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A Phenomenological Qualitative Study to Discover the Attitudes and Perceptions of Police Officers on the Legalization of Recreational Cannabis and Crime
No full textPurpose: The purpose of this phenomenological qualitative study was to discover the attitudes and perceptions of police officers on the legalization of recreational cannabis and crime.
Methodology: This qualitative, phenomenological methodology employed the use of semi-structured interview questions consisting of open-ended questions to understand the lived experiences of Colorado Police and Sheriff Officers and their perspectives on the experiences with the legalization of cannabis and crime. The sample size of 16 officers was selected from the sampling frame, which included Denver Police officers and Larimer County Sheriff officers.
Findings: Analysis of the data from interviews resulted in the identification of 14 major findings; 1) Officers oppose legalization; 2) Officers have an unfavorable opinion regarding legalization because they feel it can lead to increased access/use of illicit drugs; 3) Officers feel that the only reason the state legalized cannabis is for the tax revenue it generates for the state; 4) Officers’ viewpoint is that legalization has led to more violent crimes; 5) Officers perceive that Amendment 64 was designed to change perceptions about legal recreational marijuana; 6) Officers feel that legalization has led to an increase in burglary; 7) Officers are cognizant of the possibility of an increase in organized crime activities; 8) Officers expressed displeasure with the decriminalization of non-medical use, possession, and purchase of narcotics; 9) Officers express how an increase in crime has negatively impacted policing efforts; 10) Officers attribute an increase in homelessness and transient population as a symptom of the legalization of recreational cannabis; 11) Officers express frustration with lack of effective regulation; 12) Officers expressed that legalization has had no effect on timely responses to crime; 13) Officers expressed that the biggest challenge faced is maneuvering the demands of state versus federal law; 14) Officers express frustration in navigating the legal requirements relating to legal search and seizure.
Conclusions: As more states are considering legalizing cannabis for recreational use, these findings present significant suggestions for the state legislature and the members of the law enforcement community in those states.
Recommendations: Additional research should be conducted in other states to expand on the perceptions of the law enforcement community pre-and post-legalization of recreational cannabis and the impact it has on crime
Someone Like Me: The Impact of Engagement on High Achieving First Generation Community College Students in California’s Central Valley
No full textPurpose: The purpose of this comparative phenomenological study was to describe how the impact of engagement factors between high achieving Central Valley, California first generation community college students enrolled in college honors programs and high achieving Central Valley first generation community college students who are not enrolled in college honors programs compares with regard to engagement factors of interaction with faculty, interaction with student peers, time on the college campus, participation in oral and written reports, the application of critical thinking skills, and other student identified factors related to disruption in their lives on their academic achievement in college.
Methodology: A comparative phenomenological research design was selected for this study. The qualitative method was used to gather data using semi-structured questions in individual interviews to get the students’ perspective on their engagement and its impact on their academic achievement. After qualitative collection, data were compared between the two groups of students.
Findings: Three major findings were identified as a result of this study: First, the lack of a consistent definition for first generation students created difficulty on accurate reporting and analysis of this student population. Access to honors programs for first generation students was also found to be challenging, and, finally, there was no statistical difference in the engagement between honors and non-honors student participants.
Conclusions: The study based its conclusions directly from the findings. The lack of a consistent definition for first generation students creates impediments to serve this group fully. Additionally, first generation students experience both perceptual and structural barriers to enrolling in honors programs in community colleges. There is no discernable difference in the experience of engagement between first generation students enrolled in honors programs and first generation students not enrolled in honors programs.
Recommendation: Several recommendations for action were proposed to serve more fully first generation students both in honors programs and in community colleges to increase their engagement. An elimination of competing definitions for first generation students was called for, as well as an expansion of possibilities for first generation students by mitigating perceptual and structural barriers to honors programs
Mini 03: Best Practices for Turning Your Research Into a Relevant and Engaging Conference Presentation (CANCELED)
No full textPresenting at conferences can be a daunting task- finding a conference to present, designing an attractive proposal, creating a relevant and engaging presentation and planning your travel are all difficult steps of the conference presentation process. Although research can take months or years to move from idea generation and design to data collection, analysis, and writing up the results, most oral presentations at conferences take only about 15-25 minutes. How does one go about cramming all of one\u27s hard work into such a brief time allotment? Deciding what information to include in an oral presentation and how to organize that information can often be more stressful than actually giving the presentation. The goal of this presentation is to provide \u27best practice\u27 advice for turning your research into a relevant and engaging conference presentation
Miniversities *
No full textCLICK HERE for full list of Miniversities and all related Handouts/PowerPoint Presentations for each session
The Impact Support Staff has on School Climate at Comprehensive High Schools from the Perspective of Principals
No full textPurpose: The purpose of this phenomenological study was to identify and describe how high school principals perceive the actions of support staff impact school climate in the areas of safety, teaching and learning, interpersonal relationships, and the institutional environment in comprehensive public high schools in Riverside County, California.
Methodology: The researcher identified comprehensive public high schools within the state of California. Of this target population, purposeful sampling was applied to identify participants that were rich with information and that met specific criteria, and 12 principals were identified. The researcher collected and coded data from in-depth interviews; interview protocol directly correlated with the research questions of this study. A variety of related artifacts were additionally gathered and analyzed for the generated codes to triangulate the interview data.
Findings: Examination of qualitative data from the 12 comprehensive high school principals were organized by sub research questions and aligned to the school climate theoretical framework based on Jonathan Cohen and the National School Climate Council research, identifying the impact support staff has on school climate in the areas of safety, teaching and learning, interpersonal relationships, and the institutional environment.
Conclusions: The study supported the conclusions that support staff create a feeling of physical safety on campus. Support staff also create a feeling of social and emotional safety on campus. Support staff are key players in the development and implementation of the safe school plan. Additionally, conclusions were that support staff impact teaching and learning and interpersonal relationships. Furthermore, support staff show pride and effort in the institutional environment. Lastly, support staff are more that “just” support staff.
Recommendations: Eight areas of further research were recommended to increase the body of literature related to these variables
Against the Wind: A Study on Aviation as a Female Career Choice
No full textPurpose: The purpose of this phenomenological study is to identify and describe the educational and social experiences that sparked the interest of female pilots as young women to pursue a career in aviation.
Methodology: This qualitative phenomenological study utilized semi- structured interviews to explore the lived experiences of female pilots, to understand if there were common social and educational factors which influenced them to become interested in aviation. Using convenience sampling, eleven pilots who hold a Federal Aviation Administration Commercial or Airline Transport Pilot’s License were selected to participate in this study.
Findings: The findings from this research show that exposure, influence and personality were critical factors in sparking the interests of girls to eventually pursue a career in aviation. The pilots in this study were exposed to aviation at a young age through an aviation-based event, a relevant extracurricular activity, or a friend, or family member involved in aviation. They also were positively influenced by parents, teachers, other aviators, or though media. The pilots also displayed many common personality traits including identifying as “tomboys”, the desire to make the world a better place, and being goal driven. However, the pilots also displayed a lack of confidence.
Conclusions: The findings and literature expose the intertwined relationships social and educational factors have in influencing who a girl will become. Results indicated that the “spark” for aviation comes from a supportive family and educational environment, the opportunity to participate in aviation-based activities at a young age, and a personality not limited by traditional societal norms.
Recommendations for Action: The researcher recommends that girls be exposed to aviation during their elementary school years. This should be done through engagement from the aviation industry, or anyone who holds a love of aviation. School districts must also provide opportunities to participate in activities that include hands on engagement and provide career counselors during the critical elementary school age. Finally, parents and teachers should be reminded of how essential their support is in girls believing they “have the right stuff”
The Lived Experiences of African American Male Students: An Exploration of African American Male Student Athletes and African American Male Student Nonathletes at California Community Colleges
No full textPurpose: The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to explore the lived experiences and differences between African American male student athletes and African American male student nonathletes at California community colleges. Methodology: The methodology of this study is a qualitative phenomenological design to explore the lived experiences of African American males who are student athletes and those who are student nonathletes enrolled at three California community colleges. In depth and semistructured interviewing techniques were utilized to capture their stories. Findings: There were 9 major findings that emerged through the data collection and analysis. The findings showed that African American males who were low-income first generation college students experience challenges at California community colleges, African American male student athletes and African American male student nonathletes experience struggles, challenges, and hardships throughout their lives, friendships and peer relationships are important among African American male student athletes and African American male student nonathletes at California community colleges, African American male student athletes and African American male student nonathletes need informal faculty and staff relationships at California community colleges, and academic supports are important for African American male student athletes and African American male student nonathletes to persist at California community colleges. vii Conclusions: The conclusions highlighted that both African American male student athletes and African American male student nonathletes experience barriers and challenges at California community colleges. The conclusions showed that all African American males in this study need social support from faculty, staff, friends, and peers. The conclusions also showed that the African American males in this study need academic supports to experience success at California community colleges. Recommendations: Recommendations include connecting African American males with resources that will meet their basic needs while in college. It is also recommended that African American males be provided with mentors and systems of support that will assist in their success while attending California community colleges. Additionally, African American males need targeted academic supports throughout their enrollment in California community colleges