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Iowa Test Scores Before And After Covid-19 In Early Adolescents, Carmel F. W. Ontoy Jul 2025

Iowa Test Scores Before And After Covid-19 In Early Adolescents, Carmel F. W. Ontoy

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This paper addresses past research that examined the effects of COVID-19 on academics and presents a study further examining an area of academics before and after COVID-19. Research relating to COVID-19 has varied, studying correlations and effects on factors such as mental health and relationships. Researchers and educators projected various degrees of learning loss, and while some studies have revealed some loss, others have revealed little to no change. Further research is needed to continue developing researchers’ and educators’ understanding of how COVID-19 and the shift to online learning may have been related to learning and academics of young adolescents. …


A Phenomenological Study Understanding Religious And Spiritual Coping In African American Female Veterans Who Experienced Combat-Related Trauma, Dawn Raini Long Jul 2025

A Phenomenological Study Understanding Religious And Spiritual Coping In African American Female Veterans Who Experienced Combat-Related Trauma, Dawn Raini Long

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

African American females are drawn to pursue a military career for many reasons, including upholding a family tradition, securing funding for education, or simply due to the stability it offered in a challenging economic climate. This study depicted narratives of battlefield-induced psychological stress arising from the convergence of military culture intersectionality, posttraumatic stress, and the transition to civilian life. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to describe the religious or spiritual coping of African American female veterans who experienced combat-related trauma in the military. The participants were interviewed at Asheville Buncombe Community Christian Ministry (ABCCM) and Veterans Bridge Home. …


Marketing Culture Of Award-Winning Secondary School Librarians: A Hermeneutic Phenomenological Study, Cynthia Martin Schmidt Jul 2025

Marketing Culture Of Award-Winning Secondary School Librarians: A Hermeneutic Phenomenological Study, Cynthia Martin Schmidt

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenological study was to understand the lived experiences developing, understanding, and implementing marketing culture for award-winning secondary school librarians in the United States. The conceptual framework guiding this study was marketing culture, which explores the context of marketing attitudes, knowledge, and behaviors of organizations, purportedly leading to organizational success. This study used a phenomenological approach with secondary school librarians who had won an award for their work as a school librarian. Data collection consisted of individual semi-structured interviews, artifact analysis, and reflective journal prompts. Data analysis consisted of a hermeneutic epoché-reduction followed by a manual …


Exploring The Influence Of Early Life Attachment And Faith On Resilience And Independence In Emerging Adulthood: The Role Of Childhood Loss, Moriah E. Lewis Jul 2025

Exploring The Influence Of Early Life Attachment And Faith On Resilience And Independence In Emerging Adulthood: The Role Of Childhood Loss, Moriah E. Lewis

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The transition to emerging adulthood is a period of change that is shaped by early attachment. Previous literature has established that attachment security influences functioning later in life, including both resilience and independence. Additionally, faith is often associated with positive outcomes. However, limited research has examined how these constructs relate to one another in emerging adulthood. The purpose of this quantitative correlational study was to explore how faith moderates the relationship between early life attachment and both resilience and independence in emerging adults. The study employed self-report surveys to measure attachment, resilience, independence, and faith in a sample of 70 …


Impacts Of Positive Childhood Experiences That Foster Resilience In Adults With Childhood Trauma A Qualitative Case Study, Jennifer J. Ruiz Jul 2025

Impacts Of Positive Childhood Experiences That Foster Resilience In Adults With Childhood Trauma A Qualitative Case Study, Jennifer J. Ruiz

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

In today’s rapidly evolving environment, adolescents face increasingly complex challenges to their health and well-being. A significant contributor to these challenges is exposure to adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), which have been linked to long-term negative outcomes in physical, emotional, and psychological health. The pervasive impact of ACEs highlights the urgent need to explore protective mechanisms that can buffer against these adverse effects. Positive childhood experiences (PCEs) have emerged as a promising counterbalance, offering supportive and nurturing conditions that enhance resilience and promote healthier developmental trajectories. This qualitative case study explored the specific types of PCEs that foster resilience in individuals …


Understanding The Willingness Of Christian Ethnic Minority Student-Athletes To Seek On-Campus Mental Health Services: A Mixed Methods Approach, Benael J. John-Rose Jul 2025

Understanding The Willingness Of Christian Ethnic Minority Student-Athletes To Seek On-Campus Mental Health Services: A Mixed Methods Approach, Benael J. John-Rose

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Romans 12:1 tells Christians that their unique physical abilities are gifts from God that should be used to honor Him (New International Version Bible, 1978/2011). Christian racial/ethnic minority student-athletes (CMSAs) often navigate complex intersections of spirituality, identity, and stigma in relation to mental health. Despite growing research in biopsychosocial-spiritual (BPSS) models, CMSAs remain underrepresented in mental health literature. This mixed-methods study explored the willingness of CMSAs to seek on-campus mental health services at a public university in the Southwestern United States. Data was collected through a web-based survey (N = 20) and semi-structured interviews with a subset of participants (N …


Using Statistical Modeling To Help Improve The Work Environment For Nurses, Malcolm S. Demery Jul 2025

Using Statistical Modeling To Help Improve The Work Environment For Nurses, Malcolm S. Demery

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study aims to investigate if statistical modeling can help to improve the nurse’s work environment by identifying and solving basic workplace stresses. The major problem addressed is the stressful situation of burnout and high turnover levels for nurses, which affects the patient and the quality of care. Therefore, this research is important since it can enhance nurse job satisfaction and retention which subsequently can result in better healthcare outcomes, lower operational costs, and better patient safety. The central research questions guiding this study are: (1) How can statistical modeling aid in the discovery and correction of underlying factors that …


Keep The Family Close: A Hermeneutic Phenomenological Study On Family Support And Successful Re-Entry, Kerry Lynn Shipman Jul 2025

Keep The Family Close: A Hermeneutic Phenomenological Study On Family Support And Successful Re-Entry, Kerry Lynn Shipman

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenological study is to understand successful reintegration with positive family support for formerly incarcerated African American men in a major metropolitan city in North Carolina. Individuals released from prison face challenges that result in the likelihood of recidivism. Previous studies regarding these individuals have focused on the requirements for their successful re-entry into society, including financial stability, housing, employment, and family support; however, there is a need to understand what forms of support are needed from families. The theory guiding the current study is the social support theory, as it explains that support from communities, …


Predicting Success On The National Physical Therapy Examination For Graduates Of A Physical Therapist Assistant Program: A Correlational, Logistic Regression Study, Wendy Renee Powers Mcnall Jul 2025

Predicting Success On The National Physical Therapy Examination For Graduates Of A Physical Therapist Assistant Program: A Correlational, Logistic Regression Study, Wendy Renee Powers Mcnall

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this quantitative, predictive, correlational study was to assess if practice examinations and self-efficacy influence first-attempt passing scores on the National Physical Therapist Examination for physical therapist assistants. This study is important because, upon graduation from an accredited program, graduates must pass a rigorous national examination to obtain licensure to practice. Concurrently, accreditation standards require physical therapist assistant programs to maintain licensure examination pass rates of 85% for program graduates. With the high-stakes examination affecting the future of graduates and program accreditation status, effective preparation and assessment tools mutually benefit stakeholders. The study utilized binomial logistic regression to …


The Christian Impact On Addiction Recovery In The Revive And Restore Recovery Ministry In Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, Donald Albert Walczak Jul 2025

The Christian Impact On Addiction Recovery In The Revive And Restore Recovery Ministry In Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, Donald Albert Walczak

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The problem at Revive and Restore Recovery Ministry is that participants fail to grasp the importance of a biblically based approach to addiction recovery. The purpose of this action research project is to develop a written plan that implements an effective Christian-based approach to addiction recovery. The field of addiction recovery provides a multi-faceted approach to accomplish healing for individuals seeking wholeness and healing. The primary goal of this study is to develop a viable Christian recovery model. The implementation of this model will be detailed in the research. Research methods include the gathering of basic data points through the …


The Effect Of Sleep Latency, Duration, And Quality In Adolescents When Altering Nighttime Smartphone And Social Media Use, Ryan R. May Jul 2025

The Effect Of Sleep Latency, Duration, And Quality In Adolescents When Altering Nighttime Smartphone And Social Media Use, Ryan R. May

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Smartphones and social media are quickly becoming standard technological tools for connection and socialization within the modern-day adolescent population. Inversely, sleep for adolescents/young adults is decreasing while sleep problems are rising. This research trend is prompting researchers to investigate how restricting or eliminating smartphone/social media use benefits sleep health. The current study hypothesized that when adolescents/ young adults aged 18-21 eliminate smartphone/social media usage one hour before bedtime there would be a significantly lower number of nighttime awakenings, a reduction in sleep onset, and a higher number of minutes slept for participants in the experimental group when compared to participants …


Evaluating Velocity-Based Training Compared With Percent-Based Loading In High School Football Athletes, Daniel Mullins Jul 2025

Evaluating Velocity-Based Training Compared With Percent-Based Loading In High School Football Athletes, Daniel Mullins

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this study was to investigate velocity-based training (VBT) compared with percent-based training (PBT) protocols in high school American football (AF) athletes. This study evaluated the improvements in 1RM back squat, countermovement jump (CMJ), and linear sprint (LS) times from a 6-week resistance training protocol. The study also compared the total time under tension (TUT) each group experienced throughout the intervention. This randomized controlled trial with pre- and post-measures of all dependent variables included participants (n = 19, age: 16.0 ± 0.9 years, training experience: 1.7 ± 0.7 years) who were enrolled in a physical education class specifically …


Exploring The Bidirectional Relationship Between Attachment Styles And Spiritual Practices In Protestant Christians: A Qualitative Study, Emily Lauren Pritt Jul 2025

Exploring The Bidirectional Relationship Between Attachment Styles And Spiritual Practices In Protestant Christians: A Qualitative Study, Emily Lauren Pritt

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This qualitative study explores the bidirectional relationship between spirituality and attachment among Protestant Christians—a topic with limited empirical focus. Grounded in attachment theory and theological insights, prior research often treats attachment as a static predictor of spiritual development, with little attention to how spiritual engagement may reshape attachment. This study addresses the gap by examining how these relational domains mutually inform each other and affect psychological well-being within a Christian context. The purpose was to explore if adult attachment styles and spiritual practices influence emotional health, relational security, and overall well-being among active Protestant Christians. Twenty-two adults actively engaged in …


The Relationship Between Parent-Child Attachment And Emotional Regulations In Adolescents, Stanley T. Triplett Jul 2025

The Relationship Between Parent-Child Attachment And Emotional Regulations In Adolescents, Stanley T. Triplett

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

It is unknown how parent-child attachment is related to emotion regulation among adolescents; this quantitative correlational study aimed to examine how the quality of parent-child attachment was related to adolescents’ emotion regulation abilities, and whether gender or stage of adolescence moderated this relationship. Data collected from 116 parents of adolescents aged 10-21 using the Attachment Q-Sort Questionnaire, the Emotion Regulation Questionnaire, and a demographic questionnaire were analyzed using multiple linear regression analysis, indicating that the model was significant; the quality of parent-child attachment explained 6% of the variance in adolescents’ emotion regulation, meaning the quality of parent-child attachment could predict …


Predicting School Culture From Teacher Experience And Funding: A Predictive Correlational Study, Bailey D. Keller Jul 2025

Predicting School Culture From Teacher Experience And Funding: A Predictive Correlational Study, Bailey D. Keller

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this quantitative, predictive correlational study is to understand how accurately the perception of school climate can be predicted from a linear combination of special education teachers’ years of teaching experience and supplemental state and federal funding allocated to teachers in the special education setting. The participants were drawn from a convenience sample of public school special education teachers located in a large school district in a southern state of the United States during the 2024-2025 school year. The setting for this research is a collection of campuses representing the work environments of the participants sampled. The My …


A Phenomenological Study Of African American Males In Education Doctoral Programs, Byron L. Kelly Jul 2025

A Phenomenological Study Of African American Males In Education Doctoral Programs, Byron L. Kelly

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to interpret the lived experiences of African American males in education doctoral programs at three universities in the southern region of the United States. The theory guiding this study was Tinto’s retention theory on integration, as it explained how academic and social integration help to retain students and ultimately assist them in graduating. This hermeneutical phenomenological study was designed to allow the researcher to interpret the lived experiences of individuals. Ten African American males enrolled in or graduated from education doctoral programs from three universities in the Southern region of the United States …


Investigating The Need For A Contemporary Bachelor Of Music In Music Education Degree At Trevecca Nazarene University And Union University, Thomas Paul Goddard Jul 2025

Investigating The Need For A Contemporary Bachelor Of Music In Music Education Degree At Trevecca Nazarene University And Union University, Thomas Paul Goddard

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Despite the traditional music education curriculum being valuable to music education majors, it fails to provide contemporary approaches and relevant content within a modern musical society. Students graduate from Trevecca Nazarene University’s (TNU) School of Music (SoM) and Union University’s (UU) Department of Music (DoM) and enter the music education field without sufficient guidance. This study examined the perspectives of music education professionals from interviews and the Teacher Sense of Efficacy Scale (TSES). Guided by Gordon’s music learning theory, this multimethod study identifies experiences from music educators that create a comprehensive undergraduate music education curriculum. In addition to the traditional …


Nurse Preceptors' Perceptions Of Effectiveness Precepting Senior Baccalaureate Nursing Students: A Transcendental Phenomenological Study, Kelly Anne Arraf Jul 2025

Nurse Preceptors' Perceptions Of Effectiveness Precepting Senior Baccalaureate Nursing Students: A Transcendental Phenomenological Study, Kelly Anne Arraf

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to explore how clinical nurse preceptors perceive their effectiveness when working with senior baccalaureate nursing students in East Texas. The study was guided by two theories: Invitational Education Theory, introduced by Purkey and Novak, used to understand how preceptors teach, and Bandura’s Social Learning Theory, used to understand how preceptees learn. The central research question was: What is the lived experience of being a nurse preceptor to senior baccalaureate nursing students in East Texas? Data were collected from semistructured virtual interviews, field and journal notes, and a demographic survey. Braun and Clarke’s …


The Relationships Among Sleep Patterns, Memory, And Attention In School-Aged Children, Ryan Ta'shawna Blount Jul 2025

The Relationships Among Sleep Patterns, Memory, And Attention In School-Aged Children, Ryan Ta'shawna Blount

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study explores the intricate relationships among sleep patterns, memory, and attention in school-aged children. Sleep is important for cognitive development, with studies suggesting that both quantity and quality of sleep significantly influence memory consolidation and attentional processes. Research indicates that insufficient or disrupted sleep can lead to deficits in working memory and sustained attention, negatively impacting academic performance and overall cognitive functioning. There is a lack of comprehensive studies that investigate how sleep disruptions impact both memory and attention during childhood. This study seeks to fill that gap by investigating the relationships among sleep, memory, and attention in school-aged …


Spiritual Fitness And Religious Commitment As Predictors Of Hope In Active Duty Deployed Military, David Sidnam Jul 2025

Spiritual Fitness And Religious Commitment As Predictors Of Hope In Active Duty Deployed Military, David Sidnam

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this quantitative correlational study was to examine how spiritual fitness and religious commitment are related to hope in deployed military personnel. Furthermore, the individual components of spiritual fitness (connection to God, belief in service, and purposeful meaning) were examined alongside religious commitment to determine the strongest predictor of hope for deployed military members. The study included 111 deployed, active duty members that were recruited from three deployed sites in the military. The data was assessed in SPSS and revealed that belief in service and purposeful meaning were significantly related to hope. Purposeful meaning was the strongest predictor …


Online Child Sexual Grooming: Understanding The Origins And Problems Within The Criminal Justice System, Tara Kristich Jul 2025

Online Child Sexual Grooming: Understanding The Origins And Problems Within The Criminal Justice System, Tara Kristich

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Grooming children for sexual abuse is complex and challenging to understand because it is constantly evolving due to technology. Prior to the eruption of social media and internet platforms, predators typically had to be in a position to gain access to children or be close to a family with children to sexually groom, abuse, and exploit children. Technology has enabled predators to have instant access to children through chat applications and various internet platforms globally. This qualitative study explored the current platforms that impact child sexual victimization, the impact on victims' mental health, and the laws pertaining to online child …


The Relationship Of Worship Drumming On Christian Spiritual Well-Being: A Qualitative Case Study, Micah Joseph Holland Jul 2025

The Relationship Of Worship Drumming On Christian Spiritual Well-Being: A Qualitative Case Study, Micah Joseph Holland

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this case study was to bridge the knowledge gap and discover the relationship between worship drumming and Christian spiritual well-being. It also examined the spiritual disciplines developed from worship drumming that impact Christian spiritual well-being. The theory guiding this study was the religious attribution theory, as it is used to describe how people use religious explanations to understand events that cannot be explained by natural causes. The theoretical framework that falls under the religious attribution theory was the Feedback Loop Model for Religious Worship Experiences, which showed the dynamic of how music and the environment can provoke …


The Impact Of Stress Reduction Programs In Reducing Anxiety And Depression In Pregnant Military Spouses With Disabilities, Faith Clemons Jul 2025

The Impact Of Stress Reduction Programs In Reducing Anxiety And Depression In Pregnant Military Spouses With Disabilities, Faith Clemons

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Pregnant military spouses with disabilities have high levels of anxiety and depression, as these individuals are more exposed to stress due to various health risks and worries during deployments. Health care experiences of pregnant military spouses who are disabled are explored through interviews and surveys to determine if appropriate services reduce anxiety and depression and help with stress. The study encompasses qualitative design, interviewing with eight participants from the Clarksville, Tennessee area, known for its many military families near Fort Campbell. The study targets evidence-based therapies through theoretical frameworks of attachment, social support and stress and coping theory such as …


Leadership Qualities Effect On Employee Performance And Organizational Culture, Ryan Pernell Jul 2025

Leadership Qualities Effect On Employee Performance And Organizational Culture, Ryan Pernell

Journal of Fundamental & Applied Business Research

Employee motivation is vital to employee productivity and retention rates. Business leaders can face challenges in motivating employees, which can negatively affect productivity and retention. In this case study, I explored the behaviors and actions of business leaders that may lead to challenges when attempting to motivate employees, resulting in decreased productivity and increased employee turnover. I aimed to uncover the effects of leadership on employee motivation and explore why some leaders face challenges motivating employees. I focused on the leaders and employees of a family automotive sales and repair shop, including 20 employees and four family leaders. I conducted …


Ai In Academic Workplace, Alexander Averin, Richard Diddams, Nicole Lowes, Melesa Poole Jul 2025

Ai In Academic Workplace, Alexander Averin, Richard Diddams, Nicole Lowes, Melesa Poole

Journal of Fundamental & Applied Business Research

Artificial intelligence (AI), once imagined only in science fiction, is now ubiquitous in the reality of modern life. It influences everything from personalized shopping recommendations (Rane et al., 2024) to advanced medical diagnoses (Al Kuwaiti et al., 2023; Khanam et al., 2024; Maleki Varnosfaderani & Forouzanfar, 2024). Redefining the models of analysis and learning, AI is quickly becoming a fundamental component of higher education as universities embrace AI tools for curriculum development, assessments, teaching, research, individualized instruction, and preparation for technological readiness in the workforce (Shah, 2023). However, the perception and adoption of these tools vary among university faculty members …


Leaders Challenges In Impacting Employees' Job Satisfaction And Work Performance, Sheila M. Mitchell Jul 2025

Leaders Challenges In Impacting Employees' Job Satisfaction And Work Performance, Sheila M. Mitchell

Journal of Fundamental & Applied Business Research

Leadership style is critical in determining an organization's success or failure. Organizations across industries must ensure they have effective leaders who inspire and motivate employees to commit to achieving organizational goals, resulting in a competitive advantage. They must be able to significantly influence employee job satisfaction and work performance, which are critical factors in an organization's success. Job satisfaction reflects employees' attitudes toward their jobs and organization. Work performance measures how effectively an employee performs work that meets standards. The researcher examined the effects of transformational, transactional, and laissez-faire leadership styles and toxic leadership behavior on employee satisfaction and work …


Character Challenges American Christian Business Leaders Face In The Secular Digital Age, Kevin J. Kennedy Jul 2025

Character Challenges American Christian Business Leaders Face In The Secular Digital Age, Kevin J. Kennedy

Journal of Fundamental & Applied Business Research

In the digital age, Christian business leaders are a minority who are commonly expected to change their principles of leadership to fit within the secularized culture. These expectations for change are generating character challenges to the very core of a Christian business leader’s moral convictions and forcing them to make decisions which pit the practice of their proclaimed faith against a secularized business practice. In these workplace challenges, the Christian business leader’s faith, freedom of conscience, freedom of speech, and freedom of religion compete with secularized practices accepted in today’s American culture. Additionally, digital age behavioral visibility, which can be …


Responsibility And Importance Of Hiring Professional Hospitality Employees, Tina S. Gaffey Jul 2025

Responsibility And Importance Of Hiring Professional Hospitality Employees, Tina S. Gaffey

Journal of Fundamental & Applied Business Research

The hospitality industry often struggles to hire professional, long-term, committed, and dedicated employees (Seqhobane & Kokt, 2021). Primary hiring managers at the operational level may have little to no experience in hiring but also lack the training, effort, awareness, and ability to successfully understand recruitment and retention processes (Poell, 2022). A flexible design and a single case study were used. Based on the research and findings hospitality managers required more extensive hiring-based training and wanted their organization to implement structured hiring practices and procedures for a more objective approach. Findings also suggested that ensuring the best-fit employees are hired, rather …


Overcoming Barriers To Voluntary Leadership Engagement: The Role Of Servant Leadership For Women Leaders In Higher Education, Deloris W. Easley, Deborah Johnson-Blake Jul 2025

Overcoming Barriers To Voluntary Leadership Engagement: The Role Of Servant Leadership For Women Leaders In Higher Education, Deloris W. Easley, Deborah Johnson-Blake

Journal of Fundamental & Applied Business Research

Low engagement in voluntary leadership roles negatively impacts organizational effectiveness, membership renewals, engagement, referrals, and growth opportunities. This study investigated the factors that hinder women leaders working in Georgia's higher education institutions from engaging in volunteer roles within professional organizations. The central research question was, "How can the problem of decreased engagement and participation be resolved?" These barriers limited women's willingness to pursue leadership opportunities, categorized into work-life and organizational barriers. Several themes were identified during the analysis of a 23-question survey conducted with 47 respondents to examine the challenges these professional women leaders faced in engaging in voluntary leadership …


Fostering Belonging: A Transcendental Phenomenological Study Of Nontraditional Students In Higher Education, Gina M. Bolin Jun 2025

Fostering Belonging: A Transcendental Phenomenological Study Of Nontraditional Students In Higher Education, Gina M. Bolin

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to describe the sense of belonging for nontraditional students in online higher education environments. The conceptual framework that guided this study was the CoI, which emphasized the importance of social, cognitive, and teaching presence to foster a supportive and positive student experience. The central research question was: How do online nontraditional students in higher education describe their experiences of academic and social belonging within their learning communities? This study employed a transcendental phenomenological design. Participants included 15 nontraditional students enrolled in fully online degree programs at various U.S. institutions. Data collected through …