Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Foster Care Students And Their Success In Academic Achievements In School, Kirsten Nassiff

Theses and Dissertations

This applied dissertation was designed to provide better training and resources for teachers working with students in foster care who have experienced multiple foster care placements, and to assist them in achieving academic success.

The researcher conducted semi-structured interviews with six educators and staff at an alternative school that has the highest number of students in foster care, located in this school district. Using Braun and Clarke’s six steps for Thematic Analysis, each transcript was coded with the assistance of MAXQDA, and themes were developed.

An analysis of the data revealed that educators and staff do not receive adequate communication …

Medical Students' Attitudes Towards Research Participation After The United States Medical Licensing Examination Step 1 Scoring Change, Danxun Li, Nina Li, Curt Bay, Uzoma Ikonne

Department of Medicine Faculty Publications

Background

The recent transition of scoring for the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) Step 1 exam from a numerical grading system to pass/fail system has significant implications for residency applicants. It is anticipated that research productivity will gain greater importance in the evaluation process. To understand how medical institutions can best support students, we seek to understand medical students' motivations and experience conducting research in medical school after the USMLE Step 1 scoring change.

Methods

This is a mixed-methods, cross-sectional study that examines the motivations and barriers that medical students face in conducting academic or clinical research. A survey …

Analysis Of Pre-Service Teachers’ Personal Metaphors About Foreign Language Teaching, Juan Luis De La Montaña Conchiña, Guadalupe De La Maya Retamar, Magdalena López-Pérez

Australian Journal of Teacher Education

This study analyses the characterisation and evolution of the personal metaphors of a sample of 34 trainee foreign language teachers, through a questionnaire of open-ended questions that included asking the participants to make drawings representing the roles of the teacher. Four categories of metaphors were considered for the analysis: behaviourist/transmissive, cognitivist/constructivist, situated, and self-referential. The results indicate that most participants were able to conceptualise their image of the teacher in the form of metaphors. The pre-service teachers’ metaphors represented are mainly cognitivist/constructivist and behaviourist/transmissive. When comparing them before and after the internship in the primary schools, most of them did …

Teacher Perception On The Implementation Of A Culturally Responsive Ela Curriculum, Erica Tate Dial

Theses and Dissertations

While the principles of culturally responsive and culturally relevant teaching hold transformative potential, they can only be fully realized if educators are genuinely equipped and empowered to implement them. This qualitative study examined teacher perceptions of an English Language Arts curriculum through the lens of culturally relevant and culturally responsive teaching. A diverse group of teachers, varying in experience, age, gender, and race, were interviewed to gather a range of perspectives on the implementation of this curriculum. The study focused on addressing the following research questions: 1. What are teachers’ perceptions of culturally responsive and culturally relevant instruction and academic …

Beyond The Brochure: Exploring The Reality Of Belonging In South Florida Private Schools, Jennifer Vigille

Theses and Dissertations

This applied dissertation was designed to explore Black parents’ perceptions of teachers and leadership in predominantly White private schools. The research drew on a rich body of literature on race, education, and social dynamics in diverse school settings. The study addressed the ongoing challenges Black families faced in navigating these environments, particularly in terms of communication and cultural competence. The central research questions investigated how Black parents experienced and interpreted teacher and leadership relationships and support in predominately White private schools.

The study hypothesized that Black parents perceived significant gaps in communication and cultural competence among educators and leaders, affecting …

A Qualitative Study For Parental Involvement In Middle School: Perspectives Of Parents And Teachers, Twana Ivory

Theses and Dissertations

This applied dissertation was designed to examine the barriers contributing to low parental involvement in a selected middle school. Parental engagement has been widely linked to student academic success and positive behavior outcomes; however, involvement tends to decline as students enter middle school. The purpose of this study was to explore the experiences and perceptions of educators and parents regarding parental involvement, identify the challenges families face, and discover opportunities to strengthen school-family collaboration.

The researcher employed a qualitative research design using a phenomenological approach. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with eleven participants, including six middle school teachers and five parents. …

Relaciones De Las Competencias Docentes Con El Bienestar En Docentes De Ciencias Empresariales Bajo La Modalidad A Distancia En Una Universidad Privada En Colombia, Camilo Ernesto Aguirre Martínez

Theses and Dissertations

El propósito de esta investigación consistió en determinar las relaciones de las competencias docentes con el bienestar en docentes de Ciencias Empresariales bajo la modalidad a distancia en una Universidad privada de Colombia. El estudio buscó identificar las relaciones entre las competencias docentes y el bienestar psicológico, el bienestar subjetivo y el bienestar social, cuáles de esas relaciones predominan, así como la identificación de cuáles elementos de estos tipos de bienestar contribuyen con el desarrollo de las competencias docentes.

El enfoque de la investigación fue el empírico analítico o cuantitativo, el diseño fue no experimental y su alcance fue de …

Perceptions Of Mental Health School-Based Team Members On Addressing Suicidal And Non-Suicidal Self-Injurious Behaviors: A Qualitative Inquiry Into Policy Implementation And Practice In School Settings, Ashlande Smith

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to explore the perceptions of mental health school-based team members regarding the effectiveness of current prevention and intervention practices for addressing suicidal and non-suicidal self-harming behaviors among school-age children in a large suburban school district in the southern United States. Despite the alarming increase in self-injurious behaviors, with crisis calls rising from 144 incidents in the 2022 school year to 736 incidents in the 2025 school year, the district lacked comprehensive prevention and intervention strategies to effectively address this critical issue.

The researcher used a qualitative phenomenological approach to capture the lived experiences and …

Estudio Fenomenológico Sobre La Relación Entre El Liderazgo Transformacional Y La Efectividad De Las Iniciativas De Gestión De Cambio En Las Organizaciones, Greilyn Soto-Perez

Theses and Dissertations

Esta Disertación Aplicada tuvo como propósito explorar la relación entre el liderazgo transformacional y la efectividad de las iniciativas de gestión del cambio en organizaciones de diversos sectores. Este estudio cualitativo se centró en comprender, desde el punto de vista de diferentes lideres transformacionales en distintas áreas e industrias, cómo los líderes y empleados experimentan y perciben el impacto del liderazgo transformacional en la implementación de cambios significativos organizacionales.

Este estudio de naturaleza cualitativa se enmarcó en un enfoque fenomenológico. Mediante entrevistas semiestructuradas en profundidad, se exploraron cuatro dimensiones del liderazgo transformacional: influencia idealizada, motivación inspiradora, estimulación intelectual y consideración …

An Interpretative Phenomenological Study Of Sexual Assault Investigations In Sexual Assault Response Teams (Sarts), Caitlyn Marie Clark

Theses and Dissertations

This applied dissertation was designed to provide further insight into sexual assault investigations and response from the lived experiences of Sexual Assault Response Team and Task Force criminal justice professionals. There has been limited research on Sexual Assault Response Teams (SARTs), Multidisciplinary Teams (MDTs), and Sexual Assault Task Force (SATF) units, specifically encompassing the lived experiences of their members. This interpretative phenomenological study sought to explore these collaborative multidisciplinary teams from the lived experiences of the criminal justice professionals who represent them and to analyze the factors of sexual assault investigations and response that these members find significant.

In this …

Wondrous Uncertainty: Transforming Student Educational Experiences Using Restorative Practices, Zachary C. Schafer

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

One of the primary purposes of education is to help students make sense of their lived experiences. In the process of becoming, students navigate multiple relationships (school, peers, adults, and with self). These relationships often cause conditions of uncertainty which can be managed and transformed using restorative practices in tandem with the academic disciplines taught in school. Over the last decade this has been my inquiry puzzle, “As educators, how can we embrace uncertainty with students as a way of helping to empower them through their dignity, with the academic disciplines as a lens through which relational learning occurs in …

Friends Of The Library Newsletter, Spring 2025, Hillary Richardson

Fant Library News and Reports

No abstract provided.

Innovating Chaplaincy Education: Integrating Nonreligious Spiritual Care Interventions To Serve A Diverse Patient Population, Dianne Dragon

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

The transformation to the curriculum taught in chaplain training in Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) will now address the spiritual needs of a more diverse, nonreligious, and interfaith population in the United States. Historically rooted in religious frameworks, CPE curricula are evolving to incorporate non-religious spiritual care interventions and promote research literacy among chaplains. This dissertation study uses descriptive analysis to present a study surveying CPE educators across over 300 U.S. based CPE centers to explore teaching practices and adaptation strategies. Findings reveal that integrating evidence-based methods and interdisciplinary collaboration is key to addressing inclusivity and professional competency in chaplaincy. By …

Advancing Accessibility In Higher Education: A Community-Based Approach To Addressing Rising Student Accommodation Needs Requests In The Post-Covid-19 Era, Mariah Lossing

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

Accommodation requests for students with disabilities have increased in higher education over the past decade, with the sharpest rise occurring in the post-COVID environment. Most requests over the past five years have been related to mental health. Faculty, especially adjunct instructors, often lack access to training and resources that address the growing challenges efficiently and effectively. Faculty are balancing academic rigor with flexibility and accessibility while universities experience increasing pressure to retain both students and faculty amidst rising demands and resource limitations. This study explored a community-based approach to addressing accessibility and professional development in the changing landscape of post-COVID-19 …

From Rural Roads To College Credits: Understanding Dual Enrollment In New Hampshire's Rural High Schools, Sarah Chase

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

Dual enrollment programs vary significantly across states, schools, and districts, leading to inconsistent college readiness outcomes. While previous research primarily examines differences at the state level, little is known about how these programs operate within rural high schools in the same region. This study examines dual enrollment in four rural high schools in New Hampshire using a multiple-case study approach and thematic analysis. Data was collected through interviews with administrators, faculty, counselors, and alumni, along with reviews of public documents. Six key themes emerged: (1) Barriers to Dual Enrollment, (2) Conflicting Perspectives of Key Players, (3) Benefits of Dual Enrollment, …

A Phenomenological Study Of The Lived Experience Of Gay White Men In Mid-Level Student Affairs Leadership Roles, S. Craig Mourton

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

The purpose of this dissertation was to investigate the lived experience of mid-level student affairs leaders who identify as cisgender, gay, White, and male in order to further understand the multidimensionality of embodying both privileged as well as marginalized identities. Four participants were interviewed using a semi-structured interview guide and the resulting transcripts were analyzed utilizing the Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) perspective. Experiential themes that emerged from the analysis of the individual cases as well as across the cases include unintended pathways into the field of student affairs, experiences of challenging heterosexual male supervisors and the preference for women supervisors, …

Exploring Canadian Social Work Students' Aphobic Attitudes: The Role Of Knowledge About Asexuality And Asexual People, Brianna V. Azzoparde

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Aphobic attitudes are negative biases and prejudices against asexual individuals that can contribute to aphobic discrimination. While the Canadian Social Work Code of Ethics states that social workers should not discriminate and should provide culturally responsive services to marginalized populations, individually held aphobic attitudes have the potential to diminish one’s ability to provide culturally responsive services to asexual people. This national study examined aphobic attitudes among 326 Canadian social work students, exploring the relationship between knowledge about asexuality and aphobic attitudes, including controlling for demographic factors, social contact with asexuals, and social attitudes that previous research has identified as being …

“We’Re Here, We’Re Queer, And We’Re Not Going Away” Student Policies And Lgbtq+ Students’ Experiences On Canadian Christian Campuses, Angela E. Gallo

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Research highlights that Christian campuses are often unwelcoming and hostile spaces for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and other gender and sexually diverse (LGBTQ+) students. Yet, research, including emerging Canadian research, often overlooks how institutional policies shape LGBTQ+ students’ experiences. Further, little attention is given to the affirming experiences LGBTQ+ students encounter on Christian campuses. Through a collective case study of two Canadian Christian universities involving document analysis and interviews, I explored the discourses that school policies constructed concerning gender and sexuality, LGBTQ+ students’ experiences of exclusion and affirmation, and how policy, alongside other factors, shapes their experiences and well-being. …

From Poetry To Policy: How H-Stem Has Guided My Research Path, Kayla D. Taylor

Student Works

Embry-Riddle PhD student Kayla Taylor was invited to share how Humanistic STEM has shaped her educational journey at the third annual Humanistic STEM symposium.

A Learning History Of Online Portfolio Development In Kinesiology: Academic Innovation From Pilot To Powerhouse, Lyndsay M. Burneisen Phd

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This study examines the phased development of an online kinesiology education program, tracing its evolution from inception to institutionalization through Rogers’ Diffusion of Innovations (DOI) theory. Using a learning history methodology, this research synthesizes document analysis, stakeholder interviews, and focus groups, and historical program data to explore how strategic leadership, faculty engagement, student support, and technological advancements influenced the program’s growth and sustainability. The research is structured around three critical phases: inception, maturation, and institutionalization, highlighting key adaptations in curriculum design, administrative structures, and quality assurance. Findings reveal a transition from a decentralized, experimental model to a structured, integrated online …

The Inward Gaze: White Faculty's Self-Perceptions Of Racial Identity, Privilege, And Its Impact On Pedagogy, David E. Houle

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

This dissertation examines the evolving self-perceptions of racial consciousness among White faculty in higher education and its impact on pedagogical practices for fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion. This study is guided by Mezirow’s transformative learning theory and Rowe et al.’s White racial consciousness model and uses interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) to explore participants’ narratives of White racial identity, disorientating dilemmas, critical self-reflection, and pedagogical transformation. The research highlights key moments of self-reflection and transformation that influence inclusive teaching strategies, such as prioritizing marginalized voices in course content and rethinking classroom dynamics to respond to systemic inequities. The findings reveal how …

Racial Battle Fatigue In Higher Education: Understanding The Intersectional Dimensions Of Faculty And Staff Experiences, Candice N. Flowers-Taylor

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

This dissertation investigates Racial Battle Fatigue within institutions of higher education, focusing on its impact on faculty and staff of color. It examines how race, gender, socio-economic status, and institutional structures intersect to shape individual experiences of this phenomenon. To explore these dynamics, the study employs a qualitative methodology that includes semi-structured interviews, open-ended survey responses, and thematic analysis. It is grounded in the theoretical frameworks of Racial Battle Fatigue, Critical Race Theory, and Intersectionality. This research offers insight into the emotional, psychological, and physical toll experienced by faculty and staff of color in predominantly white institutions. It challenges prevailing …

Experiences Of Exemplary Supervisors Promoting Workplace Dignity Across Social Identity Differences, Emily Joy Aiken

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

Imagine a workplace where supervisors centered the dignity of each unique individual and sought to honor each person in their wholeness. This type of work environment moves beyond a toxic culture to a space that fosters flourishing, growth, and inclusion. Given that supervisors play an integral role in the experiences of staff members, this study explored the experiences of supervisors in promoting workplace dignity across cultural differences within higher education. With a focus on relational practices and a positive framing, this research sought to develop a nuanced understanding of dignified leadership across social identity differences. Leveraging a constructivist grounded theory …

Everyday Sexisms Take Away Tote Bags: Tools For Communicating Research Findings, Mindy Blaise, Emily M. Gray, Jacqueline Ullman, Emma Fishwick

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

In 2023 Takeaway Tote Bags bags were created and handed out to delegates attending an Australian national educational research conference. Usually conference bags are filled with corporate sponsored freebies like branded pens, notepads, and water bottles. The Everyday Sexisms Takeaway Tote Bags were different because they were conceptualised as a tool for creatively communicating research findings from a national mixed-methods research project about everyday sexisms in Australian Universities to a broad audience. Several resources were developed to open- up opportunities for dialogue, reflection, and pathways to action.

Understanding The Identity Work And Aspirations Of Indigenous Males Navigating Elite Australian Higher Education, James A. Smith, Garth Stahl, Andrew Harvey, Braden Hill, Himanshu Gupta, Sam Moore, Jianing Wang

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

In Australia, there has been increased attention to attracting Indigenous peoples into higher education but, despite a recent growth in enrolment numbers, they remain severely underrepresented. This underrepresentation is particularly notable among Indigenous males, who are the least likely to attend. In this paper, we investigate the experiences of four Indigenous young men who attended an elite higher education institution. Aligned with other research on the experiences of Black and Minority Ethnic males in higher education, the article captures how their experience in privileged institutions compels them to reflect on their own positionality and the cultural interface between Indigenous and …

History And The Teaching Of Dialect And Slang In Screenwriting, Mitch Olson, Chris C. Palmer

Faculty Articles

This article explores academic and industry perspectives on the use of dialect, slang, and historical language in screenwriting. It offers a chronological overview of major screenwriting manuals’ treatment of dialect and slang (or lack thereof) 1946-2020. It then presents survey data of 53 currently-practicing screenwriters’ views on working with dialect and historical language in scripts, as well as their sense of possible changes in the industry regarding attitudes towards diverse voice representation on the page. It concludes with examples from a teaching sequence that illustrates strategies for writing with dialect, researching it, and ethically considering its usage in scripts. Situating …

The Enactive Nature Of The Relationship Between Criticism And Aesthetics: From Practice To Theory To Pedagogy, Ivan Magrin-Chagnolleau

Presidential Fellows Articles and Research

This article delves into the intricate relationship between criticism and aesthetics, emphasizing its enactive nature. It explores how this relationship informs pedagogy and has culminated in the creation of an innovative undergraduate aesthetics course centered around the practice of writing critiques. Moreover, it illustrates the dynamic process through which practice gives rise to theory, subsequently influencing pedagogical approaches, and, intriguingly, circling back to practice. To elucidate this flow of ideas across the realms of practice, theory, and pedagogy, we introduce several key concepts. These include the paradigm of creation research, also known as practice as research, which forms the foundation …

Volume 11, Issue 3, Critical Currents And Pedagogical Shifts In Popular Culture And Pedagogy, Journal Dialogue

Dialogue: The Interdisciplinary Journal of Popular Culture and Pedagogy

Volume 11, Issue 3 of Dialogue: The Interdisciplinary Journal of Popular Culture and Pedagogy: On Confronting Identity and Global Challenges through Popular Culture and Pedagogy.

Escaping The Pedagogical Cabin In The Woods, Tony Kemerly, Davis Ritenour

Dialogue: The Interdisciplinary Journal of Popular Culture and Pedagogy

The American educational system, because of its seemingly innocuous yet ubiquitous nature, has become, to borrow a term from Roland Barthes, naturalized. By being naturalized, it has become a system that has somehow slipped beneath the radar of the American populace and operates on an autopilot of sorts that allows it to employ practices that don’t necessarily have the best interests of its constituents at heart. Murray Rothbard (1979) argued that compulsory schooling is not guided by altruism, but rather a desire to coerce the population into a mold that is desired by those possessing power in society. This need …

Building Transferable Skills In An Interdisciplinary Science And Science Fiction Capstone Course, John D. Carrell, Robert G. Weiner, Alexandria Prather

Dialogue: The Interdisciplinary Journal of Popular Culture and Pedagogy

College graduates are entering an ever-competitive workforce. Interdisciplinary course experiences are critical for developing analytical abilities and learning and these courses can provide valuable skills that will aid students beyond the classroom. These transferable skills include communication, teamwork, analytical and critical thinking, and creativity. To provide a unique learning experience and, through it, the development of transferable skills, the Honors College at Texas Tech University created an upper-level Capstone course titled “Superheroes, Super Villains, AI, Time Travel, and Film in Science and Popular Culture.” The class is an interdisciplinary look at science and science fiction taught by an engineering faculty …