Digital Commons Network^™

Brand Campaign: Motorized Misfits, Rachel Rosenberger, Jenna Modrzejewski

Liberty University Research Week

We were tasked with creating a visual identity, branding and collateral for a fictitious nonprofit organization, called Motorized Misfits that is based in Atlanta, Georgia. This organization helps provide economically disadvantaged individuals gain access to transportation. This study was directed by studying the target audience and researching their preferences, relationships, age habits, geographical location, and socioeconomic background. We studied the media preferences of the age group as well as the financial background, the individual’s education level, and the relational status of the individual or if they have children. Prevalent social movements in the Atlanta region were also researched. This information …

What Are The Games For?: The Hunger Games And Reality Tv, Audrey Perez

Senior Honors Theses

In Suzanne Collins’ series, The Hunger Games, a dystopian Capitol holds an annual televised gladiator-style competition in which child participants fight to the death. These Games function as a psychological tool of propaganda that influence both viewers and participants to sustain an oppressive government. Collins prominently explored the Games’ medium as a reality television show through the way it reinforces an ideology of oppression and control through visual messaging and emotional complicity to create division between classes of people. Real world reality TV also has ideological underpinnings that can negatively influence both viewers and participants through its depiction of a …

Put Me In, Coach: Constitutional Concerns Of Judicial Activism And Legislating From The Bench, Jacob M. Elliott

Senior Honors Theses

Unrestrained judicial activism and legislating from the bench at the Supreme Court level place federalism and freedom in jeopardy. By ignoring crucial doctrines like jurisdiction, deference, and independence, the Supreme Court has demonstrated a tendency toward reinterpreting existing Constitutional precedent as they see fit, basing judgments on extra-legal influences, and supplanting Constitutional principles with their own personal policy preferences.

Numerous cases demonstrate the looming threat of judicial overreach; these cases are often considered some of the most damaging and injurious decisions in the history of the American federal judiciary. One potential solution is to appoint justices who will operate …

A Rhetorical Analysis Of The Emasculation Of Men Through Televised Forums Of Entertainment, Skylar G. Sexton

Senior Honors Theses

What constitutes manliness stands on the brink of collapse. Society wages war on the idea of biological men and women. This simultaneously blurs the lines of the distinctive characteristics that define a man such as initiative, protective instincts, self-control, and leadership. Media forums act as a reflection as well as an influencing medium for a cultural body. Films have fundamentally changed their depiction of men in television since the 1960s and 1970s. Manliness is being redefined through films' depictions of a man, as well as by societal movements such as feminism. Men are being emasculated in society today, which is …

Code Of Faith: Programming Spirituality In The Digital Age, Caleb Martin

Senior Honors Theses

With the increasing pervasiveness of technology in our daily lives, it is critical to consider the potential effects on an individual's religious practices and beliefs from software applications developed within a religious framework. This thesis delves into the relationship between software development and religious experiences, examining the manner in which the creation, operation, and application of religious technology can mold and impact an individual's spiritual development. This thesis aims to inform the implementation of technologies with a nonsecular application, ensuring that they are developed with a deep respect for the nuances of religious experience. The findings of this study will …

Malled To Death: Surviving Sprawl And Redreaming The American Mall, Gioia Calabretta

Senior Honors Theses

America underwent a shift in city planning post-WWII, a change which still shapes America today. In contrast with Sprawl’s failures in mobility, community, and beauty, New Urbanism, a return to traditional city planning, is presented as the solution to these shortcomings. New Urbanism lacks adequate marketing to advocate these successes, thus more competitive media, such as video, must be pursued. Using the local mall, River Ridge, as a case study to show Sprawl’s short-sighted pseudo-solutions and New Urbanism’s time-tested true solutions, a testimonial-style script is put forth to catalyze the Lynchburg community in promoting traditional city planning.

Is Speech Speech?: Analyzing The Speech As Conduct Exception After Nifla, Joshua N. Broome

Senior Honors Theses

In National Institute of Family & Life Advocates v. Becerra, the Supreme Court held that there was no First Amendment exception for professional speech, but noted there remained an exception for speech incidental to professional conduct. The United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit and the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit are split on the nature of this exemption, namely, whether it includes legislation banning conversion therapy for minors when said therapy consists of only speech. This split highlights a deeper divide: whether speech, in and of itself, can be considered conduct and …

Understanding The Motivation And Avoidance Factors Influencing Young Adults’ Participation In Religious Dialogue, Maria Rojas

Senior Honors Theses

The following study aims to present an overview evaluation of the motivation or avoidance factors that young adults are influenced by when considering participation in religious dialogue.

Escaping Eden, Leslie Walker

Masters Theses

This thesis explores the world of Eden, Hell, and Heaven through the eyes of the young protagonist, Sage. She completes a journey through many different trials, suffering multiple injuries as she slowly pieces together that the ruler of Hell is her brother, Bryce. Sage is greeted by numerous characters such as Adler and Evelyn, along with other souls in Hell. Sage eventually finds herself back near Heaven’s gates after her trek through the underworld, but something feels different. Her brother ultimately tricks her into believing that she has made it out alive, but he never allowed her to leave the …

Achieving Positive Outcomes Using Rapport-Based Police Interviewing In Sex Offense Investigations, Mark A. Dainty

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Rapport is a critical component of interpersonal communication marked by verbal and non-verbal behaviors including attention, positivity, and coordination. The presence of these indicators during police interviews is positively correlated with information yield. This grounded theory study examined the relationship between rapport and information yield as measured by the quantity of details interviewees disclosed to investigators, particularly sensitive or incriminating details. The theory guiding this study was Cesare Beccaria’s classical criminology Rational Choice Theory, which suggests offenders are rational beings who conduct a cost-benefit analysis before engaging in crime. Investigators applying this theory and employing rapport-based interviewing skills will elicit …

Connections Between Co-Occurring Symptoms Of Eating Disorders, Gut Dysbiosis, Anxiety, And Depression, Erin L. Thomas

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Eating disorders (ED) are a pervasive mental health condition that puts individuals at risk for long-term physical consequences or even death, and current treatment methods typically do not offer long-term efficacy. The current study aims to examine relationships between co-occurring symptoms of EDs, gastrointestinal distress, anxiety, and depression to add to the scientific literature and point towards directions that may increase the benefits of treatment efforts. A total of 72 participants were asked to complete an online survey that consisted of measures from each variable and took about 20 minutes to finish. Participating individuals had to be at least 18 …

A Phenomenological Study Of Women’S Discovery Of Infidelity In Long-Term Relationships, Sinay Butler

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to describe the lived experience of women in long-term marriages in the Spokane, Washington area when they discovered their husbands’ infidelity. All of the women in this study developed symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) following the discovery of their husbands’ infidelity, however, infidelity is not recognized as a criterion A event for a formal diagnosis. Attachment theory provided the theoretical framework from which to understand the trauma responses of these women better. During the semi-structured interviews, the women described the discovery of infidelity as a traumatic and life-changing event. The research questions …

Exploring Adult Learners’ Spiritual Formation In Online Learning: A Hermeneutic Phenomenological Study, Haroldo Higino Viana

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenological study was to describe the support for guiding spiritual formation in online courses for students in post-secondary Christian education in Asia. Support for guiding spiritual formation in online courses was generally defined as an instructional design that influences spiritual formation through social, cognitive, and teaching presence in the learning experience. The conceptual framework guiding this study was Garrison et al.’s community of inquiry, as it supports online instruction through social, cognitive, and teaching presences. The central research question was: What are the perspectives of online students as they develop spiritual formation within their coursework? …

A Qualitative Sociopsychological Study Of Expectancy Violation And Uses And Gratifications Theories Pertaining To Phubbing Behavior And Reception In Generation X Women, Sandra Joslyn Tallarico

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The overall aim of this dissertation project was to examine the effects of phone snubbing, called phubbing, on Generation X women born between 1965 and 1980 who reside in the United States. This qualitative dissertation explored the experiences Generation X women have with the reception and action of the act of phubbing others through 18 semi-structured interviews via dyadic face-to-face conversation. The study’s findings indicate that Generation X women dislike being phubbed, negatively impacting conversational, communication, and relational satisfaction. Further indications suggest Generation X women typically try to avoid phubbing others, except for the felt need to check on their …

A Phenomenological Study: Leading The Next Generation Of Executive Nurse Leaders Using Biblical Principles, Patricia A. Willie

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Understanding retirement requires getting inside people’s stories, and qualitative research is well-suited to address retirees' more profound lived experiences (Amabile, 2019). This qualitative study uses a phenomenological transcendental method to describe the retired nurse executive's leadership development competency and experiences mentoring emerging nurse leaders using biblical principles such as compassion, caring, serving, and spirituality. For this study, retired executive nurse leaders are defined as those who have served in an acute care hospital's formal executive leadership position and retired less than ten years ago. Leadership development competency is defined as a composite of top leadership principles, biblical principles, mentoring experiences, …

Identifying And Defining The Healthcare Needs Of A Rural Missouri Community: A Case-Study, Maggie Maria Finley

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this case study is to understand and describe the healthcare needs of the citizens of a rural community in Missouri. The study was completed using the case study theory developed by Kathleen Eisenhardt. Eisenhardt follows a “no theory first” approach in which the research is used to both develop a theory and elaborate on the developed theory. This theory used the gaps in research to develop a research question and establish its relevance. Current research on rural healthcare provides evidence that rural citizens face healthcare disparities. While this research establishes that there are healthcare gaps in rural …

Tell Them We Were Bees, Diamond L. Garrett

Masters Theses

Tell Them We Were Bees is composed of 55 poems. The thesis uses different poetic forms and a variety of literary and rhetoric devices to facilitate the imagery of bees including but not limited to their functions and how they are perceived. The symbolism of bees and nature used throughout in analogies and metaphors represent the experiences of African Americans and women in the society and culture of the United States. The thesis will draw on aspects of racism: such as the system that continues to uplift racism, micro aggressive experiences, internalized racism, colorism, hate crimes, and other personal experiences …

Interpreting The Re-Engagement Of Disenfranchised Youth With Disabilities Through The Lived Experiences Of Alternative High School Staff Members: A Hermeneutic Phenomenological Study, Stephanie Jean Smith

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenological study was to interpret the lived experiences of re-engaging at-risk students with disabilities after disenfranchisement from traditional educational settings for non-compulsory alternative charter school staff members at Southwest Charter Academy in the Southwest United States. The theory guiding this study was Bronfenbrenner’s theory on bioecological systems, as it connects the influences of interactions to an individual’s development of behaviors. The central research question for this qualitative study asked: What are the lived experiences of non-compulsory alternative charter school staff members in the Southwest United States who work to re-engage at-risk students with disabilities after …

You Belong With Me: Examining The Relationship Between Engagement In The “Swifty” Fan Community, Feelings Of Belonging, And Social Identity, Jessica Leigh Webb

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Belongingness and social identity shape human behavior and group dynamics, yet their relationship with fan engagement remains understudied. This study examines engagement in the “Swifty” fan community—fans of Taylor Swift—and its relationship with belonging and social identity. A quantitative, correlational design addressed three research questions: (1) the relationship between fan engagement and belonging, (2) the relationship between fan identification and belonging, and (3) the relationship between fan identification and social identity. Data were collected via an online Qualtrics survey incorporating the General Belongingness Scale, Three-Factor Model of Social Identity Scale, Popular Media Fan Identity Scale, and demographic items. The survey …

Quiet Quitting Out Loud: A Qualitative Study Of Digital Communication Through Public Discourse On Youtube Regarding An Evolving Work Behavior Trend, Jessica R. Koch

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This dissertation examines the phenomenon of online discourse surrounding quiet quitting, a trending movement that has gone viral on social media. This trend encourages individuals to set work-life boundaries and reject excessive labor demands by contributing only what is required at work. The study aims to explore how news sources and users alike engage with this concept, particularly using YouTube as a platform for advocacy and community-building. A qualitative content analysis was conducted to analyze a sample of news segment videos published on YouTube on the topic of quiet quitting, focusing on emerging themes within those conversations and the role …

The Lived Experiences Of Residents Of Casablanca, Morocco, And Their Exposure To Jihad In The Belgium Consulate Bombing : A Phenomenological Study, Idriss Bensassi

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study examined if Casablancans believed violent Jihad had influenced terrorist activities inside Morocco by looking at the term Jihad from both cultural and religious in a historical context and the effect of both concepts on the residents of Casablanca. The study described the transformation of Jihad from its true spiritual meaning to its attraction to terror. Three research questions guided this study: (1) What are residents’ lived experiences of the Belgium Consulate terrorist attack in Casablanca in shaping their understanding of Islam and Jihads? (2) How do the experiences and exposure of residents of the Belgium Consulate terrorist attack …

A Phenomenological Study Of The Experiences Of Reading Teachers Instructing Students With Diverse Needs Using The Mcgraw Hill Direct Instruction Programs, Kyle Phillip Ford

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological qualitative study is to understand the experiences of reading teachers instructing students with diverse needs using the McGraw Hill Direct Instruction programs in kindergarten through eighth grade classrooms during the first three years of the district-wide implementation in a large school district in Florida. Instructing students with diverse needs using the McGraw Hill Direct Instruction programs is generally defined as using either McGraw Hill’s Corrective Reading or Reading Mastery program to teach students with reading deficiencies. The theories that guided this study were Bandura’s social cognitive and self-efficacy theories. The central research question was “What …

Lived Experiences Of High School Teachers' Professional Development Post-Covid-19 Pandemic In Rural Georgia: A Transcendental Phenomenology Study, Jesse Regalado

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study is to describe the lived experiences of high school teachers' professional development post-COVID-19 pandemic in rural Georgia, U.S.A. The theories guiding the research are Piaget's theory of disequilibration, addressing how one accommodates and assimilates to adapt to change, and Festinger's (1957) theory of cognitive dissonance, explaining how one adapts, assimilates, and accommodates to avoid disharmony. The study's central question is, what are high school teachers' perceptions on the practical or academic professional development they received post-COVID-19 pandemic in rural Georgia, United States, used to promote leadership, teaching mastery, or pedagogical practices? This study utilized …

The Lived Experiences Of Mothers Leaving The Fundamentalist Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter-Day Saints: A Phenomenological Approach, Natasha Tebbs

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological qualitative study was to provide a holistic understanding of the lived experiences of mothers who leave the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (FLDS). This study answered questions related to familial relationships, career and financial experiences, and overall mental health and well-being associated with leaving the FLDS Church. The theory guiding this study was Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, as it related to understanding the complexities of leaving a high-demand religious group. There was a lack of academic literature available on this population, specifically FLDS mothers’ experiences leaving the cultural and religious group. …

The Effects Of Reading Comprehension Intervention For Dyslexia, Amber L. Coggin

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

A quantitative study was performed to determine if Lindamood-Bell Reading Intervention had an effect on the self-concept, anxiety levels, and depression levels of individuals diagnosed with dyslexia. This quantitative study was also conducted to determine if a person’s age had an effect on the ability to learn coping mechanisms for dyslexia. Thirty-three participants, ranging in age from 7 to17 years-old were selected to participate in the study. All participants had a formal diagnosis of dyslexia and had not obtained the Lindamood-Bell Reading Intervention prior to participating in the study. The participants were divided into three age groups. Each participant completed …

Lived Experiences Of Initial Romantic Attraction In Codependent And Non-Codependent Women: A Qualitative Study, Karen Jaworski

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Codependency is seen to have a negative impact on individuals right from the first meeting with a prospective partner through the painful ending of the relationship. Despite the inner turmoil it causes, affected individuals continue to repeatedly gravitate toward dysfunctional partners. This study explored the phenomena of codependency and initial romantic attraction to see if there were any differences in the descriptions of lived experience between the codependent and non-codependent participants. During this qualitative study, ten codependent and ten non-codependent women underwent in-depth semi-structured, one-on-one interviews to gain deeper insights on their perception of attraction, initial attraction to past relational …

State-Based Law Enforcement Accreditation Outcomes: A Multiple Case Study In Texas, Thomas L. Sanders

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The 21st century has brought new challenges to the nation’s law enforcement organizations, with agencies having to achieve a higher service standard to meet society’s demand for transparency, responsiveness, and justice. Prompted by presidential task force recommendations in 2015 and 2020, law enforcement agencies have sought methods to raise their organizational standards to build trust and legitimacy of policing in their communities. Based on federal guidelines, the accreditation of law enforcement agencies and implementation of the best practices in law enforcement throughout the nation have taken root in American policing. On a national level, the Commission on Accreditation for Law …

The Sanders Effect: Disruptive Leadership And Its Implications At Jackson State University, Kevin A.D. Stiff

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative intrinsic case study was to explore how Deion Sanders’s leadership style influenced Jackson State University (JSU) and to examine the potential for disruptive leadership to drive change in National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) sports settings. Disruptive leadership is an emerging concept in leadership literature and has been underexplored, particularly in addressing the systemic challenges historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) face. These challenges include underfunding, limited resources, and reduced visibility. Sanders’s appointment at JSU provided a transformative example of disruptive leadership, resulting in significant institutional and cultural shifts. This study employed multiple data collection methods, …

The Correlation Of Intergenerational Faith On Black Families, Anita Serwaa Bonsu

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Parent-child relationships play a significant role in predicting human behavior during childhood development. As more individuals become religiously unaffiliated, this research explored the factors contributing to this reality. Many studies have highlighted the correlation of parents on behavior; however, few have examined the intergenerational closeness and religiosity within Black families in America. The primary goal of this study was to assess the correlation of parent-child closeness on intrinsic religiosity among Black families. The research asked the following question: Does parent-child closeness positively correlate with intrinsic religiosity among adult Black children? The sample consisted of 73 Black adults aged 18 years …

Cultivating Advanced Education For Christian Faculty In Higher Education Institutions: A Phenomenological Study, Gary D. Hyrne

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to understand the experiences of cultivating advanced education for Christian faculty at higher education institutions in the United States. The central research question guiding this study asked: What are the experiences of Christian faculty cultivating advanced education in higher education institutions? The Christian faculty participants' research was guided by data on their lived experiences at private Christian institutions, state universities, or other secular institutions of higher education. Secular relates to the worldly or temporal, not overtly or specifically religious. Bandura’s social cognitive theory guided the study. The research design followed the recommendations of …