45507 research outputs found
Sort by
Restorative Justice: A Phenomenological Study of Teachers' Experiences
No full textRestorative justice practices are common practice in schools and school districts across the nation. The primary goal for schools adopting restorative practices is the reduction of exclusionary discipline through mediated conversations. The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to examine the lived experiences of teachers who implemented restorative practices in their classrooms regarding classroom discipline and relationship building with students. Eight public middle school teachers were interviewed to understand their experiences in implementing restorative practices in their classrooms. The data collected from this study’s findings suggest that teachers can use restorative practices to build positive relationships with students. Additionally, teachers employed restorative practices to manage minor classroom disruptions effectively. Contrary to current research, suggesting that restorative justice reduces suspensions, teachers in this study could not identify a connection between restorative practices and reduced suspensions. Instead, teachers attributed an observed reduction in suspensions to administrative efforts rather than restorative practices
Plasmon Spectrum of Twisted Bilayer Graphene
No full textLow energy electron collective modes (acoustic plasmons) are an expected feature of layered systems. The unique band structure of Twisted Bilayer Graphene (TBLG) supports long-lived acoustic plasmons in the meV energy range. We summarize the relevant features of the continuum band structure with a focus on the flat moiré bands. We then discuss their influence on the plasmon spectrum for several twist angles at varying doping levels. We observe sharp plasmons for chemical potentials within the flat bands. Unlike in typical metals, the acoustic plasmons are only seen at low temperature (∼1K), and are sharp at high momenta and damped at low momenta. We show the importance of the gap separating the flat bands from the neighboring steep bands for the existence of well-defined collective excitations. We also predict and characterize a new plasmon which appears only at higher temperatures (around 50K). We discuss the possible relation between plasmons and superconductivity in TBLG
Instructional and Non-Instructional Staff Perceptions on At-Risk Males in a Structured After-School Sport and Recreational Program: A Qualitative Case Study
No full textThe purpose of this qualitative case study research was to explore how structured programs such as recreation, sport, and leisure activities can help elementary school at-risk youth in an afterschool program at a K-5 elementary school in central North Carolina. The central research questions for this study include the following: What are the perceptions of instructional and non-instructional staff on the academic and behavioral influence of a structured after school program on at-risk males? What is the influence of adequate mentoring on academic success and decreasing problematic behaviors when providing a sport and recreation afterschool program for at-risk males? The study findings revealed four themes, consistency, accountability, communication, and school-based teacher mentors vs. outside mentors. Recommendations for future research suggested that other programs are examined in other states, examine middle school and high school teacher perceptions, and provide further research on the available resources for at-risk students at all grade levels. Implications for the study include continually evaluating programs to ensure at-risk students are academically successful and recommend changes to program policies and procedures. The 10 study participants shared their experiences and perceptions of how afterschool programs are a viable source for improving student academic performance, particularly at-risk male students. The study focused on an afterschool recreational program in North Carolina. The results may be generalizable to other educational leaders' experiences and perceptions in other states. Future research is recommended to examine the influence of afterschool programs as a viable source for improving student academic performance, particularly at-risk male students
Racism-Based Trauma and Policing Among Black Emerging Adults
No full textCommunity violence exposure (CVE) among Black emerging adults ages 18-29 in the United States is a major public health concern. However, an unknown is the nature of the relationship between Black emerging adults CVE and substance use when the perpetrator(s) of the violence are the police and the violence is experienced as a race-based traumatic event. The Classes of Racism Frequency of Racial Experiences (CRFRE) measure assesses individuals’ exposure to perceived racism-based events. However, the CRFRE hostile-racism scale does not capture the range of police violent events that are most salient for a population. To fill the noted gaps in science, this dissertation conducted focus groups and cognitive interviews to develop key survey items capturing exposure to perceived racism-based police violence that were added to the CRFRE hostile racism scale and examined the mediating role of race-based trauma symptoms in the relationship between exposure to racism-based police violence and substance use for a sample of Black emerging adults in St. Louis, Missouri (n = 344). Participant narratives from focus groups and cognitive interviews generated 16 survey items capturing exposure to racism-based police violence. The modified CRFRE measure showed strong psychometric properties and results revealed that avoidance was a significant mediator in the relationship between exposure to hostile police violence racism and illicit drug use problems. This dissertation advances our methodology for quantifying exposure to perceived racism-based police violence and elucidates specific pathways to illicit drug use problems that can be targeted by behavioral health professionals working with Black emerging adults
What Are the Implications of State Wellness Policy Standards for Educational Leaders?
No full textThe School Lunch and Child Nutrition Act of 1966 was reauthorized as the Child Nutrition and Women, Infants and Children (WIC) Reauthorization Act of 2004 (CNA, 2004). This legislation mandated all school systems participating in the National School Lunch program initiate a wellness policy by 2006 (SNA, 2005). In response, states developed wellness policy templates to guide school systems in policy development. The CNA was reauthorized as the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 and 2016 (HHFKA). Child nutrition, physical activity, and academic performance became part of educational policy in the HHFKA (Federal Register, 2016). According to Welk et al. (2010), constituents must recognize that academics and health are complementary, not competing factors in education. Story, Nanney, and Schwartz (2009) stated, “schools alone cannot solve the childhood obesity epidemic, it also is unlikely that childhood obesity can be reversed without strong school-based policies” (p. 72). School leaders are advocates in addressing policy standards to improve student health and academic success. A content analysis was conducted on state wellness policy templates to evaluate the relationships between obesity, high school graduation, and physical education practices. The School Wellness Policy Evaluation Tool (SWPET) developed by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation was used for analysis. Wellness policy models for each state and the District of Columbia (N = 51) were evaluated for strength (specificity of language) and comprehensiveness (items mentioned) using the SWPET. The relationship between strength and obesity (r2 = .05; r = -.22), graduation (r2 < .001; r = -.03), as well as comprehensiveness scores for obesity (r2 = .04; r = -.20) and graduation (r2 < .001; r = -.03) was investigated through regression. Using Cohen’s d, a small effect (d = .19) was found between obesity rates in states that offer physical education on all levels and states that do not. Heroux (2017) classifies the effect size for physical education and graduation as large (d = .68). Although these findings may be spurious due to the timing of the available data, they do warrant more research on the impact of wellness policies on obesity, graduation rates, and physical education
The Influence of Specific Leadership Behaviors on Employee Performance Within the Quick-Service Industry
No full textThe purpose of this qualitative research was to explore the influence of specific leadership behaviors on employee performance within the quick-service industry. The researcher used a generic qualitative inquiry method to explore the behavior of 10 quick-service leaders and their experience and perceptions on what behavior influences their employees. This study was designed to address a general business problem, the loss of company income for leaders within the quick-service industry because of high employee turnover, and a specific business problem, that some quick-service leaders do not employ positive leadership behaviors that can influence employee performance. The conceptual framework guiding the study included the relational, situational, and leadership behaviors taken from the Fiedler’s contingency model. Ten open-ended interviews of quick-service industry leaders were done during the month(s) of January-March/2020. Thematic analysis was accomplished, and themes were extracted from the data collected. A single research question was sought to be answered through the results of the data analysis: How do positive leadership behaviors influence employee performance within the quick-service industry? Themes which emerged included leadership as action, influencing leadership behaviors, and leadership and employee performance. Quick-service leaders can use this inquiry as a guide in targeting how behaviors or actions influence their employee’s performance. Additionally, this inquiry could also be utilized as a guide to revamp employee handbooks when stating the company’s mission and what is expected from employees regarding their performance. Future research could include a quantitative methodology that would explore the cause and effect of the relationship between the leaders’ behaviors and how it influences their employee’s performance
The Influence of Inbound, Outbound, and Coupled Processes on Open Innovation: A Correlational Study
No full textThis study examined how open innovation affects an organization’s ability to innovate, in particular small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The research literature showed that open innovation methods provide organizations with the ability to increase their market share. There is a lack in research on types of failures and the lessons learned from them when conducting open innovation. This makes it even more challenging for SMEs to decide if they should utilize open innovation processes as they are. This research fills a gap in the existing literature through a quantitative nonexperimental correlational research. The research tests the stakeholder theory to the examine what factors hinder the adoption of open innovation processes by measuring the internal, external, and alliance variables. The study utilizes a quantitative methodology based on a nonexperimental, correlational design. This study investigated internal, external, and alliance factors that hinder open innovation adoption within SMEs. The target population for the research are individuals who are responsible for innovations (small business owners, R&D managers, or staff managing new business development activities). These individuals have been a part of their organization for at least three years. The data is analyzed using PLS-SEM, which utilizes predictive measures to forecast a variable based on the values from other variables. PLS-SEM is appropriate to use for this research as it is flexible and robust, and it helps find optimum solutions based on the total variance while it can also minimize the unexplained variance in the dependent variable. All three of the constructs showed a positive predictive value toward the dependent construct, though only one, internal, showcased a statistically significant relationship
A Qualitative, Descriptive Study to Understand Influences on Courses Selection in High School Cte Courses
No full textThe purpose of this qualitative, descriptive study was to explore how low socioeconomic status (SES), minority, adult high school graduates describe the influence of their parents, program activities, and possible employment opportunities in pursuing Career and Technical Education/Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics (CTE) courses in a rural southern school district in Florida. This purpose was based on a gap in the literature to explain how low SES minority adult high school graduates describe potential influences on pursuing CTE courses. Using social reproduction theory as a guiding framework, the study aimed to answer research questions related to low (SES) minority adult high school graduates describe the influence of their parents, program activities, and possible employment opportunities in pursuing (CTE) courses in a rural southern school district in Florida. Data were collected from 54 adult students in Florida, where 12 completed open-ended one-on-one interviews and 42 completed electronic questionnaires. The results of the thematic analysis revealed the influence of parents varied among participants. Most participants, 24 of 54, made their course selection with little or no parental influence. For 23 of 54 participants, the types of activities involved in the courses heavily influenced their selection of a course. Finally, the potential for future employment opportunities was a strong influence for 19 of 54 participants in their selection of a CTE course. This study has direct practical implications for educators and those who recruit and counsel middle-school students considering a CTE course of study for high school
Ethnic Conflict in Nigeria: A Narrative Inquiry of Individuals Who Emigrated from Nigeria to the United States and Their Lived Experiences
No full textThe purpose of this qualitative study was to explore ethnic conflict in Nigeria and the lived experiences of Nigerians who emigrated to the Pittsburgh Region in the United States. The study also ascertains the lessons learned from Nigerians who emigrated to the United States regarding the ethnic conflict in Nigeria and its relationship to cultural/relational leadership. Structured interview was utilized to conduct interview with seven participants who emigrated from Nigeria. All interviews were conducted through telephone/audio recorded. These data collected was transcribed, coded and analyzed. Through the use of data, three major themes emerged from research question one: (a) Ethnic conflict as disagreement between ethnic groups, (b) Emigrate to further education and (c) Poor economic growth. An additional three major themes were produced related to research question two: (a) Political, cultural, colonial influence, (b) Leadership and (c) Cultural/Relational leadership. This study identified recommendations made by the participants. Five participants suggested the restructure of Nigeria where various states of the nation become autonomous and able to control their resources and development of their regions while two participants advocate for a split of Nigeria into different nations. The findings of this research were difficult to generalize due to limited sample size, however it is pertinent for a similar research study to be conducted among Nigerian emigrants in other States or emigrants from other African countries in the United States. Finally, this study will add to the body of knowledge to assist Nigerian leadership on how to combat the problem of ethnic conflict in Nigeria
Distributed Placement and Resource Orchestration of Real-Time Edge Computing Applications
No full textThe recent emergence of a broad class of deep learning based augmented and virtual reality applications motivates the need for real-time mobile cloud services. These real-time, mobile applications involve intensive computation over large data sets, and are generally required to provide low end-to-end latency for acceptable quality-of-experience at the end user. Limited battery life, computation and storage capacity constraints inherent to mobile devices mean that application execution must be offloaded to cloud servers, which then return processed results to the mobile devices through the Internet. When cloud servers reside in remote data centers, end-to-end communication may translate into long delays characteristic of multi-hops transmissions over the Internet. Moving cloud computing to the edge of a network has helped to lessen these otherwise unacceptable delays while leveraging the benefits of a high-performance cloud. While this improvement is significant, there are several technical challenges that need to be addressed in order to achieve low end-to-end latency. In the thesis, we aim to address the following problems. First, how to efficiently distribute the real-time application between the mobile device, edge servers and data center to meet the latency constraints? Second, as the edge cloud architecture is inherently distributed and heterogeneous, how to perform resource allocation and task orchestration in a latency constrained design? Finally, existing cloud computing solutions often assume there exists a dedicated and powerful server, to which an entire job can be offloaded. In reality, we may not be able to find such a server, which motivates an investigation of techniques for use of multiple less powerful edge servers to achieve a parallel job offloading. In the first part of the thesis, we take virtual reality massively multiplayer online games(VR MMOGs) as a driving example and design a hybrid service architecture that achieves a good distribution of workload between the mobile devices, edge clouds, core cloud for low latency and global user scalability, we also propose an efficient service placement algorithm based on a Markov decision process to dynamically place a user’s gaming service on edge clouds. This dynamic service placement can help to further reduce the latency under user mobility. In the second part of this thesis, we present the design and implementation of a latency aware edge computing platform, aiming to minimize the end-to-end latency for edge applications. The proposed platform is built on Apache Storm, an open source distributed computing framework, and consists of multiple edge servers with heterogeneous computation(including both GPUs and CPUs) and networking resources. Central to our platform is an orchestration framework that breaks down an edge application into Storm tasks as defined by a directed acyclic graph (DAG) and then maps these tasks onto heterogeneous edge servers for efficient execution. In the last part of this thesis, we take a closer look at these computing intensive deep learning-based computer vision jobs. We propose to partition the video frame and offload the partial inference tasks to multiple servers for parallel processing. This work presents the design and implementation of Elf, a framework to accelerate the mobile deep vision applications with any server provisioning through parallel offloading. Elf employs a recurrent region proposal prediction algorithm, a region proposal centric frame partitioning, and a multi-offloading scheme