Digital Commons Network^™

The Impact Of The Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic On Urban Nonprofit Organizations In A Southeastern City, Yvette Michelle Brown

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This qualitative study examined the impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic on human services nonprofit organizations in an urban setting and the strategic measures implemented by the leaders to remain focused on their mission. The logic of inference was that the pandemic significantly impacted these nonprofit organizations, forcing the public administration leaders to implement new innovative strategies that should be documented. The study data was collected and analyzed through three streams of data: interviews with nonprofit or public administration leaders, surveys of nonprofit employees, and document analysis of organizational financial reports over four years. The results from the interviews …

Primary Reason: A Five-Week Training That Helps Crbc Members Identify The Resurrection Of Jesus As The Primary Reason Christianity Is True, Abraham Wright

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This research project addressed a perceived problem at Council Road Baptist Church. The problem was that many CRBC members are not equipped to defend their Christian beliefs. The author created a five-week training to equip CRBC members to be more confident in their faith by focusing on the evidence for Jesus’ resurrection from the dead. The author included small group discussions throughout the five-week training. The author also had each participant take a pre and post-survey to record the training results. The author had a systematic approach in the five-week training defending Jesus’ resurrection from the dead: God’s skeptics, God’s …

Equipping Leaders For Spiritual Growth At Christ The King Church, Grace Akpofure Nkanga

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Spiritual Growth is foundational for a thriving church and knowledgeable leadership is the key to a spiritually sound church. Thus, this project was planned to meet the Christ the King Church (CTKC) needs of equipping the leaders for spiritual growth. This praxis project sought to fuel spiritual growth among the key leaders of CTKC. Using the Servant Leadership theory of Greenleaf (1970), specialized training was offered to address the participants’ need for greater spiritual growth and awareness. Due to the recognized need for greater awareness and growth among the leaders of CTKC, this qualitative praxis project sought to introduce the …

Expository Based Discipleship Plan For Freed Youth Ministry Of Riverdale Baptist Church, Kshitiz Sharma Ghimire

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this DMIN action research project was to develop an expository-based discipleship plan that implements expository preaching and uses it to empower the discipleship of youths through small groups and parental involvement. The objective was to see spiritual maturity in the teenager through expository preaching and discipleship as proposed by the expository-based discipleship plan. The expository preaching plan sought cooperation from the youth, leaders, and parents to see how expository preaching and effective discipleship can help students grow spiritually so that they stay at church after they graduate from youth group. All the middle schoolers and high schoolers …

Unveiling The Black Mavericks: Black Musical Pioneers And Their Enduring Cultural Impact, Jamie C. Mardis

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study explores the profound cultural impact of Black musical innovators, examining their contributions across various musical genres and their enduring influence on American culture. The purpose of this qualitative historical interpretive study is to understand the cultural impact of Black musical innovators on broader American society. This research involves Black musical pioneers from diverse genres and historical periods in the United States. Guided by Cultural Theory, as articulated by scholars like Stuart Hall and Jean Piaget, the study investigates how cultural identities are produced through representation and social interaction. Piaget’s concepts of cognitive development help understand how Black musical …

Racial And Ethnic Disparities In Autism Spectrum Disorder Diagnoses Within Bipoc Communities, Angela M. Houghton

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

With a pressing need to examine racial and ethnic differences in ASD detection to discern potential inaccuracies in diagnosis within groups, this study used a transcendental phenomenological design to explore the explanations for misdiagnosis within Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) households, comparing their encounters with Whites. The research involved six parents and one family member of children who were originally wrongfully identified, only to in the future confirm ASD. Through semi-structured conversations, the study delved into the distinctive trials of BIPOC households. Data analysis respected the Stevick-Colaizzi-Keen technique, with thematic exploration used to recognize repetitions, highlighted differences in …

Obedience, Courage, And Loyalty: The 81st “Wildcat” Division During World War I, Harold Allen Skinner Jr

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

When the United States entered the First World War in April 1917, the United States Army was rated on par with the armies of Portugal and Belgium. Yet by November 1918, the United States had organized and deployed a two million-man-strong American Expeditionary Force (AEF) to Europe. The speed at which the US Army deployed twenty-nine divisions into the Western Front upended European strategic calculations and hastened the collapse of the Central Powers coalition in late 1918. Yet, the story of the AEF has been marginalized in American historiography, a historical vacuum filled instead by Euro-centric historians who minimized the …

A Qualitative Approach Exploring Interoperation Communications By Law Enforcement Officers During Active Shootings, Amy Schissler

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this exploratory-descriptive qualitative study was to investigate how law enforcement officers communicate during active shooting incidents. The study used Ferrell’s Human Factors theory (1997) and the Human Factors Analysis and Classification System (HFACS) as the theoretical and conceptual framework. Data collection methods included 11 oral narratives, 11 individual semi-structured interviews, and 12 open-ended questionnaires, involving a total of 12 participants. The study followed the Exploratory-Descriptive Qualitative design proposed by Hunter et al. (2018). The interview and questionnaire data were analyzed using Braun and Clarke’s thematic analysis and the HFACS to identify major themes, while the narrative data …

Understanding The Lived Experiences Of Culturally And Linguistically Diverse Families: A Phenomenological Study Of Transition Planning And Post-Graduation Outcomes, Tamara Martinez-Fernandez

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to understand the lived experience of transition planning for culturally and linguistically diverse (CLD) families in a parent advocacy group located in southeastern Pennsylvania. The theory guiding this study was Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems theory as it placed an emphasis on the interaction between the environments in which individuals developed throughout the lifespan and stressed that all environments are interdependent and play a significant role in human development. The Central Research Question was: What are the lived experiences of CLD parents and guardians as their students’ transition from high school to adulthood? Data were …

The Case Mountain Cases: Escapism Through Alternate Worlds, Monsters, And Environment In Fiction, Jerry J. Hewitt

Masters Theses

This thesis began with the idea of horror and science fiction novel’s ability to provide readers with a sense of escape in exploring alternative worlds through descriptions of scary monsters and brooding environments. The location of my manuscript takes place in real-life hiking area in Connecticut called Case Mountain, which I have been hiking in since I was a child. Throughout my life, I have always had a fascination with the folklore and ghost stories surrounding Connecticut, and much of my writing has always had a focus on sharing these tales and providing readers with the ability to escape their …

A Phenomenological Study Of Teachers' Experiences With Vocabulary Instruction For Middle School Students Who Are Economically Disadvantaged, Kerri Johnson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to describe teacher experiences regarding vocabulary instruction for economically disadvantaged middle school students at rural Title 1 schools in East Tennessee. Considering vocabulary acquisition and knowledge, economically disadvantaged students face more significant challenges than their more affluent peers. The challenges economically disadvantaged students face may have profound implications for teachers. It is necessary to examine the experiences of 10 teachers to provide insight into best practices and vocabulary instruction for middle school students with a low socio-economic status (SES). To understand teachers’ instructional practices, an evaluation of teacher perceptions and experiences regarding …

The Predictive Relationship Between The Percentage Of High School Students Experiencing Homelessness And On-Time Graduation, Michelle Lee Wiggs

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this predictive correlational study was to determine how accurately the percentage of students in Oklahoma high schools who graduate on-time be predicted by the percentage of those students who experienced homelessness during their four years of high school. The theoretical framework for this study came from Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, resiliency theory, and grit theory. A bivariate linear regression analysis was conducted to examine predictive relationships between the criterion variable, percentage of students who graduated from high school on-time of Oklahoma high school students, and the predictor variable, percentage of youth experiencing homelessness (YEH). Archival data from …

Examining Yourself: The Effect Of Reflective Thinking Strategies On Public Servants' Communication Abilities, Rasheda Jamillah Cummings

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Practicing communication with the process of reflecting thinking can help improve public servants’ communication and create positive interactions. Reflective thinking transpires when individuals think about past experiences and events, then analyze and recapture them to enhance future experiences and skills. In other words, reflection thinking is a manifestation of reflection, which is a purposeful and recursive contemplation of one’s practice experiences. However, public servants may lose the confidence to express themselves with effective communication abilities which prevail over the standard of expectation that has been rooted in public trust within the field of public administration. The study is a quasi-experimental …

A Hermeneutic Phenomenological Study Of The Lived Experiences Of Nontraditional Students Enrolled Exclusively In An Online Asynchronous Environment At A United States-Based Institution Of Higher Education, Amy L. Mccann

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenological study was to interpret the lived experiences of nontraditional students enrolled exclusively in an online asynchronous environment at a United States-based institution in the Midwest. The theory guiding this study is Malcolm Knowles’ adult learning theory, as it relates to the relationship between the retention of the adult learner and the support services used. The essential question of this research is, what are the experiences of nontraditional students enrolled exclusively in an online asynchronous environment? The goal of this study was to find answers to four research questions for a group of nontraditional asynchronous …

College Females With A History Of Childhood Sexual Abuse: The Impact Of Birth Order And Religious Commitment On Resilience, Courtney Elizabeth Walraven

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Traumatology is defined and expanded on concerning the common outcomes and sequela. The short- or long-term effects of trauma are discussed including the diagnosis of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). A description was given of the history and progression of the formal diagnosis of PTSD. A thorough explanation of PTSD diagnostic criteria, risk factors, cultural considerations, and protective factors were provided. A detailed explanation of sexual assault and the implications of this specific trauma on survivors/victims were provided. The impact of child sexual abuse in survivors was reviewed. Commonly used measurements of psychological resilience were reviewed. The impact of religiosity on …

Improving The Self-Esteem Scores Of High School Students Through Artificial Intelligence Counseling: A Quantitative, Quasi-Experimental Study, Alexis Breanne Bolen

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this quantitative, quasi-experimental study was to determine the difference in self-esteem scores among high school students who participated in artificial intelligence counseling and those who did not when controlling for pretest scores. Student self-esteem is significant because it influences their work effort, class participation, and social interactions; therefore, research on the effect of artificial intelligence counseling is significant in exploring affordable and effective counseling methods to increase student self-esteem. The researcher used a convenience sample of 74 high school students from a private school in northern Maryland. Participants were evenly distributed into one treatment group and one …

General Education Teachers' Experience With Implementing Accommodations To Students With Special Needs: A Phenomenological Qualitative Study, Kari Connors Buono

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This hermeneutic phenomenological study describes general educators' experiences implementing interventions for students with special needs in classrooms across the Eastern United States. The study's theory is Ajzen’s theory of planned behavior. This research was conducted with eleven general education teachers participating through interviews, journal entries, and focus groups. The sampling technique used was purposive sampling. The qualitative data was triangulated and analyzed for codes and themes. The themes were 1- Ways to improve attitudes, 2- Consequences of unsupported expectations (attitudes), 3- Responsibilities for school personnel to discern, 4-Perceived peer interactions and requirements (subjective norm), and 5- Belief in personal ability …

Effectiveness Of Clinical Reasoning Reflection Prompts To Develop Clinical Judgment In Prelicensure Nursing Students: A Quasi-Experimental Study, Tiffany Condren

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The development of clinical judgment is an important topic in nursing education, and various teaching strategies have been proposed to improve this skill among nursing students and new graduate nurses. However, the effectiveness of these strategies is not well-researched. One promising approach is using higher-order questions to guide and develop the thought patterns of clinical reasoning. One suggested teaching strategy is using clinical reasoning reflection prompts based on Tanner’s Clinical Judgment Model. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of using clinical reasoning reflection prompts in the patient care setting to develop clinical judgment among 35 pre-licensure nursing students within …

Military Early Childhood Educators' Experiences Of Transitioning From The Creative Curriculum To Early Learning Matters (Elm) Curriculum: A Case Study, Joretta Anderson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative case study was to examine the experiences of military early childhood educators at a military installation in eastern Virginia as they transitioned from Creative Curriculum to the Early Learning Matters (ELM) Curriculum. The theory guiding this study was Schlossberg’s (1981) transition theory, as the aim of the study was to research educators in the time of a curriculum transition. The study was a single instrument case study, and the participants included military early childhood educators who have experienced transitioning from Creative Curriculum to ELM Curriculum. Data was collected through individual interviews, focus group discussion, and …

A Qualitative Study To Understand The Experiences Of Teachers Transitioning From Teacher Preparation Programs To A Title I Classroom, Kattie Hurst

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to describe the experiences of novice Title I teachers when transitioning from teacher preparation programs to full-time classroom teachers in Title I classrooms in Utah, North Dakota, and Illinois. The theories guiding this study includes the humanistic learning theory, social constructivism, and teacher identity development theory. Humanistic learning theory emphasized the importance of understanding and valuing the unique experiences and perspectives of individual learners (Rogers, 1957). Social constructivism offered a valuable framework for understanding and addressing the challenges faced by novice teachers in Title I schools by highlighting the role of social interactions, …

In Search Of New Originals: An Examination Of Experiences In Upper-Division Jazz Improvisation Pedagogy, Bruce Babad

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Jazz improvisation courses have become part of the canon within upper-division course offerings, yet only a few students end up sounding original or creative. This descriptive phenomenological study aimed to elucidate, understand, and articulate the significance underlying the lived experiences of adept jazz musicians as they contemplated developing and disseminating improvisational skills. Upper-division jazz improvisation pedagogy is rooted in music theory, a chord-scale approach to jazz harmony, solo transcriptions, and commonly used patterns. Combining these approaches has reduced improvisation to feats of problem-solving or painting by numbers. This study aimed to illuminate the lived experiences of original, creative jazz improvisers …

The Relationship Between Classroom Management, Cultural Responsiveness, Teacher Self-Efficacy, And Students' Perceptions Of Effective Teaching And Learning In The 21st Century Secondary Classroom: A Quantitative Correlational Study, Angela Herring Donaldson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Effective classroom management plays a vital role in helping to create an environment that is conducive to effective teaching and learning. It is a catalyst for the effective implementation of teaching and learning strategies that result in better behavioral and academic outcomes. Ineffective classroom management strategies have resulted in teacher burnout, student disengagement, disruptive behavior, and negative academic outcomes for students. The purpose of this non-experimental quantitative predictive correlational study is to examine the relationship between the criterion variable (students’ perceptions of teaching and learning) and the predictor variables (cultural responsiveness, classroom management, and self-efficacy of each student’s teacher). The …

Mental Health Of Western Tennessee Police Officers, Jasmin Marie Powell

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this grounded theory study is to understand the group think regarding mental health and wellness of police officers in the western Tennessee region. The theory guiding this study is group think, a theory first defined in 1972 by Irvin Janis. Irvin Janis, a psychologist introduced the phenomenon of groupthink and described it as a group of people, in this research case police officers, where loyalty was required from members and that this can cause both positive and negative side effects. The research population for this research will consist of 92 participants, including males and females, of different …

A Case Study Of The Perceived Pedagogical Strategies Used To Increase Student Motivation And Effective Technology Use In The Secondary Classroom, Adam Herring

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this single-instrument case study is to understand the strategies that educators perceive to be effective in successfully increasing student motivation when using personal technology in the high school classroom at River Valley High School in the Southeast United States. The theory guiding this study is Ryan and Deci’s theory on self-determination as it examines the relationship between motivation and academic achievement. The central research question in this study, that is, how can relatedness, competency, and autonomy support the use of personal technology in the secondary education classroom, explores how personal technology could influence the perceived motivation of …

Home Educators’ Experiences Teaching Beginning Readers: A Phenomenological Study, Meghan K. Allred

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to investigate how home educators describe their experiences teaching literacy to beginning readers in the United States. The theory guiding this study was Gagné’s conditions of learning theory as it relates to the literacy teaching experiences of presenting literacy content, eliciting performance of literacy skills, assessing literacy performance, and enhancing literacy retention and transfer in homeschool settings. The central research question was: How do home educators describe their literacy teaching experiences for beginning readers? A transcendental phenomenological approach was used to explore the shared homeschool experience of teaching beginning readers. Participants were selected …

Creating A Caring Culture, Julie Harrison-Swartz

Wisdom & Compassion: The LUSON Journal

Caring is a word that is synonymous with nursing. Nurses are equipped to engage in all aspects of patient care and be present. Caring and presence are also imperative in nursing education. While caring is instrumental to patient healing and outcomes, it is equally important in demonstrating care through nursing education. While convenient it is often difficult to express caring in the remote environment. This paper will describe a brief history of nursing, concept of caring, and nursing education.

Trauma-Informed Care And Support For Dei: Exemplars In Diabetes And Self-Reflection, Karla Giese

Wisdom & Compassion: The LUSON Journal

Traumatic life experiences may disproportionately affect individuals with social disparities, marginalization, or injustices. Nursing advocates for diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) to recognize and affirm all patient voices. Nurses can address DEI by developing competence in the evidence-based skills of trauma-informed care (TIC) and self-reflection.

Nurse Graduates’ Experiences With Pain Science – A Qualitative Study, Rachel Bee, Cynthia Goodrich

Wisdom & Compassion: The LUSON Journal

Background: While the nursing profession has made great strides in pain management over the last 20 years, patients often report being under-assessed and undertreated for pain.

Purpose: The study purpose was to understand the lived experiences of practicing nurses who had completed a baccalaureate-level pain management course during their undergraduate training. The study aims included understanding how pain management skills were implemented in the clinical arena, determining barriers to implementing pain management skills, and identifying opportunities to improve the patient experience regarding pain management.

Design: The researchers implemented a qualitative methodology with a phenomenological design. Data collection consisted of semi-structured …

Volume 2, Issue 1- Complete Issue

Wisdom & Compassion: The LUSON Journal

No abstract provided.

The Moderating Effect Of Teacher Experience On Secondary Traumatic Stress And Teacher Self-Efficacy Among Rural Public School Teachers, Donna Short

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Millions of teachers have exited the teaching profession as of 2020 and over 50% are likely to leave the profession during the next five years. High emotional stress is most often cited as the primary reason for the loss of teachers. There is also an increasing number of students entering school who having experienced various forms of trauma, such as abuse, death, violence, and neglect. In rural areas, poverty is a concern. These students often display trauma behaviors because of limited mental health resources. As rural public school teachers learn about student trauma, these teachers are at risk of secondary …