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- Title
- CLINICAL PRACTICE GUIDELINES FOR EMERGING ULTRASOUND APPLICATIONS: DRAFTING FOR VALIDITY AND USABILITY.
- Creator
-
Borok, Katherine, Jones, Dan, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
-
Clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) are viewed by many people with interests in health care as valuable tools for reducing practice variations that undermine patient outcomes and increase medical costs. However, guidelines themselves vary in quality. Assessment tools generally base quality measures on strength of guidelinesÂÂ' evidence base, but particularly for newly emerging applications of ultrasound, standards for measuring guideline quality are controversial. The...
Show moreClinical practice guidelines (CPGs) are viewed by many people with interests in health care as valuable tools for reducing practice variations that undermine patient outcomes and increase medical costs. However, guidelines themselves vary in quality. Assessment tools generally base quality measures on strength of guidelinesÂÂ' evidence base, but particularly for newly emerging applications of ultrasound, standards for measuring guideline quality are controversial. The validity of a guideline is considered likely when strong research-based evidence supports its recommendations, but for newer medical procedures such as emerging ultrasound applications, available evidence is sparse. Existing assessment tools must be modified if they are effectively to measure the validity of these guidelines built on immature evidence. Focusing on ways document drafting affects CPG validity, this study rated six guidelines using the Appraisal of Guidelines Research and Evaluation (AGREE) tool which was customized according to categories of guideline purposes and their differing features of validity. Fine-tuning AGREE in this way may create a more consistent, informative method of evaluating guidelines for emerging applications, and standards established in such an instrument may be useful as a template during the guideline development process. Results from my analyses illuminate several common omissions that weakened documents. Most guidelines did not describe an updating procedure or identify areas for future research, but results also highlighted some highly effective techniques for building validity. Notable examples include providing full credentials for expert drafters, and embedding statement references directly in the text. From the results of the analysis, I conclude that, although the adapted assessment tool I used needs additional adjustment, it may refine analysis of guidelines for emerging ultrasound guidelines and conversely serve as a useful tool during their development process.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2010
- Identifier
- CFE0003556, ucf:48925
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0003556
- Title
- THE PARTICIPATION OF OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY FACULTY IN CLINICAL PRACTICE.
- Creator
-
Decker, Bonnie, Bozeman, William, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
-
The purpose of this research study was to examine the current use of clinical practice by full-time occupational therapy faculty members. Clinical practice, including faculty clinical practice and moonlighting were addressed. The seven research questions addressed were: (a) the perceived benefits of clinical practice as identified by occupational therapy faculty members; (b) the perceived barriers to clinical practice as identified by occupational therapy faculty; (c) if perceived benefits...
Show moreThe purpose of this research study was to examine the current use of clinical practice by full-time occupational therapy faculty members. Clinical practice, including faculty clinical practice and moonlighting were addressed. The seven research questions addressed were: (a) the perceived benefits of clinical practice as identified by occupational therapy faculty members; (b) the perceived barriers to clinical practice as identified by occupational therapy faculty; (c) if perceived benefits and barriers of clinical practice as identified by occupational therapy faculty differ as a function of their academic institution's Carnegie Classification (The Carnegie Foundation, 2000); (d) if perceived benefits and barriers of clinical practice differ among respondents according to tenure at the institution, tenure status, doctoral degree, rank, administrative duties, and gender; (e) the incidence of clinical practice in occupational therapy faculty members; (f) the relationship between participation in clinical practice and the Carnegie classification of the occupational therapy member's academic institution; (g) the characteristics (tenure status, doctoral degree, rank, administrative duties, and gender) of faculty members that participate in clinical practice either within or outside the faculty role; and (h) the characteristics of clinical practice as described by faculty members and how these differed if the clinical practice is conducted as part of the faculty role or outside the faculty role. Data were collected using an on-line survey that contained 43 questions designed to elicit information that addressed the research questions. The surveys were electronically mailed to the population of full-time occupational therapy faculty members obtained from a search of each academic program's website. A total of 224 responses were obtained. Descriptive statistics, ANOVAs, and Chi Square Test of Associations were used to analyze the data for the independent variables. The results showed that 60 respondents indicated that they participated in some type of faculty clinical practice as part of their faculty role. Most of this work was in a facility that was associated with the academic institution. Most of these respondents were not tenured, did not have a doctoral degree, and did not participate in administrative tasks. Most of these respondents worked in Doctoral-Extensive universities and held the Assistant Professor rank. Most worked two to four hours per week and did not receive release time or financial benefits. There were 99 respondents that indicated that they participated in moonlighting in a wide variety of settings. Most worked in their area of clinical expertise. Most of these respondents were not tenured and did not participate in administrative tasks. Only 37% had a doctoral degree. Over half had the rank of Assistant Professor. Almost 42% worked in Masters I academic institutions. Most worked less than 2 hours per week outside the faculty role and they received full financial benefits. The top three benefits for participating in clinical practice were to maintain clinical skills, enhance teaching, and improve credibility with students. The top three barriers for participating in clinical practice were teaching responsibilities, not a component in tenure decisions, and the additional responsibilities of practice. There were no statistically significant differences between the benefits or barriers to clinical practice and the Carnegie Classification of the respondent's academic institution. One ANOVA was significant between the barriers to clinical practice and if the respondent had a doctoral degree. There were no statistically significant differences between the benefits or barriers and tenure at the institution, the respondent's tenure status, the respondent's degree status, faculty rank, administrative duties, and gender except the respondents that had a doctoral degree had significantly higher barrier scores than those that did not have a doctoral degree. In general, less than five percent of the variance was explained by any of the independent variables. None of the Chi Square analyses revealed any significant differences between the academic institution's Carnegie Classification and if clinical practice was required, if a faculty participated in faculty clinical practice, or if a faculty member participated in moonlighting. In conclusion, although many faculty members recognize the benefits to participation in clinical practice, the barriers to clinical practice may be too great to outweigh the benefits for some faculty members. Most reported that clinical practice carried little weight in promotion or tenure decisions. In order for the scholarship of practice to flourish, active support from all academic institution administration is critical.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2005
- Identifier
- CFE0000563, ucf:46438
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0000563
- Title
- HUMAN RESOURCES: A KEY ASPECT IN COMPANY INNOVATION.
- Creator
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Hall, Kristin, Danneels, Erwin, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
-
Innovation is a key factor for companies. It is also essential on an individual scale for employees. To ensure they are utilizing employees to the utmost efficiency, companies must implement practices to ensure the attraction and retention of top employees. Human resource practices can help to define and explain essential techniques to help employees gain satisfaction from their work, creating intrinsic motivation, and allowing them to ultimately perform more efficiently and perhaps even...
Show moreInnovation is a key factor for companies. It is also essential on an individual scale for employees. To ensure they are utilizing employees to the utmost efficiency, companies must implement practices to ensure the attraction and retention of top employees. Human resource practices can help to define and explain essential techniques to help employees gain satisfaction from their work, creating intrinsic motivation, and allowing them to ultimately perform more efficiently and perhaps even creatively for the company, helping to generate significant profits. The intent of this thesis is to analyze human resource practices on an empirical study of eight companies (provided from a previous study by Erwin Danneels, Ph.D.) and to determine whether or not human resource practices can help predict a firm's ability to enter new markets and implement new technologies, ultimately leading to innovation. Companies are grouped depending on their residual values generated from Danneels' study and analysis. His research observes the ability to predict new market entrance and technology implementation through five company characteristics: constructive conflict, willingness to cannibalize, slack, learning from failure, and various types of environmental scanning. This thesis seeks to find positive relationships between human resource practices and the companies where the model proves to be a good fit. I define human resource practices by the following six categories, breaking them up into incentives and skill development: extra benefits, fitness incentives, social responsibility, and continuous learning, global opportunities, and rewards/opportunities for advancement. This analysis hopes to contribute to further research by generating an association between human resource practices and company innovation.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2011
- Identifier
- CFH0004097, ucf:44805
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFH0004097
- Title
- A PROFILE OF THE LITERACY PRACTICES OF K-5 CENTRAL FLORIDA TEACHERS OF THE YEAR 2004-2005.
- Creator
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Cowern, Stephanie, Magann, Douglas, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
-
The problem of this study was to develop a literacy teaching profile of the 2004-2005 Teachers of the Year in Kindergarten through grade 5 in four central Florida school districts. Of primary interest was the extent to which these teachers indicated their use of exemplary literacy practices as defined using the domains and indicators of the National Exemplary Literacy Teacher Assessment (NELTA). The NELTA results were analyzed using frequencies and percentages. The results of the NELTA were...
Show moreThe problem of this study was to develop a literacy teaching profile of the 2004-2005 Teachers of the Year in Kindergarten through grade 5 in four central Florida school districts. Of primary interest was the extent to which these teachers indicated their use of exemplary literacy practices as defined using the domains and indicators of the National Exemplary Literacy Teacher Assessment (NELTA). The NELTA results were analyzed using frequencies and percentages. The results of the NELTA were also evaluated and discussed when total length of years teaching, and length of years at present grade level were considered. The data were derived from the 66 (59.4%) classroom Teachers of the Year who responded to the survey. Overall, the findings showed little congruency between exemplary teaching practices as measured by the NELTA and teachers' self-described practices. Many teachers indicated utilizing grade level practices best suited for grade levels higher than the ones they were presently teaching. Demographic variables did little to clarify the profile of the Teachers of the Year; however, 18 teachers with 7 or more years of teaching experience (27.2%) responded with the highest levels of congruency. Furthermore, using the domains and indicators of the NELTA, 13 grade 4 teachers (19.7%) demonstrated the highest level of congruence with grade 4 best practices. Conclusions were made to explain this along with recommendations for future research.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2004
- Identifier
- CFE0000249, ucf:46229
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0000249
- Title
- SOCIAL WORK STUDENTS AND COMPETENT PRACTICE WITH LGBTQ CLIENTS.
- Creator
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Arney, Drionne, Molina, Olga, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
-
Research suggests that social work students' attitudes towards the LGBTQ populations fail to mirror the expectations of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW), and its code of ethics. In this cross-sectional research study, a survey distributed to undergraduate and post-graduate part-time and full-time social work students conducted by two students of a post-graduate social work program, is an assessment of social work students' attitudes and knowledge of competent practice with...
Show moreResearch suggests that social work students' attitudes towards the LGBTQ populations fail to mirror the expectations of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW), and its code of ethics. In this cross-sectional research study, a survey distributed to undergraduate and post-graduate part-time and full-time social work students conducted by two students of a post-graduate social work program, is an assessment of social work students' attitudes and knowledge of competent practice with lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning clients. This researcher used the findings of the study used to analyze: the relationship between social work students' age and knowledge of competent practice with LGBTQ clients, the relationship between social work students' gender and attitudes toward practice with LGBTQ clients, the relationship between social work students' race and attitudes toward practice with LGBTQ clients, the relationship between social work students' campus region and attitude and knowledge of competent practice with LGBTQ clients, the relationship between social work students' degree program/level and knowledge of competent practice with LGBTQ clients, and students' knowledge of effective responses to ethical dilemmas involving LGBTQ clients. The goal of this researcher is to use the study's findings to contribute to the literature on this topic and to influence changes in social work schools' methods of preparing students for practice with this population.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2012
- Identifier
- CFH0004212, ucf:44926
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFH0004212
- Title
- Perceptions Influencing School Nurse Practices to Prevent Childhood Obesity.
- Creator
-
Quelly, Susan, Covelli, Maureen, Bushy, Angeline, Norris, Anne, Lieberman, Leslie, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
-
Approximately one-third of children in the United States are overweight or obese with increased risks for numerous physical and psychosocial comorbidities. Schools are ideal environments to address this serious health crisis and school nurses are uniquely positioned qualified healthcare providers to actively participate in childhood obesity prevention (COP). A review of the literature provided findings to identify a gap in the knowledge regarding the association between school nurse COP...
Show moreApproximately one-third of children in the United States are overweight or obese with increased risks for numerous physical and psychosocial comorbidities. Schools are ideal environments to address this serious health crisis and school nurses are uniquely positioned qualified healthcare providers to actively participate in childhood obesity prevention (COP). A review of the literature provided findings to identify a gap in the knowledge regarding the association between school nurse COP perceptions and practices. A modified theoretical framework based on Bandura's health promotion by social cognitive theory guided this study. The purpose of this study was to identify the key perceptions (self-efficacy, perceived benefits and perceived barriers) influencing school nurse participation in COP practices and determine associations between school nurse characteristics and COP perceptions and practices. Preliminary research was conducted to determine content validity for modified perception scales, clarity of instructions and questions, data collection and retrieval procedures, and refinement of recruitment strategies. Adequate reliability and validity was determined for modified scales measuring school nurse self-efficacy, perceived benefits, perceived barriers, and COP practices targeting individual children (child-level) and the entire school population (school-level). Florida RN school nurses (n = 171) completed self-administered anonymous questionnaires from an emailed weblink or a paper version offered at two Florida Association of School Nurses conferences. School nurses with characteristics reflecting more education engaged in more COP practices (p (<) .05) than those without education-related characteristics. School nurses with (>) 8 hours of COP education reported higher COP self-efficacy than those with none (p (<) .01). Linear regressions showed that a model comprised of self-efficacy, perceived benefits, and perceived barriers significantly explained 12.0% of the variance in child-level practices (p (<) .001) and 9.1% of school-level practices (p (<) .001). Self-efficacy explained the most variance of school nurse child-level and school-level practices (p (<) .001), and perceived barriers were inversely associated with child-level practices (p (<) .05). Four series of regressions showed that only perceived barriers partially mediated the influence of self-efficacy on child-level practices. Data analyses indicated self-efficacy and perceived barriers were key determinants of school nurse COP practices. Therefore, policy changes and educational interventions to increase self-efficacy and reduce perceived barriers may be effective in mobilizing school nurses to actively engage in COP practices.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2012
- Identifier
- CFE0004585, ucf:49188
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0004585
- Title
- FISH FROM AFAR: MARINE RESOURCE USE AT CARACOL, BELIZE.
- Creator
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Cunningham-Smith, Petra, Chase, Arlen, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
-
The ancient Maya had strong ties to the sea. The trade, transportation and use of marine resources were important not only to coastal Maya communities, but also to the heavily populated cities that lay many miles inland. A review of zooarchaeological evidence recovered from excavations at the inland site of Caracol, Belize suggests that the inhabitants imported marine fish for food, marine shell for working into trade items, and sharks teeth and stingray spines for ritual use. This thesis...
Show moreThe ancient Maya had strong ties to the sea. The trade, transportation and use of marine resources were important not only to coastal Maya communities, but also to the heavily populated cities that lay many miles inland. A review of zooarchaeological evidence recovered from excavations at the inland site of Caracol, Belize suggests that the inhabitants imported marine fish for food, marine shell for working into trade items, and sharks teeth and stingray spines for ritual use. This thesis examines the manner in which fish and other marine resources were used, procured and transported from the coast to the site of Caracol. The possibility that certain marine fish might have been transported alive to the site is explored. An examination of present day fishing and animal husbandry practices suggests that many species could have survived an inland trip in ancient times if transported under conditions that allowed for water exchanges and minimized stress. Marine resources had important economic and ritual significance to the people of Caracol. Understanding the methods by which these valuable items were transported and traded ultimately facilitates a greater understanding of the economic and socio-political relationships among these ancient polities.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2011
- Identifier
- CFE0004018, ucf:49162
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0004018
- Title
- EXAMINING THE BELIEFS AND PRACTICES OF EFFECTIVE SCHOOL LEADERS AS THEY RELATE TO SERVING STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES.
- Creator
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Steinke, Kimberly, Martin, Suzanne, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
-
As academic reform movements push schools to provide more rigorous learning environments for students, it is essential that the ÂÂÂÂ"person in chargeÂÂÂÂ" at the school level be prepared and capable of meeting the demands of high stakes measures that affect critical dimensions of school life....
Show moreAs academic reform movements push schools to provide more rigorous learning environments for students, it is essential that the ÂÂÂÂ"person in chargeÂÂÂÂ" at the school level be prepared and capable of meeting the demands of high stakes measures that affect critical dimensions of school life. Educational leaders today face a significant amount of pressure to improve the quality of education at all levels and across all disciplines. While school leaders face the pressures of No Child Left Behind in terms of increased student performance, they must also be concerned about serving students with disabilities appropriately. The purpose of this study was to examine the beliefs and practices that effective school leaders in a large urban school district revealed in the specific area of serving students with disabilities. An examination of the school leaderÂÂÂÂ's beliefs and knowledge in relation to the leadership practices put in place at their schools when serving students with disabilities was completed. Identification of a relationship between the leaderÂÂÂÂ's beliefs and practices as associated with the leaderÂÂÂÂ's prior education and leadership experience was possible. Finally, through a grounded theory perspective, the researcher discovered specific practices put in place by these effective school leaders that can be generalized to other school settings under fellow school leaders.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2010
- Identifier
- CFE0003038, ucf:48340
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0003038
- Title
- Practical Use of Ground Penetrating Radar: A Survey of Coastal Historic Cemeteries in Florida.
- Creator
-
Boynton, William, Barber, Sarah, Schultz, John, Cassanello, Robert, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
-
Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) research conducted in coastal environments is one area that is lacking in archaeology. Surveys conducted in this type of environment afford the opportunity to evaluate the practical use GPR under field conditions. Coastal environments are effective for this evaluation because they offer a host of conditions that GPR surveys do not normally encounter at one time. The relationship of the land to the coast, sub-surface conditions and reliable survey areas create a ...
Show moreGround Penetrating Radar (GPR) research conducted in coastal environments is one area that is lacking in archaeology. Surveys conducted in this type of environment afford the opportunity to evaluate the practical use GPR under field conditions. Coastal environments are effective for this evaluation because they offer a host of conditions that GPR surveys do not normally encounter at one time. The relationship of the land to the coast, sub-surface conditions and reliable survey areas create a (")perfect storm(") to test how practical the use of GPR is in coastal environments. This research is a study of homestead cemeteries situated within the boundaries of Cape Canaveral Air Force Station (CCAFS), using GPR. The research has three main goals. The first is to utilize GPR to identify if there are any unknown burials at CCAFS. The second is to test the practical effectiveness of GPR in coastal environments where high water table, geology and saline conditions can limit the capability of the technique to resolve subsurface features. The third is to correlate data from the GPR survey with ethnographic information to enhance the protection and maintenance with what is already available for the cemeteries.Research methods include field-based geophysical data collection in addition to archival and ethnographic historic research. The field component, to which this research pertains, entailed an on-site GPR survey at the nine sites on Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. This was followed by analysis of the information from the survey using standard processing software. Subsequently, a thorough archival search was completed to link historic and ethnographic information with the archaeological data obtained on the cemeteries. The final result of this research was a report that provides a detailed description of the results of the GPR survey of the cemeteries at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2015
- Identifier
- CFE0005931, ucf:50826
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0005931
- Title
- A Spatial Analysis of Chachapoya Mortuary Practices at La Petaca, Chachapoyas, Peru.
- Creator
-
Epstein, Lori, Toyne, J. Marla, Schultz, John, Walker, John, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
-
Diversity of Chachapoya mortuary practices is not well understood archaeologically, even though the region has received some attention for the monumental constructions and visually striking mortuary complexes located high on open cliff faces. This may be due to the difficult accessibility and often poor state of preservation consistent with many Chachapoya mortuary and occupation sites. This thesis reconstructs mortuary practices at La Petaca in the Chachapoyas region of Peru, applying...
Show moreDiversity of Chachapoya mortuary practices is not well understood archaeologically, even though the region has received some attention for the monumental constructions and visually striking mortuary complexes located high on open cliff faces. This may be due to the difficult accessibility and often poor state of preservation consistent with many Chachapoya mortuary and occupation sites. This thesis reconstructs mortuary practices at La Petaca in the Chachapoyas region of Peru, applying paleodemographic and GIS methodological approaches to facilitate and improve the bioarchaeological study of commingled skeletal remains in an open, disturbed communal funerary context. Research focused on SUP CF-01, a natural cave context utilized as a group burial. The sample of human remains retrieved from SUP CF-01 (n= 8182) estimated an MNI of 43 adults and 12 juveniles, including a range of demographic categories. By employing a total station to record the cave structure, and a GIS to analyze the deposit of commingled remains, this thesis was able to measure the distances between paired elements and to explore possible post-depositional practices that could have created this commingled and disturbed deposit. This bioarchaeological analysis incorporating demographic and spatial analysis indicated that this collective burial was a primary context, and most likely a result of a gradual accumulation of complete bodies and movement of later skeletonized elements to make room for successive burials. When compared to other mortuary contexts at this complex, including a comparative secondary cave context and over 120 constructed mausoleums, it appears that all community members were included in the mortuary practices at this complex.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2014
- Identifier
- CFE0005609, ucf:50263
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0005609
- Title
- A needs analysis for K-12 school improvement projects and their use as the dissertation in practice for the professional practice education doctorate program at the University of Central Florida.
- Creator
-
Biddle, Jeffrey, Boote, David, Taylor, Rosemarye, Vitale, Thomas, Hayes, Grant, Flanigan, Jacquelyn, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
-
This study conducted at the University of Central Florida was completed to inform the Ed. D. in Education program within the College of Education and Human Performance. The main purpose of the study was to determine the Dissertation in Practice (DiP) project types that should be allowed for use as the capstone requirement based on a needs analysis of K-12 schools and school districts. The secondary purpose was to inform the instructional design of the program to ensure the necessary skills...
Show moreThis study conducted at the University of Central Florida was completed to inform the Ed. D. in Education program within the College of Education and Human Performance. The main purpose of the study was to determine the Dissertation in Practice (DiP) project types that should be allowed for use as the capstone requirement based on a needs analysis of K-12 schools and school districts. The secondary purpose was to inform the instructional design of the program to ensure the necessary skills and knowledge required are included in the program.The study was conducted in the University of Central Florida's Ed. D. in Education program and employed a qualitative approach to a needs analysis. Interviews were conducted with two distinctly different participant groups. The first group was comprised of administrators and teacher-leaders identified by a superintendent of a rural school district in Central Florida as (")highly effective("). The second group of participants was comprised of current Ed. D. students working in K-12 education with more than 10 years' experience.This research identified specific project types that best support school improvement and should therefore be integrated into the Ed. D. in Education program as allowable project types for use as the Dissertation in Practice. The results also identified qualities of highly effective administrators and teacher-leaders that may be considered by program faculty for inclusion in the design and implementation of the curriculum for the Ed. D. in Education program.Implications of this research include using the results to inform instructional practices and the allowable DiP projects for the Ed. D. in Education program. As this study was a needs analysis that serves as a basis for program instructional decisions, the results of this study may inform other Carnegie Project on the Education Doctorate (CPED) member institutions how to modify or enhance their programs as well.The focus on this study was exclusively on K-12 education. However many students enrolled in the program work in business, government, or non-profit settings. This research could be replicated to determine improvement project types that are commonly implemented in those settings in order to better meet the needs of all students enrolled in the Ed. D. in Education program.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2014
- Identifier
- CFE0005306, ucf:50539
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0005306
- Title
- ASSESSING THE IMPACT OF UNIVERSITY TECHNOLOGY INCUBATOR PRACTICES ON CLIENT PERFORMANCE.
- Creator
-
O'Neal, Thomas, Kulonda, Dennis, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
-
This research is designed to distinguish and describe or explain incubator practices that affect the performance of incubator clients of university technology incubator programs. The research focuses on understanding which practices significantly contribute to increasing job creation for the firms located in university based technology incubators. An increasing number of communities are embracing economic development strategies that target the high tech sector with high wage, high value jobs...
Show moreThis research is designed to distinguish and describe or explain incubator practices that affect the performance of incubator clients of university technology incubator programs. The research focuses on understanding which practices significantly contribute to increasing job creation for the firms located in university based technology incubators. An increasing number of communities are embracing economic development strategies that target the high tech sector with high wage, high value jobs as a way to diversify their economies and boost local and regional economies. New economic development strategies include the notion of a creation strategy or "growing your own" instead of relying on recruiting of existing companies from other regions. In 1999-2000 (according to the most recent data), small businesses created three-quarters of U.S. net new jobs (2.5 million of the 3.4 million total). The small business percentage varies from year to year and reflects economic trends. Over the decade of the 1990s, small business net job creation fluctuated between 60 and 80 percent. Moreover, according to a Bureau of the Census working paper, start-ups in the first two years of operation accounted for virtually all of the net new jobs in the economy. The study is broken into three parts: (1) a review of the literature on incubation, focusing on its history, best practices, technology incubation, networking theory, and previous empirical studies (2) a review of previous data collected in a recent national survey and (3) case studies of the top performing incubators in the country based on employment growth of client firms contracted with case studies from non-top ten programs. The literature suggests that the study of incubation must be considered in the context of a larger enterprise development system of which the incubator will fill gaps in the larger regional enterprise development system. This notion is explored. In general, there is a great need for more empirical research into best practice of incubation. It is a non trivial task however as the nature of the industry limits the ability to obtain traditional, statistically defendable, measures.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2005
- Identifier
- CFE0000434, ucf:46404
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0000434
- Title
- CHARACTER EDUCATION: EXAMINING THE PERCEPTIONS OF ELEMENTARY, MIDDLE, AND HIGH SCHOOL TEACHERS IN A CENTRAL FLORIDA SCHOOL DISTRICT.
- Creator
-
Ampel, Jason, Holt, Larry, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
-
While schools are academic institutions to prepare our country's youth for their future, developing a child's character and civic responsibilities is necessary and is often deleted from the explicit curriculum set forth in most school districts throughout the country. This study investigated the perception of character education of teachers in a Central Florida school district, as it related to teacher importance, teacher efficacy, and teacher practice of character education. This...
Show moreWhile schools are academic institutions to prepare our country's youth for their future, developing a child's character and civic responsibilities is necessary and is often deleted from the explicit curriculum set forth in most school districts throughout the country. This study investigated the perception of character education of teachers in a Central Florida school district, as it related to teacher importance, teacher efficacy, and teacher practice of character education. This study investigated the responses of 497 classroom teachers surveyed within one Central Florida school district. The questionnaire used in this study was designed to illuminate teacher perceptions of character education, by examining a teacher's level of importance, efficacy, and practice of character education in their classrooms and schools. The three areas of importance, efficacy, and practice were examined to determine whether there was a statistically significant difference among Central Florida educators based upon demographic variables of a) grades level taught, b) years of experience, c) highest degree attained, d) gender, and e) National Board Certification. The results of this survey, in combination with existing research findings, proved to be beneficial in revealing the ideals and explicit actions that need to be prevalent in public schools today to insure a balance between academics and the development of civic behaviors and positive character values. This study was a step in a effort to depict the voices of all teachers as stakeholders in one Central Florida School district.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2009
- Identifier
- CFE0002556, ucf:47642
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0002556
- Title
- TE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE RESILIENCY IN AFRICAN AMERICAN MALE YOUTH AND THEIR AWARENESS OF CITIZENSHIP PRACTICES.
- Creator
-
Judd, Karen, Van Hook, Mary, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
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Effective citizenship practice in the United States has several important characteristics, which can provide the foundation for young people to access opportunity in employment and education. A continuum of policies, programs, and strategies meant to alleviate poverty have central themes of providing education and vocational opportunities, and yet large numbers of young minority people remain disenfranchised with no chance to succeed. There is even greater loss in the population of African...
Show moreEffective citizenship practice in the United States has several important characteristics, which can provide the foundation for young people to access opportunity in employment and education. A continuum of policies, programs, and strategies meant to alleviate poverty have central themes of providing education and vocational opportunities, and yet large numbers of young minority people remain disenfranchised with no chance to succeed. There is even greater loss in the population of African American males who otherwise could achieve stable and strong economic life styles. Large unemployment and under-employment of African American males is documented through U.S. data sources where declining rates of labor force participation of black males is starkly evident (U.S. Census 2000). Geographic influences for minority youth also increase limited access to educational and employment opportunities (Slack & Jenson, 2002). What is clear is that minority youth are faced with a disproportionately difficult access to educational and employment opportunities as a result of diminished community social support, which should be the encouraging force in directing their goal achievements. Resiliency, as a strengths-based perspective, gained convincing prominence through the 1970s and 1980s. Initiative, self-control, self-esteem, and attachment are four protective factors of resiliency. Risk and protective factors are vital for intervention practices with individuals, families and communities. This study utilized protective factors that promote the skills and abilities necessary for encouraging resiliency and creating effective citizenship. Resiliency and the awareness of citizenship practices may bolster African American male youth successes in educational and employment opportunities. Youth who consistently and routinely engage in employment can increase the well-being of themselves, their families, and their communities. This study utilized a self-administeredsurvey design to obtain responses from rural African Americans male youth, between the ages of 12 and 19 inclusive, to determine their resiliency skills and their awareness of citizenship practices (p=.005, one-tailed). In a pre-post test for significance, participants were asked to take a citizenship practices survey after the viewing of the video. This paired t-test displayed statistically significant results (p= .0015, t= 2.998, df =98). It is important to examine resiliency in rural African American male youth and how that resiliency interacts with the awareness of citizenship practices. There is little known about how rural African American, male youth perceive effective citizenship based on their level of resiliency. African American youth are better served toward successful employment and education through programs that are designed to increase citizenship practices awareness. There is reason to believe that citizenship practices, by way of training and community affirmation, with an infusion of resiliency skill techniques modeling, could open the doors wider for African American male youth who, for some, suffer from poverty, but for most suffer from the lack of free and open educational access which inhibits viable entry level employment opportunities.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2006
- Identifier
- CFE0001097, ucf:46784
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0001097
- Title
- TEACHER AND STUDENT PERCEPTIONS OF PEDAGOGICAL PRACTICES ON GIFTED STUDENT MOTIVATION.
- Creator
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Pappas, Chloe M, Sellnow, Deanna, Parrish, Adam, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
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This thesis explored teacher and student perceptions of classroom pedagogical practices as they may impact gifted children's motivation to learn. Because engaging gifted students can be uniquely challenging, teachers may need to tailor the teaching and learning experience to motivate them in ways that encourage them to succeed to their full potential. This exploratory study examined relationships among various pedagogical practices employed by a teacher and gifted student motivation....
Show moreThis thesis explored teacher and student perceptions of classroom pedagogical practices as they may impact gifted children's motivation to learn. Because engaging gifted students can be uniquely challenging, teachers may need to tailor the teaching and learning experience to motivate them in ways that encourage them to succeed to their full potential. This exploratory study examined relationships among various pedagogical practices employed by a teacher and gifted student motivation. Ultimately, results of this study may lay a foundation for best practices for teaching gifted students.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2018
- Identifier
- CFH2000432, ucf:45730
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFH2000432
- Title
- WHAT IS THE EFFECT OF STANDARDIZED TESTING ON TEACHER PRACTICE?.
- Creator
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Granato, Courtney, Hopp, Carolyn, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
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This study examines the potential correlation between standardized testing and teacher practice. Building upon the conceptual framework, are constructs of school climate and assessment to develop themes such as leadership role, teacher role, district role, and coach's role as well as teacher practice, classroom assessment, standardized assessment, and the alignment of curriculum to standardized testing. In discovering the parallel between standardized testing and teacher practice, both...
Show moreThis study examines the potential correlation between standardized testing and teacher practice. Building upon the conceptual framework, are constructs of school climate and assessment to develop themes such as leadership role, teacher role, district role, and coach's role as well as teacher practice, classroom assessment, standardized assessment, and the alignment of curriculum to standardized testing. In discovering the parallel between standardized testing and teacher practice, both qualitative and quantitative data were collected through research and observations, but more importantly through a survey and focus group. Over a two-semester period, it became evident that there was an eminent parallel between each the themes and constructs within the conceptual framework, ultimately answering the research question. Although the data fulfilled the research question of this study, future research would require a more in-depth, longitudinal study in order to suggest possible ideas for solutions.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2015
- Identifier
- CFH0004790, ucf:45335
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFH0004790
- Title
- COLLEGE STUDENTS' ATTITUDES TOWARDS GREEN HOTEL PRACTICES.
- Creator
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Perez, Elvis, Kaufman, Tammie, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
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This research was conducted to discover college students' attitude towards green hotel practices and will be helpful to the hospitality industry to help focus their marketing efforts Based on the survey correlations between variables it appears that the people who use green practices at home are more aware of green practices when staying at a hotels. Implementing green practices into hotels will help the environment and also create a positive brand image and loyalty from guests. The movement...
Show moreThis research was conducted to discover college students' attitude towards green hotel practices and will be helpful to the hospitality industry to help focus their marketing efforts Based on the survey correlations between variables it appears that the people who use green practices at home are more aware of green practices when staying at a hotels. Implementing green practices into hotels will help the environment and also create a positive brand image and loyalty from guests. The movement of "Green" benefits everyone: the employer, the employees, and the guests.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2013
- Identifier
- CFH0004424, ucf:45100
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFH0004424
- Title
- AN EXAMINATION OF SUPPLEMENTAL EDUCATIONAL SERVICES: EXPECTATIONS AND REALITIES IN A LARGE PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT.
- Creator
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Blair, Kristin, Killingsworth Roberts, Sherron, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
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On January 8, 2002, President George W. Bush signed the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act. This sweeping legislation brought reform to every area of public education by establishing seven performance-based provisions. Supplemental Educational Services is a core aspect of NCLB, designed to meet two of the seven goals: improving academic performance of disadvantaged students and promoting innovative programs. SES tutoring is provided free of charge to parents for students who are eligible for...
Show moreOn January 8, 2002, President George W. Bush signed the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act. This sweeping legislation brought reform to every area of public education by establishing seven performance-based provisions. Supplemental Educational Services is a core aspect of NCLB, designed to meet two of the seven goals: improving academic performance of disadvantaged students and promoting innovative programs. SES tutoring is provided free of charge to parents for students who are eligible for free or reduced lunch and that attend a Title I school that has not made Adequate Yearly Progress, or AYP, for three or more years. The aim of this tutoring is to ensure that all students, regardless of socioeconomic status, have access to tutoring to help improve their academic scores. The purpose of this research was to examine the practices of SES providers in a large metropolitan school district to examine the pedagogical practices, the qualifications of SES providers, and the accountability measures in place to ensure maximum student academic gains. Through an anonymous online survey taken by SES providers, as well as interviewing the SES coordinator in the target district, I was able to gain a clearer understanding of the SES system. My findings are consistent with other key studies across the nation (Munoz, Potter, & Ross, 2008; Rickles & White, 2006); that is, that little accountability among SES providers to districts could result in questionable student academic gains. Because of research such as this, new federal legislation is currently being drafted to issue states waivers from the restrictions of mandatory NCLB Title I budgets, wherein 5 to 15% were allocated to SES tutoring (McNeil, 2011).
Show less - Date Issued
- 2011
- Identifier
- CFH0004109, ucf:44884
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFH0004109
- Title
- AN INVESTIGATION INTO HOTEL EMPLOYEES' PERCEPTION OF GREEN PRACTICES.
- Creator
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Kim, Sun-Hwa, Okumus, Fevzi, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
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This study examined how employees of the hotel industry perceived green practices. Data was collected from 220 employees working in eight green certified hotels in Orlando. Research results revealed that performance levels of green practices implemented by hotels were lower than the importance levels of those same green practices as perceived by hotel employees. The results of the study illustrated that (1) the employees' perception regarding green practices was not different than one of...
Show moreThis study examined how employees of the hotel industry perceived green practices. Data was collected from 220 employees working in eight green certified hotels in Orlando. Research results revealed that performance levels of green practices implemented by hotels were lower than the importance levels of those same green practices as perceived by hotel employees. The results of the study illustrated that (1) the employees' perception regarding green practices was not different than one of hoteliers in terms of importance and performance, and (2) employees weighted the green practices that were beneficial to them as more important than green practices that required their behavior change. Also, a positive correlation between organizational commitment and green practices detected in this study which suggests that hotel organizations may anticipate positive ramifications of green practices in relation to HR approach when they embrace green practices. Unfortunately, employees' green perceptions at work were not generalized by their demographic characteristics, yet a number of considerable results were garnered from this study. These were (1) employees in operational departments were more green conscious than employees in other departments, (2) generation X was critical about green performance by the hotels, and (3) minorities showed more green concerns than other ethnicities. This study suggests that hotels need to spend more time and effort in communicating their green practice to employees. Training to improve green practices should be versatile and job-specific with strategies developed to motivate the employees to engage in green practices. Overall, this study proposes for hotels simply deploying green practices is not enough. They should carefully plan their green practices by training and motivating employees.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2009
- Identifier
- CFE0002908, ucf:47990
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0002908
- Title
- Undergraduate Student Agreement With Reformed Introductory Physics Classes.
- Creator
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Wilcox, Matthew, Chini, Jackie, Del Barco, Enrique, Saitta, Erin, Sivo, Stephen, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
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In this study, I investigate student (")buy-in("), defined as students' proper understanding of and agreement with the class format, for introductory studio physics classes that incorporate lectures, labs, and group problem-solving activities into one interactive environment. I also investigate the ways in which instructors try to gain student buy-in to their class. Research has shown that student resistance to reformed instruction is a barrier to an instructor's use of research-based...
Show moreIn this study, I investigate student (")buy-in("), defined as students' proper understanding of and agreement with the class format, for introductory studio physics classes that incorporate lectures, labs, and group problem-solving activities into one interactive environment. I also investigate the ways in which instructors try to gain student buy-in to their class. Research has shown that student resistance to reformed instruction is a barrier to an instructor's use of research-based instructional strategies that are common to the studio class. Expectancy value theory suggests that by gaining student buy-in to the reformed class format, student resistance will decrease thus allowing a more effective class. I created a survey to measure student agreement with their class and another survey to determine the strategies that instructors use to gain student buy-in. I describe the responses to the surveys and use hierarchical models to determine if student agreement predicts their performance in the class and if the instructor strategies have an effect on student agreement. To triangulate these findings, I also interviewed instructors and students. From the surveys, I found that students disagree with the time spent lecturing and the importance and time spent reading outside of class. This is important because student agreement with the time spent in class predicts favorable attitudes about physics and their agreement with the time spent outside of class predicts a higher expected final grade. From the interviews, I discovered that both instructors and students believe that using evidence to justify the class format would be an effective strategy to gain agreement. However, few instructors used evidence due to a lack of prepared materials. Future work should develop materials to support instructors in presenting evidence about studio's effectiveness and investigate the impact on student buy-in and other outcomes.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2018
- Identifier
- CFE0007265, ucf:52197
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0007265
