Education Commons^™

A Causal-Comparative Study Of Emotional Intelligence And Perception Of Hazing Severity Or Harm Among College Men Involved In Collegiate Sports And Men's Fraternities, Kyle S. Mccoil

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this quantitative causal-comparative study was to examine the relationship between extracurricular involvement (student-athlete, fraternity member, both, or neither), emotional intelligence, and perceptions of hazing severity or harm among college men attending a small private liberal arts college. This study is important because there is a need for more effective and innovative forms of hazing prevention; therefore, this study fills a gap in the literature by examining the relationship between emotional intelligence and perceptions of hazing severity or harm for men based on their involvement in organizations that are more likely to engage in hazing behaviors. The sample …

A Transcendental Phenomenological Study: The Experiences Of Faculty In Educational Settings Operating On A Four-Day Workweek, Jennifer Strickland

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to describe the personal experiences of educational faculty working in K-12 schools, colleges, and vocational organizations operating on a four-day school workweek. The theory guiding this study was Seligman’s positive psychology theory (PPT), stating there are five life aspects impacting well-being. The research is grounded in the theoretical framework of PPT as it strived to understand the shared personal experiences of the participants and how their perceptions surrounding the five aspect areas influence their lives. Seligman’s theory of PPT provided the framework to answer the central research question: what are the experiences …

Exploring The Lived Experiences Of Public High School Female Principals: A Phenomenological Study On Their Career Paths, Yuxin Carcamo

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to describe the lived experiences of public high school (PHS) female principals across 12 PHSs in southern California. The lived experiences were generally defined as educational leadership career paths. The theory guiding this study was social cognitive theory. This theory guided the study by providing a framework to explore how intrapersonal, workplace, and job factors influence PHS female principals’ career paths. The central research question was: What are the lived experiences of PHS female principals on their leadership career paths? Data were collected through interviews, focus group interviews, and observations of 12 …

A Causal-Comparative Study Of Music Teacher Efficacy In Elementary Grade-Level Music Inclusive Classrooms Based On Special Education Training, Stanley N. Harris Iii

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This quantitative causal-comparative study aimed to determine whether there is a significant difference in overall teacher self-efficacy scores between rural and urban elementary schools and between music educators with and without formal special education training. This study is important because teacher efficacy directly impacts teachers’ engagement in learning with students with special needs. Therefore, this study contributes to the literature on teacher efficacy by examining differences between music teachers with formal special education training and those without such training who teach in inclusive classrooms. The sample included 146 music educators from rural and urban elementary schools who teach students with …

Voices From The Field: A Phenomenology Exploring Elementary Teachers’ Experiences Of The Impact Of Policy On Teaching Reading, Donna T. White

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental-phenomenological study was to understand the lived experiences of reading teachers who implement policy-driven reading practices in elementary schools within urban school districts in Maryland. The theory guiding this study was Bandura’s theory of self-efficacy. The policies governing how teachers teach reading in Maryland's elementary schools informed this study. The Central Research Question was, " How do elementary teachers’ lived experiences of implementing reading policy in the classroom affect reading instruction? A transcendental-phenomenological research design was combined with purposive sampling and involved responses from 10 participants from urban school districts in Maryland. Transcript coding was used …

A Causal-Comparative Study Of Student Self-Efficacy And Academic Persistence Among Non-Traditional College Students With And Without Remedial Math Coursework, Lakin Fannin

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This quantitative causal-comparative study examined whether differences existed in math self-efficacy and academic persistence between non-traditional community college students who completed developmental math coursework and those who did not within the Kentucky Community and Technical College System. Data were collected from 81 non-traditional students using the Mathematics Self-Efficacy Scale and the College Persistence Questionnaire. A one-way multivariate analysis of variance was conducted to compare outcomes between the two groups. Results indicated no statistically significant differences in math self-efficacy or academic persistence based on developmental math enrollment status. The null hypothesis was not rejected, suggesting that completion of developmental math coursework …

An Investigation Into Bridging The Rural Stem Gap With Multimedia Learning Principles: A Phenomenological Study, Joseph W. Halko

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study is to understand the lived experiences of STEM teachers at rural secondary schools concerning the use of multimedia learning tools to support cognitive processes during instruction. Meyer’s cognitive theory of multimedia learning (CTML) provides the theoretical framework for this study, ensuring that multimedia learning modalities, such as e-learning platforms and educational technology, are grounded in sound cognitive theory. The central question is, “What are the lived experiences of rural secondary STEM teachers concerning the use of multimedia learning tools to support cognitive processes during instruction?” To support this investigation, a phenomenological methodology based …

A Predictive Correlational Study Of The Accuracy Of Facial Action Units And Heart Rate Variability To Predict Sustained Attention In Kindergarten, First-, And Second-Grade Students With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Carrie Michelle Harmer

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this quantitative, predictive correlational study was to determine to what extent facial action units brow raise, lip press, lip suck, and mouth open and heart rate variability predict sustained attention and how accurately heart rate variability predicts the same facial action units in children ages 5 to 7 in kindergarten, first, and second grade with autism in a northeast Florida public school district. Results add to the existing body of research on how accurately facial expression analysis and heart rate variability predict sustained attention in a larger, younger sample of children with autism. They also clarify the …

High-Functioning Autism, Stress, And Access To Resources: A Grounded Theory Analysis Of Families’ Strategies To Create A Network Of Support, Emmett S. Ramirez Vasquez

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this systematic grounded theory study was to understand the process of partnership building for parents of individuals between the ages of 10-29 with high-functioning ASD at two counties in Central New York. The method of grounded theory was applied in this study as it gave an opportunity to study this process of partnership building between parents and support systems since previous theories had been insufficient to address this process. This study used a qualitative methodology to gather data from 12 participants including parents of individuals between the ages of 10-29 with high-functioning ASD as well as their …

Navigating Privilege And Power: The Lived Experiences Of Ivy League Administrators In Promoting Diversity, Equity, And Inclusion. A Hermeneutics Phenomenological Study, Alize Roberson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenological study was to understand the lived experiences of university administrators in Ivy League institutions as they promote diversity, equity, and inclusion. For the purpose of this research, promoting diversity, equity and inclusion is generally defined as the practice of facilitating inclusivity for students of color. This study is guided by the conceptual framework of culturally responsive pedagogy, which informs the research design, data collection, and analysis. These elements are essential and deserve recognition and understanding in their educational experience. The implementation of diversity, equity, and inclusion strategies at Ivy League institutions is explored through …

A Phenomenological Study Of Cultural Tightness Impacting Lived Experiences Of Female Leaders In United Methodist Churches, Genevieve M. Hamer

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Gender equality captures the news highlights. Women push to assume roles similar in pay, power, and significance in all types of organizations as their male peers. It is hard to ignore this when it comes to the matter of biblical calling and the roles of women in church leadership. Researchers have devoted hours to the topic of calling. This study examined calling as it relates to the biblical call towards a vocation. While there are different theological positions regarding the roles of women in the church, scholars agree there is such a thing as a biblical calling. Even in egalitarian …

A Phenomenological Study: The Lived Experiences Of Uncertified Bilingual Teachers In Dual Language Elementary Schools At A Mid-Sized Urban Public-School District In Texas, Jeini Gordon

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenological study was to understand the lived experiences teaching in a dual-language classroom for uncertified teachers at a mid-sized urban public-school district in Texas. A teacher’s lack of participation in an adequate teacher preparation program may alter students’ educational outcomes, even more so that of English language learners, influencing their academic achievement. The theory that guided this study was Walberg’s theory of educational productivity, which posits that student achievement is affected by student aptitude and motivation, instructional quality and quantity, and a student’s social and cultural learning environments. This phenomenological study focused on the shared …

Parents Of Students With Severe Autism Studying In Virtual Learning Environments And Their Perceptions And Experiences Working With School Administrators: A Hermeneutic Phenomenological Study, Shelli L. Allen

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenological study is to understand parents’ lived experiences and perceptions of their interactions with school administrators in virtual learning environments. The study centers on the following research question: What are the experiences of parents of children with severe autism as they work with school administrators in virtual learning environments? The hermeneutical framework guiding this study is Vygotsky’s Constructivist Learning Theory, which helps us understand learning through interaction, collaboration, and cognitive apprenticeship, with a focus on instructional practices that prioritize students’ cognitive development. The phenomenological design is to help the researcher to examine parents’ lived experiences …

Becoming Better Teachers Through Community: A Transcendental Phenomenological Dissertation Exploring The Lived Experiences Of Adjunct Faculty In A Cohort-Based Faculty Learning Community, Gerard Wayne Hall

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to understand how adjuncts’ participation in a cohort-styled faculty learning community designed specifically for them shaped their teaching and connectedness with their institution. The theory that guided this study was situated learning theory, which explained the relationship between participation in learning communities and teaching practice. Additionally, this theory provided a foundation for understanding how the social dynamics of a learning community affected connectedness. The central research question examined in this study was, ‘What are adjunct faculty’s experiences participating in a cohort-based faculty learning community?’ To explore this topic and question, a transcendental …

Black Women Special Educators And Burnout: A Phenomenological Study, Whitney Patrice Collins

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to understand Black women special educators’ experiences with burnout while working in Georgia, public, K-12 schools. The first theory guiding this study was Black Feminist Thought, as it provides an understanding of Black women’s unique experiences in the workplace due to the intersectionality of their race and gender. The second theory guiding this study was Maslach’s multidimensional theory of burnout, as it provides a framework for understanding burnout in the workplace. The central research question explored how Black women special educators describe their experiences with burnout in Georgia public K-12 schools. This …

Examining The Perceived Self-Efficacy Of Governing Board Members Of Charter Schools In Florida: A Qualitative Holistic Case Study, Donald Toy Williams Jr.

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative, holistic case study was to examine the perceived self-efficacy of governing board members in charter schools in Florida. The theory guiding this study was Bandura’s (1986) social cognitive theory, which explains how personal beliefs, behaviors, and environmental influences shape an individual’s and collective governance self-efficacy. The central research question guiding this study was: How does the self-efficacy of governing board members in Florida charter schools influence their governance practices? This study used a qualitative, holistic case study design and purposeful sampling to select governing board members from charter schools across Florida. Data were collected through …

A Transcendental Phenomenological Study Exploring Teacher Retention Through The Lens Of The Four Capital Theory, Mary Ruth Callaway Hertweck

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to understand teacher retention from the experience of teachers in a school with high retention rates for two or more consecutive years. Furthermore, this study described teacher retention in a school with high retention, and how the high retention rate has influenced teachers decision to remain in that school. The theory guiding this study is the four capital theory as it includes the social, human, structural and positive psychological capitals and provided insight on how these relate to teacher retention. The central research question for this study is: what are the experiences …

Predicting Middle School Students’ Attitude Towards Mathematics By Race And Biological Sex After Participating In Open Up Resources Mathematics Curriculum: A Quantitative Study, Sharonna Laquenette Howell

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this quantitative predictive correlational design study was to examine how well race/ethnicity and biological sex predict students’ attitudes toward mathematics among middle school students following participation in the Open Up Resources mathematics curriculum. By conducting this study, the researchers filled a gap in the literature by determining whether the use of the Open Up Resources mathematics curriculum, race, and biological sex predicted students' attitudes toward mathematics. Research on the impact of K-12 Open Education Resources curricula on students’ attitudes toward mathematics was lacking. Participants in this study included middle school students in a North Carolina school district. …

The Homeschooled Student Athlete And Their Transition To College: A Transcendental Phenomenology Study, Michele Marie Sandon

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to discover homeschooled student-athletes’ lived experiences as they transitioned to the rigors of academics, social settings, and athletic life at NCAA and NAIA institutions in the United States. This study was guided by Tinto’s integration theory, which offers insight into how college students experience academic and social integration. The central research question asked: What was the homeschooled student-athlete’s experience in transitioning to college? This qualitative study used a transcendental phenomenological design to examine those lived experiences. The data was collected from a purposeful sample of eleven homeschooled student-athletes through semi-structured interviews conducted …

A Phenomenological Study On The Experiences Of Educators As Mentors For Homeless And Highly Mobile Students In A Rural Community, Tracy Dawn Mcpheron

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study is to explore how educators perceive an implemented mentoring program in which they will serve as mentors of homeless and highly mobile students in a rural school district. The mentoring program will include educators working as mentors to students coded as homeless through the McKinney-Vento Act for Homeless Education. The educators participating in the mentoring program will be the participants in this study. The participants will include middle school (6th-8th grade) through high school (12th grade), teachers, counselors, librarians, the district’s homeless liaison, and the federal programs coordinator for an East Tennessee school …

Use Of The Casper Test As An Admissions Test For Predicting Academic And Clinical Performance In Student Registered Nurse Anesthetists: A Predictive Correlational Study, Barbara A. Acord

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This quantitative, non-experimental, predictive correlational study examined the extent to which CASPer test scores predict academic and clinical performance among student registered nurse anesthetists (SRNAs). Certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs) provide over 80% of anesthesia services in the United States, showing the importance of effective admissions processes to identify candidates most likely to succeed academically and clinically. Traditional admissions criteria in nurse anesthesia programs largely prioritize grades and may underrepresent non-cognitive attributes associated with student success. A convenience sample used a medium effect size, power of .8, and alpha level of .05, with G*Power calculated to be 85 participants 2nd …

Teachers’ Perceptions Of Social-Emotional Learning Of Special Education Middle School Students, Stephen Thurman

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenological study was to understand the influence COVID-19 and related shutdowns had on middle school special education students' social-emotional learning based on teachers lived experiences at a middle school in north Georgia. At this stage in the research, the influence COVID-19 and related shutdowns had on middle school special education students' social-emotional learning was generally defined as how student social-emotional learning has changed since the COVID-19 pandemic. The theory guiding this study was social cognitive theory, as this theory closely aligns with the topic of the importance of social-emotional learning and how students attain social-emotional …

April 29, 2026 Blazer Weekly, University Of Alabama At Birmingham

Blazer Weekly (student newsletter)

No abstract provided.

Early Educational Benefits In Criminal Justice Learning And Practice: Efficacy Of High School-Level Criminal Justice Programs, Richard Brewer

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The value of educational progress and placing optimally educated agents into the criminal justice career field has been carefully examined throughout the history of justice, and the procurement of skills and knowledge applicable to field operations is aligned with several core Peelian tenets. The safe assumption is that every police action is observed or documented, and efforts must be made to build bridges to amend the law enforcement misconducts of yesteryear. One methodology to reduce the number of undesired incidents, expand occupational growth, and obtain optimal confidence levels among personnel in the volatile policing arena is implementing earlier learning development …

Navigating Social Belonging: Live Experiences Of Young Adults With Intellectual Disabilities In Inclusive Postsecondary Education Programs, Brian Keys

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Inclusive postsecondary education (IPSE) programs have expanded access to higher education for students with intellectual disabilities (ID), yet access alone does not ensure meaningful inclusion or a sense of belonging. This study examined how students with ID experience and make meaning of social belonging within inclusive college environments. Grounded in disability studies and belongingness theory, the study focused on how students perceive belonging, navigate social relationships, and experience campus spaces in relation to inclusion and exclusion.

An interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) design was employed to explore the lived experiences of four young adults enrolled in a university-based IPSE program. Participants …

The Impact Of Covid-19 On Playwork: Five Years On, Pete King

International Journal of Playwork Practice

In 2020, at the start of the March 2020 COVID-19 lockdown in the United Kingdom, a study was undertaken with 23 participants exploring the impact this may have on playwork and playwork practice.  That project started an 18-month longitudinal study between March 2020 and September 2022.  COVID-19 was five years ago, and this final study aimed to explore the current impact on playwork and playwork practice.  In total, 8 interviews were undertaken, and the results constructed 4 main themes regarding the continuing effects of COVID-19: 1) Community Engagement, 2) Emotional Regulation, 3) Outdoors, and 4) Health and Safety.  The findings …

List Of Liahona Audio Overviews, Yoshihiko Ariizumi

Spiritual Proficiency

This collection features 37 Audio Overviews generated through an analysis of more than 4,000 Liahona articles using Gemini's NotebookLM. While you may encounter some repetition or minor AI errors, these materials are designed to address everyday questions and nuanced feelings from a wide range of perspectives. I encourage you to listen to as many versions as possible, as the repetitive nature of key insights aids in long-term retention. To maximize the benefit, rather than attempting everything at once, identify one point that resonates with you and focus on integrating it into your life over several weeks. Once it becomes a …

Understanding The Implications Of Transitional Shifts In Leadership On Higher Education Employees' Departures: A Phenomenological Qualitative Study, Leya Deickman

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to understand the experiences of employees who chose separation amidst the transition of a new president at small private higher education institutions in the United States. This study aimed to understand how collegiate and university presidential leadership transitions influence employees’ perception of their decision making process to voluntary leave their respective institutions. The theory guiding this study was Homans’ social exchange theory, as it explains social interactions as an exchange using a cost benefit analysis. The central research question was: What are the lived experiences of employees who choose separation amidst the …

Teacher Leadership Inventory Among The Nine Seventh-Day Adventist Unions Of The North American Division: A Quantitative Causal-Comparative Study, Adam C. Littell

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this quantitative causal-comparative study was to determine if there was a difference in sharing expertise, sharing leadership, and/or supra-practitioner behaviors among the teachers of the nine Seventh-day Adventist Unions of the North American Division. This study is important because it meets an important gap in teacher leadership understanding, both within the broad context of education and specifically within the Seventh-day Adventist educational system. The sample was composed of 264 Seventh-day Adventist full-time teachers from across the North American Division (with the exception of the Seventh-day Adventist Church of Canada due to privacy laws prohibiting participation) who did …

Credential Shortages In Higher Education Programs In Mountain West Metro Areas, 2024, Isabelle G. Graham, Kristian Thymianos, Olivia K. Cheche, William E. Brown Jr.

Economic Development & Workforce

This fact sheet reports data on workforce demand for middle-skills jobs across five high-paying occupational categories: healthcare, management, blue-collar, protective services, and STEM. The Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce report, “Missed Opportunities: Credential Shortages in Programs Aligned with High-Paying Middle-Skills Jobs in 55 US Metro Areas,” includes metro-level data on 55 metro areas in the United States in 2024.2 This fact sheet focuses on data for five Mountain West metro areas, including Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO; Las-Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, NV; Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ; Salt Lake City, UT; and Tucson, AZ.