Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

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 …

From Doom To Bloom: The Effects Of Pre-Major Coaching On Undecided Student Persistence, Lisa Dianne Wycoff

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Student retention is a persistent dilemma in higher education because it is how student success is measured. Universities invest resources in retaining vulnerable populations and provide additional support measures because they are most at risk of dropping out. The premise of this study is that students who enter college without a major are considered vulnerable, as they are highly prone to drop out. Numerous studies have found that entering college with an “unknown/undecided” status negatively impacts retention, well-being, and motivation due to a lack of clearly defined educational goals. However, students and families often lack adequate information about the importance …

Moral Injury In Active Service And Veteran Female Military Combatants, William Curtis Neal

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

A topic of concern and discussion in the mental health community, and maybe a special concern from both governmental and civilian practitioners, is the subject of moral injury. Moral Injury has been widely researched over the last 10 years and is a known and discussed condition that is linked to military personnel and veterans who have experienced events while deployed or operating in adverse conditions such as combat. The following descriptive study focuses on one group from which they have been excluded or overlooked in past studies. This creates a gap in the published literature: female servicewomen and veterans. Both …

A Phenomenological Study Of Psychological Experience In The Mental Health Crisis Of Korean American Christian Older Adolescents, Munmi Son

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study is to understand the experience of psychological distress witnessed in the mental health crisis of Korean American Christian adolescents. Korean adolescents are at increased risk of attempting suicide. Therefore, it is important to understand the phenomenon and psychological experience of mental health problems among Korean Christian adolescents. This study explores Korean-American cultural characteristics and the psychology of access to mental health services by these adolescents with mental health concerns. The design of this study is an interpretative qualitative study and includes open semi-structured interviews and observations for data collection. This study identifies the distinctiveness …

Alignment Of Multi-Tiered Support Systems Following A School-Based Suicide Risk Assessment: Exploring The Lived Experiences Of School-Based Mental Health Professionals, Lorraine Z. May

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this study was to explore the experiences of school-based mental health professionals (SBMHP) alignment of multi-tiered systems of support (MTSS) with completed suicide risk assessments (SRA). This qualitative, phenomenological study investigated the experiences of SBMHP with school-based SRA and MTSS. The experiences of SBMHP regarding aligning MTSS with completed SRA prior to this study were unknown. The social ecological model (SEM) provided the framework as it outlines the multiple systems that SBMHP should consider when aligning interventions within a MTSS when working with students, while Joiner’s interpersonal theory of suicide (ITS) provided the grounding for suicidal behavior. …

Blacks' Intergenerational Trauma Triggered By Police Misconduct, Anselma Johnayala

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

A plethora of studies on intergenerational trauma and a nascent body of studies regarding policing are amalgamated in this phenomenological research approach. This phenomenological study aimed to understand the adverse experiences of Black individuals’ interactions with law enforcement and how these involvements contribute to the transmission of trauma. The intergenerational trauma of Blacks’ experiences could be processed through Critical Race Theory (CRT), Personal Construct Theory (PCT), and Bowen’s Multigenerational Family Systems Theory (BMFST). Each theory explains the relationship between a person’s experiences, the generational response and functioning, and the existence of racial bias as proliferated in the oppression of one …

Forgiveness In Education: A Qualitative Analysis Of The Forgiveness Experience For Educators, Corinne D. Denhartog

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Forgiveness is as powerful as it is complex. Evaluating how teachers understand and practice forgiveness has potential applications within broader forgiveness theory as well as more practically in discussions of both teacher health related to practicing forgiveness and student learning of forgiveness. The present study sought to gather qualitative insights related to teacher understanding of forgiveness, teacher practice of forgiveness within their jobs, and teacher opinions on forgiveness education. A total of six semi-structured focus group interviews were conducted with groups of two to four public school teachers. Results indicated that there is variety in understanding amongst teachers of what …

Somatic Experience Treatment Techniques For Trauma Symptoms: A Qualitative Case Study, Ashley Marie Schlief

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative case study is to provide insight into somatic Experience techniques used while treating clients who suffer from trauma symptoms. Somatic therapeutic techniques improve trauma victims’ negative body and mind symptoms. The use of somatic theory to treat psychological and physical trauma is a relatively new concept within the field of clinical mental health counseling. Somatic therapies are a body-oriented approach that releases restricted trauma emotions by addressing the response communication that continually runs between the mind and the body. For example, bodily therapists use mind-body techniques to release the suppressed tension that negatively influences an …

Culturally Diverse Literature And Social Inclusion In Elementary Classrooms, Amanda Works

The Kabod

This qualitative study explored the use of culturally diverse literature in correlation to social inclusion, which is crucial for students’ social, emotional, and academic well-being. The purpose was to identify if culturally diverse literature could effectively promote social inclusion in diverse classrooms.

Presented at the National Collegiate Research Conference at Harvard University, January 2023.

See Senior Honors Thesis.

Examining The Psychosocial Impacts Of Transgenerational Trauma: A Phenomenological Study Of Parenting Styles Among African American Women, Sandra Maria Anderson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This qualitative phenomenological study aimed to examine the psychosocial impacts of unresolved grief and trauma within the dynamics of parenting styles of African American women. The theories used to guide this study include family systems theory, first introduced by Murray Bowen in the 1950s, and attachment theory, developed by John Bowlby in 1969, as they intersect and provide a foundation for understanding emotional bonds, social relationships, and parent-child attachment wounds at the core. This phenomenological qualitative study answered the following central research question: “How has trauma exposure affected African American women’s awareness of their traumas within their lived experience and …

The Effects Of Intimate Partner Violence (Ipv) On African-American Christian Females, Rebecca C. Crane

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to communicate the experiences of African American Christian females with intimate partner violence (IPV). The central phenomenon of the study aimed to research religious effects on African American Christian females' decision-making regarding IPV in the state of Georgia. The theory guiding this study was social constructivism, introduced by two sociologists, Peter L. Berger and Thomas Luckman. The study's goal was to depend as much as possible on the stories of the members being examined. Data will be collected using two methods: interviews and oral history. A critical case sampling was used to collect …

Twice-Exceptional Autism And Home Education: A Phenomenological Analysis, Tiffany Brook Hartman

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

It is common for autistic and particularly twice-exceptional (2e) children to be schooled from home at a higher rate than their neurotypical peers. Much of the current research investigating this phenomenon is conducted from the perspective of the public school system. This point of view is generally critical of the curriculum taught in the home, has largely limited parental voices in the literature, and overlooks possible circumstances in the public school system that might have led families to choose to homeschool. This qualitative analysis conducted open-ended interviews of parents with twice-exceptional autistic children who have home-educated or currently educate their …

Rethinking Connection: Spirituality, Social Media, And Crisis Of Faith In Young Adult, Connie L. Beckham

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

​This phenomenological study aims to understand the impact of social media and spiritual formation or faith development in young adults in the United States. The theory guiding this study is provided by theorists of identity and development, including Erik Erikson, James Marcia, and James Fowler (Verschueren, 2017). Specifically, Fowler identified a direct correlation between identity and faith development to more modern identity considerations and historical data relating to existentialism and other crises (Lamont, 2020). The data was collected from interviews with young adults to explore the impact of social media and faith among young adults. The interviews included thirteen questions …

The Effects Social Media Has On Depressive And Neuro Developmental Disorders, Daniel James Goble

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Social media has played a huge role in society today and is one of the most common activities in everyday life for people of all ages. Due to the long amount of time that most users spend on social media daily, some trends seem to grow and become very visible over time that have a negative impact on mental health but also on neuro developmental disorders. Neurodevelopmental disorders are identified through a list of symptoms and characteristics that show a problem in how the brain is developing. Due to social media still being very new in this generation and with …

Who Is Leading Today’S Family? The Detrimental Effects Of An Absent Father, Kimberly J. Davis

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Fathers have an enormous role in their families – it was God’s original design. This study considered the detrimental effects of a physically absent father as the leader, mentor, disciplinarian, and husband of the family home, using a quantitative research design. The theoretical framework used for this descriptive design was John Bowlby’s attachment theory, Dr. Murray Bowen’s family systems theory, Daniel Goleman’s psychological theory on emotional intelligence, and, last, Albert Bandura’s view on aggression theory and the General Aggression Model (GAM). Additionally, the concept of father hunger was explored and measured as this was a crucial construct during this study. …

School Connectedness In American Style Comprehensive And European Style Tracking Secondary Schools, Diana Csaki

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Schools are often considered a community nested within a community. A caring school environment contributes to community and belongingness among students. School connectedness, the belief held by students that adults and peers in the school care about their learning and about them as individuals, is viewed as a construct comprising affective, behavioral and cognitive dimensions. School connectedness among students in the United States has been shown as a predictor of adolescent health and academic outcomes with positive feelings of school connectedness linked to positive outcomes. School connectedness research often centers on children and early adolescents and less over the high …

Educators’ Perspectives Of Student Outcomes, Rikki Jean Cook

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Individual experiences inform psychological adjustment, academic achievement, and trait-specific behaviors during adolescence. The formation of their identity is further dependent upon social and emotional interactions such as those experienced in the social learning environment. During the COVID-19 pandemic, mandated social distancing resulted in the closure of public schools state-wide, forcing students and educators to utilize online educational environments with no preparatory or transitionary periods to allow for adequate adjustment. It is necessary to assess and work toward an understanding of the consequences of this environmental shift, and of the adolescents’ modified social interactions. This descriptive qualitative phenomenological study explores the …

More Than A Single Story: Culturally Diverse Literature And Social Inclusion In Elementary Classrooms, Amanda Works

Senior Honors Theses

This paper aims to consider the existing literature regarding culturally diverse literature, social inclusion, and children’s literature as mirrors, windows, and sliding glass doors. These three concepts form a conceptual framework that supports the research study, which explored the use of culturally diverse literature and any correlation with social inclusion. Four elementary teachers participated in semi-structured interviews focused on two research questions: “What impacts the use of culturally diverse literature in elementary classrooms?” and “Does culturally diverse literature affect social inclusion in elementary classrooms?”. Through thematic, qualitative analysis, the study identified three central themes: (1) levels of choice based on …

The Effects Of The Covid-19 Pandemic On Anxiety, Stress, And Resilience In Economically Challenged Single Mothers, Gloria Jean Hill-Murray

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to describe the experiences of economically challenged single mothers during Covid 19. Mitigating the severe anxiety and stress risks linked with COVID-19 has been a goal of public health incentives. Less effort has been spent on studying the psychological issues connected to the worldwide epidemic, particularly among economically challenged communities. The aims of the study were to explore the impact of anxiety and stress of the COVID 19 pandemic on economically challenged single mothers, to determine the needs of this group, and to identify prevention and interventions that might support them in …

A Study On Factors Affecting Perseverance And Commitment In Christian Marriages, Oluwafemi O. Owadasa

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The concept of marriage is as old as the world itself and in Christianity, the bond is promised to sustain a lifetime. Current research has presented little insight into the concept of marriage in Christianity and the reasons leading to divorce among Christian couples in developed nations as opposed to underdeveloped nations. The purpose of this study was to understand the role of perseverance, culture, and extended family involvement on Christian practice, marriage, and divorce in developed and underdeveloped nations. The philosophy that guided the study was positivism. A total of 100 participants who regularly attend church were selected to …

Current State Of Inclusion Education: A Cross-State Analysis Of Compliance, Teacher Certification, And Students With Disabilities Academic Outcomes, Emily Rose Winters

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Since passage of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) there has been a legal requirement to provide students with disabilities the most inclusive education possible (Winchell et al., 2018) while Every Student Succeeds Act of 2015 requires that education be delivered by highly qualified teachers. Despite this, there have been minimal parameters set by the federal government in relation to inclusion education implementation or what constitutes a highly qualified teacher leading to significant variance in state inclusion education methods (Westling, 2019) and requirements for initial teaching certification or licensure (United States Department of Education, 2019; Youngs et al., 2003). …

Exploring The Lived Experiences And Coping Strategies Of Parents Of Children With Profound Intellectual And Multiple Disabilities, Anne Glaeser Hubach

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to describe the lived experiences and coping strategies of parents of children with profound intellectual and multiple disabilities (PIMD) in Central Virginia. Research questions used to frame this study are: How do parents of children with PIMD describe their experiences as parents of children with PIMD? How do the parents of children with PIMD describe the impact of their experiences on their well-being? How do the parents of children with PIMD describe their understanding of and perspectives regarding their children’s disabilities? How do parents of children with PIMD describe the impact of …

Autism Spectrum Disorders And Positive Familial Effects, Genevieve Weaver

Senior Honors Theses

Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) have been found to significantly impact familial structures and outcomes in various studies. The majority of the impact, however, has been primarily negative; effects like increased stress, marital discontentment, and stigmatization are commonly expressed by families. In this study data from a questionnaire, interview, and picture presentations were analyzed and triangulated to identify the positive familial effects of having a child or sibling with ASD. Parents and siblings shared that having a child or sibling with ASD has bettered their life through learning to enjoy the identity of the individual with ASD, through personal growth, and …

A Christ-Centered, Attachment Based, Church Program For The Healing Of Father Wounds, Stephen J. Madosky I

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Father wounds have devastated the hearts of men as to make impotent their effectiveness as fathers, leaders, and ministers of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. This dissertation used Christ- centered attachment-based theories to develop a church-driven program that includes discipleship disciplines along with counseling techniques to help develop a more secure relational attachment to God and therefore producing psychospiritual benefits, such as a greater love of self, others, and God. This research evaluated the efficacy of the development of this Christ-centered, attachment-based church program for the Healing of Father wounds. This program development looks to secure the participants’ attachment to …

Native American Resiliency Resources And Educational Goal Achievement, Diane Elaine Sharp

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative narrative study was to understand Native American life experiences which foster resilience and how resiliency resources contribute to their educational goal achievement. In a context of historical trauma, poverty, and oppression it is theorized that achieving one’s educational goals requires a measure of resilience and a number of protective and promotive factors. These factors are what this strengths-based study sought to identify. The theory guiding this study was resiliency theory and the research approach was strengths-based. Proposed data collection was a series of semi-structured interviews of 6 Native American individuals age 18 or older who …

Promoting Student Success: Bilingual Education Best Practices And Research Flaws, Lillian Fassero

Senior Honors Theses

This paper first determines the benefits which bilingual education offers and then compares transitional, dual-language, and heritage language maintenance programs. After exploring the outcomes, contexts, and practical implications of the various bilingual programs, this paper explores the oversight in most bilingual studies, which assess students’ syntax and semantics while neglecting their understanding of pragmatics and discourse structures (Maxwell-Reid, 2011). Incorporating information from recent studies which question traditional understandings of bilingualism and argue that biliteracy requires more than grammatical and vocabulary instruction, this paper proposes modifications in current research strategies and suggests best practices for transitional, dual-language, and heritage maintenance programs.

Student Engagement: An Assessment Of Motivation Processes During Late Elementary School, Christine A. Akagi

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Based in Self-Determination Theory (SDT) and Effectance Theories, this correlational study of student engagement assessed the impacts of basic psychological need satisfaction upon engagement in the context of prior achievement during late elementary school. The purpose of the study is to offer another tool for educators to use as they continue personalizing interventions. Multiple regression analyses assessed the predictive value of prior achievement levels alongside present satisfaction levels of each basic psychological need – autonomy, competence, and relatedness – upon engagement. In post-hoc analyses, The Johnson-Neyman technique was also used for the purpose of determining regions of significance across the …

Using A Mindfulness Based Art Technique To Promote Emotion Regulation And Self Compassion, Lisa S. Sosin

Faculty Publications and Presentations

No abstract provided.

The Creative Balance Tool: Teaching Students' How To Maintain A Healthy Mind For Optimal Academic Performance And Overall Well Being, Lisa S. Sosin

Faculty Publications and Presentations

No abstract provided.

Creative Exposure Treatment: Using Art Focusing To Promote Emotional Development, Emotion Regulation, And Self-Compassion, Lisa S. Sosin

Faculty Publications and Presentations

No abstract provided.