Educational Psychology Commons^™

Guest Editor's Introduction: Methodological Innovations For Advancing Early Childhood Educational And Psychological Research, Anthony Mangino Ph.D.

Perspectives on Early Childhood Psychology and Education

The goal of this special issue is to provide you, the inquisitive reader and developmental scientist, with some of the methodological tools to aid in augmenting your analytic capacity.

Partners In Pilgrimage: Transforming The Journey Of Adolescence By Guiding Teenagers Toward Faithful Lives, Redefining Success, And Cultivating Connection To God, Abigail R. Weaver

Doctor of Ministry Projects and Theses

Adolescence is a formative period in which young people seek meaning, identity, and belonging while navigating a complex array of cultural, social, and developmental pressures. In suburban American contexts, these pressures are intensified by competitive academic environments, demanding extracurricular commitments, and pervasive societal expectations that equate worth with achievement. Drawing from my experience as a youth minister in suburban United Methodist churches, this dissertation examines how such forces shape the spiritual and personal development of 15- to 18-year-olds and explores the Church’s role in guiding adolescents through this landscape with wisdom and care.

Grounded in the Christian tradition and informed …

Mississippi Early Childhood Math Resource Guide: Supporting Mathematical Development From Birth Through Age Eight, Melissa Luckett, Systems Change Lab, Mississippi State University, Social Science Research Center, Mississippi State University

Books

The Mississippi Early Childhood Math Resource Guide is a comprehensive, research-informed digital publication designed to support the development of foundational mathematical skills in children from birth through age eight. Developed by the Systems Change Lab at Mississippi State University's Social Science Research Center, the guide translates evidence-based early mathematics concepts into practical, accessible strategies for educators, families, and caregivers. 

Organized by developmental stages, the guide integrates learning domains, age-appropriate math skills, and everyday instructional practices to promote the use of "math talk" and embedded learning opportunities across settings. It incorporates activities, instructional strategies, and resources aligned to support both formal …

Grace Under Pressure: An Analysis Of School Administrator Personal And Professional Stress And Self-Efficacy, Andrew Mcdaniel

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Indiana public school administrators are one of the most important factors for a school’s academic success. If those administrators are effective, they can help maintain an excellent school’s academic success or perhaps even turnaround a failing school. Without a doubt, their performance is critical for a school’s success. If they have confidence in their ability to help create positive outcomes, their school can achieve great things. Unfortunately, assistant principals and principals are facing significant challenges, not only from schools, but also at home. How do these personal and professional stressors affect their sense of self-efficacy? The purpose of this study …

Comparing Two Emergent Literacy Screeners: The Reading House And Star Early Literacy In A Florida Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten (Vpk) Program, Jaime D. Swenbeck

Honors Theses

No abstract provided.

Listening To Those Who Stay: Support Systems Influencing Special Education Teacher Retention, Carol Jean Dawson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Retention among special education teachers is a constant challenge across the country. Educators in these positions often have heavy workloads, emotionally demanding responsibilities, and complex caseloads leading to burnout and high turnover rates. Despite these challenges, most of them persevere in the field for extended periods, which indicate that robust and effective support systems are essential to aiding their commitment. In examining this phenomenon, this qualitative study focused on the lived experiences of six special education teachers who worked in the same school setting for a minimum of five years with the aim of identifying support structures that affect motivation, …

Invisible Presence: A Phenomenological Study Of Single Black Fathers’ Influence On Their Sons’ Post-Secondary Achievement, La'toya Sharmane Barnes

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative phenomenological study shared the narratives of the lived experiences of six single Black fathers. The Fatherwork framework was used to focus on the strategies that single Black fathers implement to support, nurture, discipline, and encourage their sons. Historically, literature surrounding single Black fathers has been viewed from a deficit-based lens (Coles et al., 2023; Dilworth-Bart et al., 2022; Tomlinson & Cox, 2025; Ruffin, 2025). This study also focused on intergenerational fatherhood, which helped fathers identify deficits and strengths of their own upbringing that directly affect how they parent their sons.

Using purposive and snowball sampling, the researcher recruited …

Demographic Factors And Approaches Used Impacting Emotional Regulation And Social Emotional Development Of Elementary Students In Ontario, Tatiana Tait

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

A child’s education is crucial in their life and development given that it aids in the skill and knowledge development necessary for lifelong success. Schools play one of the biggest roles in their life, teaching them numerous academic skills, as well as many important life and social skills. Given the importance of schools, and the many schooling options available, evaluating how different types of schools contribute to a child’s social-emotional development and emotional regulation has potential applications within the educational realm in terms of curriculum and how teachers foster these skills in students. The present study sought to gather qualitative …

Don’T Tell Me How To Fact-Check; Show Me, And Let Me Try! A Media Literacy Intervention With Sixth-Graders, Thomas Nygren, Carl-Anton Werner Axelsson

Journal of Media Literacy Education

This study examines how different educational approaches related to "Fria Ordets Dag" (Free Speech Day), a media literacy program by the Swedish public service, affect the ability of 859 sixth-graders to evaluate news and misinformation. Findings indicate that verbal instructions from a professional fact-checker and animations to model online fact-checking were less effective than demonstrative, authentic video tutorials. Feedback and practice were also important. The intervention yielded mixed outcomes on students’ attitudes towards credible news sources, pointing to the necessity for educational designs that bolster fact-checking and source trust. The research emphasizes how large-scale school interventions to promote students’ navigation …

The Item Response Warehouse: What It Is, How To Use It, And Targets For Potential Improvements, Savira D. Nadela, Hansol Lee, Nishka Jain, Ayaan Gupta, Xingyi Zhang, Benjamin W. Domingue

Chinese/English Journal of Educational Measurement and Evaluation | 教育测量与评估双语期刊

The Item Response Warehouse (IRW) is a repository of harmonized item response datasets designed to support secondary analysis and methodological research in psychological and educational measurement. This paper serves as a practical guide for researchers interested in using the IRW. We describe the structure of IRW datasets and the quantitative and qualitative metadata available for dataset selection, and we demonstrate how researchers can navigate the IRW website to explore and compare available tables. We further show how the IRW R and Python packages can be used to filter datasets programmatically, download response-level data, and generate standardized citations for reproducible research …

Journey Of Becoming: Risk And Self-Determination In The Story Of Self For Adults With Intellectual, Developmental, And Learning Disabilities A Phenomenological Case Study Employing Narrative Inquiry And Thematic Analysis, Christopher R. J. Worth

Dissertations

This phenomenological case study, employing narrative inquiry and thematic analysis, captured the first-person voice of emerging adults (ages 20–28) with intellectual, developmental, and learning disabilities to explore how experiences of risk and self-determination shaped their personal narratives, or story of self. Guided by Critical Disability Theory, Foucault’s concept of relational power, and Shogren’s Causal Agency Theory, the study challenged the systemic bubble-wrapping that denies this population the "dignity of risk" (Perske, 1972). Data were collected from six participants through semi-structured interviews, adapted photovoice submissions, and participant selfreflections. The findings revealed that the phenomenon of becoming, catalyzed by intellectual adaptive risk-taking, …

Designing Eco-Islamic Memory Palace Media To Reduce Math Anxiety And Enhance Academic Resilience, Annas Solihin, Neni Mariana, Budi Purwoko

Jurnal Kajian Bimbingan dan Konseling

Math anxiety continues to hinder students' performance and emotional well-being in elementary mathematics education. This study aimed to develop and test the effectiveness of Eco-Islamic Memory Palace Media in reducing math anxiety and strengthening academic resilience. Employing the Plomp development model, the study involved three phases: preliminary research to identify psychological needs, prototyping of the media design, and a formative evaluation with expert validation and empirical testing on students (N = 24). The media integrated environmental imagery and Islamic values into visual-spatial mnemonic structures to create meaningful, calm, and emotionally safe learning experiences. Quantitative data analysis showed a significant decrease …

Parental Awareness And Response To Cyberbullying: A Qualitative Study Of Nigerian Parents, Adaobi Jennifer Iloakasia, Nneka Anthonia Obumse

Jurnal Kajian Bimbingan dan Konseling

The problem of cyberbullying has been gaining momentum in modern society because of the dynamic development of digital technologies and the extensive use of social media by adolescents. This paper thus examined the parental cognition and reaction to cyberbullying of Nigerian parents with a particular emphasis on Anambra State. The research design in the study was a qualitative one, based on a phenomenological approach to reflect the experiences of parents. Purposive selection of parents with children in secondary schools was done (30 parents). The collection of data was done via semi-structured interviews, and thematic analysis was used to analyze the …

Mindset Transformation In School Counseling Services After The Training Program 7 Jurus Bk Hebat: A Mixed Method Study, Mulawarman Mulawarman, Farida Aryani, Aldila Dyas Nurfitri, Najma Sana Nadhirah Hilman, Galuh Nadhita, Erna Dwi Nugraini, Abi Fa’Izzarahman Prabawa, Eni Rindi Antika

Jurnal Kajian Bimbingan dan Konseling

School counseling services have shifted from a remedial approach to one of development and prevention, requiring school counselors to possess a reflective and adaptive professional mindset. This study aims to analyze the transformation of counseling mindsets among guidance and counseling teachers after participating in the 7 Jurus BK Hebat training program, as well as to identify supporting and inhibiting factors. Using a mixed methods approach with a convergent design, the study involved 411 participants selected through convenience random sampling. Data were collected using a mindset transformation scale (α = .939) and open-ended questionnaires, then analyzed descriptively and thematically. The …

Career Adaptability Of Prospective Teachers With Disabilities In Indonesia: A Phenomenological Study, Rr Dwi Umi Badriyah, Erfan Ramadhani, Ramtia Darma Putri, Syska Purnama Sari, Amândio De Araújo Sarmento, Kadek Suhardita

Jurnal Kajian Bimbingan dan Konseling

Pre-service teachers with disabilities face career transitions shaped by personal aspirations, accessibility barriers, stigma, and limited role models. In Indonesia, little is known about how they build career readiness for teaching within inclusive unequal educational contexts. This study explores the career adaptability of pre-service teachers with disabilities in Indonesia. Grounded in Career Construction Theory, it examines concern, control, curiosity, and confidence, while extending the framework by considering resilience and flexibility as relevant dimensions. A qualitative phenomenological design was used. Twenty-five students with disabilities enrolled in Primary School Teacher Education and Special Education programs at an Indonesian university participated in semi-structured …

Adapting As Pioneers: A Phenomenological Study Of First-Batch Medical Students In A New Medical Faculty, Hilma Tsurayya Ifitahurroza, Tisnalia Merdya Andyastanti, Anditri Weningtyas, Rosalie Aurellie Wibowo, Callysta Neysa Yusangka

Jurnal Kajian Bimbingan dan Konseling

Entering medical faculty is inherently demanding for first year student and the challenges are amplified for first-batch students in newly established faculties. These students must navigate academic, social, and professional adaptation simultaneously with evolving institution systems. Understanding their adaptation is essential to support success and resilience. This study aimed to explore the adaptation experiences of first-batch medical students in their first year in a new medical faculty. A descriptive phenomenological approach was employed. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews conducted in September 2024 with seven first-year students at the Faculty of Medicine, State University of Malang, established in 2023. Participants …

Unique Undergraduate Experiences And Their Impact On Postgraduate Plans For St. Mary's University Psychology Majors, Angelina Robledo, Zoe Lozano, Jose Ignacio Guerrero Donoso

Posters - 2026

• The amount of research opportunities a student has available is linked to higher post graduate student success rate (Stoloff et al., 2015).

• The quality of different research experiences also matter (Love et al., 2007). Positive undergraduate experiences lead to higher levels of self-efficacy in undergraduate students.

• Students' soft skills are improved throughout various classroom activities, preparing them for post graduate opportunities (Marsh et al., 2016).

• Wayment and Dickinson (2008) found that students who participated in undergraduate research were more likely to get accepted to graduate school.
• Hypotheses
  • Attending sophomore retreat can reassure areas of interest for psychology undergraduates, which may …

Does Age And Reading Activity Predict Children’S Engagement In Grandparent–Grandchild Zoom Sessions?, Breanne E. Dunn

Honors Thesis

As the digital world continues to advance, interactions that once took place in person are increasingly occurring online. Although a substantial body of research has documented the benefits of shared reading for children under six, far less is known about how these experiences and reading development unfolds in digital contexts. This study examines how structured book reading during video chat supports joint visual attention (JVA; sharing attention with another person on an object) between children (18 months to 6 years old) and their remote grandparents. The proportion of successful grandparent-initiated JVA bids throughout three different activity conditions, baseline (control), matching …

1st Place Research Paper: "Gaps In The Academy: Evaluating Pre-Service Criminal Justice Training For Interactions With Vulnerable Populations", Rowan Eiselman

Kevin and Tam Ross Undergraduate Research Prize

This research investigates pre-service training for law enforcement officers (LEOs), specifically examining how current educational practices prepare them to interact with vulnerable populations, including victims, suspects, and individuals in crisis. The quality of this training is critical, as it directly shapes officer behavior, decision-making, and ethical conduct in the field (Mier, 2018). Amid heightened public scrutiny of police practices and calls for reform, the effectiveness of law enforcement education has become a central concern.

The significance of this topic is underscored by extensive research on training methodologies such as procedural justice and de-escalation, which aim to improve police-community relations and …

Conservation Communication In Web 2.0: A Mixed Methods Analysis Of Alveus Sanctuary's Strategies On Twitch.Tv, Hope Denison

Senior Theses

This thesis examines how environmental creators can effectively transmit conservation messages in the evolving Web 2.0 media environment. The case of Alveus Sanctuary, a virtual sanctuary and education center on Twitch.TV, is used to explore the strategies currently used to engage audiences and raise ecological awareness online. Thematic analysis of interviews with the sanctuary’s founder revealed that Alveus combines traditional environmental education with an influencer business model to engage online audiences, leveraging parasocial behavior, interactivity, and collaboration to garner support. A quantitative content analysis of social media posts revealed that these strategies effectively induce parasocial engagement in online spaces. These …

The Lived Experiences Of Master's Level Counselors In Professional Counseling Association Leadership, Catalina R. Kraft

Counseling & Human Services Theses & Dissertations

Leadership and advocacy are essential for all counselors (Lewis, 2022; McKibben, 2016; Paradise et al., 2010; Sweeney, 2022). However, within research and professional counseling associations, there appears to be a bias in which counselor educators are the expected, default leaders within the counseling profession (Burns, 2015; Kleist, 2018; Speciale & Goodrich, 2020). While counselor educators may have experience as counselors, they primarily work in academia, so their experiences do not authentically represent the needs of professional counselors. Counseling leaders need to represent and understand the people they serve: counselors. Therefore, this study sought to understand the lived experiences of master’s …

The Living Lab: Instructional Design Interventions To Improve Communication And Equity In Federal Housing Programs, Joana I. Camp

Knowledge and Creativity Expo

The Living Lab is an independent applied research project informed by my 25 years of lived experience as a Section 8 voucher holder, examining how instructional design strategies can improve administrative workflows, communication, and equitable access within the Housing Choice Voucher Program. Drawing on sustained participation, the research identifies two primary systemic barriers: the federally mandated 15-day inspection period and incomplete Request for Tenancy Approval (RFTA) packets. To address these issues, the project developed the RFTA Roadmap—a zero-cost, clarity-driven communication tool that embeds sequential instructions directly within procedural workflows, mitigating the Split-Attention Effect and cognitive “Bandwidth Tax” associated with standard …

Analyzing Methods To Support Students Left Behind In Colorado Primary/Secondary Schools, Grace Hudson

Undergraduate Theses, Capstones, and Recitals

In the United States, there has been an increase of deportations, since 2024, of undocumented immigrants. This has disproportionally affected Mexicans and others from Latin American countries (Dreby 2012) due to them being the largest group of undocumented people in the United States. One effect of these deportations is an increase in children that are left in the United States while their parent(s) are in detention or have been deported. Some of these children are in mixed-status families, which means that the child has a different citizenship status than their parents or other members in their family, which allows for …

The Influence Of Alongside For Educators, An Ai Wellness Tool, On Educator Well-Being, Amanda Grell

Doctorate in Education

Educator well-being has become an urgent concern in K-12 education, as educators continue to experience chronic stress, emotional exhaustion, and high levels of burnout. Despite these challenges, few school-based interventions offer timely, individualized support that addresses educators’ real-time emotional needs. This mixed-methods study examined the influence of the Alongside for Educators application on educator well-being within middle and high school settings. The purpose of this research was to explore how the tool supported educators across the Coping-Competence-Context (3Cs) framework, including experiences with the application, contextual factors shaping engagement, and changes in well-being. Qualitative findings from 10 interviews revealed that educators …

The Effectiveness Of Mode Deactivation Model Group Counseling In Improving The Emotional Wellness Of Junior High School Students, Ananda Dwi Rahmadanti, Muya Barida, Sri Hartini, Aprilia Setyowati

Buletin Konseling Inovatif

This study was motivated by the low level of emotional wellness among some junior high school students, characterized by difficulties in recognizing, understanding, and managing emotions adaptively, thereby impacting social behavior and learning processes at school. Previous studies have shown that emotion regulation-based interventions are effective in improving adolescents' emotional well-being. However, counseling interventions in schools that specifically target emotional regulation patterns to improve students' emotional wellness are still relatively limited in guidance and counseling services. Therefore, this study aims to examine the effectiveness of group counseling using the Mode Deactivation Counseling (MDC) model in improving the emotional wellness of …

Language Analysis Of "Gaslight" And "Narcissist" As Seen On Tiktok, Aaren Fernandez

Journal of Research Initiatives

TikTok is a popular social media platform from which users frequently obtain information. Specifically, psychological concepts such as anxiety, depression, and related conditions are becoming popular vernacular on TikTok through trends such as "story times." However, the accuracy of these terms' usage requires examination. In this qualitative analysis of TikTok posts and comments under the hashtags #gaslight and #narcissist, it was found that videos under these hashtags often originated from users attempting to warn viewers about psychological traits that align with common diagnostic language. However, comments under these videos tended to use these terms in a more casual sense than …

Structural Relationships Between Classroom Social Climate, Affective Factors And Willingness To Communicate Among International Mandarin Learners In Shandong, China, Muzi Li

Student Works (2020-2029)

This study addresses a critical gap in second language acquisition (SLA) research by investigating effects of classroom social climate (CSC) and affective factors on willingness to communicate (WTC) in both non-digital and digital contexts among international Mandarin learners. Although L2 Mandarin is expanding globally, limited research has examined the joining effects of CSC and affective factors on WTC across different learning environments. Employing a cross-sectional correlational dedign based on Self-Determination Theory and Broaden-and-Build Theory, data were collected from 390 L2 Mandarin learners in Shandong province, China, with 360 valid responses. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was employed to analyze the relationships …

Determinants Of Critical Thinking In The Ai Era: The Mediating Role Of Self-Efficacy In Digital Literacy And Students’ Social Interaction, Annisa Arrumaisyah Daulay, Atikah Asna, Devi Eka Yulita Br Tarigan

Buletin Konseling Inovatif

The importance of critical thinking in higher education has become increasingly prominent amid the rapid advancement of digital technology and artificial intelligence. This study aims to examine the effects of social interaction and digital literacy on students’ critical thinking skills, with self-efficacy serving as a mediating variable. Employing a quantitative approach with path analysis, data were collected from 650 university students during the 2024/2025 academic year and analyzed using SmartPLS. The results indicate that self-efficacy has a significant effect on critical thinking (β = 0.455, p < 0.001) and functions as a mediator linking digital literacy (β = 0.286, p < 0.001) and social interaction (β = 0.166, p = 0.001) to critical thinking ability. Furthermore, digital literacy exerts a significant indirect effect on critical thinking through the enhancement of self-efficacy (indirect effect = 0.234, p < 0.001). These findings underscore that strengthening digital literacy and social interaction within educational curricula, along with fostering students’ self-efficacy, can effectively enhance critical thinking skills, which are essential for addressing academic and professional challenges in the digital era.

The Efficacy Of Rapid Counseling With Single-Session Music Therapy On Enhancing Emotion Regulation In Response To Activating Events, Aloysius Selo Aryobimo Oentarto

Buletin Konseling Inovatif

This study examines the efficacy of Rapid Counseling with Single-Session Music Therapy (RCSSMT) in enhancing emotion regulation in response to activating events. Many daily circumstances are uncontrollable, often leading individuals with negative thought patterns to experience distress and anxiety, known as activating events. Music therapy, as a holistic approach, acts as an emotion-focused coping strategy by calming physiological stress responses and preparing the individual for cognitive restructuring. This research employed a single-subject pre-test, post-test, and follow-up design, with the subject being SG, who had the lowest initial score on the Emotion Regulation Questionnaire. The scores showed a gradual but significant …

Leveraging The Intersection Of Ai And Play To Foster Human Connectedness And Character Formation, Lori B. Doyle, Ashley Brandon

Journal of Organizational & Educational Leadership

The benefits of fostering character formation are vast, encompassing psychological, social and emotional growth, yet there is no universally prescribed manner by which to proceed. Central to these efforts is human connectedness, which enhances psychological functioning and provides a pivotal foundation for well-being. Emerging factors such as integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the pedagogy of play are novel topics for the conversation within the character formation discourse. These elements, while tangentially related, hold significant potential to amplify character formation and sense of belonging. This paper examines the intersection of AI, pedagogy of play, and character formation through a theoretical …