Risky sexual behaviors in adolescence continue to be a social problem that impacts individuals, families, and communities across the United States. Previous research showed that parents who actively talk with their adolescents about sex and intimacy topics reduce their likelihood of engaging in these behaviors. Still, less is known about what…

This qualitative study involved American parents of deaf children who chose cochlear implants (CIs) and shared their perception of the lived experience of choosing Listening and Spoken Language (LSL) as a communication modality for their child. This study also involved the parents discussing their experiences with hearing professionals and how…

Research suggests that mathematics achievement is associated with future socioeconomic success and opens the possibility of social mobility for many individuals. However, disparities in mathematics achievement indicators expose inequitable opportunities and inconsistent access to appropriate educational models for a broad range of students. This…

The aim of this dissertation is to understand the impact of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival (DACA) students have while attending higher education. In 2012, President Barack Obama signed DACA that allowed eligible undocumented students residing in any of the 50 states the ability to qualify for in-state tuition at public institutions.…

This study explored the language ideologies of Saudi cosmopolitan parents living in Western countries, their family language policies, and their children's reintegration into Saudi society. I used a qualitative research design to investigate the process of family language policies and practices and the underlying social, cultural, and religious…

This study explores information seeking behavior of second-generation Muslim immigrants utilizing factors such as critical, cultural, and religious literacy skills. The study examined the second-generation immigrants' ability to balance their parents' and grandparents' native culture and traditions with the culture and traditions of their country.…

Previous research on social mobility focuses almost exclusively on individual outcomes, leaving out the important effects individuals' educational attainment may have on whole families. This dissertation extends the literature by investigating the role that earning a degree may play in social mobility for first-generation college graduates and…

As a country founded by immigrants, the United States (U.S.) has a long history of multilingualism. Multilingualism is associated with better linguistic awareness (Aronin & Singleton 2012; Bialystok, 2002), cognitive advantages (Aronin & Singleton 2012), and social benefits (Baker, 2001). The need for and value of multilingualism in an…

Problem: Though widespread studies have been conducted on the psycho-socio-cultural effects of family systems functioning on individuals' developmental outcomes, there is limited discussion on the direct correlations between family relational encounters and adolescents' development of faith and life values. The effects of dialectical interplay…

Hmong students in the US are underrepresented in higher education, especially graduate school. This concurrent mixed-methods study explored the barriers, challenges, and motivations of current graduate Hmong students at Fresno State. The quantitative survey was completed by 38 of all 55 current graduate Hmong students and included the Adult…

This study explored how 2nd generation Chinese American college students who have sought career counseling were influenced by model minority expectations. This investigation included how participants related these experiences to their hopes, fears, and cultural identities. From a constructivist qualitative phenomenological approach, 13…

Autism affects 1 in 68 children according to the Center for Disease Control (CDC, 2014). Research suggests that church attendance and believing in God helps parents cope with children with autism and improve quality of life (Lee, Harrington, Louie and Newschaffer, 2008). Attending church can be difficult for families with children with autism. The…

Well-being is essential to promote students' development. The present research investigated the association between life events, perceived stress, smartphone dependency, coping behaviors, and psychological well-being. This cross-sectional study employed convenience sampling, and the sample consisted of 303 undergraduates at one public university…

Over the past two decades reported rates of autism have steadily risen. The current incidence is 1 in 68 children. While autism can be reliably diagnosed at 18 months in most children with the condition, specialized autism treatment rarely begins before a child's third or fourth birthday. As screening and diagnosis procedures improve so does the…

The purpose of this study was to determine how a family communication partner (usually the mother IS primarily responsible for communication with a youth with a communication disability) could be trained to use an iPad and communication software for increasing appropriate communication and decreasing inappropriate behavior of youth with…