Educational Psychology Commons^™

Implementing Music To Increase Elementary Student Focus, Kathryn Garceau

Master's Theses

This action research project used a mixed methods design to address the effect of different types of music on student focus while performing an independent task. Despite its success with memorization, does music work equally as well on student focus? Data was collected over a period of three weeks for 30 minutes each morning for 5 days each week. The music played while students completed the task changed each week. This included lyrical songs during week one, classical music during week two, and instrumental versions of songs students knew the lyrics to during week three. Four behavior markers were observed …

Understanding Perspectives Of Power In A College Mathematics Classroom, Laura Seeberger

Honors College Theses

Power is embedded in teacher and student actions within mathematics classrooms, whether that power is known or not. Incorporating equity and inclusiveness requires a deeper understanding of this power behind actions. In this study, we developed and administered a three part survey questioning college faculty and college students how they perceive power related to common actions within a college mathematics classroom. For example, participants were asked whether a college math teacher assigning homework increased, decreased, or did both to the teacher’s power; then whether this action increased, decreased, or did both to a student’s power. Analysis of 16 faculty and …

The Relationship Between Basic Psychological Needs, Novelty, And Transformative Experience: A Cross-Cultural Study, Yousef T Dh Kh T Alardhi

Dissertations

Alardhi, Yousef T Dh Kh T. The relationship between basic psychological needs, novelty, and transformative experience: A cross-cultural study. Published Doctor of Philosophy dissertation, University of Northern Colorado, 2024. Self-Determination Theory (SDT) categorizes motivation into two different types: intrinsic and extrinsic (Ryan & Deci, 2000a, 2017). Intrinsic motivation refers to engagement in learning activities for personal meaning and satisfaction (Ryan & Deci, 2017). According to SDT, in order for individuals to be intrinsically motivated, their basic psychological needs of autonomy, relatedness, and competence should be satisfied. Additionally, previous research has shown that satisfaction of basic psychological needs not only supports …

A Positive Psychology Perspective On Chinese Efl Students’ Well-Being, Language Mindset, And English Performance, Qian Wei

Education (PhD) Dissertations

The primary purpose of this paper was to assess the well-being levels and language learning mindsets of English as a foreign language learners in Chinese higher vocational colleges; explore the relationship between well-being levels, growth language mindset (GLM), and English learning performance (i.e., College English Test [CET 4] scores); and compare specific differences in well-being levels, language growth mindset, and English performance (i.e., CET 4 scores) in demographic aspects (i.e., gender, hometown locales, family planning, and CET 4 times). A quantitative study among EFL students (n = 1,030) was conducted to answer the research questions. Specifically, Spearman correlations were …

Navigating Identity Through Education In Literature And In The Classroom, Sofia Sakzlyan

English (MA) Theses

This thesis explores the intricate relationship between education, identity formation, and oppression, drawing from psychosocial and sociocultural perspectives. I delve into how education serves as a critical arena where individuals encounter various internal psychological conflicts and external social influences that shape their sense of self. By analyzing the perspectives of writers such as Paulo Freire, bell hooks, Kate Chopin Charlotte Perkins Gilman, and Erin Gruwell, the thesis seeks to answer how education impacts the self and how it intersects with systems of oppression. Furthermore, I explore the role of education in fostering critical consciousness and empowerment, particularly in the face …

A Systematic Literature Review Of Online Learning And Mathematics Achievement Among Students With Disabilities, English Language Learners, And Impoverished Students, Alexander Douglas Silva

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Online instruction has become increasingly utilized in K-12 education. Used by alternativeschool settings for multiple decades, the COVID-19 pandemic forced millions of students in public, charter, and private schools into online learning spaces in early 2020. Almost every student, including those most vulnerable to academic difficulties, engaged in core academic instruction utilizing online learning modalities for extended periods of time. The current study is a systematic literature review of the impact of online learning modalities on academic achievement in mathematics among K-12 students with disabilities, English language learners, and students from impoverished backgrounds. Retrieving research from two databases utilizing the …

Parental Child Rearing Beliefs And Children's Behavioral Problems: The Mediating Role Of Parental Involvement In Elementary School, Catalina Correa Ramirez

College of Education and Human Sciences: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

The contributions that parents make to child development have been heavily investigated but the potential links between parents’ child rearing beliefs and school involvement levels have been overlooked. In this study, a model was proposed where parental involvement was examined as a potential mediator in the relationship between parents’ child-rearing beliefs and internalizing and externalizing outcomes in children. Using data from the NICHD SECCYD study, these constructs were examined in first, third, and fifth grade (N = 1128). SEM analyses supported our hypothesis regarding the mediating effect of parental involvement and it appeared to act as a potential mediator …

The Relationship Between Sex Education And Women’S Sexual Liberation And Exploration: A Phenomenological Study, Jessica Ann Boyles

Dissertations and Doctoral Documents, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2023–

Sex education in schools is a pivotal yet contentious aspect of adolescent development, with enduring impacts on individuals' sexual exploration and liberation. However, the types of sex education offered have varied over time, often disseminating misinformation, and reinforcing traditional gender norms. Particularly for women, sex education can perpetuate harmful stereotypes, limit sexual agency, and contribute to disparities in sexual and reproductive health. This qualitative study aims to address the gap of intersecting sex education and sexual identity by examining the relationship between women's sexual liberation and exploration in adulthood and the sex education they received. Drawing from a phenomenological approach, …

The Role Of Family And Peer Social Support Against Bullying Involvement Among Sexual Minority Latine Young Adults, Guadalupe Gutierrez

Dissertations and Doctoral Documents, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2023–

Bullying is a significant risk factor for healthy youth development and functioning. Research on bullying has provided evidence that bullying involvement is linked to negative mental health outcomes for young adults; however, researchers have yet to fully explore the relationship between the different bullying statuses (victims, perpetrators, bully-victims) and internalized problems (anxiety and depression), and whether peer/friend and family support serves as a protective factor. In addition, a significant amount of research on bullying has been conducted in Europe and the United States but it remains limited in Latin American countries. The current research demonstrates that bullying is a significant …

Inside Out Creativity: Nurturing Teachers As Creative Catalysts To Transform Education, Katie Ravich

Creativity and Change Leadership Graduate Student Master's Projects

This project is a thought piece aimed at re-evaluating and clarifying the potential of activating transformational creative change leadership in teachers. By embracing creativity as a human process, teachers can become catalysts for change within themselves and their students. This approach requires a nurturing and relational co-creative process, fostering a learning environment that values emotional well-being alongside intellectual growth for everyone. For teachers to stimulate others to be creative and innovative, they must challenge their own beliefs about creativity. There needs to be an explicit process that underpins these behaviors, integrated with a high level of emotional intelligence to nurture …

(Non)Cognitive Dissonance? A Stakeholder-Based Exploration Of The Consideration Of Graduate Admissions Applicants' Personal Skills And Qualities, Reginald M. Gooch, Joseph H. Paris, Sara B. Haviland, Jose Sotelo

Journal of College Access

Prospective graduate students’ noncognitive attributes are commonly evaluated as a part of a holistic review of their admission applications. Yet it is difficult to determine which noncognitive attributes are considered by those who evaluate graduate admissions applications and what approaches they take to measure applicants’ noncognitive attributes. It is even less clear to what degree prospective graduate students understand how they are evaluated for graduate admissions and how the evaluation of their noncognitive attributes factor into admissions decisions. Drawing on surveys of graduate enrollment management (GEM) professionals and prospective graduate students in the United States, our study investigates the noncognitive …

Campus Ministry And Spiritual Self-Efficacy: A Phenomenological Study Of Academic Achievement Among Black Male Students At An Historically Black College And University, Mitchell Stevens

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Bandura’s self-efficacy theory, which emphasizes the importance of self-efficacy in motivation and achievement (Bandura, 1994), provided a lens through which to analyze the influence of Historically Black Colleges and University’s (HBCUs) campus ministry on the development of spiritual self-efficacy and academic achievement among Black males. Historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) have a long history of providing higher education opportunities to Black students, and they have been instrumental in fostering academic, personal, and social growth (Smith & Allen, 2014). However, little is known about the specific impact of campus ministry programs on the development of Black males’ spiritual self-efficacy and …

Teachers’ Self-Efficacy And Cyberbullying: A Qualitative Investigation Of Teacher Perspectives, Shanda Salvant Theriot

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative study explored the self-efficacy of middle school teachers as they address cyberbullying in the classroom. A phenomenological research design using a purposive sampling method was used. To understand the teachers’ lived experiences and perspectives on cyberbullying, open-ended semi-structured interviews were conducted with seventh-grade teachers from two parochial schools and three charter schools. Participants completed a demographics questionnaire, which was used to gather additional information regarding the teachers’ background and experience. Seven themes emerged from coding the data collected from the teacher interviews and focus group session: 1) collaboration and communication, 2) professional development and training, 3) support and …

Setting Events And Their Effects Upon Students' Behavior Goals, Linnea Hilderbrand

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

This study investigates the impacts that setting events have upon the behavioral outcomes of students on a Check-In, Check-Out (CICO) intervention. Research was conducted through participant interviews each day, which were then translated into quantitative graphs for data analysis. The analysis has shown that there is not a significant correlation between the setting events studied and student behavioral outcomes. Although it was not statistically significant, there appeared to be some degree of correlations. Quantitative data shows that the effects of setting events upon each individual student are varied, which allows us to conclude that the effects of setting events upon …

The Relationship Between Role Models, Socioeconomic Mobility Beliefs, And Academic Outcomes, Christian Koeu, Marisol Espinoza Garcia

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Objective: This study aims to provide insights into the relationships between role models, socioeconomic mobility beliefs and the education outcomes of students from low socioeconomic backgrounds. While previous studies highlight the positive influence of role models on academic and career aspirations, the specific relationship between role models and socioeconomic beliefs remains unexplored. Our study addresses this gap by examining whether the presence of role models relates with more optimistic socioeconomic beliefs and how these beliefs, in turn, affect academic outcomes (academic engagement, academic intentions, and grade point average [GPA]). Additionally, we investigate the influence of role model characteristics to …

Examining Attitudes Towards Scientific Research, Charles Ian Johnston

Undergraduate Honors Theses

Undergraduate students are often anxious about participating in a research experience. In this study, students conducted research as part of their introductory biology course and were then surveyed using the Attitudes toward Research Scale, to understand their views on research. Students were surveyed at the beginning and end of the semester, and their scores in five attitudinal categories were compared. The attitudes examined were usefulness of research, positive attitudes towards research, relevance of research, difficulty of research and anxiety towards research. We hypothesized that participation in research as part of a course would improve students’ attitude toward research. Initial analysis …

The Professional Roles And Functions Of School Psychologists In Alternative Vs Traditional Education, Staci C. Ballard

Graduate Doctoral Dissertations

Alternative Education Settings (AES) are unique environments that serve students whose educational and/or social-emotional needs are not being met in traditional schools. Students frequently enter AES with a range of mental health diagnoses, previous traumas, and behavioral/academic challenges. AES also serve many students from systemically marginalized and oppressed backgrounds, who are placed in these settings at higher rates than privileged peers. Considering these patterns, it becomes critical that AES provide effective student support, rather than serve simply to contain students based on disciplinary factors and convenience.

School psychologists, with training in mental health and education, are well-positioned to provide these …

Preparing The Next Generation Of Music Teachers: Illuminating Motivations Of Nebraska Preservice Teacher Mentors, Emily Marie Chapman

Dissertations and Doctoral Documents, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2023–

This mixed methods study examined factors influencing practicing educators' decisions to mentor preservice teachers in Nebraska. Guided by Expectancy-Value-Cost Theory, the study utilized a sequential explanatory design, integrating a quantitative survey design and qualitative phenomenological interview. Findings indicated that educators' belief in their mentoring ability or Expectancy-Ability Belief (EAB) significantly predicted their willingness to mentor, with PK-12 music educators exhibiting higher EAB scores than elementary or high school music educators. Qualitative insights highlighted reciprocal benefits of mentoring, such as skill development and professional growth. The impact of the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency on mentoring experiences varied among participants. Recommendations included …

Navigating Mental Health During Covid-19: Considerations Of Childhood Adversity, Pandemic Stress, And Loneliness, Linnea Rose Swanson

Dissertations and Doctoral Documents, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2023–

The purpose of this dissertation study was twofold. First, to determine if the addition of bullying victimization to the Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) Questionnaire (Felitti et al., 1998) would result in a stronger measure of childhood adversity; second to examine the interaction between ACEs, pandemic stress, loneliness, and internalizing symptoms in a sample of young adults living in the United States during the COVID-19 pandemic. ACEs are linked to negative outcomes in adulthood including mental health problems, stress, and loneliness. During the pandemic, increased levels of stress and loneliness were associated with higher rates of internalizing disorders among young adults. …

The Need For Mental Health Resources In Migrant Farm Working Families, Juliana Cecilia Garcia

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

The focus of my capstone project is on providing mental health resources for migrant workers and their families. Language barriers and cultural differences are a big obstacle for these parents. Because of this, it is hard for parents to seek help. Language barriers can make communicating one’s struggles with healthcare providers difficult. These topics can be difficult for anyone to put into words, but it’s especially challenging for those who may not speak the same language as the healthcare professional. Per my experience cultural and language barriers are a big obstacle these families face. This could be because they can …

Mental Health And The Well-Being Of Adolescents, Janeice Pamuspusan

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

This capstone project focuses on adolescents’ mental health and well-being. Before the age of twenty-five 70% of mental health disorders start to develop which is why it’s important to teach adolescents ways to improve their mental well-being along with the signs of mental disorders (Kutcher et al., 2008). According to the World Health Organization, many of those adolescents' mental health conditions go unrecognized or untreated. Those illnesses often go unrecognized and untreated because of the stigma that follows mental health including cultural differences. Because of those differences, many adolescents will go into adulthood still struggling with their mental well-being and …

Cultivating Academic Achievement: An Updated Social Psychological Explanation, Maika Malualelagi Tuala

Dissertations and Doctoral Documents, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2023–

This study looks at how income differences affect children's social psychological development, which in turn shapes their academic achievement. Building on theories of social class, cultural capital, and self-concept formation, this dissertation offers a new social psychological model that connects parental SES, concerted cultivation, children's academic mindset and achievement. This new concept called “academic mindset” includes several key social-psychological factors that influence academic performance namely- self-esteem, locus of control, math and reading self-concepts, and educational expectations and values. The study uses data from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study-1998 Kindergarten cohort and tests the model using multivariate regression analyses. Findings show …

Longhand Versus Laptop Note Taking And Lecture Rate Influence, Junrong Lu

Dissertations and Doctoral Documents, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2023–

Most college students take lecture notes to prepare for tests. With technology development, more students are recording notes on laptops rather than writing them longhand. Previous studies comparing laptop and longhand note taking mediums yielded mixed results, highlighting the need to identify influencing factors. The present study investigated a potential factor, lecture rate, through two experiments. Experiment 1 examined whether lecture rate differentially influences longhand and laptop note taking without note review. Experiment 2 investigated lecture rate effects before and after note review. Dependent measures pertained to various note-taking indices (e.g., verbatim overlap with lecture transcripts and numbers of words, …

Promoting Situational Interest In Computer Science Classroom: A Utility Intervention Approach, Mustafa Gunozu

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Mastery of computer science and computational reasoning emerges as an essential skill for every student. Experts recommend increasing the focus on computer science studies due to their crucial role in the future, recognizing its pivotal role in early learning. The present study aimed to evaluate the impact of a utility-based intervention on enhancing middle school students' interest in computer science. This study adopted a utility value intervention method to improve students' situational interest in computer science within a formal setting. The study investigated how a utility intervention changes students' interests in the content, employing a pretest-posttest control group design. For …

College And Career Readiness Effects On Minority Male College Retention, Naquiyah Lashawn Hodges

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Abstract

The continuously low college retention and low degree attainment of African American and Hispanic men is a generational and decades-long hindrance to the elevation of these marginalized communities in the United States and the state of Texas. In Texas, the last 3 years’ worth of data has proven college-readiness rates of African American and Hispanic college students were significantly lower by large margins than White students in English language arts, math, and both subjects by large margins. Consistent low college retention rates of minority men produce a need to conduct further research of how this phenomenon affects minority men …

An Exploratory Comparison Of The Impact Of Covid-19 On American And Chinese College Student Lives, Arvind Agrawal, Alan Hamlin, Steve Barney, Yongchuan Shi

Mountain Plains Journal of Business and Technology

US and Chinese students in their home countries rated their life experiences since the advent of Covid-19 on various aspects of their lives, including academic performance, social life, and emotional, financial, and physical well-being. Input was also received about how Covid-19 has affected their communication, career planning, and post-graduate goals.

To assess the impacts of these changes on college students, the authors created a questionnaire to ask students about their perceptions of these COVID-related impacts on their personal lives. The survey had 56 questions, with 1580 students responding, providing both objective input and subjective comments. Due to the volume of …

Validity And Reliability Of Self-Concept Instrument Using Rasch Model, Meyliani Latifah, Ipah Saripah, Dodi Suryana, Yaya Sunarya

Jurnal Kajian Bimbingan dan Konseling

The development of instruments designed to assess student self-concept is crucial. This understanding of self-concept is based on the premise that it is a dynamic and ever-evolving construct. The concept of self-concept is initially conceived as a unidimensional structure but subsequently evolves into a multidimensional construct. The present study assesses the validity and reliability of the newly developed self-concept instrument. In Indonesia, there is a paucity of research that employs the Rasch Model to examine self-concept instruments, particularly in the context of the junior high school population. The objective of this study was to analyze the self-concept instrument using the …

Examining Processes Of Change For Acceptance And Commitment Therapy And Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Self-Help Books With Depressed College Students, Carter H. Davis, Michael P. Twohig, Michael E. Levin

Psychology Faculty Publications

Given the prevalence of depression, it is worthwhile to consider a variety of treatment approaches to reach as many sufferers as possible, including highly accessible formats such as self-help books. Books based in acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) propose to treat depression through distinct processes of change, though the degree to which these treatments are distinguishable in this format is unclear. Furthermore, it is possible that some individuals may respond better to therapeutic processes from one approach over the other based on personal preferences. We tested the effects of ACT and CBT self-help books on …

The Organization Of Irrational Beliefs In Academic Burnout, Diniy Hidayatur Rahman, Yuliati Hotifah, Irene Maya Simon, Ariya Kuha, A Fathorrazi

Jurnal Kajian Bimbingan dan Konseling

From the Rational-Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) perspective, irrational beliefs are posited as the primary catalysts for a myriad of problems, including academic burnout. This study aims to examine the theoretical model of irrational beliefs organization in academic burnout. The hypothesized model delineates the following pathways: (1) from demandingness (DEM) to academic burnout (BURN) via catastrophizing (CAT); (2) from demandingness (DEM) to academic burnout (BURN) via low frustration tolerance (LFT); and (3) from demandingness (DEM) to academic burnout (BURN) via self-depreciation (DEP). To achieve the aim, the study employed a causal relationship design. 424 subjects obtained by stratified random sampling participated …

Family Values And Verbal Bullying Among Secondary School Adolescents In Uyo Local Education Committee, Gertrude Jeremiah Udoh

Jurnal Kajian Bimbingan dan Konseling

This study was to determine the relationship between family values and verbal bullying among secondary school adolescents in Uyo Local Education Committee. Two research questions were raised, and two hypotheses formulated and tested at .05 level of significant. A correlational survey design was adopted while the population of the study comprised all 6,613 senior secondary Two (SS2) students in the fifteen (15) public secondary schools in the study area. A sample size of 378 senior secondary two (SS2) was selected for the study using Taro Yamane sampling formulae. To get adequate sampled schools, balloting method of random sampling was used …