732 research outputs found
Sort by
Impact of Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports in California Middle Schools: Year Three and Beyond
No full textPurpose: The purpose of this mixed method explanatory sequential study was to determine if differences exist between pre- Schoolwide Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (SWPBIS) and post-PBIS grade point averages, suspension rates, and attendance rates in middles schools in California that have implemented PBIS for at least three years. An additional purpose was to describe the impact of PBIS on these schools according to their site principals. Methodology: The mixed method explanatory sequential design was selected for this study. The quantitative method was used to gather archived data on pre-PBIS and postPBIS grade point averages, suspension rates, and attendance rates to determine if a difference exists. The qualitative method was used to gather data on how the site principal felt that PBIS has impacted their school. The researcher collected this qualitative data through in depth interviews. Findings: Analysis of both quantitative data and qualitative data showed a significant difference in pre and post PBIS student success indicators. In addition, site principals felt that PBIS impacted their sites in a positive way. Conclusions: Based on the findings from this study it is recommend that both districts and schools look into implementation of PBIS. Districts should ensure that resources are allocated to support the implementation of PBIS throughout the district. School site v leaders should also ensure that resources are made available support the implementation of PBIS. Recommendations: It is recommended that further studies on similar student success indicators be done at the high school and elementary levels
From War to Home: The Systematic Issues Operation Enduring and Iraqi Freedom Veterans Face Transitioning with PTSD
No full textPurpose: The purpose of this phenomenological study was to describe the perceptions of Operation Enduring and Iraqi Freedom veterans with PTSD, who are transitioning from active duty to civilian life, regarding their participation in the Disabled Transition Assistance Program.
Methodology: The methodology for this research study will be qualitative from a phenomenological perspective. When thinking of research as it pertains to qualitative methods, it is appropriate to use when a researcher is trying to study the lived experiences of individuals (Flipp, 2014; Patton, 2015). This method will describe perceptions of Operation Enduring and Iraqi Freedom veterans with PTSD, who are transitioning from active duty to civilian life, regarding their participation in the Disabled Transition Assistance Program. The interviews created for this study included particulars of the interviewees lived experiences to the observers in the interviewee’s personal disputes. Narratives provided by the OEF/OIF PTSD veterans can help future researchers in gathering further analyses on this understudied topic.
Findings: The major findings of this study are described coinciding to the research questions. The most dominant themes that were identified were based on each interview question and they were the following: (a) reasons given for separation from military: Mental health/PTSD, (b) experiences with the transitional process through the VA: Generally negative, (c) experiences with the information and process through DTAP: Lacked information about the DTAP Program, (d) description of care provided to others through DTAP: Insufficient or lack of effective care/support, (e) description of information about DTAP provided by TAP: Insufficient; No information provided, (f) types of issues faced during the transition process: Obtaining proper care & mental health challenges, (g) description of how DTAP helped or supported the transition process: Unhelpful; It Failed, (h) suggested improvements to better support transitions needs for those with PTSD: Individualized/customized supports, (i) challenges obstructing the transition process into civilian life: Psychological repercussions.
Conclusions: It is hopeful that this study can be used as a stepping stone in finding better ways to improve the transitional system as well as help eliminate the many issues war veterans are faced with daily outside of the Military. It is our duty to help pay it forward to those who protect us
Exploring the Impostor Phenomenon\u27s Behavioral Characteristics: How Do Gay Male Leaders and Impostors Cope?
No full textPurpose: The purpose of this mixed-methods case study was to explore and describe the coping skills used to overcome 9 behavioral characteristics by gay men serving in civic or nonprofit leadership roles who are identified as experiencing the impostor phenomenon (IP) by the Clance Impostor Phenomenon Scale (CIPS; Clance, 1985).
Methodology: This study used a mixed-methods, descriptive case study approach to collect both quantitative and qualitative data about 14 study participants. Each completed the 20-question CIPS that represented the quantitative strand of the study prior to an interview that included 10 semistructured interview questions designed to collect rich, descriptive data. The purpose for conducting the case study was to explore and describe the individual experiences of gay male leaders who have moderate to intense IP experiences.
Findings: Overall, 2 to 4 common themes shared by the participants per characteristic emerged, including focusing on values, appreciating challenges, presenting an authentic self, and following personal instincts. In addition, identifying internal motivational factors, reviewing lessons learned, and realigning personal thought processes represented the intentional approaches participants described as critical coping skills.
Conclusions: These findings led the researcher to conclude that individuals experiencing IP characteristics should carefully consider potential work environments, develop strategies for evaluating their personal and professional values, and establish clear expectations and steps they plan to take prior to embarking upon new challenges. In addition, the results suggest that organizations and clinicians should focus on the role they play in raising awareness of the IP while assisting individuals who typically experience it without the benefit of knowing how to incorporate successful coping strategies.
Recommendations: This research should be replicated in other parts of the United States and internationally. Future research should include different comparative studies that consider other members of the LGBT community, compare sexual minorities and their heterosexual counterparts, examine other leaders and those in support roles, and compare leaders in nonprofit versus for-profit environments. Finally, a replication of this study should include full disclosure of the IP construct to its participants ahead of data collection in order to explore alternative coping strategies that may emerge
Job Retention and Job Satisfaction at the Behavior Therapist Level Working in ABA Companies in the Home Setting
No full textPurpose: The purpose of this relational study was to identify and compare the factors related to job satisfaction and job retention as perceived by behavior therapists working with children diagnosed with autism. A second purpose of the study was to determine the relationship between the level of burnout related to job retention, and the intrinsic and extrinsic level of motivation related to job satisfaction as perceived by Behavior Therapists working with students with autism. A further purpose of the study is to describe the improvements in the work place that behavior therapists working with students with autism identified as necessary to increase their job satisfaction and job retention.
Methodology: The survey used in this study was composed of four components. All participants completed (a) a demographic questionnaire, (b) the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) (Maslach, Jackson, & Leiter, 1996) which was purchased, and (c) a 24-item survey developed by the researcher to identify intrinsic and extrinsic factors that influence job satisfaction, and (d) improvements that ABA Therapists perceived could improve their workplace job satisfaction and retention. The demographic information that was collected from the participants included the following information: age, gender, nationality and how many months they have been at their current company.
Findings: From the survey, 7 factors emerged as factors that affect job retention and job satisfaction at the BT level: Pay, Schedule, Support, Training, Benefits, Life Balance, and v
Job Responsibilities. Training and Benefits were two common factors that were found throughout all four research questions. Pay, Schedule, Support, were found in research questions 1,2 and 4. Life Balance and Job Responsibilities were factors found in research questions 1,2 and 3. Demographic data that was also collected in the surveys was analyzed, and resulted in 74.23% of participants were female and 25.77% of participants were male. 54% of the participants have been employed with their current company for less than 12 months
Meaning Makers: A Mixed-Method Case Study of Exemplary Police Chiefs and the Behaviors They Use to Create Personal and Organizational Meaning
No full textThe purpose of this thematic, mixed-method case study was to identify and describe the behaviors that exemplary police chiefs use to create personal and organizational meaning for themselves and their followers through character, vision, relationships, wisdom, and inspiration. Additionally, this study surveyed the followers of these exemplary leaders to evaluate the degree of importance to which these followers believe a leader uses character, vision, relationships, wisdom, and inspiration to create personal and organizational meaning. Police chiefs were interviewed for this study regarding their insight in the use of the behaviors associated with character, vision, relationships, wisdom, and inspiration. There have been studies that have focused on character, vision, relationships, wisdom, and inspiration. However, there has not been a study that has included all five variables in the research that identify and describe behaviors that exemplary leaders use to create personal and organizational meaning. The literature and the findings support use of the five variables in the behaviors that create meaning. The findings of this research show that exemplary leaders use all five variables throughout their leadership. Additionally, exemplary police chiefs agree that all five variables are needed, and one variable does not offset the others. Their followers also concur that the five variables are important exemplary leadership behaviors that help create personal and organizational meaning. Further research is recommended for this area of study by replicating this study in other law enforcement agencies focusing on either elected sheriffs, school district police, or special district police chiefs. In addition, a limited case study is recommended, locating three female police chiefs and looking at their pathways to the chief position. By identifying and describing the behaviors that exemplary police chiefs use to create personal and organizational meaning for themselves and their followers and the degree of importance which followers perceive the behaviors through character, vision, relationships, wisdom, and inspiration, help to create personal and organizational meaning, researchers can provide the necessary strategies and tools for improving these five variables in leaders in order to create successful and meaning leadership
California Community College Administrators\u27 Use of Predictive Modeling to Improve Student Course Completions
No full textPurpose: The purpose of this case study was to determine the impact of utilizing predictive modeling to improve successful course completion rates for at-risk students at California community colleges. A secondary purpose of the study was to identify factors of predictive modeling that have the most importance for improving successful course completion rates for at-risk students as perceived by California community college administrators.
Methodology: This case study identified specific administrators at five community colleges within two California community college districts using predictive modeling to improve successful course completion rates. Participants were chosen based on specific criteria. The study was designed to collect data through interviews, documents and archival sources to answer the research questions.
Findings: These findings were identified as impacts: (1) no discernable improvement in course completion rates; (2) student contact, (3) timely intervention strategies; (4) identify and monitor students; (5) sufficient support services; (6) successful completions and retentions to achieve educational goal; and (7) institutional metrics and reporting. The findings identified as important factors were: (1) planning and strategy; (2) communication and training; (3) resources; (4) outcomes; and (5) inclusion.
Conclusions: It is too early to determine any impact on successful course completion rates by using predictive modeling software. A diverse population of stakeholders must jointly determine the outcomes desired from and identify the data needed to accurately analyze and model predictions. These data streams allow policy decisions to start with data. Predictive modeling software is a tool to identify students for timely and specific interventions. Increasing a student’s sense of belonging, engagement, and awareness is important to successful course completions. Administrators need assistance with and exposure to data analytics and predictive modeling to establish a data-driven decision-making culture. A culture of continuous review and improvement of the predictive models should be established.
Recommendations: Provide administrators and other personnel with professional-development learning activities related to using data to inform policy and procedures that encourage student engagement, strategies for student success, and a cycle of continuous review and improvement
Improving Reading Achievement in High Poverty, Rural Schools
No full textPurpose: The purpose of this quantitative study was to determine what correlation exists between a student’s poverty coefficient and the daily number of minutes provided for independent reading and third grade reading achievement level as measured by California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP) in small, rural school districts. An additional purpose of the study was to determine what correlation exists between teacher mindset on student achievement and reading achievement in the third grade as measured by CAASPP scores and teacher perception questionnaires, in small, rural school districts?
Methodology: This study employed quantitative, correlational study, by using data from two instruments to address the RQs. This study uses the data collection and analysis of numerical data, specifically the poverty coefficient and English language arts proficiency using measuring CAASPP data. Additional data was collected to determine the number of instructional minutes provided for independent reading and data was retrieved for the poverty coefficient. Questionnaires were given to each teacher in the study to determine if there was a correlation between teacher mindset and student achievement.
Findings: In order to begin to close the reading achievement gap, there must be a consideration of changing current educational systems as well as the mindset of educators on the abilities of at-risk, high-poverty students. In addition, this research supports a consideration to re-evaluate how silent reading is structured in classrooms of high poverty, rural school districts. In addition, further consideration might be taken toward implementing viable, supplemental reading programs in lieu of extended sustained silent reading.
Conclusions: Access to high quality education is the foundation of a framework that has the potential to mitigate the effects of a cycle of poverty, rife with high unemployment, low wages and a menial existence.
Recommendations: It is recommended that a future study take place on the correlation between teacher mindset affects classroom instruction, classroom management and student engagement. Future research could be conducted utilizing a qualitative methodology, (observations, interviews, focus groups, etc.) instead of the quantitative TSES tool to assess the levels of self-efficacy regarding instruction and the impact of instruction on classroom management
PLTW Female High-School Students\u27 Supports and Barriers in Choosing a College Degree
No full textPurpose:The purpose of this mixed-methods research study is to identify and describe the barriers and supports that PLTW female students encounter when pursuing a non-traditional female STEM degree upon graduation from high school.
Methodology:A mixed-method (qualitative-quantitative) research design was chosen for this study to explore barriers and supports of female high-school seniors in PLTW. The qualitative portion of the study was phenomenology. This study explored the supports and barriers of female high-school seniors in PLTW courses when choosing a college degree. The quantitative portion of the study was conducted via a hard-copy survey containing closed-ended five-point Likert scale questions. The survey was administered to all 113 PLTW female senior students in the Antelope Valley. The survey was administered to students in their PLTW classes with their PLTW teacher present.
Findings:Examination of mixed-methods data from the two school districts participating in the study gave rise to a variety of findings. First, gender biases were found in the classroom and at home. Secondly, a lack of female mentors and role models contributed to the gender biases. PLTW classes give females the confidence to become engineers and are female-inclusive. The class inspired the females, educated them on new career choices, and showed them how they could impact the world with engineering. The PLTW teachers are supportive of the students’ college degree choices. Females found the PLTW course difficult. Finally, females were concerned about how to pay for their college education.
Conclusions: The study supported the premise that PLTW is a fundamental component of promoting STEM college degrees among female students, and that the class is female-inclusive and a supportive environment. However, there continues to be a lack of self-confidence and perceived gender biases among the females.
Recommendations: Further research is recommended to offer solutions to eliminate gender biases and support females in the PLTW courses