The use of Mixed Methods (MM) in evaluation has increasingly become a valuable asset in evaluators' methodological toolbox. Despite prolific research on various aspects of mixed methods, from typologies to ontological debates, there remains a dearth of empirically derived evidence on effectively communicating MM findings. This lack of empirical…

This applied dissertation was designed to analyze the effect Melodic Based Communication Therapy has on minimally verbal children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder, particularly tact responses and their generalization in the natural environment. MBCT is a replicable protocol for pairing melodies with target words to elicit speech in children…

The purpose of this Action Research study was to understand and enhance the perceived efficacy of micro-credentialing and digital badging for K-12 educators within a large urban school district. Cycle 1 of this research engaged over 150 educators and included 14 semi-structured interviews, seeking to identify the primary reasons for engaging…

Researchers have provided evidence of the effects of academic engagement on the achievement of all students. Despite the known benefits of academic engagement, low rates of engagement have been reported across studies examining engagement rates of students with extensive support needs (ESN). Students with ESN are often placed in more restrictive…

The pandemic has not only increased economic inequities within various communities, but it has also exacerbated the social, emotional, and math achievement inequities of middle school students, creating an environment that increases the potential for heightened anxiety and peer conflict. Now, more than ever, it is imperative that educators not…

Interpersonal differences in the workplace and a lack of competitive employment opportunities contributed to a high unemployment rate for adults with autism. A small group of innovative organizations implemented autism employment programs that placed adults with autism in competitive roles effectively. The success of the programs, launched by…

This action research project focused on teacher retention in Adult Education programs. The study was centered on new teachers in Adult Education, as defined as having less than three years of experience teaching in the field of Adult Education. The study concentrated on growing new teachers' senses of belonging, self-efficacy, and new teachers'…

A high proportion of people with developmental disabilities engage in challenging behavior compared to the general population (McClintock, Hall, & Oliver, 2003). Functional Communication Training (FCT) is an is an evidence-based intervention to address challenging behavior (Heath et al., 2015), but many people remain unable to access effective…

This research project explores the communication opportunities for individuals in a community-based transition program in the Bay Area. The study focuses on the opportunities that are made available by a program that is founded on neurodiversity and trauma-informed principles. The research questions examined how a neurodiverse framework allows for…

The current relationship between early college high school and community college faculty reflects a lack of communication and collaboration in common content areas. In this disquisition, the practitioner-researchers examined the partnership of public high school and community college faculty, and how increasing opportunities for collegial feedback…

Challenges in peer interaction are commonly associated with autism, both within research literature and through first-person accounts. Related intervention studies have tended toward a skills-based approach that emphasizes remediating perceived social deficits in the autistic individual, with most of the literature focusing on children who are…

The research is clear that parents and families are an essential component to the education of the whole child. Since this is so well-documented, it is essential for educator preparation programs to have coursework and experiences focused on this critical aspect of education. New teachers must leave educator preparation programs with the skills…

While cyberbullying is prevalent among adolescents, attempts by researchers to evaluate mechanisms for its prevention and mitigation have been largely non-existent. In this dissertation, I argue that the complex nature of cyberbullying, made more challenging by the affordances of diverse social media, cannot be solved through strictly algorithmic…

The current relationship between early college high school and community college faculty reflects a lack of communication and collaboration in common content areas. In this disquisition, we examined the partnership of public high school and community college faculty, and how increasing opportunities for collegial feedback and focused collaborative…

This qualitative case study examined the perceptions of advisors and students enrolled in online courses regarding the effectiveness of academic advising services as they affect student success and persistence. This study applied Tinto's model of student integration to understand the interaction between online students and advisors. The data was…