Digital Commons Network^™

Review Of The Meanings Of Discipleship: Being Disciples Then And Now, Cory T. Branham

Eleutheria: John W. Rawlings School of Divinity Academic Journal

Discipleship is not, and has never been, one specific thing, at one specific time, or place. Rather, it has a rich, but also often unflattering, history. That history is fool of ups, downs, rights, wrongs, twists, and turns. Discipleship in the Church can be viewed in two parts; The early Church through the Nineteenth Century being Part I (8). The explosion of Discipleship teachings and tactics that began in the Twentieth Century, and continues to the present, being Part II (9). Discipleship informs some believers to engage socially and politically yet encourages many believers to stay away from those circles.

Church Attraction Through Uncertainty Reduction: A Qualitative Content Analysis Of Local Church Content Communication On Facebook And Instagram, Kailey Spilger

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

For the first time since the founding of America, less than 50% of U.S. adults claim to attend church (Jones, 2021). With the transition from traditional marketing methods to digital marketing methods post-COVID-19, church leaders admit that using social media would help them reach new people, but less than 40% have a strategy (Hodøl, 2021). The purpose of this study is to understand current content themes of local churches on social media in order to inform future social media strategies. Guided by the uncertainty reduction theory, this study considers how social media content can reduce uncertainty and promote attraction and …

Parenting Practices To Have Assisted In Academic Success Of Undergraduate Students, Dorothy Michelle Fyfe

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Prior research reflects that parental involvement has a positive effect on students’ academic performance. Limitations in the research include the use of quantitative methods, the reporting by parents, and parent involvement measured through school activities. It is unknown what parenting practices are perceived as helpful from students themselves. Therefore, the purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore the parenting practices perceived by undergraduate students to have assisted in their academic success. This research explored how undergraduate students explain parenting practices perceived to have assisted in their academic success, how they describe the communication with their parents that assisted in …

Mass Incarceration: Racial Disparities Within The U.S. Criminal Justice System, Crystal Nichole Pugh

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The United States incarceration rate has remained steady at over two million people incarcerated within their criminal justice facilities. Among the U.S. criminal justice system incarcerated populations, African Americans are disproportionately represented contributing to its overwhelming numbers and overcrowded facilities nationwide. Studies have shown racial disparities experienced within the correctional system have been credited as a direct result of decision-making at various points throughout the criminal justice process. Previous and even current research on racial disparities within the criminal justice system have attributed much of its data to disproportionate minority contacts in the juvenile population and a heavy police presence …

Pastoral Prose And Civic Engagement: Crafting The Call To The Public Square, Christopher Ian Thoma

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This thesis explores the relationship between creative writing techniques employed by pastors and congregational engagement in the public square. The central thesis posits that if pastors incorporate creative writing methods in extended weekly communications with congregants, then the necessary factors for engagement in the public square will be fostered, leading to attitudinal shifts demonstrated by increased congregational interest or participation in civil affairs. Through an extensive literature review, the thesis fairly examines historical and contemporary views of church and state, the Two Kingdoms doctrine, concepts relative to public square participation, Christianity’s waning cultural influence, communication science, developmental theory, literature familiarity, …

Feminine Language For God In The Hebrew Bible And The Implications For The Image Of God In Women, Shanté Grossett O'Neal

Masters Theses

Genesis 1:27 affirms that God created males and females in his image, suggesting that there are both masculine and feminine aspects to God's nature. Despite this, evangelical Christians often emphasize God's masculine attributes and minimize God's feminine qualities. This thesis seeks to promote awareness of the feminine language for God in the Hebrew Bible and to consider its implications for understanding the image of God in women. The research begins with a historical overview of feminist and evangelical scholarship on language for God, as well as an introduction to the Conceptual Metaphor Theory and its application in Biblical Studies. The …

Exploring Chaplains’ Lived Experience Concerning Mental Health Stigma And Suicidal Thoughts In The Military Context, Eric T. Victorino

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The empirical inquiry at the heart of this qualitative phenomenological research revolves around the identification of mental health stigma and suicidal ideation within the military context. This study delves into the lived experiences of military chaplains as they interact with service members grappling with thoughts of suicide and dealing with the associated mental health stigma. By examining the viewpoints of United States Army chaplains, we aim to gain a deeper insight into the perceived mental health stigma and its consequences for service members who are contending with suicidal thoughts. Chaplains’ unique viewpoints will contribute to an enriched comprehension of mental …

Counselor Educators' Acceptance Of Immersive And Interactive Virtual Reality As A Pedagogical Tool, Melissa A. Smith

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study explores the acceptance of immersive and interactive virtual reality (IIVR) among counselor educators in higher education. It aims to identify the factors influencing their intentions to use IIVR as a teaching tool by examining relationships between various predictors and behavioral intention. This representative survey reveals significant positive correlations between behavioral intention and performance expectancy (r =.56), effort expectancy (r = .40), and social influence (r = .55), confirming that these predictive factors play a vital role in IIVR acceptance. Additional analyses indicate that age and gender do not significantly moderate these relationships, suggesting a universal inclination toward adopting …

Voices Unveiled: Exploring Americans' Perspectives On Social Media Censorship And Advocacy For Reform Through A Qualitative Lens, Vail Forbeck

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This qualitative study explored social media users’ perceived experience of censorship on social media communication platforms to better understand the effects of censorship on users. The study relied on a qualitative questionnaire with open-ended questions to collect initial data from 115 participants in the United States. Of the questionnaire respondents, 12 participated in an in-depth interview. The questionnaires and interview answers gathered information about users’ perceived experiences of censorship on social media platforms to determine whether there is a need for changes in current social media practices and policies. The study found that Black males between the ages of 25 …

A Qualitative Descriptive Study Of Therapists And Their Work With Socially Isolated Female Victims Of Sexual Violence Amid The Covid-19 Pandemic, Iris Lazette Saldivar

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative descriptive study was to assess the experiences of therapists and the descriptions of their navigation processes while working with female victims of sexual violence who were socially isolated during the COVID-19 pandemic in the state of Texas. The theory that guided this study was the theoretical framework of loneliness, social isolation, and associated health outcomes. The research study focuses on two research questions that sought to examine the experiences and navigation of virtual treatment of therapists who provided counseling during the COVID-19 pandemic from March 2020 to March 2022. This study sought to find a …

The Nexus Of Passive-Avoidant Leadership And Deviancy: Exploring Job Embeddedness, Anthony Maurice Da Silva

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

In the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, employers have experienced unprecedented changes in the workforce, including labor shortages and new legislation. As a result, many organizations, known as second-chance employers, proactively seek alternative talent sources to mitigate staffing shortages, including hiring candidates with criminal backgrounds, either voluntarily or as mandated by law. However, this approach has challenges; individuals with criminal records often lack essential support upon reentry and experience an increased risk of reoffending. Although existing literature indicates that the appropriate leadership style is crucial for behavior correction, there is a gap in the literature addressing employees who work for …

The Influence Of Working Memory And Anxiety In Adolescents, Donna M. Ward

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Literature supports a reliable link between lower working memory (WM) performance and higher anxiety, and both anxiety and WM are reported as comorbid with neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs). This study sought to understand to what extent WM deficits and anxiety exists in adolescent NDD and non-NDD groups. Participants (N = 11,400; ages 9-10) were obtained from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) study archived dataset, with the approval of the NIMH approval. Participants in the dataset were recruited from 21 sites across the U.S. A Mann-Whitney U test, comparing the NDD (N=2756) and non-NDD (N=8644) groups was statistically significant, noting a …

Evidence-Based Practices For Military-Connected Students With Disruptive Behaviors Receiving Response To Intervention/Section 504 Services: School Counselors' Attitudes And Theoretical Orientation, Eddie Benitez

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This cross-sectional quantitative study compares primary and secondary counselors’ attitudes and theoretical orientation for evidence-based practices for military-connected students with disruptive behaviors receiving Response to Intervention and Section 504 services in Texas. This study is paramount for military-connected students with disruptive behaviors in closing gaps in academic performance, social-emotional skills, social justice, and multiculturalism in education. Military-connected students with disruptive behaviors confront the risk of not receiving evidence-based interventions through school services due to school counselors’ practices and theoretical approach. The researcher used a quantitative cross-sectional method and three analyses: Pearson r correlation, Multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA), ANOVA, and …

Evangelicals As Zionists And Peacemakers In Arab And Israeli Peacemaking Through Track Ii Diplomacy, Johnnie Moore

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This qualitative study contributes to the literature at the intersection of religion and foreign policy by focusing on one of the modern era's most protracted and relevant foreign policy issues (the conflict between Israelis and Arabs), the influence of one of America’s most powerful religious constituencies (evangelicals), and one of the most widely used tools of non- governmental diplomacy (Track II diplomacy). It provides original research related to the relevancy of Track II diplomacy by evangelicals, specifically pro-Israel or “Zionist” evangelicals, in Israeli and Arab peacemaking. The study analyzes three relevant case studies to answer the research question: “How are …

Examining How Sexual Trauma Has Affected Women In Their Education: Creating A Community Of Awareness In The Educational System, Tyeasia Dorsey

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Sexual Trauma can have debilitating effects on women’s lives. The goal of this study was to focus on one aspect: how sexual trauma affects women’s academic performance, whether continuing education, a decrease in grades and grade point average (GPA), or the continuation of further educational studies. The underlying rationale for the study was the lack of research on the topic, especially in rural communities. This research utilized a qualitative study approach by conducting semi-structured interviews. This study was conducted to examine the mental health components of sexual trauma in women: a lack of support versus having a supportive environment and …

Variables Predicting Turnover Intention Among Mental Health And Addictions Therapists, Deborah J. Milanek

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this research study was to explore the correlations between pay satisfaction, burnout, workload, and flexible work arrangements on turnover intention among mental health and addictions therapists. Previous research studies indicate that turnover may negatively affect patient care, increase cost to employers, decrease workplace morale and increase workload demands for remaining therapists. Some research studies have also found that pay satisfaction, burnout, workload, and flexible work arrangements may be related to turnover intention. This study planned to support current research as well as determine the strength of the correlation between each of these variables and turnover intention. To …

A Correlational Study Between Spiritual Bible Reading And Spiritual Formation Of Leaders Of Pentecostal Churches, Mark Kwablah Buku

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study aimed to understand the nuances of spiritual Bible reading and how it connects to the spiritual maturity of Christian leaders. The lack of spiritual formation in Christian spiritual leaders motivated this research. Literature abounds with spiritual reading, biblical engagement, interpretation methodologies, and the spiritual formation of Christian leaders. However, only a few studies exist on how people engage with the Bible. There is no empirical data on how biblical interactions impact spiritual development. The theory that guided this study was Jack Mezirow’s Transformative Learning Theory. With a quantitative survey methodology and non-probability sampling, data was collected from 91 …

A Missed Opportunity: The Relationship Between Language, Cognition, And Poverty In Early Childhood Among Bilingual Children, Saskia Barboza

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Human development is a continuous process with critical periods, and early childhood is part of that process, with internal changes prompted by external factors. An essential part of human development is language acquisition and cognitive skills which are shaped by heredity, brain structure, personal differences, social interaction, and socioeconomic background. In recent decades the exposure to multiple languages at home has been growing, causing differences between the language status (bilingual or monolingual) and the executive functions of developing children. Some previous studies have pointed out cognitive differences in bilingual children, while others have not. The present study observed three variables …

Meals For All: An Examination Of The Effects Of Free School Meals On Middle Class Households, Ryan Elizabeth Comerford

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Universal meal programs were created to mitigate childhood food insecurity in low-income communities. It is well known that poverty and food insecurity go hand-in-hand and are often the basis for much academic research within the realm of childhood food insecurity. This study investigates the impact of universal meal programs on food insecurity from a different perspective, that of the middle class. As an under-researched area, the hope is to draw attention to the needs of communities that are often forgotten and may not qualify for social programs, in an effort to reform existing federal policy regarding Universal Meal programs. Utilizing …

Lean Implementation Difference Between Lean Maturity, Psychological Well-Being, And Employee Engagement Of Nurses In A Hospital Setting, Kevin E. Smith

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This quantitative study examined the differences of Lean implementation in three settings; (a hospital in a health system where Lean is implemented throughout the system, a hospital that has implemented Lean in a health system that has not implemented Lean, a hospital that has not implemented Lean in a health system that has not implemented Lean) between LM, PWB, and EE among nurses in a hospital setting. The theoretical construct of the job demands-resources model is used to base the study. Three survey instruments (Psychological Well-Being Scale, Utrecht Work Engagement Scale, Lean Healthcare Implementation Self-Assessment Instrument) were self-administered by registered …

Needs-Supportive Teaching And Its Impact On Standardized Test Scores In Southwest Missouri Schools, Ed Barlow

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Despite the theoretical proposition that needs-supportive teaching practices, guided by self-determination theory (SDT), can positively influence student academic outcomes, research examining the relationship between teachers' self-reported needs-supportive behaviors and objective measures of student performance, such as standardized test scores, is scarce. This study investigated the correlation between teachers' needs-supportive practices, as assessed by the Teacher as Social Context Questionnaire (TASCQ), and their students' academic achievement based on standardized test results. The sample consisted of 31 K-12 teachers from various grade levels in public schools located in Southwest Missouri. Participants completed the TASCQ, which measures needs-supportive teaching in terms of autonomy …

The Australian Woolen Industry; British Investment In Colonial Australia: Unraveling The Threads Of Economic Development 1788-1850, Marie Cecilia Hedrick

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this study is to examine the dynamic relationship between British investment and the development of pastoralism and wool production in Australia from 1788 to 1850. It focuses on the crucial period of early European settlement and the subsequent growth of the wool industry as one of their first major staple industries. This study utilizes a multidisciplinary methodology approach, integrating historical, economic, political, and agricultural perspectives in order to provide a clearer understanding of the factors influencing British investment decisions. Research is conducted into the motivations behind British colonization in Australia with an emphasis on the role of …

Mass Shooting Prevention: What Can Local Law Enforcement Do?, Alycia Mary Shelton

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative study was to understand how law enforcement officers can influence mass shooting prevention tactics. Minimal research has been conducted on law enforcement’s influence in the prevention of mass shootings. At this stage, researchers describe needing more information about mass shooting prevention tactics. Since minimal research has been conducted on law enforcement’s influence on mass shooting prevention, the goal was to determine what they believe can be done. Guiding this study was phenomenology, the study of conscious experiences as they appear in the first person. Phenomenology has been crucial in the tradition of European philosophy throughout …

Faith And Clutter: A Christian Perspective To Understand, Treat, And Prevent Hoarding Disorder, Mary Katherine Flage

NEXUS: The Liberty Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies

No abstract provided.

Cni Combined Variables Dataset, Kahlib Fischer

Faculty Publications and Presentations

Overview:

This data represents county-wide data for every state in the United States in an attempt to measure the presence and impact of social capital and local community health (as defined by covenantal noncentralization) on community challenges.

Predictor Variables (Covenantal Noncentralization):

• 2 Parent Percentage
• Religious Adherence
• Social Associations
• Charitable Deduction
• Institutional Governance

Outcome Variables (Community Challenges):

• Tragic Deaths
• STD Rates
• Unemployment
• Child Poverty
• Dropout Rate

The spreadsheet consists of the following tabs:

• Raw Data: all data, predictor and outcome, for every county in the United States
• CNI-Z: Z score conversions for all Predictor Variables as discussed above
• Comm …

Building Bridges: Connecting The Disconnected To God And Others After Counseling, Jonathan W. Terry

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Previous research reveals that building bridges is not a new concept, but most of these topics do not involve the combination of relationships and counseling. Building Bridges is a metaphor for building healthy relationships. All participants were willing volunteers and were ensured anonymity. Twenty-three participants signed up for the workshop, and nineteen received a certificate of completion. The inspection report questionnaire and self-reflection homework assignment were used to introduce some vital tools for spiritual journaling, self-accountability, and self-assessment for each participant. The problem at FBC-GA is the relational disconnection caused by shame, guilt, and unresolved hurt that remains an inward …

Dangerous Ambition: Character Analysis Of Major General Horatio Gates, Harold Allen Skinner Jr.

Bound Away: The Liberty Journal of History

Historian Robert Middlekauff describes Revolutionary War-era America as a society of the twice-born, people profoundly influenced by both radical English Whig ideology and the reformed Protestantism of the Great Awakening.[1] Historians have studied the influence of Christianity on many of the leading figures of the American Revolution, with the notable exception of Major General Horatio Gates. Gates’ military career presents a paradox to military historians: how could the victor at Saratoga in 1778 suffer ignominious defeat at Camden in August 1780? This paper will argue that Horatio Gates’ misfortunes during the American Revolution were due principally to his unregenerate …

The Impact Of Adverse Childhood Experience (Ace) On Victims' Self-Perception And Moral Character Development In Adulthood, Josephine Afua Owusu

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Adversity experienced in childhood is known to have debilitating consequences that permeate subsequent life experiences and predict adulthood wellbeing. The intensity and nature of this impact vary, however. Empirical and practical knowledge also point to the significant role of self-perception in determining one’s view of others, character development, and life experiences. Research has suggested associations between childhood adversities and self-perception, although this knowledge is scanty and inconsistent, with similarly minimal evidence on their correlation with character development. This study set out to examine how adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) influence victims’ self-perception and character development in adulthood. It employed a mixed …

The Impact Of A Group Mentoring Program On Psychosocial Development And Sense Of Belonging In Undergraduate Students, Natasha L. Varnick

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Mentoring has been studied in corporate and academic environments as a means of providing career and psychosocial support for young colleagues or students. Initially, mentoring was viewed as a single dyadic relationship between a mentor and a mentee. However, in recent years, it has been better understood in terms of mentoring constellations or group mentoring, as multiple mentors may best aid the development of individuals. While much mentoring research has examined professional development, this study focused on the psychosocial development that mentoring can provide. The relationship between mentoring and sense of belonging was also examined. It was hypothesized that students …

Beyond The Crown: A Qualitative Research Study On Pageant Women And The Looking-Glass Self, Laurel R. Stiekes

Masters Theses

Pageantry has existed in society for hundreds of years and is still prevalent within society today. Pageant contestants voluntarily compete in systems to hear what judges have to say about their intellect, talent, and poise. However, the opinions of the judges seem to not be the true influential voice in a pageant queen’s life. Previous research has reported that it is the people closest to us that have the most positive or devastating impact on the way we view ourselves. The question this study sought to answer was, “How have the opinions of others had an impact on the self-image …