Education Commons^™

Building Anti-Racist Teacher Education, Kel Nemetz

Masters Projects

Preschool through twelfth grade education in the United States is ever evolving and has always been influenced by socio-political context. Throughout history, the goals, methods, and values of public education have shifted depending on political ideologies and influence. This thesis acknowledges the major significance and impact decisions like these can make on our students in PK-12 schools and on the educators who teach them, while centering the importance of anti-racism as a foundational goal. Despite the anti-diversity, equity, and inclusion political campaign lead by Trump’s second administration to try to dismantle all DEI efforts in PK-12 schools and beyond, this …

Nursing Faculty Perspectives On Students With Learning Disabilities: A Transcendental Phenomenological Study, Marlies Aanensen Hébert

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to record the lived experiences of nursing faculty perspectives of students with learning disabilities in all learning environments. The theories that provide the framework for the study are John Dewey’s theory of education and Malcolm Knowles’ theory of adult learning. Both theories establish a foundation for understanding the challenges faced by adult learners with learning disabilities and how to offer effective support. The research question is: What are the lived experiences of nurse educators working with students with learning disabilities in all learning environments? The study employed a snowball sampling method to …

Preservice Teacher Preparedness To Teach In The Inclusive Classroom Setting: A Hermeneutical Phenomenological Study, Jessica Malter

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this hermeneutical phenomenological study was to understand how teacher preparation programs provided experiences with inclusive practice coursework for novice (no more than three years of experience) special education and general education teachers working with students with disabilities in the inclusive classroom setting at K-12 schools in Southwestern Missouri. The theory guiding this study was the Self-determination Theory (SDT) by Edward Deci and Richard Ryan, as it focused on the social conditions that could allow for or hinder the flourishing of an individual. The central research question guiding this study was: How have teacher preparation programs provided experiences …

A Phenomenological Study Of Principals' Perceptions Of Principal Preparation Programs, Jennifer Gael Wiese

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to understand participants’ lived experiences in Principal Preparation Programs (PPPs) and their perceptions of how these programs prepared them for their roles as educational leaders in a public school district in the western United States. The lived experience is generally defined as the participants’ experiences, options, and choices and the influence these have on the participants’ perception of knowledge and education related to educational leadership. The historical, social, and theoretical context of principal preparation was highlighted in the introduction. A systematic literature review was conducted to explore issues in principal preparation. The focus …

Educational Leadership And Advocacy For Change: A Historical Examination Of Georgia State Superintendents’ Reporting And Public Education Reform (1933–1977), Benjamin Isaac Casado

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This dissertation examines the role of Georgia’s State Superintendents of Schools in shaping public education from 1933 to 1977, a period marked by profound social, economic, and political change. Focusing on the tenures of Dr. Mauney Douglass Collins, Dr. Claude Lamar Purcell, and Dr. Jack P. Nix, it explores how these leaders utilized the Georgia Department of Education reports to the General Assembly to advocate for legislative reforms and address the evolving educational challenges of their respective eras.

Through a detailed analysis of these reports, this study uncovers the superintendents’ strategies, priorities, and policy recommendations, shedding light on their leadership …

A Case Study On Successful Post Secondary Transition For Individuals With Disabilities, Junie Louis-Jean

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this single case study was to explore the transitional experiences of employed adults with disabilities who graduated from high school in New York. Bronfenbrenner’s social ecological theory supported the exploration of how the community and school environments influence the employability of students with disabilities as they transition to the work environment. The central question of the study was “How do high school graduates with disabilities describe their experiences of transitioning from school to the workplace?” The participants in this qualitative single case study were 10 teacher’s aides who had been high school students with disabilities at the …

A Causal-Comparative Study: Teacher Efficacy With Students With Autism, Natasha Cassidy

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this quantitative causal-comparative study is to compare teacher self-efficacy among elementary, middle, and high school teachers of students with autism. Self-efficacy in teaching is the unwavering belief that a teacher can deliver highly effective instruction to foster positive learning outcomes in students with autism. Teachers confident in their abilities to accommodate the needs of students with autism can provide the necessary support, adjust their teaching methods, and create learning opportunities that promote the development of essential skills. The sample size included elementary, middle, and high school teachers from public schools across the northwest region of the United …

Uncovering The Essence Of Teachers’ Influence On High School Mathematics Instruction In The Northern United States School Districts: A Transcendental Phenomenological Study, Jim Mchenn

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to understand and describe the lived experiences of high school mathematics teachers in the Northeast United States, focusing on how their backgrounds, education, and personal attitudes shaped their teaching practices and influenced students' academic performance in mathematics. The study was guided by Bandura's social learning theory, which emphasizes learning through observation of behaviors, attitudes, and outcomes. The central research question was: How do the diverse backgrounds, educational experiences, professional development, and personal attitudes of high school mathematics teachers in select school districts across the Northern United States influence students' academic performance, as …

Teacher Perceptions On The Influence Of Note-Taking In The Military-Connected Middle School Classroom, Lauren Mullen Evans

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to understand the influence of note-taking strategies on student writing for teachers in the military-connected middle school classroom. The guiding theories for this study were Lev Vygotsky’s sociocultural theory of cognitive development and its influence on note-taking instruction and student writing in the military-connected middle school classroom. The central question for the study stated: What are teachers’ perceptions regarding the influence note-taking strategies have on writing in the military-connected middle school classroom? The participants were middle school teachers with at least three years of experience teaching in military-connected middle school classrooms. Participants had …

The Impact Of Childhood Sexual Abuse On The Overall Well-Being Of White, Christian Female Survivors: A Phenomenology, Tassanee Sanchez

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to understand the impact that childhood sexual abuse has on the biopsychosocial-spiritual health of White, Christian female survivors. The study revolved around three main research questions: (1) How do participants describe their lived experiences and articulate their understanding of the phenomenon of CSA? Participants described their lived experiences as a painful experience of betrayal. Surprisingly, the betrayal came not only from the perpetrator, but also from those close to the survivor who they trusted to protect them. (2) How do participants describe the impact CSA has on their biopsychosocial-spiritual well-being in adulthood? Participants …

Exploring Clergy's Use Of Suicide Risk Factor Knowledge: A Qualitative Descriptive Study, Matilda Swanson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This qualitative descriptive study explored clergy members’ understanding of mental health literacy in relations to suicide risk factors and the interventions they used to prevent suicidality among congregants in Central Florida. Guided by Anthony Jorm’s mental health literacy theory, the study explored clergy members’ understanding of mental health literacy related to their knowledge of suicide risk factors and interventions they use to address suicide risk among church congregants. Data collection was through semi-structured interviews and two focus groups. A total of 14 clergy members participated in the study. The findings were analyzed using Braun and Clarke’s six-step thematic analysis, leading …

A Quantitative Causal-Comparative Study Of Occupational Self-Efficacy Beliefs For Acquisition Professionals After Completing Professional Credentials Designed For The Knowledge Or Performance Dimension, Carla A. Goger

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this quantitative, causal-comparative study is to explore the impact between credential programs designed for the knowledge or performance dimension and whether there is a difference in how those designs affect defense acquisition professionals’ occupational self-efficacy beliefs and whether the years of professional experience affect those results. This study endeavors to contribute to the field of education by shedding light on the relationship between the design of professional credential programs and occupational self-efficacy beliefs within the approximate 19,000 members of the defense acquisition workforce who have attained a credential since 2019. The occupational self-efficacy short-form (OSS-6) questionnaire was …

A Phenomenological Inquiry Exploring The Perception Of Self-Efficacy Amongst Colorado High School English Teachers Incorporating Classroom Technology Use, Barbara Miguelgorry

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenological study was to explore the perceptions of self-efficacy of high school English teachers in Colorado as they experienced a phenomenon of rapidly increased use of classroom technology. High school English teachers’ perceptions were generally defined as how effective they felt in their teaching practices and pedagogical approaches as they incorporated increased use of classroom technology, including their perceptions of the use of classroom technology’s influence on their confidence and self-esteem in the classroom. The theory guiding this study was Bandura’s theory of self-efficacy (1977). The central research question for this study was: How has …

Investigating Christian Counselors' Emphasis On Marriage Vows As A Sacred Covenant In Premarital Counseling, Lovie J. Faine

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Proverbs 11:14 says, “Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counselors there is safety” (King James Bible, 2017; Proverbs 11:14). This proverb suggests that counsel can provide a level of security. Premarital counsel is a type of provisional assistance and guidance sought by couples seeking to shelter and strengthen their union. Within the church pastors and elders often provide Christian counseling to congregants for various reasons, including premarital counseling. The purpose of this phenomenological study is to discover pastors and elders that operate as Christian counselors’ emphasis on marriage vows as a sacred covenant within …

The Army Cadet Experience Related To Confidence And Their Training: A Phenomenological Study, Michael J. Centola

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to describe the experiences of ROTC cadets related to their preparation for Cadet Summer Training (CST). The theory guiding this study was John Sweller’s cognitive load theory. The current problem is that cadets have minimal opportunities to become proficient in certain hands-on skills taught within the ROTC curriculum prior to their assessment at CST. Because of this, some cadets seem to lack confidence in their abilities prior to CST adding onto their cognitive load. Through the utilization of transcendental phenomenology to understand the firsthand accounts of the cadets after they underwent CST, the …

Are We Ready? A Phenomenological Study On Teachers' Perceptions Surrounding Readiness To Teach Diverse Communities And The Responsibility Of Teacher Preparation Programs, Ja'niece Tiara Whitehead

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenological study was to discover teachers’ lived experiences in their teacher education programs in regard to levels of preparedness to effectively teach racially, linguistically, and gender-diverse students. The theory guiding this study was Culturally Responsive Teaching (CRT), which refers to teaching students customs, characteristics, experiences, and perspectives as tools to enhance instruction and understanding of the complexities of society as well as the awareness that students dwell in varying circumstances. The central question directing this research study asked, “What are the lived experiences of teachers and their teacher education programs with diverse communities?” Participants of …

A Quasi-Experimental Non-Equivalent Control Group Study Of The Efficacy Of An Academic Habits Course On Middle School Students’ Executive Function, Leslie Anne M Mccoy

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this quantitative, quasi-experimental, nonequivalent pretest-post-test control group study was to examine the efficacy of executive function training through scaffolded instruction on the executive function skillset between sixth-, seventh-, and eighth-grade students enrolled in an academic habits course versus those who are not enrolled in an academic habits course at a middle school located in the southeastern United States. While former studies contributed to the literature on the trainability of the executive function skills of middle school students within the clinical setting, this study contributes to the current literature on the trainability of the executive function skills of …

Teachers' Experiences Implementing Reading Interventions In Middle Schools: Phenomenology Study, Tammy J. Padalino

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenological study was to understand the experiences of middle school teachers implementing reading interventions in southeastern Virginia. The theory that guided this study was Knowles’ theory on adult learning as it identifies and pertains to the approaches for adult learning as teachers learn best practices to implement reading interventions in their classrooms. 10 teachers described their experiences implementing reading interventions by creating a timeline, participating in a one-on-one interview, and responding to journal prompts. Data were collected and organized using a coding system. Codes were assigned based on similarities and emerging themes. Then, data were …

Pouring From An Empty Cup: A Qualitative Exploration Of Early-Career School Social Workers' Lived Experiences With Secondary Trauma, Chatelah D. Brown

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore how early-career school social workers in public schools in Georgia described their lived experiences of secondary trauma. This study examined the contextual elements that contributed to secondary trauma. The findings may inform training for school districts to improve climate and culture, develop learning workshops, and create supportive systems for early-career social workers exposed to student traumas. Theories guiding this study included Urie Bronfenbrenner’s ecological theory and Bruce Biddle’s role theory. Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems theory addresses the levels of influence on mental and physical wellness and their impact on human development. It …

Experiences Of Black Students With Disabilities Suspended For Violating A Zero-Tolerance Policy: A Transcendental Phenomenology, Lee Benedict

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenology was to describe the experiences of Black students with disabilities suspended for violating a zero-tolerance policy. For this study, zero-tolerance policies were defined as rules and regulations put in place by a school system for which (alleged) violators must be suspended immediately with no administrative discretion. The theory that guided this study is geneticist Luigi Cavalli-Sforza and biologist Marcus Feldman’s cultural transmission theory (CTT), often called enculturation, which states that cultural elements such as attitudes, behaviors, beliefs and values are transmitted to individuals and groups. The central research question asked, what plausible evidence suggests …

The Perceived Impact Of Covid-19 On The Grief Process Of African American Adults, Tondra Crumpler Mclaurin

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The COVID-19 pandemic disproportionately affected African Americans in the areas of infections, hospitalizations, and deaths. Research studies have historically focused primarily on the grief experiences of European Americans. The purpose of this phenomenological qualitative study is to understand the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the bereavement experience of African American adults. The theoretical frameworks used to guide this study were attachment theory, individual differences model, and meaning reconstruction model. Three research questions were the focus of the qualitative study: what are the lived grief experiences of African American adults who experienced the death of a loved one during the …

Pathway Out Of Homelessness, Budwa (Bud) Sous

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This phenomenological case study aims to understand the homeless individuals' relational Transformational Experience (TE) and their choice to complete the transitional pathway journey from homelessness at a faith-based shelter. Developed in 1938 by John Dewy, TE has become a comprehensive and complex framework that describes how learners interpret, confirm, and give meaning to their experiences. As a result, this study's framework uses a hermeneutic and relational approach to explore and highlight relational barriers the homeless faced following their transition out of a Midwest homeless shelter. However, research has not adequately recognized how a restored relationship contributes to cognitive and behavioral …

Exploring The Silent Suffering Of Male Survivors Of Sexual Assault: A Phenomenological Study, Donna Erica Mitchell

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to understand the obscure traumatic experiences, challenges, and perceptions that confront adult men in North Carolina suffering in silence as a response to their childhood sexual abuse experiences. The theory guiding this study was the hegemonic masculinity theory, which explains how masculinity has been culturized to create patriarchal systems. One central research question and three research sub-questions were answered. The central research question was, what is the lived experience of male survivors of sexual trauma? The research sub-questions were: What are the effects of the abuse experience on the mental and psychological well-being …

Teaching-Induced Emotional Distress: A Phenomenological Study, Elizabeth Paige White

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this hermeneutical phenomenological study was to interpret the lived experiences of teaching-created emotional distress from secondary teachers in the Midwest. The theory guiding this study is Lazarus and Folkman’s cognitive appraisal theory, as it suggests how the body appraises the harm emotional distress can cause and how coping can limit it. The central research question is how do teachers describe their experiences of teaching with emotional distress? The qualitative research study was done through a hermeneutic phenomenology design. The data was collected through interviews, physical artifacts, and a focus group that includes 13 secondary teachers who have …

Perceptions Of Preparedness Regarding School Violence: A Qualitative Hermeneutical Phenomenological Study, Kirkham Moyle Burbidge

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenological study is to understand the school violence preparedness training perceptions of teachers in K-6 Utah schools. Bandura’s social cognitive theory guides this study by supporting knowledge via social connections and context-specific situations. The central research question was “What are the school violence preparedness training experiences of Utah K-6 school teachers?” Van Manen’s approach to researching lived experiences methodologically guides the qualitative study. Participants were K-6 elementary school teachers in Utah, recruited using purposeful and criterion sampling. Teachers were interviewed individually and in focus groups and invited to reflect on their training experience via protocol …

Predicting Parental Satisfaction From School Level And Parental Demographics For Private Christian K-12 Schools In The Southeast United States, William J. Monts

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this quantitative, predictive correlational study was to investigate the relationship between parental satisfaction in private Christian K-12 schools, school level (primary or secondary), and multiple parental demographic variables. The multiple parental demographic variables include geographic location, ethnicity, gender, religious affiliation, education level, and parental income. This study is important because private Christian school enrollment has been on a decline and will help educational institutions to understand better how to appeal to prospective families. Students and parents of private schools tend to have a high level of stakeholder investment, and parent satisfaction is an outcome that indicates whether …

Teacher Attrition And Mobility In Public Schools In Rural America: A Hermeneutic Phenomenology Study, Lisa Marie Dunkelberg

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to understand the lived experiences of teachers who had previously taught at a rural public school in Northern New York State and had left those teaching positions. The problem communicated in this study was the high attrition, turnover, and mobility rates of teachers in rural public schools in the United States. The theory guiding this research is Ehrenberg and Smith’s economic labor market of supply and demand as it relates to the phenomenon of teacher attrition. The central research question of understanding the lived experiences of teachers who have left rural school districts …

A Phenomenological Study Exploring The Covid-19 Mental Health Influences On Post-High School Students And Educators, Melvin J. Thomas

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to explore the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health of post-high school students and educators located in the Northeastern Florida region of the United States. The theory guiding this study was Piaget’s theory on cognitive learning and development, as it assisted with highlighting the lived human experiences relating to the stages of cognitive development and mental health influences because of decreased physical and social interactions and changed learning environments. The qualitative method and the phenomenological design were used, which consisted of collecting data relating to the first-hand experiences of …

The Rise Of Artificial Intelligence In Graduate Healthcare Programs, Rachael Hinkel Ots, Kenna Kleinert Ots, Colin O'Donnell Ots, Martina Youssef Ots, Erin Simpson Drot, Mot, Otr/L

Research Days

With the current progression of the digital world, artificial intelligence (A)I implementation has been progressing rapidly in graduate school curricula. Previous studies have focused primarily on physicians' attitudes toward implementing AI. Still, a growing need exists to assess students' perspectives across healthcare disciplines to help inform future curriculum development (Teng et al., 2021). This study aims to gain knowledge about the overall use and teaching of artificial intelligence in graduate healthcare professions and its carryover into the healthcare field. Quantitative research with an exploratory design was conducted using a survey method. The findings of this research study revealed a growing …

Using Trade Books To Thematically Teach Civil Rights Issues, Alyssa Whitford, Timothy Lintner, Caroline Sheffield

The Councilor: A National Journal of the Social Studies

This semester-long project examined the use of social studies trade books to thematically teach the civic contributions of three individuals who served as change agents in the United States during the late 19^th and early 20^th century. Two were African American men, Robert Smalls and Frederick Douglass, who took civic action to address racial discrimination faced by the Black community following the U.S. Civil War. The other was Ida B. Wells who challenged social inequities and injustices within her community. Throughout this project, sixth-grade students read selected trade books, examined primary sources, completed graphic organizers, and crafted writing …