Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

The Emotional, Mental, And Spiritual Well-Being Of Gen Z: Perceived Social Media Messages, Abigail Marie Hayes

Masters Theses

Technology has rapidly interwoven itself into the life of an individual. Social media makes up a large part of technology, an ever-changing system of mediums that portray messages depending on the current events. The messages communicated on various social media platforms fundamentally alter Generation Z’s (Gen Z’s) emotional, mental, and spiritual well-being. As technology progresses, the necessity of studying the impacts of mediums on Gen Z, digital natives, increases. A study was conducted on 46 Gen Z participants specifically on how they utilize the most popular social media platform for Gen Z–Instagram, to determine their perceived emotional, mental, and spiritual …

The Stages Of Environmentalism And How The Movement Can Be Maintained Through Generation Z, Emma Jean Vanden Brink

Masters Theses

The state of a social movement is characterized by the stages through which it progresses. The environmentalism movement began hundreds of years ago when humans first noticed how significantly their actions influenced the nature around them. The movement advanced with the arrival of the industrial era and modern society. According to Stewart et al. (2012), there are five main stages through which a social movement proceeds: genesis, social unrest, enthusiastic mobilization, maintenance, and termination. Today, environmentalism is in the maintenance stage, as determined by the current organizational structure of the movement. The objective of this study was to determine how …

Keeping Culture: An Evaluation Of Organizational Culture In The Multisite Church, Michael John Grayston

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this descriptive qualitative study was to explore the attendee perception of organizational culture, including the communication pathways, vision, and mission in the three common multisite church models: the local franchise model, the national franchise model, and the live teaching model. The study evaluated the attendee perception of the methods and strategies used by the multisite church to create and keep one unique culture in spite of their method, proximity, or demographics. The researcher attempted to evaluate these methods through a survey and face-to-face interviews with multisite church leaders from six different churches representing three different models. The …

Perceptions Of The Impact Of Cultural Awareness Training On Southern Municipalities And Their Communities, Charles Robert Love Ii

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The overall purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study is to explore the perception of the impact of Cultural Awareness Training toward improving the negative relationship that exists between southern municipalities and their communities, especially those individuals who are culturally different from the given officer(s). In many cases, these relationships involve abuse of power which leads to mutual disrespect and a subsequently diminished relationship. A review of the literature on community-oriented policing provided vivid descriptions with clear examples regarding what is identified as relationship-based policing. Relationship-based policing seeks to get not only the community’s input, but also community involvement in establishing …

Integrative Narrative Therapy In Counseling: Experiencing Strengthened Spiritual Resiliency: A Phenomenological Study, Marcy Lynn Hill

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The following DMIN action research project is a phenomenological study that evaluates the correlation between integrative Narrative Therapy approaches in non-clinical counseling and the cultivation of spiritual resilience among suffering Christians. Phenomenological data were generated from three case study subjects, who volitionally participated in interviews, questionnaires, and three, one-hour integrative Narrative Therapy intervention counseling sessions facilitated by the researcher. Each intervention session introduced the participants to specific Narrative Therapy exercises to which they had not been exposed before. All case study participants have experienced previous counseling that did not include Narrative Therapy approaches and were evaluated as ineffective by the …

Cialdini's Principle Of Liking And The 2016 Presidential Election, Dylan M. Ureno

Montview Journal of Research & Scholarship

What was the impact of celebrity endorsements on the 2016 presidential election between Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton? To answer this question, celebrities and their endorsements were evaluated from a persuasion standpoint. Celebrity endorsements have often been used in the marketing world and the political world. This persuasive strategy has been effective and utilizes several persuasive concepts to influence consumers. Through a review of the literature, it has been demonstrated that this tactic utilizes concepts such as meaning transfer, heuristics, and reference cues to persuade the consumer. In this same manner, celebrity endorsement tactics were applied to many political campaigns …

A Quantative Study Of Heol Students' Perceptions Of Communication Within The Lms, Holly Walker

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this applied study was to provide knowledge and information concerning students’ perceptions of communication within the LMS platforms for higher education institutions, using a quantitative study surrounding communication, sense of community, and LMS tools to address the problem. The quantitative design used a survey that consisted of various closed-ended questions, including Likert, multiple choice, and outcome measures of True/False and Yes/No questions. Various social media platforms were leveraged to provide a convenience sampling method to attract potential participants, and a total of 986 qualified respondents completed the survey. Data was analyzed through a series of descriptive statistics, …

Zooming In On Zoom Fatigue: A Case Study Of Videoconferencing And Zoom Fatigue In Higher Education, Chandra Kaye Massner

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative case study was to explore how faculty and students in higher education experience videoconferencing in online courses and why they feel fatigue. Zoom fatigue, the exhaustion users feel when communicating through videoconferencing platforms, is a recently identified phenomenon associated with the extensive use of synchronous videoconferencing communication. The research employed a qualitative case study approach to investigate how faculty and students experience videoconferencing and Zoom fatigue in online courses at a small liberal arts university in Appalachia. Document review, qualitative surveys, and in-depth interviews informed the case study. Faculty and student respondents reported dissatisfaction with …

The Reset: Connecting Internal Crisis Communication Strategy With Post-Pandemic Remote Worker Populations Through An Employee Engagement Framework, Erin Leigh Black

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

In the post-pandemic workforce, unprecedented events are the new normal. Although the remote worker revolution has been rumored for decades, in early 2020, the idea became an instant reality when global governments closed their borders, instituted lockdown, and ordered citizens to shelter-in-place (Weideman & Hofmeyr, 2020). Given the global shift in work, organizations have an immediate need to communicate with the crisis-ladened, post-pandemic, remote workforce; however, there is a sizable gap in research between internal crisis communication and the post-pandemic remote worker population. Through a phenomenologically based, interpretive analysis of current strategic and crisis communication research and frameworks, this project …

Palestinian Evangelical Christian Music In Bethlehem, Israel/Palestine, Abby Smith

Senior Honors Theses

Often the story of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is portrayed as Jewish vs. Muslim, Hebrew vs. Arab. There is little room in the international dialogue for minorities such as Arab Christians. Though Palestinians have a rich culture of Arabic musical and poetic heritage, they are unable to produce their own new songs. In this study I interviewed three members of Immanuel Evangelical Church on their experiences and opinions on local Christian worship. The findings show that Palestinian Christians may feel unable to write worship music because of a prevalent feeling of inadequacy and a lack of musical training. I propose several …

Relations Of The Catholic Church And The Government Of The Republic Of Lithuania Relations During The Crisis Of Covid-19: Partnership Or Dispute?, Audris Narbutas

Helm's School of Government Conference - American Revival: Citizenship & Virtue

The religious liberty is one of the most profound and fundamental deep freedoms in the West World. The vast majority of the modern democracies recognize the people’s right to worship God according to the particular traditions and norms of the different religious communities.

The state of Lithuania belongs to this family of democracies where the religious liberty plays a significant role in the legal system of the Lithuania. The rights to express and practice each one’s faith are established in the Article 26 of the Constitution of the Republic of Lithuania[1] and in the bilateral treaties with the Holy …

Coronavirus Communication: Interaction Of Church, State, And Constitution In The Pandemic Environment, Valeriia Manchak

Helm's School of Government Conference - American Revival: Citizenship & Virtue

This paper investigates the response to Covid-19 by examining the communication problem between the government and religious institutions. During the outbreak, some faith-based organizations used religion-abetted value judgments which affected viral spread (Whitehead and Perry 2020). Religious institutions can also inspire people to be supportive while the world endures hard times. (Wildman, Bulbulia and et al. 2020). This paper will explain where churches have contributed to the challenges of dealing with the COVID virus and provide recommendations for the better response (Wildman, Bulbulia and et al. 2020). This paper also discusses where the government violated constitutional rights and how to …

Missional Social Media: Content And Strategies For Missions Organizations, Kathryn Larson

Senior Honors Theses

Technology can be used in amazing and creative ways to spread the gospel and create community across borders. The Apostle Paul used the communication tool of his time, letters, to communicate with churches from a distance. Today’s tools include social media which, when used properly and with intent, can positively influence an organization in the name of the gospel. Missions organizations have an incredible opportunity to use strategies and content to create a viable social media ministry. Theories such as the Community Development Theory and various reception theories contribute to an understanding of two-way communication and engagement between organization and …

Priming In Leadership: Applying Communication Theory To The Speeches Of Ronald Reagan, Katherine Sakai

Senior Honors Theses

The study of priming gained traction in the 1990s when researchers such as John Bargh demonstrated the nonconscious activation of ideas, often through repeated related words or activated schema. Since then, researchers have studied the effects of priming on self-view, achievement, and teamwork. While the concept of priming has just recently begun to be applied to leadership in the workplace, no research has yet been done in finding examples of priming theory in the speeches of well-known leaders. In this study, Ronald Reagan’s persuasive tactics were analyzed and found to use similar methods of repetition and schema used in priming …

Changing The Game: A Review Of Collegiate Coaching And Its Effects On Mental Health, Yohanan Nekrasov

Senior Honors Theses

Mental health has become an increasingly important topic within the sports world over the past decade, with athletes raising awareness on both the professional and collegiate levels. The coach plays a key role in supporting the mental health of his or her athletes, but some coaching methods may run counter to that objective. Research was conducted through a literature review, examining the psychological trends within athletics and the ways coaches can adapt their methods. The accompanying print and audio feature stories will aim to help deliver this research to the public by educating coaches on this important issue, including interviews …

The Vote: Gender Identification In The Women's Suffrage Movement Through The Rhetoric Of Carrie Chapman Catt, Sarah Perkins

Masters Theses

Throughout the women’s suffrage movement, rhetoric was used as a powerful tool of persuasion to convince men that women should have the right to vote. It was also used as a tool of persuasion to convince women to join the fight for suffrage. One of the most influential rhetoricians in the movement was suffragist, Carrie Chapman Catt, who was able to use both.

This study aims to determine how women’s suffrage leader, Carrie Chapman Catt, used persuasion through her speeches to win the 19th amendment. This study specifically investigates one speech to the all-male United States Congress and the other …

Through The Eyes Of Justice: Constitutionally Protected Speech And Protest According To Justice Antonin Scalia, Lisa Ann Kriegshauser

Masters Theses

A few hallmark characteristics of the American Republic are a citizen’s right to the freedom of speech and the right to peacefully assemble without the fear of retaliation from the government. In recent 21st century history, American society has witnessed the polarization of ideologies to a point where words end in violence and burned-down cities. To encourage and facilitate open communication, legal and cultural progress, and innovation, the freedom of speech and protest must maintain center stage. This study applied Justice Antonin Scalia’s judicial doctrine of the freedom of speech and protest to the Black Lives Matter Movement and President …

Capturing The Digital Dollar: How Religious Nonprofits Are Adopting Social Media For Adoption, Engagement, And Community, Hannah Xiang Mei Rotter

Masters Theses

The objective of this thesis was to quantify the impact of religious, media-related nonprofit adoption rate, online presence, and online giving technology. Specifically, this thesis focuses on the nonprofits’ adoption, use, and interactivity on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube. This thesis study was rooted in Rogers’ Diffusion of Innovations Theory, and its constructs were used to best understand the adoption and impact of use within the religious nonprofit sector (Rogers, 2003). First, the researcher defined and evaluated the nonprofit’s active online presence, sophistication of technology integration, and impact of these findings. Second, the researcher quantitatively examined audience interactivity. Targeting a …

What's In A Name: Examining What Sports Team Names Communicate, Bridget Danielle Lewis

Masters Theses

For years, there have been controversy and discussion regarding high school, college, and professional sports team name changes. Professional sports teams have gained the most attention regarding team name changes or lack thereof. This study can bring an understanding of the message communicated through the chosen names and logos of sports teams as well as the effects of financial, political, and fan base changes on team name changes in the sports industry. Extensive research is provided to show the previous content on the topic as well as areas where further research would be beneficial. This includes previous and current sport …

Covid-19'S Impact On Higher Education Communication, Abigail Sanders, Carmen Navarro

Liberty University Research Week

Graduate

Three Minute Thesis

Capturing The Digital Dollar: How Religious Nonprofits Are Adopting Social Media Strategies For Adoption, Engagement, And Community, Hannah Rotter, Marie Mallory

Liberty University Research Week

Graduate

Three Minute Thesis

What's In A Name: Influence Of Sports Team Name Changes On Pros, Fans, & Related Parties, Bridget Lewis, Marie Mallory

Liberty University Research Week

Graduate

Three Minute Thesis

The Rise Of Liberalism Among The American Youth, Katherine Deturk, Audrey Thomas

Liberty University Research Week

Undergraduate

Textual or Investigative

Saying Hello To Biden: A Rhetorical Analysis Of President Joe Biden's Inaugural Address, Grace Mallory, Cecil Kramer

Liberty University Research Week

Undergraduate

Textual or Investigative

The Affects Of Artificial Depressive Symptoms And The Mental Security Of Victims Of Information Overload, Carl Oelhaf, Carmen Navarro

Liberty University Research Week

Undergraduate

Textual or Investigative

Covid-19'S Impact On Higher Education Communication, Abigail Sanders, Carmen Navarro

Liberty University Research Week

Graduate

Applied

Cialdini's Principle Of Liking And The 2016 Presidential Election, Dylan Ureno, Audrey Thomas

Liberty University Research Week

Undergraduate

Applied

How Participation In Student-Run Media Impacts A College Student's Sense Of Self-Efficacy: A Transcendental Phenomenological Study, Hugh Davis Bouchelle

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to discover and understand college students’ perceptions of the ways their lived experiences while participating in college student-run media have impacted their sense of self-efficacy. The central research question was, what are college student perceptions of how participation in college student-run media impacts their sense of self-efficacy? Bandura’s social cognitive theory of self-regulation, which explains how an individual’s environment, behavior, and personal factors combine and intertwine to produce feelings of self-efficacy, was used as the framework for this study. Purposeful sampling was used to select full-time students that had worked at least …

Covid-19'S Impact On Higher Education Communication, Abigail L. Sanders

Masters Theses

The following study was intended to contribute qualitative research on the impact that the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) global outbreak has had on higher education communication. A qualitative study was conducted using questionnaires given to professors and students at a private university in the United States. Through this study, three primary research questions were answered. First, among university students, what was the academic impact of COVID-19? Specifically, how did the transition into virtual learning affect student academics during the spring 2020 academic semester? Second, did university students experience professors with poor digital literacy, and did this illiteracy impact professor-student rapport? Third, …