NU Masters and Dissertations (Open Access)
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This collection contains open access National University student dissertations and master's culminating work, including work by students who graduated from National University, Northcentral University, and John F. Kennedy University. To learn more about this collection, please visit the NU Institutional Repository webpage for students and alumni.
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Item Lingering Effects of Toxic Leadership on Marines: A Qualitative Study(2025-06) Velez Rivera, AbrahamToxic leadership poses a significant challenge within the U.S. Marine Corps, affecting Marines’ well-being and organizational effectiveness. This study aimed to explore the impact of toxic leadership on Marines assigned to the 4th Marine Aircraft Wing, focusing on its lingering effects and implications for the unit’s productivity and morale. Grounded in the conceptual framework theory of toxic leadership proposed by Semedo et al. (2022) that integrates key concepts such as toxic leadership, organizational culture, and organizational productivity, the study sought to provide a comprehensive understanding of the issue. Through the examination of experiences and perceptions of Marines, this research aims to contribute to the body of knowledge on toxic leadership in the U.S. military and inform strategies for its mitigation. A qualitative research approach was used, involving semi-structured interviews with Marines who have directly experienced toxic leadership. Findings revealed recurring toxic behaviors, including micromanagement, lack of accountability, and deflection of blame, contributing to diminished trust, morale, and unit cohesion. Marines employed various coping strategies such as avoidance, emotional withdrawal, and informal peer support to navigate these challenges. Recommendations emerging from the findings highlight the need for systematic changes in leader evaluation, mentorship programs, and proactive senior leadership engagement. This study emphasizes the importance of reinforcing core values and ethical leadership practices, ultimately aiming to enhance organizational climate, Marine well-being, and operational effectiveness within the Marine CorpsItem Examining the Impact of AI-Assisted Language Learning Tools on Second Language Production(2025-02) Sarraf Caldwell, NeguinSecond-language learners frequently encounter challenges in speaking proficiency, including pronunciation, grammar, vocabulary, cognitive fluency, anxiety, and cultural nuances. Some students at the Defense Language Institute (DLI) face challenges with confidence and motivation when speaking the target language, which can hinder their development of speaking skills and overall language proficiency. While traditional methods might fall short, emerging technologies like AI-assisted language learning tools offer promising solutions to encourage spontaneous language use. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to explore the impact of AI-assisted language learning tools on DLI students' motivation and confidence in speaking the target language. It drew on theories such as flow theory, mindset Theory, and the Communicative Language Teaching approach. The study surveyed students at the Language Center (LC) School of Language, located in the southeastern region of the United States, during the 19-week language course iteration. The participants were purposefully sampled, consisting of eight DLI linguists who were also language class students. The research method involved surveys and observation sessions where participants individually interacted with the TalkPal AI tool for speaking the Farsi language. The data analysis utilized an inductive and thematic data analysis method without any analysis software. Surveys and observation methods revealed that AI tools can reduce communication apprehension and boost learner confidence, especially for anxious learners. Future studies could investigate the effectiveness of these tools in various settings, utilize advancements in artificial intelligence, and assess their broader influence on language learning to incorporate them into the educational framework better. However, these tools must evolve to facilitate increasingly natural conversations, thus enhancing learner engagement and motivation. Therefore, realistic interaction and tool performance limitations currently suggest that AI tools are best used to supplement traditional methods, not replacements.Item DACA: Deferred Actions For Childhood Arrivals: A Life Changing Experience For Undocumented Immigrants(2022-04-30) Donat, BrandonCurrent immigration policies that reflect the United States ideals of a safe and secure nation also bring continued political battles amongst the government and their political struggles to safely battle the influx of immigrants that flood our borders. Hundreds of thousands of undocumented immigrants have made the treacherous journey to leave their past of political corruption, the uncertainty of job stability, and in some cases poverty stricken and gang controlled neighborhoods in order to gain entrance into the United States in hopes of a new beginning. The Deferred Actions for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) is a federal government assistance program that offers undocumented immigrants the opportunity to apply for healthcare and educational benefits while gaining a temporary residential status and not be targeted for detainee or deportation operations. The educational and healthcare benefits that are afforded under different immigration policies towards immigrants in comparison to DACA portrays a much different view, such as a façade, and a displacement of position the federal government conveys to its nation. With the survey conducted in this research project the results were expected and varied as well. It adds to the ideal that DACA does give undocumented immigrants hope and the possibility of a better life.Item Harmony in Healing: The Impact of Music on Trauma-Informed Social-Emotional Learning(2025-04-21) Olsen, Katie JoAbstract This mixed-methods action research study examined the impact of music-based Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) interventions on emotional regulation and executive functioning in a kindergarten classroom at a Title I elementary school in Cache Valley, Utah. The participating students, many of whom faced adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), economic hardship, and neurodevelopmental challenges, engaged in music-integrated routines designed to support self-regulation, task initiation, and impulse control. Data was collected through behavioral tracking, educator surveys, and post-intervention interviews with teachers and aides. Findings indicated significant reductions in disruptive behaviors and marked improvements in students’ use of emotion-regulation strategies, attention, and classroom engagement. Educators observed students independently applying calming tools such as humming, listening to music, or singing a class-created song during moments of distress. These results suggest that developmentally appropriate, culturally responsive music-based interventions can enhance SEL outcomes, particularly for young learners navigating trauma or neurodiversity, by strengthening core executive functioning skills.Item Metaphors as Effective, Efficient, Accurate and Consistent Implements for Organizational Communication(2015-11) Yeager, ChrisThis is a qualitative study to form a grounded theory on how metaphor can be used by organizational leaders to communicate effectively, efficiently, accurately and consistently. While metaphor is used in most forms of human communication whether artistic, scholastic, religious, or secular, metaphors in organizational theory are often used to describe how to conceptualize the organization as a whole. However, as a linguistic device, metaphor can be very useful to transfer meaning from one object to another to increase understanding of and accessibility to complexity in the object being described. Because of its common use in human language, metaphor is in use at the organizational level, both by leaders and organizational members. Yet if the leader and the organizational members do not have the same understanding of the metaphors in place or have different metaphors they use to conceptualize the organization, communication within the organization is difficult. This study attempts to assess characteristics of metaphors in use by organizational leaders to determine what can make them effective, efficient, accurate, and consistent, specifically in organizational communication.