The rapid proliferation of online learning in higher education has accentuated the need for a deeper understanding of attentional distractions that affect learners. This study explored how doctoral students experience and manage attentional distractions in asynchronous online learning environments. Drawing on the Community of Inquiry framework,…

Bilinguals sometimes code-switch between their shared languages. While psycholinguistics research has focused on the challenges of comprehending code-switches compared to single-language utterances, bilinguals seem unhindered by code-switching in communication, suggesting benefits that offset the costs. I hypothesize that bilinguals orient their…

The purpose of this study was to examine the efficacy of two electronic tactile prompting devices when used as part of a self-monitoring intervention for increasing on-task behavior for girls who struggle with inattention. A secondary purpose was to better understand if differences in on-task behavior emerged between the two devices. Situated…

Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) teach mindfulness skills. Mindfulness is defined as self-regulation of attention on immediate experience combined with an open attitude towards present moment experience (Bishop et al., 2004). Current studies suggest that MBIs for youth can be conceptualized as a subset of social-emotional learning skills…

Executive function is deficient in individuals with ADHD. Playing a musical instrument has been shown to improve executive functions. This study examined if participants with ADHD perceived a connection between playing an instrument in a music ensemble and improved executive functioning, as well as improved ADHD presentations. The research design…

The dissertation investigated the interplay between an elevated sense of purpose moderated by heightened altruistic motivation and sustained attention in a college undergraduate population. Drawing on existing literature highlighting the positive effects of purpose on well-being and cognitive abilities, the study introduced an experimental design…

This dissertation focuses on sensory-based strategies at schools for students on the autism spectrum, with a focus on the degree to which these approaches might be effective for reducing interfering behaviors or promoting on-task behaviors. Chapter 1 provides an introduction and brief background information related to the subsequent chapters.…

Visual notetaking has gained prominence in education due to its benefits in capturing information effectively. However, there is limited research on the neural and cognitive mechanisms involved in this way of taking notes. Therefore, to fill this research gap, this within-subject experimental study aimed to use an electroencephalogram (EEG) to…

The purpose of this quantitative correlational-predictive study was to determine if and to what extent there is a relationship between facets of trait mindfulness and perceived attention control among college students in Southern California. The study was formulated based on the multi-faceted mindfulness model and the Attention Control Theory. The…

Teachers' ability to elicit and use evidence of student thinking during instruction is critical in high-quality mathematics instruction. The practice of anticipating students' mathematics supports teachers in noticing and being prepared to respond to student thinking during in-the-moment instruction. To date, most research on anticipating has…

Learning involves complex cognitive processes such as perception, attention, and memory, with reading being a common method to acquire knowledge. Textbooks are often supplemented with additional materials such as self-test questions and demonstration tasks to enhance learning. However, the impact of these supplemental materials, especially when…

Virtual Reality (VR) has been found useful to improve engagement and retention level of students, for some topics, compared to traditional learning tools such as books, and videos. However, a student could still get distracted and disengaged due to a variety of factors including stress, mind-wandering, unwanted noise, external alerts, and internal…

Contemporary research pertaining to the experiences of flow in education is scarce and that which does exist in the literature often focused on the teacher-student relationship. The purpose of this qualitative, interpretive, phenomenological approach (IPA) study was to examine the lived experiences of secondary school counselors as related to…

The purpose of this qualitative descriptive study was to explore how elementary school teachers describe their experiences from the professional development training that provide professional development trainings related to ADHD students and how they implement what they have learned in their classrooms in the United States. The theoretical…

The present study sought to explore the lesser-known dark side of flow in academics. Although flow is typically viewed as a positive experience, its outcomes are not always beneficial. In order to carry out this endeavor, a sequential explanatory design was utilized to assess the potential negative consequences associated with flow in the domain…