Higher Education Commons^™

Teacher Perceptions Of Social-Emotional And Behavioral Factors That Impede Preschool Adjustment, Allease J. Glamore

Theses and Dissertations

Children with behavioral and social-emotional challenges struggle to adjust to the preschool environment which places increased demands on preschool teachers to implement effective strategies. The purpose of the study was to assess teachers’ perceptions regarding social-emotional and behavioral factors implicated for successful preschool adjustment. The theoretical framework guiding this study is grounded in the integration of Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems theory, social-emotional learning theory, and behavior theory. A case study design was used to examine the perceptions and use of social-emotional and behavior interventions and supports by four early childhood teachers across two programs.

Data were collected using qualitative in-depth one-on-one …

Mixed-Methods Study Of High School Teachers’ Perceived Training, Self-Efficacy, And Assessment Competencies In Online Courses, Chantell Radford

Theses and Dissertations

The problem in this study was that, in a large urban school district in South Florida, the online high school teachers’ training, self-efficacy, and assessment competencies in courses required enhancement. The purpose of this study was to examine the perceptions of high school teachers on their training, self-efficacy, and assessment competency in online courses.

Twenty high school online teachers participated in the study. Recruitment occurred through a link posted on Facebook and LinkedIn. The design (sequential explanatory mixed-methods design) aligned with the five research questions. Two instruments (survey and questionnaire) were used to collect data. Quantitative data analyis occurred with …

Examining Reframing Behavior Implementation: Teacher Perspectives And Discipline Patterns In Middle School, Francisco J. Hidalgo

Theses and Dissertations

This applied dissertation examined teacher-reported implementation of the Reframing Behavior (RB) Initiative at a middle school in North Central Florida. The districtwide training occurred in the 2024-2025 school year. The RB Initiative provides educators with opportunities to reframe how they address disruptive behaviors among students perceived as problematic, who may receive numerous disciplinary actions. Disciplinary actions can affect students’ academic and social lives. Using a convergent mixed methods design, the study addressed four research questions and examined implementation fidelity, teacher perceptions, school-wide discipline patterns, and teacher experiences with RB implementation.

The researcher surveyed 19 teachers and interviewed four teachers. The …

Manejo De Oportunidades En Tiempos De Crisis: Liderazgo Y Cambios En Una Organización -Estudio De Caso, Maria Valente

Theses and Dissertations

Esta disertación aplicada fue diseñada para proporcionar informaciones relevantes sobre situaciones de crisis que amenazan la supervivencia de las organizaciones. Además, busca comprender los fenómenos que desarrollan las crisis y explorar los resultados significativos del liderazgo en tiempos de crisis.

Se empleó un diseño de investigación cualitativa. Los elementos descritos en esta investigación cualitativa evalúan el impacto de las situaciones de crisis, describiendo cada etapa y factores intrínsecos y extrínsecos que son responsables por la desestabilidad en la organización.

En este estudio se identificaron las prácticas de liderazgo y los proyectos estratégicos que permiten planificar oportunidades de cambio en el …

How Leadership Styles Can Effectively Alleviate Some Of The Organizational Stressors Of Food-Plant Workers, Latarshe Mccuthin

Theses and Dissertations

This applied dissertation was designed to investigate how leaders in the food processing industry perceive their management style and how they may alleviate some job related employee stress. There was no management training at the organization; the only training provided was for food safety for certification and licensure procedures. Once a year, the company listed a management course, but the supervisors had to pay for it without reimbursement. Further, although the course was available, most supervisors did not know of it.

The researcher developed semi-structured, in-depth interviews to answer the research questions regarding how supervisors perceived leadership styles, strategies, and …

A Qualitative Study Of Teacher Perceptions Of Reading Proficiency, Latia Tyler

Theses and Dissertations

This applied qualitative dissertation was constructed to provide insight into the experiences of teachers who provide reading instruction for third grade students at the target school. Seven teachers engaged in semi structured interviews that sought to examine their perceptions on their abilities in teaching reading instruction, their perception on school supports, their perceptions on reading proficiency and factors that contribute to it. Additionally, comprehensive reading plans, published by the state of Florida, were examined to further understand the perceptions of teachers alongside district intended approach for reading instruction.

Thematic analysis of data revealed eight key themes including gaps in foundational …

Competencias De Los Líderes Escolares De Un Sector De Las Escuelas Públicas En Puerto Rico En La Provisión De Servicios A Estudiantes De Educación Especial, Zuleira Franco Olivo

Theses and Dissertations

La siguiente disertación aplicada indagó acerca de las competencias que exhiben los líderes escolares en un sector de las Escuelas Públicas en Puerto Rico y cómo estas influyen en los procesos de provisión de servicios a los estudiantes participantes de Educación Especial. Desde una mirada del liderazgo distribuido se buscó conocer cómo al aplicarlo en el escenario educativo en conjunto con las competencias exhibidas por los directores escolares, promueve el funcionamiento y la provisión de los servicios del programa en cada escuela de los directores participantes.

Trabajado mediante un enfoque de investigación mixta con un diseño descriptivo fenomenológico, se emplearon …

Estrategias De Enseñanza, El Rol De Los Padres Y El Logro De Los Objetivos De Aprendizaje De Los Alumnos Del Cuarto Año De Una Escuela Alternativa De Puerto Rico, Marangely González Tavárez

Theses and Dissertations

Se examinaron las características de los docentes, el rol de los padres y el logro académico de los estudiantes de cuarto año en alcanzar sus metas de aprendizaje en la escuela alternativa ASPIRA de Puerto Rico. Estas instituciones buscan atender a jóvenes de 14 a 21 años que han dejado o están en riesgo de deserción en la escuela tradicional, ofreciendo un currículo flexible, atención personalizada y apoyo psicosocial. La investigación se fundamentó en la necesidad de generar evidencia sobre las competencias docentes y la percepción estudiantil en contextos educativos no tradicionales, dado que la literatura existente se ha centrado …

The Continuity And Fluidity Between Emergent Literacy Skills And Literacy Acquisition, Shiesha D. Otokina

Theses and Dissertations

This research study was undertaken because emergent literacy skills are crucial in helping children develop their reading abilities. Research suggests that early intervention is a key strategy for closing the achievement gap, and that early literacy skills develop as early as when children begin to communicate verbally and nonverbally. Studies show that the larger a child's vocabulary is, the quicker they learn to read.This study examined the significance of reading development and a child’s ability to acquire reading skills across the stages of reading acquisition.

This study compared student scores in the experimental and control groups to determine whether the …

The Interaction Between Academic Self-Efficacy And Social Support: Exploring Moderation Effects On Academic Performance And Emotional Well-Being During The Transition To Secondary School, Luis Josué Ortiz Martes

Theses and Dissertations

The transition to secondary school can intensify academic demands and emotional strain, making it a critical context for examining students’ psychological and social resources. This applied dissertation examined whether perceived social support (SS) moderates the association among academic self-efficacy (ASE), academic performance (AP) and emotional well-being (EWB) among seventh-grade students at a private, multilingual school in Puerto Rico. Using a time-lagged, nonexperimental correlational design, 14 students completed the academic subscale of the Self-Efficacy Questionnaire for Children (SEQ-C) and the Social Support Appraisals Scale (SS-A) at the start of the academic year; EWB was assessed at midyear with the Negative and …

Relación Entre El Liderazgo Situacional En Directores Escolares Y Nivel De Competencias Digitales Integrando Los Estándares Iste-El En Escuelas Ore Arecibo, Puerto Rico, Mayra Enid Rodríguez Romero

Theses and Dissertations

Esta investigación examinó la relación entre el liderazgo situacional en directores escolares y el nivel de competencias digitales, integrando los Estándares ISTE para Líderes Educativos (ISTE-EL) y la Teoría de Liderazgo Situacional, en escuelas del sistema público pertenecientes a la Oficina Regional Educativa de Arecibo, Puerto Rico, durante la pandemia del COVID-19. El estudio surgió ante la necesidad de comprender cómo los directores escolares respondieron a la transición abrupta de un modelo educativo presencial a uno virtual en un contexto caracterizado por limitaciones estructurales, tecnológicas y organizacionales. Se empleó un diseño cuantitativo de alcance descriptivo-correlacional, con una muestra de 30 …

Kindergarten Through Third-Grade Teachers’ Experiences With State-Level Literacy Coaching Support: A Phenomenological Qualitative Research Study, Nicole Hunter

Theses and Dissertations

This phenomenological qualitative applied dissertation was designed to provide insight into the experiences of kindergarten through third-grade general education teachers when supported by state-level literacy coaches. State-level literacy coaches are assigned to specific elementary schools and offer embedded professional development and professional learning opportunities to enhance literacy instruction and promote professional growth among elementary teachers. Although many kindergarten through third-grade general education teachers in literacy support schools see state-level coaching support as beneficial, some teachers deem this support as punitive and are reluctant to collaborate with coaches.

Teachers' experiences with literacy coaches have been viewed as a component in the …

Culturally Responsive Pedagogy: Its Role In Maximizing Students’ Performance On Standardized Tests, Keisha Ricketts-Martin

Theses and Dissertations

This applied dissertation was designed to highlight the importance of pedagogy for cultural responsiveness, and to explore the relationship between such pedagogy and middle school students’ performance on state or standardized tests. Therefore, this study explores the educational or academic values that students will gain from being engaged in a learning environment that recognizes their culture and uses it as a tool to maximizing their educational outcomes.

This research employed convergent parallel mixed method design. Therefore, it implemented the qualitative and quantitative approach at the same time and placed equivalent worth to the information collected by each approach. Therefore, the …

Análisis De La Relación Entre Las Competencias Digitales Y El Rendimiento Académico En Estudiantes De La Carrera De Educación En Un Centro Universitario De La Región Este De La República Dominicana, Ángel Erich Cedano Cabrera

Theses and Dissertations

Esta disertación aplicada examinó la relación entre las competencias digitales y el rendimiento académico en la formación docente de la República Dominicana. El estudio abordó la escasez de evidencia empírica en el Centro Universitario de la Región Este, situación que limita el desarrollo de políticas educativas y estrategias pedagógicas fundamentadas en datos locales.

Se empleó un diseño cuantitativo, no experimental, correlacional y transeccional con una muestra de 120 estudiantes de las menciones en Educación Básica, Inicial y Física. Los datos se recolectaron mediante el Cuestionario para el estudio de la Competencia Digital del Alumnado de Educación Superior (CDAES) y los …

Adaptación De Los Docentes A Las Tecnologías En Educación A Distancia En Tiempos Del Covid-19, Kristy Rivera Crespo

Theses and Dissertations

El objetivo de este estudio fue examinar el nivel de conocimiento, el papel del apoyo institucional y el grado de satisfacción de los docentes de enfermería ante la integración de las tecnologías de la información y la comunicación (TIC) en la educación a distancia durante la pandemia del COVID-19, en una universidad ubicada en la región oeste de Puerto Rico.

Las preguntas de investigación se centraron en: (a) determinar el nivel de conocimiento que poseen los docentes sobre las TIC y las plataformas virtuales; (b) analizar el papel de la institución universitaria en el proceso de adopción y desarrollo de …

Examining Language In Exclusionary Discipline Practices: A Mixed Methods Study Of A Medium Florida School District, Kathleen A. Wonnell

Theses and Dissertations

This applied dissertation examined office discipline referrals and the language used by teachers when describing disciplinary incidents. Additionally, it explored the coding assigned by administrators to these office discipline referrals and how those codes impacted the consequences assigned, possibly contributing to the use of exclusionary discipline. This mixed-methods study sought to contribute to the body of research on exclusionary discipline and disproportionate disciplinary outcomes. Office discipline referrals that resulted in exclusionary discipline in two comprehensive high schools were examined and administrators from the same schools who are responsible for coding disciplinary incidents were interviewed.

Themes that emerged from examining the …

Conocimiento, Formación Y Autoeficacia De Los Docentes Regulares En El Manejo De La Autorregulación Emocional De Estudiantes Con Trastorno Del Espectro Autista, Yalinette Negrín Carrión

Theses and Dissertations

El propósito de esta investigación fue analizar el nivel de conocimiento, la formación profesional y la autoeficacia de los docentes regulares de la escuela elemental, así como examinar las relaciones existentes entre estos factores y la implementación de estrategias de intervención educativa orientadas a la autorregulación emocional en estudiantes con Trastorno del Espectro Autista (TEA). El presente estudio adoptó un enfoque cuantitativo con un diseño no experimental, de tipo transeccional descriptivo-correlacional. Este diseño permitió describir las características de los fenómenos educativos y analizar las relaciones existentes entre variables sin manipularlas. Las variables del estudio fueron el conocimiento docente sobre el …

Rutas De Graduación Y Transición Postsecundaria: Conocimiento Y Percepción De Los Padres De Estudiantes Con Diversidad Funcional En El Área Central De Puerto Rico, Lyneiza E. Collazo Colón

Theses and Dissertations

Esta disertación aplicada tuvo como propósito examinar el nivel de conocimiento de los padres sobre las rutas de graduación para estudiantes con diversidad funcional en la región central de Puerto Rico, analizar su percepción sobre la efectividad de dichas rutas en la transición postsecundaria y determinar el tipo de relación entre ambas variables.

Se utilizó un enfoque cuantitativo, con un diseño no experimental, transversal, con alcance descriptivo-correlacional. La muestra estuvo compuesta por 72 padres, madres y encargados de estudiantes en transición postsecundaria, seleccionados mediante muestreo no probabilístico por conveniencia. Se administró un cuestionario de elaboración propia con una escala tipo …

Why Educators In South Florida Are Leaving The Profession, Keyona Burnes

Theses and Dissertations

This applied dissertation was designed to provide better access to current information for the students and staff in a middle school. The printed materials located in the school’s media center were outdated, scarce, or inadequate. Electronic databases were available in the media center for online searching and information retrieval. However, the students did not know how to use databases as a source for completing class assignments or how to browse within these online services to find additional information. Teachers also did not know how to use electronic information to enrich their lessons.

The researcher developed lesson plans and strategies to …

Estrategias Lúdicas Como Didáctica En La Formación Especializada De Licenciados En Educación Infantil, Fe Rosalía Alba Veloz

Theses and Dissertations

El propósito de este estudio fue explorar la percepción que poseen los docentes acerca del uso de estrategias lúdicas como recurso didáctico en la formación especializada de los estudiantes de la Licenciatura en Educación Infantil, y cómo dichas percepciones inciden en sus prácticas áulicas dentro de una universidad pública en República Dominicana. La investigación se fundamentó en teorías constructivistas, particularmente en el enfoque Histórico-Cultural de Vygotsky y en la noción de zona de desarrollo próximo, además de los aportes de diversos autores que han resaltado la importancia de vincular teoría y práctica, reconocer el papel de las emociones en el …

La Influencia De Los Videojuegos En El Rendimiento Académico En El Condado De Fairfax Virginia, Wilmary Soto Vélez

Theses and Dissertations

Este estudio cuantitativo, de enfoque descriptivo y correlacional, examinó la influencia del uso de los videojuegos en el rendimiento académico de estudiantes de nivel elemental en una escuela pública del condado de Fairfax, Virginia. La investigación surge ante la preocupación institucional por los bajos resultados obtenidos en las pruebas estandarizadas Standards of Learning (SOL) durante los últimos ocho años, lo que motivó el interés por analizar la relación entre el uso de los videojuegos y el desempeño escolar de los estudiantes.

El propósito principal fue determinar si existe una correlación entre el tiempo y la forma en que los estudiantes …

Screen Time Use, Reading Achievement, And Thinking Maps: A Correlational Study Of Fifth-Grade Students, Morgan Brooke Unger

Theses and Dissertations

The problem addressed in this study was the fixation of screen time among fifth-grade students at a kindergarten to Grade 12 private school in South Florida. By the time children reach age 12, 69% of adolescents own a smartphone. The purpose of this study was designed to determine (a) the relationship between screen time use and reading achievement among fifth graders, (b) the relationship between parents’ awareness of their child’s screen time use and their child’s actual screen time use, and (c) how well fifth-grade students’ Thinking Maps illustrate the problems associated with screen time fixation at a kindergarten to …

A Case Study Of Employees’ Perception Of Leadership Styles In Law Firms, Naylet M. Sanchez

Theses and Dissertations

This applied dissertation explored employees' perceptions of their supervisors’ leadership styles and how those perceptions shape their job performance and satisfaction within a mid-sized personal injury law firm operating across multiple offices in the Southeastern United States. The effectiveness of leadership styles in law firms significantly influences employee performance, productivity, and organizational success, yet the unique contextual factors of legal practice environments have remained substantially underexplored in the leadership literature. Much of the existing research has focused on general organizational settings rather than the knowledge-intensive, hierarchical, and high-pressure dynamics that characterize law firms. This applied dissertation was designed to address …

Balancing Care And Chaos: A Phenomenological Study On The Emotional And Mental Health Challenges Of Emergency Department Nurses, Shantilee Green

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative, phenomenological study was to examine the experiences of emergency department nurses related to emotional and mental health challenges, coping with stress, and ways to provide them with better workplace support. Emergency department nurses are required to work 12-hour shifts in a high-stress environment with a significant patient load and an inadequate patient-to-nurse ratio. Emergency department nurses are exposed daily to patient events that can be traumatic and affect their mental and emotional health, and nurses may find it challenging to cope with the resultant stress.

The researcher created an interview protocol of 14 questions to …

Decline Of Male Enrollment In Higher Education, Oscar Valenzuela

Theses and Dissertations

The study examined the decline in male enrollment and completion in higher education, aiming to identify the reasons for the decline and to propose possible solutions. Using a qualitative phenomenological design, the study employed semi-structured interviews to collect data from males aged 18 to 40. The findings indicate that numerous factors contribute to why males are not enrolling in or completing higher education, and reveal key thematic groups, including Early Work Life, Home Life, Support Systems, Challenges, and Choices and Decisions. These results suggest that cultural background, socioeconomic status, and gender norms affect the decisions males make concerning higher education. …

Toxic Culture In All-Star Cheerleading: A Qualitative Research Study, Jodie Fairbank

Theses and Dissertations

All-star cheerleading emerged in the late 1980s. It has grown exponentially over the last thirty years. Today, over 250,000 individuals participate in competitive cheer. The nature of this sport pushes elite athletes and has organizations worldwide. It incorporates stunting, dance, tumbling, and performance. In recent years, there have been numerous news stories, documentaries, and court cases that indicate that, behind all the glitter and excitement of the sport, there may be many instances of a toxic culture that is allowing the youth who participate in this sport to be susceptible to environments that may be detrimental to them in many …

Studying Causal Inferences For Student Success In Higher Education, Prabesh Shrestha

Theses and Dissertations

Higher education institutions strive to support students in achieving their academic goals through targeted interventions and data-driven strategies. This study analyzed 19 variables, spanning student demographics, enrollment patterns, and institutional interventions, to identify predictors of students completing all enrolled courses in a semester. Using random forest, logistic regression, and bootstrap forest models, we assessed variable importance and derived causal estimates to determine their impact. Results from causal analysis indicate positive effects from session type, term load, referrals, kudos, flags, and scholarships, while negative impacts were associated with location, course delivery method, enrollment status, advisor contact, and registration interval. These findings …

The Lived Experiences Of School Counselors, Job Burnout, And The Blurred Lines Of The Profession, Cecilia Angelica Gomez

Theses and Dissertations

This phenomenological qualitative study explores the lived experiences of school counselors during and after the COVID-19 pandemic, focusing on job burnout, role ambiguity, and the blurred lines of the profession. Through semi-structured interviews with practicing school counselors, the study identifies common themes including role overload, manifestations of burnout, coping and resilience strategies, and the impact of administrative support. Findings highlight the systemic factors contributing to counselor stress and the importance of self-care, peer collaboration, and role clarity for counselor well-being and student outcomes.

The Lived Experiences Of School Counselors, Job Burnout, And The Blurred Lines Of The Profession, Cecilia Angelica Gomez

Theses and Dissertations

This phenomenological qualitative study explores the lived experiences of school counselors during and after the COVID-19 pandemic, focusing on job burnout, role ambiguity, and the blurred lines of the profession. Through semi-structured interviews with practicing school counselors, the study identifies common themes including role overload, manifestations of burnout, coping and resilience strategies, and the impact of administrative support. Findings highlight the systemic factors contributing to counselor stress and the importance of self-care, peer collaboration, and role clarity for counselor well-being and student outcomes.

Influence Of Peer-Led Team Learning In Students’ Chemistry Self-Efficacy, And Academic Achievement In General Chemistry Courses, Hector Leal

Theses and Dissertations

One of the most perplexing issues facing peer cooperative learning is dealing with student motivation and goal orientation. Sometimes the students who could most benefit from the positive effects of peer learning are the ones least likely to participate due to fear of exposing their academic weaknesses to others or even to themselves (Arendale, 2020). Exploring the complexity of student motivation is being carefully studied amongst elementary and secondary education student populations. However, this important construct is often ignored in the study of postsecondary education in general, and the provision of learning assistance, particularly at the college level. My purpose …