Date of Graduation

5-2025

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Education in Adult and Lifelong Learning (EdD)

Degree Level

Graduate

Department

Counseling, Leadership, and Research Methods

Advisor/Mentor

Roessger, Kevin M.

Committee Member

Grover, Kenda S.

Second Committee Member

Salter, Kandy L.

Keywords

Clinical; Education; Fieldwork; Occupational Therapy; Student; Success

Abstract

The training paradigm for new occupational therapy (OT) practitioners includes both didactic classroom learning and clinical fieldwork experiences in order for them to establish clinical competency. However, many students struggle with the theory-to-practice gap of translating classroom knowledge to clinical experiences. When students struggle in this manner, it causes stress for all stakeholders involved, including the fieldwork educator, clinic managers, OT program faculty, as well as the student.

This study aims to avoid this stress by identifying predictors of student success by analyzing data from recent graduates of the University of Arkansas/University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences OT program through the use of multiple linear regression. “Success” will be measured by higher Fieldwork Performance Evaluation scores and potential predictors will include undergraduate and graduate student GPA and student scores on the Health Science Reasoning Test. Answering this question will provide OT programs with objective data when deciding which students are ready to embark on their Level II fieldwork rotations, and which students may need additional support.

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