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Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

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The Effects Of Contract Activity Packages On Boredom In A Sixth-Grade Accelerated Math Class, Joanna Bartlett Apr 2017

The Effects Of Contract Activity Packages On Boredom In A Sixth-Grade Accelerated Math Class, Joanna Bartlett

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

There is currently a lack of research aimed at determining the boredom level experienced by sixth grade students participating in an accelerated math class, as well as suitable strategies aimed at helping students avoid it. This quantitative quasi-experimental static-group comparison study investigated boredom levels with the implementation of Contract Activity Packages (CAPs), a strategy specifically related to combatting boredom for gifted and talented students, into a sixth-grade accelerated math class. Data were collected from 138 sixth-grade students participating in an accelerated math class via the boredom scale of the Achievement Emotions Questionnaire – Mathematics (AEQ-M) and analyzed using a two-way …


Teacher Perceptions Regarding Traditional Instruction And The Theory Of Multiple Intelligences: A Phenomenological Study, Darcel Harper Hogans Apr 2017

Teacher Perceptions Regarding Traditional Instruction And The Theory Of Multiple Intelligences: A Phenomenological Study, Darcel Harper Hogans

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to investigate the lived experiences of 10 elementary teachers in Georgia classrooms who have implemented traditional instruction as well as the theory of multiple intelligences created by Gardner. The basic research question lies in teacher perspectives of teaching traditional instruction and then switching over to teach the theory of multiple intelligences. A qualitative approach was used with a transcendental phenomenological design to obtain data for this research study. This phenomenological study used interviews, focus groups, and journals to understand the thoughts and ideas from purposefully sampled, 10 full-time certified teachers from Myrtle …


The Relationship Between Reading Fluency And Lexile Measures, Joshua Purvis Mar 2017

The Relationship Between Reading Fluency And Lexile Measures, Joshua Purvis

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

With increasing emphasis being placed on teachers to show an improvement in student achievement, schools are relying on indicators such as reading fluency and reading comprehension to gauge student progress throughout the year. Since the growth on these assessments are used in calculating teachers and administrators’ yearly job evaluations, the significance of these measures has never been higher. Teachers and administrators want to know if the time spent on measures such as reading fluency is worth the sacrifice in the instructional day, when this time could be spent on teaching state mandated standards. The purpose of this quantitative non-experimental correlational …


Understanding The Impact Of Online Grading And Standards-Based Report Cards: A Phenomenological Study On Teacher Instruction At The Elementary Level, Ann Mathena Mar 2017

Understanding The Impact Of Online Grading And Standards-Based Report Cards: A Phenomenological Study On Teacher Instruction At The Elementary Level, Ann Mathena

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental, phenomenological study was to understand the impact of online grading and standards-based report cards on elementary teacher instruction at a suburban school system. This research study examined teacher instruction and assessment, sharing obstacles, and resources necessary for the effective use of standards-based instruction and grading. The population for the study included 74 teacher participants from elementary schools. Data included information obtained from interviews, focus groups, and document collection. Data analysis included analyzing transcripts and coding information based on identified themes. Formal data analysis completed through using Moustakas’ seven steps, analyzed the experiences, identified significant statements …


Teachers' Experiences With Integrating Play-Based Learning Into Standards-Driven Curriculum: A Phenomenological Study, Mary Nugent Mar 2017

Teachers' Experiences With Integrating Play-Based Learning Into Standards-Driven Curriculum: A Phenomenological Study, Mary Nugent

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to describe kindergarten teachers’ experiences with integrating play-based learning into standards-based academic curriculum in a school district in South Carolina. Play–based learning experiences were defined as instances which allow children to engage in active, social learning experiences in classrooms. This study explored the question of how kindergarten teachers describe their experiences with integrating play-based learning experiences in their classrooms, the value of play in their classrooms, their role as the adult during play experiences, and the difficulties that they face in making instructional decisions. The theories guiding this study were Froebel’s early childhood …


A Comparison Of Work Ethic Among High School Athletes And Non Athletes, Edward Moore Mar 2017

A Comparison Of Work Ethic Among High School Athletes And Non Athletes, Edward Moore

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Organizations have become increasingly interested in hiring employees who are committed to the inherent value of work. The purpose of this causal comparative study was to compare the work ethic of high school athletes to non-athletes in a high school setting in South Carolina and analyzed the role of gender within that dynamic. A total of 345 responses were analyzed, with 139 reporting no participation in athletics, 87 reporting participation in sub-varsity athletics only, and 119 reporting participation in varsity athletics. The Multidimensional Work Ethic Profile (MWEP) was developed as a method of measuring work ethic and was composed of …


Comparing The Self-Efficacy Of Dual Enrollment Students Taking Classes At The High School, At The College, And Online, Tyler Wallace Mar 2017

Comparing The Self-Efficacy Of Dual Enrollment Students Taking Classes At The High School, At The College, And Online, Tyler Wallace

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This quantitative causal comparative study investigated how the modality of course content delivery impacts the self-efficacy of dual enrollment students. The problem was that it is unclear how the benefits of dual enrollment impact different student groups based on the location of the course. The purpose was to verify existing research linking higher college self-efficacy with participation in dual enrollment programs and to provide an initial understanding of how the benefit of higher levels of self-efficacy regarding college performance is distributed between students who take their dual enrollment courses in various modalities. Using the College Academic Self-Efficacy Scale (CASES), data …


High Schools Implementing Bring Your Own Technology: A Phenomenological Study Of Classroom Teachers' Perspectives, Allison Hurston Mar 2017

High Schools Implementing Bring Your Own Technology: A Phenomenological Study Of Classroom Teachers' Perspectives, Allison Hurston

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Despite the increased unfolding of new Bring Your Own Technology (BYOT) initiatives, confusion exists regarding the defining characteristics of a BYOT classroom. Using the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), the purpose of this qualitative transcendental phenomenological study was to investigate how teachers at three different high schools in a southeastern U.S. state define, plan, and implement BYOT within their classrooms. The study took place in a southeastern U.S. state and included 10 BYOT teachers. It was designed to answer four research questions: (a) What are BYOT teachers’ definitions and descriptions of BYOT? (b) What planning and implementation strategies do BYOT teachers …


Teacher Working Conditions: Perceptions Of Novice And Experienced K-12 Virtual School Teachers, Tiffany Francis Mar 2017

Teacher Working Conditions: Perceptions Of Novice And Experienced K-12 Virtual School Teachers, Tiffany Francis

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this study was to examine if there is a difference between novice and experienced teachers’ perceptions of the working conditions at the K-12 virtual school. This study examined the teachers’ total years employed at the school to determine if a difference exists in the groups’ perceptions of the teacher working conditions. Teacher working conditions were measured by the North Carolina Teacher Working Conditions (NC TWC) survey that was administered to North Carolina teachers. A causal-comparative research design was used to conduct the study. A convenience sample of (N = 318) licensed K-12 virtual school instructors participated in …


Predictors Of Attitudes Of Private School Teachers Toward Inclusion Of Students With Special Needs In New Mexico, Debbra O'Hara Jan 2017

Predictors Of Attitudes Of Private School Teachers Toward Inclusion Of Students With Special Needs In New Mexico, Debbra O'Hara

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Teachers’ attitudes toward inclusion of students with special needs affect communication with students, curricular decisions, selection and implementation of teaching strategies, and professional development needs. Most research in the United States has focused on the attitudes of public school teachers who must follow federal special education law and regulations, though international research on inclusion has included studies of both public and private school teachers’ attitudes. Private school teachers experience differing conditions (legal, economic, organizational, philosophical, etc.) and may hold differing attitudes toward inclusion from those of their public school peers. Determining these attitudes will help private school personnel to address …


Relationship Between Sense Of Coherence And School Connectedness Among Online Public High School Students, Brad Hilliard Jan 2017

Relationship Between Sense Of Coherence And School Connectedness Among Online Public High School Students, Brad Hilliard

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between sense of coherence and school connectedness among online public high school students. The connection students make with their school can affect their well-being based on the stress they perceive from the school and its environment. The variables of interest were the sense of coherence score and the school connectedness score. A bivariate correlational research study was performed to determine if there was a significant relationship between the two variables. The sample was 83 high school students enrolled in an online public school. Each completed the Sense of Coherence – …


The Role Of The Short-Term Mission Trip Process In The Development Of Cultural Intelligence In University Students: A Collective Case Study, Ashley Haygood Jan 2017

The Role Of The Short-Term Mission Trip Process In The Development Of Cultural Intelligence In University Students: A Collective Case Study, Ashley Haygood

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this collective case study was to determine how, if at all, Cultural Intelligence (CQ) develops in undergraduate students through a three-stage mission trip process for students at a large Christian university in the southeast participating in three separate short-term mission trips (Africa, Asia, and Europe). This study found that across the entire short-term mission (STM) trip process, religious faith was a consistent theme impacting CQ development. Three spring break short-term mission trip teams were used as three separate cases, from which several participants, or embedded units, provided their individual experiences within the case. Data collection methods occurred …


The Relationship Between Self-Efficacy And Teachers' Ability To Integrate Technology, Robert Hickson Jan 2017

The Relationship Between Self-Efficacy And Teachers' Ability To Integrate Technology, Robert Hickson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study sought to evaluate the self-efficacy of teachers with regard to the integration of technology within the curriculum. The purpose of this study was to determine if there is a relationship between teachers’ self-efficacy within the classroom and their ability to integrate the technology available in the classroom. A quantitative, correlational study was performed. The sample was a convenience sample of 64 instructors at the middle grade level of a South Georgia school district. Middle school teachers were surveyed at one point in time, using Media and Technology Usage Attitude Scale (MTUAS) and the Teachers’ Sense of Self- Efficacy …


The Frequency Of Texting On Middle School Students' Writing Achievement, Jennifer French Jan 2017

The Frequency Of Texting On Middle School Students' Writing Achievement, Jennifer French

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this correlational study was to discover the impact of texting on writing achievement for middle school students. The theory guiding this study is Vygotsky’s Social Cognitive Theory (Newman & Holzman, 2013) as it explains that learning is influenced by one’s social environment. The data that will be collected consists of the scores of the writing portion of the 2014-2015 state standardized test (ISTEP), a student survey answering questions about texting practices, and student status information on Free and Reduced Meals. The multiple regression analysis will be used to analyze this data because as inferential statistics it can …


Predictors Of The Use Of English Language Assistance Services By English Language Learners In Elementary Schools, Juanita Hosch-Martin Dec 2016

Predictors Of The Use Of English Language Assistance Services By English Language Learners In Elementary Schools, Juanita Hosch-Martin

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The number of English language learners (ELLs) in the American classrooms is growing at a rapid rate. The purpose of this correlational study was to determine whether there was a statistically significant relationship between the need for English language assistance services predicted using a combination of a student’s home language, student’s first language, student’s language used most, and W-APT scores for elementary school students in a southeastern state. The instrumentation for this study consisted of the Home Language Survey and W-APT scores. With the approval of the IRB and a southern state school district, the research was conducted using a …


The Factors That Contribute To The Success Of High School Students Who Study A Foreign Language Beyond Graduation Requirements: A Multiple Case Study, Tameka Allen Dec 2016

The Factors That Contribute To The Success Of High School Students Who Study A Foreign Language Beyond Graduation Requirements: A Multiple Case Study, Tameka Allen

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this multiple case study was to investigate the factors contributing to the persistence of successful foreign language learners who chose to continue studying a foreign language beyond the high school graduation requirement. The theories guiding this study are Gardner and Lambert’s 1972 Socio-Educational Model (SEM) of motivation (as cited by Gardner, 2010), Deci and Ryan’s (2002) Self Determination Theory (SDT), and Dörnyei’s (2005) L2 Motivational Self System. The participants were 14 high school students who were enrolled in a level four or Advanced Placement foreign language class. Interviews, classroom observations, and the Attitudes/Motivation Test and Battery (Gardner, …


The Lived Experiences Of Christian Missionaries Who Need To Learn A Foreign Language To Fulfill A Call To Serve In Immersed Settings: A Phenomenological Study, Stephanie Blankenship Dec 2016

The Lived Experiences Of Christian Missionaries Who Need To Learn A Foreign Language To Fulfill A Call To Serve In Immersed Settings: A Phenomenological Study, Stephanie Blankenship

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

he purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to describe the experiences of Christian missionaries living immersed cross-culturally who need to learn a foreign language in order to fulfill a Christian vocational calling. The theories guiding this study were Vygotsky’s (1978) sociocultural theory and Bandura’s (1986) social cognitive theory as pertains to the social aspects and interactions of immersion in second language acquisition. This study was important in offering support and guidance in the ongoing understanding of second language acquisition, in particular to individuals who have answered the Christian call to missions (Dixon et al., 2012; Price, 2013). This study …


Blended Learning: Perspectives From First Time High School Instructors, Tammy Parlier Dec 2016

Blended Learning: Perspectives From First Time High School Instructors, Tammy Parlier

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this collective case study was to understand the transitional experiences of first time instructors, teaching a blended learning course at three separate high school sites. Blended learning is defined as inquiry that combines both face-to-face and online modalities (Halverson, Graham, Spring, & Drysdale, 2012). This unique merger between both traditional face-to-face instruction and innovative online learning creates transition and change experiences for instructors as they adapt their practice to satisfy the requirements of the blended learning environment (Guskey, 1986). Data collected through individual interviews, reflective journals, observations, and a culminating focus group interview examined these experiences in …


The Experiences Of University Faculty Expected To Implement Edtpa Within A Teacher Preparation Program, Lance Kilpatrick Dec 2016

The Experiences Of University Faculty Expected To Implement Edtpa Within A Teacher Preparation Program, Lance Kilpatrick

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to examine the experiences of university faculty expected to implement a teacher performance assessment called edTPA within a teacher preparation program. This study synthesized the experiences university faculty members have when preparing and implementing the edTPA. A deep examination of 12 university faculty members who teach in teacher preparation programs in a Midwestern state where the edTPA is required for licensure offer their experience through a questionnaire, an individual interview, and a focus group interview. The data were collected, organized, and analyzed by employing transcendental phenomenological systematic data analysis procedures positioned to …


To College They Go: A Multiple Case Study Of Seven Homeschooled Graduates' Transition From Home To College, Shellie Fink-Glass Dec 2016

To College They Go: A Multiple Case Study Of Seven Homeschooled Graduates' Transition From Home To College, Shellie Fink-Glass

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this multiple case study was to explore and capture how Pennsylvania homeschooled graduates transitioned from their homeschooled academic environment to a collegiate one. This research was founded on the need for further research addressing homeschoolers and their transition into college. Existing literature falls short which not only documents the first-hand, personal experiences taken directly from homeschooled graduates, but from their mothers, as well. Five research questions were developed to guide this study. Questionnaires and oral interviews were used to capture the unique personal experiences from both the students and their mothers. During the analysis phase, five recurring …


Community College Alumni Engagement: Exploring The Relationship Of Social Media To Alumni Giving, Amy Hall Dec 2016

Community College Alumni Engagement: Exploring The Relationship Of Social Media To Alumni Giving, Amy Hall

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Community colleges have begun to rely more heavily on private funding sources like alumni donations to support their overall fiscal health. This correlational study tested the theory of planned behavior as it relates to level of engagement through social media for community college alumni and alumni giving behavior for Virginia’s community colleges. More specifically, it attempted to determine whether a relationship exists between alumni use of their alma mater’s Facebook page and engagement behaviors. Survey data were gathered from participating colleges and from a randomly drawn sample of alumni of Virginia’s 23 community colleges (N=4,100) using the Virginia Community College …


The Impact Of Sports Participation On The Academic Achievement Of African American Girls, Sarita Singleton Dec 2016

The Impact Of Sports Participation On The Academic Achievement Of African American Girls, Sarita Singleton

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Although there are several educational benefits resulting from participation in high school sports, African American students do not always experience the positive outcomes that other populations share. The purpose of this causal comparative study was to investigate the effect of athletic participation on the academic achievement of African American high school female students. The sample consisted of 100 female African American 12th-grade students. Descriptive statistics were collected and analyzed. Analysis involved archival data to determine the grade point averages and graduation rates of student athletes and non-athletes in two urban high schools in Georgia. The study sought to determine if …


Life Satisfaction: A Study Of Engagement And The Academic Progress Of High School Students With Specific Learning Disabilities, Rebecca Dilling Dec 2016

Life Satisfaction: A Study Of Engagement And The Academic Progress Of High School Students With Specific Learning Disabilities, Rebecca Dilling

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to understand how high school students with specific learning disabilities describe life satisfaction and its impact on student motivation, academic engagement, and academic progress. Bruner’s constructivist theory guided this research. Other theories included: Piaget’s cognitive development theory, Bronfenbrenner’s ecological theory, Vygotsky’s social learning theory, Erikson’s psychosocial development theory, Maslow’s hierarchy of needs theory, Bowlby’s attachment theory, Dewey’s brain-based learning theory, Glasser’s control theory of motivation, Bandura’s social cognitive theory, Deci and Ryan’s self-determination theory, and Bandura’s self-efficacy theory. Data collection tools included the researcher’s journal, classroom observations, student interviews, two student focus …


How Do They Do It? A Phenomenological Description Of Stress And Coping In Radiation Therapists, Cheryl Turner Dec 2016

How Do They Do It? A Phenomenological Description Of Stress And Coping In Radiation Therapists, Cheryl Turner

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study aimed to better understand and describe the lived experiences of job-related stressors and associated coping mechanisms of radiation therapists (RTTs). The study employed a phenomenological qualitative method as to explore the experiences of 11 radiation therapists in select regional cancer centers in the Southeastern United States. The following questions were explored: (a) How do radiation therapists describe job-related stress? (b) What factors do radiation therapists identify as contributing to job-related stress? (c) What mechanisms do radiation therapists employ to cope with job-related stress they described? and (d) How do radiation therapists find motivation to continue in their chosen …


Differences In Students' Satisfaction Of The Economics And Personal Finance Virtual High School Course Between Students Attending Economically Disadvantaged And Non-Economically Disadvantaged Schools In Virginia, Lhe Smith Dec 2016

Differences In Students' Satisfaction Of The Economics And Personal Finance Virtual High School Course Between Students Attending Economically Disadvantaged And Non-Economically Disadvantaged Schools In Virginia, Lhe Smith

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Virtual learning is a mandated high school graduation requirement for students entering high school during the 2013 school year in the state of Virginia. The purpose of this quantitative, causal-comparative study was to analyze the differences of perceived overall satisfaction of high school students enrolled in a virtual course in different socioeconomic status schools, as measured by the e-Learning Student Satisfaction (ELS) instrument. The study participants were high school students enrolled in an Economics and Personal Finance virtual/online high school course in Virginia, n = 249. The study utilized a one-way multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) to determine if there …


Qualitative Collective Case Study Of Targeted Violence Preparedness At Institutions Of Higher Education, Tim Gunter Dec 2016

Qualitative Collective Case Study Of Targeted Violence Preparedness At Institutions Of Higher Education, Tim Gunter

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

An increase in targeted violence incidents (TVIs), primarily active shooter events, at institutions of higher education (IHEs) has exposed gaps in campus security plan preparation and exercises. The purpose of this qualitative collective case study was to discover barriers to and best practices of universities and colleges conducting security preparedness activities for TVIs. The theory that guided this study was vested interest theory which predicts how attitudes will influence behavior in a commitment to preparedness fundamentals. The setting for this study was two institutions of higher education along the East Coast of the United States. Data collection techniques included site …


The Creation And Examination Of An Index Of High School Grade Point Average And Sat Score To Predict College Performance, Todd Wadsworth Dec 2016

The Creation And Examination Of An Index Of High School Grade Point Average And Sat Score To Predict College Performance, Todd Wadsworth

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

A variable derived from commonly available performance metrics was created. The derived variable was an index created from the quotient of each student's high school cumulative grade point average and SAT composite test score. Its predictive validity for college performance of both first-semester males and females was examined. The data used in the study was archival and obtained from a college freshmen cohort of 544 students. The analysis was carried out by conducting three separate bivariate correlation analyses. Descriptive statistics of the index were also reported, both as a whole and disaggregated by sex. The descriptive statistics included means, variances, …


Physical Education, Art, And Music Teachers' Lived Experiences With Students Who Have Adhd Or Adhd Symptoms, Kellie Henry Dec 2016

Physical Education, Art, And Music Teachers' Lived Experiences With Students Who Have Adhd Or Adhd Symptoms, Kellie Henry

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to discover the lived experiences of teaching students with ADHD for art, music, and physical education teachers at elementary schools. The theories guiding this study are Zentall’s (1975) Optimal Stimulation Theory and Ajzen’s (1991) Theory of Planned Behavior as they explain how teachers’ attitudes and use of stimulation in the classroom affects the central phenomenon. This transcendental phenomenological study was based on actual descriptions of elementary special area teachers’ lived experiences with students who have ADHD. The design included a review of the literature, epoche, phenomenological reduction, imaginative variation, and synthesis of …


The Relationships Between School Climate, Teacher Self-Efficacy, And Teacher Beliefs, Paige Lacks Dec 2016

The Relationships Between School Climate, Teacher Self-Efficacy, And Teacher Beliefs, Paige Lacks

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This quantitative study examined the relationship between school climate, teacher self-efficacy, and teacher beliefs. Teachers at two middle schools in rural southern Virginia participated in the study. Middle school teachers were surveyed using the School Climate Index to collect information about teacher-perceived views on their school’s climate and the Teacher Sense of Efficacy Scale to gather information about teacher self-efficacy. Pearson Product-Moment Correlations were used to measure the relationship between school climate and teacher self-efficacy as well as teacher self-efficacy and four teacher-perceived climate factors, including collegial leadership, teacher professionalism, academic press, and community engagement. Data analysis did not provide …


The Effect Of Group Counseling Intervention On The Performance Of Rural Students On The Georgia High School Graduation Tests, Donna Caudel Dec 2016

The Effect Of Group Counseling Intervention On The Performance Of Rural Students On The Georgia High School Graduation Tests, Donna Caudel

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

With an increase in high-stakes testing, educators continue to search for the best methodologies for assisting students in maximizing academic achievement and successful completion of graduation requirements including mandatory tests for high school graduation. At the time of this study, students graduating from Georgia high schools were required to pass five academic subject area tests in order to receive a high school diploma. Psychometric theory, social cognitive theory, and cognitive behavioral theory provided the theoretical framework for this study. Students from a rural high school in Georgia comprised the sample. This quantitative study employed a posttest-only control group design with …