Education Commons^™

Culture Shock Among International Students In U.S. Higher Education, Pablo A. Gutierrez Cervantes

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

International students continue to represent a vital and growing population within U.S. higher education; however, many encounter significant cultural, academic, and emotional challenges during their transition to American institutions. This qualitative thematic analysis study explored the lived experiences of international students navigating culture shock in U.S. higher education and examined how these experiences influenced their academic adjustment, social integration, and psychological well-being. Grounded in Kim’s Integrative Theory of Cross-Cultural Adaptation and Schlossberg’s Transition Theory, this study sought to understand how students made meaning of their cultural transition and what personal and institutional factors facilitated or hindered their adaptation.

Nine international …

Why So Few? Sense-Making The Latino Librarian’S Place In The Hispanic-Serving Institution: A Phenomenological Approach, Valentin Macias Jr.

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Despite record Latinx student enrollment across California's higher education systems, Latino men remain severely underrepresented in academic librarianship, comprising less than 0.5% of librarians nationally. This persistent gap represents a critical equity issue within a profession that increasingly serves diverse student populations. This qualitative study explored the lived experiences of twelve Latino male academic library professionals at Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs) through in-depth interviews to understand the factors shaping their professional identity, the barriers they encounter, and what sustains their persistence in the profession. Using transcendental phenomenology as the methodological approach and Critical Race Theory as the theoretical framework, the study …

Building Bridges: Evaluating Teacher Preparation And Program Activation Of Ethnic Studies In California’S K-12 High Schools Through An Autoethnography, Jose Aguilera-Lopez

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

This study examines the lived experiences of secondary Social Science educators teaching Ethnic Studies in the early stages of program activation, with particular attention to the challenges that are often invisible to policymakers, institutions of higher education, and K-12 school districts. Using an autoethnographic approach, the research examines key elements of Ethnic Studies Program Activation, including infrastructure support, capacity building, professional development led by experienced Ethnic Studies practitioners, and teaching with fidelity. The findings aim to provide actionable guidance for educators and district leaders to support new Ethnic Studies teachers at the secondary level and to inform leadership teams at …

Bridging Leadership Theory And Practice In University Advancement: Exploring Transactional, Transformational, And Followership Dynamics, Austin D. Quick

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Leadership in higher education fundraising represents one of the most relational and complex forms of organizational influence. Unlike traditional hierarchies, university advancement operates through networks of trust, reciprocity, and shared purpose; conditions that can challenge leadership models designed for positional authority. This qualitative, phenomenological study examined how advancement professionals experienced and integrated transactional and transformational leadership behaviors within relationship-driven systems, and how followership shaped the interpretation and uptake of leadership intent over time. Drawing on Social Exchange Theory (Blau, 1964), Augmentation Theory (Bass, 1985), and Followership Theory (Riggio, 2014), the study reconceptualized leadership as a co-created process grounded in relational …

Disproportionality In Autism Diagnosis: A Comparative Analysis Of Females Of Color And Males, Emily Bobbie Lopez

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

This qualitative phenomenological study aimed to explore the disproportionate and delayed evaluation of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) among females of color in educational settings and how historical biases have shaped school-based diagnostic practices. Using the female autism phenotype (FAP) framework and an intersectional perspective, the study employed a phenomenological approach to understand the lived experiences of educational and community partners involved in autism evaluation. Participants included 39 individuals: adult females of color with autism or autism-like traits; parents; general education teachers; special education specialists; school psychologists; counselors; and administrators. Data were gathered through semi-structured interviews, focus groups, and surveys, and …

From Consejos To College: A Dual-Perspective Study Of Latino/A Parental Involvement In Elementary Education, Maritza Valencia

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Latino/a students represent one of the fastest-growing populations in U.S. schools, yet significant disparities in academic attainment persist. While parental involvement is widely recognized as a critical factor in student success, the literature has disproportionately focused on secondary and postsecondary contexts, leaving the elementary years, when foundational habits, skills, and aspirations are formed, unexplored. Furthermore, existing research frequently frames Latino/a parental involvement through deficit lenses that highlight barriers such as language limitations and socioeconomic constraints, rather than focusing on the cultural strengths and strategies families employ.

This qualitative study addresses this gap by examining how Latino/a parental involvement during elementary …

Nasty, Mya L. Correa

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

I am exploring artwork about women’s power and sexuality, centering on hair. I’m interested in how hair carries history and how it has been used to control and frighten women. I’ve been reading feminist artists’ books and researching their findings alongside my own work. Drawing on my personal history, my mother’s story, and the experience of raising my daughters, I consider how my children’s lives differ from mine and my mother’s, and what those differences reveal.

Hair has long been wielded as a weapon to enforce expectations on women’s bodies by a society afraid of losing control. As creators of …

A Phenomenological Study Of Educators' Perceptions Of The Impact Of The Building Assets, Reducing Risks Program On Foster Youth, Kelly S. Daly

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

This phenomenological study explored educators’’ perceptions of how the Building Assets, Reducing Risks (BARR) program supports foster youth during the transition into ninth grade.  Ninth grade is an important year for later school success, but foster youth often experience school changes, disrupted relationships, and other challenges that can make this transition more difficult. Although BARR has shown positive results for ninth-grade students generally, limited research as examined its role in supporting foster youth.

This study focused on educators with experience working with both BARR and foster youth.  Data were collected through interviews and analyzed for shared meaning and themes.  The …

The Parental Experience: First-Generation Students In The Transition From High School To College, Angelica Agudo

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

This qualitative phenomenological study examined the lived experiences of parents and guardians of first-generation Latinx students as they navigated the transition from high school to college in the Inland Empire region of Southern California. Despite increasing attention to first-generation student success, limited research has centered parental perspectives, particularly within regionally underresourced Latinx communities. This study addressed this gap by exploring how parents access and interpret institutional resources, the roles they assume in shaping college choice and family dynamics, and how educational institutions can better support families during this critical transition.

This study was guided by Schlossberg’s Transition Theory and Bronfenbrenner’s …

Assessing The Research Integrity At A Public University In California, Michael Lee Gillespie

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

To investigate these issues, this study utilized a quantitative-dominant survey design supplemented by qualitative narratives. The sample included 61 tenured and tenure-track faculty from the College of Natural Sciences and the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences. The primary instrument was the Survey on Organizational Research Climate (SOuRCe), which assesses seven subscales of ethical health. Data were analyzed using Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) regression to determine if specific climate dimensions predict the acceptance of ethically ambiguous practices.

Findings revealed that while interpersonal relations and local norms (such as advisor-advisee relations) were rated highly, departmental socialization was the lowest-rated dimension, indicating …

The Effects Of Lgbtq+ Inclusive Education On High School Students, Cristal Dirzo, Lizzette A. Padilla

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Many schools across the United States exclude LGBTQ+ topics from required curriculum, which limits a student’s understanding of diverse identities and underrepresents marginalized communities in the world. The absence of LGBTQ+ topics in education may impact levels of inclusivity within school culture as well as student attitudes towards LGBTQ+ individuals. While past research has focused on teacher perspectives and barriers to implementing LGBTQ+ topics in classrooms, little research has explored the student outcomes and perspectives on how LGBTQ+ inclusive curriculum influences their attitudes and perceptions of inclusivity within school culture. This study examines how LGBTQ+ inclusive education affects 9th-grade high …

Culture, Context, And Change: How California Community Colleges Counseling Units Interpret And Enact Transformation, James A. Grabow

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

This study examines how practitioners experience and implement transfer-related reforms within the California Community College (CCC) system. Guided by sensemaking theory (Eddy, 21013) and organizational change frameworks (Kezar, 2014), this qualitative intrinsic case study explores how administrators, counselors, and student services professionals interpret and enact statewide transfer policies within a single institutional context. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with seven participants and analyzed using thematic analysis.

Findings reveal that policy implementation is a complex, non-linear process shaped by three primary factors: sensemaking and communication, organizational structures, and human and relational dynamics. Participants described navigating information overload, inconsistent messaging, and …

Access, Equity, And Achievement: The Impact Of Student Support Programs On First-Generation College Students Through Their Lived Experiences, Veronica Carrero

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

First-generation college students often enter higher education while confronting significant systemic inequalities that limit their academic preparedness, confidence, and sense of belonging. These challenges deeply intertwined and often overlooked intensify gaps, the complexity of their college process, and underscore the urgent need for support structures that nurture both cognitive development and socio-emotional well-being. This qualitative, exploratory, phenomenological study examines the lived experiences of ten first-generation college students enrolled across California State Universities (CSU), focusing on how access and equity initiatives shape their academic journeys.  Student Support Programs such as the Educational Opportunity Program (EOP), TRIO Student Support Services (SSS), and …

Teacher's Efficacy In Fostering A Sense Of Belonging In Newcomer Adolescent Students, Brenda Melendrez

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Schools are continuously serving a growing population of newcomer students that face unique social, cultural, and linguistic barriers (McCabe et al., 2024). Newcomer adolescent students experience additional challenges in high school contexts, due to the academic pressures, developmental changes, and social isolation hindering their sense of belonging (Fabris et al., 2024). Teachers play a central role in fostering belonging through teacher-student relationships, daily interactions, and academic and emotional support (Ozdemir & Ozdemir, 2020). However, teachers have reported limited teacher preparation on fostering belonging among newcomer students, impacting their confidence and ability to support their students (Motitswe, 2025). Teachers have specifically …

Strengthening Parent Participation In Iep Goal Development And Decision-Making, Jenny Chu

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

This project examined how public-school districts support parent preparation and communication prior to Individualized Education Program (IEP) meetings. Grounded in the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), a special education law which identifies parents as equal members of the IEP team (IDEA, 2004), this project focused on how structured, open, and transparent communication practices can strengthen parent readiness to actively participate in IEP meetings and engage in collaborative decision-making. A document analysis was conducted using publicly available information from ten public school districts in the Inland Empire region of Southern California. District websites were systematically reviewed to identify the availability …

Encounters Of Third Space: A Case Study On Salvadoran Political Art And Identity Interplay, Breanna Delgado

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Third space is an in-between thought space designated for marginalized collectives, allowing multiple recontextualizations of identity interplay. However, Third Space is colonized due to western ideological influences such as criminalization of political art, stunting collective growth. This project serves to question and challenge Salvadoran political art and collective identities through questions such as why political art? Can political art be considered “safe spaces”? and dissecting the process of political art, third space meaning making, and identity interplay. Preserving the collective’s political art serves as a grassroots method of justice, accountability, and collective reparation.

I applying three conceptual frameworks: Bhabha’s (1994) …

Teaching Through A Cultural Lens: A Practitioner’S Self-Study On Fostering Science Engagement Among Latina/O And African American Middle School Students, Michelle R. Estrada-Quezada

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Latina/os and African American students are underrepresented in STEM fields and STEM majors. Participation in STEM related activities and course work dwindles over the course of K-16 schooling, a phenomenon known as the leaky pipeline. Culturally relevant teaching is one practice that has been found to increase engagement and academic success among underrepresented student populations. This research project aims to study the impact of culturally relevant science teaching on the teacher and the students through a semester-long self- study in an eighth-grade middle school classroom. Data sources included daily reflection journals, critical friend debrief sessions with an advisor, student pre- …

An Autohistoria-Teoría Of A Pasifika Neptantlera, Belinda 'Ofakihevahanoa Fotu

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

This study was an autohistoria-teoría, a type of autoethnography, where I focused on my writing process as a Pasifika researcher creating a middle- grade fiction. As the researcher, my questions delved into how I engage in writing for a majority-culture dominated publication house in a Western-world writing genre while maintaining the cultural significance of the ancient Pasifika mythologies I reproduced and recontextualized in the novel. The research site was my writing process, and the data gathered came from the variety of ways I navigated cultural stimuli specific to writing the novel. The outcome engaged with the specific way Pasifika (and …

Effects Of Training And Self-Monitoring On Paraeducators' Use Of Behavior Specific Praise, Camille J. Lopez

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Paraeducators support students with disabilities in special education classrooms but often receive limited training in effective behavior support strategies. This study examined whether training combined with self-monitoring increased paraeducators’ use of positive, specific praise and reduced the use of reprimands during instruction. Paraeducators were trained to use and track their own praise while working with students. Results showed increased use of positive praise and decreased reprimands following the intervention. These findings suggest that brief, low-cost training and self-monitoring can improve paraeducator instructional practices and support positive classroom environments for students with disabilities.

Assessing Young Children's Computational Thinking: Validation Of Items And Item Design Features, And Diagnostic Approaches, Chungsoo Na

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

The goals of this multiple-paper dissertation are to evaluate the psychometric evidence of the Computational and Spatial Thinking Assessment (CaST), designed and developed by the Coding in Kindergarten (CiK) research team (supported by NSF #1842116). In Chapter 2 (Paper 1), I evaluate the psychometric quality of the CaST assessment at the item level. The CaST has moderate item difficulty and high item discrimination, on average, with high reliability and no gender- or age-related item bias. In Chapter 3 (Paper 2), I identify seven item design features from the CaST assessment and examine their impact on item difficulty. All item design …

Using Picturebooks In Elementary School To Support Discussion, Connection, And Community Action, Polly Parkinson

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Children are in school to acquire knowledge, so the books they read are a significant influence on how they see themselves and others. School curricula often lack diverse voices, which may limit students’ views of themselves and how they relate to their communities. The research objective of this study was to examine the potential for fostering empathy in students, to encourage societal benefits of positive community behaviors, deepen understanding of history, and future contributions to an engaged democratic society.

The problem identified was that although much research exists discussing children’s literature and empathy, little explores whether that empathy leads to …

Teaching In The Age Of Artificial Intelligence: A Hermeneutic Phenomenological Study Of Teachers' Lived Experiences, Nicholas Ricks Harris

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly changing education, creating new opportunities for teaching and learning while also raising challenges for teachers. Although schools are encouraging the use of AI, little is known about how teachers experience this transition or how it affects their professional roles. This study explored teachers’ lived experiences as they begin working with AI, using a phenomenological research approach to understand both what they encounter and how they make sense of those experiences. Through interviews with teachers who have recently engaged with AI in their practice, the research identifies themes that reveal opportunities, challenges, and shifts in professional …

The Dark Side Of Sport: Exploring Conceptualizations And Operationalizations Of Authority Figure-Athlete Abuse, Katherine Nicole Alexander

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Although sport can be a fun and positive environment, it can also be a unique and common setting for athlete abuse. Coaches and other authority figures can serve in positive and negative caregiving roles, and many athletes report experiencing at least one form of abuse perpetrated by these important authorities during their sporting careers. We have less research on experiences of abuse in athletes from the United States. The current dissertation was designed to explore ways to more effectively and accurately define and measure athlete abuse perpetrated by authorities and coaches among adults in the United States. Given that there …

Eating Patterns Among College Athletes, Sarah Sanchez

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to examine eating patterns among college athletes attending a minority-serving, urban institution where commuting is highly prevalent to assess potential risks of disordered eating, nutrient deficiencies, and food insecurity. A total of 189 students [M age (SD) = 20.29 + 1.46 years] from a mid-sized university in the U.S. responded to an anonymous online survey. The survey consisted of questions regarding food security, hydration/beverage status, demographics, disordered eating attitudes and behaviors, and food consumption patterns. Findings indicated a low prevalence of severe disordered eating behaviors within this sample. However, attitudes about disordered eating …

Glucagon-Like Peptide-1ra As A Public Health Interventions, Briana Sepeda

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Glucagon-like peptide receptor agonist (GLP-1RA) medications have become a prominent topic of interest both in clinical medicine and broader societal discussions. Although the medication are relatively new and expensive, ongoing research continues to explore pharmacologic modifications aimed at improving therapeutic effectiveness and prolonged drug half-life. GLP-1RAs have gained significant traction due to their ability to lower glycosylated hemoglobin (A1c) and blood glucose levels in individuals who have been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes (T2D). In addition to glycemic control, evidence suggests its associations with appetite suppression, weight loss, reducing cardiovascular disease, improved renal dysfunction, neuroprotective effects related to neurodegenerative disease …

A Guided Curriculum Approach To Supporting Critical Thinking And Mathematical Readiness In Ib Physics, Samantha Killeen

Masters Projects

The purpose of this project is to address the problem that many students lack the critical thinking and mathematical reasoning skills required to be successful in rigorous STEM courses like IB Physics. While students may perform well in mathematics courses, they often struggle to transfer those skills into physics contexts that require conceptual understanding and problem-solving. These challenges have been intensified by academic tracking in mathematics pathways, post-pandemic learning loss, and increased dependence on technology, which have reduced the opportunities for productive struggle in the classroom. As a result, students frequently enter IB Physics unprepared for the pace and rigor …

Academic Self-Efficacy Of Black, White, And Hispanic Students Pursuing Professional Education Degrees And Licensure At An Hbcu In Midwest Ohio, Nathan Boles

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this comparative quantitative study was to determine, using three self-efficacy scales, General Self-Efficacy (GSE), Academic Self-Efficacy (ASE), and Educational Self-Efficacy (ESE), the differences in academic and educational self-efficacy among Black, White, and Hispanic students seeking a Professional Education degree and licensure at a Historically Black College and University in Midwest Ohio. Pre-service students’ self-efficacy and goal commitment can affect their likelihood of graduating with a license and may directly affect the number of novice teachers of color in the classroom. The literature examines factors that disrupt students’ self-efficacy, academic confidence, and persistence through the theoretical frameworks of …

Leaving College In Rural Central Appalachia: A Hermeneutic Phenomenological Study Of Lived Experience And Meaning-Making, Amanda Sawyers

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This hermeneutic phenomenological study explored how individuals raised primarily in rural Central Appalachian communities interpret and make meaning of their decision to engage in college departure prior to degree completion. The study examined college departure as a lived experience shaped by family obligations, cultural identity, and rural structural conditions. Ten semi-structured interviews were conducted with participants from West Virginia, Eastern Kentucky, Southwest Virginia, East Tennessee, and Western North Carolina who had enrolled in higher education but did not complete a degree. The main research question was: How do rural Central Appalachian residents interpret their college departure? Hermeneutic phenomenological thematic analysis …

Perceptions Of Effective Co-Teaching Partnerships In High School Inclusive Classrooms, Korri-Lee S. Wood

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative study was to examine the characteristics and contextual factors that general education and special education teachers perceive as essential for effective co-teaching partnerships in high school inclusive classrooms. The study, which involved in-depth interviews with general and special education teachers in co-teaching partnerships, was conducted within a constructivist paradigm to shed light on interpersonal, communicative, and systemic variables that contribute to a positive, productive co-teaching experience. Purposeful sampling was employed to select general and special education teachers who were part of co-teaching partnerships. Thematic analysis was used to analyze data from semi-structured interviews, and an …

Attendance Matters: Incentive Programs And Chronic Absenteeism In Elementary Schools, Aubryn Street

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Chronic absenteeism is a common challenge in elementary education. Schools often use attendance incentive programs, such as rewards or recognition, to encourage students to attend regularly. However, it is not always clear whether these programs actually improve attendance. This study examined whether attendance incentive programs are effective and how school staff view and use these programs.

This mixed-methods study used both school attendance data and interviews with school personnel. Attendance data from two school years showed that schools with incentive programs did not have lower absenteeism rates than schools without them. However, attendance improved overall from one year to the …