Digital Commons Network^™

Measuring Organizational Climate At The Abilene-Taylor County Public Health District, Sarah Floyd

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The aim of this study was to answer the question, according to the Competing Values Framework, what is the organizational climate of the Abilene-Taylor County Public Health District (ATCPHD)? Organizational climate for this study refers to the collective perceptions of employees on their interactions with their peers, management, and the organization. This study surveyed the 64 employees at the ATCPHD with the Organizational Climate Measure (OCM). Forty employees participated in the study. The study determined that the climate of the ATCPHD, according to Competing Values Framework (CVF), was the Human Relations organizational climate with a secondary climate of Relational Goals. …

Experiences Of Credibility: Female Instructors Of Color At Faith Based Universities, Jamilah L. Spears

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Research shows that the credibility of instructors of color is often questioned by White students, while other studies prove that male instructors are also perceived as more credible than female instructors (Hendrix, 1997; Perry, Moore, Edwards, Acosta, & Frey, 2009). When these two findings are coupled, it seems that there might be a significant barrier to overcome for female instructors of color in their everyday instruction. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore perceived credibility for female instructors of color at faith-based universities, namely, Evangelical Christian universities. Based on my analysis of the interview data, these six female …

Factors Contributing To The Economic Self-Sufficiency Of At-Risk Foster Youth Who Have Aged Out Of Care, Alexzandra M. Hust

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Foster youth aging out of care encounter many struggles upon transitioning into adulthood, resulting in an increased risk of homelessness and adverse social, health, and financial outcomes. This study aimed to determine if various factors (environmental factors: education, mental health service, social support and personal factors: incarceration, substance abuse referral, and unplanned parenthood) were associated with indicators of economic self-sufficiency (full-time and part-time employment, housing stability, and use of financial, food, and housing assistance). Multiple logistic regressions were conducted to explore risk and predictive factors of each indicator of economic self-sufficiency with a sample of 265 19 year old foster …

Sensation Seeking And Conscientiousness In Relation To Caffeine Consumption And Expectancy, Cheyenne Bullock

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Habitual caffeine consumers often report difficulty reducing caffeine use with many continuing to use caffeine despite experiencing symptoms suggestive of substance dependence. Given the evidence of a positive association between sensation seeking and substance use as well as initial reports of a negative relationship between elevated conscientiousness and substance use, this study proposed to evaluate the relationship of both factors on caffeine consumption and expectancy. Two hundred sixty-five students in an introductory psychology course completed a series of brief surveys assessing caffeine consumption, caffeine expectancies, sensation seeking, and conscientiousness. A statistically significant positive correlation was hypothesized for sensation seeking and …

What Are Factors Of An Effective Parent And Family Involvement Program Within High School?, Nicole Walsh

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

According to the literature, parents or guardians of high school students will participate within the high school—though their participation is dependent on many factors. Parents with a higher social capital tend to be the most involved, while parents with lower social capital tend to be less involved. In other words, generally parents or guardians with high social capital would be much more likely to be involved in their child’s school, whereas parents with low social capital would not be involved in their child’s school at all (Goodwin, Rothon, Stansfeld, 2012). In this study, the researcher formulated and analyzed the following …

Substance Use Among College Students: Correlations With Intent To Graduate, Academic Integration, And Social Integration, Cecilia M. Clowdus

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Substance use is one of the greatest concerns for adolescents and emerging adults. The consequences of prolonged substance use can lead to physical, psychological, and financial consequences for those suffering from use as well as their loved ones. One consequence that has not been researched thoroughly is the association between substance use and the decision to leave higher education, which is a decision that could have lasting effects on former students’ ability to obtain satisfactory employment in the future. This research looks at substance use and variables that are associated with the decision to leave college, which are derived from …

Religiosity And Internalized Homonegativity: The Effect Of Religious Conservatism On Depression In Sexual Minorities, Matthew Thaxton

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Sexual minorities report higher rates of mental illnesses than the general population, most notably depression. This study focuses on the relationship between religious commitment in sexual minorities, internalized homonegativity, and depression. In order to do this, 265 participants answered a survey that consisted of inventories to test for sexual orientation, religious commitment, political and religious views, and internalized homonegativity. Participants came from Abilene Christian University and LGBT groups from the surrounding Abilene, Texas area. Of the 265 participants, 33 self-identified as a sexual minority. The data from those that identified as a sexual minority was analyzed to find correlations between …

Grief And Bereavement Among College Students, Kaitlin E. Roberts

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study examines the impacts of grief and bereavement among undergraduate students enrolled at Abilene Christian University. Research indicates that bereavement is a significant matter in the lives of no less than 40% of the students on the campus (Balk, 2008). Grief and bereavement affects students holistically, impacting their emotional, cognitive, physical, social, and spiritual/religious state. Because of these impacts, it is extremely important for university faculty and administration to recognize the frequency of grief on campus. It is crucial for the university to understand how to respond to students who are grieving to ensure that we retain students. To …

Ageism: Abilene Christian University Students’ Perception Of Aging Adults, Taylor A. Nix

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The world is aging at a rapid pace. This creates a need for society to focus attention toward issues that are affecting the elderly population. This shift in focus regarding the elderly population also calls for the need of additional geriatric education as well as training while working with this vulnerable population. Research targeting college students’ shows that there is a lack of desire among students for working with the aging adult population. This lack of desire to work with the elderly population is associated with ageism; or, biased perceptions about age. The purpose of this study was to determine …

Parental Substance Use And The Need For Family Dependency Treatment Court In Taylor County, Rebekah Rich

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The impact of parental substance use and the need for Family Dependency Treatment Court in Taylor County are qualitatively explored and described, analyzing interviews of identified key informants. The areas explored are the current practices and process in Taylor County when a substance use issue is identified in a parent during a child welfare case, the impact of parental substance use on the child welfare system, knowledge and opinions regarding treatment options, and knowledge and opinions of Family Dependency Treatment Court. The sample size was 8 professionals who worked as attorney ad litems, Department of Family and Protective Services workers, …

What Are The Barriers To Economic Self-Sufficiency Of Congolese Refugees In Abilene, Texas?, David M. Bayoh

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Economic self-sufficiency of refugees is critical for refugees but also for the host country, given the potentially negative economic impact of refugees not attaining self-sufficiency. This study examined the predicting factors of economic self-sufficiency in a sample of 108 Congolese refugees who have lived in Abilene, Texas for over a year. This research used a quantitative method for data collection. A multiple logistic regression analysis showed that education (whether outside or inside the U.S.) and ESL attendance were the main predictors of economic self-sufficiency among the sample. This study suggests that the resettlement agencies should develop a mechanism to encourage …

Biopsychosocial Factors Of Resilience In The Medically Indigent Adult Population, Kaitlin E. Puckett

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The medically indigent adult population continues to struggle with the effects of not having insurance coverage, despite the efforts of the Affordable Care Act to provide more affordable healthcare coverage to the population. Based on the United States Census Bureau’s reported population in 2015, an estimated 45 million Americans are without insurance. This study aims to identify and explore the impacts of the biopsychosocial factors of resilience that enable the population to face adversity, stress, and manage distress in the face of trauma (Masten, Best, & Garmezy, 1990; Rutter, 2006; Zimmerman, 2015). Four hypotheses follow a review of literature and …

Quality Of Life Among Young Adults With Spina Bifida, Leah B. Colsch

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Approximately 1,500 infants born in the United States each year are diagnosed with Spina Bifida. Spina Bifida is a congenital disorder that affects the spinal cord and neurological function. Improved medical treatment has allowed a longer life expectancy for patients with Spina Bifida, and an increasing rate of these patients are surviving through pediatric clinics and preparing for the transition into adult care. Although the number of patients preparing for the transition into adult care continues to increase, there continues to be a scarcity of literature relevant to this population. Furthermore, there is currently no systematic, evidence-based method that reliably …

A Case Study: The Factors Associated With Student Homelessness, Brittani Hudspeth

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this case study is to identify the factors associated with student homelessness. There are currently more than 1.5 million children who are living in a homeless family (National Center for Family Homelessness, 2009), and a percentage of that number are homeless students living on their own. This study engages existing literature to identify the causes of student homelessness and the impacts it has on the lives of those students. The study was conducted by using quantitative research through a Mood and Feelings Questionnaire (MFQ) and qualitative research by utilizing a psychosocial assessment called the home, education and …

Middle School And Community Rockford, Illinios, Katera B. Smith

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study of 99 middle school students in an urban area examined the relationship between community factors and student outcomes. The community factors that were examined were school violence based on if a student was a victim or witness and also if the student was an offender of school violence, violence and substance use exposure based on student’s home location, and socioeconomic status were also examined. Student outcomes were examined based on academic testing (Partnership for Assessment of Readiness of College and Careers or PARCC), grade point average (GPA), and school suspension (both Out-of-School Suspension or OSS and in-school-suspension/Alternative Learning …

The Association Between Depression, Spirituality And Religiosity, And Alcohol Use In College Students At A Faith Based University, Kylee M. Craggett

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Alcohol use is a prevalent concern on college campuses. There are a number of factors that may place students at a high risk for developing alcohol dependency. Similarly, protective factors have been identified as a means to keep drinking levels in the low-risk range. In a sample of 581 students from Abilene Christian University, researchers sought to better understand the association between depression, spirituality, religiosity, and alcohol use in college students at a faith based university. Results indicated that students who were most at risk for high levels of drinking were those who identified as the male gender, those who …

The Relationship Of Empathy And Impulsivity To The Dark Tetrad Of Personality, Ashlee Justice

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Though relationships between empathy, impulsivity, and personality traits making up the Dark Tetrad of personality have been studied individually, the relationship of empathy and impulsivity to the Dark Tetrad of personality simultaneously has not been studied. The current study examined the relationship of both empathy and impulsivity to the Dark Tetrad simultaneously, and assessed specific combinations of traits, empathy, and impulsivity. Participants from a private university completed online surveys. Correlations and predictions of variables were examined. Individuals who rated high on Machiavellianism, psychopathy, and sadism had significantly lower scores on empathy subscales, and individuals rating high on these as well …

The Near And Far Transfer Effects Of Multimedia Cognitive Training, Alison M. Mcginnis

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The aim of this study was to determine the degree to which “brain games,” such as Lumosity, have an effect on the young adult population and their capabilities of near and far transfer. Previous research on this topic has displayed both positive and negative results, with some research suggesting that training has increased subjects’ cognitive abilities and showed signs of transfer, with other results showing no increase in cognitive ability for training. Participants for this study were 26 undergraduates. The study entailed an experimental group that played Lumosity, an active control group that played Bejeweled, and a passive control group …

The Relationship Between Resilience And Sleep Quality, Tyler S. Mccuistion

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Complaints about sleep quality are common and some epidemiological surveys indicate that 15-35% of adults complain of frequent sleep disturbances. Impaired sleep is also a central feature in a number of mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety. This study was aimed at examining the relationship between sleep quality and resilience (the ability to cope and deal with stress). The hypothesis was that the two variables would be related; as resilience increased, it was predicted that sleep quality would also increase. Individuals (N = 167) were given the opportunity to complete a number of brief, self-report inventories assessing …

Your Face Betrays You: A Fantasy Theme Analysis Of Lie To Me, Caroline Campbell

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Research concerning the consequences of edutainment has revealed that television shows have the capability to influence audience members. As the lines between education and entertainment are becoming increasingly blurred, viewers may not be aware of how watching such shows impacts them. Lie to Me is a popular edutainment television series that educates viewers about the power of micro expressions. Ekman has dedicated a large part of his life to the development of research related to micro expressions. The show’s main character, Cal Lightman, portrayed Paul Ekman’s special talents and knowledge through his ability to detect micro expressions. The first three …

Program Analysis Of An Adult Sex Offender (Aso) Treatment Group, Danielle Day

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The research question that was examined in this research study is whether or not The Center for Child and Family Advocacy’s adult male sex offender group is effective in lowering risk responsibility and criminality, and increasing treatment cooperation, self-management, and social ability and supports. The specific program material used in this treatment group is The Road to Freedom, by Morin and Levenson (2002). This experimental study utilized a paired-sample t-test­ to examine the differences between the first measurement and second measurement of three groups: current client, completed clients, and all clients.

The results demonstrated that this particular treatment program had …