Digital Commons Network^™

For Love Or Green Card: Exploring Intermarriage Experiences Of African American Women To West African Men In The First Decade Of Midlife From A Historical, Cultural, And Psychosocial Perspective, Kelley Owusu Asante

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This transcendental phenomenological study explored the lived experiences of African American women who married West African men during the first decade of midlife. It investigated the historical, cultural, and psychosocial factors that shaped the women’s perceptions and experiences of intermarriage. The guiding theories were social exchange theory, competitive market theory, marital paradigm theory, and sex ratio imbalance theory. Social exchange theory, developed by George C. Homans in 1958, provided a framework linking behavioral psychology and microeconomics. The study centered participants’ narratives to understand how love, commitment, and cultural negotiation unfolded in these unions. The sample comprised 12 African American women …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

A Study Of Combat Veterans Residing In Rural Communities Who Have Experienced Suicidality After Discharge, Kelly Muratorri

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to understand the lived experiences of combat veterans residing in rural communities who experienced suicidal ideation following discharge from military service. The central research question guiding this study was, What are the lived experiences of combat veterans who reside in rural areas and have contemplated suicide since discharge? The theories guiding this study were Joiner’s interpersonal theory of suicide, which emphasizes perceived burdensomeness, thwarted belongingness, and acquired capability for suicide, and Shneidman’s theory of psychache, which highlights the intolerable psychological pain that often is an underlying factor of suicidal behavior. Although there …

Spiritual Abuse: A Qualitative Study On The Lived Experience Of Survivors And Their Attachment To God, Danielle Farra Bingham

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to explore the lived experiences of Christian survivors of spiritual abuse and their relationship with God. The study also examined whether participants described those experiences using language comparable to Attachment Theory. Ten adult Christian survivors participated in semi-structured interviews, which were analyzed using Smith et al.'s (2022) interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) framework. Six Group Experiential Themes (GETs) emerged from the analysis: (a) wondering whether God was safe after sacred harm; (b) keeping God close enough to need Him and distant enough to survive; (c) trying to separate God's heart from the voices …

A Quasi-Experimental Pilot Study On The Effects Of The Mindfulness Oriented Recovery Enhancement Program On Emotion Regulation In Individuals With Substance Use Disorders, Alex Rhodes

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Those with substance use disorders (SUDs) often display difficulties in emotion regulation, which contributes to addictive behaviors and relapse. The purpose of this quantitative quasi-experimental pilot study was to examine the effects of Mindfulness-Oriented Recovery Enhancement program (MORE) on difficulties in emotion regulation and emotion regulation strategies among individuals with substance use disorders. Specifically, the study examined whether participation in an 8-week MORE program resulted in changes in (a) difficulties regulating emotions, as measured by the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS), and (b) emotion regulation strategies, as measured by the Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (ERQ). Participants (N = 9) enrolled …

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 …

The Influential Integration Of Emotional Intelligence And Discipleship: A Thesis For The Degree Of Doctor Of Ministry, Shawna R. Willis

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The end goal of this research was to create a training guide manual that integrates discipleship and emotional intelligence to introduce and educate believers on how God made them through the collation of three well-known emotional intelligence tools: temperament, personality, and skill strengths. The three validated assessments were Arno Profile Assessment from the National Christian Counseling Association, Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, and Gallup StrengthsFinder©. Participants completed five steps of intervention design that aimed to increase emotional intelligence with a final step of training that taught biblical tools and Scripture resources to manage emotions, make godly relational choices, and apply towards discipleship. …

Student Veterans’ Lived Experiences With Military Sexual Trauma In Higher Education: A Heuristic Study, Matthew W. Durkee

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This heuristic study examined the lived experiences of veterans with sexual trauma, focusing on their resilience in earning a college degree. Although researchers have studied military sexual trauma (MST) extensively, few have investigated how student veterans (SVs) build resilience and achieve academic success after trauma. Using a qualitative, phenomenological design, data were collected through semi-structured, open-ended interviews and focus groups. The researcher and ten co-researchers (participants) were student veterans with lived experience in higher education. Data analysis incorporated heuristic inquiry and NVivo software to support thematic development. An external expert, a former student married to an active-duty service member, contributed …

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 …

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 …

Cultural Fidelity: An Exploration Of Oral Tradition And Its Role In Preserving Cultural Identity In Nigerians Of The Diaspora, Veronica L. Graham

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Oral tradition is a dynamic communicative practice through which diasporic individuals construct meaning, transmit memory, and sustain intergenerational belonging. Against the backdrop of cultural displacement, linguistic adaptation, and identity negotiation, this study examined the role of oral tradition in preserving cultural identity amongst Nigerians of the diaspora. It also interrogated how oral practices—often considered antiquated or informal within Western paradigms—function as enduring technologies of cultural continuity. Guided by multi-generational voices that reflect the evolving nature of oral expression across diasporic contexts, the findings of this study indicate that oral tradition remains a powerful mechanism through which diasporic Nigerians preserve cultural …

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 …

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, …

Understanding Relapse And The Correlation With Group Counseling Accountability, Attendance, And Attitudes, Willie Sanders

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Substance abuse continues to create significant personal, family, and legal challenges, yet limited research exists on mandated clients receiving counseling within rural municipal court systems. Studying factors associated with relapse allows counselors and counselor educators to develop interventions to prevent relapse and improve treatment outcomes. The purpose of this quantitative study was to investigate the relationship between group counseling attributes of attendance, accountability, attitudes and the level of relapse rates among rural municipal court clients in Columbus, Mississippi, as measured by the DEF, Subtle, Face Valid Alcohol, Face Valid Other Drugs, and the OAT Scales of the SASSI-4 Assessment. Theoretical …

Post-Pandemic Telebehavioral Health: Sustaining And Regulating Remote Mental Health Care As A Core Modality, Weiqiao Dong

Dartmouth College Master’s Theses

The United States continues to face a persistent mental health crisis after the COVID-19 pandemic, raising a policy question about the long-term role and regulation of telebehavioral health as a core modality of care. This thesis examines that question through a case study of New York State, an early center of the pandemic and a leader in telehealth policy reform.

Guided by the Health Policy Triangle framework, this thesis integrates longitudinal data from all 62 New York counties for 2010-2025 with a 2025 cross-sectional dataset covering 61 counties. Seventeen standardized indicators are organized into four dimensions: geographic, economic, demographic, and …

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 …

Navigating Mental Health Stigma And Disclosure Among Black Males On Social Media: A Qualitative Study Guided By Stigma Management Communication Theory, Kendall Brown

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Mental health stigma in the Black male community is a significant topic worth further investigation within the field of communication. Few current studies go into depth on the subject of mental health stigma, with the aim of understanding how communication is impacted by stigma. This work fills that gap. This qualitative research study sought to explicate the varied strategies employed by Black males when navigating disclosure in social media spaces. Stigma management communication theory is the guiding theory used to illuminate the communication choices made by Black males that shape their experiences. Factors such as racism, historical medical maltreatment, and …

Impact Of In-Cabin Human Machine Interface Designs On Passenger Trust In Urban Air Mobility, Ricole A. Johnson, Erika E. Gallegos

Journal of Aviation/Aerospace Education & Research

Urban Air Mobility (UAM) presents a promising solution for alleviating urban traffic congestion and enhancing transportation efficiency. However, the widespread acceptance of UAM, particularly sustained ridership of autonomous passenger air vehicles (PAVs), is contingent upon addressing critical human factors for building passenger trust, especially in the absence of a human pilot. This paper evaluates how different in-cabin human-machine interface (HMI) designs affect passenger trust in the aircraft and in-cabin display, situation awareness, and pilot preferences. Forty participants, equally split between early and late technology adopters, completed two simulated flights: a baseline flight with no HMI and a second flight featuring …

Instructional Fidelity In Virtual Flight: Applying A Structured Learning Model For Vr-Based Pilot Training, Lindsay Gouedy, Bryce Jarrell, Mary Fendley, Brandon Wolf

Journal of Aviation/Aerospace Education & Research

As immersive training technologies reshape the future of aviation education, this study explores the impact of integrating Virtual Reality (VR) into a structured instructional model for B-52 pilot training. With the development and implementation of the I-BUFF (Integrated B-52 Unit Flight Familiarization) model, an innovative framework built upon the 4C/ID (Four Component Instructional Design) and SEEV (Salience, Effort, Expectancy, Value) models, this research evaluates whether structured VR environments improve training transfer and accelerate task proficiency for in-air refueling tasks. A sample of 233 pilot trainees was assessed across three groups: traditional training (non-VR unstructured), VR semi-structured, and VR fully structured …

The Role Of User Experience In Virtual Reality Flight Training: A Comparison With Pc-Based Simulation, Tianxin Zhang, Christina M. Frederick, Barbara Chaparro

Journal of Aviation/Aerospace Education & Research

The current project explores how user experience (UX) in virtual reality (VR) flight simulation influences both cognitive learning outcomes and procedural skill acquisition when compared to traditional desktop-based simulation.. Using a quasi-transfer of training design, 48 student pilots were randomly assigned to VR, Desktop, or Control groups and trained on the Chandelle maneuver. UX was measured with the User Experience Questionnaire (UEQ), while training effectiveness was evaluated through a post-training knowledge test and recorded maneuver performance on a high-fidelity flight training device. Results indicated that the VR group reported significantly higher UX scores in Attractiveness, Stimulation, and Novelty, and showed …

Utilising Video Recordings To Assess Student Pilot Performance: An Exploratory Study During A Simulated Training Flight, Bradley Moncion, Shi Cao, Allison Lynch, Suzanne K. Kearns, Elizabeth Irving, Ewa Niechwiej-Szwedo

Journal of Aviation/Aerospace Education & Research

In ab initio flight training, the quality of the feedback a flight instructor provides their student is essential to their success. While other high-performance and safety-critical industries have incorporated the use of video recordings into training and assessments, the aviation industry generally has not. There are some studies addressing the potential benefits of video recordings in training professional pilots, but there is a lack of research at the ab initio level. In this study, five flight instructors assessed the performance of student pilots conducting a simulated training flight using a 4-point marking scale. The flights instructors were then tasked with …

The Human Toll Of Change: Reframing Fatigue As A Latent Risk In Aviation Human Factors, Stephanie Douglas

Journal of Aviation/Aerospace Education & Research

Aviation organizations are operating in an era of rapid, overlapping transformation that places continuous cognitive and emotional demands on personnel. Traditional aviation fatigue frameworks emphasize physiological mechanisms such as sleep loss, circadian disruption, and extended duty hours driving fatigue risk management systems. This conceptual paper introduces change fatigue: a psychological form of fatigue arising from cumulative, frequent, or poorly sequenced organizational change that depletes cognitive and emotional resources and undermines safety-critical performance. Drawing on stress and coping theory, the Job Demands–Resources (JD–R) model, the Human Factors Analysis and Classification System (HFACS), and ICAO’s Human Performance Framework, it develops a multilevel …

Multigroup Confirmatory Factor Analysis Of The International Trauma Questionnaire In Public And Private Insurance Samples, Daniel J. Gutierrez

Clinical Psychology Dissertations

Several studies have investigated the factor structure of the ICD-11 symptom criteria for PTSD and Complex PTSD (CPTSD) leveraging the International Trauma Questionnaire (ITQ). The ITQ has been validated in a variety of U.S. and international populations with clinical and community samples. However, further validation is needed to determine factor structure and measurement invariance in U.S. insured populations. This study examined the factor structure and evaluated measurement invariance of the ITQ across publicly and privately insured samples. A convenience sample of 402 insured individuals was recruited using an online recruitment platform. Participants were provided with an online survey containing the …

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 …

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 …