Texas A&M University – Corpus Christi
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The influence of representation in school bond elections
No full textA dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership.A significant problem in Texas education is that many school districts need adequate educational facilities. The age and condition of the educational facilities affect student achievement. Bond referenda are generally the sole source for facility financing, thus making the passage of school bonds critical. The purpose of this study was to examine community factors associated with the passing or failing of a school district finance bond. This study investigated the influence of representative bureaucracy on voting patterns in school bond elections. Prior research has examined the effect of representative bureaucracy on public policy and administration, but little research has been conducted on its effect on school bond elections. The community factors considered in this research are property wealth, district size, community type, superintendent sex, and racial representation in the administration. This study employed a nonexperimental, retrospective, predictive design to analyze the variables quantitatively. Two binomial logistic regressions were run. The first determined whether the Texas Education Agency–reported demographic factors influenced bond election outcomes. The second was conducted to gauge the influence of representation on bond election outcomes. Although research supported the inclusion of each selected variable, the models proved insignificant. The study’s findings support the idea that bond passage rates cannot be attributable simply to community-specific characteristics. Instead, they emphasize the subtle and multifaceted nature of the bond election process, underlining that a complex interaction of components beyond the immediate demographics and dynamics of the community determines success or failure. The study’s findings demonstrate that successful school bond projects necessitate a more complete and strategic approach that goes beyond only community factors.Educational Leadership, Curriculum & InstructionCollege of Education and Human Developmen
Exploring the effects of mindfulness-based interventions on resilience and self-efficacy in African American doctoral students: A single case research design
No full textA dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Counselor Education.The purpose of this study was to explore the impact of mindfulness-based interventions on resilience and self-efficacy in African American doctoral students. Participants in the study were doctoral students between the ages of 18 and 65 and were enrolled in doctoral programs within the United States. A single-case research design was conducted to explore changes in participant’s use of mindfulness skills and levels of resilience and self-efficacy (N=8) over a 9-week period. Quantitative analyses were performed to explore changes in participants’ levels of resilience, measured by the Brief Resilience Scale and self-efficacy, measured by the General Self-efficacy scale. Additionally, participants' uses of mindfulness skills were measured using the Freiburg Mindfulness Inventory. Analysis of data using the single-case research design showed that 6 weeks of mindfulness-based interventions was effective for enhancing levels of resilience and self-efficacy in African American doctoral students and increasing use of mindfulness skills. Treatment effects ranging from small to large were reported. Quantitative results included statistically significant improvements in participants who completed the study. Results of this study supported the assumption that mindfulness-based interventions are helpful in enhancing levels of resilience and self-efficacy in African American doctoral students, while increasing the overall use of mindfulness skills. Clinical implications and directions for future research are discussed.Counseling & Educational PsychologyCollege of Education and Human Developmen
Spatiotemporal gait variability in children aged 2 to 10 decreases throughout pre-adolescence
No full textBackground: Children’s gait is traditionally understood to mature as young as three years old through pre-adolescence. Studies looking at gait biomechanics suggest that gait matures around three years old, while studies investigating gait variability propose a much later maturation. The studies that have examined children’s gait variability did so while the children walked around a track or down hallways that created a discontinuous gait, potentially affecting the measures of variability and the efficacy of the results. Purpose: Therefore, the purpose of our study was to investigate the development of gait dynamics and gait variability in children in a more continuous fashion, in this case, by walking on a treadmill. Methods: To accomplish this, we included four age groups of children, ranging 2–10 years old, walking on a treadmill for at least three minutes while stride time and stride length were collected. Stride time and stride length’s variability was then analyzed using linear (mean, standard deviation, coefficient of variation) and nonlinear (sample entropy, detrended fluctuation analysis) measures across the varying ages of our participants. Results: Interestingly, both the linear and nonlinear variabilities of the stride time and stride length measures decreased as the groups of children got older. Specifically, CV ST (2–3 (9.3 ± 4%), 8–10 (3.6 ± 0.7%), p < 0.05) and CV SL (2–3 (11.4 ± 3%), 8–10 (4.6 ± 1%), p < 0.05) were our strongest linear measures, and DFA α ST (2–3 (0.97 ± 0.12), 8–10 (0.82 ± 0.10), p < 0.05) and DFA α SL (2–3 (0.91 ± 0.04), 8–10 (0.81 ± 0.03), p < 0.05) were our strongest nonlinear measures, particularly between the youngest and oldest groups. This trend of variability decreasing with age suggests that as children’s gait matures, their gait becomes more stable and reliable. Significance: Our study rejects the notion that children’s gait is mature by the age of three, as some would suggest. By analyzing the variability of stride time and stride length, we can see that even later into childhood, children’s gait continues to change and evolve.This research received no external funding
Burnout among all level principals in Texas
No full textA dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership.This quantitative, descriptive, nonexperimental study employed Maslach’s Burnout Inventory (MBI) to investigate the issue of principal turnover within high-poverty schools in Texas. The research question for this study is, "Is there a difference in a principal's feelings of burnout based on their years of experience?" The researcher used a cross-sectional design to collect data from the population sample of all level school principals in Texas with a wide range of experience levels. The Maslach’s Burnout Inventory was administered to survey participants' feelings of emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and personal accomplishment. Descriptive statistics were used to assess the burnout levels of principals at different stages of their careers.
Although the mean scores suggested that some novice principals may experience higher levels of emotional exhaustion, principals with more experience managed to exhibit lesser levels of depersonalization and personal accomplishment. The findings of the one-way ANOVA and Welch ANOVA determined that there was no statistical significance between feelings of burnout and years of experience. These results hold significant implications for educational practices and leadership development programs.Educational Leadership, Curriculum & InstructionCollege of Education and Human Developmen
Perspectives of counseling among a sample of deaf adults
No full textA dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Counselor Education.Though members of counseling professions are responsible for maintaining multicultural competency, there is a dearth of research literature to inform culturally-relevant counseling strategies for Deaf adults. This study uses naturalistic inquiry to better understand Deaf perspectives regarding counseling to provide a foundation for multicultural research and practices aimed at serving the Deaf community. Five participants contributed data in interviews which were transcribed, coded, and subjected to constant comparative analysis. As a result, the following five themes emerged from the data: Struggles and Trauma, Importance of Counseling, Barriers to Counseling, Emotional Support Role of the Counselor, and Desirable Counselor Characteristics. Implications for counselors, researchers, and educators are discussed.Counseling & Educational PsychologyCollege of Education and Human Developmen
Understanding nanoplastic particle accumulation and cell response in human skin cells
No full textA thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Marine BiologyEnvironmental nanoplastic particles (NPs) are considered hazardous materials that can potentially enter human bodies through various entry pathways due to their sizes (<1µm). Studies over the past few years have produced results showing the capability of nanoplastic particles (NPs) to enter cells. However, the mechanism of NP cellular uptake remains unclear. Furthermore, the internalization and accumulation of NPs by human cells can likely be altered by the various characteristics of NPs, including materials, shapes, and surface properties. This study aimed to understand the mechanisms of NPs internalization and accumulation in skin cells, including keratinocytes, dermal fibroblast cells, and adipocytes, and how those processes can be altered by the surface coating components (surface corona). The study was conducted using fluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry to track NP endocytosis, organelle staining to determine intracellular co-localization patterns, and various assays and genetic analyses to understand how NPs affect cell functions and inflammation. The results of the present study demonstrated different internalization mechanisms of NPs depending on cell type, exposure time, particle size, and surface composition. It was also observed that specific vital organelles were more likely to co-localize with NPs, depending on particle size and exposure time. NP accumulation patterns in skin cells revealed potential mechanisms behind the impaired cellular function of cells exposed to NPs. Therefore, potential risks were determined to be associated with the exposure of human skin cells to NPs.Marine BiologyCollege of Scienc
Numerical investigation of the population distribution in heterogenous domain
No full textA thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in MathematicsWe consider the spatial-temporal model of multi-species population distribution in two-dimensional heterogeneous domains. A coupled system of time-dependent diffusion-reaction equations describes the mathematical model of such problems. To solve the problem numerically, we construct an unstructured grid that resolves inclusions on the grid level and produces a semi-discrete system using a finite element method. For time approximation, we apply an explicit-implicit scheme where the reaction term of the equation is taken from the previous time layer. We present numerical results for several test problems to investigate the influence of the geometry and parameters on time to reach equilibrium and the final equilibrium state. An extension of the model is also considered, where we add a memory effect by introducing a time-fractional multi-species model. We derive an implicit finite difference approximation for time discretization based on Caputo’s time fractional derivative. A numerical investigation is performed for various orders of the time derivative.Mathematics & StatisticsCollege of Scienc
Rodney James Mirabal with his brother Ralph
No full textRodney James Mirabal with his brother Ralph riding their toy bike
Faculty's transformational digital teaching experiences during the pandemic
No full textA Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of DOCTOR of PHILOSOPHY in CURRICULUM AND INSTRUCTION from Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi in Corpus Christi, Texas.The transition to remote teaching during the COVID-19 pandemic mandated that faculty pivot to online delivery regardless of perceptions, readiness, or technical knowledge. The need to understand the experiences and motivations of faculty members who had to switch their traditional courses to fully online delivery during the Spring 2020 semester underpinned this phenomenological study. Due to the digital nature of the experience, the digital competencies of educators across three domains and the technology used to support the competencies were examined. Seventeen participants took part in the phenomenological study framed by the Self-Determination Theory and DigCompEdu model of digital competencies of educators. As a result of data analysis, six themes aligned to the three research questions emerged. The findings revealed the presence of the previously identified motivators and some unexpected results. Professional growth was the most discussed category of motivation. None of the seventeen participants felt their job was threatened by online education. Few participants expressed concern about the rigor and quality of online courses. Students’ expectations of flexibility expectations in their traditional courses led to the discussions of a “new normal� in the form of a broader implementation of the blended learning model. Insufficient engagement with students and peers was the predominant avoidance motivator, followed by insufficient support and preparedness, negative student experiences, and administrative pressure. The sense of accomplishment, confidence, enjoyment, and self-improvement faculty felt while teaching online lie at the core of intrinsic motivation, which in turn leads to increased autonomy. The study suggested strategies to support both extrinsic and intrinsic motivation for faculty with practical suggestions for administration and possible future research.Educational Leadership, Curriculum & InstructionCollege of Education and Human Developmen
Nursing Program Fall 2021 Cohort Mental and Physical Health Analyzation
Full text linkCollege of Nursing and Health Sciences, TAMUCC Nursing Program, Faculty Mentor: Dr. Walker-SmithThis project’s goal is to uncover the cause of mental health decline, weight gain, or abrupt weight loss in Texas A&M University Corpus Christi Nursing Program Cohort Fall 2021 students. Nursing students constantly dedicate their time working toward grade success, and that behavior can lead to the neglect of their overall health. I analyzed anonymous data collected from my Fall 2021 Cohort regarding their mental and physical health status from their entry into the Nursing Program, compared to their final semester. They shared the change in their weight and mental health, and opened up about the factors that attributed to those changes. These are our future nurses, and mental health is essential to prevent burnout, and weight gain/abrupt loss can cause impaired immune function, increased anxiety, lethargy, etc. Therefore, it is crucial that the results be analyzed and shared appropriately to implement changes that can help our future nurses first care for themselves before they go into their careers of providing continuous care to others