Digital Commons Network^™

The Effects Of Social Proof Through Social Media On Perceptions Of Responsibility, Taylor Powers

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Situational crisis communication theory, also referred to as SCCT, is a central and very well-developed theory in the field of crisis communication. The goal of SCCT is to create a response strategy based on stakeholders’ levels of attributions of responsibility. SCCT states there are two main factors stakeholders take into consideration when attributing responsibility to an organization in crisis: crisis type and performance history. While the previously stated factors are very important, the progressive development of social media is not taken into consideration in this theory, specifically the use of social proof through social media channels. According to the principle …

Is There Hope For Teacher Burnout?, Ami Houston

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The nation’s educational system is faced with an ongoing issue as teachers are choosing to leave the profession in staggering numbers. Teacher attrition affects not only teachers who have already left the field and those currently still in it but also those who would potentially enter the teacher pipeline and students in the care of these teachers. While several factors are at fault for this phenomenon, one of the most pressing contributors to teacher attrition is teacher burnout, as teachers are exposed to exhaustion, cynicism, and decreasing self-efficacy. The purpose of this study was to examine relationships between the dimensions …

The Rhetoric Of Missions Reporting, Bailey Cate

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Missions, especially short-term trips, are becoming more and more controversial. As short-term missionaries interact in the field, they take pictures depicting the poverty, lack of resources, and overall sense of destitution around them. These photos have helped generate income, as many Christians who see the photos as part of updates on mission work they supported come to see themselves in a position of “savior” because they have resources to give to “those in need.” Evangelism is a critical component of Christianity; however, how people evangelize and how they communicate about that evangelism is equally critical. By analyzing both the church …

The Organizational Structures Of Instructional Design Teams In Higher Education: A Multiple Case Study, Jason Drysdale

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study investigated how organizational structures influence leadership over online learning initiatives for dedicated instructional designers in higher education. A qualitative research method was used for within-case analyses for 3 individual universities and a comparative case analysis of all 3 studied institutions. Purposive sampling was used to identify each university that participated and operated within 1 of 3 organizational structure profiles. Data were collected through document analysis and semistructured interviews with participants in 3 key roles at each institution: dedicated instructional designer, online faculty member, and online learning administrator. The organizational structure that most positively influenced the ability for dedicated …

The Impact Of The Dual-Enrollment Modality On Subsequent Collegiate Performance, Daniel Archer

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Dual-enrollment College Algebra is offered in three modalities: at the college, at the high school, and online. The purpose of this study was to examine if the dual-enrollment College Algebra modality impacts early collegiate performance. A program evaluation was conducted using a causal-comparative design to explore potential cause-and-effect relationships between the dual-enrollment College Algebra modalities and five outcomes. The population included Oklahoma State System of Higher Education students who completed dual-enrollment College Algebra and subsequently earned freshman College Algebra postrequisite math grades, freshman College Algebra postrequisite science grades, or college credit in the fall semester after high school graduation. One-way …

Identifying Inclusive Practices On U.S. University Campuses That Create Engagement For Diverse Populations, Brandon Tatum

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Interactions between diversity and inclusion have been incompletely studied on U.S. college campuses. Previous researchers have also demonstrated an incomplete understanding of these two constructs, resulting in uneven attempts to create inclusion on college campuses. Diversity and inclusion research on college life is needed because inclusion is relatively new and unexplored, student diversity in U.S. higher education is increasing, and practical models and programs for enhancing campus inclusion are lacking. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to identify best practices and student attitudes regarding inclusion and group memberships with Generation Z and Millennial college students in the United States, …

Anxiety, A Growing Social Problem: A Systematic Review Of The Literature, Adela Robinson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Anxiety disorders as a stand-alone diagnosis are not recognized as a treatable mental health issue within the social services mental health realm. There are mixed results regarding if anxiety disorders are linked to suicide ideation and suicide attempts. The aim of this systematic review was to discover if there is a link between anxiety disorders and suicide ideation and suicide attempts within the current literature. All anxiety disorders were looked at, except for selective mutism and separation anxiety disorder due to these both typically only affecting those in very young childhood. The rest of the anxiety disorders affect those from …

The Implementation And Impact Of Growth Mindset In A North Texas School District, Tricia A. Badillo

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Growth mindset strategies are linked to positive academic behaviors. Additionally, it is common knowledge that a school’s learning environment and the teachers’ attitudes and points of view are influential on student learning. However, leaders of school districts continue to struggle with effecting necessary changes to alter schools’ culture and implement practices that align with growth mindset. One North Texas suburban school district (Coppell Independent School District) is leading a shared effort to ensure growth mindset culture and practices are implemented district-wide. The purpose of this single case study was to understand how district leaders, school leaders, and teachers incorporated growth …

Influencing A Swift Trust For Elevating Communications Of A Virtual Learning Community, Edward Fitch, Edward S. Fitch

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The reduced range of online communication means that less information is available for the parties in a communication to acquire an accurate meaning of words, phrases, or concepts in an exchange process. In online communication, encoded emotional information is often subtle and difficult to interpret with any degree of accuracy; this interpretation is even more difficult in academic discussions that are lacking in emotion. The resulting misunderstandings contribute to a degree of uncertainty and confusion with some students, and to full-blown conflict with others. Uncertainty is problematic because it can inhibit or altogether collapse a conventional trust perception. The most …

Marital Satisfaction For Military Couples With A Child Of Autism, Simone R. Deloach

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study examines a phenomenological study of the experiences of military couples who have a child with autism. The research analysis was conducted with Polkinghorne’s (1989) ideas in mind, using a limited number of participants who all share a similar lived experience. The research was carried out with six married couples who are currently serving in the military and have a child with autism. After a brief overview of autism, military families, and marital satisfaction, the research hypothesis of the specific study follows. The present study, therefore, used a qualitative methodology in the form of Creswell’s (2014) definition of phenomenology …

The Effects Of Christianity On Adult Resiliency When Overcoming Grief, Mia-Tiara S. Hall

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Grief seems to affect everyone in some way over the course of life. This research conducted a thematic analysis using grounded theory methods to understand the process in which Christians overcome grief when losing a loved one. A total of six participants volunteered to be able to share their stories. The questions to be answered included: “What is the process of growing resilience among Christians who experience grief due to losing a loved one?” and “How does one’s faith impact this process of overcoming grief?” Utilizing Strauss and Corbin (1990), the data collected in this study was analyzed by open, …

Adventure-Based Therapy: Couple Intimacy With Christian Spirituality, Edward Boyer

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Adventure-Based Therapy (ABT) models have been used for many years in the United States and beyond, primarily in adolescent and young adult populations. This project seeks to explore the experiences of couples on an ABT trip. Couples were asked to share their lived experiences as it pertains to marital intimacy, nature, and Christian spirituality. Seven themes emerged as the interviews were transcribed and confirmed by the couples: appreciation for nature, building community, care shown by partner, connecting with God outdoors, leaving technology, preparation together, and shared activity. These themes form the backbone of potential new outcomes as couples’ work is …

The Buffering Effect Of Mindfulness Between The Stressors And Perceived Stress In Faith-Based University Students, Amber Glantz

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of study was to research the buffering effect of mindfulness between the stressors and perceived stress in faith-based university students. Literature suggests that as mindfulness increases, stress decreases. This study attempts to provide information on college students’ perceived stress levels, stressors they face, and mindfulness awareness. A multiple linear regression was conducted to examine the association between perceived stress, stressors, and mindfulness levels. A sample of 91 students in the Spring of 2018 at a faith-based university in Texas were asked to participate in an online survey. Some findings were not congruent with the literature. The results of …

Texas Foster Care Service Providers’ Awareness And Perceptions Of Human Trafficking And Related Risk Factors Among Child Welfare Involved Youth, Kennedy Morrison

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of the study is to explore foster care service providers’ levels of awareness of human trafficking, exploitation, and related risk factors as experienced by foster youth, and to explore what factors influence those levels of awareness. The study entailed distributing a digital survey to foster care service providers in a snowballing method and encouraging them to send the survey to others. The survey found a statistically significant relationship between awareness/identification of risk factors and identification of exploitation, and the respondent’s previous human trafficking training. This supports the literature which indicates trafficking specific training is necessary to identify trafficking …

A Study Of The Effect On Organizational Factors On Job Satisfaction Of Geriatric Practitioners Between Millennials And Older Generations, Peter (Minsuk) Jang

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this paper is to recognize and improve the understanding of social workers’ job satisfaction in the geriatric area. Low job satisfaction makes social workers want to move their field and change their career. The research is the conceptual model of the moderating effect of patient engagement. The hypothesis is that the organizational factors of this model (climate, workplace, pay, supervision) lead to low job satisfaction for social workers and the generation gap between Millennials and older generations will result in different job satisfaction. The assumption was that among the factors (climate, workplace, pay, supervision), salary has the …

Student Voice To Improve Instruction: Leading Transformation Of A School System, Suzanne K. Barker

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

For educators to improve instruction, they should listen to and learn from students, who are the central focus of education. While there is a growing body of research demonstrating the value of educators partnering with students to improve learning, there is little research on how to implement, diffuse, and sustain the use of student voice at the district level. There was a need for a model of district-wide implementation of student voice that educational leaders could model to implement a student voice initiative in their schools. The purpose of this qualitative study was to provide a historical narrative of the …

Acculturation And Cross-Cultural Adaptation Among Refugees: The Moderating Role Of Emotions, Ezdehar Z. Alsahow

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

As a result of venturing across language and culture boundaries, individuals may

be exposed to different ways of living and thinking in which may trigger changes in the

way they conceptualize themselves and others. However, such experiences are not

identical for everyone, and the circumstances facing the crisis of refugees would appear

to be exceptionally difficult.

This paper aimed to address refugees’ attempt to acculturate and integrate into a

new society by examining potential moderating factors of emotional processes. The study

focuses on anger, anxiety, pride, and guilt; emotions that refugees carried with them

when they arrived to the new …

An Examination Of The Impact That Communities In Schools' Interventions Make On High School Academic Performance, Coleton Cooper Dean Spruill

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The following study seeks to answer the question: What impact does a local Communities In Schools (CIS), a nationwide dropout prevention program, affiliate's interventions have on a high school student's academic performance, absenteeism, and completion rates? To do this, the study examines the grade point average, absenteeism rate, and completion rate of 1298 students across four years of existing data from a local school district. For comparison purposes, the study uses a quasi-experimental approach and breaks the data into four groups: two experimental groups (At-Risk CIS students and Not-At-Risk CIS students) and two control groups (At-Risk students and Not-At-Risk students). …

The Relationship Between The Dark Tetrad Using The Hexaco Personality Models In Relationship To Mental Toughness In College Athletes, Michael K. Ryerson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Dark Triad has been examined before in previous literature many different times. The Dark Tetrad is recently new to the field and does not have the same amount of literature as the Triad. The Dark Triad and Tetrad have been examined with the Big Five Personality model numerous times and have been negatively correlated in the previous research. However, most of the research examined did not use Honesty-Humility that the HEXACO Personality Model has incorporated into the Big Five Personality model. The topic of mental toughness has been researched numerous times since its acceptance as a personality trait. The difficulty …

Reconstructing The Death Star: Myth And Memory In The Star Wars Franchise, Taylor Hamilton Arthur Katz

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Mythic narratives exert a powerful influence over societies, and few mythic

narratives carry as much weight in modern culture as the Star Wars franchise. Disney’s 2012 purchase of Lucasfilm opened the door for new films in the franchise. 2016’s Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, the second of these films, takes place in the fictional hours and minutes leading up to the events portrayed in 1977’s Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope. Changes to the fundamental myths underpinning the Star Wars narrative and the unique connection between these film have created important implications for the public memory of …

Improving Integrated Care For Medically Underserved Patients At A Texas Fqhc Using Sbirt And Phq-9, Irene Fuentes

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Integrated Care, under provisions of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), aimed to reduce fragmented care for Medically Underserved Populations (MUPs) who depend on community-based centers for their health care needs. Well-defined by the World Health Organization, social determinants of health such as low socioeconomic status, low educational attainment, and housing instability often contribute to health disparities, making it difficult for MUPs to achieve optimal health outcomes. The purpose of this study was to gather preliminary data indicating the need to integrate a social work program at a Texas Federally Qualified Health Center using the Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to …

A Sexual Assault Prevention Program Proposal For Abilene Christian University, Ammie Brooks, Ammie Kae Brooks

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to develop the most effective sexual assault prevention

program for Abilene Christian University. The program will meet the federal regulation requiring Universities to participate in sexual assault prevention and education. Additionally, the program will be made to fit the audience at Abilene Christian University. The proposed program is designed to encompass all undergraduate students at Abilene Christian University and use a pretest and posttest to measure the effectives of the program to meet its eight predetermined goals. The following paper presents the program proposal, methodology and evaluation tools needed for its future implementation.

The Impact Of Media On The Public's Perception Of Texas Foster Care, Hannah Sims

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study explores if valid information can mitigate stereotypes of foster care as reflected in popular media, specifically in the context of the State of Texas. A quasiexperimental, post-test only design assessed the role that media plays in the public’s perception of foster care in the state of Texas. Results indicate that media, in the form of a professional presentation, made statistically significant differences between treatment and control groups in regard to the overall perception and general attitudes towards the foster care system in the State of Texas. Results indicate the need for further research in the area of media’s …

What Are The Leadership Behaviors Of Winning Basketball Coaches?, Joshua Jones

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The problem this study addressed was the lack of designation of a leadership style to help coaches perform at their highest level in order to be a positive factor in the lives of their athletes and. The purpose of this study was to identify leadership styles and behaviors of the Texas high school varsity boys’ basketball coaches whose teams reached regional tournament play. This mixed method research study was conducted through quantitative closed response surveys utilizing the Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire and through qualitative interviews to address the leadership styles and behaviors of high school basketball coaches. The sample population was …

Factors Of Enrollment For K-12 Christian Schools, Scott Harsh

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Enrollment in independent schools in the U.S. has been in decline for 15 years. Faith-based schools have experienced more significant decline than non-religious schools. School leaders have been struggling to find solutions to prevent further enrollment loss and to promote future growth. The purpose of this study was to explore the reasons parents decide to enroll their children in a faith-based schools. According to the literature, factors associated with national enrollment decline include economic challenges, declining religiosity, increased competition, maturing of business cycle, rising tuition, poor marketing, and generational changes in parental values related to schooling. To explore these and …

Overcoming Barriers: Factors Of Resiliency In Refugee Students Pursuing Higher Education, Tamika Braye

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This research looks at the significant barriers that exist in the United States that hinder African refugee youth from being able to pursue their educational goals. According to the literature, language, social, and economic barriers during this pivotal point in their lives are often reasons that refugee students may have a difficult time going to college. Refugee families enter the United States in hopes of a prosperous life. The following research will discuss ways that current or former refugees have overcome these barriers through forms of intervention and acts of resiliency to reach their educational goals. The findings of this …

An Exploration Of Cis Interventions And Their Impact On Homeless Middle School Students, Kaitlyn Tudor

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Homeless youth face many barriers during their education that have an impact on their overall success in completing school. This study attempts to identify an evidence-based practice to support homeless students in the school setting. Literature suggests that basic need services are more frequently implemented in schools rather than interventions aimed to address academic, attendance, and behavioral concerns. Communities In Schools (CIS) is a dropout prevention program instilled in all of the Abilene Independent School District (AISD) middle schools and high schools. This program utilizes interventions to target students in areas of academics, attendance, and behavior. A gap in the …

Explaining The Obvious: Privileged Hermeneutics And The Irony Of Explicitly Literal Interpretation, Joshua Alkire

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this thesis is to examine why so many uses of the word literal (whether taken from everyday contemporary speech or the works of well-respected ancient writers) seem at odds with the word’s theoretical definition and to explore the implications of this disparity for those who privilege a literal interpretation of Scripture. The examples will show that the meaning of literal was not altered at a particular point in time, nor is it altered on an ongoing basis by a small subset of particularly idiosyncratic individuals. Rather, the word is predisposed to behave strangely the moment it is …

An Evaluation Of The Impact Of Financial Coaching As A Social Work Intervention In A Church-Based Setting In Texas, Chelsea Fordham

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Although strides have been made to reduce the negative effects of poverty, the

implementation of effective programs and policies is essential in the fight to end poverty. Literatures suggests that churches and faith-based programs offer clients a unique type of service due to the affiliation of religion that can be used as a strength and sense of support for clients. This study attempts to offer empirical data regarding the effectiveness of a program of this type by exploring the impact of a church-based financial coaching program for participants who received financial assistance and those who did not receive financial assistance. …

Spirituality And Recovery, Sara Turner

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

ABSTRACT On many college and university campuses, offering services to care for the psychological needs of students is vital. High amounts of stress and involvement can lead

them to engage in behaviors that are detrimental to academic success. Stress reactions may lead to drug or alcohol use, absences, failing to complete assignments, and social isolation. Stress reactions may also result in more serious forms of mental disturbances. Research shows that, among college students, aspects of spirituality and religiosity can facilitate recovery from such stress reactions and mental disturbances. Celebrate Recovery (CR), an intervention method, is a faith-based recovery program designed …