Digital Commons Network^™

English Proficiency As A Predictor Of Act Scores: A Predictive Correlational Study, Kimberly Hensley Nye

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

English Language Learners (ELLs) compose the fastest growing population in United States public schools. Lack of English language proficiency for these students has created a significant problem with assessment, particularly related to high-stakes accountability requirements. Identification of relationships between language proficiency and high-stakes test scores would benefit both the student and the school system. This archival, predictive correlational study examines if a relationship exists between English proficiency as measured by ACCESS for ELLs reading scores and American College Tests (ACT) composite and subscores in reading and mathematics. The population for this study included 11th grade English Language Learners in a …

Effect Of Mood On Humor, Virginia Randall

Senior Honors Theses

Humor is a social tool that has been documented for hundreds of years with a plethora of studies being produced to attempt to piece together a comprehensive definition of the concept. Among these studies, there have been several analyses regarding the psychological, cognitive, psychobiological, and neural effects of humor, and how they are outwardly manifested. Additionally, several social contexts have been considered. In analyses of humor, several theories have been produced, many based off of figurehead concepts within the field of psychology.

Primary interest of this research study was in whether these studies and theories can support whether there is …

Investigating The Prevailing Worldviews Of American Public Education: A Brief Analysis And History, Chester Walker

Senior Honors Theses

This thesis investigates whether the philosophies and worldviews underlying U.S. public education contradict or purposefully undermine Biblical Christianity. It provides readers with an understanding of the Biblical Christian worldview to enable them to analyze and contrast prominent worldviews of public education. Pragmatism and Marxism run rampant in public education today. Both strongly oppose fundamental tenets of the Biblical Christian worldview. To determine any purposeful anti-Christian agenda, the author examines the men behind the worldviews. Christianity maintains that ideas and practices in education originate from deeply-held, personal beliefs, which are passed on to students. Education is a means of discipleship to …

The Fundamental Limit Theorem Of Countable Markov Chains, Nathanael Gentry

Senior Honors Theses

In 1906, the Russian probabilist A.A. Markov proved that the independence of a sequence of random variables is not a necessary condition for a law of large numbers to exist on that sequence. Markov's sequences -- today known as Markov chains -- touch several deep results in dynamical systems theory and have found wide application in bibliometrics, linguistics, artificial intelligence, and statistical mechanics. After developing the appropriate background, we prove a modern formulation of the law of large numbers (fundamental theorem) for simple countable Markov chains and develop an elementary notion of ergodicity. Then, we apply these chain convergence results …

Teaching Lexical Stress: Effective Practice In A Mandarin Ell Context, Ethan Oliver

Senior Honors Theses

Current trends in teaching pronunciation to ELLs (English Language Learners) point towards a "top-down" approach. This refers to putting emphasis on the overarching prosodic features of English rather than the proper pronunciation of consonants and vowels. One of the most integral prosodic features in English is stress. Both lexical stress (stressed syllables within a word) and sentence stress (stressed words within a sentence) play an important role in the prosodic pronunciation of English. However, some languages, such as Mandarin, lack stress in their prosodic systems, instead employing features such as tonality. These languages both have overlap in their fundamental prosodic …

Semeiotic And The Problem Of Panentheism For Christian Natural Theology, Nathan G. Wheeler

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This dissertation considers the theological suitability of Charles S. Peirce’s philosophy of signs (semeiotic) for use in theories respecting the great Christian tradition. As a case-study, this dissertation examines panentheism as a problem for a Christian approach to natural theology utilizing semeiotic, as proposed by Alister McGrath. Leading interpreters of Peirce’s philosophy of religion, Michael Raposa and Robert Corrington, hold that Peirce’s semeiotic entails a panentheist ontology. If that is the case, then a fully developed use of semeiotic by McGrath may inad-vertently risk the coherence of his theory. The present study takes a systematic theology approach combined with an …

Identifying Teacher And Parental Communication Methods That Could Impact Elementary School Educational Outcomes, Erin Kathleen Hughes

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Developing and sustaining positive partnerships between parents and educators is a collaborative process whose primary focus should be directed towards student achievement. Due to ongoing educational reform, more researchers and practitioners are concerned about the quality of communication between parents and teachers. The importance of this issue should be addressed to provide an understanding between schools and parents of the impact that communication can pose on student outcomes. The purpose of this applied study was to identify teacher and parental communication methods that could impact educational outcomes at Bayou Elementary School (pseudonym) in northwest Louisiana. This study implemented a multimethod …

Potential Ministry Approaches For Reaching Hispanic Millennials In El Paso, Texas America’S Largest Ethnic Demographic In The Borderland, William Howard Lavender Ii

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

How can evangelical churches be more effective when conducting Christ’s missional mandate to make disciples of all nations among one of the United States’ largest ethnic people group? A recent demographic study reveals that 60% of Hispanic Millennials form one of the nation’s largest ethnic demographics. The El Paso Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) is home to the largest concentration of Hispanic Millennials living in the United States. This Doctor of Ministry project discovers ministry approaches that will equip ministry leaders in El Paso, Texas to be more effective at conducting Christ’s missional mandate within their ministry context.

Empathy And Situational Appraisal As Moderators Of The Relationship Between Shame, Social Support, And Resilience, Andras Oliser

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The current study investigated the interrelated roles of trait-shame, perceived social support, empathy, and situational appraisal style in the context of their influence on psychological resilience, and provided quantitative evidence of the conditional patterns of influence exerted by these constructs on psychological resilience. The study focused on quantifying the moderating influence of empathy and situational appraisal style on the relationships between trait-shame, social support, and psychological resilience through a mediated moderation model which presented a novel approach to conceptualizing these interactions. Supporting evidence was found for the mediating role of social support on the shame-resilience interaction as well as for …

A Case Study Of The Perspectives Of Black Children's Parents Regarding Their Role In Addressing The Achievement Gap, Jennifer Lona Harris

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative, collective case study was to understand the perspectives of Black children's parents regarding their roles in addressing the Black student achievement gap in their Virginia school district. For this study, the achievement gap referred to the disparity of academic performance between Black and White students. The theories guiding this study were social constructivism and social equity as they both support understanding the world based on participants’ experiences. The research questions are as follows: (1) What do parents of Black children identify as their roles in their children’s education? (2) How do parents of Black children …

A Collective Case Study Of Middle School Teachers' Experiences Using Chromebooks Instead Of Textbooks In The Classroom, Holly Diane Eimer

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this collective case study was to understand the classroom experiences using Chromebooks in place of textbooks among middle school teachers in the Central County School System (pseudonym). The central research question that guided the study asked, How do middle school teachers in Central County experience using Chromebooks instead of traditional textbooks for instructional purposes in the classroom? For this research, the use of Chromebooks was generally defined as reading for learning purposes. The theory that guided this study was the cognitive theory of multimedia learning. The participants were 15 sixth through eighth grade public-school core content teachers. …

Addressing The Issue Of Low Attendance In Emmanuel Church Among Young Adults, Ivett Beverley Mcdonald

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of the study was to address the issue of low attendance in Emmanuel Church among young adults. This topic is based on the investigator's awareness that individuals who grow up in Emmanuel discontinue attendance between the ages of eighteen to twenty-nine years. The literature review revealed that many churches commonly experience this problem. Emmanuel Church is primarily made up of Jamaicans and their descendants, and no literature addressed the immediate context of Emmanuel Church. The investigator interviewed twenty young adults who were previous members of Emmanuel Church. The study revealed that young adults leave Emmanuel in record numbers. …

A Phenomenological Study Of The Lived And Professional Experiences Of African American Male Instructors: Functions Of The Practices Of School Systems, Thomas Dewayne Cash

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenological investigation was to explore and ascribe meaning to the lived and professional experiences of African American male educators as functions of the practices (i.e., systemic policies and interactions with colleagues) of a suburban school system. The philosophical frameworks guiding this study were Critical Race Theory (Bell, 1970) and Tokenism (Kanter, 1977) as they relate, respectively, to the effects of engendered racism and the implications of the invisibility and hypervisibility associated with being Black male instructors. The three related sub-questions involved (1) the contributing roles of school systems’ procedures to the encounters of this group …

Morality And The Personhood Of God: A Moral Argument For The Existence Of A Personal God, Stephen Scott Jordan

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The concept that God is personal is an important part of religious belief. If God were not personal, it would be odd to think of him as moral or loving; it would also seem counterintuitive to speak of him as One with whom humans can have a personal relationship, One who can be trusted, cares for the people he created, listens to their prayers, acts on their behalf, has their best interests at heart, and so on. In short, to talk of such matters in a sensible manner and to experience them in everyday life seemingly requires that God is …

A Correlational Study Of Transformational Leadership Behavior And The Spiritual Growth Of Congregants’ From Multicultural Churches Of Christ In The United States, James Phillip Chaisson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The world in the twenty-first century is becoming more integrated and interconnected which is affecting not only how one conducts business and education, but also how the church adapts to the fact that over the coming years it seems likely that one will find fewer and fewer monocultural congregations. The need to understand issues related to diversity and cultural sensitivity while at the same time remaining faithful to the Gospel and its promotion is vital. For those reasons, this study aimed to identify if transformational leadership behaviors contribute to the spiritual growth and maturity of members of multicultural Churches of …

A Phenomenological Study Of How Black South African University Students Experience Cultural Identity In An English-Medium Instruction Context, Arthur Kent Cason

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to describe the experience of cultural identity in an English-medium instruction context for Black university students in South Africa. Data were collected from 10 Black South African university students representing a cross-section of South African society. In-depth individual interviews were used as the primary data collection method complemented by a focus group interview and self-reflection letters written to a hypothetical new student in which the participant recalls his or her experience with cultural identity. Data analysis followed Moustakas’ methodology involving bracketing biases, horizonalization, organizing and classifying significant statements into themes, writing the textural …

Factors Influencing Small Construction Businesses From Implementing Information Security: A Case Study, Carl Andrew Mayes

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This qualitative study described the influence of small businesses’ failure to properly implement information security technologies resulting in the loss of sensitive and proprietary business information. A collective case study approach was used to determine the most effective way to gain a holistic picture of how small construction businesses make security technology implementation decisions to support their workforce. The theory guiding this study was the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) model which is related to the Theory of Planned Behavior and the Technology Acceptance Model which helped explain the intentions of individuals to use information systems. …

A Collective Case Study Of Factors That Promote Academic Motivation Among High-Performing, Economically Disadvantaged Middle School Students, Gregory M. Shields Jr

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative case study was to explore the influencing factors that promote academic motivation among high-performing, economically disadvantaged middle school students. Poverty affects students in various ways, such as socially, emotionally, and cognitively. Due to the adverse experiences stemming from poverty, many students lack motivation and confidence in their academic abilities. On the contrary, some students overcome the adversity of poverty by demonstrating resilience. The following central question was used to further investigate the study: What factors promote academic motivation among high-performing, economically disadvantaged middle school students? The theory guiding this study is self-determination theory (Deci & …

Predictive Effects Of Physician Assistant Students' Pre-Admission Direct Patient Contact Hours On Performance In Supervised Clinical Practice Experiences, Gerald Robert Weniger

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The demand for physician assistants (PAs) is predicted to rise because of the growing shortage of physicians. PA educational programs are tasked with producing graduates who are skilled within six domains of competency: 1) medical knowledge, 2) professionalism, 3) interpersonal and communication skills, 4) patient care, 5) practice-based learning and improvement, and 6) systems-based practice. The Physician Assistant National Certifying Exam only assesses two of the six competencies: medical knowledge and professionalism. Without much time in a curriculum to teach the ‘softer skills’ like communication and interpersonal skills, many PA programs require pre-admission patient contact experience in order to at …

Secondary Content Teachers' Perceptions Of Instructing English For Speakers Of Other Languages (Esol) Students: A Phenomenological Study, Wendy Lane Bailey

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to describe the lived experiences of secondary content teachers who instruct English Language Learner (ELL) students. ELLs are the fastest growing population of students in the United States. As this group continues to grow, so do the challenges of providing equitable education. Although most schools have adopted one or more models of instruction for ELLs, there is no universal model. High stakes testing and improved college readiness curriculum are designed to provide higher expectations for student achievement. However, ELL students continue to fall behind their native English-speaking peers in math and reading. Secondary …

A Phenomenological Study Of The Factors That Motivate Black Students' Enrollment In Advanced Placement Courses, Konova Letrice Cornelius

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to understand the motivations for Black students to enroll in advanced placement courses in the United States. The theory guiding this study is Urie Bronfenbrenner’s ecological model of human development (1979). Much of the literature associated with Black students in advanced placement courses focuses on the underrepresentation of Black students in the program and the factors that deter their enrollment. Few studies explore the lived experiences of Black students in rigorous coursework and their motivation. The central question that framed the study is: “What influences Black students’ decisions to enroll in advanced placement …

Multicultural Competence In Vocational Rehabilitation: The Role Of Multicultural Awareness Among Black Vrcs, Regina Walden Alston

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Over the past 30 years In the United States, multiculturalism has expanded due to a larger number of diverse populations. In this qualitative research project, the researcher explored the multicultural awareness development of Black vocational rehabilitation counselors (VRCs). The participants consisted of six Black VRCs. The data were analyzed using phenomenological theory methodology. In vocational rehabilitation, counselors are not considered competent unless they comprehend multicultural counseling competence, have the proper educational backgrounds, and are achieving successful employment outcomes with culturally diverse clients. Research shows that the component of multicultural awareness development is considered the promising, yet essential contributor to overall …

Personhood, Threshold And Equality, Benjamin Leon Williamson

Quaerens Deum: The Liberty Undergraduate Journal for Philosophy of Religion

Whether abortion and infanticide are permissible has been debated for a long time in philosophical literature and continues to this day. In this paper, I will assume without argument that one’s view about the moral status of the fetus and newborn will determine what side he/she comes down on in this debate. I am also proceeding with the assumption that personhood is not a conventional or linguistically effective device that has little or no connection to reality. Persons exist and personhood itself is real. With that being said, I will defend a more controversial claim that will undoubtedly stir a …

Exploring Therapeutic Nurse-Patient Communication: Techniques And Barriers, Pierina Rossini

Senior Honors Theses

Effective nurse-patient communication, also described as therapeutic communication, is essential for providing high quality nursing care. It increases patient satisfaction and health, decreases patient anxiety and disease symptoms, and increases patient cooperation and compliance to treatment. Some therapeutic communication techniques include attentive listening, empathy, silence, focusing, open-ended questions, clarification, exploring, clarifying, and summarizing. Unfortunately, there are barriers to therapeutic communication that have been identified. Research regarding nurse-patient therapeutic communication, consisting of secondary, qualitative, descriptive data, points to several barriers to therapeutic communication. Some of the barriers to therapeutic communication include nurse-patient gender difference; patient physical discomfort; nurse-patient language, culture, and …

Cultural Intelligence Development And Study Abroad: The Effect Of Destination, Luke Zirkle

Senior Honors Theses

Cultural intelligence (CQ) is an emerging field in a globalized world. As the world becomes increasingly interconnected, study abroad opportunities at higher educational institutions have become widely-accepted means for developing students’ CQ. While a number of variables seem to impact CQ development through study abroad programs, one variable seems as yet to have been largely unexplored. This research examines anonymous archival data from juniors in Liberty University’s Global Studies program during the spring semesters of 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2019 to observe a potential pattern that suggests the role of a study abroad host-culture on the student’s CQ development. Though …

Preaching To Millennials: A Content Analysis Of Preachers' Communication As It Relates To Millennial Congregants, Matthew Joel Hastings

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The American church is facing a decline in attendance (Barna, 2014). This truth is especially prevalent in the millennial generation, the largest yet also the least religious American generation. Many of whom describe themselves as spiritual but not religious. The church has a unique opportunity through the weekly sermon that other organizations do not have. This opportunity provides the ability to verbally communicate in person with the entire organization at one time. The purpose of this qualitative content analysis study was to better understand how preachers who led the fastest growing churches in the Southern Baptist Convention used communication tactics …

Christian Worship In Nagaland, Jane Elizabeth Laremore

Masters Theses

Christianity has historically suppressed Naga traditional music and culture, and yet Christian music plays an important role in the construction of Naga identity. A brief history and overview of Christian music in Nagaland including, hymn singing, contemporary Christian music, and revival songs demonstrates how the unique social, cultural and political context of Nagaland has created a generational divide in worship style preferences and the birth of the revival song genre. Snapshots of the life and work of Naga composers further illustrate these themes and provide insight into the incorporation of Naga folk music in Christian worship. While advocates make strong …

Social-Emotional Learning And Its Relationship To High School Student Academic Achievement In Stem Courses, Maurice Lavelle Mcdougald

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this study was to determine the correlation of high school student social-emotional learning and its relationship to academic achievement in STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) courses as moderated by gender and racial groups and within a rural school in the Sandhills area of North Carolina. Using a quasi-experimental variable-centered design, 202 Junior Reserve Officer Corps students participated in this research. The researcher sought to answer: (1) Do individual high school students' self-perceptions of social-emotional learning skills influence academic achievement in traditional STEM courses? (2) Are there significant variations of individual high school students' self-perception of social-emotional learning …

American Sign Language Interpreting For D/Deaf Individuals With Disabilities: A Qualitative Study And Practical Guide, Emily Mason

Senior Honors Theses

American Sign Language (ASL) interpreting for d/Deaf individuals with disabilities (DWD) is a complex task, and one which lacks an adequate research-base to inform best practices. Using the foundation of existing literature on closely related topics such as the field of ASL interpreting, educational interpreting, education of DWD individuals, and research about specific disabilities occurring with d/Deafness, I compiled a literature review and created a theoretical conceptual framework concerning this topic. In further investigation of this subject, I also conducted a qualitative study through online questionnaires sent out by email to ASL interpreters located through snowball sampling. The data collected …

Modern Myths: Adding To America's Cultural Heritage, Kathryne E. Wood

Masters Theses

As children, we believe in the Tooth Fairy, Santa Claus, and the Easter Bunny. We cower in fear when our friends talk about the Boogeyman, or how they'll summon Bloody Mary in the mirror. We check our closets, in hopes of finding an entrance to Narnia at the back of them. The world is a mysterious place in which anything can happen, anything can exist. What makes these types of stories so special? How do they generate true belief? What propels a narrative from entertaining story to the status of myth, legend, or folktale? This thesis explores the enduring qualities …