This thesis consists of three essays in the economics of education with an empirical focus on Mexico. The first two chapters study a college in Mexico whose admission decisions are made through a lottery. Some applicants are randomly assigned into a group that can immediately enroll and the rest into a group that can only do so after waiting…

The current research shows that distance learning has become a viable alternative to the traditional face-to-face classroom instruction in both K-12 and higher education. Therefore the course design and the quality of the content are essential in determining how teachers perceive a web based learning environment, and whether they adopt a deep or…

This study researched my teaching identity. The study included a critical exploration of the multiple personal and professional selves and the roles they play in the formation of my teaching self. Researching my teaching identity through constructing knowledge of my multiple selves and the relationships among them enabled me to better understand…

Critical thinking skills (CTS) have been emphasized in educational curricula and professional development of physical therapists. Studies assessing the measurement and development of CTS in healthcare professionals have primarily focused on students enrolled in professional phases of allied health educational programs. Despite the breadth of…

The purpose of this study was to identify and understand the management of resources by library directors at 151 Public and Private Carnegie classified extensive university libraries in an environment of limited funding for higher education. This study examined the following research questions: 1. What resource allocation strategies are used by…

Occupational stress creates a negative impact both at the microlevel (i.e., individuals) and at the macrolevel (i.e., organization). This study investigated the role of protective factors of social support and religiosity on occupational stress among university employees. The study used data collected from participants ( N = 72) in a private…

This qualitative study identified key factors associated with exemplar service-learning programs at six community colleges across the United States. The purpose of this case study was to determine why these programs have sustained over time and to better understand how administrators and faculty meet shifting demands for service-learning. The…

Reading Recovery (RR) is an early intervention program that addresses the needs of struggling readers in 1st grade. Numerous studies support the positive effect RR has with struggling readers, but research is limited on the effects of RR with English language learners (ELLs). The purpose of this study examined the relationship between oral…

This study sought to identify the relationship between academic and social integration and persistence for veterans in two-year colleges. Bean and Metzner's (1985) attrition theory served as the theoretical background of investigation for including variables throughout the seven research questions. The Beginning Postsecondary Student survey…

As organizations have become more dependent on networked information systems (IS) to conduct their business operations, their susceptibility to various threats to information security has also increased. Research has consistently identified the inappropriate security behavior of the users as the most significant of these threats. Various factors…

As an extension of the effort devoted to updating the questionnaires for TIMSS and PIRLS 2011, this dissertation explored a new reporting strategy for contextual questionnaire data. The study investigated the feasibility of constructing "global indicators" from a large number of diverse background variables, which could provide policy makers and…

The study explores factors that enhance or inhibit the language adjustment of international students in the U.S. Using social network influence model, the study examines the effects of language resources, language norm, and technology use on international students' self-confidence in overall English skills and four subskills, namely, listening,…

With the implementation of the No Child Left Behind Act in January of 2002, curricula in high schools in the United States have adjusted to make room for test preparation activities and high stakes testing. This involves teaching skills and content in the format of the test only, drilling students on specific skills and content areas that will be…

Students' academic self-concepts have a reciprocal relationship with their academic performance, so high academic self-concepts are desirable. Yet, academic self-concepts typically decline during the late elementary and early middle school years. Little is known about how students' academic self-concepts are influenced to change. Fifth and sixth…

Co-teaching originated in the 1960's, when it became popularized as an example of progressive education. Progressivism mandates that schools should be "child-centered" with the curriculum and instruction tailored to facilitate the development of the individual and to raise standards for all students. Vygotsky was instrumental in advancing the…