Education Masters Theses

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A study of the job and educational experiences of North Dakota vocational agriculture graduates who received the State Farmer degree from 1960 through 1965
(North Dakota State University, 1969) Phillips, Terrance George
It was the purpose of this study to determine the job and educational experiences of North Dakota vocational agriculture graduates who received the State Farmer degree from 1960 through 1965. The specific objectives of the study were to determine: 1. Their present job or educational status, 2. The highest level and nature of their formal educational experiences, 3. The number of different types or grades of jobs they had held, 4. Their present geographic location. This study was limited to gathering the evidence needed to attain the stated objectives. The State Farmer degree recipients represent a select group of Future Farmers of America (FFA) members. It was not intended to be a study in depth of any particular occupational or educational characteristic or factor related thereto. Nor was the study to analyze the occupational and educational choice of the entire FFA membership in North Dakota or make inferences concerning all vocational agriculture graduates during the time period 1960 through 1965. Because of the limits of the scope of this study and the time element involved, no control group was used and therefore no comparisons were made.
Sensory Processing Disorder: Family Perspectives on the Disorder and the Role of Counseling
(North Dakota State University, 2010) Fullerton, Susan Patricia
Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) is defined as an "inability to use information received through the senses in order to function smoothly in daily life" (Kranowitz, 2005, p. 9). The purpose of this study was to examine the perspectives and experiences of families in the process of seeking treatment for their child's sensory processing disorder and the availability of family mental health support (defined as counseling). There is limited literature in the area of the mental health support for children living with SPD. A qualitative interview methodology was utilized in this study. The qualitative research data consisted of seven telephone interviews with parents of children living with SPD. These parents were either Parent Connection Hosts or Parent Connection group members from the Sensory Processing Foundations Parents' support groups for SPD parents. Comparative data analysis involved looking for similar and distinct themes in the participant's stories from which several main themes emerged. Findings indicated that counseling was not offered to most of the participants and that they had to independently seek out other necessary services for their children. In light of the experiences of the participants, implications for counselors are provided. It was concluded that counselors should endeavor to become a part of the collaboration process necessary to better provide mental health support to families with children living with SPD.
Applying Group Perspectives: Student Behavior Change Resulting from a Co-Curricular Leadership Development Program
(North Dakota State University, 2011) Almlie, Jessica Marie
This descriptive study explored undergraduate student application of leadership concepts and corresponding change in leadership behavior resulting from participation in a co-curricular leadership development program. Students who completed workshops related to effective group leadership contributed in focus group discussions regarding their application of learned skills. Students discussed applying knowledge of leadership concepts across the scope of their lives, both in and outside the classroom. This indicated a change in leadership behavior. Concepts applied emerged in five major themes: (a) addressing and managing conflict, (b) facilitating small groups, (c) appreciating and valuing diversity, (d) utilizing collaboration, and (e) accepting shared leadership. Two minor themes also emerged related to defining power and privilege and living with congruence. Implications for practice and suggestions for future research were also addressed.
Sustainability of Professional Development to Enhance Student Achievement: A Shift in the Professional Development Paradigm
(North Dakota State University, 2012) Stachler, Wendi Marie Mizer
The purpose of this study was to determine the sustainability of professional development--teacher utilization of the Science-in-CTE pedagogical model and science-enhanced CTE lessons--one year following the Science-in-CTE Pilot Study. This study included 27 teachers (15 experimental CTE and 12 science) who participated in the Pilot Study in 2009-2010. This study was a partial replication of the Math-in-CTE Follow-up Study and data were collected using a mixed methods approach. Quantitative data were obtained from online questionnaires and qualitative data were collected from personal and telephone interviews. Data found that a majority of the CTE and science teachers voluntarily incorporated portions of the seven-element pedagogical model and 15 science-enhanced lessons into their curricula one year later. Findings suggest that collaborative professional development is an effective method of integrating science content into CTE curricula to enhance student CTE course achievement without reducing the intent of the CTE program.
Citizenship and Social Activism: A Mixed Methods Case Study to Understand Cultural Competence in Students of a Service-Learning Based Course
(North Dakota State University, 2012) Wohl, Anne Frances
This mixed methods case study sought to understand cultural competency in the students of a service-learning based course, “Citizenship and Social Activism (HDFS 310),” taught at North Dakota State University in Fargo, North Dakota. Cultural competency refers to how people interact with those who are of different cultural groups. For the purposes of this study, cultural competency was also defined by four components: attitudes, knowledge, awareness, and skills. Using a pre- and post-test survey, the participants showed statistically significant changes in the levels of self-reported cultural competency in the overall scores and in the subsection scores that correspond to the four components. Survey data was complemented by qualitative data collected by coding participants’ reflective journals. The qualitative data provided situation-specific information about what levels of cultural competency participants were demonstrating; additionally, the journals provided information about how participants define, perceive, and struggle with the concept of cultural competency.
A Study on Retention: Positive Steps for a Small Liberal Arts College
(North Dakota State University, 2012) Woodley, Michael
Retention is a concern for colleges and universities nationwide. The focus of this study is what a small private liberal arts college does well in terms of retaining students by examining the students who left the college for a minimum of one semester and then returned to finish their degree. A survey instrument was used to examine the positive impact the faculty, academic advising, academic program, student services, technology, and the living environment had on the return of reactivated students to Jamestown College (JC). The survey instrument was also used to find out the reasons students attended JC initially, why they left, why they came back, what they like the most, and what they like the least about JC. The faculty and staff of JC had the most positive impact on reactivated students returning to JC. Other factors that positively impacted the students included academic advising and programs of study.
Comparing Project-Based Learning to Direct Instruction on Students' Attitude to Learn Science
(North Dakota State University, 2013) Haugen, Marlen Ingvard
Students' attitude towards learning science transform during their middle school years. Research provides data showing the affect of different teaching methods on students' attitude. Two teaching methods compared were project-based learning and direct instruction. Project-based learning uses inquiry to promote student attitude by engaging them and increasing their curiosity in the natural world. Direct instruction uses lecture, worksheets, tests, and labs. The Test of Science Related Attitudes (TOSRA) survey was used to measure student's attitude. The TOSRA has seven subscales labeled as Social Implications of Science, Normality of Scientists, Attitude to Scientific Inquiry, Adaptation to Scientific Attitudes, Enjoyment of Science Lessons, Leisure Interest in Science, and Career Interest in Science. A student's age and gender were variables also used to determine the affect on transformation of attitude using two different teaching methods. The TOSRA survey showed both positive and negative transformation of students' attitude towards science.
Tattoo Subculture: Creating a Personal Identity in the Context of Social Stigma
(North Dakota State University, 2013) Tabassum, Naomi Joy
Tattooing is a growing and diversifying practice in the United States (Roberts, 2012), yet mainstream society maintains negative stigmas (Bell, 1999). Nevertheless, individuals attach personal meaning to tattooing (Atkinson, 2002; Kosut, 2000). There is little literature on the tattooed individual’s experience of social stigmatization and its impact on identity construction. This study employed a phenomenological approach to address this gap in the literature. The researcher used a semi-structured protocol to interview seven tattooed individuals (five men, two women; age range 25 - 38 years). Data analysis extracted three main themes: “identity project,” “cultural context,” and “tattoo timeline.” Findings suggest stigmas associated with tattoos remain embedded in the cultural context, most significantly within career. This finding has implications for career counseling. However, participants intentionally defined themselves outside negative stereotypes, and described a sense of community within the tattoo subculture.
Mastery Learning Instruction versus Traditional Instructional Methods in Eighth Grade Language Arts
(North Dakota State University, 2013) Mogen, Kelly Sue
The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of mastery learning on eighth grade language arts students primarily in terms of academic gains, but subsidiary research questions also focused on the impact of mastery learning on student sense of self-efficacy in language arts, student attitudes towards learning language arts, and on student learning styles. This study focused on the grammar portions of language arts; it did not address the reading, writing, and speaking aspects. Results from this quasi-experimental study involved 43 eighth grade language arts students from a rural, relatively homogenous school in the Midwest. Over a four month time period, it was found that mastery learning does seem to have a statistically significant positive impact on student academic success, student sense of self-efficacy, and to some extent, student attitudes towards learning. However, no statistically significant impact was found for mastery learning on learning styles.
Alcohol and Academia: A Study of the Association between Student Housing Type and Alcohol Abuse at North Dakota State University
(North Dakota State University, 2013) Lietaert, Charles Louis
The purpose of this study was to determine if student housing gender-type is significantly related to student alcohol consumption at North Dakota State University. The researcher examined whether the residence of students in coeducational residence halls or single-gender residence halls was related to the rate they consumed alcohol in an average week or the frequency they engaged in binge drinking. NDSU researchers allowed the researcher of this study to add an institutional question to the biannual Student CORE Alcohol and Other Drug Survey that gathered demographic information about what residence hall gender-type participants lived within. For the first time, this provided the opportunity to quantitatively compare alcohol consumption of students living in coeducational residence halls against those living in single-gender residence halls at NDSU. At the time of this study the NDSU on-campus population was particularly hospitable for such research since the multi-thousand person population was evenly distributed between single-gender and coed residency. Using this preexisting data set regarding student alcohol behavior and residence hall demographics, the researcher analyzed the data through descriptive statistics, bivariate correlational analysis, and analysis of covariance while controlling for the effect of age and gender. Results revealed that there was no significant relationship between NDSU student alcohol consumption and their residence hall gender-type. Recommendations for future research included adapting the national CORE Alcohol and Other Drug Survey to include residence hall gender-type to allow for further analysis.
Understanding the Use of Social Constructivst Moodle Activities within the North Dakota University System
(North Dakota State University, 2013) Wald, Randall John
Online learning is becoming an increasingly important aspect of higher education. Concerns about the effectiveness of online courses have prompted education administrators to look at how different learning theories can best be used to increase student learning. Learning Management Systems (LMS) have become one of the dominant technologies for delivering online education, and the North Dakota University System (NDUS) uses one of the most popular of these LMSs, Moodle. NDUS Moodle is designed and utilizes activities that are based on a learning theory called social constructivism. This research studies the usage of these activities, perceived instructor effectiveness, and the use of alternate tools outside the NDUS Moodle environment by surveying instructors of online-only NDUS Moodle courses for spring 2012.
Investigating the Perception of EFL Teachers in Thailand: To What Extent Do They Feel Prepared to Teach
(North Dakota State University, 2014) Scholz, Anuchidacheromoh
This study examined how well Thai teachers of English as a Foreign Language (EFL) perceived their teacher preparation institutions trained them. The researcher focused on in-service EFL teachers who graduated from formal teacher training institutions in Thailand and were within their first three years of teaching in a high school or primary school setting. A survey was designed to diagnose the source of under-prepared EFL. SPSS was used to analyze data. Based on descriptive statistics data, the findings indicated teacher demographics, education background and current work setting influenced their perception of preparedness. EFL teachers who felt prepared, majored in English for Business Purposes, had a minor related to teaching, had a smaller class size, taken subject specific courses and completed training and one year of teaching. These findings may benefit higher education leaders who revise EFL teacher preparation programs, educators who develop professional seminars for new EFL teachers, and foreign educators who work with Thai students or educators.
The Flipped Classroom: Shakespeare in the English Classroom
(North Dakota State University, 2014) Gross, Anna Lynn
Bergmann and Sams’ twenty-first century flipped classroom method was reviewed in depth to determine its effectiveness in improving student achievement and enjoyment of studying Hamlet by William Shakespeare, a text that is difficult to both read and comprehend. The flipped method was implemented into one of two 12th grade general English classes in rural Minnesota. The first section of 12th grade general English read the play aloud using the traditional read-aloud method and completed an in-depth passage analysis chart for homework. The second section, the intervention group, used the flipped method and read the play on their own with accompanying video podcasts and then worked together in class with both peer and teacher help to complete the passage analysis chart. After finding similar final assessment scores, the flipped classroom may prove to be successful in an English class studying difficult literature.
The Associations Between Student Perceptions of the Classroom Psycho-Social Learning Environment and Motivation to Learn Chinese
(North Dakota State University, 2014) Ji, Chongmin
The purpose of this study was to investigate the associations between students’ perception of their classroom psychosocial learning environment and motivation to learn Mandarin Chinese, which can support teachers in creating a good classroom environment. The students took two surveys (Likert scale and open-ended questions) that measured their perception of the classroom environment and the learning motivation. Descriptive statistics (mean, standard deviation, percentage) and inferential statistics (simple correlation, multiple regression, and two sample t-test) were used to analyze the quantitative data. The open-ended questions were coded and categorized based on the student responses. There were statistically significant associations between student perception and motivation for learning. The three scales of Task Orientation, Involvement, and Equity seemed to influence students the most to learn. The Task Orientation had the strongest relationship with student motivation. Moreover, the results of gender difference showed that only Task Orientation was significantly different between the two subgroups.
A Study of the Effect the Flipped Classroom Model on Student Self-Efficacy
(North Dakota State University, 2014) Kenna, Donald Christian
The learning model known as the flipped classroom is one of the developing ideas of educating students. Bergmann and Sams (2012) using a flipped classroom in 2007 when they recorded lecture for students to view at home and allowing students to work on “homework” in the classroom. This research was conducted to identify the effect of the flipped classroom on student self-efficacy and the difference in self-efficacy between genders using this model. This study was conducted with 22 physics students in two classes, a traditional and a flipped classroom. The student’s self-efficacy was scored with the Self-Efficacy Survey. The results showed an increase in their average self-efficacy score with the flipped classroom while the traditional classroom decreased their average score. When analyzed separately, the males showed a decrease in self-efficacy while the females showed an increase while using the flipped classroom.
An Exploratory Analysis of North Dakota Teachers' Attitudes Toward and Implementation of the Common Core State Standards: Recommendations for Professional Development Providers
(North Dakota State University, 2015) Thompson, Christopher Michael
Increases in global competition for student achievement have led to drastic changes within the field of education. In recent decades educational reforms such as No Child Left Behind (NCLB) and Race to the Top have placed a stronger emphasis on standardized testing and increased accountability for schools to promote student achievement with limited success. This has led to a state-initiated overhaul of previous educational standards in favor of a set of more rigorous, internationally benchmarked standards in math and English Language Arts (ELA) known as the Common Core State Standards (CCSS). Since 2010, adoption of the Common Core State Standards across the United States has left teachers and school districts scrambling to unpack, align, and add the new standards to their existing curricula. The author examined North Dakota teachers’ attitudes and preparedness to teach using the Common Core State Standards providing recommendations for professional development providers.
Mindfulness in Counselor Education: Student Perceptions of Exposure and Training
(North Dakota State University, 2015) Wheeler, Andra Jore
The purpose of the present study was to explore the perceptions that Master’s level counseling students have regarding their exposure to mindfulness throughout their coursework and training. A mixed-method design was utilized to gather both quantitative and qualitative data using a web-based survey. The survey was sent to students enrolled in CACREP accredited Master’s level counseling programs in the NCACES region. It was hypothesized that there is a lack of mindfulness training available to students in counselor education programs. A majority of participants reported being dissatisfied with the mindfulness training offered in their program. The results also indicated that students seem to be exposed to mindfulness as a self-care strategy, and lack training on how to use mindfulness therapeutically.
Athletic Director's Perceptions of Evaluation and Supervision Practices in North Dakota
(North Dakota State University, 2015) Thielges, Brett Anthony
The purpose of this study was to better understand the process of supervision and evaluation of coaches in North Dakota schools. This study also examined the current practices of evaluation and supervision used in North Dakota schools, and how that practice compares with school enrollment size. Professional development for coaches and athletic directors was examined within this study. A survey consisting of 13 quantitative questions was used to collect data. The survey contained closed-ended questions to obtain quantitative data vital to the study. One hundred and seventy-one athletic directors were invited to participate through e-mail notification on the North Dakota High School Activities Association website. This analysis consisted of descriptive statistics, primarily frequencies and percentages. Results showed that North Dakota athletic directors are evaluating and supervising coaches at different levels in school. They are using different forms of evaluation and supervising coaches during games and practices.
Effects of Therapy Canines on Therapeutic Alliance: A Pilot Study on Client Perceptions
(North Dakota State University, 2015) Grueneich, Brea Rachelle
While Animal Assisted Therapy is a more recent phenomena (Chandler, 2005, p. 5), AAT is quickly becoming an empirically supported treatment for a variety of mental health disorders (Perry, Rubinstein, & Austin, 2012). This study explored how client perceptions of their counselors change when a therapy canine is present in session. There is little research regarding client viewpoints on counselors who partner with therapy canines. Nine participants responded to a quantitative survey that was analyzed through non-parametric means. As was predicted, participants indicated more positive views of their counselors when a therapy canine was included in session. Findings suggest client perceptions of AAT reflected previously made claims by clinicians in the literature.
Service Learning and Ethnocultural Empathy: Developing Cultural Empathy Through Experience
(North Dakota State University, 2015) Pieters, Amanda Jean
The purpose of the study was to explore the impact of experiential learning (through service learning) and ethnocultural empathy in undergraduate students. In other words, how does serving in the community impact how empathetic a person is toward others who are ethnically different than themselves? The researcher developed a 45 question electronic self-report survey utilizing The Scale of Ethnocultural Empathy (SEE; Wang et al., 2003) to assess mean empathy scores of participants. Research questions addressed: 1) Empathy scores of students who volunteered 10 or more hours, 2) Empathy scores of students who volunteered and served adult populations, 3) Empathy scores of students who are required to volunteer as part of a course, 4) Empathy scores of female students compared to male students. Results comparing mean SEE scores to each research question showed females and students who volunteer 10 hours or more have higher empathy scores.

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