How doctoral students view their institution's ability to resolve problems may be directly related to their overall satisfaction of the institution. Challenges such as barriers to communication could have a negative effect on the students' ability to be retained by the institution. Policies to address issues relating to retention; high default rates on student loans and student services are increasing and more constraining. While the literature indicates the formation of federal policies to monitor recruitment practices of for-profit online institutions, it is not known to what extent these policies have influenced the quality of postrecruitment services. Using the theoretical framework of Vincent Tinto's model of student retention, this qualitative phenomenological study analyzes the quality of these postrecruitment policies related to enrollment, financial, and problem resolution from the perspective of students. Data were collected from 20 current and former doctoral students of online programs at for-profit institutions through inteviews. These interview data were transcribed, and then subjected to open coding and thematic analysis. Findings indicate that participants perceive that their institutions were prepared to resolve problems; however, communication issues were prevalent largely because of the asynchronous nature of email communication or differences in time zones. Based on these findings, the recommendation is for institutions to consider reevaluating methods of communication with students. Social change can be obtained by utilizing the students' experiences to facilitate improvements in the for-profit sector to minimize the opportunity for snowball effects such as retention challenges.

La thèse porte sur le rapport à l’écrit scientifique en français langue étrangère et seconde. Notre objectif est de proposer une approche des littéracies universitaires en FLE/FLS, de décrire et de comprendre le rapport à l’écrit en FLE/FLS du groupe enquêté, en l’occurrence des doctorants syriens étudiant en France. Notre démarche est sociodidactique aussi bien dans la problématique que dans la méthodologie adoptée. Ainsi, notre recherche s’est construite autour de trois axes principaux : un cadre contextuel et théorique comprenant à la fois une étude socioculturelle, sociolinguistique, éducative et institutionnelle du contexte d’origine (la Syrie) et des modalités de la mobilité étudiante. Nous y approfondissons les notions et les théories traitant de la question du rapport à l’écrit en FLE/FLS ainsi que des littéracies universitaires. Le deuxième axe constitue une démarche qualitative accordant une priorité au terrain. Enfin, le troisième axe tourne autour l’élaboration de l’approche des littéracies universitaires.Pour mener à bien notre recherche, nous avons réalisé des enquêtes sur le terrain au sein de dix-neuf pôles universitaires en France à l’aide d’un questionnaire soumis à cent sept doctorants syriens inscrits dans sept disciplines de Sciences Humaines et Sociales : Sciences du Langage, Psychologie, Histoire, Géographie, Sciences de l’Éducation, Sciences Économiques et Sciences Juridiques. Nous avons également réalisé sept entretiens avec des doctorants inscrits dans les disciplines susmentionnées.Notre travail de thèse a abouti à distinguer deux types de difficultés que les doctorants allophones ont à surmonter : méthodologiques (de niveau micro et macro) et disciplinaires ainsi qu’à définir le rôle primordial de la culture éducative et de l’habitus académique et méthodologique dans toute formation à l’initiation de recherche pour les doctorants étrangers. Ces résultats nous ont permis de contribuer aux premières ébauches d’une didactique des littéracies universitaires en français langue étrangère et seconde. / The thesis focuses on the relation to academic writing in French as a foreign and second language (FFL/SL). Our objective is to propose an approach of academic literacy in FFL/SL, to describe and to understand the relation to writing in FFL/SL of the group investigated, in this case, of Syrian PhD students in France. Our approach is socio-didactic in the research problem as well as in the adopted methodology. Thus, our research was built on three main axes: a contextual and theoretical framework comprising simultaneously socio-cultural, sociolinguistic, educational and institutional study of the original context (Syria) and the modalities of student mobility. In the same direction, we also explore the notions and theories dealing with the question of the relation to writing in FFL/SL as well as the academic literacy. The second axis is a qualitative approach giving priority to the field. Finally, the third axis revolves around the development of the approach to academic literacy.Concerning the practical part, we carried out field surveys in nineteen university poles in France. Indeed, we administered a questionnaire to 107 PhD students registered in seven disciplines of Humanities and Social Sciences: Language Sciences, Psychology, History, Geography, Educational Sciences, Economics and Legal Sciences. We also conducted seven interviews with PhD students enrolled in these disciplines.Our thesis work has resulted in distinguishing two types of difficulties that allophone PhD students have to overcome: methodological (micro- and macro level) and disciplinary, as well as to define the primordial role of the educational culture and the academic and methodological habitus in any training at the initiation of research for foreign doctoral students. These results allowed us to contribute to the first drafts of teaching academic literacy in French as a foreign and second language.

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This mixed-methods study was conducted to explore the professional opinions of educational leaders regarding selected components in the Race to the Top (RTTT) grant concerning teacher evaluation and compensation and the potential impact on student achievement. A target university was selected that had students who were professionals in the field of education in either instructional or administrative jobs and were pursuing their doctorates in both Education and Educational Leadership. A researcher created survey and follow-up interview were utilized to gather both quantitative and qualitative data for analysis. Quantitative findings revealed that statistically significant differences in the opinions of educational leaders about the potential impact of the RTTT grant teacher evaluation and compensation components on student achievement existed between two types of professional classification (instructional or administrative). No statistically significant relationship was found between self-reported knowledge of the RTTT and opinions of the fairness of the RTTT teacher evaluation and compensation components. Also, no statistically significant difference was found in the professional opinions about the potential impact of the RTTT grant teacher evaluation and compensation components on student achievement when self-reported school poverty percentage was considered. From qualitative findings, themes emerged surrounding the uncertainty and lack of understanding about the RTTT grant’s implementation. Though this study provided baseline data on the opinions of educational leaders on the RTTT teacher evaluation and compensation components, there is still much to be learned about the RTTT grant.

Thesis (M.A.)--University of Alabama at Birmingham, 2008. / Title from PDF of title page (viewed July 10, 2009). Includes bibliographical references (p. 76-81).

Background: Challenges in thesis proposal writing have resulted in doctoral students dropping from research studies resulting in the shortage of doctoral prepared nurses. Impediments include lack of human and non-human resources. Benner’s theory of novice to expert formed the basis for the development of the strategic intervention and action plan to address the challenges and strengths experienced by master’s prepared doctoral students during thesis proposal writing Purpose: The purpose of this research was to develop a strategic intervention and action plan that can be used to assist doctoral students to succeed in thesis proposal writing. Methods: An exploratory mixed-methods approach combining qualitative and quantitative data collection and analysis in four phases was used. In Phase 1 qualitative data from two open-ended questions were used to gather data, combined with literature to develop a questionnaire for Phase 2. A questionnaire was developed from data obtained from Phase 2 as well as a thorough literature review to develop the strategic intervention and Action plan. In Phase 4 the strategic intervention and action plan was validated using the Delphi technique and experts acted as panellists for the validation. Framework: Benner’s novice to expert theoretical framework was adopted for the study because of the assumption that doctoral students need a change of perception and assistance in order to develop critical thinking skills that will enhance the development of research competencies. This framework was used because of its relevance to the study. Research Findings: Competence in doctoral thesis proposal writing is affected by human resources as well as non-human resources. The identified strategic interventions that were included in the action plan were: recruitment of competent supervisors, training and mentoring of new supervisors, achieving of a realistic student/supervisor ratio for supervision of students, timely allocation of supervisors, recruiting of subject librarians and employment of adequate library support, provision of peer support programmes, implementation of a student recruitment and selection plan, provision of student support programmes to enhance research skills and competencies, binding contracts to stipulate students responsibility, provision of adequate research resources, and implementation of a bursary system among others. Conclusion: The strategic intervention and action plan was developed using the input of doctoral nursing students who were in the process of completing their thesis proposal and a thorough literature review. The inclusion of the deans of nursing of universities and universities of technology of South Africa (FUNDISA) will enhance the possibility for the implementation of the strategic intervention and action plan which can contribute to assisting the master’s prepared doctoral students to successfully transition from novice students with little or no research knowledge to competent thesis proposal writers. / Health Studies / D. Litt. et Phil. (Health Studies)

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The use of computers equipped with Internet access by students during face-to-face (F2F) class sessions is perceived as academically beneficial by a growing number of students and faculty members in universities across the United States. Nevertheless, some researchers suggest unstructured computer use detached from the immediate class content may negatively influence student participation, increase distraction levels, minimize recall of recently presented information, and decrease student engagement. This study investigates graduate students' beliefs about computer use with Internet access during graduate face-to-face lecture classes in which computer use is neither mandated nor integrated in the class and the effect of such use on student recall. Methods include a 44-item questionnaire to investigate graduate students' beliefs about computers and two experiments to investigate the influence of computer use during a lecture on students' memory recall. One experimental group (open laptop) used computers during a lecture while the other (closed laptop) did not. Both groups were given the same memory recall test after the lectures, and the resulting scores were analyzed. Two weeks later, a second phase of the experiment was implemented in which laptop groups were reversed. Results from the first experiment indicated no statistically significant difference in recall scores between the open laptop group (M = 54.90, SD = 19.65) and the closed laptop group (M = 42.86, SD = 16.68); t (29) = -1.82, p = .08 (two tailed). Conversely, the second experiment revealed statistically significant differences in scores between the open laptop (M = 39.67, SD = 15.97) and the closed laptop group (M = 59.29, SD = 26.88); t (20.89) = 2.37, p = .03 (two tailed). The magnitude of the difference in mean scores (mean difference = 19.62, 95% CI: 2.39 to 36.85) was large (eta squared = 0.17). Multiple regression analysis suggests two factors accounted for 10% of the variance in recall scores: (1) students' beliefs about distractions from computer use, and (2) beliefs about the influence of computer use on memory recall. Based on survey findings, participants (N=116) viewed computers and Internet access in graduate classes as helpful academic tools, but distractions from computer use were major sources of concern for students who used computers in graduate classes and those who did not. Additionally, participants believed academic productivity would increase if instructors integrated computer use appropriately in the curricula. Results of the survey and experiments suggest unstructured computer use with Internet access in the graduate classroom is strongly correlated with increased student distractions and decreased memory recall. Thus, restricting unstructured computer use is likely to increase existing memory recall levels, and increasing unstructured computer use is likely to reduce memory recall. Recommendations include changes in the way students use computers, pedagogical shifts, computer integration strategies, modified seating arrangements, increased accountability, and improved interaction between instructors and students.

L’étude présentée dans cette thèse s’inscrit dans la problématique générale de la maîtrise de l’information et dans le prolongement de travaux antérieurs conduits à ce sujet en France et en Pologne. L’objectif est d’évaluer l’expérience, les connaissances et les compétences des doctorants français et polonais quant à leur usage des revues scientifiques offertes par les bibliothèques universitaires, et ce, afin de mettre en place un programme éducatif, dédié aux doctorants, basé sur les standards de la maîtrise de l’information et visant à développer leur usage des revues scientifiques. / The purpose of the research described in this thesis was: to present the problem of information literacy (IL) from the perspective of the previous works in this domain, especially those conducted in France and in Poland; to evaluate the experience, knowledge, and skills of French and Polish doctoral students in the area of use of scientific journals offered by academic libraries; and to prepare and educational project for doctoral students, based on IL international standards and principally aimed at increasing the use of scientific journals.