This study investigates the affective and performative effects of ludicization, i.e., the process of transforming the original contexts into immersive ludic experiences based on metaphorized desired behaviors and reflexive space, on language learning. The effects of ludicization are based on an integrated model involving multidimensional…

The purpose of this qualitative descriptive case study was to focus on teachers' perceptions regarding professional development training for early childhood education. The problem addressed in this study was the inadequate amount of professional development training available for early childhood teachers to address children with challenging…

Critical whiteness scholars have described whiteness as a system of oppression that privileges White identities above others and perpetuates White supremacy. On the college campus, institutional, social, and historical norms reinforce the educational status quo and work together to maintain a system of whiteness that marginalizes Black students.…

Higher levels of social anxiety predict greater incidence of alcohol-related consequences among college students, yet little is known about for whom social anxiety may pose the greatest risk of experiencing alcohol-related consequences and the significance and direction of association between social anxiety and alcohol use remain unclear. This…

This phenomenological case study explores the perceptions of high school administrators who have implemented Schoolwide Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (SWPBIS) at the universal tier with fidelity. For this study, perceptions refer to the views and experiences of administrators implementing SWPBIS on the success and growth they have…

Disparities in socioeconomic status (SES) may affect individuals' risk preferences, which have important developmental consequences across the lifespan. Yet, previous research has shown inconsistent associations between SES and risky decision-making, and little is known about how this link develops from a young age. The current research is among…

An undergraduate fraternity member's commitment to their organization and sense of belonging obtained through brotherhood may result in higher levels of growth and development, specifically positive mental health. Emphasis explored in the literature includes mental health and fraternity experience. Using the frameworks of Meyer and Allen's (1991)…

Vocal exchanges are often comprised of responses under multiple sources of stimulus control. For example, a picture may contain multiple components, and an instructor may ask a learner to respond differentially to questions about the picture (e.g., "who," "what," "where," "color," "number,"…

This conceptual paper suggests the notion of 'affective justice' as a means to critically address the problem of sentimentalism within Human Rights Education (HRE). Originating in sociolegal studies affective justice focuses on how legal frameworks for human rights generate embodied, affective experiences that allow learners to engage deeply with…

Small institutions struggle to balance class size with financial feasibility, leading to canceled electives due to low enrollment. This study reports the preliminary data of a mixed-majors class intended to overcome the minimum enrollment hurdle. Animal Behavior was an upper-level course emphasizing engagement and shared learning. I examined…

The present investigation aims to identify best practices to design virtual reality (VR) story-worlds to promote prejudice reduction and foster prosocial attitudes toward under-represented groups. Past research shows that VR, which allows the simulation of scenarios that would otherwise be prohibitively difficult or impossible in real life, can be…

This qualitative transcendental phenomenological study describes the lived experiences of National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division II (DII) women's soccer coaches during preseason. A two-pronged conceptual framework that includes path-goal leadership theory and sensemaking theory guided the inquiry, and data was collected through…

A later school start time policy has been recommended as a solution to adolescents' sleep deprivation. We estimated the impacts of later school start times on adolescents' sleep and substance use by leveraging a quasi-experiment in which school start time was delayed in some regions in South Korea. A later school start time policy was implemented…

The U.S. Surgeon General defines determinants of health as "the range of personal, social, economic, and environmental factors that influence health status" (Donatelle, 2019). These determinants encompass various health goals but despite them, health-related issues persist across the population, indicating a need for comprehensive…

As acts of violence in schools increase, schools are unprepared and in-equipped to prepare for targeted violence. This dissertation focuses on how professionals organizations are preparing educational leaders in threat assessment and how school personnel can reach out for support to community resources and agencies who specialize in threat…