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Exploring Black Business Owners' Experience In Public Procurement Contracts, Khamillia Harris May 2024

Exploring Black Business Owners' Experience In Public Procurement Contracts, Khamillia Harris

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Black businesses are on the rise in the United States, and most are formed with the goal of achieving greater economic stability and positive impact on their communities. However, Black business owners often lack sufficient opportunities and access to essential resources (i.e., capital), which negatively affects their business stability efforts (Bento & Hwang, 2022). Black business owners can access procurement contracts as a unique way to access capital to grow and sustain their businesses (Chepkoit, 2018; Shelton & Minniti, 2018), yet they received 1.67% of public funds compared to 15.64% awarded to other non-minority small businesses (Choi et al., 2022; …


The Impact Of Social Dance Skills On The Development Of Employee Soft Skills, Danielle May Patridge May 2024

The Impact Of Social Dance Skills On The Development Of Employee Soft Skills, Danielle May Patridge

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Employee soft skills are necessary in nearly every occupation for both employee and organizational success. There is a considerable body of knowledge related to the development of employee soft skills, and soft skills training is now seen in some educational curricula and organizational training programs. Yet, employers continue to report that employees and candidates are either lacking in or have underdeveloped soft skills, hampering both worker and organizational success. Soft skills cross domains and are not confined to use in the workplace; hence, they can also be developed in non-work domains. In this qualitative study, accomplished social dancers described their …


Collaborative Care Management: The Influence Of Location Of Care On Mental Health Self-Stigma, Melicia Ivette Tanner May 2024

Collaborative Care Management: The Influence Of Location Of Care On Mental Health Self-Stigma, Melicia Ivette Tanner

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study was designed to contribute to the literature on self-stigma as it relates to mental health. Specifically, it was designed to explore whether those who received a certain type of care in the primary care setting (i.e., Collaborative Care [CoCM]) experienced self-stigma differently than those who received mental health care in more traditional settings or no care at all. It was hypothesized that those who received CoCM would experience lower rates of self-stigma. Participants for the study were drawn from a purposive sample of adult primary care patients with depression from a large health system located in upstate South …


Active Shooter Drills In Schools Across The United States, Barbara Slater May 2024

Active Shooter Drills In Schools Across The United States, Barbara Slater

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study sought to understand the types of drills and safety measures implemented at various schools across the United States and the effects of these drills and safety measures on the participants. The physical and psychological impacts these drills and safety measures have on participants has not been thoroughly researched. Researcher utilized a self-designed online survey with questions that corresponded with the research questions and answered by 297 participants to provide the data and answer the research questions. Schools across the United States conduct active shooter drills to prepare students and school personnel for an active shooter crisis in their …


Mental Toughness In The Workplace, Maiah E. Taylor May 2024

Mental Toughness In The Workplace, Maiah E. Taylor

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Within the realm of the modern work organization, the employers role on employees’ mental health has emerged as a critical factor concerning job attrition. Frequently, work organizations prioritize their productivity and output, rather than recognizing the importance of individual contributions as a reflection of their well-being. Research on workplace satisfaction and adversity management has failed to address the challenges that non-military or law enforcement populations face in retaining talent. Current research on mental toughness, resilience, and grit has overlooked the importance of civilian population training interventions, leaving a gap in the literature. This mixed-method study used an explanatory sequential design, …


The Lived Experiences Of Secondary Christian School Administrators As They Work To Foster An Environment Conducive To Student Biblical Worldview Development: A Qualitative Phenomenological Study, Margaret E. Pope May 2024

The Lived Experiences Of Secondary Christian School Administrators As They Work To Foster An Environment Conducive To Student Biblical Worldview Development: A Qualitative Phenomenological Study, Margaret E. Pope

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this hermeneutical phenomenological study was to understand the lived experiences of Christian school secondary administrators as they foster an environment conducive to student biblical worldview development. The theory guiding this study is Leithwood’s iteration of transformational leadership, as it recognizes the influential role school leaders play in the motivation and growth of teachers. Additional consideration of Erdvig’s model of biblical worldview development in evangelical Christian emerging adults was used as the conceptual framework recognizing that the faith elements of worldview formation are unique and relevant to the topic of the study. The central research question was: What …


The Experiences Of Christian Males' Attachment Style And Attachment Figure To God, Irene G. Insunza May 2024

The Experiences Of Christian Males' Attachment Style And Attachment Figure To God, Irene G. Insunza

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of the present study was to describe the lived experience of attachment to God in Christian men, how men obtained a secure attachment, and what it means to their life. Attachment Theory explains the importance of attachment bonds formed in infancy between the parent and child. Surrogate attachment figures have gained support in studies, indicating mental representation in attachment to God can assist in developing secure attachment style. The participants consisted of 12 Christian males, ages 21 to 57, active in their faith, and experienced an attachment to God. Using a qualitative, phenomenological design, in-depth semi-structured interviews were …


Narrative Activism: Strategic Storytelling For Women’S Advocacy, Lili G. Morgan May 2024

Narrative Activism: Strategic Storytelling For Women’S Advocacy, Lili G. Morgan

Masters Theses

The COVID-19 pandemic has drastically widened existing spheres of gender inequality, increasing disparities related to poverty, forced marriage, maternal mortality, gender-based violence, economic vulnerability, and illiteracy. For organizations aiming to rectify these areas of inequality, storytelling is a powerful tool for advocacy. This thesis investigates the intersection of storytelling and advocacy, focusing on the writing strategies utilized by leading gender-equality-oriented organizations. Utilizing Grounded Theory (GT) methodology, this thesis explores the emerging patterns and themes that arise in organizational storytelling strategies across differing contexts. An introduction chapter provides insights into the subject matter, highlighting existing knowledge gaps and rationalizing this study’s …


The Narrative Matters: Depictions Of Mental Health And Suicide In Fiction, Ashlee Cierra Garcia May 2024

The Narrative Matters: Depictions Of Mental Health And Suicide In Fiction, Ashlee Cierra Garcia

Masters Theses

The following thesis submission includes an Artist's Statement that shares the origin and plan for the creative manuscript. A critical paper follows that which discusses the importance of the fiction narrative when discussing sensitive topics such as mental health and suicide. With a focus on the Werther and Papageno Effects, different fiction texts are discussed and analyzed to show the negative effects that can come from a hopeless narrative as well as the positive effects that can come from a hopeful narrative. The creative manuscript that follows is the story of a young man, Jayden Walker, who has his own …


Who Reads Young Adult Fiction Anyway? (Teenagers Or Adults), Terri Ann Perret May 2024

Who Reads Young Adult Fiction Anyway? (Teenagers Or Adults), Terri Ann Perret

Masters Theses

As the popularity of Young Adult Fiction grows, it's becoming clear that the traditional age divisions for readers are no longer so clear-cut. While this genre was initially intended for readers between thirteen and eighteen, recent market research has shown that adults of all ages are increasingly drawn to these books. It is now quite common for adults to enjoy books that were once considered exclusively "young adult." This raises some interesting questions: why are older adults drawn to this genre? Is there data to support the idea that readers of all ages can enjoy Young Adult Fiction? And what …


The Impact Of Creative And Performing Arts In The Chicago Public School System, Lashanda Holts May 2024

The Impact Of Creative And Performing Arts In The Chicago Public School System, Lashanda Holts

Masters Theses

This thesis examines the importance of creative and performing arts through the multifaceted production, “Mop and Bucket Blues”. This thesis was also created to bring awareness to Chicago’s inner city gun violence, poverty, absentee fathers’, and the lack of funding for the creative arts in public schools, in high crime areas. By analyzing the thematic elements, artistic techniques, and socio-political impact of the play, this study seeks to shed light on the potential of theater as a powerful medium for social change and educational reform.


Mental Health And Spiritual Well-Being: The Generational Differences Of Worship Experiences In The Multicultural Church, Lashawna S. Wills May 2024

Mental Health And Spiritual Well-Being: The Generational Differences Of Worship Experiences In The Multicultural Church, Lashawna S. Wills

Masters Theses

According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIH), nearly one in five U.S. adults live with a mental illness, 52.9 million people in 2020. “Mental health and well-being are an asset whatever an individual’s age, race or ethnicity, and mental health problems [do not] discriminate [based on] these attributes.” The execution of this research is to facilitate healing within a community in need and open avenues of conversation for understanding, relativity, and oneness within the body of Christ. The researcher will use the qualitative design method through research in literature and population cohorts. Using research sources of panel discussions, …


A Parent-Child Intervention For Conveying Unconditional Love: A Transcendental Phenomenological Pilot Study, Saundra H. Robinson May 2024

A Parent-Child Intervention For Conveying Unconditional Love: A Transcendental Phenomenological Pilot Study, Saundra H. Robinson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Every child wants to know whether their parents love them. The answer to this question is absolutely the most important thing in any child’s life. Most parents love their children, but not all know how to convey love in a way that their child feels loved. The purpose of this study was to examine how parents can put their feelings of love into action by applying a parent-child intervention of eye contact, focused attention, and physical touch. This transcendental phenomenological pilot study explored the lived experience of four individual parents applying the intervention over a 30-day period, contributing to positive …


A Phenomenological Investigation Of North Carolina's General Pre-Kindergarten Teachers' Attitudes And Perceived Self-Efficacy Toward Inclusion, Susanne Williamson Carter May 2024

A Phenomenological Investigation Of North Carolina's General Pre-Kindergarten Teachers' Attitudes And Perceived Self-Efficacy Toward Inclusion, Susanne Williamson Carter

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to investigate and describe North Carolina’s general Pre-Kindergarten teachers’ lived experiences concerning their attitudes and perceived self-efficacy towards inclusion. The theories guiding this research study were Bandura’s social learning theory and Ajzen’s theory of planned behavior. The social learning theory laid the foundation for the importance of positive attitudes and a high sense of self-efficacy toward inclusion. The theory of planned behavior grounded the idea that teachers’ attitudes influence their behaviors and actions. Therefore, negative attitudes can cause teachers to be negative towards including special needs children. Ten general NC Pre-K teachers …


Cultural Identity In Isolation: A Qualitative Content Analysis Of Big Brother Season 23, Summer Ann Clutter May 2024

Cultural Identity In Isolation: A Qualitative Content Analysis Of Big Brother Season 23, Summer Ann Clutter

Masters Theses

This qualitative content analysis focuses on the creation and maintenance of cultural identity amongst the houseguests in the reality television program Big Brother. Season 23 of Big Brother was qualitatively coded through the lens of cultural identity theory. The study found that cultural identity language was heavily present through the houseguest’s early personal disclosure, strategic formation of alliances, demonstration of interpersonal skills, and candid sharing with the audience in Diary Room segments. Sharing cultural identity language on a national television program allows the audience to witness and interact with the information and apply it to their society.


God Of The Whole Earth Ministry Church Project: Equipping Church Members To Engage Their Community, Christopher Stevens May 2024

God Of The Whole Earth Ministry Church Project: Equipping Church Members To Engage Their Community, Christopher Stevens

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The God of the Whole Earth Ministry (GWEM) Church study investigated how church members can gain confidence to share their faith when properly equipped. Sharing the gospel with others can be a problem for some people. Generally, the lack of skills and knowledge is the biggest problem for some people to share their faith. GWEM Church members were not equipped to share their faith. Therefore, the purpose of the study was to equip participants to share their faith. Skills were taught to help participants develop and use those skills to start meaningful and practical conversations to open up a dialogue …


Beyond The Crown: A Qualitative Research Study On Pageant Women And The Looking-Glass Self, Laurel R. Stiekes May 2024

Beyond The Crown: A Qualitative Research Study On Pageant Women And The Looking-Glass Self, Laurel R. Stiekes

Masters Theses

Pageantry has existed in society for hundreds of years and is still prevalent within society today. Pageant contestants voluntarily compete in systems to hear what judges have to say about their intellect, talent, and poise. However, the opinions of the judges seem to not be the true influential voice in a pageant queen’s life. Previous research has reported that it is the people closest to us that have the most positive or devastating impact on the way we view ourselves. The question this study sought to answer was, “How have the opinions of others had an impact on the self-image …


Biblical Literacy: A Theological Exploration Of What God Says About Women Called To Pastor, Shannel K. Williams May 2024

Biblical Literacy: A Theological Exploration Of What God Says About Women Called To Pastor, Shannel K. Williams

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This Doctoral Research Project aims to answer the question, Is there biblical awareness among the congregation about God’s acceptance and call of female pastors? The problem presented identifies a gap in biblical knowledge about women in church leadership due to the lingering effects of patriarchal influence. There may be resistance to church growth due to the uncertainty of the Scriptures, which sanction women to the call of God. This research project proposed to improve the Bible literacy of ten Christian men and women to cultivate spiritual growth and strengthen their theology. Historically, the conservative church taught that the Bible forbids …


Ai In Graphic Design: Here To Help Or Replace Us?, Christian Jovan Rodriguez May 2024

Ai In Graphic Design: Here To Help Or Replace Us?, Christian Jovan Rodriguez

Masters Theses

Artificial intelligence is becoming more commonly used in the creative space. With the implementation of AI, it has provided many benefits to working design professionals making their workflow more efficient. AI has also proposed a potential threat to the careers of graphic designers by reducing job opportunities in art and design. This thesis will expand on areas where artificial intelligence is impacting the fields of art and design. Possible use cases will be expressed throughout, for example graphic designers eventually having to adapt and implement the use of AI daily to promote creativity and speed up workflow. After completing this …


Mazed: Inconsistency In International Web Design And How To Navigate It, Claudia A. George May 2024

Mazed: Inconsistency In International Web Design And How To Navigate It, Claudia A. George

Masters Theses

Over the past few years, web design has undergone significant advancements, resulting in user-friendly and visually appealing websites. However, this rapid growth has forced companies and countries to adapt quickly, leading to diverse design elements that may cause inconsistency and confusion. In particular, Foreign web users struggle to navigate Japanese websites due to dated web design and lack of coherency, leading to a loss of tourism, business, and expatriation. I experienced this firsthand when living abroad in Japan for two years. Many websites were difficult to navigate because of the differences in design and navigation, often leading me to give …


Design History Revised: Inspiring A New Generation Of Designers By Celebrating Women In Graphic Design History Through A Collection Of Zines, Sierra Skye Schneider May 2024

Design History Revised: Inspiring A New Generation Of Designers By Celebrating Women In Graphic Design History Through A Collection Of Zines, Sierra Skye Schneider

Masters Theses

College-aged students are unaware of the rich history of women in graphic design due to their work being omitted from the accepted graphic design history textbooks, leading to a perception that women did not have significant contributions. This project has a multifaceted goal of investigating the inception of graphic design history, the representation of women, and what methods would help Generation Z become invested in this topic. a solution of crafting an engaging collection of visually captivating zines with stories of the remarkable women who helped shape the history of graphic design.


Mi Ofrenda, Bonita Vasquez May 2024

Mi Ofrenda, Bonita Vasquez

Masters Theses

This thesis examines the role of the Dia de los Muertos holiday in wasteful spending, food waste, and environmental waste in the United States due to its food-centered traditions and commercialized competitions. As the holiday has become more mainstream, the once-homebound practices have expanded into large, drawn-out festivals nationwide. Articles on the holiday’s traditions, as well as studies on waste, have been reviewed. The analysis showed that the traditions have evolved and that food waste directly affects financial and environmental waste. This paper concludes that the holiday’s practices can be adjusted to help reduce food, financial, and environmental waste.


The Illusion Of Perfect Mothering: How Society's Expectations Affect Women, Victoria Ann Del Valle May 2024

The Illusion Of Perfect Mothering: How Society's Expectations Affect Women, Victoria Ann Del Valle

Masters Theses

This research seeks to investigate the societal stigmas and misconceptions of ideal motherhood, aka “intensive mothering,” the repercussions associated, and the support systems both in place or missing. In addition, it seeks to contribute to fostering a healthier societal perception of motherhood. Methods include a literature review of existing research, case studies and analyses of other artists’ contemporary work in the field, and a visual solution in the form of an art exhibition. This research found that intensive mothering is a pervasive idea, ingrained in current society and detrimental to mothers’ mental health and well-being. Through the research and visual …


A Generation Of Sexually Explicit Addiction: How Sexually Explicit Material In The Art, Design, And Entertainment Industries Are Damaging Adolescent's Quality Of Life, Hannah Moore May 2024

A Generation Of Sexually Explicit Addiction: How Sexually Explicit Material In The Art, Design, And Entertainment Industries Are Damaging Adolescent's Quality Of Life, Hannah Moore

Masters Theses

Adolescents around the globe are increasingly being encouraged to view sexually explicit materials. Access to such materials is damaging to their well-being. Research shows in a variety of studies and countries that sexually explicit material is being viewed by adolescents at an increasingly alarming rate and causing adolescents to perform sexual acts at younger ages. This is not only dangerous to adolescents physically but also diminishes their quality of life as a whole. The research performed to come to this conclusion consists of case analysis, visual analysis, and reading through studies previously done on the topic.


The Role Of Gender Stereotypes And Societal Pressures In Creating Impostor Syndrome In Black Female Entrepreneurs, Marlene Bernadine Phillip May 2024

The Role Of Gender Stereotypes And Societal Pressures In Creating Impostor Syndrome In Black Female Entrepreneurs, Marlene Bernadine Phillip

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to describe the role of gender stereotypes and societal expectations in creating impostor syndrome among Black female entrepreneurs. The study used Bandura’s self-efficacy theory as a foundational framework. Gender role theory was employed to examine the psychological and behavioral traits associated with different genders based on societal norms. Social role theory contributed to shaping the theoretical framework of this study. The research answered three key questions: (a) How do the lived experiences of Black female entrepreneurs affected by impostor syndrome impact their business decision-making and overall business performance? (b) To what extent do …


Infidelity, Post-Infidelity Stress Disorder, And Post-Infidelity Stress Marital Outcomes, Faith Christie Leigh Roby May 2024

Infidelity, Post-Infidelity Stress Disorder, And Post-Infidelity Stress Marital Outcomes, Faith Christie Leigh Roby

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Marital infidelity discovery has been noted in the literature for traumatic emotional, behavioral, and psychological reactions in the injured spouse, but not extensively in terms of post-infidelity stress disorder. To that end, this cross-sectional quantitative anonymous online survey study explored marital infidelity, post-infidelity stress disorder and post-infidelity marital outcomes in 202 participants using certain frameworks, such as Glass’s traumatic aftershock and Ortman’s post-infidelity stress disorder. This researcher sought to investigate whether there is a relationship between post-infidelity stress disorder that is moderated by religious/core beliefs and marital repair efforts and marital outcomes of healing, forgiveness, benevolence, revenge, avoidance, divorce/desire to …


The Impact Of School-Based Mentoring On At-Risk Students Of An Urban School District, Brandon B. Richardson May 2024

The Impact Of School-Based Mentoring On At-Risk Students Of An Urban School District, Brandon B. Richardson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

It is necessary to consider and implement a strategy to close the academic performance gap, particularly for at-risk adolescents in urban school districts. Mentoring programs have been around for a long time and continue to be successful. This research study's goal was to investigate the influence at-risk adolescents in an urban school district get from a school-based mentorship program. The study had a total of 40 participants (10 mentors, 8 parents, 10 teachers, 10 students, and 2 administrators). The study employed a mixed methods research strategy. Using a quantitative method approach, the researcher investigated whether a mentorship program had significant …


Neurodiversity Persistence In Stem Programs: A Phenomenological Study Of Self-Efficacy Among Autistic Students In Higher Education, Cecil Anthony Banning May 2024

Neurodiversity Persistence In Stem Programs: A Phenomenological Study Of Self-Efficacy Among Autistic Students In Higher Education, Cecil Anthony Banning

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to examine the perceptions of self-efficacy among neurodiverse students in STEM programs at four-year universities. Albert Bandara’s social cognitive theory (SCT) guided this study as it relates to the influence of environment, social interaction, and communication on learning development and academic mastery. Improving academic self-efficacy among neurodiverse students in STEM programs in higher education begins with understanding how these students encounter the academic world. SCT provided the framework for this study to answer the central research question and sub-questions: (1) What are the self-efficacy experiences of neurodiverse students currently enrolled in a …


Executive Function And Stressed College Students: A Phenomenological Study To Inform Instructional Design, Donna-Maria Trewhella May 2024

Executive Function And Stressed College Students: A Phenomenological Study To Inform Instructional Design, Donna-Maria Trewhella

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to describe college student stress experiences that impact executive function (EF) and cognition at one community college in California. The conceptual framework guiding this study was cognition and executive function concepts that are impacted by the stressed learning experience. The central research question asked: What was the lived experience of EF deficits for stressed college students when learning content from instructional design (ID)? The methodology employed a qualitative phenomenological study that sampled 13 college students who self-identified as experiencing stress during the learning cycle. The research was conducted via the Internet and Confer …


What’S This Feeling? Understanding Elementary Music Performance Anxiety, Nathaniel Scott Estes May 2024

What’S This Feeling? Understanding Elementary Music Performance Anxiety, Nathaniel Scott Estes

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was a qualitative analysis of how elementary general music teachers adapt their instruction to meet the needs of elementary students with anxiety disorder in Virginia public schools. The phenomenological research design described the meaning of the shared experiences by students with performance anxiety. The participants for this research consist of elementary music teachers in central Virginia. Through a survey, phenomenological information was collected about how elementary music teachers teach students with anxiety disorder. Data was collected through a survey of elementary school music teachers in central Virginia. This qualitative study employed thematic coding to look …