Digital Commons Network^™

A Phenomenological Study Exploring The Factors That Contribute To Persistence In Online Doctoral Programs For Students With Learning Disabilities Or Adhd, Jerry L. Pitts

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to discover the factors that contributed to persistence in online doctoral programs for students with learning disabilities (LD) and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The theory guiding this study was Tinto’s theory of student persistence, as it suggested the more students were academically and socially integrated into their institution, the more likely they were to persist in their studies. The Central research question of this study is, “What are the factors that contribute to persistence in online doctoral programs for students with LD and ADHD?” Participants in this study consisted of seven …

The Fallacy Of Systemic Racism In The American Criminal Justice System, Paul J. Larkin, Giancarlo Canaparo

Liberty University Law Review

Critics of the criminal justice system have repeatedly charged it with systemic racism. It is a tenet of the “war” on the “War on Drugs,” it is a justification used by the so-called “progressive prosecutors” to reject the “Broken Windows” theory of law enforcement, and it is an article of faith of the “Defund the Police!” movement. Even President Joe Biden and his chief lieutenants leveled the same allegation early in this administration. Although the President has eschewed the belief that Americans are a racist people, others have not, proclaiming that virtually anyone who is white is a racist.

Yet, …

The Thought Of C.S. Lewis, Wyatt Golden

NEXUS: The Liberty Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies

No abstract provided.

The Effect Of Pornography On Marriage And Its Societal Impacts: A Neurobiological Perspective, Katie Rose Geer

NEXUS: The Liberty Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies

No abstract provided.

Media Dependency In Gen Z Christians, Emma Jolie Best

Masters Theses

The purpose of the study “Media Dependency in Gen Z Christians” is to understand and explore the way Gen Z Christians utilize different forms of media as it relates to their faith. This quantitative research approach focused on the extent to which Gen Z Christians utilize extra-biblical and biblical media, which media they are more likely to consume, and which media they prefer. This research provides insight for the audience in terms of the habits of weekly Gen Z media usage and reliance in a digital media-emersed world, as well as insight into the way that Christian Gen Z learns …

Naturalism, Christian Molinism, And The Problem Of Evil, Caleb Blackman

Masters Theses

The purpose of this thesis is to create a Christian theodicy by forming an abductive argument showing that Christian Molinism can provide reasons for the existence of evil, and compared to naturalism, it provides the best explanation. This is accomplished by considering the naturalistic explanation of evil and building upon defenses and concepts such as the Free Will Defense and Molinism.

Influence Of Preaching’S Rhetorical Appeal On Evangelical Listeners’ Motivation, Nicholas Anene Oji

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Preaching is a form of rhetorical narratology aimed at persuading its audience via sermons to experience a renewal of the mind and the transformation of their life. While previous research established the fact that listeners comprehend sermons through their rhetorical appeal, it has been unclear how this has motivated evangelical listeners to act. The purpose of this qualitative narrative study was to explore how the rhetorical appeal of preaching influences evangelical listeners’ motivation at evangelical churches in Savannah, Georgia. A comprehensive approach to exploring a sermon’s rhetorical appeal was utilized by focusing jointly on individual perception and social context. The …

Indirect Effects Of Self-Compassion On Self-Forgiveness Through Self-Esteem And Self-Condemnation With Gender Moderation: A Parallel Moderated Mediation Analysis, Jill A. Marin

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Two studies explored the relationship between self-compassion and self-forgiveness as well as the role of self-esteem, self-condemnation, and gender in that relationship. Since self-forgiveness is associated with greater well-being, the studies’ importance included gaining knowledge to increase well-being by investigating factors that contribute to self-forgiveness. Research questions were if the relationship between self-compassion and self-forgiveness was mediated by self-esteem and self-condemnation and if gender moderated those mediations. Two quantitative correlational studies, of 94 MTurk and 114 social media participants, used online Qualtrics surveys with established measurements to collect data. Associations, mediators, and moderators were examined by bivariate correlations, mediation analysis, …

An Existential-Phenomenological Exploration Of The Experience Of Being A White Undergraduate Psychology Student In A Multicultural Counseling Course, Mona Lynnette Swallow

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This existential-phenomenological study sought to explore the experiences of White undergraduate psychology students enrolled in a multicultural counseling course to gain an understanding of how White students described their lived experiences while enrolled in the course. This was accomplished by conducting virtual interviews with nine participants recruited through an online university announcement. Three key experiential constituents emerged from the data supporting previous research of the conflicts White students experience as they process understanding their racialized identities as members of the dominant ethnic-racial group in U.S. society in context to the topics discussed in the course. This lack of understanding was …

Crowdsourcing Strategizing: A View From The Top, Priscilla L. Eddings

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Crowdsourcing strategizing is the application of crowdsourcing for organizational strategy development. While crowdsourcing is experiencing popularity in application and discussion, the concept is not new. However, literature on the value of crowdsourcing strategizing is not widespread in academic or business works. This qualitative case study explored crowdsourcing strategizing in Richmond, Virginia metro area nonprofits. The study was conducted to explore the lack of understanding on the value of crowdsourcing strategizing, with a focus on leaderships perspective of value. The results showed that nonprofit leaders found value in the crowdsourced data gathered through crowdsourcing strategizing.

Indirect Prophecies Concerning The Death Of Christ In Narrative, Lindsay A. Siemers

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

In Luke 24, two disciples recognized that Jesus had predicted He would suffer, be betrayed, and handed over to death by crucifixion, and had said He would rise again on the third day. It was now the third day, and Jesus was no longer in the tomb, but they were confused as to what these things meant and how they came to be. Jesus says to them, “‘O foolish ones and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His glory?’ And beginning …

Moral Disengagement And Psychopathy: A Quantitative Correlational Study On Attachment To God And Empathy, Kimberly Essler

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Moral disengagement and lack of empathy are rising concerns in the United States. Those who are morally disengaged or display limited empathy are often associated with anti-social personality disorder or psychopathy. Studies consistently show trauma and early childhood attachment are predictors for the development of behaviors associated with psychopathy. Current literature has demonstrated semi-effective therapeutic treatment and pharmacotherapy for comorbid disorders and symptoms such as anxiety. However, research fails to adequately address the prevention and treatment of lack of empathy – a major factor in the perilous behaviors of psychopathy. Psychopathy includes structural and functional brain abnormalities in the cortical …

Unmasking The Resistance: A Comprehensive Study Of Anti-Ku Klux Klan Endeavors In Upcountry South Carolina During The Reconstruction Era, Jacob Spencer Moule

Masters Theses

To many in 1865, the American Civil War ended in McLean’s Parlor when Robert E Lee surrendered the Army of Northern Virginia to Ulysses S Grant. In reality, however, the American Civil War continued to rage on in the American South, especially in South Carolina, till 1876 when Federal Troops were withdrawn from the South. The South, like most defeated nations, accepted that it had lost the conventional war with the North and with it independence but refused to accept the results of this fighting; primarily the introduction of free-labor principles, equal rights, and voting rights for freedmen. The South …

Tiktok’S Influence On Generation Z Female’S Comparative Behavior, Brookelynn Dinkler

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to address TikTok’s role in the comparative behaviors among Generation Z females. This study specifically evaluated the communication of society’s perception of beauty standards and how it resonates with and influences TikTok users. A qualitative approach was taken to gain a better understanding of the lived experiences of participants and fill the gap in qualitative media effects research. The research question being addressed was: How has TikTok influenced society's idea of physical beauty and body image concerns among Generation Z females? Through the lens of social comparison theory, the research found that the application …

Embracing Racial Diversity In The Workplace, Iris J. Kugmeh

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The United States’ equality law system policy has mandated ethnic equality in securing employment and job prospects. According to current national workplace racial equity guideline figures, substantially all companies in the United States have difficulty recruiting multiethnic candidates with comparable qualifications and credentials as their white counterparts. This is a problem because businesses that place a high priority on equal opportunity are considerably more likely to enjoy long-term prosperity since there are many more advantages than disadvantages associated with diverse workplaces. This study seeks to identify institutional or structural hurdles to employment and advancement for African Americans to better understand …

Important Relationships And Realistic Dialogue In Fiction, Timothy Paddock

Masters Theses

This thesis began as a decision to explore relationships and how they shape the course of our lives. In looking at relationships, it became apparent that communication, specifically spoken communication, is a critical aspect of any relationship. The artist statement discusses the way communication can impact a relationship as well as the correlation between real conversation and fictional dialogue. The critical paper delves into the traits of realistic dialogue as well as how to distinguish between dialogue that works, and dialogue that will bore or distract readers. The research and application of those two projects meet in the creative manuscript …

The Effects Of Social Gratitude On Anxiety, Depression, And Persistence To Graduate Among College Students, Terrie L. Hilbun

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Anxiety and depression have become increasingly prevalent among college students, leading to negative consequences such as decreased persistence to graduate. This study’s goal was to research the effects of a two-week gratitude intervention on attitude health, focusing on gratitude, depression, anxiety, and persistence of college students. The participants were drawn from a convenience sample of community college students located in northeast Alabama. A single pre-and post-test design was utilized, to compare the effects of a social gratitude intervention on gratitude, anxiety, depression, and persistence. A total of 25 volunteers, aged 18 or older, participated. It was hypothesized that there would …

“And So My Soul Shall Rise”: Enslaved And Free African American Christianity Before Emancipation, Holly J. Lawson

Montview Journal of Research & Scholarship

The Christianity of enslaved and free African Americans in the years immediately following the first Great Awakening through the end of the Civil War (roughly 1750-1850) evidences a complex cultural fusion and a complicated theological depth. There were many different aspects of the religious and spiritual practices of these African American Christians, including preaching, baptism, ecstatic spiritual experiences, evangelism, violent and non-violent forms of resistance to slavery, and, possibly the most prevalent of all, music and singing. The hundreds of thousands of African people unwillingly brought to America brought with them their African heritage, but the survival of their African …

Is Islam A Religion Of Peace?, Robert Greer

Liberty Theological Review

One of the most troubling and controversial doctrines in Islam is that of jihad. Yet, in the West its meaning is unclear. Does it mean the struggle of the human soul to develop a wholesome spirituality, or is it more a struggle that results in terrorist attacks upon all who oppose Islam? Many politicians and academics in the West, along with many journalists and opinion-makers in the mainstream media insist that Islam, rightly understood, is a religion of peace. That means that Islamic jihadists who engage in wanton terrorism upon all who stand in their way are an aberration. They …

An Appeal To Mystery Without "Punting": Revisiting Molinism’S Biblical Problem In Light Of Ephesians 1:4–11 And Romans 11:33–36, Jeffrey S. Kennedy

Liberty Theological Review

Molinists maintain that middle knowledge is the best candidate for settling the historical debate on God’s sovereignty and man’s free will. The philosophical sophistication of the view can be alluring, and the efforts of Molinists to rationally defend it against criticisms have been impressive. But does Molinism still have a biblical problem? Proponents argue that the doctrine is compatible with the Bible's teaching on God's knowledge of counterfactuals, though admittedly, it is not explicitly taught in Scripture. But this claim is more problematic than advocates for the theory have alleged. The present study maintains that in the absence of a …

Neither Jew Nor Greek: Considering A Christian Social Justice Model, Steven Brooks

Faculty Publications and Presentations

American society has been on a necessary trek towards social justice, mainly because of a history of institutional slavery, the systematic oppression of native peoples, and unnecessary gender bias. However, in the 21st century, social justice has not only become a rallying cry for socialism, but also a platform that has resulted in inequalities. In contrast, a Christian social justice model recognizes humanity as equal recipients of God’s grace in that “God is no respecter of persons” (Acts 10:34, NIV). The “level playing field” of social justice is summarized in Jesus’ words, “For God so loved the world…” (John 3:16a, …

Kingdom Over Culture: Dealing With Cultural Issues In Counseling, Christopher Gnanakan, Teshaunda Hannor-Walker, Deepa Michelle Emmanuel

Faculty Publications and Presentations

No abstract provided.

Same-Sex Attraction Or Gender Dysphoria, Julie Hamilton, Philip Henry

Faculty Publications and Presentations

No abstract provided.

Usage Of The Chinese Notation System Versus The Western Notation System Among Elementary Students, Yohei Sparks

Masters Theses

This research project uses the Chinese music notation system, Jianpu, in a modern elementary classroom setting in the United States to see if it is a usable asset. As Reilly Elementary School is already a bilingual school within a multicultural community with various talents, this idea could bring benefits to the students at this school. This paper examines what the Chinese notation system includes and how it could be used both as a classroom tool and as a suggestion for future researchers. The methodology used here was a lecture and an assessment of understanding followed by a survey to determine …

The Return Of A Voice: Implementing Smart Technology To Provide An Outlet That Aids In Communication For Non-Verbal Children With Autism, Timothy Kirk Arquitt

Masters Theses

The Current state of communication based software designed to aid those with non-verbal autism is extremely limited or overly complex. The purpose of this research is to look into the world of communication based software aids that provide accessibility options for those with non-verbal autism. This paper looks to assess what is currently availability draw conclusions regarding gaps within the research and technology in order to derive a solution in the form of a mobile phone application that can serve to fill in the aforementioned gaps. The major focus of this study is to pinpoint exactly what elements of design …

Visualizing The Risks: The Significance Of Graphic Design In Educating Women About The Risks Of Prescription Opioids & Pre-Existing Mental Health Conditions, Natascha Foret Truong

Masters Theses

This thesis explores the critical issue of educating women about the increased risks of prescription opioid use and misuse relating to a co-occurring mental health illness. The research-based graphic design solutions proposed in the thesis aim to create awareness and provide knowledge to women on this matter. It is imperative to address this issue as it has severe consequences for women, their families, and society. This thesis utilizes research and best practices from scholarly articles, case studies, visual analysis, personas, and mind mapping to present graphic design solutions based on evidence. These solutions aim to educate women about the gender-specific …

The Impact Of Moral Injury On Character Identity For Divorced Catholics: A Character Domain Perspective, Mary Susan Mcauliff

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Catholics who are faithful to the teachings of the Catholic Church on the indissolubility of marriage and who experience a civil divorce are at high risk for moral injury. This study was anchored on a character domain theoretical framework, and it investigated the impact of moral injury on character identity (measured by self-discrepancy) through the mediation of the perception of suffering. Religiosity was explored as a moderator for the relationships of moral injury to perception of suffering, perception of suffering to character identity, and moral injury to character identity. Participants (N = 251) were recruited from social media groups, various …

Christological Application Of The Mosaic Law: A Hermeneutical And Exegetical Exploration, Nabeel Saqib

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study is a hermeneutical and exegetical exploration of the Christological application of the Mosaic Law for Christians. It involves a clear understanding of the relationship between the continuity and discontinuity from the Old Testament to the New Testament, the relationship between Israel and the Church as people of God, and the relationship between the Old and the New Covenant. It also requires a clear understanding of the meaning and purpose of the law for the initial audience, and its current significance for Christians today. Romans 10:4 presents Christ as the culmination of the law as it sees him as …

Preserving Hope Through Youth Attendance At New Canaan Baptist Church, David C. Turner

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The biblical perspective of training up a child in the way to go provides the foundation for mentoring to influence youth success. This thesis project applies a needs analysis to fulfill the effort to preserve hope through youth attendance at New Canaan Baptist Church. No secular or spiritual mentorship program exists for African American male youth in Chester, Georgia. This qualitative study used surveys to query the beliefs of African American youth, church leaders, and parents about the need for a mentorship program. Findings from analyses of survey data from almost thirty participants implied the need for a community-based mentorship …

Coveting Relationships Over Association: The Church's Response To The Millennial's Exodus, Erik W. Switzer

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This project identified the reasons church-affiliated millennials in Tyler, Texas, have exited the church after reaching adulthood and have failed to return in significant numbers. To capture the reasons for this generational church exodus, area millennials were invited to participate in an anonymous online survey. To participate in the survey, millennials must have regularly attended an Evangelical or Catholic church during childhood and adolescence and stopped attending church after age eighteen. The survey invitation was distributed through emails and the social media platform Facebook. The invitation contained an embedded hyperlink that directed participants to Survey Monkey. All survey results reside …