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Developing The Importance Of Integrity To Consistently Display Biblical Principles And Characteristics In Ministry Leadership Roles, Michella R. Keys

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Integrity in ministry is not a choice; it must be the lifestyle of those in leadership. Christian leaders must understand the influence they have on others (Bredfeldt, 2006). The dissertation focuses on the importance of integrity and how, as Christian leaders, it is essential to consistently display integrity, biblical principles, and biblical characteristics when in leadership roles in ministry.. The problem arises when ministry leaders do not live a consistent lifestyle that aligns with God’s word. Training and developing Christian leaders who know Jesus as their example and can lead by being a role model for others with consistent character …

Using Statistical Modeling To Help Improve The Work Environment For Nurses, Malcolm S. Demery

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study aims to investigate if statistical modeling can help to improve the nurse’s work environment by identifying and solving basic workplace stresses. The major problem addressed is the stressful situation of burnout and high turnover levels for nurses, which affects the patient and the quality of care. Therefore, this research is important since it can enhance nurse job satisfaction and retention which subsequently can result in better healthcare outcomes, lower operational costs, and better patient safety. The central research questions guiding this study are: (1) How can statistical modeling aid in the discovery and correction of underlying factors that …

Keep The Family Close: A Hermeneutic Phenomenological Study On Family Support And Successful Re-Entry, Kerry Lynn Shipman

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenological study is to understand successful reintegration with positive family support for formerly incarcerated African American men in a major metropolitan city in North Carolina. Individuals released from prison face challenges that result in the likelihood of recidivism. Previous studies regarding these individuals have focused on the requirements for their successful re-entry into society, including financial stability, housing, employment, and family support; however, there is a need to understand what forms of support are needed from families. The theory guiding the current study is the social support theory, as it explains that support from communities, …

Equipping Future Christian Leaders: Parents’ Perspectives Of Christian Schools In Orange County, California, Mawufemor Jay Biekro

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study is to explore how Christian schools in Orange County, California, contribute to the spiritual growth of their students as it pertains to becoming future Christian leaders. Spiritual growth will be defined as the process of becoming more and more like Jesus Christ. Though studies exist addressing the spiritual formation of children, this research focused specifically on the impact of Christian schools in Orange County, California, as perceived by their parents. The meaning of “future Christian leaders” as used in the title of this research not only refers to future pastors or Christians who hold …

The Christian Impact On Addiction Recovery In The Revive And Restore Recovery Ministry In Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, Donald Albert Walczak

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The problem at Revive and Restore Recovery Ministry is that participants fail to grasp the importance of a biblically based approach to addiction recovery. The purpose of this action research project is to develop a written plan that implements an effective Christian-based approach to addiction recovery. The field of addiction recovery provides a multi-faceted approach to accomplish healing for individuals seeking wholeness and healing. The primary goal of this study is to develop a viable Christian recovery model. The implementation of this model will be detailed in the research. Research methods include the gathering of basic data points through the …

The Effect Of Sleep Latency, Duration, And Quality In Adolescents When Altering Nighttime Smartphone And Social Media Use, Ryan R. May

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Smartphones and social media are quickly becoming standard technological tools for connection and socialization within the modern-day adolescent population. Inversely, sleep for adolescents/young adults is decreasing while sleep problems are rising. This research trend is prompting researchers to investigate how restricting or eliminating smartphone/social media use benefits sleep health. The current study hypothesized that when adolescents/ young adults aged 18-21 eliminate smartphone/social media usage one hour before bedtime there would be a significantly lower number of nighttime awakenings, a reduction in sleep onset, and a higher number of minutes slept for participants in the experimental group when compared to participants …

Evaluating Velocity-Based Training Compared With Percent-Based Loading In High School Football Athletes, Daniel Mullins

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this study was to investigate velocity-based training (VBT) compared with percent-based training (PBT) protocols in high school American football (AF) athletes. This study evaluated the improvements in 1RM back squat, countermovement jump (CMJ), and linear sprint (LS) times from a 6-week resistance training protocol. The study also compared the total time under tension (TUT) each group experienced throughout the intervention. This randomized controlled trial with pre- and post-measures of all dependent variables included participants (n = 19, age: 16.0 ± 0.9 years, training experience: 1.7 ± 0.7 years) who were enrolled in a physical education class specifically …

Exploring The Bidirectional Relationship Between Attachment Styles And Spiritual Practices In Protestant Christians: A Qualitative Study, Emily Lauren Pritt

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This qualitative study explores the bidirectional relationship between spirituality and attachment among Protestant Christians—a topic with limited empirical focus. Grounded in attachment theory and theological insights, prior research often treats attachment as a static predictor of spiritual development, with little attention to how spiritual engagement may reshape attachment. This study addresses the gap by examining how these relational domains mutually inform each other and affect psychological well-being within a Christian context. The purpose was to explore if adult attachment styles and spiritual practices influence emotional health, relational security, and overall well-being among active Protestant Christians. Twenty-two adults actively engaged in …

The Relationship Between Parent-Child Attachment And Emotional Regulations In Adolescents, Stanley T. Triplett

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

It is unknown how parent-child attachment is related to emotion regulation among adolescents; this quantitative correlational study aimed to examine how the quality of parent-child attachment was related to adolescents’ emotion regulation abilities, and whether gender or stage of adolescence moderated this relationship. Data collected from 116 parents of adolescents aged 10-21 using the Attachment Q-Sort Questionnaire, the Emotion Regulation Questionnaire, and a demographic questionnaire were analyzed using multiple linear regression analysis, indicating that the model was significant; the quality of parent-child attachment explained 6% of the variance in adolescents’ emotion regulation, meaning the quality of parent-child attachment could predict …

Predicting School Culture From Teacher Experience And Funding: A Predictive Correlational Study, Bailey D. Keller

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this quantitative, predictive correlational study is to understand how accurately the perception of school climate can be predicted from a linear combination of special education teachers’ years of teaching experience and supplemental state and federal funding allocated to teachers in the special education setting. The participants were drawn from a convenience sample of public school special education teachers located in a large school district in a southern state of the United States during the 2024-2025 school year. The setting for this research is a collection of campuses representing the work environments of the participants sampled. The My …

Nurse Preceptors' Perceptions Of Effectiveness Precepting Senior Baccalaureate Nursing Students: A Transcendental Phenomenological Study, Kelly Anne Arraf

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to explore how clinical nurse preceptors perceive their effectiveness when working with senior baccalaureate nursing students in East Texas. The study was guided by two theories: Invitational Education Theory, introduced by Purkey and Novak, used to understand how preceptors teach, and Bandura’s Social Learning Theory, used to understand how preceptees learn. The central research question was: What is the lived experience of being a nurse preceptor to senior baccalaureate nursing students in East Texas? Data were collected from semistructured virtual interviews, field and journal notes, and a demographic survey. Braun and Clarke’s …

Subject Area Teachers' Perceptions Of The Influence Of Reading Instruction On Middle School Reading Skill Development: A Transcendental Phenomenological Study, Rachel Guiel

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This discovery of subject area teachers' perceptions of the influence of reading instruction and reading skill development on middle school students' reading comprehension is the theme of this phenomenological study. A subject area teacher was defined as someone who teaches history, science, math, and Bible classes. Middle school students were defined as six, seventh, and eighth-grade students. Reading skill development was defined as vocabulary instruction, background knowledge, and the implementation of flexible reading groups. The theory guiding this study is Vygotsky's sociocultural learning theory, as it describes learning coming before language development, language being the main tool of thought, and …

Using Simulation To Teach Students Transferable Skills For Paramedic Educators In A Prehospital Clinical Setting In Urban Georgia: A Phenomenology, George Antonio Rouse

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to describe the lived experiences of using simulation to teach students transferable skills for paramedic educators in a prehospital clinical setting in urban Georgia. The theory guiding this study is Kolb’s experiential learning theory as it supports the use of low and high-fidelity simulation to provide students with interactive and realistic learning experiences that are transformative in nature. The central research question guiding this study was: What is the lived experience of paramedic educators using simulation to teach students transferable skills? Data was collected via qualitative surveys, individual interviews, and focus groups …

Spiritual Fitness And Religious Commitment As Predictors Of Hope In Active Duty Deployed Military, David Sidnam

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this quantitative correlational study was to examine how spiritual fitness and religious commitment are related to hope in deployed military personnel. Furthermore, the individual components of spiritual fitness (connection to God, belief in service, and purposeful meaning) were examined alongside religious commitment to determine the strongest predictor of hope for deployed military members. The study included 111 deployed, active duty members that were recruited from three deployed sites in the military. The data was assessed in SPSS and revealed that belief in service and purposeful meaning were significantly related to hope. Purposeful meaning was the strongest predictor …

Online Child Sexual Grooming: Understanding The Origins And Problems Within The Criminal Justice System, Tara Kristich

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Grooming children for sexual abuse is complex and challenging to understand because it is constantly evolving due to technology. Prior to the eruption of social media and internet platforms, predators typically had to be in a position to gain access to children or be close to a family with children to sexually groom, abuse, and exploit children. Technology has enabled predators to have instant access to children through chat applications and various internet platforms globally. This qualitative study explored the current platforms that impact child sexual victimization, the impact on victims' mental health, and the laws pertaining to online child …

The Relationship Of Worship Drumming On Christian Spiritual Well-Being: A Qualitative Case Study, Micah Joseph Holland

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this case study was to bridge the knowledge gap and discover the relationship between worship drumming and Christian spiritual well-being. It also examined the spiritual disciplines developed from worship drumming that impact Christian spiritual well-being. The theory guiding this study was the religious attribution theory, as it is used to describe how people use religious explanations to understand events that cannot be explained by natural causes. The theoretical framework that falls under the religious attribution theory was the Feedback Loop Model for Religious Worship Experiences, which showed the dynamic of how music and the environment can provoke …

The Impact Of Stress Reduction Programs In Reducing Anxiety And Depression In Pregnant Military Spouses With Disabilities, Faith Clemons

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Pregnant military spouses with disabilities have high levels of anxiety and depression, as these individuals are more exposed to stress due to various health risks and worries during deployments. Health care experiences of pregnant military spouses who are disabled are explored through interviews and surveys to determine if appropriate services reduce anxiety and depression and help with stress. The study encompasses qualitative design, interviewing with eight participants from the Clarksville, Tennessee area, known for its many military families near Fort Campbell. The study targets evidence-based therapies through theoretical frameworks of attachment, social support and stress and coping theory such as …

Leadership Qualities Effect On Employee Performance And Organizational Culture, Ryan Pernell

Journal of Fundamental & Applied Business Research

Employee motivation is vital to employee productivity and retention rates. Business leaders can face challenges in motivating employees, which can negatively affect productivity and retention. In this case study, I explored the behaviors and actions of business leaders that may lead to challenges when attempting to motivate employees, resulting in decreased productivity and increased employee turnover. I aimed to uncover the effects of leadership on employee motivation and explore why some leaders face challenges motivating employees. I focused on the leaders and employees of a family automotive sales and repair shop, including 20 employees and four family leaders. I conducted …

Ai In Academic Workplace, Alexander Averin, Richard Diddams, Nicole Lowes, Melesa Poole

Journal of Fundamental & Applied Business Research

Artificial intelligence (AI), once imagined only in science fiction, is now ubiquitous in the reality of modern life. It influences everything from personalized shopping recommendations (Rane et al., 2024) to advanced medical diagnoses (Al Kuwaiti et al., 2023; Khanam et al., 2024; Maleki Varnosfaderani & Forouzanfar, 2024). Redefining the models of analysis and learning, AI is quickly becoming a fundamental component of higher education as universities embrace AI tools for curriculum development, assessments, teaching, research, individualized instruction, and preparation for technological readiness in the workforce (Shah, 2023). However, the perception and adoption of these tools vary among university faculty members …

Leaders Challenges In Impacting Employees' Job Satisfaction And Work Performance, Sheila M. Mitchell

Journal of Fundamental & Applied Business Research

Leadership style is critical in determining an organization's success or failure. Organizations across industries must ensure they have effective leaders who inspire and motivate employees to commit to achieving organizational goals, resulting in a competitive advantage. They must be able to significantly influence employee job satisfaction and work performance, which are critical factors in an organization's success. Job satisfaction reflects employees' attitudes toward their jobs and organization. Work performance measures how effectively an employee performs work that meets standards. The researcher examined the effects of transformational, transactional, and laissez-faire leadership styles and toxic leadership behavior on employee satisfaction and work …

Character Challenges American Christian Business Leaders Face In The Secular Digital Age, Kevin J. Kennedy

Journal of Fundamental & Applied Business Research

In the digital age, Christian business leaders are a minority who are commonly expected to change their principles of leadership to fit within the secularized culture. These expectations for change are generating character challenges to the very core of a Christian business leader’s moral convictions and forcing them to make decisions which pit the practice of their proclaimed faith against a secularized business practice. In these workplace challenges, the Christian business leader’s faith, freedom of conscience, freedom of speech, and freedom of religion compete with secularized practices accepted in today’s American culture. Additionally, digital age behavioral visibility, which can be …

Fostering Belonging: A Transcendental Phenomenological Study Of Nontraditional Students In Higher Education, Gina M. Bolin

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to describe the sense of belonging for nontraditional students in online higher education environments. The conceptual framework that guided this study was the CoI, which emphasized the importance of social, cognitive, and teaching presence to foster a supportive and positive student experience. The central research question was: How do online nontraditional students in higher education describe their experiences of academic and social belonging within their learning communities? This study employed a transcendental phenomenological design. Participants included 15 nontraditional students enrolled in fully online degree programs at various U.S. institutions. Data collected through …

If The Halls Could Talk: Educator Narratives On Teen Media Literacy, Doda Lulgjuraj

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Adolescents are avid yet vulnerable consumers of digital and social media, frequently exposed to non-credible information without possessing the essential tools to evaluate it effectively. The qualitative research conducted explores adolescent media literacy through the perspectives of middle school and high school educators, intending to understand students' ability to discern credible information. Additionally, this research aims to determine the extent to which current educational practices foster this skill. This study underscores the importance of equipping adolescents with media literacy skills in an increasingly complex and sometimes misleading digital environment. Thirty-six educators from four states in the U.S. participated in semi-structured …

Special Operations Forces Cadre Self-Efficacy: Insights From A Hermeneutic Phenomenological Study On Education And Training, Edward O. Funes

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenological study is to describe the lived experiences of the special operations forces’ cadre self-efficacy throughout their educational journey at the Special Operations Forces Training Center (SOFTC). The theory guiding this study is Bandura’s self-efficacy, based on the social cognitive theory, which posits that individuals’ belief in their capabilities is crucial to their success. The central research question is: What are the experiences of the special operations forces’ cadre self-efficacy throughout their educational journey? The methodology used in this study ensures that all its chapters are interconnected with a robust, cohesive, and rigorous approach to …

Exploring The Stigma Of Mental Health In Oneness Pentecostal Churches From A Pastoral Perspective, Jannett Liburd

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore the stigma of mental health in Oneness Pentecostal churches in the Northeast from a pastoral perspective. The theory guiding this study is Sigmund Freud’s object relational theory (ORT), as it focuses on the past experiences an individual has with an object, person, or event, and how the experience, whether negative or positive, shapes the person’s attitude and behavior in the future. Mental health stigma is a phenomenon with which individuals may have had a harmful experience. In the study, the central research question was: What are the lived experiences of Oneness …

Exploring The Lived Experiences Of University Students With Lyme Disease: A Qualitative Transcendental Phenomenological Study, Rebekah A. Russell

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This qualitative transcendental phenomenological study aimed to describe the lived experiences of students with persistent or reoccurring Lyme disease symptoms post-treatment within the context of higher education institutions. Guided by Nancy Schlossberg’s transition theory, the research sought to explore the challenges students encountered while experiencing lasting symptoms of Lyme disease post-treatment. The central research question driving the inquiry was: What are the lived experiences of students contending with persistent or reoccurring Lyme disease symptoms post-treatment while pursuing higher education? Employing a transcendental phenomenological method, the study utilized journal prompts, interviews, and two focus groups comprised of students who have navigated …

Implementation Of An Education Program For A Ptsd Screening Tool To Increase Knowledge Among Providers Within The Primary Care Setting, Kimberly Inez Schat

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is frequently underdiagnosed or misdiagnosed in primary care settings, leading to delays in treatment and poorer patient outcomes. This scholarly project aims to enhance primary care providers' knowledge and application of PTSD screening tools, specifically the PC-PTSD-5, through a structured educational intervention. The project follows a quasi-experimental pre-test/post-test design, assessing providers' baseline knowledge, delivering targeted education, and measuring changes in knowledge and confidence post-intervention.

Data analysis revealed a statistically significant improvement in providers' ability to identify PTSD symptoms, utilize appropriate screening tools, and refer patients for timely treatment. The project highlights the clinical significance of routine …

The Torchbearer Project At The Whitefield Center Lessons Learned From Developing An Adolescent-Level Christian Discipleship Program, Kenneth Reed Vaughn

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

In this dissertation, the author discussed the lessons learned regarding building and administering Christian discipleship programs for adolescents. The discussion involved three institutions influenced by the work of the Reverend George Whitefield, all of which have recently faced challenges related to forced organizational transformation or renewal for sustained growth and service. At Bethesda Academy, founded by Whitefield in 1740 as an orphanage, the need for transformation arose from the decreased necessity for the academy to continue providing that service, prompting Bethesda to seek a new purpose. In the case of Christ Church Anglican, founded in 1733, where Whitefield served as …

Ties That Bind: A Study Of Relational Networks And Spiritual Formation, Joshua Michael Leborious

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

In His earthly ministry, Christ tasked the church with the responsibility of making disciples. Today, God calls leaders into professional ministry to discern specific means of doing so. The calling does not make that task easy and the methods for making disciple vary greatly, leaving Christian leaders overwhelmed by trying to figure out how to disciple the people in their care. A mountain of sources suggest that a relational approach has remarkable potential for making disciples. The purpose of this quantitative research study was to explore the potential relationship between relational networks and quantifiable habits of spiritual formation for adult, …

Gamification As A Catalyst For Integrating Diverse Disciplines In Higher Education Curriculum: A Transcendental Phenomenological Study, Sierra Pollard

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to explore and describe the lived experiences of university students as they engaged with gamification strategies in cross-disciplinary higher education programs. By focusing on students' perspectives, this study aimed to uncover how the integration of gamified elements in their coursework influenced engagement, intrinsic motivation, and the development of interdisciplinary competencies. Flow theory guided this study, providing insight into the relationship between motivation, engagement, and optimal learning experiences. The central research question was: What was the cross-disciplinary experiential learning experience of students at Central University? The study employed a qualitative, phenomenological design with …