Educational Methods Commons^™

Analyzing Factors Affecting Retention And Attrition Rates Of Teachers In The Pee Dee Region Of South Carolina, Jessica Allen

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative action research study was to determine the factors and variables that affected the retention and attrition rates of novice and seasoned teachers in the Pee Dee region of South Carolina. Utilizing three frameworks, the Self-efficacy theory, the Social Identity theory, and the Multidimensional Theory of Burnout, the researcher conducted a virtual survey of 33 respondents and interviewed seven participants to collect data. Data was thematically coded to discover commonalities amongst the participant responses.

The data revealed administrative influence, teacher working conditions such as autonomy, time, and control, and workload were the most frequent elements of …

Hearing All The Colors: Stories Of Engagement From Teachers' Perspectives, Carolyn Allison

Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative case study documented four high school English II End of Course teachers' stories about student engagement in the classroom. Students of color, in particular, have been maligned for underperformance on state-mandated tests. Instead of focusing on the despairing headlines and data, this study focused on how teachers follow the state standards and district curriculum guides to increase success. The teachers' authentic voices on student engagement shine through their stories. Student engagement is not a one-size-fits-all scenario which these teachers prove.

The teachers' stories served as the data for this study. The data was viewed through the lens of …

Developing Mathematical Thinking And Reasoning For Students With Disabilities Through Professional Learning Communities, Dawn Pilotti

Theses and Dissertations

Professional learning communities (PLCs) are designed to improve learning outcomes for all students through educator collaboration. Guided by systems theory and supported by social cognitive, social practice and change theories, this longitudinal participatory action research study explored the development of an interdepartmental PLC, and its impact on mathematics teachers’ practices and students’ performance. Additionally, this study explored the relationship between participation in the PLC and participants’ collective efficacy. The study was conducted at a school for students with learning disabilities. The PLC included Grade 5 and Grade 6 mathematics teachers, occupational therapists, speech and language pathologists, a mathematics specialist, reading …

Essential Characteristics And Perceived Needs Of Teachers And School Leaders Of Steam-Focused Elementary Schools: An Exploratory Study, Christopher Abbaleo

Theses and Dissertations

While STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics) education has traditionally been emphasized at the high school level, there is growing recognition of its importance in elementary education. This exploratory, action research multiple-case study identified the essential characteristics of two STEAM-focused elementary schools and how they are operationalized as well as the perceived needs of teachers and school leaders working within the schools. Within-case analyses and a cross-case synthesis revealed both common and distinct STEAM-focused curricular approaches, along with other commonalities such as enriching co-curricular offerings, connections to STEAM careers, professional development, teacher collaboration, visionary leadership, and networking with external …

“Freedom Looks Different For Everyone”: Transforming Pre-Packaged Literacy Programs Through Critical Literacy, Theodore Reginald Martinez

Theses and Dissertations

The Hartford Area Education Network (a pseudonym) adopted EL Education (formerly Expeditionary Learning) in response to the passage of the Right to Read Act by the Connecticut General Assembly. Multinational Magnet School, (a pseudonym) which is operated by the Hartford Area Education Network, uses EL Education for its literacy instruction in all kindergarten through fifth-grade classrooms. Module 3 of the fourth-grade sequence discusses perspectives of the American Revolution, though it minimally discusses people of color. Guided by a theoretical framework that incorporates critical pedagogy, Critical Race Theory, and decolonizing pedagogy, my qualitative action research study looked at how critical literacy …

"We Have Such Fantastic People Working Here": Using Action Research To Address Community College Burnout, Christine Pipitone

Theses and Dissertations

This mixed-methods action research dissertation explores faculty burnout at a New Jersey community college to propose actionable, faculty-led solutions through a collaborative approach. Grounded in a theoretical framework that integrates theories of action, critical theory, and job demands–resources theory, the study included three phases that followed an explanatory sequential design. In the first phase, quantitative and qualitative data obtained through an anonymous questionnaire provided baseline information about the dimensions of burnout participants experienced. The data informed the second phase, which consisted of semi-structured focus group interviews. In the third phase, an action research team worked together to make recommendations based …

Apathy Or Agency: Exploring Civic Engagement With Ap Psychology Students, Regina Dilley

Theses and Dissertations

Sensing my high school students’ apathy toward civic engagement, I used a community of inquiry framework to address this problem of practice. Through mixed-methods action research, I explored participants’ perspectives on community, civic engagement, and their involvement in both spheres. A community of inquiry framework was the foundation for my research questions, and as I collected data, I launched an intervention based upon my findings. Although the results of this study were not statistically significant and are not generalizable, I collected a wealth of survey, interview, and reflection data from 48 students across two classes. Analysis grounded in my observations …

Understanding Community College Students’ Thoughts And Motivations Regarding Tutoring In An Undergraduate Mathematics Course, Whitney Paige Cherekos

Theses and Dissertations

This mixed-methods study examines community college students’ thoughts and motivations regarding tutoring, with the aim of identifying disparities in tutoring utilization and engagement at a community college in North Carolina. The purpose of the dissertation is to evaluate tutoring effectiveness and explore students’ perceptions of tutoring. The findings of this study led to proposed solutions to reduce or eliminate the barriers that today’s community college students encounter when needing academic support.

To evaluate tutoring effectiveness, I collected quantitative data from institution registration reports, transcripts, tutoring logs, and an anonymous student survey for students enrolled in multiple sections of a single …

Hearing The Unheard: Creating A Brave Space To Analyze The Experiences Of Men Of Color In Student Service Roles And Their Mental Health Challenges Within Higher Education, Calvin Maurice Joyner

Theses and Dissertations

This study analyzed the experiences of five men of color in student service roles dealing with mental health stressors, such as discrimination, workplace burnout, tokenism, and low morale. To highlight their experiences, a brave space was utilized as an intervention. The following questions were examined and answered within this qualitative, action research study: (1) What are the experiences of men of color with mental health challenges in student service roles? (2) How do mental health problems affect the personal and professional lives of men of color in student service roles? (3) How do the brave spaces impact the mental health …

Students’ Experiences Using Peer Review To Affect Writing Self-Efficacy And Writing Performance In An Undergraduate Mass Communications Writing Course, Nina Morrison Brook

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this action research was to examine the impact of peer review on writing self-efficacy and writing performance in an undergraduate online writing for mass communications course. The study focused on two research questions: (1) How and to what extent does structured peer review affect undergraduate students’ writing self-efficacy in an online writing for mass communications course in a large public Southeastern university? and (2) How and to what extent does structured peer review affect undergraduate students’ writing performance in an online writing for mass communications course in a large public Southeastern university? This research used peer review …

Positive Self-Talk, Politics, And Poetry: The Impact Of A Culturally Responsive Workshop In A High School Support Lab, Danielle Ann Verwers

Theses and Dissertations

This action research dissertation describes my effort to expand access to the arts for my high school students with IEPs through a culturally responsive poetry workshop. For this qualitative study, I used ongoing content analysis to explore how the experience impacted my students and me, drawing insights from artifacts, field notes, and interview data. Predetermined categories of student identity, writing, and poetry yielded themes like positive self-talk, family, voice, and reimagining to illuminate the students’ experiences. As I analyzed my own experience, two categories of pressure and political impact emerged, characterized by freedom, growth, struggle, burnout, and hope. In addition …

In Their Own Words: How Standardization Shapes Student Learning Experiences, Jessica Cantley

Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative action research study explores how students perceive and experience standardized and elective educational environments in a rural, Title I high school in the U.S. South. Through semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions with seven diverse participants, the study investigates student-defined learning objectives, motivation and engagement across different classes, and youth perceptions of valuable learning experiences. The research is grounded in constructivism, applying feminist theory and critical race theory as lenses to challenge power dynamics and promote equality in education.

Findings confirm the problem of practice that inspired the study by revealing a contrast between students’ experiences in standardized …

From Chalk Dust To Destiny: Race, Gender, Hair, And The Making Of My Stem Identity, Angela Gaines Hill

Theses and Dissertations

This critical autoethnography explored the evolving STEM identity of myself as a Black female student and educator and examined how race, gender, and hair politics intersected to shape experiences within predominantly white institutions. Guided by a two-fold framework of Critical Race Theory (CRT) and Transformative Leadership Theory (TLT) , I posed two research questions: 1) How has my STEM identity as a Black woman evolved over time through my experiences as a student and educator?; 2) In what ways does my current STEM identity as a Black woman, as understood through reflective practices, inform my pedagogical approaches and mentoring of …

I Belong Here And Am Thriving: Understanding Full-Time Graduate Student Well-Being And Belonging In An Msw Program, Lana Hart Elkins

Theses and Dissertations

Graduate-level social work students face high levels of stress that can impact their academic success and well-being. According to a national college health assessment, fulltime Master of Social Work (MSW) students at a southeastern university report significantly more academic, career-related, and financial stress than peers in other graduate programs. This study addressed the need to better understand full-time MSW student experiences and identify ways the program can mitigate stress, promote wellbeing, and foster a sense of belonging. Using a two-phase qualitative action research design, the study first analyzed responses to 12 open-ended questions from four student feedback surveys. These findings …

Improving Professional Learning Communities (Plcs) For Singletons, Stephanie Harbulak-Barron

Theses and Dissertations

Participation in professional learning is generally recognized as a required component of the teaching profession. One type of professional learning is professional learning communities (PLCs). However, there are challenges to implementing successful PLCs that result in relevant professional learning. One challenge is non-standard PLC groupings that contain singletons, especially when those PLC groups are primarily all singletons. This action research study examined educators’ and administrators’ expectations of and experiences with PLCs in a special education cooperative in the Midwest. The goal of the mixed methods research design was to gather enough information from participants to facilitate the creation of an …

Self-Efficacy And Mathematical Identities In A Rural Georgia Middle School Classroom, Gavin Wilson

Theses and Dissertations

Even into adulthood, some people have a strong resentment of math. Their beliefs toward their mathematical abilities have created a fear of the subject, resulting in an avoidance of anything math-related. These thoughts and beliefs regarding math and mathematical abilities begin somewhere along an individual’s academic journey in a math classroom. This action research study, using a mixed-methods approach, attempted to uncover the origins and development of self-efficacy and mathematical identities in rural eighth-grade students. Furthermore, this study explored ways that a teacher can influence these sets of beliefs and examined the impact on academic performance. The framework used to …

Getting Poked (Lovingly) With A Stick: A Study Of Parental Involvement During First-Year Students’ College Transitions, Mary Ellis Glymph

Theses and Dissertations

In recent years, some higher education professionals have observed an increase in parental involvement in the lives of their students during their transition to college. While involved parents are sometimes referred to as “helicopter parents,” this new generation of parents often fits more into the label of “snowplow parents” or “lawnmower parents.” This sort of over-involvement impacts students’ personal and academic development far beyond high school graduation; during college, students can struggle to adjust to new levels of academic rigor, but they can also struggle with self-confidence and internal motivation due to their lack of experience with addressing their own …

​​I See Him In Me: Implementing Culturally Responsive Small Group Reading For Multilingual Learners, Briana Gomez

Theses and Dissertations

This mixed methods study explores the implementation and impact of differentiated guided reading instruction for MLs in a second-grade classroom. Specifically, it examines how differentiation strategies are applied during guided reading sessions and investigates the role of culturally relevant texts in engaging and supporting ML students’ literacy development. Through a mixed-methods approach combining classroom observation, student artifacts, and interviews, the research highlights best practices for meeting the diverse needs of MLs and underscores the importance of using culturally responsive texts. Additionally, the study analyzes the effect of these instructional approaches on students’ academic progress by comparing Edmentum Winter and Spring …

Using Critical Literacy To Illuminate Multicultural Perspectives In A Second Grade Classroom, Amelia Marzieh Hecker

Theses and Dissertations

Teaching about equity and diversity can be a challenge for elementary school teachers due to many factors including lack of understanding, resistance from parents, and discomfort due to the current political climate. This action research aims to examine the experiences of the teacher and second grade students as they use cultural literacy to explore multicultural texts. This action research took place in an upper-middle class community in the suburban area of Long Island, near New York City, where most participants identified as white. The data for this research took place over a six-week period. Observations, transcripts, journaling, and artifacts were …

Moderation Amid Resistance: African American Advocacy, Educational Equity, And School Desegregation In Botetourt County, Virginia, Katherine Blanton

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation examines the historical and social dynamics surrounding African American education in Botetourt County, Virginia preceding, during, and following court ordered desegregation. Using historiography, the researcher incorporated archival resources, interviews, and oral histories to examine the African American leadership of the County Wide League and their steadfast commitment to provide equal educational opportunities for African American children in Botetourt County. Set against the history of southern segregation, white school boards, and massive resistance to the 1954 U.S. Supreme Court decision to desegregate in Brown v. Board of Education, the historiography represents the moderate stance of the County in …

The Impact Of A Case-Based Learning (Cbl) Intervention In A Medical Spanish Course, Deonna Lavette Reliford

Theses and Dissertations

I implemented a different instructional approach for my medical Spanish course in Spring 2025. This case-based learning intervention utilized two main learning theories of socio-constructivism and situated learning theory in translation and interpreting studies (SLTIS) grounded in the learning design framework of case-based learning (CBL) to answer three research questions. Cases in both Spanish and English were provided for study participants to analyze and discuss. This research study used an embedded mixed-methods action research design (Efron & Ravid, 2020), with qualitative data embedded as the secondary source of data within a study that prioritized the primary quantitative data collected from …

In-Service Teachers’ Awareness And Professional Development In Egyptian Public Schools, Hanan Mohamed Metawea

Theses and Dissertations

Neuroscience is an emergent field that focuses on studying brain structure and understanding its significance in the learning process. There has been a recent movement in how to bridge the gap between neuroscience concepts and education by incorporating neuroscience principles into the teaching process. However, there have been limited studies in Egypt on how educators understand and utilize neuroscience principles in the classroom. This qualitative exploratory case study examines Egyptian teachers’ understanding of neuroscience concepts and how they apply them in their teaching practices. This case study was carried out in two government schools, including interviews with 11 teachers representing …

Investigating The Use Of Socio-Scientific Issues As Phenomena Through A Storyline Framework In A High School Biology Course, Dana Marie Delpha

Theses and Dissertations

This action research dissertation investigates the efficacy of a socio-scientific phenomena-driven biology curriculum in a Title 1 Massachusetts High School. Grounded in social constructivism, culturally relevant pedagogy, and self-determination theories, the study explores the impact of socio-scientific phenomena on students’ perceived importance of science education, motivation, engagement, and achievement. A mixed-methods approach was used, and data was collected through student engagement reflection, Science Motivation Questionnaire, and pre- and post-assessments to holistically evaluate the efficacy of the curriculum. The findings include increased student engagement, motivation, and achievement after participating in the intervention, which supports the motivation-engagement-achievement feedback loop. Student agency was …

The Impact Of Microlearning Professional Development On Educator Social And Emotional Competencies And Beliefs About Middle School Students’ Social And Emotional Learning, Kelly M. Abbott

Theses and Dissertations

The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted educational experiences for students with extended school closures and social distancing during the 2020-2021 school year and beyond. School closures, social isolation, and societal issues impacted students and caused mental health challenges as well as behavioral issues in the classroom. This study explored the impact of educator social and emotional competencies (SEC) on social and emotional learning (SEL) in the classroom. Previous research on SEL has found benefits to student’s relationship skills, emotional regulation abilities, and increases in academic achievement. This action research study used a mixed method design to gather data from surveys, interviews, classroom …

How Exposure To Professional Development Affects Teachers’ Use Of Tier One Behavior Interventions, Taurean Jarquise Robinson

Theses and Dissertations

Research suggests that ongoing professional development is most beneficial for teachers. However, many schools cannot provide the time teachers need to participate in the frequent meetings, discussions, and reflections needed to cause professional growth. Student behavior continues to be an area in which teachers need support. Many teachers report that student behavior is one reason they often become unhappy with their jobs and leave their education career altogether. The qualitative action research study used strategies aligned with Culturally Relevant Pedagogy to offer six teachers professional development in Tier 1 behavior interventions. The data gathered measured how much Tier 1 behavior …

Gateways To Reading: Action Research With At-Risk Students At An Alternative School, David Sean Goff

Theses and Dissertations

There is no shortage of research on how low levels of literacy disproportionately affect students of color, but this research was interested in how three theoretical models may impact this trend. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to examine the reading experiences and engagement levels of students in an alternative school English class, applying culturally relevant pedagogy (CRP), self-determination theory (SPD), and zone of proximal development (ZPD). CRP is a theoretical model that upholds students’ cultural identities, while pursuing academic success. ZPD is a theoretical model that suggests learning occurs when content is within students’ ability. SDT is …

Systems Check: A Qualitative Case Study Of Educators And Parent-Educators Supporting Adolescent Readers From An Ecological Systems Perspective, Kristi Nicole Grooms

Theses and Dissertations

In spite of decades of research and an abundance of well-intentioned intervention efforts, supporting adolescent readers, particularly at the middle level, remains a significant area of concern for educators in the United States. The struggles are present for educators working to help underperforming readers reach grade-level and keep advanced readers motivated and engaged. At home, parents and guardians experience similar challenges. Data on adolescent comprehension performance continues to be frustrating in terms of producing consistent positive results. This qualitative action research study investigated the ongoing challenge of supporting adolescent readers, specifically within the context of 7th grade, through a systems …

How Does An Air Force Instructor Analyze Officer Occupational Competencies And Translate Them Into Professional Development Courses?, Julia A. Howard

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis examines how Air Force instructors translate officer occupational competencies into professional development courses. The study aims to address a pressing need to align Civil Engineer education with the Department of the Air Force objective of competency based education in the midst of changing operational demands. The methodology uses expert elicitation, thematic analysis, qualitative and quantitative statistics to formulate a curriculum development methodology. Data collection involved an expert elicitation from subject matter experts in the Civil Engineer career field. This data helped to pair 32E competencies with course learning objectives. The expert opinions provided insight into where civil engineering …

Secondary Ell Students’ Perception Of Ell And Stem Courses And Its Impact On Enrollment In Stem Courses, Prakash Patel

Theses and Dissertations

This action research study examined experiences of eight secondary-level English Language Learners (ELL) that lead to perceptions of being in ELL and STEM courses and how those perceptions impact academic pathways in subsequent course enrollment, specifically STEM courses. The study aimed to identify secondary level ELLs’ lived experiences while concurrently enrolled in ELL and STEM courses through the use of a mixed-methods explanatory sequential design to capture specific lived experiences that promote enrollment in STEM courses through intrinsic motivation. The study employed the use of ClassMaps (CMS) (Doll et al., 1999) and the Intrinsic Motivation Inventory (IMI) (CSDT, 2025) surveys …

Cultivating Counter-Stories To Deficit Narrative Of Students: A Literacy Problem Of Practice, Amanda Brown

Theses and Dissertations

In urban schools across the United States, literacy outcomes remain inequitable, especially for BIPOC students and those living in poverty. In District 17, the mandate to rigidly implement a purchased curriculum resource reinforces deficit-oriented views of student ability and limits teachers’ professional agency to adjust instruction based on formative data. As a result, instruction becomes disconnected from student needs and identities, further exacerbating literacy inequities.

Guided by Mintrop’s cycle of inquiry, this qualitative study examined how participation in a 90-day inquiry cycle influenced the narratives teachers constructed about their students’ literacy abilities. Kindergarten through third grade teachers collaboratively planned and …