This community-based project explored levels of father-friendliness across local organizations, agencies, and schools. A community coalition of individuals from diverse backgrounds and roles created a community survey to gather quantitative and qualitative information from individuals who worked with children or families. An analysis of survey…

This dissertation explores the impact of the classroom environment on undergraduate engineering students by integrating three manuscripts using the process-person-context-time (PPCT) model within Bioecological Systems Theory. Each manuscript focused on students' sense of belonging, motivation, and academic confidence. The study confirms prior…

This qualitative study investigates the glass cliff phenomenon in relation to Black women in senior administration in higher education. This research explores the motivation of Black women who accept these roles and the ways in which they use of different types of cultural capital to navigate these positions. Using data drawn from the interviews…

The main purpose of this study is to examine the Type I error and statistical power ratios of Differential Item Functioning (DIF) techniques based on different theories under different conditions. For this purpose, a simulation study was conducted by using Mantel-Haenszel (MH), Logistic Regression (LR), Lord's [chi-squared], and Raju's Areas…

Literature on stereotypes and implications of stereotype threat has grown considerably over the past decade. While numerous studies examine college major biases, they predominantly focus on STEM and business students. For Music Majors (MMs), some of the conventional musician stereotypes include susceptibility to heavy drinking, drug use, and their…

This study explored potential biases in professional writing evaluation. An experiment was conducted in which individuals with hiring authority or influence at their workplace evaluated an email with multiple grammatical/typographical mistakes requesting that the reader make time to speak with the author. Participants were randomly assigned into…

Embedded misogyny and white supremacy in higher education have resulted in Chicana graduate students experiencing education-based traumas. Furthermore, hegemonic values related to what is considered "noteworthy" and "publishable" in academia are heavily influenced by racism, sexism, and misogyny, further oppressing Chicanas…

A growing movement towards inclusive education worldwide means more children with autism are being educated in mainstream classrooms. However, integration does not equate to inclusion, and peer stigmatisation of autism is commonplace. This systematic review explores the merit of school-based peer education interventions targeting the…

My dissertation examines three current challenges of international large-scale assessments (ILSAs) associated with the transition from linear testing to an adaptive testing design. ILSAs are important for making comparisons among populations and informing countries about the quality of their educational systems. ILSA's results inform policymakers…

The purpose of this phenomenological qualitative descriptive study was to examine the perceptions of PreK-12th grade educators from a public school district in northwest Houston, Texas, regarding factors that may contribute to the disproportionate placement of African American males. The researcher used this methodology to explain and describe the…

Purpose and Method of Study: The purpose of this study is to delve into the bicultural heritage and educational experiences of East Asian American women, exploring their path to leadership roles. Using qualitative research methods, including semi-structured interviews, the investigation sheds light on the unique challenges and opportunities faced…

Rational numbers (i.e., fractions, percentages, decimals, and whole-number frequencies) are notoriously difficult mathematical constructs. Yet correctly interpreting rational numbers is imperative for understanding health statistics, such as gauging the likelihood of side effects from a medication. Several pernicious biases affect health…

The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the lived work experiences of African American/Black male full-time faculty at Midwestern community colleges. Narrative inquiry was used as the design in this study. The data reflects the national statistics indicating the low number of African/American Black male full-time faculty employed at…

The purpose of this study was to gather data about male leadership bias and how it affected women's treatment, evaluation, and promotion in a predominantly male leadership environment. This was explored through the lens of role congruity theory (Eagly & Karau, 2002) which underscored the impact of gender stereotypes on women leaders, mainly…

The theory of transformative learning and its notion of freedom, that we are not trapped by one way of looking at the world or being in the world, fosters a fundamental re-ordering and radical questioning of how one thinks or acts. As a theory of adult learning, it emerged from the women's movement in the US, echoing what it means to become a…