Predicting Graduate Students’ Self-Efficacy for Thesis/Dissertation Completion in Sub-Saharan Africa

Despite the global surge in enrollment for master\u27s and Ph.D. programs worldwide and, to some extent, in Sub-Saharan Africa, a considerable lag in completing theses and dissertations (TD) persists. Personal, situational, and contextual factors, such as supervision arrangements and research abilities, have been correlated with the time taken for TD completion. However, beyond these variables, there remains a significant gap in our understanding of what precisely predicts TD completion. To contribute to this knowledge deficit, we conducted a study to determine the predictive nature of specific information sources on students\u27 self-efficacy regarding TD completion. These sources encompass gender, graduate program level, coursework completion, prior statistical skills, and research knowledge. A survey built in Qualtrics was distributed to 65 masters and doctoral students in the Agricultural Education and Extension departments at four universities in Sub-Saharan Africa. The findings indicated that most respondents possessed prior experience with statistics or research and had completed their coursework. Nevertheless, self-reported research knowledge and self-efficacy for TD completion were rated average, signaling a clear need for proficient research skills to ensure punctual TD completion. Furthermore, hierarchical regression revealed that additional predictors, beyond research knowledge alone, led to a 42% increase in TD self-efficacy for completion. These findings suggest that graduate programs should prioritize providing students with more research-related mastery experiences. This could be accomplished by offering a broader range of statistical courses, hands-on research opportunities, and avenues for professional development. Additionally, institutions should evaluate to address the specific TD research requirements of graduate students through a gendered lens

Leadership capacity and organizational citizenship behavior in educational institutions

In this research, it is aimed to examine the leadership capacity and organizational citizenship levels belong to the teachers working in some schools and the relationship between them. Relational survey design was used in this research. In the 2019-2020 academic year, 4025 teachers working in some primary, secondary and high school levels in the central districts of Uşak province constitute the study group of this research. In this study, the study titled “The adaptation of the leadership capacity scale (Olkö) in schools into Turkish: a validity and reliability study”, which was adapted into Turkish, was used to determine the level of organizational citizenship. For analyzing of the data obtained from the participants, arithmetic mean percentage, frequency, standard deviation values ​​were calculated. In the study linear regression analysis and pearson correlation analysis were used. Considering the results of the analysis of this research; the average perception of teachers' leadership capacity behaviors is moderate. Again, according to the results of the research; perception of organizational citizenship behavior on average belonging to teachers is at a "high" level. According to teachers' perceptions, a low, but positive and significant relationship has been found between school leadership capacity and organizational citizenship behavior. Leadership capacity is a significant predictor of organizational citizenship behaviors

Exploring Possibilities of Predicting Positive Counselor Qualities in Counseling Students from Personality Domains

In this pilot study, the authors investigated the degree that Big Five personality domains may predict the positive counselor qualities among 160 students enrolled in sections of a combined undergraduate/graduate Counseling Skills course. Positive counselor qualities of focus in this study are empathy, mindfulness or self-awareness, and unconditional positive self-regard in students studying counseling skills. The results do not suggest a significant predictive role for the Big Five personality domains for the Counseling Skills students, except that the Big Five domain of neuroticism predicted enough variation in mindfulness and unconditional positive self-regard to be practically significant. Limitations and potential implications of these findings for counselor educators and for future research are discussed

Discovering the virtual fingerprint: Analyzing embodiment, immersion, and player personality in video games

This thesis set out to explore embodiment, immersion, and personalities in massively multiplayer video games (MMOGs), in particular how players become immersed in a virtual world. Immersion is a focal point in the gaming experience in which players communicate directly with the digital medium. Scholarship has argued that games have specific immersive qualities that draw players into them including storytelling, social and emotional reasoning, among others (Calleja, 2011). Each player has a particular preference as to what immerses them the most in a game. In addition, research has concluded that gamers have unique personalities that they portray while they embody themselves in these virtual environments (Yee, 2007). These personalities align with characteristics of immersion, but the models have not been cross examined until now. Through the correlational analysis of data gathered by MMOG players, relationships between the models became evident. Results were used to develop virtual fingerprints for each personality, or how each persona becomes immersed in an online video game. DISCOVERIN

An Analysis of the Perseverance of Seminary Master\u27s Degree Graduates in Professional Ministry

The study examined whether there is a significant difference between seminary master’s degree graduates who persevere in professional ministry and seminary master’s degree graduates who do not persevere in professional ministry on selected demographic, educational, personal, and employment variables. The sample consisted of 178 master\u27s degree graduates from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in the United States who graduated during the 1996-97 academic year. Of these graduates, 127 (71.35%) were identified as persevering in professional ministry, and 51 (28.65%) were identified as not persevering in professional ministry. The variables investigated in this study were the student’s age at the time of receiving the master’s degree from the seminary, the gender of the seminary graduates, the undergraduate major of the seminary graduates, the type of undergraduate institution, relevance of the master’s degree to ministry position(s) held after graduation, the quality of seminary education as perceived by the master’s degree graduate, employment of the student in a ministry position prior to enrolling in seminary, employment of the student in a ministry position while obtaining the master’s degree, parental encouragement to pursue a ministry position, and employment of the student in a non-ministry position as a career choice before entering seminary. An alpha level of .05 was used for the Chi-Square analyses and t tests of this study. Tests of the ten hypotheses were conducted using the Bonferroni adjusted alpha level of .005 per test (.05/10). Significance was found on the variables of the gender of the seminary graduates and relevance of the master’s degree to ministry position(s) held after graduation

Factors That Affect Turnover Intention of Registered Nurses in the Acute Hospital: A Meta-Analysis from 2006-2016

Multiple complex variables influence nurse turnover. This meta-analysis examines the strength of the relationships between factors that affect turnover intent among staff registered nurses employed in the acute hospital setting in the United States. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) was used to guide the reporting of essential components of this study. Included studies were published in English between 2006-2016, reported study sample sizes, a Cronbach coefficient for the study instruments, conducted quantitative analysis and reported Pearson correlation r values. Two factors affecting turnover intention were found in the four included studies. Statistical analyses show that both organizational commitment and structural empowerment have a negative correlation with anticipated turnover. The strength of the relationship between organizational commitment and anticipated turnover is moderate (-.298). Similarly, there is a moderate (-.346) strength of the relationship between structural empowerment and anticipated turnover. The strict inclusion criteria resulted in a low number of primary studies for meta-analysis, but confirm prior knowledge. This contribution to increasing understanding of turnover intent will allow a focused approach for training and retention strategies which can be referenced when addressing issues related to nurse turnover

Attributions others assign to depressed individuals and their relationship to severity of depressive symptoms, amount of contact, and familiarity with depressed individuals

While there has been valuable research critical for furthering our understanding of how an individual\u27s social network affects recovery from depression, we need to know more about the interplay of other people\u27s attributions and their relationships with depressed individuals that may impact recovery from the disorder. This research investigated causal and controllability attributions that others assign to individuals with depression by distributing a questionnaire to faculty and administrative staff at Eastern Michigan University to obtain ratings of attributions for depression. The level of intimacy within a relationship and the severity of depression were related to others\u27 beliefs about the controllability of depressive symptoms. Exploring these relationships may expand our understanding of how and when specific attributions begin and how they change. This information may be useful in developing treatments for depression that not only help the individual suffering with the disorder but also others around the individual who are affected

The Moderating Effect of Supervisory Social Support on the Relationship between Second Generation Latinos’ and Asians’ Assimilation Level and Work-Family Conflict

The majority of the empirical work regarding work-family conflict (WFC) has been focused on the experiences of White, middle class, Anglo-Americans. The labor force, however, is experiencing major demographic changes as increasing numbers of U.S.-born Latinos and Asians become employees. Although second generation Latinos and Asians play a major role in the U.S. economy and workplace, their experiences as employees have seldom been examined. Because they are exposed to collectivistic and individualistic values simultaneously, their assimilation levels, or identification with the U.S. culture, could be a unique predictor of a type of WFC: work-interference with family (WIF) or family interference with work (FIW). Using 103 second generation Latino and Asian employees, the present study was aimed to understand the influence of cultural variables on WFC by examining the relationship between their assimilation levels and type of WFC. It was hypothesized that the more assimilated they were, the more WIF and the less FIW they would experience. In addition, perceived supervisor support was introduced as a moderator of the relationship between assimilation levels and type of WFC. The findings of this study revealed that contrary to the hypothesis, assimilation levels were not related to WIF or FIW, nor did perceived supervisor support moderate their relationship. However, the study did provide further evidence that perceived supervisor support could reduce WIF. Given these findings, organizations should look to revamp their work-family balance initiatives and provide the necessary training to their front-line supervisors to instill a sense of supervisory support among employees

Political Efficacy and Political Participation of Nurse Practitioners: A Dissertation

In many states, outdated rules and regulations restrict nurse practitioners (NPs) from practicing to their full potential, often limiting patients’ access to primary care. Modernizing NP state scope of practice laws and allowing patients greater access to NPs services is a priority. Unlike other professions, nurse practitioners have been unable to consistently influence legislative changes to health policy. This study examined the political efficacy and participation of nurse practitioners in the United States today (N=632). A descriptive cross sectional design, in conjunction with a political efficacy framework, evaluated nurse practitioners’ participation in political activities and their internal and external political efficacy. Increased internal political efficacy was significantly (p \u3c 0.001) associated with NPs who were older, had specific health policy education, and have been mentored in health policy. Our findings show that NPs vote at consistently higher rates (94%) than the general population and almost 50% report contacting legislators via mail/email/phone. As a group however, NPs report limited participation in other political activities, especially grassroots efforts. These findings hold significant implications for the profession as we strive to make policy changes across the country. It is important that educators assess our current methods of educating NPs about politics and health policy. Professional organizations and policy makers must reexamine outreach and strategies to inspire greater grassroots engagement of NPs