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Leading Through Critical Incidents: A Phenomenological Study Of K–12 School Leaders’ Responses To Critical Incidents, Terry-Ann Griffin Jul 2025

Leading Through Critical Incidents: A Phenomenological Study Of K–12 School Leaders’ Responses To Critical Incidents, Terry-Ann Griffin

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to explore how K–12 school leaders respond to critical incidents in schools. A critical incident is any actual or alleged event or situation that creates a significant risk of substantial or severe harm to physical or mental health, safety, or well-being. The study focused on three major critical incidents: school shootings/gun violence, the COVID-19 pandemic, and racial unrest. The research was guided by Bandura’s Social Cognitive Theory, which explains human behavior through reciprocal interactions between personal, environmental, and behavioral factors. The central research question was: How do K–12 school leaders respond to …


Enhancing Hypertension Management In Correctional Facilities: Educating Advanced Practice Providers On Effective Strategies, Kimbreya E. Otey Jul 2025

Enhancing Hypertension Management In Correctional Facilities: Educating Advanced Practice Providers On Effective Strategies, Kimbreya E. Otey

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Hypertension is a leading risk factor for cardiovascular disease and remains a significant public health concern, particularly within correctional facilities where access to consistent guideline-based care is often limited. Incarcerated individuals experience higher rates of chronic conditions, including hypertension, yet standardized approaches to management are frequently lacking. To address this gap, an evidence-based educational program was developed for nurse practitioners (NPs) and physician assistants (PAs) working in the correctional setting. Grounded in the International Society of Hypertension (ISH) guidelines, the program was developed to enhance awareness and knowledge among NPs and PAs regarding evidence-based hypertension management practices using the International …


Crisis Preparedness And Professional Quality Of Life: Exploring The Influence Of Self-Efficacy, Mental Well-Being And Job Satisfaction In Crisis Counselors, Courtney Pierce Jul 2025

Crisis Preparedness And Professional Quality Of Life: Exploring The Influence Of Self-Efficacy, Mental Well-Being And Job Satisfaction In Crisis Counselors, Courtney Pierce

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Crisis services are a growing division of mental health programs. While recent CACREP updates in 2009 and 2016 have placed an emphasis on crisis preparation in counselor education programs, many counselors are not adequately prepared for work in crisis settings. Inadequate preparation could heighten counselors’ risk for burnout and secondary traumatic stress, posing a threat not only to their well-being, but also to the advancement of crisis programs. It is important to investigate protective factors for crisis counselors to support their well-being and the viability of essential crisis services. Existing literature examines individual and organizational factors that predict and protect …


The Protective Factors Of Trauma-Informed Care For Parents With Autistic Children, Carolynn J. Redd-Recksiek Jul 2025

The Protective Factors Of Trauma-Informed Care For Parents With Autistic Children, Carolynn J. Redd-Recksiek

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this current phenomenological study is to understand the experience of parents with autistic children and their lack of trauma-informed care from direct care providers in Northern Utah. This study is guided by trauma-informed theory, which is a model of care delivery created by Maxine Harris and Roger D. Fallot (2001). Trauma-informed care recognizes how adverse experiences can impact a person and have a negative impact on the health and well-being of that person and how those negative experiences have a direct impact on the health and well-being of the family, which directly impacts the health and well-being …


The Effect Of Stem Professional Development On Self-Efficacy In K-12 Sub-Saharan Educators: A Quantitative, Experimental Study, Erin J. Bergen Jul 2025

The Effect Of Stem Professional Development On Self-Efficacy In K-12 Sub-Saharan Educators: A Quantitative, Experimental Study, Erin J. Bergen

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this quantitative, experimental study is to determine if there is a significant difference in self-efficacy in K-12 Christian educators across sub-Saharan Africa because of STEM professional development. This research will help determine if professional development leads to a sense of feeling equipped in STEM integration. The sample of participants is comprised of overseas educators across three sub-Saharan African schools. The number of participants in this experimental study is 81. The Science Teaching Efficacy Belief Instrument STEBI (Form A) was used to record the self-efficacy of the participating in-service educators for posttest-only control group evaluation. After completing descriptive …


Superintendent Stress And Mental Health: The Case Of African American Female Superintendents In The United States, Kamika Lynette Bell Jul 2025

Superintendent Stress And Mental Health: The Case Of African American Female Superintendents In The United States, Kamika Lynette Bell

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study investigated the challenges faced by African American female K–12 school superintendents in the United States, with a particular focus on work-related stress and mental health. The unique challenges encountered by African American women in leadership positions include work stressors, racial and societal barriers, and gender discrimination. The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to gain a deeper understanding of the work-related stress and mental health experiences of African American female superintendents in K–12 schools. The study was a means to elicit new information from the experiences of African American women regarding experiences of gendered racism and its …


Crown Of Thorns, Sarah Mellas Jul 2025

Crown Of Thorns, Sarah Mellas

Masters Theses

Crown of Thorns is a proposed historical fiction series. Set in France on the brink of the 1789 French Revolution, the story speaks to themes of belonging, brokenness, abuse, forgiveness, and navigating through trauma and impossible choices. A challenge that a writer can face when seeking to craft an emotionally resonant series for the small screen is in building a genuine audience connection. This thesis and creative manuscript for the series pilot episode, The Spurning, focuses on exploring and demonstrating the importance that authentic characters render in building audience connection between viewer and series developed for television or streaming networks. …


The Lived Experiences Of Charter School Principals With Burnout: A Phenomenological Study, Taera L. Childers Jul 2025

The Lived Experiences Of Charter School Principals With Burnout: A Phenomenological Study, Taera L. Childers

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenological study was to understand the lived experiences of burnout for charter school principals in California. The theory guiding this study was Jackson and Maslach’s theory of burnout, as it provided the framework and foundation for the meaning of burnout and the effects it has on social sector employees. The central research question for this study was: What are the lived experiences of principals with burnout at charter schools in California? A hermeneutic phenomenological methodology was used, including virtual questionnaires, individual interviews, and a focus group. The sample size for the study was 11 principals …


Peaceably If We Can, Forcibly If We Must”: The Scots Irish And Early American Politics, Kacey Mae King Huffaker Jul 2025

Peaceably If We Can, Forcibly If We Must”: The Scots Irish And Early American Politics, Kacey Mae King Huffaker

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The saga of the Scots Irish is a story of generational movement. They moved from a barren existence in the Scottish Lowlands to the plantations of Ulster in Northern Ireland. They moved from economic, religious, and political oppression in Northern Ireland to the American colonies seeking land and opportunity. When they arrived in the American colonies, they found land and opportunity on the frontier. Life on the frontier pushed them to the periphery of society. Living on the fringes of society isolated them from the political and economic centers of colonial life. Vulnerable and disregarded, Scots Irish settlers refused to …


Providing Evidenced Based Practice Interventions To Direct Care Providers In Long-Term Facilities To Increase Knowledge Of Mental Health Care In Older Adults: An Educational Toolkit, Chelisa Ann Crabtree Jul 2025

Providing Evidenced Based Practice Interventions To Direct Care Providers In Long-Term Facilities To Increase Knowledge Of Mental Health Care In Older Adults: An Educational Toolkit, Chelisa Ann Crabtree

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this scholarly project is to increase the knowledge of mental health (MH) care among direct care providers in long-term facilities by developing an educational toolkit focused on evidence-based education and training, with the goal of enhancing staff competencies in MH care, improving the management of residents’ MH needs, and ultimately optimizing care and quality of life. With the increasing number of younger and sicker individuals, particularly those with MH issues, residing in long-term facilities and lack of specialized training for direct care providers which leads to inadequate/complicated care and poor patient outcomes, there is a pressing need …


Special Education Teacher Burnout Experiences: A Hermeneutic Phenomenology Study, Marisa N. Deptula Jul 2025

Special Education Teacher Burnout Experiences: A Hermeneutic Phenomenology Study, Marisa N. Deptula

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative, hermeneutic phenomenological study was to explore how special education teachers describe their burnout experiences when teaching at a special education populated school in Connecticut. The theory guiding this study was Maslach’s Burnout Inventory Theory which examines teacher burnout experiences through the three lenses of emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and lack of personal accomplishment. Hermeneutic phenomenology explicitly focuses on the lived experience, the participant's perspective and experiences, and the researcher's opinion and knowledge on the topic (Alsaigh & Coyne 2021; Bynum & Varpio, 2017). This study was specifically looking at the experiences of special education teachers at …


Perceptions Of Air National Guard Students’ Transformative Technology Experiences During Their Professional Military Education Courses: A Transcendental Phenomenological Study, Tiffany Colburn Jul 2025

Perceptions Of Air National Guard Students’ Transformative Technology Experiences During Their Professional Military Education Courses: A Transcendental Phenomenological Study, Tiffany Colburn

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to understand the perceptions of Air National Guard students stationed in the United States about technology integration during their professional military education (PME) courses and its role in encouraging leadership perspective transformative learning in the United States. The theory guiding this study was the transformative learning theory. This study explored how technology could help students expand their views while completing their PME courses and enabled them to use their own experiences to add value to the course. The central research question was: What are the perceptions of Air National Guard students on …


A Hermeneutic Phenomenological Approach To Understanding The Academic Support Services That Influence The Success Of Student Veterans, Yuki A. Stephenson Jul 2025

A Hermeneutic Phenomenological Approach To Understanding The Academic Support Services That Influence The Success Of Student Veterans, Yuki A. Stephenson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenological study was to understand the academic support services that influence the success of student veterans pursuing higher education at Fort Green of the South. The theory guiding this study was Deci and Ryan’s self-determination theory focusing on the extrinsic motivators that enhance academic support services for student veteran success. The central research question was: How do academic support services influence the success of student veterans? The methodology of this study used a qualitative approach, employing hermeneutic phenomenology to best address the research question and exploration of the lived experiences of the student veteran’s utilization …


Long-Term Psychological And Emotional Impacts On Survivors Of Child Sexual Abuse, Quanesha Lashay Johnson Jul 2025

Long-Term Psychological And Emotional Impacts On Survivors Of Child Sexual Abuse, Quanesha Lashay Johnson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Child Sexual Abuse (CSA) has lasting psychological and emotional effects, yet limited research directly compares long-term outcomes between CSA survivors. This study addressed that gap by examining adult survivors’ long-term depression levels, emotional wellbeing, and sexual wellbeing, focusing on how the relationship to the perpetrator may influence outcomes. Using a quantitative, cross-sectional design, the study employed three validated instruments: the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), BBC Subjective Wellbeing Scale (BBC-SWB), and the Natsal Sexual Wellbeing Measure. A total of 78 adults participated. Of these, 46 reported experiencing CSA by a family member or family friend, 17 experienced CSA by someone else …


Social Media Marketing Impacts On Sme Customer Engagement And Prodictivity, La'keisha J. Morton-Carter Jul 2025

Social Media Marketing Impacts On Sme Customer Engagement And Prodictivity, La'keisha J. Morton-Carter

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This qualitative multiple case study explored the underutilization of social media marketing among small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) entrepreneurs and its impact on customer engagement and business productivity. Grounded in the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) and the Diffusion of Innovations (DOI) theory, the study examined how SME owners perceive, adopt, and apply social media platforms in their marketing efforts. Data were collected from 38 participants through semi-structured interviews and surveys and analyzed using NVivo 15 software. Thematic analysis revealed five emergent themes: Digital Hesitancy, Strategic Gaps, Customer Engagement Variability, Resource Constraints, and Peer Influence. Findings indicated that while entrepreneurs recognized …


Church Support For People With Suicidal Ideations Or Attempts: A Phenomenological Study, S. Allyson Bowers Jul 2025

Church Support For People With Suicidal Ideations Or Attempts: A Phenomenological Study, S. Allyson Bowers

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to understand the lived experiences of people with suicidal behavior seeking help from an Evangelical Church. The theories that guided this study were Kelman’s social influence theory and Kelly and Thibaut’s interdependence theory. The social influence theory explains the influence the church may have over an individual, and the interdependence theory describes how church leadership impacts interactions with church members who have suicidal behaviors. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews of participants. The interviews were recorded to help with accuracy and transcribed. Participants reviewed the transcriptions for accuracy. Then the researcher went through …


Empowering Residents Through Relational Ministry: Implementing The Missional Resident Program At Creekside Community Village, Megan E. Yingst-Coats Jul 2025

Empowering Residents Through Relational Ministry: Implementing The Missional Resident Program At Creekside Community Village, Megan E. Yingst-Coats

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Individuals who are homeless have a reason beyond the stereotypes that might be assigned to them. Homelessness can be caused by mental illness, disability, loss of income, addiction, and many other reasons, but implementing a long-term program where homeless individuals can move in and be rehabilitated will decrease the number of homeless individuals that are in our country (Swenson, Miller, Herzberg & Ray, 2011). The purpose of the missional program at Creekside Community Village is to provide individualized care for residents and create a permanent solution for those experiencing chronic homelessness. The missional program will equip missional residents to walk …


Bereavement Experiences Of African American Women In Georgia Ages 30 To 50 As Impacted By Income, Religion, And Career, Doliah Derrelle Snead Jul 2025

Bereavement Experiences Of African American Women In Georgia Ages 30 To 50 As Impacted By Income, Religion, And Career, Doliah Derrelle Snead

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to describe the grief experiences of African American women in the state of Georgia, ages 30 to 50, who have faced the loss of a spouse, parent, sibling, or child. The research questions were: How do African American females describe their experiences with grief resulting from loss in their immediate family? How do African American females describe the grieving process before, during, and after the loss of a loved one? How do African American females describe the coping strategies they used as they moved through their grieving process? How do African American females …


Unseen Warriors: A Phenomenological Study Of Female Veterans' Post Military Experiences In Central Texas, Natasha D. Smith Jul 2025

Unseen Warriors: A Phenomenological Study Of Female Veterans' Post Military Experiences In Central Texas, Natasha D. Smith

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to describe female veterans' post-military experiences in Central Texas. Female veterans faced challenges post military service, including reintegrating into society, seeking resources through veteran and community programs, maintaining overall well-being, building relationships, and establishing their identities as veterans. Although programs and services were implemented to address barriers such as the lack of gender-specific healthcare, difficulties navigating community support systems, limited information about resources, and persistent social stigmas continued to exist. The goal of this phenomenological study was to understand female veterans’ lived experiences by using Alfred Schuetz’s Homecoming theory and Nancy Schlossberg’s Transition …


Uncovering The Parental Self Identification Process, Danita M. Baber Jul 2025

Uncovering The Parental Self Identification Process, Danita M. Baber

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This dissertation sought to uncover the first-time parent’s novel journey of transforming their identity from individual to parent. Through highlighting the well-established theories that describe the self-identification process, this study centered around concepts related to the conceptualization of the self, the developmental process of self-identification, and the establishment of one’s self-concept, through the lens of parenting. Specifically, this study asked, “For first time parents, does the age of one’s infant impact one’s level of obtained parental identity?” To best answer this question, this study followed a quantitative research design to discover if there was a positive relationship between measured parental …


The Impact Of Trauma-Informed Care Education On Healthcare Providers And Staff In An Outpatient Clinic: A Holistic Approach To Diversity, Equity, And Inclusion, Ngozi Azu Jul 2025

The Impact Of Trauma-Informed Care Education On Healthcare Providers And Staff In An Outpatient Clinic: A Holistic Approach To Diversity, Equity, And Inclusion, Ngozi Azu

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Trauma is an emotional response that an individual may experience due to exposure to an event beyond their ability to manage. Trauma-informed care (TIC) is essential in health care for creating a supportive and safe atmosphere for individuals with a trauma history, but many health providers and staff lack proper training in TIC. The purpose of this project was to design, implement, and evaluate a comprehensive education program focused on TIC for health care providers and staff in an outpatient clinic setting. A quasi-experimental methodology and the Iowa Model of Evidence-Based Practice were used. Quantitative and qualitative data were collected …


Unburden The Pastoral Chair To Create A More Effective Minister, William Travis Boyd Jul 2025

Unburden The Pastoral Chair To Create A More Effective Minister, William Travis Boyd

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This dissertation explores how to alleviate the burden on senior pastors to create more effective ministers. This research aims to explore the implications of the pastoral chair’s duties and responsibilities and focuses on how the church community can support the senior pastor through encouragement and awareness of the importance of maintaining the pastoral chair’s mental, emotional, and professional health. This research features a comprehensive literature review on the current state of senior pastors’ professional health and the impact that overwhelming duties and responsibilities impose on their professional confidence, ministry, and overall sense of productivity and accomplishment in providing pastoral services …


An Investigation Of Mental Well-Being Of Music Ensemble Participants At Eastern Arizona College: A Case Study, Geoffrey D. Despain Jul 2025

An Investigation Of Mental Well-Being Of Music Ensemble Participants At Eastern Arizona College: A Case Study, Geoffrey D. Despain

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative case study was to explore the experiences of collegiate music ensemble students with mental illness and if music ensemble participation helped them cope. Students have indicated that participating in a music ensemble or listening to music has helped them cope with perceived or diagnosed mental illness such as depression and anxiety. Music students at Eastern Arizona College (EAC), a rural community college in Thatcher, Arizona, expressed their mental health struggles with band and choir directors. Some students have sought help through the counseling department. Many students do not seek help in any form. This qualitative …


Maintaining Elementary Student Engagement And Motivation During Stem Activities: A Phenomenology, Christopher Feiler Jul 2025

Maintaining Elementary Student Engagement And Motivation During Stem Activities: A Phenomenology, Christopher Feiler

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenological study was to describe the lived experiences of maintaining student engagement and motivation during STEM activities in elementary classrooms across the United States. For this research, I applied Bandura's self-efficacy theory as my foundational framework. The study highlights that a teacher’s perception of their efficacy affects their instructional practices and the achievement levels that students reach in STEM disciplines. As such, the primary guiding research question in this case was framed as follows: In what ways do elementary educators articulate their experiences fostering engagement and motivation in students during STEM activities? Data collection for …


Understanding Dissonance Between Clinical Theory And Christian Principles In Counseling: Equipping Clinically Trained Professional Counselors To Counsel Through A Christian Worldview, Herbert Douglas Geiger Jul 2025

Understanding Dissonance Between Clinical Theory And Christian Principles In Counseling: Equipping Clinically Trained Professional Counselors To Counsel Through A Christian Worldview, Herbert Douglas Geiger

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This action project focuses on addressing the need for a research-based activity to understand the operational worldviews related to the counseling practices of the counselors at the Abundant Life Counseling Center. With the increasing demand for clinically and theologically informed counseling, the study explored how a counselor's worldview affects faith integration into a clinically based, therapeutic approach. The goal is to equip counselors to provide wisdom through theologically grounded and clinically informed training within a Christian philosophical framework, improve their Christian counseling skills, and reduce dissonance caused by the lack of integration skills in Christian-principled counseling (Prov 29:18). Every Christian-principled …


Adult Romantic Attachment Styles, Attachment To God And Recidivism Risk Among Adult Male Sexual Offenders, Mary Crystal Wring Jul 2025

Adult Romantic Attachment Styles, Attachment To God And Recidivism Risk Among Adult Male Sexual Offenders, Mary Crystal Wring

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study investigated the possible relationship between attachment to adult romantic partners and attachment to God style and sexual/violent recidivism risk scores. The study, also, sought to understand the lived experiences of adult male sexual offenders in relation to their family of origin, romantic partners, and with the Christian God. Participants (N=38) completed self-report questionnaires on their attachment styles to adult romantic partners (ECR-R) and to God (AGI). These scores were analyzed using chi-squared test of independence and multiple linear regression with scores of sexual/violent recidivism risk assessments performed by their probation or corrections officers (STATIC 99R, CPORT). This study …


A Phenomenological Study: Exploring The Lived Philanthropic Motivation Of Trustees At Private Universities, Robert Russell Firth Jul 2025

A Phenomenological Study: Exploring The Lived Philanthropic Motivation Of Trustees At Private Universities, Robert Russell Firth

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative, hermeneutical phenomenological study was to understand the lived experiences of motivated philanthropic giving for board of trustee members at two private higher education institutions in the north-central United States. The theory guiding this study is Ryan and Deci's theory of self-determination, as it relates to the trustees’ intrinsic motivation to be philanthropic and benevolent while engaging with the university and serving on the board of trustees. The central research question was: What are the lived experiences that intrinsically motivate the board of trustee members to be philanthropic at two private higher education institutions in the …


The Effect Of An Educational Intervention On Pre-Licensure Nursing Students Using The Theory Of Cultural Humility, Margaret Curry Jul 2025

The Effect Of An Educational Intervention On Pre-Licensure Nursing Students Using The Theory Of Cultural Humility, Margaret Curry

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The American population has become more racially and ethnically diverse. Pre-licensure nursing students must have the knowledge, skill, and attitude to meet the needs of this diverse patient population. The purpose of this study was to educate pre-licensure nursing students on the concept of cultural humility using standardized patients from diverse cultural backgrounds in simulation experiences. The 27 students in this study were enrolled in a traditional nursing program in the southern U.S. This one-group quasi-experimental pretest–posttest design used Foronda’s Cultural Humility Scale. These students completed this scale (pretest), participated in simulation experiences with standardized patients from diverse cultural backgrounds, …


The Teaching Motivation Of Filipino Educators In English-Speaking International Schools In Japan: A Transcendental Phenomenological Qualitative Study, Gloria Jean Whitaker Jul 2025

The Teaching Motivation Of Filipino Educators In English-Speaking International Schools In Japan: A Transcendental Phenomenological Qualitative Study, Gloria Jean Whitaker

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative transcendental phenomenology study was to examine the job motivation of Filipino educators in English-speaking international schools in Japan. Filipinos represent the third largest group among nationalities seeking employment overseas. This study was guided by Deci and Ryan’s self-determination theory, which focuses on motivation and three basic human psychological needs for optimum well-being: autonomy, competence, and relatedness. The qualitative transcendental phenomenological approach was used to gather information from participants about their motivation while teaching at English-speaking international schools in Japan. The central research question addressed was, “How do Filipino teachers in English-speaking international schools in Japan …


The Relationship Between Attitude Toward Suicide And Related Sociodemographic Factors That Influence The Use Of Mental Health Resources Among Undergraduate College Students: A Predictive Correlational Study, Floydena S. Smith Jul 2025

The Relationship Between Attitude Toward Suicide And Related Sociodemographic Factors That Influence The Use Of Mental Health Resources Among Undergraduate College Students: A Predictive Correlational Study, Floydena S. Smith

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this quantitative, predictive, correlational research study was to identify the relationship between attitude toward willingness to intervene against suicide scores and the linear combination of sex and age among undergraduate students. Higher education institutions must now determine if these sociodemographic variables prompted undergraduate college students to seek out interventions and use mental health services in case of suicide. The target undergraduate population included 93 full-time students between the ages of 18-45 from a postsecondary institution. A convenience sample was used to obtain 93 students, but only 80 participants in the study completed the survey in its entirety. …