Although identifying the referents of single words is often cited as a key challenge for getting word learning off the ground, it overlooks the fact that young learners consistently encounter words in the context of other words. How does this company help or hinder word learning? Prior investigations into early word learning from children's…

Recommendations for achieving generalized instructional outcomes often overlook the capacity for generative learning. We sought to demonstrate how decontextualized and logically organized instruction would lead to derived and contextually appropriate recombinative generalization and arbitrarily applicable relational responding (AARRing) in…

In this dissertation, I investigate how people navigate ambiguity in everyday speech, with a focus on quantifier-negation sentences. Combining corpus analysis, behavioral experiments, and computational modeling in the Rational Speech Act framework, I explore preferred interpretations of quantifier-negation and examine the contexts and prosodies…

Teachers hold many beliefs, shaped by their educational knowledge, experiences, and cultural, social, historical, and political environments. These teacher beliefs, together with teacher characteristics and school context factors can influence cognitive processes, expectations, instructional decisions, and practices which could affect learning…

F0 contours convey multiple types of information, including lexical and post-lexical meanings, as well as affective and socio-indexical indicators. This dissertation investigates the interaction between lexical tone and sentence-level intonation in Thai, focusing on how sentence position influences the acoustic realization and perceptual…

On-the-job training (OJT) programs at private universities play an essential role in providing students with real-world experiences, equipping them with the skills and knowledge needed for future career. Researching the factors that affect the effectiveness of OJT is extremely necessary to complete and improve the quality of this training program.…

This study compared mother, infant, and dyad interactions between infants with and without biological risk, considering contextual factors related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Forty-two infants with biological risk and 33 without risk (average age 5.6 months) were evaluated via remote video assessments. Results showed that infants without biological…

The ability to manage demands and resources particular to the postgraduate experience influences both the individual's performance and mental health, and, when it is limited or absent, might lead to extreme situations, such as suicide attempts. The present study sought support on the job demands-resources to explain the relationship between…

This study aimed to investigate the relationships between servant leadership (SL), Professional Learning Communities (PLCs), Trust, and Teacher Organizational Citizenship Behavior (OCB). A cross-sectional approach was employed, involving a diverse range of educators. Partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) was used for data…

Using data from the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS), this study examines the student and school characteristics that contribute to students' mathematics performance in early elementary school in Chile. Previous research has separately analyzed the association of student and school factors with mathematics performance.…

In school choice systems, many families face geographic constraints. Yet, there is limited evidence on the association between school-based transportation and students' school choice, especially in fragmented transportation contexts. Using unique data on Detroit kindergarten students' eligibility and access to school-based transportation, we find…

In many contexts of multilingualism, language learners can initiate communication in the target language (TL), or a contact language (such as English). Patterns of use emerging from these choices affect TL development. They also vary between individuals. Willingness to communicate (WTC) needs to be investigated in ways that capture these…

Undergraduate academic achievement serves as a vital measure of higher education standards. The impact of perceived social support on academic outcomes has gained considerable attention. Nevertheless, existing studies have shown varied results regarding its correlation with undergraduate achievement, and the moderating effects remain unclear. This…

Although research exists on features of effective professional development surrounding Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge (TPACK), relatively few studies have examined the relationship of context to the acquisition of TPACK. Despite this framework's dominance in the literature, the role that contextual factors play in the development of…