Perceptions Of Digital Presence In Online Learning, Chad S. Garcia

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This mixed-methods digital ethnography investigates how video-based discussions (VBD) influence community building in asynchronous graduate education. Using the Community of Inquiry (COI) framework, this study looks at student experiences in a History of Higher Education class where traditional text-based discussions were replaced with video presentations and peer responses. The research explores how video discussions affect students' sense of presence, how video presence impacts engagement patterns, and which multimedia elements contribute to community development.

Data collection included semi-structured interviews with students and instructors, LMS analytics, video content analysis, and ethnographic observation throughout Spring 2024. Analysis revealed a notable disconnect between traditional …

He’S The Kid That No One Wanted: An Autoethnographic Examination Of Preschool Suspensions And Expulsions From A Mother’S Lens, Lisa M. Smith

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This autoethnographic research examines the personal and professional journey of advocating against preschool suspensions and expulsions through the lens of a Black mother. Titled He’s The Kid That No One Wanted: An Autoethnographic Examination of Preschool Suspensions and Expulsions from a Mother’s Lens, " it dives into the complicated challenges faced while confronting exclusionary disciplinary practices in early childhood education. This research aims to illuminate the societal and institutional roadblocks encountered when navigating systems of power and to explore the impact of these challenges on both personal identity and professional advocacy. Using a blend of social media artifacts and memory …

Gender Representation Of Composers In Recommended Wind Band Literature And Prominent Performances, Devon Alexis Gray Porter

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this research was to evaluate gender representation in recommended literature in wind band repertoire and prominent performances. I collected data from music lists approved by the National Band Association (NBA) state chapters, programs from the Midwest Clinic and College Band Directors National Association, music vendor catalogues, the Teaching Music Through Performance in Band series, and Florida Bandmasters Association (FBA) Music Performance Assessment (MPA) past performances. I evaluated names of composers to determine the male-female ratios and quantities for recommended works from these sources. I conducted further analysis to determine if trends existed in the relationships between composer …

Managing/Negotiating The Unexpected: Principals’ Sensemaking Of A School Reopening Policy During A Crisis, The Covid-19 Pandemic, Andrea O'Sullivan

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to investigate high school principals’ Sensemaking of a school reopening policy during the COVID-19 pandemic. I inquired about four high school Principals, in the State of Florida, made sense of an Executive Order to reopen schools during a pandemic. As method, I applied Weick (1995) interpretivist framework of Sensemaking as reconceptualized by Coetzee & Wilkinson (2020), as both a theoretical and an analytic framework for a priori analysis. Weick (1995) included seven guiding principles of identity, retrospect, ongoing, enactments, social, extracted cues, and plausibility. Coetzee and Wilkinson (2020) emphasize an eighth principle of reflection …

Learning Analytics: An Innovative Technological Tool To Help Increase Student Retention And Graduation Rates In Us Higher Education Institutions, Fednold Thelisdort

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Higher education institutions (HEIs) have embarked on a journey of innovation by adopting learning analytics (LA) in their operation, offering a more sustainable and innovative technological tool to increase student retention and graduation rates in US HEIs. LA, an emerging academic and technological tool, equips HEIs to gather, analyze, and interpret their students’ data. Since the publication of the first (conceptual) framework by Burke (2019), LA has matured into a research focus and practice, implemented in several institutional contexts at different scales and disciplinary/pedagogical contexts. This study explored the impact of the use of LA on student retention and graduation …

Room-Temperature Multiferroic Epsilon Iron Oxide Semiconductors: Thin-Film Growth And Characterization, Derick Detellem

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

There is an ever-growing need for larger computing power, nonvolatile memory and energy efficient devices as the number of applications that draw upon the current base of computer resources increases. At the forefront of research aiming to meet this need is the field of multiferroics. If it is possible to leverage the fast and energy efficient application of an electric field with the data storage capabilities of magnetic materials, then it would be possible to not only increase the robustness and energy efficiency of current memory, but possibly present new types of device components for computation application as well. Currently, …

Teaching Word Combinations Using Matrix Training Via Serious Gaming In Minimally Verbal Children, Nataly Innamorato

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation addresses the communication challenges faced by minimally verbal children who use Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC), often limited to one-word expressions. The approach used involves gamifying matrix training, an empirically supported method for teaching word combinations and promoting the generalization of language skills. Across three studies, the development of an instructional game is described and evaluated with two populations, typically developing children and children who are minimally verbal. First, it introduces a gamified application of matrix training that provides training in an interactive digital environment. Second, a proof-of-concept was obtained via a multiple baseline across participants with typically …

Affirmation And Aspiration: Black Women Enrolled In Doctoral Programs At A Pwi Striving For The Tenure-Track, Anayah Alicia Walker

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Black women remain vastly underrepresented in tenure-track positions at research universities in the United States, facing systemic barriers that hinder their academic progression. This study examines the experiences and strategies that contribute to Black women’s preparation for tenure-track positions while enrolled in doctoral programs at a predominantly white institution. Grounded in Black feminist thought coupled with an appreciative inquiry lens, this study utilized the sista circle methodology to capture the narratives of seven Black women from various academic disciplines. Findings revealed three experiences that contribute to Black women’s preparation for tenure track positions: intrinsic motivation, funding and institutional resources, and …

Exploring Culturally Responsive Literacy Practices In Prekindergarten: A Multimodal Approach By Teachers, Deeksha Thonta Aradhya

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Children from culturally and ethnically diverse backgrounds are often expected to learn within different cultural contexts than those they have experienced in their families, homes, and communities. Some children are rarely exposed to the dominant culture and practices that are highly valued in schools before entering early education settings. When they start (pre)school, young children are often expected to immediately participate in cultural practices that may differ from those at home, which are considered indicative of being successful, ready, or capable. This research aimed to investigate the culturally responsive literacy practices used by teachers in a laboratory prekindergarten classroom. The …

An Evaluation Of Check-In/Check-Out For Children With Emotional And Behavioral Disorders, Norma E. Guillen

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Children with emotional and behavioral disorders (EBD) often display disruptive behavior that can hinder their learning and negatively affect the classroom environment. Check-in/Check-Out (CICO) is a Tier-2, evidence-based intervention designed to support children who have difficulty engaging in classroom activities and are at-risk of developing more severe challenging behavior. The primary goal of the intervention is to prevent the escalation of these behaviors and reduce the need for more intensive individualized interventions. However, limited research exists on the effectiveness of CICO for children with emotional and behavioral disorders (EBD). This study examined the effects of CICO on improving on-task behavior …

Sustaining The Spark: Professional Learning For The Seasoned Principal, Jennifer C. Mccrystal

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Principals play a pivotal role in shaping student achievement and supporting teacher success. However, the limited existing research reveals that professional development opportunities for principals, especially seasoned ones, are often uninspiring, inadequately designed, and disconnected from their actual needs. As a result, seasoned principals may face challenges in maintaining motivation, engagement, and continued leadership development. This study addresses this gap by investigating how seasoned principals perceive and value professional learning, focusing specifically on their pinnacle experiences—those they regard as the most impactful and significant throughout their careers.

Using a narrative inquiry approach with an Appreciative Inquiry lens, this study captures …

"You Should Not Judge, You Should Understand": The Effects And Perceptions Of An Empathy Embedded Teacher Inquiry Framework, Erica J. Milor

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

A slew of challenges make up the landscape of special education today-from teacher shortages to lack of resources and vast inequities. Teachers must be able to effectively address the diverse needs of students in the midst of the aforementioned challenges at a micro, meso, and macro level. Teacher Inquiry, an iterative problem-solving cycle, is an effective framework for teachers to do so. The purpose of this study was to develop a systematic empathy-embedded problem-solving cycle for special education teachers in order to increase student progress and effective problem-solving in the educational setting, while exploring how teachers say they perceive this …

Using Stomach Content Analysis To Determine The Trophic Ecology Of Omosudis Lowii, A Deep-Sea Predator In The Gulf Of Mexico, Claire De Noyo

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Little is known about the feeding dynamics of deep-sea communities, despite their significant ecological importance. Deep-pelagic communities contribute to marine biodiversity and ecosystem stability while directly offsetting climate change via carbon sequestration. Omosudis lowii is an understudied, deep-sea fish found in temperate and tropical waters worldwide, including the Gulf of Mexico. Omosudis lowii have large jaws and distensible stomachs, allowing them to capture prey items larger than their body size. The present seminal study used stomach content analysis to quantitatively describe the O. lowii trophic ecology, providing baseline data regarding diet composition, feeding selectivity, and factors that impact prey selection. …

Examining The Impact Of Single-Case Design Graph Characteristics On Decision-Making For School-Based Professionals Within An Mtss Context, Jessica L. Andrews

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Research investigating the display of single-case design (SCD) data has demonstrated that graphing characteristics can influence visual analysis and rater interpretations regarding the effect of an intervention. Data-based decision making within school settings, particularly within the framework of Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS), commonly includes the use of SCD’s to support this process. Despite the push for adherence to a standard assembly for linear graphs, there is no requirement as to how these graphs should be constructed. MTSS team members are often required to make decisions about whether an intervention should be continued (or not), and thus it is important …

Just A Spark Of Imagination: Examining Professional Development For Gifted Educators, Jennifer J. Tucker

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative study explored how teachers of gifted education in a large southeastern school district perceive the high points of professional development to reimagine learning courses to encourage professional learning. In today’s changing field of education, there is an urgent need to foster teachers’ professional growth to create an environment where they feel supported to retain their expertise in the educational field. Many studies focus on students' needs, but the voice of the teacher's needs is missing from the study. Gathering narratives from teachers of gifted students empowers the teachers’ perspectives to be included in discovering how to reimagine professional …

A Combined Cognitive Behavioral Therapy And Social Skill Intervention For Autistic Youth With Symptoms Of Anxiety, Ashley Dreiss

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Anxiety is one of the most prevalent co-occurring diagnoses in autistic youth, often exacerbating challenges in social functioning and quality of friendships. While social skills interventions and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) have demonstrated efficacy in addressing these difficulties separately, limited research has examined the integration of these approaches within an individualized format, while including measures of self-report and generalization of skills. This study investigates the development, implementation, and efficacy of a combined CBT/social skill intervention for autistic youth with symptoms of anxiety. Utilizing a single-case multiple baseline design, the study evaluates outcomes across levels of anxiety symptoms and social competence …

Unveiling Success: A Qualitative Exploration Of Job Offer Attainment Among International Female Master's Graduates In Technology, Anna Bahvala

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative study explores the job search experiences of international female graduates from a Master of Science in Business Analytics and Information Systems (MS BAIS) program in the United States. I focus on the job search and preparation strategies that differentiate graduates, earning $100,000 and above from their peers. Using an Appreciative Inquiry framework and attribution theory as a foundation, the research examines the intersection of gender, mindset, risk-taking, negotiation skills, and self-efficacy in job attainment outcomes. Nine participants were interviewed, with data analyzed using Saldaña’s coding techniques to identify common themes and behaviors. Findings indicate that high earners demonstrated …

Motivations To Learn English Among First-Year Undergraduate Chinese Students, Yunyu Chen

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This study investigates the motivations to learn English among first-year Chinese undergraduates enrolled at an American university in the southeastern United States and it is essentially grounded in theories such as Self-Determination Theory and Achievement Goal Theory. It addresses a central research question about how is motivations to learn English shaped by external and internal factors among the first-year undergraduate Chinese students? Recognizing that many Chinese students experience low levels of interest and confidence in English, the study explores internal and external factors that shape motivations, including emotional engagement, cultural and academic expectations, and supportive roles played by teachers and …

Integrating Visual Pedagogies With The Digital Platform To Establish Authenticity As A Gold Standard In Chinese Ideological And Political Education, Ruiqian Su

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative study investigates the role of visual pedagogies, including photo-elicitation via Xiaohongshu, in fostering authentic engagement in asynchronous discussions within Chinese Ideological and Political Education (CIPE). It examines both the pedagogical opportunities and challenges associated with integrating visual content—such as images, videos, and multimedia—into CIPE. In response to limitations in traditional CIPE teaching methods, particularly in promoting critical thinking and meaningful student interaction, the research explores how digital tools can enhance engagement and provide a culturally responsive framework for ideological education.

The study addresses two central research questions: (1) How do CIPE instructors perceive the role of visual pedagogies …

Unraveling The Narrative: How External Messaging Shapes The Academic Identities Of Neurodiverse Women Of Color, Timarie A. Franco

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative study examines how neurodiverse Women of Color understand and experience academic self-concept (ASC) within higher education systems shaped by whiteness, ableism, and gendered expectations. Traditional ASC measures rely on internalized perceptions of ability and often exclude the influence of external messaging and systemic oppression—especially for students with intersecting marginalized identities. Grounded in Disability Critical Race Theory (DisCrit), this study centers the voices of nine undergraduate collaborators at a large public university who identify as Women of Color and experience neurodivergence. Using narrative interviews and arts-based methods, collaborators explored how academic, social, and cultural experiences informed their sense of …

Precarious Pedagogy: A Critical Autoethnography Of Adjunct Labor, Erin V. Howell

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The following autoethnographic study explores the experiences and use of adjunct faculty within the neoliberal higher education landscape. Adjunct faculty comprise most of the contemporary professoriate, accounting for nearly 75 percent of higher education instructors. Precarious labor practices, lack of job security, and limited institutional support often characterize adjunct employment. The use of adjunct labor and the vulnerability of their positions are impacted by structural inequities perpetuated by academic capitalism. By privileging the experiences of adjunct faculty, this study contributes to an ongoing conversation about labor practices and inequities in higher education. This dissertation examines the ways in which adjuncts …

Textbook Content Analysis For Statistical Content Standards For 8th-Grade Math: Commercial Publishers, Curriculum Software Supplement, And An Open Educational Resource, Matthew M. O'Brien

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation examined the vertical and horizontal content analysis of statistical content within current 8th-grade mathematics instructional materials to determine the extent to which students are provided with opportunity to learn high cognitive instances and the usage of the four phases of statistical problem-solving across two commercial publishers, one open educational resource, and one curriculum software supplement. All previous analyses of statistics education content textbooks have only examined textbooks from commercial publishers or those published by national governments. The horizontal content textbook analysis investigated the textbook's background information and overall structure. The vertical content textbook analysis examined the cognitive level …

Pedagogy, Technology Acceptance, And Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge Among Nursing Faculty, Rachel Ross

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Integrating pedagogical and technological knowledge among faculty is crucial, especially within Florida state colleges’ Nursing (ADN) programs. I explored the impact of three decades of technological advancements on faculty's ability to incorporate technology into their teaching methods using a qualitative, exploratory design; I conducted semi-structured interviews via Microsoft Teams. The analysis of faculty perceptions, experiences, and challenges reveals a significant gap in pedagogical knowledge despite strong subject matter expertise, indicating underdeveloped instructional strategies and learner-centered pedagogies. Additionally, participants exhibited a diverse understanding of the Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge (TPACK) framework, highlighting difficulties in effectively integrating technology, pedagogy, and content knowledge. …

Examining Within- And Cross-Language Relationships And Quantitative Methods In Spanish-English Dual Language Learners' School Readiness Skills, Shaunacy R. Sutter

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The aims of this three paper dissertation are as follows: First, to examine the cross-domain associations between school readiness skills, including oral language, literacy, and math skills, within and across languages in Spanish-English speaking DLLs in PreK. Second, to explore the cross-domain associations between oral language, literacy, and mathematics skills at varying levels of literacy and math achievement. Finally, to review the quantitative methods used in research on school readiness skills and the home and classroom contextual factors that support these skills for Spanish-English speaking DLLs in the United States over the past decade. Spanish-English speaking DLLs enter early childhood …

Relationship Between Motivation, Requesting Accommodations, Rapport, And Adequate Progress In College Students With Disabilities During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Harold Holmes

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

College students with disabilities often face challenges including difficulty accessing accommodations and developing satisfactory rapport with instructors when navigating their college experience. These challenges can negatively impact their academic progress and their ability to complete their programs of study. The first purpose of this study was to describe the levels of self-efficacy, perceived control, willingness to request accommodations, instructor- student rapport, and adequate progress towards a degree among college students with disabilities. The second purpose was to determine any relationships between these variables. Undergraduate students with disabilities at a public university in the southeast region of the United States completed …

Incorporating Data Mining Techniques In Inverse Propensity Score Weighting With A Latent Class Exposure: An Application To The Nsse Data, Siyu Liu

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

College graduation is a key goal for both students and institutions, yet increasing rates of four-year graduation has proven challenging. An initiative that has been implemented focuses on enhancing student participation both in the classroom and across the broader academic setting. The National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE) has been used by many institutions worldwide as a tool to evaluate student engagement through self-reported data. Research indicates that NSSE is linked to students’ academic success, such as better course grades, retention, and timely graduation. However, the existing relationships have been opaque and even contradictory. This study employs a newly developed …

Telecollaboration As An Approach To Facilitating Intercultural Communicative Competence And Exposure To Arabic Dialects In Arabic As Foreign Language Classrooms In The Us: Exploring Teachers’ Perspectives And Practices, Reham Abuemira

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The literature on foreign language education shows an increasing interest in incorporating intercultural communicative competence in the foreign language curriculum. However, making intercultural communicative competence an active component in Arabic as a foreign language curriculum in the United States has been overshadowed by a heavy emphasis placed on developing learners’ grammatical competence instead. Intercultural communicative competence has been proven to help language learners develop an awareness of their own culture and other cultures, an appreciation for both the target language and culture, and a set of necessary skills that allow them to communicate effectively and appropriately with others. Intercultural communicative …