Digital Commons Network^™

Novice Elementary Teachers’ Experiences With Preparedness To Teach Mathematics: A Phenomenological Study, Ashleigh Rose Chaves

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to describe novice elementary teachers’ experiences with preparedness to teach mathematics in a large school district in southeastern Massachusetts. In defining the novice elementary teachers’ experiences, I looked at the participants’ self-efficacy through the lens of Bandura’s self-efficacy theory. Self-efficacy was defined as how confident the novice teachers were in regard to their ability to teach mathematics. The focus of this study was how adequately prepared the teachers felt teaching elementary mathematics but also investigated how the teachers felt about their readiness to address the challenges students experience in mathematics. The following …

How Public College Students Experience Biblically-Informed Literature Taught As Cultural Documents: A Transcendental Phenomenology, De'lara Khalili Stephens

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This transcendental phenomenology describes the experience of public college students who study biblical or biblically-informed literary texts that are taught merely as cultural documents in literature and humanities courses. Two primary theories informed this study: transformation theory in adult learning and the theory of literary apologetics. Furthermore, qualitative methodologies of data collection included journaling, individual interviews with 13 public college students, and focus groups. Data analysis included epoche, member checks, and horizonalization. Three research questions guided the study: (1) How do public college students describe their experiences with biblical or biblically-informed literary texts when they are taught simply as cultural …

The Impact Of Cyber-Bullying On Adolescents' Georgia Milestones Scores, Sy Hudson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This correlational study investigated the relationship of adolescent cyber-victimization to performance on the Georgia Milestone Assessment System (GMAS) competency test. Technology today allows students to learn how to operate various forms of digital equipment very early, but proper cyber etiquette training is not always included. This study addressed the potential that cyber-victims’ may have low performance scores on high stakes tests. A closer look at the predictive relationship between the two is an important step in the process for developing plans to resolve this issue. The participants included 100 randomly-selected Georgia middle school students. After collecting the Cyberbullying and Online …

Sinister Subshade: The Revival Of The Ku Klux Klan In Modern America, Taylor Ashton Spicer

Masters Theses

Through the implementation of qualitative analysis this study purposes to discover if there exists possible correlation between President Trump’s assent to power and the increasing legitimacy of the Ku Klux Klan. Using Ernest Bormann’s (1972) Fantasy Theme Criticism, the Knights Party official website and the Donald J. Trump official website are systematically analyzed for dramatis personae (character), setting and action. The rhetorical visions compiled from each analysis are compared employing Ernest Bormann’s (1980) Symbolic Convergence Theory. Resulting analysis suggests little to no correlation between the two movements. The two websites provide very different rhetorical visions with no overlap. The work …

American Sign Language Interpreters And Their Influence On The Hearing World, Madison Groat

Senior Honors Theses

This honors thesis is going to discuss the hearing community’s perception of American Sign Language and by association the hearing community’s perception of the Deaf community. For most of the hearing community their only interaction with American Sign Language is through watching an interpreter perform at their job. They personally have no physical interactions with the language. Even though they have never personally used the language or attempted to interact with the Deaf community they will draw their own conclusions about sign language and the Deaf community. The conclusions that are assumed tend to be incorrect. Early on in the …

The Logic Behind Suicide Terrorism And Its Connection To Islam, Sarah Minnick

Senior Honors Theses

The purpose of this thesis is to analyze suicide terrorism and to examine the logic behind it. The thesis will examine recent Islamic suicide terrorism and why it is so successful. This paper will also attempt to define suicide terrorism and explain how it functions.

The first half of this thesis reviews a short history of suicide terrorism to show the logic behind it. It will begin with the Old Testament and continue throughout history until the September 11, 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center in New York City. This thesis will discuss the motivation for terrorist organizations to …

Hear No Evil, See No Evil: How Technology Influences The Ethics Of Life Inside The Womb, Abigael B. Hawthorne

Senior Honors Theses

Abortion is a very prevalent occurrence in the U.S. and for some time has even been encouraged as emergency birth control. However, many women are not educated about the life they are terminating when deciding to have an abortion. In fact, many women are even lied to in order to persuade them to have an abortion because abortion clinics are looking to profit. Technology like ultrasounds help women see, hear, and understand the physical life that is growing in them, and can help them make an informed decision. This documentary takes a closer look into how advanced technology can impact …

State Appropriations And Allocation Ratios To Predict Financial Condition At Public Higher Education Institutions, Cassandra Bennett

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The higher education industry has faced increased competition in recent years from new institutions and learning platforms entering the marketplace. Public higher education institutions, in particular, have been forced to develop strategic plans due to limited state funding in recent years. These colleges and universities face the challenge of allocating their limited financial resources in a manner that will optimize financial strength and ensure long-term sustainability. Institutions classify their operating expenses into several different functional expense categories, including instruction, academic support, student services and operations and maintenance of plant. This paper analyzed the relationship between changes in state appropriations, allocation …

Community Bank Leaders' Perception On Maintaining Values In Decision Making, Jennifer H. Matheny

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This qualitative study explored community bank leaders’ perception of conflicts between their personal values and core corporate values when negotiating critical decisions. At this stage in the research, the negotiating of decisions were generally defined as resolving conflicts between personal and organizational values. Results provide an understanding of how values-based leadership affects executive level decisions in community banks. A purposeful sample of community bank leaders participated in qualitative interviews. These leaders were selected based on their responsibility to make decisions that influenced their corporate culture and/or had a significant impact on their company. Based on the study, there was a …

Achievement Of Catholic High School Students Involved In A One-To-One Laptop Initiative Program, Matthew J. Buckley

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

There has been limited research regarding the achievement levels of high school students after the implementation of a one-to-one laptop initiative program within the Catholic high school environment. A one-to-one laptop initiative is a program wherein each student is provided a laptop to complete coursework, take assessments, collaborate with peers, and access resources. Upon review of the conceptual framework of the history of Catholic education, 21st century teaching and learning, and the integration of technology within the classroom, this study used archival data to determine if student achievement was impacted by a one-to-one laptop initiative. A one-way, between-subjects MANOVA was …

Forensic Science Course Student Efficacy, Task Value, And Sense Of Community: Comparing Traditional And Virtual Classroom Designs, Jennifer Lynn Hall-Rivera

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Student enrollment in undergraduate online education continues in an increasing trend toward the creation of new virtual degree programs. Academia and university faculty have observed comparable learning outcomes in both traditional and online classrooms, but minimal research exists discussing student perspectives of science-based coursework in these two learning environments. A specific discipline within scientific programs which continues to demand student interest is Forensic Science degree programs. Forensic Science coursework requires tangible application of content learning in addition to confidence in task completion. Forensic Science also necessitates a sense of connectedness amongst a team of individuals, as peer collaboration and discovery …

Pushing Forward: A Look Into The Environment Of South Korean Female Film Directors, Victoria Swart

The Kabod

The Busan International Film Festival, held in Busan, South Korea, is known as Asia’s largest film event, drawing filmmakers and movie stars from all over the world. The 2017 festival witnessed a notable feat in which for the first time, the festival was bookended by films directed by women (Brasor). Though the filmmakers themselves argued that the lineup of their films was unintentional, nonetheless the event shows that female directors were gaining notice at the festival—an uncommon trend globally and in South Korea. Though conditions are improving, female film directors face unique social and economic challenges in South Korea, a …

The New England Narrative, Cynnamon C. Mathis

Masters Theses

Though equally successful, noteworthy, inspiring, and crucial as the contributions to American Independence made by New England women patriots, the contributions made by North Carolinian women patriots are excluded from the history of America’s founding as a direct result of sectional nationalism.

Research Resurgence: Supporting Our University Qep With Our Information Literacy Expertise, Amanda Hahn, Johannah Lowder

Faculty Publications and Presentations

Championing information literacy has long been the mission of university librarians. When our University chose “Cultivating a Community of Research and Scholarship” as the focus of our Quality Enhancement Plan the Library was invited to join two interdisciplinary course development teams. Librarians collaborated with faculty from various academic departments to design two introductory research courses. These sequential courses lay the foundation of information literacy that springboards students to higher level research.

Inquiry 101 centers on the themes of the value and relevance of research, introduction to the application of research, and an introduction to information literacy skills. As a major …

Soteriology In Mainstream Monotheistic Religions: The Messiah Conundrum, Jay Fox

Masters Theses

For the promotion of the Gospel, this study seeks to examine Soteriology in Mainstream Monotheistic Religions: The Messiah Conundrum. This decidedly charged topic critically researches the philosophy of salvation doctrine, or soteriology, within major monotheistic religions. The highlighted problem is the Messiah conundrum, with critical research on each doctrine for epistemological significance of a savior and their beliefs surrounding salvation. This mystery of where, or who humans turn to for salvation, is vitally important when considering the principle of sufficient reason in today’s hermeneutic and apologetic circles. The purpose fueling this thesis is the resolute documenting of beliefs of major …

Donor Stewardship And Repeat Giving, Faith Hoelscher

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This quantitative correlational study evaluated the strength and direction of relationships between the dependent variables: major giving since September 1, 2009 and average elapsed time between major gifts in relation to the independent variables: number of stewardship activities, stewardship activities occurring within one-month of a major gift, and duration of major giving relationship. Using a multiple regression, a relationship was found between the independent and dependent variables. These results were then affirmed by Pearson r evaluations in an effort to reinforce the importance and significance of the independent variables in spite of the multicollinearity shown for the subset of stewardship …

A New Formula For Voter Turnout, Elliot Pope

Masters Theses

This paper proposes a new, modified decision matrix for voter turnout: Likelihood of Voting = Personal Connection + Sense of Duty + Self-Interest – Difficulty in Voting – Sense of Apathy. It introduces a new variable, “Personal Connection.” This variable combines the important contributions of social pressure and canvassing research as a summary motivation of the two. In order to test this hypothesis, I complete an initial review of ANES data and a metanalysis of relevant literature. The conclusion is that there is enough data to support further research into the proposed formula and new variable for voter turnout.

A Quantitative Descriptive Case Study On The Alzheimer's Nonprofit Marketing Methods, Stephaine Buffaloe

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The problem to be addressed was the deficiency of financial support, as a result of dwindling effectiveness of fundraising using traditional methods needed to meet the Alzheimer’s Association goal of finding a treatment by 2025. The purpose of this quantitative descriptive case study was to examine the current traditional marketing approaches of fundraising for the Alzheimer’s nonprofits. The significance of the study was finding that the survey participants preferred the traditional approach to the nontraditional approach. An entertainment event was the most favored approach. The implication on organizational change was that age, gender, and past donations to religious organizations were …

A Multiple Case Study Examining The Challenges And Successes In The Development And Implementation Of Transition And Post-Secondary Education Programs For Students With Intellectual Disabilities, Keli Michelle Fewox

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this multiple case study was to examine the successes, challenges, and factors identified to mitigate or overcome the identified challenges, as experienced by program directors, faculty, and staff, in the development and implementation of transition and post-secondary education programs, for students identified with intellectual disability at 4-year post-secondary educational institutions. Theories guiding this study were program implementation theory (Weiss, 1997) and disability theory (Mertens, 2009). Sites included three transition and post-secondary education programs for students with intellectual disability, utilizing similarly designed program models at a four-year post-secondary institution. Multiple forms of data collected from each site included …

Imprisoning The Innocent: The "Knowledge Of Law" Fiction, Phillip D. Kline

Liberty University Law Review

No abstract provided.

Proportional Punishment: Does It Lead To More Crime?, Jeremiah Mosteller

Liberty University Law Review

No abstract provided.

The Pernicious Effect Of Dubious Materiality, Timothy M. Todd

Liberty University Law Review

No abstract provided.

The Work Of The United States Attorney's Offices Across The Sequential Intercept Model, D. Josev Brewer

Liberty University Law Review

No abstract provided.

Ethical Dilemmas? Are You Appropriately Following The 2014 Aca Code Of Ethics?, Patti Hinkley

Faculty Publications and Presentations

This session will review the changes made in the 2014 Code of Ethics. The presentation will cover the background to the changes made in 2014 along with pointing out the specific changes made for both counselors as well as counselor educators. The presenter was trained at the 2018 ACA Conference to provide presentations or workshops on the Code of Ethics.

Worrywarts: Alleviating Anxiety Through School Counselor Interventions, Summer Kuba

Faculty Publications and Presentations

If unaddressed, childhood and adolescent anxiety can have a lasting negative impact on students’ social/emotional development, academic success and college/career readiness. School counselors play an integral role in addressing students’ mental health needs. Through evidenced-based interventions, school counselors can effectively promote the skills and attitudes necessary to cope and even overcome childhood anxiety disorders.

The Stages Of Change And The Stages Of Group Counseling, Karin Mcpeak Dumont

Faculty Publications and Presentations

This program will seek to enhance’ knowledge and use of the Stages of Change within each of the stages of group counseling. It will examine how to integrate appropriate Motivational Interviewing techniques within each stage of the group process.

Getting Unstuck: Using The Conceptual Mapping Task As A Dynamic Supervision Tool For Trainees And Seasoned Counselors, John King

Faculty Publications and Presentations

The Conceptual Mapping Task (CMT) originated as a tool in qualitative counseling research. It has also been used in counseling supervision. In this session, the presenter will provide a real-life demonstration of the CMT with a supervisee, and then provide additional strategies utilizing the CMT as a counseling intervention.

The Opioid Crisis: What Counselors Need To Know, David Jenkins, Jonna Byars

Faculty Publications and Presentations

The opioid epidemic has been declared a national emergency that resulted in nearly 50,000 opioid overdose deaths last year alone. Counselors can and should be meaningfully involved in response. This session will present current information about the opioid crisis and the addictive process generally, and then specifically focus on opioid addiction, treatment and recovery. The session will explore how counselors can effectively respond to clients who use opioids, including for pain management, and how education, prevention, and treatment are important ways counselors can respond to the opioid crisis.

Child Centered Play Therapy, Christina Villarreal-Davis

Faculty Publications and Presentations

This session will provide a summary of Child Centered Play Therapy and highlight the meaning of play, tenets for relating to children, child-centered theoretical concepts, therapeutic relationship, characteristics of facilitative responses, and therapeutic limit setting. This creative and informative presentation will engage participants through case examples and previously recorded sessions.

Approaching Grief Counseling From A Perspective Of Diversity, Deborah A. Braboy

Faculty Publications and Presentations

Understanding how society, race, culture, age, and developmental levels impact grief is key to being able to process grief and loss in a healthy manner. Contemporary grief models give clinicians a roadmap to assist them as they walk with their clients through their grief journey