Digital Commons Network^™

Fostering Hope: The Christian Healthcare Chaplain In A Caring Relationship, Felix O. Otuorimuo

Masters Theses

In 2017, the data from suicide prevention resource center (National Survey on Drug Use and Health) showed an increasing rate of 10.6 million persons between the ages 18-65 that have had suicidal thoughts, a precipitating factor from hopelessness that triggers the goal of killing themselves. Given this challenge, the study seeks to understand how the Christian healthcare chaplain in a caring relationship, fosters biblical hope as spiritual care intervention to persons with suicidal thoughts to promote recovery, repair and restoration. The research was designed to use purposeful sampling to collect responses by anonymous online survey from 35 Christian healthcare chaplains …

Character Identification And Mindset: An Experimental Design Using Disney's Finding Nemo, Ashlee Kirby Lakin

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Mindset is defined as an individual’s view of intelligence or ability. Mindset research began in the 1970s at Stanford with Carol S. Dweck, who coined the terms “fixed mindset” and “growth mindset.” A fixed mindset believes intelligence and abilities are limited and static. Each individual has a certain quantity, and no amount of risk-taking, effort, or perseverance will increase the amount of intelligence currently possessed. A growth mindset sees intelligence as something that can grow, transform, and change. Individuals with growth mindsets believe hard work pays off and are eager to learn new ideas, concepts, and theories to move forward …

Leadership Factors That Influence Church Growth For Western North Carolina Churches Of God, Harold Jordan

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this project is to identify and describe the essential leadership factors required to stimulate and sustain church growth for Church of God churches operating in Western North Carolina. This will be accomplished using a grounded theory research approach. Sample (N = 30) analysis of statistics provided by the Western North Carolina State Offices of the Church of God showed 3% of the churches in this region to have recorded significant overall growth in attendance and membership (=>10% per year) from April 1, 2014 to April 30, 2016. Few of the sampled churches recorded benchmark conversion growth …

The Unifying Theme Of The Mind Of Christ In Philippians Demonstrated By Paul's Use Of Rhetorical And Linguistic Devices In An Oral/Aural Culture, David Alan Posey

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Among the debatable issues arising from Paul’s epistle to the Philippians are questions concerning the structure, integrity and thematic emphasis of the letter. This dissertation argues that the “Christ Hymn” (2:6-11) is the central point of a chiastic structure of the letter, establishing the “Mind of Christ” as the primary and, thus, unifying theme of this correspondence. Four primary fields of research lend support to this hypothesis. First, rhetorical criticism seeks to understand the meaning of the biblical text through recognized persuasive devices utilized within first-century literature and speech. Second, linguistic studies, in its simplest form, examines the selection and …

The Relationship Between Student Assessment, Teacher Evaluation, And Teacher Climate, Cheryl Dayan Owens Buchanan

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

High-stakes testing has been a key component in the educational landscape since policies have focused on pedagogical quality in the classroom. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between student assessment, teacher evaluation, and teacher climate. The theoretical framework of Herzberg’s motivation theory guided this study. The researcher used a correlational design to analyze the relationship between student assessment, teacher evaluations, and teacher climate. The survey was given to 109 participants who were selected from a convenience sample of middle school teachers in a rural school district in Tennessee during the 2017-2018 school year. The EVAAS Teacher …

Mental Health And Traumatic Brain Injury Survivors: The Relationship Between Self-Esteem, Shame, And Depression To Quality Of Life After Mild And Moderate Traumatic Brain Injury, Lisa Marie Ansell

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Self-esteem, shame, and depression are three factors which can impact quality of life. Mental health counseling and perceived satisfaction of mental health services can also have an impact on quality of life. This study focused on the how mild and moderate traumatic brain injury survivors within a small sample population perceived how self-esteem, shame, and depression were predictors of quality of life. Through survey research, an online survey was utilized to solicit responses to questions related to self-esteem, shame, depression, quality of life, counseling services, and counseling service satisfaction among mild and moderate traumatic brain injury survivors who participate in …

Implementation Of Read To Be Ready Instructional Practices: A Case Study, Jessica Danielle Bigham

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this embedded case study was to describe the implementation of Read to Be Ready instructional practices by elementary grades teachers. The issue this study investigated were the factors that affected the transfer of the Read to Be Ready practices, first used in a summer literacy camp environment, to the general classroom environment for 12 elementary teachers in southeast Tennessee. The theory that guided this study was Bandura’s (1986) Social Cognitive Theory, which explains the relationship between behaviors and reinforcements and describes what influences human behavior. The research answered the question of what are the experiences teachers have …

A Phenomenological Study Of What Motivates Secondary Students To Enroll In Virtual Academies, Jan Michelle Huffman

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative, phenomenological study was to determine what motivates secondary students to enroll in virtual academies. Students at the Tennessee Virtual Academy (TeViA) were contacted via email to determine participation interest in this study. Students that chose to participate from TeViA were asked to complete a reflective journal and participate in a semi-structured interview at their residence. In vivo coding and initial coding were conducted on the reflective journals and semi-structured interviews. In vivo coding was also conducted on observation notes before theming of the data. The theory guiding this study was Ryan and Deci’s Self-Determination Theory …

Relieving Library Anxiety: The Application Of Relationship Marketing To Libraries, Cynthia Schmidt, Joshua Waltman

Faculty Publications and Presentations

Library marketing has traditionally been transactionally focused. Our library has chosen to embrace a relationship marketing (RM) approach by focusing on long-term relationships rather than isolated interactions. With the prevalence of library anxiety, there is a need to look outside of library literature for best practices. While libraries and businesses define success differently, the approaches used to achieve success can be based on the same theoretical framework. RM has been documented to positively impact a business’ profits, and libraries can potentially adapt these approaches to achieve organizational goals. Our library has implemented this approach in four areas of focus: customer …

School Counselor Experiences Or Perspectives In An Age Of Increasing Pornography Use And Sexual Behaviors Of Students, Natalie Atwell

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study explored school counselor interactions or perspectives concerning the impact of pornography use and sexual behaviors among students in K-12 education. Participants, comprised of 51 school counselors in a suburban district in North Carolina, were given a qualitative survey in this case study for the purpose of exploring interactions such as challenging incidents and training needs. Results suggested that school counselors are involved with students impacted by pornography use and sexual behaviors through indirect and direct services, however, school counselors do not report feeling adequately trained to effectively help students in these areas. This study provides implications for further …

Mindfulness Meditation And Self-Regulation On Smartphone Application By Educators: A Qualitative Case Study, Jason Boyle

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of the instrumental case study was to explore how educators use a mindfulness meditation application called Calm on their smartphones. The self-regulation theory, as viewed from the perspective of Roy Baumeister, guides this study in exploring educators’ self-regulation using a smartphone application. The study answers the central question and four research questions: CQ) How do educators use a mindfulness meditation application called Calm on their smartphone? RQ1) How do individuals seeking to modify their behavior use the mindfulness meditation smartphone application? RQ2) How does an individual’s motivation to attain a goal shape one’s use of the mindful meditation …

A Technological Upgrade For The 21st Century And Beyond: Focusing On A Broad Interpretation Of The Stored Communications Act, Nicole R. Canale

Liberty University Law Review

No abstract provided.

Make Law, Not War: Solving The Faith/Equality Crisis, Anton Sorkin

Liberty University Law Review

No abstract provided.

Materials Deemed Harmful To Minors Are Welcomed Into Classrooms And Libraries Via Educational "Obscenity Exemptions", Judith A. Reisman, Mary E. Mcalister

Liberty University Law Review

No abstract provided.

Against Molinism: A Refutation Of William Lane Craig's Molinism, Daniel T. Clemons

Quaerens Deum: The Liberty Undergraduate Journal for Philosophy of Religion

The debate concerning human free will, human moral culpability, and God’s sovereignty has raged for millennia within the Christian church. The recent rediscovery of the medieval philosophical theory known as Molinism brought Molinism to the fore of this debate. One major contemporary proponent of Molinism is William Lane Craig, the famous philosopher, theologian, and apologist. The purpose of this essay is to present a refutation of Craig's brand of Molinism by arguing that Craig’s Molinism relies on a flawed view of human freedom and further fails to reconcile this flawed view of human freedom with God’s sovereignty.

I Am Jesus: 50 Daily Devotions, Elmer L. Towns

Books

No abstract provided.

Rivers Of Revival, Elmer L. Towns, Neil T. Anderson

Books

No abstract provided.

Question 16 - How Have Various Well-Known Personalities From Different Walks Of Life Viewed The Bible?, Harold Willmington

101 Most Asked Questions

No abstract provided.

Funding A Feature: Creating A Film Business Plan, Jordan C. Hunt

Senior Honors Theses

Every film, from the smallest indie to the biggest studio blockbuster, must be funded, and all investors who finance a movie expect that the movie will give them a return on their investment. In order to seek funding, many filmmakers create a business plan to present to potential investors. Beginning with the film industry as a whole, this paper will define a specific target audience and distribution plan for one film in order to create a business plan. The film, titled Intertwined, is an independent low budget family drama that will primarily raise funds through equity investors. This is …

Passing The Baton: A Comparative Analysis Of The Ceo Succession Of Walmart And Exxon Mobil, Anna K. Seale

Senior Honors Theses

The purpose of this study was to compare the CEO succession of Walmart and Exxon Mobile with the commonly accepted best practices within the CEO’s distinguishable attributes and roles. The succession of executive leadership within any organization is inevitable. Research speaks to the importance of both strong executive leadership and CEO succession plans to allow for sustainable success within an organization. The researcher examined the literature on commonly accepted best practices of CEO succession as well as the importance of them. The executive successions of Walmart and Exxon Mobil were examined in light of the history of executive succession planning. …

Influencer Marketing: Consumer Responses To Instagram Influencers, Gloriann Schaefer

Senior Honors Theses

Influencer marketing is the promotion of services and products through individuals with a large social media following. The research contained within this thesis will discuss the topic of influencer marketing and the responses of the consumers targeted. This study observed the different types of responses and comments that followers of Instagram influencers left on their posted content.

The themes and characteristics of responses of Instagram influencer followers will be found through a qualitative content analysis. The study is supported by self-presentation theory, which suggests that individuals, in this case social media influencers, present themselves in a way that results in …

Critical Analysis Of Hugh Ross’ Progressive Day-Age Creationism Through The Framework Of Young-Earth Creationism, David A. Mcgee

Faculty Publications and Presentations

Since the early 1800s, the evangelical community has sought to harmonize the scientific interpretations of long periods of time and the early chapters of Genesis to determine the appropriate age of the universe. There are primarily two groups—those who believe the universe is billions of years old and those who believe the universe is thousands of years old. One view within the former group is called Progressive Day-Age Creationism. This view is taught by Hugh Ross and is quite popular within the evangelical community. This article analyzes primarily the writings of Ross and the implications that his view may have …

My Name Is Jesus: Discover Me Through My Names (Spanish), Elmer Towns

Towns Foreign Language Book Collection

No abstract provided.

Therapeutic Delivery Technology And Its Economic Impact, Paul E. Savas Jr.

Senior Honors Theses

Therapeutic delivery technology is a current area of high interest in both university and industrial settings. These technologies are being developed in order to deliver therapeutic agents, such as genes, proteins, and drugs, to patients more efficiently. Nanoscale delivery vehicles have proven to be useful for these applications; these vehicles may either be naturally produced or chemically synthesized. The physical properties of these nanomaterials must be characterized correctly using instrumentation that evaluates their size, morphology, and potential for agglomeration. These technologies represent a high-growth economic area that fosters entrepreneurship and innovation. Because of this innovative spirit, research and economic interest …

The Utilization Of Sports For Peace And Unity In Society, Christian Taylor

Senior Honors Theses

There are many ongoing conflicts in the world. Many methods to end these conflicts have been attempted with various levels of success. A United Nations study in 2003 determined that sports should be increasingly used as a method to bring about peace in the world. This finding can be supported when looking at the ways sports united divided nations and, at times, brought unity among nations. Along with this, sports have seen a dramatic rise in popularity due to the revolution of technology and the rise of media. As the media and technology continue to develop, sports will continue to …

The Origins Of Western Music And Its Influence On Modern Popular Music: Teaching Music Through A Musical Exploration Of Seven Countries, Johanna Katelyn Hatt

Masters Theses

The topics of music history and music appreciation cover a wide range of composers and musical contributions that at times, can be overwhelming to a student who does not have any musical knowledge. Through limiting the music appreciation course to the discussion of composers’ works from various countries, students are able to learn about the important contributions those composers and countries had to music, including modern popular music. This topic will bring value to the field of music education as it offers an alternative approach to the traditional method of teaching a music history course. With this holistic approach to …

Financial Hope: Find Freedom In Your Finances Through God's Word, Michael Blue

Ron Blue Financial Literacy Resources

No abstract provided.

The Ancient-Future Of Worship Education: The Evangelical-Sacramental Movement's Effect On Modern Worship Education, Jordan Miles Covarelli

Masters Theses

This thesis looks at developments in evangelical/Pentecostal contemporary Christian worship music (CWM) in response to its theological critiques and analyzes the effects they are having on what training worship leaders will need. CWM has grown into a global phenomenon that largely either disregards or is ignorant of its theological critics. The rapid rate of churches adopting CWM practices in their services has led to numerous universities creating post-secondary degrees in Worship Leadership focused specifically on modern expressions of worship. This thesis uses a convergent parallel mixed methods research model to analyze how worship practices are changing in key evangelical-turned-sacramental churches …

Does Family Matter? A Phenomenological Inquiry Exploring The Lived Experiences Of Women Persisting In Distance Education, Professional Doctoral Programs, Lisa S. Sosin, Amanda J. Rockinson-Szapkiw, Lucinda S, Spaulding

Faculty Publications and Presentations

The qualitative study aims to examine the lived experiences of women persisting in the distance; professional doctoral degrees as they seek to integrate and balance their family of origin and current family system with their development as scholars.

This qualitative study employed Moustakas’ (1994) transcendental phenomeno-logical approach through a purposive sampling of eleven women who are en-rolled in distance education, professional doctoral programs at two universities in the southern United States.

This study furthers the existing research by demonstrating that family is inti-mately tied to the scholarly identity development and persistence of women enrolled in distance education, professional doctorate programs. …

School Suspension And Academic Achievement For Tenth And Eleventh Grade Male Students: A Correlational Study, Dante' L. Ferguson Sr

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this correlational study was to examine the relationship between absenteeism due to suspensions and math and reading scores from the 2016 – 2017 Georgia Milestones Test for tenth and eleventh grade regular education, male students. The focus of this study was on determining if math and reading scores on standardized tests could be predicted by the number of days missed from school due to suspensions using a bivariate regression. A total of 93 male high school students in grades ten and eleven who have received one or more out of school suspensions during the previous school term …