Education Commons^™

Educators' Perceptions For Low Performance On Mathematics State Assessment Among High School Algebra Students With Learning Disabilities In An Alternative Education Program In California: An Explanatory Case Study, D. Sung Choe

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This case study addressed educators' perceptions regarding the low performance on state mathematics assessments among high school algebra students with learning disabilities in an alternative education program in a California school district. Vygotsky's theory on the zone of proximal development served as the overarching framework for mathematics content that students with learning disabilities in the alternative education environment should learn at various stages of chronological age. The central research question was: What are educators' perceptions of low performance on mathematics state assessments among high school algebra students with learning disabilities in an alternative education program in California? The methodology used …

The Perceived Effect Of The Cliftonstrengths Assessment Of Christian Leader Self-Awareness, Daniel Lee York

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to explore the perceived congruence between the coached CliftonStrengths (CS) assessment model and leader self-awareness (SA: internal, external, and spiritual) as described by the participants (Creswell & Creswell, 2018). The theory behind this study was emotional intelligence, with specific attention on self-awareness and its import to general leadership theory (Antonakis et al., 2009; Bar-On et al., 2000; Goleman, 2019; Higgs, 2002; Eurich, 2017).

A selective phenomenological study was utilized because the author evaluated leaders’ perception of the effect of CS on their SA or “What is it like to experience such-and-such?” (Leedy …

Teacher Experience With Ai In Middle School Education: A Qualitative Research Study, Aimee Lintner

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of the case study was to understand the use of technology, particularly AI, for public middle school teachers in Michigan. The theory that guided this study is Albert Bandura's social cognitive theory. Self-efficacy is relevant in that it relates to self-achievement and the belief in the desired goal —Bandura's view of social cognition keys to self-efficacy, incorporating self-evaluation and focusing on goal orientation. Consistent with the case study, the focus was on teachers' structure for teaching, the potential to use AI in the classroom, and the increased use of technology. The central question is to determine if AI …

A Hermeneutic Phenomenological View Of Professional Development Motivation As Experienced By Secondary High School Staff Who Engaged With New Instructional Coaches, Emily Marie Cornwell

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this hermeneutical phenomenological study was to describe the lived experiences of public-school teachers at the secondary level who engaged with an instructional coach at Peach Tree High School and Rock High School in a rural desert of California. The theory that guided this study was Knowles’s theory on adult learning, as it explained how adults learn and their motivations for professional development. The central research question was: what were the lived experiences of 10-12 public-school teachers at the secondary level while interacting with an instructional coach? The methodology in this qualitative study was hermeneutic phenomenology in which …

A Phenomenological Study Examining Lived Experiences Of Persistent Non-Traditional Students With Learning Disabilities At Community College, Mary Elizabeth Regis

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to understand the lived experiences of persistent non-traditional community college students with learning disabilities at community colleges in the Midwest United States. For this study, persistent, non-traditional community college students are defined as students who completed their first year of college, were currently enrolled in their second year of college or earned more than 30 credits, and were 25 or older, with commitments in addition to their academics, College students with learning disabilities were defined as students who had a documented learning disability rather than self-identified diagnoses. Ryan and Deci’s self-determination theory …

A Phenomenological Study Of Novice Special Education Teachers' Experience Applying Causal Attributions To Challenging Behavior, Mandy Marie Augst

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to describe novice special education teachers’ experiences attributing causes to challenging behaviors in U.S. public schools. This study was guided by Bernard Weiner’s attribution theory of motivation. This framework allowed for the examination of teachers’ causal attributions for challenging behavior as well as their personal motivation in responding to challenging behaviors. This study's central research question focused on novice special education teachers’ experiences attributing causes to challenging behavior. The researcher employed a transcendental phenomenological approach, engaging participants as co-researchers to understand their lived experiences. A sample of 11 participants was recruited from …

Exploring Teachers' Perception And Use Of Whole Brain Teaching: A Hermeneutic Phenomenological Study, Tiffany Amber Jay-Claycomb

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenology study was to understand Whole Brain Teaching (WBT) through the experiences and perceptions of teachers who utilize this system in the United States. The theory guiding this study was George Miller’s information processing theory, which identified how information is attained, stored, and retrieved, a foundation of the WBT system. This study attempted to answer the central research question: What are the perceptions of classroom success for teachers who use WBT systems? This qualitative hermeneutic phenomenology research focused on WBT teachers across the United States, contacted through an online platform. Data collection consisted of interviews, …

From Perspective To Practice: Investigating Elementary Educators' Insights Into Secondary Traumatic Stress In The Classroom, Cassie Bailey Phillips

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to understand the central phenomenon of elementary educators recognizing their lived experiences of secondary traumatic stress and investigate their self-care techniques. The theories guiding this study were secondary traumatic stress theory and the constructivist self-development theory. Research questions investigated in this study included how elementary educators make meaning of secondary traumatic stress (STS) caused by interactions involving students with traumatic lived experiences. How do educators experiencing secondary traumatic stress perceive the training available to them to mitigate the effects of STS? How do educators experience and interpret their use of self-care in managing …

A Phenomenological Study Of Support To Develop Teacher Efficacy In State Funded Preschool Classrooms, Jennifer Stark

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative transcendental phenomenology study was to understand the support for teachers in state funded preschool classrooms through the teachers’ lived experiences. The theory guiding this study is Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems theory as it relates to the role of teacher efficacy in preschool programs and its impact on improving learning environments for children. This study includes a central question and three sub-questions focusing on the support, coaching, and professional learning opportunities provided to educators to improve the learning environment for children in state-funded early childhood classrooms. The setting will include South Carolina state-funded prekindergarten classrooms. The participants …

A Quantitative, Cause-Comparative Design Study Of Teacher Self-Efficacy Based On Classroom Environment And Professional Development, Tiffany Cain Woodward

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this quantitative, causal-comparative design study is to determine if there is a difference in teacher self-efficacy scores between teachers who participate in professional development on inclusion and teachers who do not participate in professional development on inclusion and to determine if there is a difference in teacher self-efficacy scores based on the classroom environment. Identifying teacher self-efficacy is important as it will help determine what teachers need professional development in to better serve students with disabilities. The researcher used the Teacher Sense of Efficacy (TSES) scale to identify teacher self-efficacy scores. A convenience sampling procedure was used …

Blended Learning Usage Within High School Gifted And Talented Chemistry Classrooms: A Transcendental Phenomenological Study, Hena Shami

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to understand gifted and talented homeschooled high school level students' experiences with engagement, motivation, and academic achievement in a blended learning chemistry course in the East coast of the United States. Technology can be a wonderful addition to the education world, but often the problem is that GT chemistry students learning through a blended learning model are struggling to maintain effective student engagement, motivation, and academic achievement. The theory that guided this study was Bandura’s social learning theory as it identifies the roles that social factors play on the thought processes involved …

Identifying Effective Leadership Styles Among Winning College Head Football Coaches: A Hermeneutic Phenomenological Study, Valin Kattoula

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenological study was to discover and interpret the successful leadership styles of winning college head football coaches (HFC) in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). The theory that guided this study is Bass’s (1995) transformational leadership theory. The central question asked, “What are the lived experiences of winning college HFCs leadership initiatives?” The study used a hermeneutic phenomenological design where HFCs participated in interviews and a focus group and submitted a writing prompt response to obtain the lived experiences about proven winning leadership styles. The study’s findings identified sixteen themes and five sub-themes. The sample …

A Phenomenological Study Of Persistence For Black Women In Mathematics Doctoral Programs, Shushannah Marie Smith

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to describe the doctoral persistence experiences of Black women mathematicians. Guided by McGee’s fragile and robust mathematical identity framework, the research design followed Moustakas’ qualitative transcendental phenomenological approach. The researcher explored the contributing factors to the phenomenon guided by the central research question, “What are the doctoral persistence experiences of Black women mathematicians?” The study involved 11 Black women participants who hold or were within one year of holding a doctoral degree in mathematics and were selected to ensure diversity and representativeness. Data collection encompassed three methods: a mathematical identity development timeline, one-on-one …

Trust Building Within The Instructional Coaching Process: An Existential Phenomenological Study, Brandi R.M. Jones

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this existential phenomenological study was to understand how teachers experience the trust-building process as they work with instructional coaches. Relational trust theory drove the work done for the study as it structures the elements necessary to build trust in the workplace. This qualitative study explored the experiences of teachers as they work with instructional coaches and their perceptions of how trust is built or areas that may interfere with the building of a trusting relationship. Participants were selected through the use of a group on the social media platform, Facebook. Targeted teachers were secondary teachers that have …

An Exploration Into The Social And Emotional Effects Of K-12 Music Education, Jerrod T. Perry

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

In music education, a student must learn to read music notation, develop eye-hand-mind coordination, develop keen listening skills, develop team skills for playing in an ensemble, and develop the discipline to practice. Several research findings show that musical training is a powerful intervention that could help students emotionally and intellectually mature. This research aims to connect the current research on music education with the lack of exploration and knowledge to find the correlation between music and students’ academic success. The methodology used for this study will be a quantitative historical study format directed to discover research-backed evidence based on this …

Dyslexia And Sight-Reading: Perceptions Of Upper Woodwind Instrumental Students With Dyslexia And Their Approach To Sight-Reading Study, Kristen S. Spiridon

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This qualitative hermeneutic phenomenological research study examines the sight-reading abilities and perceptions of eight to ten high school, dyslexic, upper woodwind students from locations in the United States. The study involves students sight-reading an etude that participants had not seen previously. Though studies featuring note reading and dyslexic students are well documented, the literature has not fully addressed this phenomenon among high-school-aged students and upper woodwind students, who regularly encounter the most technically challenging rhythmic figures. The study includes eight to ten dyslexic upper woodwind high school students sightreading the etude and observing their execution. Each student completed a survey …

A Transcendental Phenomenological Qualitative Study Of High School Teachers' Experiences Related To Culturally Responsive Teaching And The Impact It Plays On The Achievement Of Minority Students, Rosalind Bailey

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This transcendental phenomenological qualitative research study aimed to understand the lived experiences of high school teachers in relation to culturally responsive teaching and the role it plays in the achievement of minority students. The leading theory that guided this study was Vygotsky's sociocultural theory which emphasizes the importance of human development where teachers incorporate students' culture, beliefs, and social norms as essential aspects of instruction (Crotty, 1998). Additionally, Bandura's self-efficacy theory was incorporated as a perspective to assess the impact of teaching influence exerted by teachers based on their personal beliefs. The participants for this study included 13 high school …

Teachers' Financial Literacy Knowledge And Self-Efficacy: A Phenomenological Study, Alyssa Lynne Eisenhart

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenological study was to discover the experiences and self-efficacy beliefs related to financial literacy knowledge for educators in the United States. The theory guiding the study was self-efficacy as it explained how one’s belief in abilities is shaped by their unique background, experiences, and knowledge. The central research question was what are the experiences and self-efficacy beliefs of educators who teach financial literacy? The study aimed to understand the perspectives of teachers as it related to financial knowledge and self-efficacy. A purposive sample, with ten to fifteen participants, were selected based on the criteria that …

Teacher Observations On The Success Of Hard-Of-Hearing Students In The Middle School Mathematics Classroom: A Case Study, Hannah Abbott Mcpherson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this case study was to describe how deficits in foundational language among hard-of-hearing students influence mathematics instruction for general education middle school classroom teachers working to educate this student population in the South. The theory guiding this study was Paivio’s theory on dual coding, as it supports learning the necessary concepts needed to perform successfully in mathematics. The central research question for this study was: What are the experiences of middle school mathematics teachers working with hard-of-hearing students? Methodology defined as a descriptive case study included individual interviews, a focus group, and journal prompts to collect data …

The Effects Of Intermittent Fasting On Working Memory With A Covariate Of Exercise Among The Perimenopausal Population: A Randomized Controlled Trial, Karen Marie Veltri

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Intermittent fasting and exercise are tools to improve health. Current literature focuses on their impact on metabolic health and weight loss, leaving a gap in the research examining their effects on working memory during the menopause transition. The purpose of this study was to address this gap by recruiting perimenopausal participants and randomly assigning them to an experimental or a control group. The experimental group followed an 8/16 intermittent fasting regimen for two consecutive weeks. Both groups ate ad libitum without dietary restrictions. Participants completed a pre- and post-study Working Memory Questionnaire and self-reported average hours of exercise per week. …

Investigating The Predictive Relationships Between Trauma And Persecution And Academic Motivation With Female Afghan High School Students: A Correlational Study, Gary Thomas

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this quantitative, non-experimental, predictive correlation study was to determine if there is a predictive relationship between academic motivation and the linear combination of trauma and persecution of Afghanistan female high school students. The study sample of 119 female students was drawn from two underground high schools in Afghanistan in the grades of 10-12, aged 16-20. Instruments included the Academic Motivation Scale, the Child Post-Traumatic Cognitive Inventory, and the Persecution and Deservedness Scale. A multiple linear regression analysis was applied to assess how well the criterion variable (academic motivation) was predicted using the whole set of predictor variables …

The Lived Experiences Of Parents Raising A Child With Albinism: A Transcendental Phenomenological Study, Quineesha D. Phillips

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study is to understand the lived experiences of psychological barriers for parents of children with albinism in general education classes. The theory guiding this study was Goffman’s social stigma theory on stigmas, as it provides the framework for understanding the educational barriers faced in the general education classroom. This study answers the central research question, what are the lived experiences of parents of children with albinism in school? This transcendental phenomenological study emphasized the need for policy and practice changes focusing on assertiveness and coping skills for students with albinism in primary general education …

Journey To Becoming A Superintendent In New York: A Transcendental Phenomenological Study, Jeremy R. Koch

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to understand the lived experiences an individual encounters on their journey to becoming a superintendent at a school district in New York. The theory used in this study was the push-pull model (PPM) by E. G. Ravenstein and the push-pull mooring model by E. S. Lee and later B. Moon, to study the lived experiences of those who have become school district superintendents. The PPM was used to determine what themes are present in an individual’s journey to the superintendency that pulls them to the position, pushes them away, or causes them …

A Phenomenological Study On Emerging Adults' Lived Experiences With Financial Technology, Tracey R. Morrison

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to describe the experiences of emerging adults’ interactions with financial socialization and financial technology. This study examined various forms of financial mentoring emerging adults encounter before fully entering adulthood. The essential question is: What are emerging adults’ lived experiences with financial technology? The theory guiding this study is Gudmunson and Danes’ family financial socialization theory (2011) (FFST), which rationalizes how emerging adults obtain financial knowledge based on lived experiences. The researcher intentionally constructed this study as a qualitative transcendental phenomenological investigation gathering individuals’ experiences with a specific phenomenon through quality interview sessions, …

A Phenomenological Study Of Special Education Teacher Self-Efficacy For English Learner Instruction, Emilie Louise Jacumin-Simmons

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to understand the experiences of special education teachers (SETs) who instruct English learners (ELs) at secondary public schools in the Southeast. In this research, SETs instructing ELs were generally defined as SETs responsible for the instruction of ELs with or without disabilities. The theory guiding this study was Bandura’s theory of self-efficacy. The qualitative study used a phenomenological approach to explore the lived experiences of 11 SETs who teach in secondary public school districts in the southeastern United States. Data collection consisted of Teacher Self-Efficacy (TSE) Scale surveys, teacher reflections on their …

Human And Sex Trafficking: A Quantitative Examination Of The Knowledge And Awareness Of The College-Aged Population, Margaret Caroline Weiker

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

It is crucial for the public and more specifically those who are a part of vulnerable populations to understand the dangers of both human and sex trafficking. One sub-group of vulnerable populations that are likely to encounter a trafficking situation are college students, as many of these students are unaware of trafficking’s prevalence. While there have been studies of specific populations with prior specialized knowledge, there is little information on the knowledge, perceptions, and awareness levels of the general college-aged population. This study will be quantitatively structured into a two-part survey, seeking to collect data from a sample size of …

Differences In Special Education Teachers' Applied Behavior Analysis Scores: A Causal-Comparative Study, Delilah Mae Fernandez

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This quantitative, causal-comparative study aimed to determine if there was a difference in applied behavior analysis scores from the applied behavior analysis test between traditional and non-traditionally certified teachers and veteran and new teachers. This research also aimed to identify if there was an interaction effect between experience level and type of certification when considering understanding of applied behavior analysis. This study is important as the findings contribute to the education system within the central Texas area as it uncovered the level of knowledge specific special education teachers in self-contained classrooms have and determined if educators are implementing the best …

Measuring Technical Super-Efficiency Of Christian Faith-Based International Humanitarian Organizations, Barbara G. Price

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

COVID-19 left a wake of destruction upon its descension, pervasion, and diffusion across the continents. Not only did this happen at individual, household, and corporate levels, but also the nonprofit world. Christian ministries, faith-based organizations, and faith-based charities are among some of the largest international relief and development agencies that are on the front lines of humanitarian and disaster relief efforts (MinistryWatch & Smith, 2023). Understanding the effects of COVID-19 or phenomena with similar magnitudes on faith-based organizations is critical to understanding the impact at the level of their international humanitarian development and relief programs. There is a need for …

The Experiences Of Teachers Implementing Co-Teaching Models: A Hermeneutic Phenomenological Study, Chad M. Davis

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenological study was to describe the experiences of secondary teachers implementing co-teaching models in inclusive classrooms at a public school district in northwest Arkansas. For this study, co-teaching is defined as the collaborative approach to instruction in which a general education teacher and a special education teacher work together to co-plan, co-teach, and co-assess a course that includes general education students and students with disabilities. Using Johnson and Johnson’s social interdependence theory as a theoretical framework, this study addressed the central research question: What experiences do teachers have implementing co-teaching models in inclusive classrooms? A …

Examining The Impact Of Special Education Teacher Attrition On Student Performance: A Causal-Comparative Study, Kiandra Dane Jones

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this quantitative, causal-comparative study was to determine if there was a difference between the achievement of Georgia special education students on the Ninth Grade Literature and American Literature Georgia Milestones Test in school districts with high and low special education teacher (SET) attrition rates. This study provided quantifiable data that measured the impact of teacher burnout on student achievement. This research further supported the literature in this field by documenting the consequences of increasing teacher turnover rates. Participants in this study included Georgia Milestones student achievement data from approximately 180 Georgia school districts from 2019–2022. The state’s …