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Reaching Out, Growing Within: An Explanatory Approach to Understanding Science Teachers’ Support-Seeking Behaviors and Self-Determination
No full textThis explanatory sequential mixed methods study investigated the complex interplay between self-determination theory (SDT) and mentorship in supporting elementary and middle school science teachers’ professional development. Grounded in Deci and Ryan’s (2000, 2017) theoretical framework emphasizing autonomy, competence, and relatedness as fundamental psychological needs, this research examined how these needs influence science teachers’ support-seeking behaviors and engagement with mentorship structures. Science teachers face distinctive challenges, including evolving educational standards, specialized content knowledge requirements, and pedagogical complexities that necessitate differentiated support approaches across educational contexts and career stages.The study employed a two-phase design integrating quantitative survey data (N = 116) from the Mentorship Balanced Measure of Psychological Needs scale and a teacher support-seeking instrument with qualitative semi-structured interviews (N = 15) to provide comprehensive insights into teachers’ lived experiences. Statistical analyses, including ANOVA, correlation, and multiple regression, examined relationships between psychological needs and support-seeking behaviors, while thematic analysis of interview data revealed nuanced patterns in how teachers navigate professional support systems across different educational settings and career trajectories. Findings revealed significant patterns of convergence and divergence in how elementary and middle school science teachers experience psychological need satisfaction and engage with various support mechanisms. Relatedness emerged as the strongest predictor of support-seeking (β = 0.316, p \u3c .001), highlighting the critical role of professional relationships in facilitating teacher development. The study further identified distinctive developmental progressions in how support needs and mentorship experiences evolve throughout teachers’ careers, with implications for the design of differentiated support structures. This research addressed a significant gap in operationalizing SDT principles within educational mentorship contexts while providing concrete recommendations for enhancing science teacher support through psychologically attuned mentorship practices. The findings contribute to both theoretical advancement of SDT in professional development contexts and practical applications for educational leaders seeking to design more effective support systems for science educators, ultimately enhancing both teacher well-being and instructional effectiveness
Capturing the Intersection of Black-American, Muslim Males and Education: Exploring Their Attitudes, Perceptions, and Lived Experiences Within an Islamic Consciousness
No full textThis dissertation explored the lived realities of Black-American, Muslim males and their attitudes, perceptions, histories, and endurances toward higher learning in America. It attempted to join and contribute to the more significant, historical, and extant conversations and literature on Black-American males and education, as well as their successes and failures. This dissertation adds to the dearth of literature on the intersection of Black-American, Muslim males, and education, and using jazz as an epistemological way of navigating and organizing the content, the research works to uncover, locate, and define an Islamic consciousness. While negating racist histories concomitant with the American narrative and conscience, this dissertation ultimately liberates the researcher and his ensemble. It offers a true democracy to the research contributors and those who riff behind this performance
Less Pain, More Game: Red Kinesiology Tape on Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and Occupational Performance in FPS Esports
No full textEsports encompasses competitive video gaming, requiring tactical, mental, and physical skills. It offers benefits like improved cognition and social inclusion but poses risks such as musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) from repetitive movements. Prolonged gaming can lead to Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS), with symptom severity correlating with gaming duration (Bibi & Khan, 2019; Basuodan et al., 2023). Kinesiology tape (KT), a treatment used for decades, shows promise for pain relief and functional improvement (Kase et al., 2013). Developed in 1973 by Kase, KT increases circulation, reduces pain, and improves joint stability, though its effectiveness remains ambiguous. Additionally, the psychosocial impact of tape colors on performance is under-researched. Only one study by Cavaleri et al. (2018) evaluated how kinesiology tape colors affect motor performance, but the results were inconclusive.The following study was a quasi-experimental mixed-methods randomized controlled crossover trial with qualitative data informing quantitative data. This project studied two aspects of kinesiology tape (KT) in Esports gamers: its effectiveness for treating Carpal Tunnel Syndrome-like symptoms and the impact of tape color on performance in aggressive games. The study aimed to enhance the body of evidence informing occupational therapy services and the feasibility of using KT among Esports gamers. Additionally, it encourages a necessary discussion about the potential psychosocial effects of color and its subsequent impact on cognitive and motor performance. The results indicated that regardless of kinesiology tape color, dorsally applied KT significantly reduced pain symptom severity with a large effect size and exhibited a small to moderate effect size for improvements in shooting accuracy. All participants reported they would recommend KT to other Esports gamers and noted that KT alleviated discomfort from prolonged participation, helped them feel greater wrist stability, and improved shooting accuracy. Overall, the effect of KT color remained inconclusive
The Investigation into The Relationship Between Strength and Running Economy
No full textThe purpose of this study was to determine if there is a difference between the running economy of endurance runners who regularly practice strength training versus those who do not. Twenty-five endurance runners participated in this study (15 strength trained (STR), 10 non-strength trained (NON)). Participants completed two lower limb strength tests and one running economy test. Participants were measured for height, body mass, and lean leg mass. Modified Reactive Strength Index (mRSI) was measured with a countermovement rebound jump using Vald force decks. Relative Peak Vertical Force (relative PVF) was measured with an isometric mid-thigh pull (IMTP) test. Running economy (RE) was determined by having athletes run at a preferred speed and measuring oxygen uptake (VO2) during a 10-minute run. Results for RE, relative PVF, or mRSI between groups were not statistically significantly different; NON (31.74±6.57; 29.75±4.65; 0.40±0.19) and STR (33.34±4.99; 29.56±3.11; 0.41±0.15) respectively. Additionally, there were positive correlations between strength measures and both RE (mRSI: r=0.402, p=0.046; relative PVF: r=0.545, p=0.005) and preferred running velocity (mRSI: r=0.467, p=0.019; relative PVF: r=0.506, p=0.01). We determined that the inclusion of strength training has no negative effect on RE. Furthermore, stronger athletes performed better than non-strength training endurance athletes. Therefore, the inclusion of strength training may be beneficial for endurance athletes to incorporate into their training regimens
Specters of Change: A Rhetorical and Qualitative Analysis of Environmental Ghost Stories from Las Vegas Locals
No full textThis thesis explores “environmental ghost stories,” a term created to represent narratives that blend emotions and memories of ecological loss to make sense of environmental change. This project utilizes a mixed-methods approach that blends narrative theory, environmental rhetoric, and qualitative interviews to examine the narratives of chronic and acute changes experienced by long-term residents of Las Vegas, Nevada. Participants (N = 15) were required to have resided in the Las Vegas valley for a minimum of twenty years in order to have had the opportunity to witness both chronic and acute changes to their environment. Using a phronetic iterative approach to analyze the gathered interviews, I found two prevalent ghost stories including the loss of the natural environment and the loss of connection. These stories reflected the acute and chronic changes locals witnessed in relation to both their human and nonhuman environment. Additionally, participants expressed similar emotions when discussing the past and present state of the Las Vegas environment, but differing emotional reactions when contemplating its future. Together, these findings deepen our understanding of how stories convey experiences of environmental loss and change over time and may be used as a point of unity by intertwining narrative and emotion
Teacher Perceptions of Their Role in Aspiration Development with Diverse Students with Disabilities
No full textAspirations stem from a humanistic perspective, emphasizing the person as a whole. They serve as a foundational and predictive component of an individual’s life. Teachers play a critical role in shaping the successes and challenges their students encounter (Zolkoski, 2019). Aspirations, as a cognitive process grounded in forward-thinking, are essential to personal development and evolve through experiences (Hart, 2016). However, students with disabilities often lack opportunities to explore their aspirations within schools. These students are frequently constrained by both teachers and systemic practices within the school environment (Gilmour et al., 2019). Aspiration exploration is crucial because children and youth need to believe that their goals are both important and achievable. Teacher perceptions—shaped by various school-based, family-based, and community-based factors—play a significant role in this process. Ultimately, addressing and improving teachers’ perceptions and understanding of aspirations is a critical starting point for fostering aspiration development in students with disabilities
Oral Prevalence of Selenomonas Noxia Differs Among Orthodontic Patients Compared to Non-Orthodontic Controls: A Retrospective Biorepository Analysis
No full textIntroduction: The introduction of fixed orthodontic brackets in orthodontic therapy has the potential to significantly alter the oral microbial flora. Most orthodontic research has focused on cariogenic pathogens, while some evidence has demonstrated an increase in many known periodontal pathogens. However, little is known about the prevalence of the gram-negative periodontal pathogen, Selenomonas noxia (SN) among these patients.Methods: Using an existing saliva biorepository, n=208 samples from adult and pediatric orthodontic and non-orthodontic patients were identified and screened for the presence of SN using qPCR and validated primers. Results: In the pediatric study sample (n=89) 36% tested positive for the presence of SN with orthodontic patients comprising more SN- positive samples (87.5%) than SN-negative samples (78.9%), p=0.0271. In the adult study sample (n=119 ), SN was found in 28.6% with orthodontic patients comprising 58.8% of positive samples and only 28.2% of negative samples,, p\u3c 0.0001. Conclusions: These data demonstrated that both pediatric and adult orthodontic patients exhibited higher prevalence of SN compared with age-matched non-orthodontic controls. As this organism is associated not only with periodontal disease, but long-term health issues such as obesity, more research is needed regarding the factors that increase prevalence of this organism
The Mindful Officer: Enhancing Officer Mental, Physical, and Social Wellness Through Resilience Training
No full textThe issue of mental health among the U.S. population has gained national attention, with numerous wide-scale initiatives aimed at providing resources for the public. However, certain professional populations encounter unique challenges in their occupation and often lack specific support for their mental and physical health needs that stem from long-term exposure to unpredictable stressors. One population facing these issues is law enforcement. Police officers regularly experience chronic stress related to their job demands, as they manage high-pressure situations and exposure to significant trauma, all while being under increased public scrutiny in recent years. Previous research has highlighted the effects of chronic stress on the mental and physical health of police officers. This current study builds on that research by examining the influence of a Mindfulness-Based Resilience Training (MBRT) program on the social and interpersonal health of state law enforcement officers, as well as their physical and mental health. The findings and their potential implications will be discussed
On the Special Cases of Carmichael’s Totient Conjecture
No full textEuler’s totient function, φ(n), is the arithmetic function defined as the number of positive integers less than or equal to n that are relatively prime to n. In his 1922 paper [3], Professor R. D. Carmichael conjectured that for each positive integer n, there exists at least one positive integer m̸ = n such that φ(m) = φ(n).In this thesis, we consider some relevant literature and explore Carmichael’s totient conjecture for particular values of φ(n) = k. Our main consideration will be the set X_k = {n ∈ N : φ(n) = k}. In identifying X_k for k = 2^t, 2p^s, 2^2p, and 2pq, we find that Carmichael’s conjecture holds for those select cases, provide an algorithm, and some related results. The conjecture remains an open problem in number theory [10, 24]
Realizing And Practicing Teaching as A Calling: Narratives from Black Women Teachers in Urban K-12 Public Schools
No full textResearch and scholarship frequently ignore and dismiss the unique experiences and perspectives of Black women teachers. They bring with them a unique angle of vision through various race, gender, cultural, and historical intersections that inform their spirituality-based pedagogy and outlook while providing instruction in urban public schools.The purpose of this qualitative dissertation study is to examine the narratives and amplify the voices of Black women K-12 teachers in urban public schools to address how they realized teaching as a calling. Teaching as a calling is more than simply a job and source of income for these teachers. Understanding of this concept further explains how these teachers feel the passion to be present for their students and communities in urban public schools. Therefore, how, if at all, teaching as a calling informs retention and what sustains these Black women teacher participants/narrators is also addressed. The study utilizes narrative inquiry research. This study engages the interrelated framework of Black Womanist Theology and the epistemological standpoint of Womanism, a term that is drawn from the theoretical perspective of black feminism, but possesses its own distinctions. Consequently, the study explores the following questions: 1) How have Black women teachers in urban K-12 schools come to realize teaching as a calling? 2) How, if at all, has teaching as a calling aided retention and what sustains Black women teachers in urban K-12 schools? Through Teaching as a Calling timelines and semi-structured interviews, four Black women K-12 teachers shared intimate and detailed narratives that are social, spiritual, and personal for how teaching as a calling was realized. The timelines and interviews also reflected how, if at all, teaching as a calling aids retention and what sustains the teacher participants in their urban K-12 school settings. The findings within this study emerged four themes: (1) Prophetic and Spiritual Affirmation, (2) Pouring into “Our Kids” and the Community, (3) We’re Present for Ourselves and “Our Kids,” and (4) Support Us to Retain Us