Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Reinforcer Preferences Of Liberty University Professors, Sarah Stoker

Senior Honors Theses

Prior research in Organizational Behavior Management (OBM) has found positive reinforcement effective for increasing work performance when rewards are reinforcing to the individual. Research also supports the efficacy of stimulus preference assessments (SPAs) in identifying reinforcers. The purpose of this study was to identify reinforcers for faculty at Liberty University. The hypotheses were, in a sample of faculty in Liberty University’s School of Behavioral Sciences (1) potential reinforcers other than monetary reinforcers will be identified as high-preference items and (2) tangible items will be identified as low-preference items. Hypotheses were tested using an online survey with Likert scales and written …

Promoting Recovery From Interpersonal Violence, Lisa S. Sosin, Sandra Noble, John Jonathan Suroshan Harrichand, Lynn Bohecker, Daniel Kimonyi

Faculty Publications and Presentations

No abstract provided.

The Power Of The Corrective Lens: Optics For Library Leaders, Angela Rice, Roriebeth Fredrich

Faculty Publications and Presentations

Are you a library leader charged with addressing organizational problems? This session will equip you to view issues through the lenses of structural, systems, cultural, and political theory-based metaphors. You can avoid myopic leadership and cast a clear vision by gaining an accurate view of your organization's strengths and weaknesses.

First Responder Chaplaincy: Sending Sources As Key Social Support Structures, Christopher Alan Bassett

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Police and fire chaplaincy comprises an emerging ministry profession that is underrepresented in academic study. This study addresses the problem of support structure inadequacies among First Responder Chaplains (FRCs) which create conditions that lead to burnout. The study examines their often-problematic connections to churches, denominations, and other endorsing agencies (sending sources). The purpose of the project is to assess those connections and provide remediation inadequacies. The thesis project examines Chaplaincy Organizational Agencies (COAs) and develops solutions for FRCs to build better initial and ongoing relationships with their sending sources. The thesis suggests that chaplains who are properly affirmed, supported, and …

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 …

Lead At Any Level, Will Gunzelman

Faculty Publications and Presentations

This presentation discusses the key leadership imperatives and leadership lessons learned in combat, which transfer to the corporate sector

•Keywords: leadership, team building, strategy, talent management, ethics, Christian leadership, combat, special operations, project management, employee retention, recruiting, planning, and risk management

• Author, Will Gunzelman: retired U.S. Army Special Forces (“Green Berets”) after 27 years of service and numerous combat deployments. – Adjunct professor of Business Strategy and Policy – Strategy, leadership, and operations consultant for senior executives

An Analysis Of Effects Of Vicarious Trauma Among Attorneys: A Descriptive Qualitative Approach To Develop Training Programs Focused On Reducing Vicarious Trauma Among Attorneys, Kyla Eileen Gray

Masters Theses

Vicarious trauma refers to exposure to another person's traumatic experience. Professionals working within the criminal justice system, policing, courts, or mental health are regularly exposed to traumatic events. The idea or expectation that a person can be exposed to this every day and not be affected is unrealistic. A new approach to mitigating and preventing exposure to adverse impacts of vicarious trauma is vital to these employees' mental health. This article focuses on attorneys who work with vulnerable populations and how vicarious trauma affects their everyday professional and personal lives. This paper will discuss the Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), what …

Adverse Childhood Experiences And Interactions With The Criminal Justice System, Sarah Elizabeth Rapp

Masters Theses

The connection between childhood traumas and subsequent detrimental adult behavioral issues has been well documented. In recent times, both the medical and psychological fields have turned their attention toward specific criteria of childhood traumas labeled Adverse Childhood Events, or ACEs. A threshold of ACE factors shows a significant connection to the later physical and mental health of individuals who have participated in such studies. Due to the connection between childhood traumas, mental health, and interactions with law enforcement, this study attempts to define the relationship, if such a relationship exists, between ACE factors and interactions with the criminal justice system. …

A Quantitative Study Of Child Sexual Assault Survivors’ Struggles With Poor Marital Satisfaction: Mediated By Loneliness And Depression, Thomas Litzinger

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Child sexual assault (CSA) is growing at startling rates in the United States and is related to a staggering number of adult psychosomatic modification problems and outcomes. CSA has been a subject of interest in sexual health research for many years; however, research regarding the sexual health consequences of CSA has been hampered by methodologic changeability. CSA and the sexual victimization of boys and men has been understudied despite its prevalence and potentially detrimental outcomes in the U.S. and worldwide. A large body of research has revealed many adverse psychological and social impacts of CSA in samples of adult male …

Enhancing The Emotional Wellbeing Of Church Leadership At Trinity Baptist Church, Arron David Mcguffee

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Effective church leaders are efficient in management of their emotional health. Research has diagnosed that most churches maintain dysfunctional learning environments because of emotionally unhealthy leadership. Dysfunctional environments are conducive to acclimatizing members to ill doctrine: methods instead of the mission, events instead of evangelism, expositors instead of exposures, and promote rituals instead of a righteous Savior. Emotionally unhealthy church leaders’ practice and promote democratic efforts instead of theocratic. Assessment instrumentation was utilized. The assessment implemented two credible tools, one for emotional maturity and the other for discipleship. Research invitations were distributed to twenty church leaders at Trinity Baptist Church …

China’S Geopolinomic Goals In Argentina, Chile, And Ecuador: How Chinese Resource Extraction Is Reinvigorating The Debate On Dependency, Eric Stephen Cruz

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study is to identify signs of economic dependency China creates in South America. The study builds on dependency theory by challenging China's self-categorization as a periphery nation. Using the mixed-methods case study approach, this study explores the effects of China's going out policy in South America. Specifically, the focus in the study is on asymmetric trade, increased debt, and economic dependency in the context of Argentina, Chile, and Ecuador. One of the study's significant findings is that dependency begins with access. China is efficient at securing access to natural resources through its trade arrangements, which seem …

The Way Of Jesus: A Leadership Development Journey Within City Church Marietta, Eugene Fidell

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The leadership of City Church Marietta has identified the need to create a leadership development process for adult volunteers. This is due primarily to the fact that the church does not currently possess a process that would accomplish this. In addition, there is a lack of understanding amongst the majority of the current volunteer leaders concerning what it means to be an apprentice of Jesus. The research will emphasize the the fact that apprenticeship and leadership are best understood when examined side by side. This research will propose a leadership journey, The Way of Jesus, as the remedy to this …

A Survey Of North Carolina School Resource Officers: Training And Roles, Alesha Poole Troutman

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this study is to develop an understanding of the roles of SROs in North Carolina and the training that they receive. This study is based on the perceptions of SROs in North Carolina and the roles and training that they need to be effective within the school(s) they serve. The quantitative design used a survey that consisted of different measurement scales, including ordinal, nominal, and fill-in-the-blank. The findings of this study were analyzed using Qualtrics XM that lets you statistically analyze your response data and allows researchers to identify trends and produce predictive models. Descriptive statistics were …

Enhancing U.S. Navy Chaplain Care For Sufferers Of Post-Traumatic Stress, Moral Injury, And Loss Of Purpose, Jonathan Michael Henderson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Currently, there is no standardized screening and counseling model that enables Navy Chaplains to counsel those with post-traumatic stress injury, moral injury, and loss of purpose. The shame associated with these three conditions is a significant contributor to Service Member suicide, mental health problems, and substance abuse. Chaplains are often the first line of care Service Member’s access because of the chaplain’s accessibility and legally protected complete confidentiality. U.S. Navy, Marine Corps, and Army veterans that completed at least one deployment were solicited to participate in this research thesis. Data was collected through participants’ completion of the Modified Military Moral …

Implementing A Discipleship Strategy At Open Door Evangelical Church, Samuel Odney

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This thesis project aims to address the lack of involvement of church members in leadership at Open Door Evangelical Church. With the implementation of a discipleship strategy that will coach those not involved, they will become true disciples of Christ and serve in the church with any ability they have received from the Lord. The researcher will use three different methods for data gathering, including surveys, focus groups, and interviews. Every Member of the church will participate in the survey phase of the project. Still, the bulk of the study consisting of focus groups and interviews will focus on members …

Palliative Care And Improving Quality Of Life With End Stage Renal Disease: An Integrative Review, Natoya Bender

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

End-stage renal disease is a rising health care problem effecting greater than 10% of the US population. there are 700,000 patients in dialysis in the U.S who are characterized by multiple comorbidities and increasing, distressing symptom burden. The need for palliative care for patient with end-stage renal disease is becoming standard of care due to their complex medical needs and high symptom burden. The aim of this integrative review investigated the incorporation of palliative care will improve the quality-of-life of patients with end-stage renal disease once introduced in their care. While palliative care provides an ideal opportunity to assess the …

An Examination Of Leadership Development Practices Among Pastors Leading Hispanic Southern Baptist Churches In North Carolina, Dimas Enrique Castillo

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The Hispanic population's growth could be an opportunity and source of growth and renewal for many declining churches and denominations. However, accomplishing the God-given task of a church often requires a radical transformation of a church’s mission and operation. The purpose of this quantitative non-experimental descriptive study was to evaluate the understanding and comprehension among Hispanic pastors serving in the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina (BSCNC) of the specified principles of leadership, disciple-making, personal spiritual growth, and evangelism as delineated in the Leadership Development Models utilized in the BSCNC. The study sample was drawn directly from Hispanic pastors serving …

Creative Arts Personal Growth (Capg) Group Leader Manual, Lisa S. Sosin, Sandra Noble

Faculty Publications and Presentations

CAPG focuses on forming a safe community to process and recover from feelings of fear and shame, as seen in the sub-title: Transforming Fear and Shame with Compassion, Courage, and Community. Why make the focus of a personal growth or counseling group fear and shame? Shame, which includes the experience of fear, has been described as a trans-diagnostic, underlying cause of many clinical concerns. CAPG combines best practices for the treatment of shame and fear and explicitly focuses on helping participants form a safe, inclusive relationship with one another to heal from shame.

The Impact Of Servant Leadership On God Attachment In Survivors Of Sexual Abuse By Clergy, Jennifer J. Schwirzer

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Survivors of sexual abuse by religious leaders experience unique forms of trauma demanding unique forms of treatment. Using a nonequivalent control group pretest posttest design, this study examined the effectiveness of one such treatment. The Abuse, Trauma, and Jesus workshop was designed to impart psychoeducation, coping tools, and support to survivors of sexual abuse by clergy. The treatment group added a servant leadership psychoeducation element. Before and after the intervention the participants completed the Primary Care PTSD Screen and the Attachment to God (ATG) Inventory. The research questions asked whether trauma symptoms and avoidant/anxious styles of God attachment would be …

Confidence Or Control: Using Theory Of Planned Behavior To Explore Medical Residents' Intentions To Address Religion And Spirituality In Patient Care, Vanessa I. Saylor

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this study was to explore whether subjective norms moderate the relationship between perceived control and behavioral intention and between self-efficacy and behavioral intention to address religion and spirituality (r/s) in patient care among first- through fifth-year medical residents. The study used a non-experimental design and included a sample of medical residents working in a hospital system in southeastern Pennsylvania during the summer of the 2021 were gathered to respond to the survey questionnaire measuring subjective norms, perceived control and behavioral control and behavioral intention, and self-efficacy variables. The instrument used for this study, Assessing Residents' Intentions to …

Examining The Relationship Between Crime And Major Weather Events And Disasters In The 10 Largest Cities In Texas, Daniel Augusto

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This dissertation uses Social Disorganization Theory as a foundation to examine the relationship between yearly days with a major weather event or disaster and crime in the 10 largest cities in Texas. Multiple regressions and moderation analyses were conducted, with models that incorporated total Days with Disaster or major weather event, Social Disorganization, Population Density, and Disaster Consequences predicting all Index Crimes other than Arson. Days with Disaster significantly predicted Robbery, Murder, Rape, Burglary, and Auto Theft, but did not significantly predict Larceny or Assault. Additionally, Social Disorganization and Population Density were often found to predict crime. Moderation analysis also …

The Challenges Of Balancing Personal And Professional Relationships Among Historically Black Colleges And Universities (Hbcus) Band Directors, Rodney Deshun Chism

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative study is to identify common challenges and provide strategies for band directors at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), who face work-life balancing issues. HBCU band directors typically experience a high level of stress, burnout, and professional and personal role conflicts. There is a significant gap in the literature regarding how HBCU band directors maintain work-life balance (WLB) when dealing with administrative pressure, protecting the band program's reputation, and serving as a leader role-model, teacher, and mentor to their staff and students. Band directors commonly identify with or experience issues related to these research questions: …

Understanding The Impact Of Intrinsic, Extrinsic, And Altruistic Motivation On Principal Persistence In An Urban School District: A Case Study, Kimberly Washington

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this case study was to understand the impact of intrinsic, extrinsic, and altruistic motivation on principal persistence in Aberdeen Public Schools (APS, pseudonym). Principal persistence is generally defined as a principal staying in each school for a longer period or the lack of change of a principal within a school. The theories guiding this study are Frederick Herzberg’s theory of work and motivation, Abraham Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, and Self-determination theory. The study focused on the following central research question: What are principal descriptions of their efforts to persist in their administrative positions in Aberdeen Public Schools? …

Creating Collaborative Missional Communities To Enhance Church Revitalization, Bradford William Reaves

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

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This project utilizes the revitalization efforts of Grace Community Church in Winchester, VA to examine the precedence of collaborative strategies for church revitalization. In this study contemporary literature, theological foundations, surveys of church leaders in the United States, and interviews with collaborative church and ministry leaders from around the United States are evaluated to determine the need for greater collaboration for the health and revitalization of church and ministries. The findings of this research argue that contemporary church growth strategies that emerged from the recent church growth movement may actually inhibit church revitalization efforts …

The New Age Of Christian Healing Ministry And Spirituality: A Meta-Synthesis Exploring The Efficacy Of Christian-Adapted Complementary Therapies For Adult Survivors Of Familial Trauma, Amanda Lynne Brees

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Adult survivors of familial trauma present with many seemingly unrelated psychiatric and relational issues well into adulthood. Developmental and familial trauma is emerging in the research as a subset of complex posttraumatic stress disorder (C-PTSD). This specific type of trauma is rooted in attachment and family systems theory. Issues such as divorce, parental substance abuse, mental illness, enmeshment, parentification, abandonment, and abuse get passed down intergenerationally in vicious cycles until someone finds the courage to heal. Pastoral counselors are uniquely equipped to lead the third wave of cognitive-behavioral therapies proving effective in treating complex trauma includes mindfulness and complementary therapies …

The Efficacy Of Emergency Management Certification Training In Georgia Through The Lived Experiences Of Local Emergency Managers, Jack Robby Westbrook

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenology qualitative inquiry was to understand the efficacy of the Basic Georgia Certified Emergency Manager Program curriculum on preparing local emergency managers in each of Georgia’s eight geographical regions for their role. Emergency managers are professionals tasked with helping communities and organizations to anticipate all hazards and undertake measures to deal with disasters (McEntire 200 7). Demands placed on local emergency managers have increased significantly since the turn of the century. Between 2002 and 2020, the number and frequency of disasters have dramatically increased, and Georgia's social and economic demographics have undergone significant changes, presenting …

A Quantitative Descriptive Study Of The Impact Bible Reading Has On The Lives And Leadership Of American Evangelical Church Pastoral Leaders, Andrea Michelle Tom

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this quantitative descriptive research was to ascertain both the amount of time spent reading the Bible and the perceived impact of regular reading on the lives and leadership roles of American Evangelical Christian church pastoral leaders. The central assumption guiding this study was that the Bible is a vital source for Christian leaders that provides many benefits to its readers, including leadership guidance that biblical and historical leaders have diligently applied. Because these leaders serve as role models, the theoretical foundation guiding this research was Albert Bandura's Social Cognitive Theory of Development, which has linked learning to …

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, …

Leadership Model And Best Practices For Member Engagement In Chambers Of Commerce, Gretchen Skok Disanto

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Many nonprofit membership-based associations experience poor levels of engagement which threatens member retention and their long-term survival. While leaders recognize that engaging members is critical to member retention, many association leaders struggle with identifying the best approaches for engaging members. This qualitative multiple case study focuses on member engagement and retention in two high-performing chambers of commerce with above-average member retention rates in Northeast Ohio. The study discovers effective strategies to engage chamber of commerce members, develops a leadership model for member engagement, and identifies best practices that chamber of commerce leaders should use to successfully engage members. Participants in …

The Particle Thì In Vietnamese, Mai Chi Nguyen

Masters Theses

This thesis examines the functions of the particle thì in Vietnamese. The previous literature mainly describes thì as a phrasal particle; the inter-clausal thì receives one previous description (Clark, 1992a), but the collected data in this thesis revealed that thì is predominantly used sentence-initially. Among 155 collected tokens of thì, 48 (31%) occurs phrasally, 38 (30%) occurs inter-clausally, and 69 (44%) occurs sentence-initially. The phrasal thì is analyzed as a topic and/or contrastive topic marker (Cao, 1991/2004; Clark, 1992a), or “a discourse template marker” (Tran, Forthcoming). The inter-clausal thì is considered “an inchoative conjunction” (Clark, 1992a). A description and an …