Digital Commons Network^™

The National Law Enforcement Staffing Shortage’S Impact On Central Texas, Mark Vincent Valli

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study examined the relationship between perceived support from public administrators and law enforcement supervisors/executives and staffing levels in Central Texas law enforcement agencies. Guided by Social Exchange Theory (SET) and Public Service Motivation (PSM), the research investigated how administrative and supervisory support influences vacancy and turnover rates, two key indicators of staffing stability. A convergent parallel mixed-methods design was employed to integrate quantitative and qualitative perspectives. Quantitative data were collected from agency records and surveys administered to sworn law enforcement personnel across the Central Texas region (defined for this study as the Capital Area Council of Governments (CAPCOG) associated …

The Impact Of Blockchain-Linked Audit Trails And Stakeholder Feedback Loops On Ethical Adherence In The U.S. Federal And State Agencies, Leon Pikor

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This dissertation explores the impacts of blockchain-based audit trails and stakeholder feedback loops on ethical conduct in U.S. federal and state public administration. The study addresses ongoing ethical problems in government, such as low levels of accountability, inadequate procedures, policy manipulation, and a waning public confidence in government, despite the existence of government ethics codes and oversight bodies. Ethical adherence is considered using two complementary theories: the virtue theory (Honesty, Fairness, Integrity, Responsiveness, Trust) and the deontological theory (Duty fulfillment, Rule following, Documentation, Accountability, Procedural compliance). The study was conducted with closed and open-ended answers from public administration participants who …

The Intersectionality Of Juvenile Justice And Education: A Comparative Study Of Educational Governance Typologies Within The Juvenile Justice System, Domonique Mckenzie-Charles

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Each year, a number of youths find themselves at an intersection between the school-to-prison pipeline (SPP) and the criminal justice system. This research study examined the relationship between educational governance typologies of juvenile justice systems and juvenile recidivism in 10 U.S. states, with a centralized focus on the model of internalized governance. The purpose of this research study was to develop a comparative typology of educational governance through the evaluation of leadership structures, to assess the association between educational governance typologies and rehabilitative outcomes. The following comparative study discovered how educational governance typologies differ across states and whether these differences …

Passing The Mantle: An Explanatory Sequential Study Of Mentoring And Succession In Ministry, Carol Anne Hankinson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This project developed an eight-week mentorship framework to address leadership succession in collaborative organizations. According to the Barna Group (2023), the aging of the American clergy has reached crisis levels for the Church. Christian institutions of worship must adopt a plan of action to address this concern. Scripturally and historically, mentorship has been God's plan for passing the mantle from senior to junior leaders (Akoto, 2024). Burns's (1978) theory of transformational leadership advocates relational mentorship to advance an organization's mission and purpose. To this end, the researcher explored an intentional mentorship program with 28 participants. A mixed-methods explanatory sequential design …

Psychosocial Functioning In United States Military Veterans Following Military Sexual Trauma: A Phenomenological Study, Anika M. Hernandez

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Military Sexual Trauma (MST) is a pervasive yet often underrecognized form of military-based trauma that may significantly disrupt veterans’ psychological and psychosocial functioning. Although existing literature highlights clinical symptomatology, particularly posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), less is understood about how MST shapes long-term psychosocial functioning across relational, occupational, emotional, and identity-based domains. This Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) study explored the lived experiences of veterans who survived MST and examined how participants describe changes in self-concept, interpersonal relationships, occupational functioning and overall quality of life following trauma exposure. Grounded in Psychosocial Development Theory and Ecological Systems Theory, this study examined how veterans …

Interstellar Faith: A Phenomenological Exploration Of Christian Reconciliation With Uaps And Nonhuman Intelligence, Christian Pedersen

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The researcher examined how Christian leaders interpret, respond to, and navigate questions surrounding Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAP) and nonhuman intelligence (NHI) within their theological and ministerial contexts. Despite growing cultural and governmental attention to these phenomena, little empirical research has explored how Christian leaders engage these questions pastorally or theologically. Using a transcendental phenomenological design informed by Moustakas (1994), the researcher conducted semi-structured interviews with twelve Christian leaders across multiple traditions. Analysis produced ten major themes organized around three research questions addressing theological interpretation, pastoral ministry, and lived experience. Findings revealed a participant group marked by intellectual humility, theological seriousness, …

Perspectives On Community Services Board Telehealth Interventions For Suicidal Ideation: An Intrinsic Case Studysalaam, Dwane B. Salaam

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The expressed purpose of this intrinsic case study was to understand and describe the personal perspectives of those individuals who facilitate telehealth interventions for suicidal ideation and behaviors, as it relates to quality of care delivered via remote modalities at a local CSB (Community Services Board) in Virginia. Cases were selected from multiple modalities and examples of remote interventions for suicidal ideation (SI), as well as in-depth interviews, reports, and documents. The theory that guided this study was Lev Vygotsky’s social constructivist theory, which emphasizes that knowledge construction and learning are deeply embedded in social, cultural, and collaborative interactions that …

“It’S Not Just A Story”: A Phenomenological Study Of Evangelical Christian Women Who Have Disclosed Childhood Sexual Abuse To An Evangelical Pastor, Erin M. Collins

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to describe Evangelical Christian women's experiences disclosing childhood sexual abuse to their pastor in the southeastern region of the United States. Childhood sexual abuse has been a globally studied public health and human rights concern. Over the past few decades, the knowledge of childhood sexual abuse has accumulated in a substantial amount of empirical research, through state and federal legislations, as well as with media coverage. This research has shed light on the gaps in the study regarding disclosure of childhood sexual abuse to an evangelical pastor. Most available research discussed the physiological …

Evaluating The Efficacy Of State-Level Legislation In Mitigating Cyberattack Impacts And Victim Reduction, John Mark Norris

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This quantitative longitudinal study examined the effectiveness of state cybersecurity legislation by analyzing the relationship between five state-level legislative features: mandatory frameworks, enforcement actions, information sharing, mandatory cybersecurity training, and government incentives, and two cybersecurity outcomes: the number of cyberattack victims and resulting economic losses. Using data from all 50 U.S. states from 2017 through 2024, the study evaluated whether these legislative features were associated with measurable reductions in cyberattack impacts. The findings indicate that none of the five legislative features significantly reduced the ratio of cyberattack victims to establishments. For economic losses, enforcement actions were modestly and negatively associated …

Evaluating Administrative Strategies For Implementing Emergency Response Policies: A Public Administration Approach To Active Shooter Incidents, Christopher J. Ferro

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of the proposed study is to address the persistent problem of ineffective implementation of emergency response policies for active shooter incidents within public agencies. Despite the development of numerous laws, public policies, and preventive measures aimed at mitigating such incidents, challenges remain in how such policies are administered and executed by public administrators. The proposed study will examine the administrative processes and strategies that shape how relevant policies are implemented and evaluated for effectiveness. The research will incorporate a qualitative design by examining case studies of successful and unsuccessful active shooter incident responses, conducting semi-structured interviews with public …

School Counselor Morale: A Phenomenological Study On School Counselor Morale In The Post-Pandemic Era, Courtney J. Spradlin

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study is to understand the patterns of school counselors morale for K-12 public school counselors in Metro Atlanta. The theory guiding this study is phenomenological theory founded by Edmund Hesserl as it explains the philosophy behind lived experiences of people. These lived experiences can include: day to day experiences, trauma, life-changing events. Specifically, for this study this theory supports studying the lived experiences of school counselors in their day to day roles. The following questions are addressed in this study: How has school counseling changed since the pandemic? What is the current level of job …

Quoting The Silver Screen: The Communication Influence Of Film Dialogue, Albert Clayton Vandiver Jr.

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This qualitative thematic analysis study researched the topic of film dialogue elements used in common interpersonal discourse. These elements, or movie quotes, were observed to manifest as meaning-filled symbols in communication throughout American culture. This phenomenon, and the gap in scholarly literature or lack of research on movie quotes within the field of communication, underscored the significance and need for investigation. This study employed a qualitative methodology using the thematic analysis approach in evaluating data. Research questions were designed to focus the study on internal motivation for, and external influence on, movie quote usage. 17 screened adult participants provided valid …

Restoring Trust And Relational Depth In The Philadelphia Seventh-Day Adventist Church Through Structural Family Therapy Interventions, Laundale Leopold Munroe

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This Doctor of Ministry action research project addressed the challenge of unclear relational and leadership boundaries associated with reduced trust, emotional comfort, and healthy communication within the Philadelphia Seventh-day Adventist Church in Bronx, New York. The purpose of this project was to implement and evaluate an eight-week Structural Family Therapy-informed intervention designed to strengthen trust, emotional comfort, leadership clarity, relational boundaries, and healthy communication among church members. The goals were to increase participants’ awareness of congregational relational patterns, encourage healthier interpersonal interactions, and cultivate practices that support sustained relational health. A mixed-methods action research design was employed with eighteen adult …

Digital Forensic Skill Gaps Among Law Enforcement And Implications For Modern Criminal Investigations, Chip Thornsburg

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Digital evidence has become a routine component of modern criminal investigations; however, many law enforcement agencies face challenges in developing the personnel, training, and resources needed to manage increasingly complex digital evidence. The purpose of this explanatory sequential mixed-methods study was to examine digital forensic skill gaps among Texas local law enforcement agencies and their implications for modern criminal investigations. Guided by Human Capital Theory and Routine Activities Theory, Phase I employed a statewide survey of agencies to assess digital forensic resources, training, competency, and digital evidence usage. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Kruskal–Wallis tests, chi-square tests of …

How Do U.S. Advisors Interpret Successes, Failures, And Strategic Adaptations During Joint Operations In The Philippines, And What Do These Interpretations Reveal About The Processes Shaping Advisory Outcomes Applicable To Future Strategy In The Pacific?, Steven C. Miller

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Operation Enduring Freedom-Philippines was a 14-year mission that entailed a 21st-century, long-term special operation conducted by the United States with a partnered nation in the Pacific. This qualitative study explored how U.S. advisors interpret successes, failures, and strategic adaptations during joint operations in the Philippines, and what these interpretations reveal about the processes shaping advisory outcomes applicable to future strategy in the Pacific. The research evaluated the successes, challenges, and adaptations the U.S. soldiers experienced while deploying as advisors for counterterrorism operations. Data was collected by surveying participants who served as members of the U.S. task force in the southern …

A Qualitative Case Study On The Negative Impact The Global Pandemic Had On The Oil And Gas Industry, Sarah Denise Hagans

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this flexible-design single-case study was to expand the understanding of the reasons behind the negative impact the global pandemic had on international trade in the oil and gas industry. The research was critical to understanding the turbulent period for the oil and gas industry during the global pandemic. The study was essential because the possible negative effects of the global pandemic on the oil and gas industry were not fully determined or understood because of the volatility in upstream, midstream, and downstream production. The research aimed to determine the driving factors and explanations for how the negative …

A Qualitative Descriptive Study Of Secular And Christian-Based Correctional Operations: Exploring The Impact On Recidivism, Reintegration, And Spiritual Transformation, Cullen B. Burch

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This qualitative descriptive study examines the effectiveness of secular versus Christian-based correctional programs in reducing recidivism among offenders and enhancing reintegration outcomes. The primary purpose is to explore perceived limitations of secular correctional methodologies, given observed challenges such as rising recidivism and limited offender transformation. In contrast, Christian-based programs, grounded in biblical principles and spiritual transformation, are posited to foster meaningful change among offenders. The study focuses on the perspectives of formerly incarcerated individuals who participated in secular and faith-based initiatives while incarcerated in Texas. Data collection is exclusively qualitative, involving semi-structured interviews with these formerly incarcerated individuals and a …

Price Tags Of Goodwill: The Examination Of General Strain Theory And Official Behavior, Kathryn A. Loving

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Applying the theoretical framework of Agnew’s (1992) General Strain Theory, this project aimed to understand the connection between strain-induced responses and improper official behavior, considering an individual’s intersectionality (sexuality). Despite extant empirical data recognizing that justice officials' duties expose them to a barrage of human misery, vicarious trauma, and intense circumstances that negatively impact their psyche, little research exists about how compassion fatigue relates to improper official conduct. When culturally induced expectations become divorced from an official despite a coordinated institutional emphasis, negative police responses can jeopardize public service. Because criminal justice officials are the backbone of public safety, it …

Quiet Ego And Psychological Empowerment In Virtual Knowledge Work, Jazzlin Mouton

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study is an explanatory sequential mixed methods study designed to examine whether a high quiet ego orientation predicts high psychological empowerment in knowledge workers functioning as part of a team in a virtual workspace. The quantitative phase used simple linear regressions to test the hypotheses, followed by a qualitative phase consisting of unstructured interviews and a phenomenological approach to data analysis. Quantitative findings were not significant. Although quiet ego orientation did not predict psychological empowerment or any of its subscales (meaning, competence, self-determination, impact), qualitative findings indicate that individuals with high quiet ego scores consistently demonstrated intentional, prosocial workplace …

Exploring Challenges To Implementing Restorative Justice Processes Among Law Enforcement Officers In Anambra State, Nigeria, Hamilton E. Okeke

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This transcendental phenomenological study explored the essence of law enforcement officers’ lived experiences of implementing Restorative Justice processes and the challenges associated with their implementation within Anambra State’s criminal justice system. Restorative justice was introduced into Nigeria’s criminal justice system through the 2015 Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) and domesticated in Anambra State through the Administration of Criminal Justice Law (ACJL) in 2022, introducing non-custodial and restorative alternatives within a predominantly retributive system. Despite growing attention to implementation challenges, little is known about how law enforcement officers experience and make sense of Restorative Justice within the state’s criminal justice …

Exploring Resilience And Religion’S Influence On Addiction Recovery: A Qualitative Phenomenological Study, Nicole Mason-Dye

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Substance use disorder (SUD) continues to be a pressing public health crisis in the United States, marked by complex mental, physical, and spiritual consequences. While evidence-based treatments are well developed, relapse rates remain high, highlighting the need for integrative models that incorporate spiritual and psychological resilience. This qualitative transcendental phenomenological study described individuals recovering from SUDs’ experiences sustaining long-term sobriety in the Southeastern United States within a 100-mile radius of a metropolitan city as well as understand how spirituality and resilience interact to sustain sobriety and encourage personal transformation. Guided by resilience theory and framed within a constructivist-phenomenological paradigm, the …

Comparing The Difference In Nurses’ Knowledge And Attitudes Toward Near-Death Experiences (Ndes) Before And After Receiving Nde Education, Renata B. Mcallister

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Near-death experiences (NDEs) have been reported in approximately 6.3% to 39.3% of patients who survived death or critical illness. Research indicated that health care professionals, of whom nurses are the largest group, received little education or training on NDEs. Nurses' responses to a disclosure could help the patient integrate the experience or contribute to stress and isolation. National nursing standards do not address education or competencies specific to NDEs, and few studies have examined educational programs on the topic. This quasi-experimental study examined changes in nurses' knowledge and attitudes before and after a three-part asynchronous training on NDEs, measured with …

A Qualitative Study Of Social Presence Theory In Organizational Communication With Online Adjunct Sense Of Belonging, Sheri Lemon

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This qualitative study addressed the challenges of geographically dispersed online adjunct faculty feelings of isolation and sense of belonging. The purpose of this qualitative was to explore how online adjunct faculty experience a sense of belonging within their institutions and how organizational leadership communication practices, interpreted through social presence theory, shape those experiences. Guided by Short, Williams, and Christie's (1976) social presence theory and Craig’s (1999) sociopsychological tradition, this research explored the lived experiences of online instructors and the specific communicative behaviors that influence their connection to their institutions. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews with twenty online adjunct faculty …

A Parcel-Level Gis Analysis Of Development Disparities, Floodplain Exposure, And Building Growth In Texas Border Colonias, Dean Kyne, Bridget R. Scanlon, Yiming Zhang, Keri K. Stephens, Brent Porter, Wonhyun Lee, Aracelli V. Vegs

Sociology Faculty Publications

Colonias are historically underserved communities along the Texas–Mexico border facing infrastructure deficiencies, socioeconomic vulnerability, and environmental hazards. This study examines parcel-level development conditions across 66,160 properties in Cameron, Hidalgo, Starr, and Willacy Counties, Texas. Property appraisal records, colonia boundaries and 2014 classifications, and geographic information system analyses were integrated to evaluate property values, platting, public service district coverage, floodplain exposure, and reconstructed building patterns from 1990 to 2025. These indicators represent physical and economic conditions associated with resilience rather than a comprehensive measure of community resilience. Results reveal variation among counties and 2014 baseline classification categories. Communities classified as Green …

Linking Emotion Dysregulation To Autistic Traits Across Neurodiverse Samples, Rachel G. Mcdonald, Mary Isaac Cargill, Emily Lynch, Sadaf Khawar, Caroline Freden, Erin Kang

Department of Psychology Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

Emotion dysregulation (ED) is defined as difficulty regulating emotions in response to activating situations, and subsequent difficulty choosing an environmentally appropriate strategy to modulate one’s emotions. Despite ED being identified as a transdiagnostic construct, little research has examined the links to constructs like social communication and interaction (SCI) and restricted and repetitive behaviors (RRBs). SCIs and RRBs are core components of neurodevelopmental conditions like autism, as well as other mental health conditions more broadly. This article sought to examine the effects of emotional dysphoria and emotional reactivity on SCI and RRBs. Caregivers of 99 youth (64 autistic) ages 6 to …

The Bambisanani Partnership: A Global Initiative Activating Faith And Sport, David Geldart, Matt Hoven

Journal of Catholic Education

The Bambisanani Partnership: A Global Initiative Activating Faith and Sport Partnership is a United Kingdom-based charity that originated as a sports-based partnership between St. Mary’s Catholic High School in the UK, and Mnyakanya High School in rural KwaZulu- Natal (KZN), South Africa, in 2006. Inspired by papal teaching about sport, this article explores the ways in which this particular program has been successful in providing opportunities to live out the Catholic faith through sports participation. The partnership, which remains based at St. Mary’s School and is run entirely by volunteers, operates in the Nkandla region of South Africa, which is …

Trauma-Informed Coaching: An Application Of Catholic Social Teaching To Formation And Healing Through Sport, Kristin K. Sheehan, Peter Piscitello, Elaine Cassidy

Journal of Catholic Education

Mission-driven athletic programs aim to form the whole athlete—physically, emotionally, socially, morally, and spiritually. A critical component of this mission is equipping coaches to serve as ministers of the Church while embracing trauma-informed practices. This paper introduces the rationale, process, and techniques for trauma-informed coaching as a research-based approach to supporting athlete mental health. Grounded in Catholic Social Teaching, this framework emphasizes community, participation, and the dignity of the human person, particularly care for the vulnerable. Drawing on neuroscientific and psychological research on trauma alongside Church documents and papal pronouncements, the paper demonstrates how trauma-informed coaching fosters healing and resilience …

Sport, Human Flourishing And The Common Good: A Jesuit Perspective, Patrick M. Kelly S.J.

Journal of Catholic Education

The author interprets humanist and early Jesuit education inspired by the Spiritual Exercises through the lens of the flow psychology theory of Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi to highlight that they bring about differentiation – the development of the different interests, skills, dimensions of the person – and integration – in a way that is connected to community and fosters the common good. The inclusion of physical education and sports in the humanist and early Jesuit schools – the first instance of it in Catholic schools – was influenced by longer traditions which emphasized the unity of the person and a “play ethic”, …

Access And Use Of Agricultural Information Services For Sustainable Irish Potato Production And Socioeconomic Development Among Farmers In Plateau State, Nigeria, Olunusi Patience Abosede Mrs, Fwenshimwa Goyol Yarima Mrs, Oyetunde Adeduntan Olajumoke Adedokun, Olusola Funmilayo Babalola, Segilola Victoria Omowumi

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

Admiration Without Worship: The Fallibilization Of The Hero And The Moral Logic Of Modernity, Mohsen Askari

Heroism Science

This article develops the concept of the fallibilization of the hero, defined as the cultural process through which admired figures become visible as flawed, historically situated, morally complex human beings. It argues that modernity does not abolish heroism but changes the conditions under which it can be believed. In hagiographic systems, heroes are protected from contradiction and presented as pure or destined; in modern‑critical systems, greatness can coexist with error, weakness, and compromise. The article situates fallibilization within debates on heroism science, hagiography, charismatic authority, collective memory, and modern biography, proposing a four‑part typology of heroic forms: hagiographic, developmental, fallibilized, …