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Microlearning as a Vehicle for Inclusive Leadership Education
Full text linkDiversity Equity and Inclusion is a rapidly growing, yet heavily embattled component of the employee experience offerings within many large organizations in the United States (Umoh, 2024). It is a practice aimed primarily at helping individuals understand and process how our personal and collective biases impact not only the soundness of our decisions and work culture, but also the organization’s growth, profitability, and brand reputation. In essence, it is an inextricable component of organizational psychology, and psychology more broadly.
Critics of the work allege that programs, trainings, policies, and processes aimed at remediation of longstanding systemic barriers to advancement for members of historically marginalized groups in American society have the collective effect of presenting these same groups with unearned or undeserved preferential treatment. Additionally, the most prominent critics of the practice allege that the well-documented systemic disenfranchisement of these groups is less pervasive now and no longer poses a threat to future success of the same. Neither this paper nor this project will address the merits of these arguments. Instead, the subject of this project is focused solely on improving the leadership acumen of mid to senior level managers by heightening their understanding of what inclusive leadership looks like, how it stands to benefit them as individuals and parts of the organizational whole, and how to apply this lens to their decision-making to avoid regrettable attrition, public missteps, and loss of valuable market share
Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering Characteristics of Nb2CTX MXene
Full text linkSurface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) is a technique applied to Raman spectroscopy to significantly enhance Raman signal strength. The development of cheaper, more efficient, and easily storable substrates in recent decades has seen a meteoric rise in the popularity of SERS across research and industries. In this thesis project, an underexplored SERS substrate candidate was investigated, 2D Nb2CTx MXene. Nb2CTx was thus synthesized and substrates crafted from it. The probe dyes crystal violet (CV) and molybdenum blue (MB) were adsorbed onto this MXene substrate, and the adsorbent-substrate system was evaluated for SERS suitability by measuring the enhancement factor (EF) under excitation laser wavelengths 532 and 488 nm. The SERS enhancement mechanisms were then discerned by investigating the resonance interactions of the substrate and probe analytes. It was found that the greatest EF (2.12 × 106) arose from MB under 532 nm laser excitation, which was 1 to nearly 2 orders of magnitude higher than any other laser and adsorbent pair. This high EF was determined to be caused by a chemical mechanism (CM), specifically the charge transfer near resonances of the Nb2CTx-MB system with the 532 nm laser. The distinct EF values of MB and CV suggest that a practical Nb2CTx based SERS substrate with reasonable EF and selective molecular detection capabilities is possible with CM enhancement. Furthermore, these results reveal the mechanics of Nb2CTx surface enhancement, deepening the knowledge of MXene based substrates and furthering the development of cheap and effective SERS substrates
Examining Administrator Preparedness in Response to Mass Casualty Events
Full text linkThe purpose of this qualitative study was to examine the relationship between crisis management and the implementation of school district policies. A purposeful sample of 15 sitting campus principals from the Southeast Region of Texas were solicited to participate in structured interviews to learn more about the principals’ perceptions regarding their familiarity with crisis management procedures they are expected to abide by and execute in the event of a crisis, and the implementation of school district policies. The qualitative findings revealed participants were aware of a limited amount of district policies and most assumed their respective districts had expectations on how to respond to a crisis situation, but the study presented respondents were unable to verbalize clearly defined policies, consistency or expectations for their respective districts regarding policies that are in place when a crisis situation that involved mass casualties occurs. Most participants expressed they were not adequately prepared to effectively respond to a mass casualty crisis. The researcher concludes the study with implications and recommendations for future research based on these findings
Examining Inclusion for Students with Low-Incidence Disabilities
Full text linkThe passage of the Education for All Handicapped Children, later renamed the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, has afforded students with disabilities the right to a free and appropriate education alongside their nondisabled peers for nearly the past fifty years. Despite this legal right, students with disabilities, especially those with autism and intellectual disabilities, continue to be marginalized and receive the least amount of time in the inclusive general education setting as compared to students with other disabilities, such as learning disabilities or speech impairments. This phenomenological study examined elementary general education teachers' experiences and understandings of students with low-incidence disabilities or autism and intellectual disabilities regarding ecological and contextual factors and factors that contribute to inclusive experiences. Eight participants were interviewed using semi-structured open-ended questions. Transcripts of the interviews were analyzed and revealed three ecological themes (teacher-led adjustments, safe learning environments, purposeful student interactions), four contextual factors (needs of teachers, teacher beliefs about students with disabilities, preconceived barriers, barriers beyond teacher control), and three factors influencing inclusive experiences (acceptance by teachers, peers, understanding students). These findings outlined the importance of the teachers themselves (teacher agency), meaningful interactions in the classroom, the importance of ongoing training related to students with disabilities, and the necessity for school leaders to understand their role in supporting inclusion
Effects of Different College Majors on Perceptions of Human Trafficking, Victim Culpability, and Adherence to Human Trafficking Myths
Full text linkHuman trafficking is defined as a crime that involves coercing a person physically or psychologically to provide labor or services, or to engage in commercial sex acts. Due to the covert nature of this serious and dangerous crime, the actual number of exploited victims of human sex trafficking remains unclear in both the United States and across the globe. Scholars have continued to highlight the challenges in assessing the prevalence estimates and number of human trafficking victims because of lack of consistent legal and empirical definitions and lack of uniformed identification and screening process. Despite these challenges, existing human trafficking research has made significant advances to improve our understanding of, identifying, and responding to human trafficking and its victims. Prior studies have indicated that education is important to increase ones’ abilities to recognize signs of and to debunk myths specific to human trafficking to improve trafficking victim identification. Factors that negatively influence perceptions of trafficked victims such as increased adherence to human trafficking myths have been identified and informed to criminal justice practitioners to aid trafficked victims. The present study addresses the gap in the existing literature by examining college students’ perceptions of trafficked victims, victim culpability, and adherence to human trafficking myths. Measuring college students’ perceptions of and attitudes of human trafficking and its victims is important as these students will become criminal justice and victim practitioners after graduating. Results from the current study will further aid in shaping and improving training and policies on assisting human trafficking victims
Women With a Mission: Persuasion, Politics, and Gender in the Civil War Crisis 1850-1865
No full textIn the mid-nineteenth century, from 1850 to 1865, through the secession crisis and the American Civil War, gender norms defined white women’s roles as domestic and supportive to their male counterparts while routinely denying Black women from participation in these social roles. However, during the war, women played a far more active and public facing role in politics than previously assumed by historians, through the creation of persuasive media. Using social psychologist Henri Tajfel’s Social Identity Theory (SIT), and with consideration of Judith Butler’s gender theory, this thesis evaluates speeches, novels, newspaper articles, and private correspondence produced by women, particularly Sojourner Truth, Harriet Jacobs, and Augusta Jane Evans, to argue that women maneuvered in the public eye using subversive gender performance to create persuasive media, shape public discourse, and advocate for their ideal nation during the secession and Civil War eras
Soccer Team Valuation Using Random Forest Regression
No full textSoccer is the world's most popular sport and creates memories across generations.
Nonetheless, competitive imbalance persists among leagues as many teams face financial
challenges. Thus, it is important for a financially unsound team to understand its market
value and make informed decisions on investment through player acquisitions. In this
thesis, we developed a market value projection (MVP) scheme to value soccer teams
holistically rather than focusing solely on individual player valuations, which may
overlook league regulations and lead to penalties. Specifically, MVP utilizes random
forest regression to study a team's market value on its performance metrics of goals for
(GF), goals against (GA), and points (Pts) alongside transfer balance. Random forest
regression can effectively capture complex relationships among variables and provide
accurate holistic predictions. We have validated MVP's efficacy using data from Europe's
top 5 leagues, and the findings highlight the impact of offensive performance and
strategic financial investing on market value. These results provide insights to help teams
manage transfer balances and strengthen their financial standing through informed
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decision-making, ultimately promoting financial stability and competitive balance within
the sport
A Quantitative Study: Blossoming Black Girls in Early Childhood Stream with Experiential Learning
Full text linkThis study addresses a hypothesis that experiential learning environments in Early Childhood (EC) can narrow or broaden the early sense of belongingness and academic achievement for young Black girls in STREAM (Science, Technology, Reading, Engineering, Arts, Mathematics) disciplines. Research has shown that the underrepresentation of Black girls in advanced STREAM disciplines and STREAM careers has a robust correlation to their sense of belonging and self-perceptions within the disciplines (Yoon, 2012). The development of a STREAM disposition weighs heavily on the theoretical frameworks of experiential learning theory, sense of belonging, and self-perceptions within the STREAM discipline. Hence, this quantitative research is designed to investigate experiential classroom environments and the parallel they can pose to the STREAM disposition and academic achievement of Black girls in STREAM disciplines
Teacher Perceptions of Retention in Seven Regions of a Texas Public Charter School System
Full text linkThis study explores the factors contributing to teacher retention within a Texas public charter school system, focusing on teachers' lived experiences across seven distinct regions. Guided by a qualitative multiple case study approach, the research investigates personal, school-related, and organizational factors influencing teachers' decisions to remain in the profession. Data were collected through in-depth interviews with charter school teachers to capture their motivations, challenges, and the support systems that sustain them. The study aims to identify key themes, including personal dedication to teaching, a sense of professional purpose, and intrinsic motivation as potential factors influencing retention. Additionally, it explores the impact of administrative support and resilience-enhancing practices, such as professional development opportunities, peer support networks, and self-care initiatives, on teachers' decisions to continue their roles. The research seeks to shed light on the unique challenges of working in high-stress charter school environments, including excessive workloads, limited resources, and the pressures of student achievement expectations.
By addressing these areas, the study fills a gap in the literature regarding teacher retention in the public charter schools, particularly in the Texas context. The findings are expected to offer valuable insights for policymakers and educational leaders seeking to develop evidence-based strategies to sustain a stable and motivated workforce. By exploring the lived experiences of teachers, this research aspires to inform both practice and policy, contributing to the ongoing discourse on improving teacher retention in charter school settings
The Relation Between Parenting Styles and Inhibitory Control Among School-Age Children
Full text linkResearch has explored the relation between Baumrind's parenting styles and executive
functions, but most of this research includes preschool-age children. The objective of the
current study was to extend current research by examining the relation between parenting
styles and inhibitory control, a core executive function, in school-age children. Parents
were surveyed with the Parenting Styles Dimension Questionnaire (PSDQ) and the
Domain Specific Impulsivity Scale for Children (DSIS-C). There were no significant
differences in children’s inhibitory control scores between parenting styles. There also
were no significant correlations between specific parenting dimensions and inhibitory
control. Inhibitory control in school-age children may be influenced by factors other than
parenting style, which future research should explore