Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Does Family Matter? A Phenomenological Inquiry Exploring The Lived Experiences Of Women Persisting In Distance Education, Professional Doctoral Programs, Lisa S. Sosin, Amanda J. Rockinson-Szapkiw, Lucinda S, Spaulding

Faculty Publications and Presentations

The qualitative study aims to examine the lived experiences of women persisting in the distance; professional doctoral degrees as they seek to integrate and balance their family of origin and current family system with their development as scholars.

This qualitative study employed Moustakas’ (1994) transcendental phenomeno-logical approach through a purposive sampling of eleven women who are en-rolled in distance education, professional doctoral programs at two universities in the southern United States.

This study furthers the existing research by demonstrating that family is inti-mately tied to the scholarly identity development and persistence of women enrolled in distance education, professional doctorate programs. …

The Relationship Between Organizational Commitment And Transformational And Transactional Leadership Styles In Government Contract Employees, Alethia Gardner

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study sought to determine if a relationship exists between leadership styles and organizational commitment in government contract employees. The psychological contract theory, expectancy theory, and transactional and transformational leadership theories framed the study purpose. The quantitative research method using the Pearson correlational statistical design was used to assess variable relationships. The Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire (MLQ) and the Three-Component Model (TCM) of Commitment were used to collect data from a sample of government contract employees. The results revealed weak but no statistically significant relationship between transformational and transactional leadership styles and organizational commitment. The study also found weak but no …

Church Conflict In The Atlanta-Rome District: Developing A Systematic Approach To Conflict And Membership Attrition, James C. Clements

Masters Theses

The decline in church membership and attendance of the 22 churches and 18 ministries of the Atlanta-Rome District (ARD) of the Christian Methodist Episcopal (CME) Church has dramatically impacted the ministries and effectiveness of the Atlanta-Rome District churches in conducting what Jesus Christ commanded in the Great Commission. The congregations whose membership once boasted governmental officials and civil rights icons have all but dwindled to a faithful few that continue to support the Spiritual and fiduciary obligations of the local churches. The rise of non-denominational churches with a more contemporary style of worship as well as internal conflicts within the …

A Quantitative Examination Of The Relationship Between Leadership Style And Employee Job Satisfaction In Registered Nurses In The Pittsburgh Msa Region, Jeffrey Belsky

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Healthcare worker jobs, particularly in the nursing profession, are among the fastest growing occupations in the United States. However, the nursing field is overwhelmed with an aging workforce, low morale, ineffective leadership practices, employee dissatisfaction, and increased worker turnover. Healthcare organizations have witnessed an increase in employee job dissatisfaction amongst nurses, which ultimately has led to increased employment turnover among other negative consequences such as lack of organizational commitment, absenteeism, reduced patient care, and disgruntled employees. This quantitative, nonexperimental, correlational research examined the relationship between perceived Registered Nurse (RN) job satisfaction and leadership styles in the Pittsburgh Metropolitan Statistical Area …

Pastoral Burnout Of African American Pastors: Creating Healthy Support Systems And Balance, William E. Johnson Iii

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Pastoral self-care is critical in minimizing the symptoms of burnout in ministry. Caught up in the daily demands of ministry, pastors are under tremendous stress as they try to serve God’s people in multiple roles in ministry. Often, pastors are called upon to be counselors, preachers, project managers, students, social activists, and a moral compass for those they lead. Too often, pastors are expected to perform duties with superhuman perfection, life and ministry can get so crowded with obligations and emergencies that pastor’s maintenance of a healthy lifestyle can become unbalanced or cease to exist. This research study will complement …

Faith-Based Organizational Values And International Business Transactions, David Ralph Pennington

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The general business problem is conflicting values between faith-based businesses and hosting countries can adversely affect business performance. The problem may be the gap between business leaders and organizational values and host country values. The specific business problem is some faith-based business leaders lack strategies to mitigate incongruousness between the core values of their organizations and the contrary values of foreign cultures to effectively conduct international business. The purpose of this qualitative case study research is to explore what strategies biblically based business leaders use to mitigate incongruousness between the core values of their business and contrary values of foreign …

A Strategic Evangelism Project For The Youth Of The Newly Formed South Brooklyn Academy Sparklers: The Indiscriminate Distribution Of God's Four Everlasting Covenant Provisions, Courtney W. Wickham

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

God’s prophetic word to Jeremiah (31:31-34) echoes God’s plan of redemption which was there, even before the foundation of the earth. In this prophecy, God declares that “He will write His law on the hearts of men”. God’s law is His Word, and this Word “became flesh and dwelt among men” (John 1:14). This Thesis Project focuses on the first stage of Evangelism, sowing. The membership of the South Brooklyn Academy Sparklers Pathfinder Club, represent the youth arm of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. They are passionate about the Great Commission (Matt. 28:18-20) and the Three Angels Messages (Rev. 14:6-12). However, …

Leadership Matters: The Process Of Leading A Declining Church To Revitalization Utilizing Early Church Principles, Jarvis Baker

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

A review of current literature that exist details the perpetual decline that is occurring in the local church. Nevertheless, the leadership a pastor provides must not be ignored, when there is an attempt to lead a church from decline to revitalization. The purpose of this project is to assist pastors who lead declining churches to revitalization by examining the principles of the early church, which was a church that was vibrant in the area of growth and spiritual life. Based on questionnaires sent to pastors and other ministry leaders, the project will reveal the need for a practical Biblical plan …

Husbands' Experience Of Being Trusted By Their Wives: A Heuristic Study, Paul Andrew Johns

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Trust is widely understood to be a critical component of interpersonal relationships. In an effort to understand this complex construct, the majority of research on dyadic trust has focused on the decision to trust and the interactions between a trustor and trusty, with a strong bent toward understanding the trustor’s experience. Surprisingly little is known about the experience of the trusty, or the recipient of trust, which if not remedied may result in erroneous assumptions about the experience of the trusty or an obscuration of the relational dynamics surrounding trust as a whole. Using qualitative, heuristic methodology, the author sought …

Health And Wellness Factors Affecting The Wholistic Lifestyle Of National And International Christian Missionaries, Angela C. Williams

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This thesis will focus on the health and wellness of missionaries and will develop a wholistic framework for healthier living. This framework will be used as a guide to help sustain missionaries living in various cultural contexts by connecting and integrating the mind, body, and spirit in harmony for wholistic lifestyle. God intended for His people to live a healthy lifestyle and to take care of their temples. Missionaries are the backbone of cross-cultural evangelism, but they often find themselves living unhealthy lifestyles. These unhealthy lifestyles can have a negative impact on missionaries’ overall health, wellness, and fruitfulness in serving …

Church Life Cycle, Benjamin Boatman

Masters Theses

With thousands of American churches permanently closing their doors each year, it is important to take a closer look at the churches that are in desperate need for renewal. The Body of Christ is eternal, but each church will individually display the life cycle that is observed in the human body. With so many churches in desperate need, all attempts must be made to provide suggestions that may result in their ability to continue on with the mission of Christ. The purpose of this research study is to examine the body of Christ as to its scriptural background, compare the …

The Spark Of Recovery: Artistic Methods That Generate Dialogue And Reduce Stigma In Families Affected By Mood Disorders, Adara Jensen

Masters Theses

Mood disorders, such as major depression and bipolar disorder negatively affect family dynamics, often resulting in trauma, antipathy, mistrust, and the breakdown in communication between the individual suffering from mood disorder and members of his or her family. The impact of mood disorder on family members impedes recovery for the person suffering from the disorder as well as the health and well-being of the family as a whole. Even emotionally healthy families suffer from the subsequent pain, trauma, isolation, and stigma. The project proposes a solution to broken or inhibited family communication: the engagement of all family members in healing …

Painted Ferocity: The Social Behaviors Of African Wild Dogs, Threats To Survival, And Resulting Conservation Initiatives, Alexis Valdes

Senior Honors Theses

African Wild Dogs (Lycaon pictus) are an endangered species of canid from Sub-Saharan Africa. They are very social communal hunters, and are capable of chasing down prey for long stretches of time. Wild dogs benefit a savannah ecosystem by regulating the populations of their prey so that it does not become unhealthy and overgrown. Like many organisms, wild dogs are also in competition with other predators for resources, namely lions and hyenas, who are capable of stealing their kills and occasionally injuring and killing them. Due to the depletion of their wild prey, wild dogs may also prey …

The Issue Of Compensation: Should Ncaa Athletes Be Compensated Above Their Scholarships, Justen Cook

Senior Honors Theses

There is an issue of National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) student-athletes being exploited by their respective universities and a need for change in the way the student-athletes are being compensated for their efforts. The history of the NCAA has established the landscape of the organization today. The ways in which NCAA student-athletes are exploited can be investigated through a review of the history of the NCAA, court cases involving compensation of student-athletes, including the legal aspects of compensating the athletes, and a plan to potentially alleviate the turmoil that has taken place within the NCAA.

Seven Factors That Influence The Effectiveness Of International Development, Jaylyn Perry

Senior Honors Theses

This literature review analyzes the global issue of poverty and the various factors that are influencing the ability of nations to effectively achieve development. The many interpretations of what development is, as well as the categories and forms of poverty, are examined to show the scope of the issue. Seven factors: politics, economics, institutions, culture, geography, aid, and globalization are explored as to their impact on the effectiveness of development around the world. The review of the literature found that effective development is influenced by each one of these factors and it is necessary to consider them when planning and …

The Effects Of Media On The American Perceptions Of Islam From 2001-2012, Brently Pustelak

Senior Honors Theses

This study seeks to understand the correlation between the average American's understanding of a Muslim and the portrayal of Muslims in relevant news events. After defining terms and reviewing previous literature, two news sources will be used to compare various historically-significant events. The major events to be studied are the September 11 attacks of 2001, the American involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan, and the “Arab Spring”. Precedent literature shall be used to determine a baseline understanding of common American perceptions of Muslims. From the baseline understandings of American perceptions and the established definitions regarding Muslims, a connection will be drawn …

Sex Trafficking And The Attribution Of Blame: A Comparison Between Vietnamese And American Perception Of Sex-Trafficked Individuals, Tram Nguyen

Senior Honors Theses

Sex trafficking is one of the most persistent issues in Asian countries and specifically in Vietnam. Hundreds of Vietnamese are trafficked daily across the world, but mainly in Taiwan, Malaysia, South Korea, Laos, China, and Thailand. Sexually trafficked individuals are reported to have symptoms of depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, suicidal tendencies, and physical violence. Despite the increasing number of victims, there is a lack of empirical research on issues relating to the impact of human trafficking on Vietnamese people and especially the public attitude about the problem. The current study examined the public’s general knowledge of trafficking myths, their willingness …

Attachment Style: How Pre-Adoptive Trauma Influences International Adoptees, Kelly Vanlew

Senior Honors Theses

An individual’s attachment style influences many aspects of his life, including emotional, behavioral, cognitive, and social development. Attachment style is largely dependent upon both the quality and quantity of care a child receives from a caregiver in the earliest stages of life. Children who have been adopted internationally may have been exposed to challenges posed by inadequate caregiving or resources, which includes malnutrition, poor medical attention, and instances of abuse, neglect, or deprivation. Because of these adverse experiences, international adoptees may be at risk of developing attachment disorders, experiencing behavioral issues, and struggling socially and psychologically. However, many of these …

The Impact Of Cyber-Bullying On Adolescents' Georgia Milestones Scores, Sy Hudson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This correlational study investigated the relationship of adolescent cyber-victimization to performance on the Georgia Milestone Assessment System (GMAS) competency test. Technology today allows students to learn how to operate various forms of digital equipment very early, but proper cyber etiquette training is not always included. This study addressed the potential that cyber-victims’ may have low performance scores on high stakes tests. A closer look at the predictive relationship between the two is an important step in the process for developing plans to resolve this issue. The participants included 100 randomly-selected Georgia middle school students. After collecting the Cyberbullying and Online …

The Influence Of Teacher And Institutional Support On Academic Self-Efficacy, Academic Outcome Expectations, And Academic Interest: An Exploration Study, Maureen Quiles Ponce

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

While college and career readiness benchmarks were created to provide evidence that a student is academically ready to succeed in a post-secondary educational setting, many high school graduates do not reach these academic benchmarks, and of students who go on to college, many do not complete their bachelor’s degree. Furthermore, current college and career readiness markers neglect to consider non-academic factors despite research suggesting that psychosocial factors strongly influence readiness beyond academic performance. The literature supports the premise that other powerful forces, namely social-cognitive factors also shape learning and performance, which in turn shapes academic and career outcomes. Self-efficacy emerged …

The Logic Behind Suicide Terrorism And Its Connection To Islam, Sarah Minnick

Senior Honors Theses

The purpose of this thesis is to analyze suicide terrorism and to examine the logic behind it. The thesis will examine recent Islamic suicide terrorism and why it is so successful. This paper will also attempt to define suicide terrorism and explain how it functions.

The first half of this thesis reviews a short history of suicide terrorism to show the logic behind it. It will begin with the Old Testament and continue throughout history until the September 11, 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center in New York City. This thesis will discuss the motivation for terrorist organizations to …

Autism And Communication: A Phenomenology Of Parents’ Perspectives, Zoe Sargent

Senior Honors Theses

Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are characterized by language impairments and are often treated with a variety of communication interventions. In addition to these interventions, the parents of autistic children have to learn how to care for and communicate with their children on a daily basis, especially when their children do not speak. This study made use of phenomenological investigation techniques to explore (1) what parents understand about communication with their nonspeaking autistic children and (2) what particular strategies they find to be effective. Six mothers of autistic children were interviewed, and resulting themes were divided according to parents’ understandings and …

A Phenomenology Of The Practice Of Music Therapy With Children, Shelby Tortorello

Senior Honors Theses

Music therapy has been demonstrated as an effective mode of therapeutic intervention for children in recent literature. There is extensive research suggesting benefits for various populations of children, namely: children in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), children who have experienced trauma, and children with disabilities. The current study served to address gaps found in the literature by conducting a phenomenology of professionally trained music therapists. Four board certified music therapists near major cities on the east coast were interviewed to comment on how they understand music therapy, and how they live out those understandings in their practice. It was …

Burnout In Sweden And The United States: A Cross-Cultural Comparison, Gina G. Barker

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This dissertation begins with a background on the phenomenon of burnout. A review and examination of the literature on burnout in offered, including diagnoses, symptoms, and assessments; causes and antecedents; the related concepts of demands, motivation, and stress; prevention, intervention, and treatment; and cultural influences. Research on cross-cultural differences between Swedish and American cultures is addressed. The review concludes with a rationale, research questions, and hypotheses to guide this cross-cultural investigation of burnout in Sweden and the United States. Next, the research design is described and illustrated. This study examined how cultural dimensions, self-efficacy, and performance-based self-esteem moderate the relationships …

Research Resurgence: Supporting Our University Qep With Our Information Literacy Expertise, Amanda Hahn, Johannah Lowder

Faculty Publications and Presentations

Championing information literacy has long been the mission of university librarians. When our University chose “Cultivating a Community of Research and Scholarship” as the focus of our Quality Enhancement Plan the Library was invited to join two interdisciplinary course development teams. Librarians collaborated with faculty from various academic departments to design two introductory research courses. These sequential courses lay the foundation of information literacy that springboards students to higher level research.

Inquiry 101 centers on the themes of the value and relevance of research, introduction to the application of research, and an introduction to information literacy skills. As a major …

A New Formula For Voter Turnout, Elliot Pope

Masters Theses

This paper proposes a new, modified decision matrix for voter turnout: Likelihood of Voting = Personal Connection + Sense of Duty + Self-Interest – Difficulty in Voting – Sense of Apathy. It introduces a new variable, “Personal Connection.” This variable combines the important contributions of social pressure and canvassing research as a summary motivation of the two. In order to test this hypothesis, I complete an initial review of ANES data and a metanalysis of relevant literature. The conclusion is that there is enough data to support further research into the proposed formula and new variable for voter turnout.

Ethical Dilemmas? Are You Appropriately Following The 2014 Aca Code Of Ethics?, Patti Hinkley

Faculty Publications and Presentations

This session will review the changes made in the 2014 Code of Ethics. The presentation will cover the background to the changes made in 2014 along with pointing out the specific changes made for both counselors as well as counselor educators. The presenter was trained at the 2018 ACA Conference to provide presentations or workshops on the Code of Ethics.

Worrywarts: Alleviating Anxiety Through School Counselor Interventions, Summer Kuba

Faculty Publications and Presentations

If unaddressed, childhood and adolescent anxiety can have a lasting negative impact on students’ social/emotional development, academic success and college/career readiness. School counselors play an integral role in addressing students’ mental health needs. Through evidenced-based interventions, school counselors can effectively promote the skills and attitudes necessary to cope and even overcome childhood anxiety disorders.

The Stages Of Change And The Stages Of Group Counseling, Karin Mcpeak Dumont

Faculty Publications and Presentations

This program will seek to enhance’ knowledge and use of the Stages of Change within each of the stages of group counseling. It will examine how to integrate appropriate Motivational Interviewing techniques within each stage of the group process.

Getting Unstuck: Using The Conceptual Mapping Task As A Dynamic Supervision Tool For Trainees And Seasoned Counselors, John King

Faculty Publications and Presentations

The Conceptual Mapping Task (CMT) originated as a tool in qualitative counseling research. It has also been used in counseling supervision. In this session, the presenter will provide a real-life demonstration of the CMT with a supervisee, and then provide additional strategies utilizing the CMT as a counseling intervention.