Digital Commons Network^™

Peer Feedback Among Nursing Students: Does It Enhance Learning?, Sydney Everett, Rachel Joseph, Tracey Turner, Dorothy Murphy

Wisdom & Compassion: The LUSON Journal

Background: The American Nurses Association (ANA) describes that peer review is essential for excellent nursing practice and describes the principles of Peer Review. The Magnet program has embraced this in clinical excellence. Peer feedback has multiple benefits.

Purpose: The purpose of this manuscript is to examine the literature on peer feedback and identify the benefits of peer feedback on student learning and information retention.

Methods: Search terms such as Peer assessment, peer coaching, peer tutoring, peer-assisted learning, and informal peer learning were used to retrieve peer-reviewed publications from databases such as CINAHL, PubMed, and Google Scholar. The term Peer feedback …

Exploring Divorce Among African Americans: Investigating Factors And Lived Experiences, Suzetta Land

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to describe the lived experiences of African Americans in the United States who experience divorce; investigate the role of structural, interpersonal, and cultural factors in their decision to divorce; and understand the perceived consequences of divorce. The theories guiding this study were the social exchange theory and attachment theory. Ten African Americans completed interviews conducted through Zoom video conferencing. The criteria to participate in this study included: be African American, be over the age of 18 years old, have divorced within the last 5 years, have not remarried, be employed, and live in …

Exploring The Impact Of Spiritual Disciplines Among Disciples Of Christ, Sharon Yvette Hardy Hunter

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Spiritual disciplines have long been recognized as a means to foster more significant spiritual growth and maturity in the life of disciples of Christ. However, in today’s culture, there is a perceived lack of commitment to spiritual growth with new and established disciples of Christ of the twenty-first century vs. those of the twentieth century at Perfecting Church in Detroit, Michigan. Therefore, this study will look at the impact of introducing spiritual disciplines to new disciples of Christ to foster more significant spiritual growth and a commitment to a life of faith in Christ. Although faith community members embrace a …

A Model For Biblical Worldview Development In Non-Denominational Christian Young Adults: A Dissertation-In-Praxis, Calvin Perry

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The ideas of worldview and worldview development have not been around long but have been a matter of interest and understanding in the non-denominational area of Christianity, along with the field of scholarly research. Organizational theories play a major role in the development of all individuals. The purpose of this dissertation-in-praxis study was to test and apply a theoretical model for biblical worldview development among non-denominational Christians, ages 24-29. A qualitative method was employed using an applied research design following a deductive research approach. A worldview model was created to help understand the worldview perspective of participants. In qualitative research, …

The Single Father In The Christian Church And Their Struggles, Kennedy Abbott

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This thesis project is about a severe but unseen problem in the church. The single fathers in the Christian church have been quietly struggling because many do not seek help. Caretakers of this single-father ministry identify and are aware of the struggle affiliated with single fathers, summarized from personal experience in Chapter One. In Chapter Two, this research elucidates the severity of the problem related to children separated from either parent, possibly leading to behavioral concerns in school, the community, and the home. The fundamental principles of this research derives from gathering data relevant to this research to support this …

An Analysis Of Physical Wellness During Pregnancy, Mary Elizabeth Reynolds-Licciardello

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

There is a lack of proper physical wellness increasing in society. This qualitative phenomenological study explored physical wellness during pregnancy using the theoretic framework of Social Cognitive Theory to show perceptions and lived experiences of women who are pregnant or who have been pregnant in the past three years. Three research questions were the focus of this qualitative study. RQ1: what aspects of physical wellness are important to women who are pregnant? RQ2: what are women’s physical wellness experiences during pregnancy? RQ3: how are women who are pregnant educated about physical wellness? Ten women in central Florida who are pregnant …

Improving Teacher Retention Within Archdiocese Of Washington Schools, Denise M. Ball

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this applied study was to solve the problem of teacher retention for the Archdiocese of Washington Schools and to design training to address the problem. Specifically, this study solicited input from teachers to help define and or identify (1) the need for teacher retention, (2) what type of school environment they work in, and (3) how a school environment affects teacher retention. Individual teacher and focus group interviews were conducted, and a survey was utilized for data collection and analysis. The measurement instruments captured data on target teachers regarding school environment/climate and job retention, specifically, years in …

A Content Analysis Of Non-Profit Organizations Social Media: Through The Lens Of Compliance-Gaining & Persuasion, Meredith Diene Kiljan

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Non-profit organizations utilize social media platforms like Instagram to reach the community, fundraise, convey their mission and vision, establish themselves, and educate others. This study examined whether the communication artifacts of selected nonprofit organizations employed Cialdini's (2021) compliance-gaining strategies through an eight-week qualitative digital content analysis on Instagram to address the problem of understanding how non-profit organizations use Instagram tools to influence and persuade their audience. Compassion International (@compassion), CARE (@careorg), and Direct Relief (@directrelief), the three non-profit organizations chosen in this study, demonstrated the usage of Cialdini’s (2021) compliance-gaining strategies within their digital media communication strategy. Non-profit organizations operate …

Creating And Implementing A Mentorship Ministry For New Believers, Moses Aleman

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

A major spiritual crisis exists in the Christian church due to the lack of care and attention given to new believers. Although many churches provide conversion opportunities, they may not prioritize discipleship and support for those who are new to the faith. Consequently, some new believers resign their faith when faced with difficulties, while others may struggle without crucial elements of their faith and doctrine, causing obstacles in their future spiritual journeys. This thesis project argues that having a New Believers Mentorship Ministry is vital and effective in addressing these issues. The project coordinator has three specific expectations for the …

Engaging An Unengaged Demographic: A Phenomenological Study Of Christian Millennials’ Engagement With Religious And Nonreligious Memberships, Stephanie F. Prince

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Church membership is declining worldwide. Studies show that Millennials are less likely to belong to a church than previous generations. Even among churched Millennials, only 48% of church-attending Millennials are church members. Simultaneously, organizations such as health, fitness, and social clubs are seeing an increase in Millennial membership growth. Brand loyalty is high among Millennials, but church loyalty is low even among practicing Christian Millennials who attend church at least once per month. The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to explore how practicing Christian Millennials understand the nature of engagement with church and nonreligious memberships and the factors …

Qualitative Case Study Regarding Experiences Of Freedom Of Speech On College And University Campuses In The United States, Jeffrey Dana Ward

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this study was to examine how suppression of free speech on college and university campuses in Southtown, USA affects student self-efficacy. The theory guiding my study is Bandura’s social cognitive theory as it will evaluate the interplay between the system and environment sources of influence at Secular university Christian university in Southtown, USA. How has freedom of speech on college and university campuses affected the self-efficacy of college students in faith-based organizations? Interviews and focus groups were utilized to collect data for this central research question. Thematic analysis and coding was utilized to analyze the data collected. …

The Prediction Of Grade Point Average From The Linear Combination Of Persistence Factors For Hispanic College Students, Laurel Lucy Mo

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this quantitative predictive correlation study was to address the lack of research regarding the impacts of persistence factors on the educational outcomes of Hispanic college students. The study was a predictive correlation design with a criterion variable of grade point average (GPA). Predictor variables were the persistence factors of institutional commitment, degree commitment, academic integration, social integration, advising effectiveness, collegiate stress, financial strain, scholastic consciousness, academic efficacy, career integration, and academic motivation. The study setting was a two-year public community college serving a county with a population of 218,000 in Northern Arizona. A college persistence and academic …

Effectiveness Of Training Jacksonville Church Of God Seventh Day To Minister Biblical Truth To Seventh-Day Adventists, Dirk E. Anderson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study addresses Jacksonville Church of God Seventh Day’s lack of understanding of how to communicate biblical truths effectively to local Seventh Day Adventists. The purpose of this study was to determine to what extent a training program could improve the confidence of church members to share biblical truths with Seventh-day Adventists. The method of study involved training eleven members of the church. These members were from different races, ages, and genders. The training program consisted of seven one-hour training sessions. The data collection methods included interviews and surveys. The results of this study indicate that a training program can …

Lying-In Transition: The Modernization And Professionalization Of Childbirth In Rural Alabama 1870-1910, Jennifer Megan Gmuca

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This dissertation will analyze the underlying reasons childbirth became professionalized, which was due to the growing demands by women for safer birthing conditions. The demand evolved out of the complex relationship among social status, race and ethnicity, and regional locations, all made possible by the modernization and professionalization of tocology that became available during the latter part of the nineteenth and beginning of the twentieth-century. The history of childbirth is a critical topic because, as previously mentioned, the maternal mortality rate in the United States in the twenty-first-century is still incredibly high for a developed nation. Women deserve safer birthing …

Improving Strategic Management Planning In Non-Profit Organizations: Federally Qualified Health Centers, Esther Taylor

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This qualitative multiple case study included the challenges non-profits, specifically Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHC) leaders face when utilizing ineffective methods for strategic planning and management. The researcher conducted 21 semistructured interviews with critical decision makers involving executive, senior, and middle managers at three health centers in Texas to obtain a better understanding of their perspective on strategic planning and management. The results of the findings revealed that FQHC leaders face many barriers that limit their success or expansion of the mission, organizational growth, financial stability, and strategic alliances. However, the results demonstrated that leaders from non-profits, particularly FQHCs can …

A Phenomenological Study On Veterans’ Military Sexual Trauma And Its Impacts On Intimate Partner Relationships, Jaretta A. Buckholtz

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study is to describe active duty and military veterans’ experiences with intimate partner relationships after a sexually traumatic event. The theory guiding this study is attachment theory. Therapies such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), cognitive processing therapy (CPT), and eye-movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR), demonstrate they could help victims of military sexual trauma (MST) minimize the suffering of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), major depressive disorder (MDD), substance use disorder (SUD), and a host of other debilitating diseases that may have developed as the result of their MST, which could cause difficulties in their intimate partner …

The Effects Of Communicative Language Teaching Methods (Clt) Of Teaching Ancient Greek On Student Motivation, Language Learning Experience, Self-Efficacy, Facilitating Anxiety, And Debilitating Anxiety Compared To The Grammar Translation Method (Gtm), Dustin J. Humphreys

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this quantitative, causal-comparative study was to determine if ancient Greek language programs that use communicative language teaching methods (CLT) produce different student motivation, language learning experience, self-efficacy, facilitating anxiety and debilitating anxiety scores than programs that primarily use the grammar-translation method (GTM) of teaching ancient Greek. This study is critical because the comprehensive teaching of the ancient Greek language has been on the decline in recent decades. This research aims to inform colleges, seminaries, and other language learning schools that teach classical languages, such as ancient Greek, about the potential positive effects of CLT on student motivation, …

Thomas Jefferson: Slavery, Education, And The Public Mind, Brendan Lenahan

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Thomas Jefferson’s autobiography reveals his continual struggle against slavery and his frustration at the resistance of the “public mind” in Virginia, predominantly composed of slave-owning aristocrats. Despite vocal condemnations of slavery, attempts to translate his anti-slavery stance into formal documents faced significant resistance from the society he aimed to change. Even within the House of Burgess, Jefferson's support for a bill allowing individual slave owners to free their slaves was met with contempt. His draft of the Declaration of Independence, condemning the King for slavery, was revised by delegates, impeded by both northern financiers of the slave trade and southern …

Online Relational Database For Department Of Nursing: An Evidence-Based Practice Project, Denise L. Rismeyer

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Departmental nursing leaders and their support staff manage large amounts of data in their daily work and have reported inefficiencies, manual labor, and dissatisfaction with previous electronic tools. Cognitive overload occurs when the amount of data exceeds the brain’s ability to process it and leads to negative consequences such as errors, burnout, anxiety, and poor productivity. Use of technology aligns with nurse leader competencies for business skills and principles along with utilizing evidence-based data for goal setting and decision-making. An online relational database (ORD) allows multiple users at one time, web-based access, ability to hold a large capacity of data …

The Thrill Is Here: An Instrumental Case Study Of The Pinetop Perkins Foundation Workshop Experience, Spencer Lewis Byrd

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This instrumental case study aimed to discover blues music education's pedagogy, content, and teaching strategies. This was accomplished by examining authentic blues teaching through the lenses of music learning theory, the Danielson framework for teaching, and the spiral curriculum. The study built on literature relating to the historical, musical, and extra-musical contexts of the blues, popular music, community music, and workshop settings. The Pinetop Perkins Foundation’s Workshop Experience served as the single case for investigating authentic blues music education. Nine instructors, two students, two interns, and two board members participated. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews, live observations, and video …

Exploring The Relationship Between Self-Esteem, Financial Egocentrism, And Fraud Susceptibility In Cyber-Enabled Fraud Schemes Involving Crypto Assets, James Mcdowell

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The propensity to exploit others for one’s own benefit is continuously exhibited by bad actors. Unfortunately, this sentiment holds true in emerging asset classes, such as crypto assets. As a result, it is surprising that current research on fraud susceptibility is approached in a binary way. Researchers examine either what makes an individual predisposed to victimization by bad actors or what factors influence one’s propensity to perpetrate fraudulent schemes. This study bridged this substantial gap in current research by investigating if specific psychological factors influence when, or if, an individual shifts between these two outcomes. The psychological factors incorporated into …

Third-Grade Students’ Poor Performance On The Math Section Of The Stanford Achievement Test At Chapel Hill Elementary School: An Instrumental Exploratory Qualitative Single-Case Study, Giovanny Guillermo Gaviria

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this instrumental exploratory qualitative single-case study was to explore the understanding of the principal, teachers, and parents related to the poor performance on the math section of the Stanford Achievement Test and the related factors of self-determination and self-efficacy of third-grade students in a private Christian elementary school in a city (pseudonym, Chapel Hill) in the Western United States. The theory guiding this study was Bandura's social cognitive theory, which is the foundation of self-determination theory, academic self-efficacy, and school-related parental monitoring. This case study contained a purposeful sample of ten participants (one principal, four teachers, and …

A Cosmic Conflict In Covenantal Literature, Lisa Marie Martinez-Leeper

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This dissertation examines the cosmic conflict that God declared in Genesis 3:15 in the Garden of Eden, and that will not come to fruition until the final judgment articulated in Revelation 20. This raging spiritual warfare can be seen through the lens of the covenants God made with Israel and the administration of God’s purposes through His people. Through God’s sovereign hand over Israel, His providence and grace can be seen throughout the whole of Holy Scriptures. The unfolding spiritual conflict to prevent the “seed of the woman” can be clandestinely observed in the outworking of God’s relationship with His …

Men’S Experience Of Miscarriage: Coping With The Loss Of A Life And Future, Ginny M. Anderson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Miscarriage is often viewed as a medical issue associated with women. When going through a miscarriage, healthcare professionals, family, friends, and others in the community tend to turn all their attention to women and leave men feeling left out, isolated, and unsupported. This qualitative research study is being conducted to gain an understanding of what men experience during and after miscarriage, how they cope with the loss, and what can be done to better assist with the loss. Through this research, we will gain a better understanding of the experience surrounding miscarriage for men in an online setting who are …

Exploring The Impact Of Cultural Event Attendance On Undergraduate Students' Perceived Sense Of Community At A Dual-Mission University, Post Covid: A Predictive Correlational Study, Jared Stephenson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this quantitative predictive correlational study was to determine how accurately a sense of community (the criterion variable) can be predicted from cultural event attendance (predictor variable) for undergraduate students at a dual-mission university, post-COVID. This study is grounded in the Sense of Community Theory and is significant to students and other higher education stakeholders in determining where to focus efforts regarding student involvement that promotes a sense of community. This research utilized the Sense of Community Index-2 to gather data through a convenience sampling method, recruiting 84 participants from a large dual-mission university in the western United …

Intentional Discipleship: Implementing A Theology Of Discipleship For Spiritual Growth, Sheina L. Rivera

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

One of the greatest needs for the church today is to equip believers to become biblically informed, fully developed disciples so that they are prepared to carry out the mission of Christ. Without fully understanding mature discipleship practices, believers cannot fulfill the Great Commission to “go, teach and baptize” to make other disciples. The failure to understand and teach these practices has led to complacency, lack of interest, and the inability to become disciples among long-term church laity. This dissertation implemented biblical discipleship teachings and practices in a local church through a Sunday School curriculum and was evaluated through participant …

The Power Of The “Like”: A Quantitative Study On The Facebook Emoji As Social Support, Lina Rawlings

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This quantitative study aimed to evaluate how receiving a Facebook “like” correlates to the perception of social support and how much this correlation is moderated by the age and gender of the users. The social information processing theory guided the study, providing a framework to explain how communicators adapt to the restriction of nonverbal cues by creating surrogates to maintain interpersonal relationships in computer-mediated communication circumstances. For the central research question, findings revealed that receiving a Facebook “like” positively correlates with perceptions of social support from Facebook friends and family. While no significant correlation was found between the gender of …

A Phenomenological Study Of The Linkage Between Chinese Students’ Undergraduate Experiences In The U.S. And Their Career Choices And Planning, Lin Reed

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative hermeneutic phenomenological study was to discover Chinese alumni’s perceived learning and the impacts of their undergraduate studies in the United States on their career goals and preparation. Using Vygotsky’s sociocultural theory and Knowles’ theory of andragogy as a theoretical framework, this study helped answer the central research question: How do Chinese students’ undergraduate experiences in the United States affect their career choices and planning? Sub-questions have further explored the participants’ relationship to academic and social engagement in college. The purposeful sampling included 10 Chinese students who have studied in the United States, received an undergraduate …

Exploring 21st Century Learning In Virginia Secondary School Technology And Engineering Classrooms: A Hermeneutic Phenomenological Study, George Nicholas Cornwell

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to examine how integrative STEM teachers utilize the Standards for Technological and Engineering Literacy (STEL) to foster and assess 21st-century learning in technology and engineering classes at multiple Virginia public secondary schools. The theory guiding this study was Kolb’s experiential learning theory, which integrates nine learning theories into an innovative cyclical learning process that is like the engineering design loop. This hermeneutic phenomenology included 15 Virginia technology and engineering schoolteachers (Grades 6-12) who purposefully taught multiple academic disciplines and utilized the eight practices of the STEL in the context of their curriculum to …

Faculty Perceptions Of Professional Growth After Course Design Collaboration With An Instructional Designer: A Phenomenological Study, Althea Anita Streater

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This transcendental phenomenological study had the objective of examining the experience of faculty subject matter experts in higher education as they collaborated with instructional designers to develop online learning courses at a college in the northeast United States. The theory guiding this study was Bandura’s theory of self-efficacy. The central research question was: What are the SME reflections on their previous pedagogical and instructional skills, and what growth, if any, can be identified after the course design process? Additional questions examined the faculty's perspective on their past and present pedagogical knowledge. The study took place at a four-year private college …