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Individual Pastoral Counseling In Combination With Celebrate Recovery Group Experience, Stephen F. Curtis Mar 2021

Individual Pastoral Counseling In Combination With Celebrate Recovery Group Experience, Stephen F. Curtis

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Celebrate Recovery is a Christ-centered twelve-step program in which participants benefit from testimonies and mutual sharing of their struggles and victories. However, “cross-talk” and giving advice is not permitted in the group. Some participants may need or desire individual counseling. This thesis project focused on a Celebrate Recovery ministry in a rural setting where travel and economic obstacles create an impediment to access the services of a licensed therapist. Individual pastoral counseling was combined with the Celebrate Recovery group experience to ascertain whether the combination of these two approaches would yield enhanced and accelerated recovery as perceived by the participants. …

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Middle School Students’ Perceptions Of Teacher Empathy In Christian Schools: A Transcendental Phenomenological Studymiddle School Students’ Perceptions Of Teacher Empathy In Christian Schools: A Transcendental Phenomenological Study, Harold Wade Brackins Mar 2021

Middle School Students’ Perceptions Of Teacher Empathy In Christian Schools: A Transcendental Phenomenological Studymiddle School Students’ Perceptions Of Teacher Empathy In Christian Schools: A Transcendental Phenomenological Study, Harold Wade Brackins

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this study was to understand the experience of teacher empathy for middle school students at two Christian academies in central Alabama. Extant studies have contributed to the theoretical, empirical, and practical understanding of teacher empathy, but few have captured the voices of middle school students to understand their lived experiences; no studies have explored the topic in Christian academies. The theories guiding this study were Rogers’ theory of self and subsequent theories about student-centered pedagogy. The central research question was focused on the perceptions of teacher empathy as voiced by middle school students in Christian academies. Four …

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A Predictive Correlation Study Examining Persistence In A Virginia Community College Based On Veteran Status, Demographics, And Completion Of Developmental Coursework, Takesha A. Holt-Mcmiller Mar 2021

A Predictive Correlation Study Examining Persistence In A Virginia Community College Based On Veteran Status, Demographics, And Completion Of Developmental Coursework, Takesha A. Holt-Mcmiller

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Despite the significant scope and documented challenges facing veterans, few studies have addressed student veteran graduation persistence. A predictive correlation research design was used to analyze the persistence of veteran and non-veteran students in an associate degree program. In this study, community college students’ veteran status (i.e. veteran or non-veteran), enrollment status (part-time or full-time), success in remedial/developmental English (Yes/No pass), and demographic variables, such as gender (male, female, other), race (minority, non-minority), and age, were examined to determine their ability to predict persistence to graduation from associate degree programs. A logistic regression analysis was conducted to examine how persistence …

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An Applied Research Study On Improving Parental Involvement At A School In Southeastern North Carolina, Jacqueline Susan Hahn Mar 2021

An Applied Research Study On Improving Parental Involvement At A School In Southeastern North Carolina, Jacqueline Susan Hahn

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this applied research study was to solve the problem of low parental involvement for school stakeholders at a school in southeastern North Carolina and to formulate a solution to address the problem. The central research question for this study was “How can the problem of low parental involvement be improved at a school located in southeastern North Carolina?” The theoretical framework for this study was comprised of Piaget’s cognitive development theory and Vygotsky’s sociocultural theory. Accordingly, the philosophical assumption that guided this research study was an ontological assumption through the interpretive framework of social constructivism. This study …

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African American Women In Leadership In Faith-Based Higher Education: A Qualitative Study, Michael Charles Walker Mar 2021

African American Women In Leadership In Faith-Based Higher Education: A Qualitative Study, Michael Charles Walker

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

African American women hold unique experiences in the pursuit of leadership roles within faith-based colleges and universities. Since leadership occurs within a cultural context, there is sound reason to explore if transformational leadership behavior could positively impact the lived experiences of African American women within faith-based colleges and universities who seek to enter into leadership roles. The survey was cross-sectional with data collected at one period and returned to the researcher. This research design utilized qualitative interview as the means of data collection. Five open-ended research questions guided the research study. Women were qualified for sampling with employment at a …

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Addressing The Issue Of Low Attendance In Emmanuel Church Among Young Adults, Ivett Beverley Mcdonald Mar 2021

Addressing The Issue Of Low Attendance In Emmanuel Church Among Young Adults, Ivett Beverley Mcdonald

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of the study was to address the issue of low attendance in Emmanuel Church among young adults. This topic is based on the investigator's awareness that individuals who grow up in Emmanuel discontinue attendance between the ages of eighteen to twenty-nine years. The literature review revealed that many churches commonly experience this problem. Emmanuel Church is primarily made up of Jamaicans and their descendants, and no literature addressed the immediate context of Emmanuel Church. The investigator interviewed twenty young adults who were previous members of Emmanuel Church. The study revealed that young adults leave Emmanuel in record numbers. …

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Church Revitalization: Fashioning Church For Growth, Willie Lee Wormack Mar 2021

Church Revitalization: Fashioning Church For Growth, Willie Lee Wormack

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This thesis research project is an approach to resolve the issues of the critically declined and dying Friendship Baptist Church whose membership cannot support a viable ministry. Friendship Baptist Church exists with minimal infrastructure at 38503 Mosstown Road, Dade City, Florida, in the rural Lacoochee, Florida area. Friendship Baptist Church needs a visionary plan with leadership and team support directed to assist with church development and growth. The case study approach will implement exploration on the meanings and beliefs of Christianity for the church in the church’s social setting. Investigations about cultural associations of faith with the church is engaged …

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A Phenomenological Study On Teacher Perceptions Of The Influence Of Governance On Teacher Retention In Ugandan Private Primary Christian Schools, Jomo Zizwe Morani Thomas Ii Mar 2021

A Phenomenological Study On Teacher Perceptions Of The Influence Of Governance On Teacher Retention In Ugandan Private Primary Christian Schools, Jomo Zizwe Morani Thomas Ii

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenological study was to answer the following central research question, “what are teachers’ perceptions of the effects of governance on teacher retention in private primary Christian schools in Uganda?” The theoretical model that guided this study was an integrated model comprising distributed leadership and transformational leadership and its relationship to governance influences on teacher retention. The study utilized a hermeneutic phenomenological methodology for data analysis. The selected participants were comprised of 13 teachers from four approved Christian primary school sites located in the Wakiso district of Uganda. The primary data collection methods were individual questionnaires, …

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The Writer’S Grit Guide: Practical Methods For Effective Writing, Victoria Renee Gomez Mar 2021

The Writer’S Grit Guide: Practical Methods For Effective Writing, Victoria Renee Gomez

Masters Theses

Successful writing practices involve confidence, idea generation, and productivity habits. Writers can lack confidence about their abilities or about the quality of their writing when pitted against the creative and technical challenges that come with writing. Fear—which leads to both insecurity and egotism—is often what drives confidence issues in writing. True confidence emerges from the middle ground—or balance—between insecurity and ego. Writers can also struggle to develop new ideas when the competition to come up with original material results in writer’s block. Writers must improve their productivity and follow through on their goals by developing grit. This thesis will reveal …

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Reduction Of Hospital Readmissions In Patients With A Diagnosis Of Copd: An Integrative Review, Guerline Norbrun Mar 2021

Reduction Of Hospital Readmissions In Patients With A Diagnosis Of Copd: An Integrative Review, Guerline Norbrun

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a progressive lung disease with potential to interfere with breathing ability. It is the third leading cause of 30-day readmission and death in the US, and the leading cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide. It constitutes a society burden and poor disease management leads to major health consequences such as acute COPD exacerbation resulting in frequent costly readmissions, add to its massive direct healthcare costs. Over $50 billion are spent annually in direct care alone in addition to $15 billion in hospital readmissions; with 12 million adults are being affected in the United States …

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Purging The New Age: A Theological Analysis Of The Use Of New Age Practices By The Church, Christopher Michael Berg Mar 2021

Purging The New Age: A Theological Analysis Of The Use Of New Age Practices By The Church, Christopher Michael Berg

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This dissertation sets out to demonstrate that Yoga and the Enneagram are not compatible with orthodox Christianity. Additionally, this dissertation will show that all possible attempts at Christianizing these practices ultimately fail due to incompatible underlying philosophies and theologies. In order to accomplish this task, assessment criteria will be developed through a comparison of a subset of evangelical Christian theological topics with their New Age counterparts. These criteria will be used to assess the level of syncretization in each practice as presented by the most popular and prolific Christian practitioners. After assessment, a recommendation will be given concerning each practice’s …

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Christian Women's Pornography Usage: The Role Of Perceived Addiction, Social Anxiety, Shame, And Grace, Kathryn Ellen Bohannon Mar 2021

Christian Women's Pornography Usage: The Role Of Perceived Addiction, Social Anxiety, Shame, And Grace, Kathryn Ellen Bohannon

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

For decades, researchers have examined the relationship between pornography use, anxiety, and depression. The emotional component of shame has also been explored in connection with pornography use and other addictive behaviors. Recently, scholars have started to consider how the pornography user’s moral values and religious beliefs influenced their usage and outcome behaviors (Baltazar, Helm, H. W., McBride, Hopkins, & Stevens, J. V., 2010; Bradley, Grubbs, Uzdavines, Exline, & Pargament, 2016; Hook et al., 2015). Extensive resources have been dedicated to investigating the male gender’s usage of pornography both in solitude and relational settings (Hald, 2006; Manning, 2006; Twohig, Crosby, & …

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Improving Students' K-Prep Reading Scores By Investigating The Reading Culture At Harrison Independent School, Rebecca Anne Grace Mar 2021

Improving Students' K-Prep Reading Scores By Investigating The Reading Culture At Harrison Independent School, Rebecca Anne Grace

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this applied study is to examine the problem of low reading performance among Kentucky middle school students by exploring the reading culture of Harrison Independent School with the aim of identifying positive practices that can be endorsed as viable solutions to the problem. The researcher reviews the existing research to define the components of a positive reading culture and provide evidence of the link between a school’s reading culture and the reading performance of its students. The ensuing study examines teachers’ perceptions of their roles in promoting independent reading, strategies used by ELA teachers to improve students’ …

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Educating Church Leaders: Providing End-Of-Life Spiritual Care To Life Changers Church Ministry, Jermaine Joshua Ruffin Mar 2021

Educating Church Leaders: Providing End-Of-Life Spiritual Care To Life Changers Church Ministry, Jermaine Joshua Ruffin

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Life Changers Community Fellowship Church, of Jackson, Mississippi, struggles to provide end-of-life spiritual care to its members. Its church leadership has placed the responsibility of providing end-of-life spiritual care on institutions such as hospice and palliative care companies. These organizations do their best to provide end-of-life spiritual care, but struggle due to cultural and ethnical boundaries, and a lack of resources to provide such care. This study seeks to examine whether end-of-life spiritual care is a biblical concern and/or mandate within church leadership. In addition, this study will explore how hospice chaplains understand end-of-life spiritual care provided to patients and …

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The Moderation Of An Intimate Relationship On Pornography Use Among Religious Singles, Brandon Paul Waggoner Mar 2021

The Moderation Of An Intimate Relationship On Pornography Use Among Religious Singles, Brandon Paul Waggoner

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Previous research has explored the relationship between religious involvement, loneliness, and pornography use. For some, pornography use can be used as a coping mechanism to overcome feelings of loneliness. This pornography use is especially problematic for those who are religious, as this use contradicts their convictions and beliefs and has been shown to have many negative outcomes. To date, little research has focused on the specific growing population of singles who can be more prone to loneliness due to the lack of a romantic relationship. To rectify this gap, this study seeks to explore the ability an emotionally intimate relationship …

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A Transcendental Phenomenological Study Of The Motivations Of Minority Police Recruits Participating In An Entrance-Level Police Academy, Jennifer A. Beskid Mar 2021

A Transcendental Phenomenological Study Of The Motivations Of Minority Police Recruits Participating In An Entrance-Level Police Academy, Jennifer A. Beskid

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to describe the lived experiences of minority police recruits who were participating in an entrance-level police academy. The central research question of the study was what were the lived experiences of minority police recruits who were participating in an entrance-level police academy? Data was collected using interviews, a questionnaire, and records analysis. The interviews were transcribed with the initial results being preliminarily grouped. Once the groups were established, the researcher reviewed the records for inclusion in the groupings. Participants completed a questionnaire designed to elicit information about their motivations to become police …

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Surviving Or Thriving? A Phenomenological Study Of The Well-Being Of Experienced Special Education Teachers, Katherine Beth Carpenter-Ware Mar 2021

Surviving Or Thriving? A Phenomenological Study Of The Well-Being Of Experienced Special Education Teachers, Katherine Beth Carpenter-Ware

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to describe the well-being of experienced special education teachers (SETs) in southeastern, Virginia. Experienced SETs’ well-being is a relevant issue based upon the role-related stressors SETs grapple with daily. These stressors influence SETs’ attrition and the SET shortages which have impacted much of the United States. The theory guiding this study was the well-being theory introduced by Martin Seligman in 2011. This theory indicates that there are five elements of well-being that are required to flourish. These elements are positive emotion, engagement, relationships, meaning, and accomplishment. The central research question for this …

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Early Learning Teacher Collaboration And Classroom Transitions: A Qualitative Case Study, Danielle Christine Robertson Mar 2021

Early Learning Teacher Collaboration And Classroom Transitions: A Qualitative Case Study, Danielle Christine Robertson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this collective case study was to examine how Early Head Start and Head Start teachers collaborate to create successful transitions for students from classroom to classroom. The theory guiding this study was the sociocultural theory by Lev Vygotsky (1978), which focuses on learning through interactions and communications with others and collaborative learning. Vygotsky’s theory aligned with the study by informing educators that children learn from a guide and teachers should be intentional in adding to children’s knowledge and supporting children’s ways of understanding the world around them. This study addressed the following research questions: How do early …

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Does The Management Of Compassion Fatigue In The Healthcare Setting Decrease Nurse Turnover: An Integrative Review, Barbara Fulcher Williams Mar 2021

Does The Management Of Compassion Fatigue In The Healthcare Setting Decrease Nurse Turnover: An Integrative Review, Barbara Fulcher Williams

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Healthcare systems are rapidly changing and with the increased age of the baby boomers, and shortage of nurses, and COVID-19, there is a rapid growth in compassion fatigue within the nursing community. More than 22% of nurses in direct patient care roles report experiencing emotional exhaustion. This results in negative consequences, reduced productivity, workplace violence, and poor patient care. Does the management of compassion fatigue in the healthcare setting decrease nurse turnover? This was an integrative review of the literature, utilizing 15-20 articles using Melnyk framework for evaluation. The variables addressed included the emotional state with negative psychological and physical …

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Cited At Nuremberg: The American Eugenics Movement, Its Influence Abroad, The Buck V. Bell Decision, And The Subsequent Bioethical Implications Of The Holocaust, Bessie Blackburn Feb 2021

Cited At Nuremberg: The American Eugenics Movement, Its Influence Abroad, The Buck V. Bell Decision, And The Subsequent Bioethical Implications Of The Holocaust, Bessie Blackburn

Bound Away: The Liberty Journal of History

Eugenics was a bioethical movement that captivated many Americans at the turn of the nineteenth century and even into the Progressive era. No event in American history better encapsulates the American eugenics movement than the trial of Carrie Buck and her later forced sterilization. This trial is monumental not only to understanding American eugenic policy, but also international reactions and Nazi Germany’s chilling use of this pseudoscience in the Holocaust. In order to best understand the trial of Carrie Buck, one must look first look at the origins of eugenics, second, the context of the eugenics movement in America and …

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Predictive Effects Of Physician Assistant Students' Pre-Admission Direct Patient Contact Hours On Performance In Supervised Clinical Practice Experiences, Gerald Robert Weniger Feb 2021

Predictive Effects Of Physician Assistant Students' Pre-Admission Direct Patient Contact Hours On Performance In Supervised Clinical Practice Experiences, Gerald Robert Weniger

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The demand for physician assistants (PAs) is predicted to rise because of the growing shortage of physicians. PA educational programs are tasked with producing graduates who are skilled within six domains of competency: 1) medical knowledge, 2) professionalism, 3) interpersonal and communication skills, 4) patient care, 5) practice-based learning and improvement, and 6) systems-based practice. The Physician Assistant National Certifying Exam only assesses two of the six competencies: medical knowledge and professionalism. Without much time in a curriculum to teach the ‘softer skills’ like communication and interpersonal skills, many PA programs require pre-admission patient contact experience in order to at …

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A Phenomenological Study: The Experiences Of Homeschool Students Who Persisted In College At A Faith-Based Institution, Venda Kaye Johnson Feb 2021

A Phenomenological Study: The Experiences Of Homeschool Students Who Persisted In College At A Faith-Based Institution, Venda Kaye Johnson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to describe the experiences of homeschool students who persisted in college at a faith-based institution in the Southeastern United States. The theory guiding this study was Tinto’s student integration model as it focused on students’ integration into campus life to increase persistence in college. The central question for this study was the following: What are the experiences of homeschool students who persist in college? The participants in this study were recent students who have graduated college within the last five years and had self-reported as a homeschool student upon admission. There was …

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From Spectator To Servant: Addressing The Heart Of The Christian For Service Within The Church Based Upon Ephesians 5:18-21 And Biblical Principles Of Servanthood, David Warren Di Raddo Feb 2021

From Spectator To Servant: Addressing The Heart Of The Christian For Service Within The Church Based Upon Ephesians 5:18-21 And Biblical Principles Of Servanthood, David Warren Di Raddo

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

In the ninth chapter of Matthew's Gospel, verses thirty-six through thirty-eight, Jesus said to His disciples that the fields were ripe for harvest, but the workers are few. This dissertation project will address the question of why today, as in the days of Jesus, workers in the church continue to be few in number. Specifically, what factors have contributed to the majority of those who attend church becoming spectators rather than servants, and what will change the heart of the individual? This study will include three primary data collection methods comprised of a pre- and post-intervention questionnaire, a ten-question survey …

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Proximity Search Techniques To Reduce Cognitive Load: A Case Study, Donald G. Campbell Feb 2021

Proximity Search Techniques To Reduce Cognitive Load: A Case Study, Donald G. Campbell

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative case study was to explore the usefulness of higher-level search techniques to reduce students’ cognitive load. The central question of the study is, “What causes students of higher education to avoid using syntax operator commands to provide better search results?” The participants in the study were new students at a community college in northern Arizona. As defined by Sweller (1988), cognitive load theory indicates that the reduction of cognitive load increases learning and reduces stress, guided this study. The sample size was five participants. Data were collected through semi structured individual interviews in a closed …

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Multicultural Competence In Vocational Rehabilitation: The Role Of Multicultural Awareness Among Black Vrcs, Regina Walden Alston Feb 2021

Multicultural Competence In Vocational Rehabilitation: The Role Of Multicultural Awareness Among Black Vrcs, Regina Walden Alston

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Over the past 30 years In the United States, multiculturalism has expanded due to a larger number of diverse populations. In this qualitative research project, the researcher explored the multicultural awareness development of Black vocational rehabilitation counselors (VRCs). The participants consisted of six Black VRCs. The data were analyzed using phenomenological theory methodology. In vocational rehabilitation, counselors are not considered competent unless they comprehend multicultural counseling competence, have the proper educational backgrounds, and are achieving successful employment outcomes with culturally diverse clients. Research shows that the component of multicultural awareness development is considered the promising, yet essential contributor to overall …

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Factors Influencing Small Construction Businesses From Implementing Information Security: A Case Study, Carl Andrew Mayes Feb 2021

Factors Influencing Small Construction Businesses From Implementing Information Security: A Case Study, Carl Andrew Mayes

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This qualitative study described the influence of small businesses’ failure to properly implement information security technologies resulting in the loss of sensitive and proprietary business information. A collective case study approach was used to determine the most effective way to gain a holistic picture of how small construction businesses make security technology implementation decisions to support their workforce. The theory guiding this study was the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) model which is related to the Theory of Planned Behavior and the Technology Acceptance Model which helped explain the intentions of individuals to use information systems. …

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A Collective Case Study Of Factors That Promote Academic Motivation Among High-Performing, Economically Disadvantaged Middle School Students, Gregory M. Shields Jr Feb 2021

A Collective Case Study Of Factors That Promote Academic Motivation Among High-Performing, Economically Disadvantaged Middle School Students, Gregory M. Shields Jr

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative case study was to explore the influencing factors that promote academic motivation among high-performing, economically disadvantaged middle school students. Poverty affects students in various ways, such as socially, emotionally, and cognitively. Due to the adverse experiences stemming from poverty, many students lack motivation and confidence in their academic abilities. On the contrary, some students overcome the adversity of poverty by demonstrating resilience. The following central question was used to further investigate the study: What factors promote academic motivation among high-performing, economically disadvantaged middle school students? The theory guiding this study is self-determination theory (Deci & …

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Millennials In The Workforce: An Examination Of Motivation And Behavior, Josephine L. Bennett Feb 2021

Millennials In The Workforce: An Examination Of Motivation And Behavior, Josephine L. Bennett

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

In recent years there has been much dialogue about retaining millennials. This dialogue has been fueled by a growing concern over millennial turnover trends. Because millennials have been said to have different work values than previous generations and have demonstrated behaviors outside of what employers describe as “norms” there has been much difficulty with understanding the turnover behavior of this generation. Sourced in motivation theory, this study sought to examine how the turnover intention behavior of millennials is related to rewards, specifically intrinsic and extrinsic rewards. Data from the 2016 Federal Employment Viewpoint Survey was examined to meet the objectives …

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Hispanic First-Generation College Student Perceptions Of University Support Programs, Katelynn Elizabeth Wheeler Feb 2021

Hispanic First-Generation College Student Perceptions Of University Support Programs, Katelynn Elizabeth Wheeler

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this case study was to understand the Hispanic first-generation student perspectives on provided support programs at universities across the United States. Only 54% of Hispanic students graduate from public universities within six years, and the rates are drastically lower at private for-profit schools. Additionally, for those Hispanic students who do graduate from college, the chances of continuing to graduate school are slim, with only ten percent of Hispanic students enrolling in graduate school, compared to 64% of white students. With statistics such as these, universities need to create useful and valuable support systems for Hispanic students that …

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Christian Liberty, Harry Allotey Feb 2021

Christian Liberty, Harry Allotey

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Christian liberty is freedom from the law, made possible through the finished work of Christ. This project seeks to present a biblical and theological explanation of Christian liberty and develop concepts that apply to the believer’s everyday experience. It is important to address the ever-present dangers of legalism and libertinism and their impact on the Christians and churches. The project focuses on a New Testament explanation of Christian liberty, drawing lessons from both the deliberations of the Jerusalem Council of 49 A.D. and the Pauline thesis to the Galatians. What happens after a person has been freed from the demands …

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