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A Review of \u3ci\u3eThe Edinburgh Companion to W. B. Yeats and the Arts\u3c/i\u3e edited by Charles I. Armstrong, Adrian Paterson, and Tom Walker
Get PDFUnderstanding Writing Center’s Motivations for Creating and Providing Online Writing Resources: A Qualitative Study
No full textThis research-based thesis documents the process of creating online writing resources. The data was collected from an IRB-approved study where I interviewed writing center directors about how their centers have created and maintained online writing resources to support students. After conducting interviews, I share the results of the study about each center’s creation and maintenance practices. I discuss the labor that this type of project takes and how those centers have supported this process by using staff from all roles within the center. I explore how the online resources build ethos for the center. Finally, I explain how these online writing resources are used by writing center staff and university faculty
A Comparative Analysis of Cultural Preservation Focused Land-Use Regulations within the Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor of South Carolina
Get PDFThis thesis is an analysis of three land-use regulations: conservation easements and fee simple ownership by conservation land trust, an area specific zoning overlay, and a town-wide ordinance, all aimed at protecting cultural heritage on different islands within the Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor (GGCHC) of South Carolina: Edisto Island, St. Helena Island, and Hilton Head Island. The lower sea islands of South Carolina have a unique natural and cultural landscape under threat of loss, both tangible and intangible heritage is vulnerable. This study provides an individual and comparative analysis of goals for land-use regulations. The purpose statements of the three land use regulations suggest measurements of effectiveness. This research builds on themes from the literature on sustainable development practices in areas and subjects related to vulnerable cultural heritage sites. Findings revealed that the number of partnerships the organization participated in was the most significant factor for suggesting achievement of their outlined goals and sustainable growth of impact in the community. By using the GGCHC as a case study for analyzing the effectiveness of various cultural preservation focused land-use regulation’s ability to achieve their goals within this landscape, best practices for all interested in natural and cultural landscape preservation and sustainable development are provided
Speaking Up: A Courage Framework of BIPOC Voices in the Workplace
Get PDFDespite the many beneficial outcomes of voice in the workplace, employers and employees do not often utilize it to its full potential, particularly those from historically marginalized groups. Past literature has examined the many ways in which the experience of minority-group members differs from that of majority-group members; however, scarce work has been done exploring the “mental calculus” that those from marginalized groups go through when deciding whether to advocate for themselves or others at work. To provide insight into this specific experience, I manipulated representation and context in a novel fashion – and examined if and how safety, risk, and worth might interact to predict perceived anonymity and future intentions to speak up. As anticipated, the safer employees felt, the higher the likelihood of them intending to speak up again. Perceiving speaking up to be more worthwhile and less risky predicted higher future intentions to speak up. Relatedly, if speaking up was perceived as futile, employees expressed lower voice, even if safety was high. However, this study failed to find support for the notion that the content of a potential complaint impacted employees’ perceived anonymity when speaking up. To enjoy the many benefits of voice on work-related outcomes, organizations should a) make the worth of speaking up abundantly clear, b) assure employees that they will not be penalized for speaking up, and c) act decisively on the feedback received. To enjoy the benefits of a diverse workforce, organizations should anticipate additional risks BIPOC and other marginalized groups face when speaking up and provide a safe space for reporting identity-related incivility and other sensitive concerns
A Stakeholder-Informed Conceptual Framework for Evaluating Genomics in Precision Oncology
Get PDFThis dissertation explores the value of genomic testing in precision oncology with an emphasis on how US payers conceptualize and prioritize elements of value. This research aims to address gaps in understanding payer perspectives and proposes a stakeholder-informed framework for evaluating genomic testing in oncology. To achieve this aim, the presented research investigates payer perspectives, value-based cancer care priorities, and the conceptual understanding of the value of a genetic diagnosis to establish a framework for value with the payer audience in mind. Chapter 1 outlines relevant background information relating to the genomic revolution and challenges in translating genomic testing technologies within existing medical frameworks.
Chapter 2 presents a systematic literature review examining US payer perspectives on genomic testing. A structured search of peer-reviewed databases identified 20 relevant studies, which were analyzed using a framework approach to categorize key domains of interest. The review revealed that payers prioritize clinical utility—defined as improved health outcomes—but grapple with the complexities of applying traditional coverage frameworks to genomic tests. Additional domains influencing payer decision-making included cost considerations, potential harms, demand pressures, and the challenge of paying for research when tests lack robust evidence.
Chapter 3 investigates payer priorities for value-based cancer care through a survey of 31 US payers involved in coverage policy. Respondents ranked and rated nine domains of value-based care, highlighting a preference for clinical outcomes such as overall survival, quality of life, and treatment-related toxicities over systemic factors like healthcare system costs and scientific innovation. Notably, payers consistently emphasized clinical evidence tied to patient outcomes as a primary driver of value which underscores the need for targeted evidence-generation strategies aligning with payer expectations.
Chapter 4 conducts a concept analysis to further clarify the notion of value in the context of genetic diagnoses. This analysis synthesizes definitions from professional societies and regulatory agencies as well as literature reporting patient, clinician, and payer perspectives, revealing that value encompasses not only clinical utility but also broader patient-centered and societal outcomes. The chapter identifies key attributes of value—such as health outcomes, quality of life outcomes, costs, process outcomes, and discovery/innovation—and discusses their relevance to stakeholders.
Collectively presented in chapter 5, these findings inform the development of a conceptual framework designed to guide payers in evaluating genomic testing in oncology through evidence and outcomes. The framework integrates stakeholder perspectives and balances clinical outcomes, economic considerations, and patient-centered benefits. This work offers practical insights for policymakers, researchers, and healthcare providers, advancing the conversation on value assessment in precision oncology and supporting more transparent, evidence-based payer decisions
An Analysis of Principal Influence on Teacher Retention in a Rural School District: An Exploratory Qualitative Study
Get PDFResearch shows that nearly one-third of novice teachers leave the profession before their third year, and almost half leave by their fifth year, with turnover rates remaining steady. Teacher job satisfaction and dissatisfaction are influenced by various factors, with administrative support playing a key role. This exploratory qualitative study examined how principals\u27 leadership behaviors affect teacher retention. Through surveys and interviews with principals and teacher representatives from nine schools, the study found that positive principal leadership significantly influences teachers\u27 decisions to stay in their schools. Principals actively engage in behaviors, both direct and indirect, that help retain teachers. The study suggests that districts should identify and promote positive principal behaviors to improve teacher retention, providing valuable insights for policymakers and educational leaders
Effect of Calculator Use on Algebra Progress Monitoring Slopes Among Students in Secondary Foundational Algebra Classes
Get PDFCalculator usage has become commonplace in the secondary mathematics classroom, yet most progress monitoring studies using curriculum-based measurement tools have been completed without using calculators. The primary purpose of this study was to determine whether using a calculator made a statistically significant difference in the depiction of students’ growth rates among student participants who were low performing in mathematics and were enrolled in a foundational algebra course. This study spanned the Fall semester and included 46 ninth-grade participants from five classes who were all considered at risk, including students diagnosed with a disability and/or as multilingual learners. To validate the algebra progress measures taken with a calculator, assessments were administered with and without a calculator each week and were correlated with two external assessments: the district algebra screener and the Measures of Academic Progress assessment, both given before and following the 10-week interval of weekly progress monitoring. The findings of the study showed that for all students, scores on the progress monitoring probes when a calculator was used were consistently higher than those scores without a calculator. The mean slope with a calculator at the end of 10 weeks was 0.33, and the mean slope without a calculator was 0.42. Additionally, a social validity questionnaire indicated that 85% of the students would select to use a calculator with the measures if given the choice
