This mixed methods research study examined the reading motivation and retrieval practice ability of U. S. undergraduates aged 18 to 23, as well as the correlations between the two variables, with a focus on gender, year as an undergraduate, and race/ethnicity. A random national sample of 90 undergraduates and an additional minority sample of 17…

The objective of this dissertation was to explore the impact of gender, maternal parenting style, and social class on the level of motivation in first-year college students. Existing research has shown that, individually, these three variables can influence motivation in students. However, we do not know how a mothers' parenting style paired with…

The current study examined hindering factors of 2-year community college students' vertical transfer to 4-year colleges. Rational choice theory guided the study and provided the scope of the problem, which is community college students' apprehension about vertically transferring to 4-year colleges. A quantitative Likert-scale survey, which…

This dissertation investigates the intricate relationships among global competence, cultural identity, and English learning motivation within the context of undergraduates in Southern China through a mixed-methods research design. Given the backdrop of accelerating globalization, this study underscores students' need to develop robust global…

This study explored the motivators and inhibitors experienced by women pursuing high school administration positions. Additionally, it sought to identify the reasons behind the gender discrepancies to support improved hiring practices and job requirements and inform districts and states about areas for improvement to attract and retain qualified…

The purpose of this study is to examine self-rated levels of reading motivation and reading activity among Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing (DHH) Adolescents and the relationship to overall Language Arts skills. This study is framed by social learning theory and self-determination theory. DHH Adolescents (n=38), between the ages of 11 and 17, with…

The purpose of this quantitative method, causal-comparative study was to explore the impact of gender, socioeconomic status, school climate, and parental involvement on reading ability and intrinsic motivation. This study focused on a group of 113 9th grade students from a rural Tennessee high school. Data were collected and analyzed to determine…

There is a lack of women in leadership in organizations worldwide, but especially in Christian higher education (Longman & Anderson, 2016). While some research has been conducted to better understand this phenomenon in Christian universities, only one other study to date has examined gender differences in Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod (LCMS)…

Nearly three-fourths of faculty at U.S. institutions of higher education (IHEs) are classified as non-tenure track faculty (NTTF), and more than 70% of higher education students had taken online courses following the move to emergency online instruction in 2019. Remote faculty relationships with leaders have been shown to play a vital role in…

By 2023, gamification was entering just about every sector and industry including education, fitness, crowd sourcing, social media, and corporate environments. Gamification often offers promises of motivation, engagement, fun, and even higher performance. At the time of the study, there were few studies that examined gamification in accounting…

It is essential that all students who are interested in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) have the motivational supports to persist in their STEM career trajectories. "STEM role models," or successful individuals in STEM, can be powerful tools to motivate college students towards STEM careers, particularly if students…

In this dissertation study, I aimed to 1) investigate gender patterns in students' career aspirations, in both STEM and non-STEM fields, and 2) identify factors contributing to persistent gender differences within specific STEM disciplines. Drawing on Gottfredson's (1983) model of circumscription and compromise, I examined gender patterns and…

Mississippi middle schools frequently fail to improve the intellectual capacity of students who struggle in mathematics. The purpose of this quantitative causal-comparative non-experimental research design was to investigate the impact of math academic interventions on rural Mississippi middle school mathematics students in grades six through…

This quantitative study aimed to investigate the influence of teacher personality on teacher-student relatedness, student intrinsic motivation, and academic performance. The pressing need to understand the factors influencing educational outcomes driving this study arises from the desire to enhance teaching effectiveness and student success. By…

This survey study, N = 44 university students, from an urban campus, measured post-pandemic digital divide perceptions, focusing on motivational, physical, skills, and usage access to ICTs through the lens of van Dijk's resources and appropriation theory. Statistical tests, including one-sample t-tests, correlation analyses, one-way and repeated…