Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons

Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Articles 1 - 19 of 19

Full-Text Articles in Social and Behavioral Sciences

A Phenomenological Study Of The Perception Of Racial Unity In Evangelical Churches In Chicago, Amber L. Harvey Apr 2024

A Phenomenological Study Of The Perception Of Racial Unity In Evangelical Churches In Chicago, Amber L. Harvey

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

“Racism in the United States is part of a much older and global phenomenon” that has effects that are seen “today in hearts, minds, and institutions” (Lovelace, 2021, p. 67). Regarding the African American population, housing discrimination continues to be an obstacle to families (Burke et al., 2018), racist systems have led to collateral damage in the health of adults (Bleich et al., 2019), and African American men constitute approximately 25% of police shooting victims (Schwartz, 2020). This study seeks to examine if racism has infiltrated into the local church. The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to explore …


Antislavery White Supremacists And The Mistreatment Of African Americans In Indiana, 1787-1870, Mark A. King Mar 2024

Antislavery White Supremacists And The Mistreatment Of African Americans In Indiana, 1787-1870, Mark A. King

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Conventional wisdom holds that Indiana was always predominantly antislavery because it had begun as a territory of the United States under the Northwest Territory Act of 1787, which prohibited slavery; however, this is incorrect. This northern state had about as much proslavery sentiment as most states in the South. The state wrestled with the issue in the legislative session after the legislative session and court case after court case for decades during the antebellum period. Prominent settlers and state organizers petitioned Congress to allow the Indiana Territory to become a slave region. After statehood, proslavery forces continued to push for …


Understanding Complicated Grief, Resilience, And Coping Skills In African American Women: A Phenomenological Study, Gyna M. Grant Feb 2024

Understanding Complicated Grief, Resilience, And Coping Skills In African American Women: A Phenomenological Study, Gyna M. Grant

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Complicated grief can have an impact on the resiliency and coping skills of African American women in ways that can be damaging in their daily life routines. Research studies have focused on the female population affected by complicated grief, but none of these studies have looked specifically at the African American female population. The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to examine the lived experiences and resiliency of African American women coping with complicated grief following significant loss utilizing an open-ended survey. The population for this study was African American women, living in the southern areas of Connecticut, who …


With Or Without The Table, We Gather: Reinforcing Innate Resiliencies In The African American Family, Jessica L. Stevens-Eddy Dec 2023

With Or Without The Table, We Gather: Reinforcing Innate Resiliencies In The African American Family, Jessica L. Stevens-Eddy

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This quantitative study aims to determine whether food-sharing (gathering to eat) can be considered a suitable medium to facilitate increased cohesion within African American families. This study focuses on informal food-sharing as an extension of formal meal-sharing. Previous research links consistent formal meal-sharing to positive and secure identity development, better familial attachment, and improved family cohesion. These practices leave a lasting, detrimental impact on the African American family model. Additional barriers to some African American family meal-sharing practices include working extended and atypical work hours, food insecurity, and poor familial communication. There is a lack of research concerning the impact …


A Phenomenological Study In Understanding African American Spiritual Leaders And The Black Church On Elder Abuse, Cassandra R. Downey Dec 2023

A Phenomenological Study In Understanding African American Spiritual Leaders And The Black Church On Elder Abuse, Cassandra R. Downey

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This qualitative study described how the Black Church and African American Spiritual Leaders in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, understood the issue of elder abuse and the Black Church's role in navigating education and resources to those who are victims or at risk. African-American Spiritual Leaders' role and leadership are integral in combating elder abuse among their older members of the church and society. African Americans have always placed a significant portion of their support in the church and frequently turn to them before considering other options. Acknowledging the church's and spiritual leaders' involvement in comprehending the awareness of elder maltreatment is essential …


A Phenomenological Approach: How Hopelessness Affects Achievement In The Areas Of Socio-Economic, Criminality, And Educational Success Within The African American Community, Shawn A. Parker Dec 2023

A Phenomenological Approach: How Hopelessness Affects Achievement In The Areas Of Socio-Economic, Criminality, And Educational Success Within The African American Community, Shawn A. Parker

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This phenomenological study was designed to examine how the concept of hope or lack thereof has an impact on the negative discrepancies in the areas of education, criminal behavior, and socio-economic status among African Americans as it compares to Whites. There may be other ethnicities who have significant inconsistencies as well, but for the sack of this study, the comparisons were primarily among African Americans and Whites. The theory guiding this study is the psychodynamic approach. This approach was guided by Sigmond Freud’s desire to understand human behavior; provided a path to studying the events of the past and present …


Exploring Divorce Among African Americans: Investigating Factors And Lived Experiences, Suzetta Land Dec 2023

Exploring Divorce Among African Americans: Investigating Factors And Lived Experiences, Suzetta Land

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to describe the lived experiences of African Americans in the United States who experience divorce; investigate the role of structural, interpersonal, and cultural factors in their decision to divorce; and understand the perceived consequences of divorce. The theories guiding this study were the social exchange theory and attachment theory. Ten African Americans completed interviews conducted through Zoom video conferencing. The criteria to participate in this study included: be African American, be over the age of 18 years old, have divorced within the last 5 years, have not remarried, be employed, and live in …


No Sunshine When She’S Gone: The Shared Experiences Of African American Men Who Have Undergone Divorce, Richard Lamont Moore Oct 2023

No Sunshine When She’S Gone: The Shared Experiences Of African American Men Who Have Undergone Divorce, Richard Lamont Moore

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study is to chronicle the shared experiences of working-class/middle-class African American men who have gone through a divorce in Hampton Roads, Virginia. Vygotsky’s sociocultural theory of cognitive development, which highlights the essential roles of language and culture, and Kurt Lewin’s field theory, which suggests the field as a practical framework for researching divorce, guided this study. The research questions were as follows: How do working-class/middle-class African American men describe their experience with divorce? How do participants describe their initial understanding of the divorce process? How do participants describe the level of social support they …


Separated By Geographical Location And Lineage: A Case Study Design Using Qualitative Methodology In Research On Hope, Love, And Resilience During A Family Reunion, Cynthia Dee Reece Oct 2023

Separated By Geographical Location And Lineage: A Case Study Design Using Qualitative Methodology In Research On Hope, Love, And Resilience During A Family Reunion, Cynthia Dee Reece

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Family reunions are extensive functions in the African American community. The family members look forward to seeing one another, year after year, to share on various topics such as births, marriages, weddings, educational accomplishments, employment advancements, as well as deaths that have occurred. Often, some family members cannot attend reunions due to the distance or financial and economic hardships. Geographical location is a major hurdle to overcome when there is a lack of finances. Additionally, a mindset of not being accepted or assured of love in the family due to the perceived lineage of a family member or absence from …


An Investigation Into Posttraumatic Growth And Resilience After Trauma In African American Women, Britney A. Mitchell Sep 2023

An Investigation Into Posttraumatic Growth And Resilience After Trauma In African American Women, Britney A. Mitchell

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationships among posttraumatic growth, resilience, and trauma in African American women. Posttraumatic Growth Theory was used as the theoretical foundation for the study. A correlational survey design was used to investigate the relationships among the variables of posttraumatic growth, resilience, and trauma among African American women. Four instruments were used in this study, including a demographic survey developed by the researcher, the Posttraumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI), the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale-10 (CD-RISC-10), and the Life Event Checklist for DSM-5 (LEC-5). This study will investigate how spirituality is used as a coping skill …


Agents Of Redemptive Hope: Churches And Communities Addressing The Problem Of Anger And The African American Adolescent Male, Reginald M. Robbins Aug 2023

Agents Of Redemptive Hope: Churches And Communities Addressing The Problem Of Anger And The African American Adolescent Male, Reginald M. Robbins

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Many African American adolescent males struggle with controlling their anger leading to abusive and addictive behaviors. The question is, should the Churches respond, and if so, how can they help? This paper argues that the Church must reach out with the compassion and healing message of the gospel to the at-risk young Black males who are having difficulty dealing with anger issues to ensure a positive future for the next generation of strong and stable Black men.


African American Parenting Style Influence On Children And Adolescents' Academic Success, Elizabeth F. Martin Apr 2023

African American Parenting Style Influence On Children And Adolescents' Academic Success, Elizabeth F. Martin

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to examine how parenting styles influence African American children and adolescents’ academic success. The theory guiding this study was Diana Baumrind’s parenting typologies authoritative, authoritarian, and permissive parenting styles. A sample size of 10 African American participants who had at least one child, 3 months to 18 years of age, were recruited and selected through purposeful and snowball sampling. Each participant was interviewed via recorded Zoom meetings and data were collected utilizing open-ended, semistructured, in-depth interview questions. Three research questions guided this study: (a) what response is given that characterizes parents’ relations …


An Investigation Into The Relationship Between Perfectionism And Adverse Childhood Experiences In African American Adults, Natasha Maria Beckum Apr 2023

An Investigation Into The Relationship Between Perfectionism And Adverse Childhood Experiences In African American Adults, Natasha Maria Beckum

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Decades of research have confirmed an association between family dysfunction, adverse parentchild relationships, and perfectionism. However, to date, only one study has confirmed a link between perfectionism and specific types of ACEs. There are no studies that have examined the relationship between ACEs and perfectionism in predominately racial/ethnic populations. The purpose of this non-experimental quantitative survey research was to investigate the relationship between conventional and expanded ACES and perfectionistic traits and behaviors. Additionally, this study aimed to determine if the experience of ACEs is associated with higher levels of perfectionism in African Americans. Data was collected using the Hewitt Multidimensional …


Utilizing Resilience And Persistence Strategies To Reduce African American Doctoral Attrition, Dudley Davis Dec 2022

Utilizing Resilience And Persistence Strategies To Reduce African American Doctoral Attrition, Dudley Davis

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study is to explore the attrition rate of African American doctoral students and how to improve their retention and graduation using resilience and persistence. Across all disciplines, 40–60% of students who began doctoral programs did not persist to graduation (Falconer & Djokic, 2019; Mirick & Wladkowski, 2020). A semi-structured interview format was used to collect the data from 27 African American participants, 20 females and 7 males, who had already obtained their doctoral degrees. The study sought to explain the phenomenon of African American doctoral students who persevered to finish their degree, in spite …


The African American Nuclear Family: Investigating The Healthy Habits Of Successful Long-Term Marriages In The African American Community, Derrick L. Smith Feb 2022

The African American Nuclear Family: Investigating The Healthy Habits Of Successful Long-Term Marriages In The African American Community, Derrick L. Smith

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This phenomenological study sought to understand what contributed to the success of long-term marriages in the African American community. Long-term marriage was defined as those lasting 20 years or more. The family systems theory developed by Dr. Murray Bowen guided this study. The study employed a phenomenological approach to qualitative inquiry. Due to the national health crisis, all interviews were conducted through a Zoom conferencing platform. Nine married couples who have been married for at least 20 years or more participated in the study. The following criteria had to be met to participate in the study: race, length of the …


A Class Of Their Own: A Correlational Study On Household Composition, Chronic Absenteeism, And Graduation Among African American Males, Melissa E. Garrett-Moultrie Mar 2021

A Class Of Their Own: A Correlational Study On Household Composition, Chronic Absenteeism, And Graduation Among African American Males, Melissa E. Garrett-Moultrie

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between household compositions of African American male students, chronic absenteeism, and graduation. Chronic absenteeism is missing 10% or more of the academic school year. Using Bowen family systems theory as the theoretical framework helped examine if household composition is related to chronic absenteeism and graduation in African American males. In addition, this study explored the factors that best differentiated single-mother households from two-parent households. This study was conducted in order to develop paternal involvement programs, mentoring programs, attendance programs, and academic programs to increase graduation rates and decrease chronic absenteeism …


What Is Required For Conservative Christians In The African American Community To Experience Mental Health As A Potential Resource For Emotional Healing? A Phenomenological Approach, Tawana Denise Helmich Mar 2019

What Is Required For Conservative Christians In The African American Community To Experience Mental Health As A Potential Resource For Emotional Healing? A Phenomenological Approach, Tawana Denise Helmich

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study is to examine what is required for conservative Christians in the African American community to experience mental health counseling as a potential resource for emotional healing. The theories guiding this study are person-centered and experiential with emphasis on the Gestalt approach. Person-Centered theory was created by Carl Rogers over 40 years ago to encourage clinicians to honor their clients’ lead in their treatment process while discovering their own solutions. Experiential therapy is a humanistic approach to therapy, which will also be implemented in this research. An experiential approach to counseling prioritizes the need for …


The Effectiveness Of A Teen Pregnancy Prevention Program That Offer Special Benefits For Pregnant And Parenting Teens: A Qualitative Study, Marsha Brown Jul 2013

The Effectiveness Of A Teen Pregnancy Prevention Program That Offer Special Benefits For Pregnant And Parenting Teens: A Qualitative Study, Marsha Brown

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Teen pregnancy continues to be a problem for families, educators, health care professionals, and the government. Teenagers are not afforded the opportunity to learn or receive reinforcement on God's laws on abstaining from premarital sex because religious education is not allowed in the public school system. This increase has led to the creation of the Teenage Parenting Center (TAPP), located in southwest Georgia. TAPP is one of 64 schools in a school district that offers special benefits for pregnant and parenting teens. This qualitative case study used a phenomenological approach to explore the experience of eight former attendees of the …


The Relationship Between Facebook™ Activity And Academic Performance Among African American Students, Eric Brubaker Apr 2013

The Relationship Between Facebook™ Activity And Academic Performance Among African American Students, Eric Brubaker

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This non-experimental, regression study examined the relationship between FacebookTM activity and academic performance for an African American sample population. The study was conducted at a large, four-year, private university in the Mid-Atlantic. All undergraduate, African American students enrolled in the College of General Studies, School of Health Sciences, and School of Education comprised the sample population. Volunteer participants completed a FacebookTM Activity Survey, which is an instrument used to collect semester grade point averages (GPAs), time-use of FacebookTM, multitasking information, type of FacebookTM activities, and demographic information. The results of the survey were analyzed using …