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A Phenomenological Study Of Abstinence Self-Efficacy Experiences Among Residential Servant Leaders With Substance Use Disorders, Scott J. Rancourt Nov 2020

A Phenomenological Study Of Abstinence Self-Efficacy Experiences Among Residential Servant Leaders With Substance Use Disorders, Scott J. Rancourt

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to describe the abstinence self-efficacy experiences of participants in a servant leadership program at a Christian residential therapeutic community. The central research question was: What are the lived, abstinence self-efficacy experiences of participants in a servant leadership program at a Christian residential therapeutic community? A purposeful sampling method was utilized to obtain 10 participants from the servant leadership program at the site. Two theories guided this study. The first is servant leadership theory, which focuses on the importance of passionately meeting the needs of others. The second is cognitive-behavior self-efficacy theory, which …

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The African American Student's Perception Of Equity At Predominately White Institutions: A Phenomenological Study, Annitra C. Leigh Nov 2020

The African American Student's Perception Of Equity At Predominately White Institutions: A Phenomenological Study, Annitra C. Leigh

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This phenomenological qualitative study aimed to describe the perceptions of equity among African American graduates of Virginia predominately white institutions. Participants included 12 African American male and female student graduates who attended predominately white institutions in Virginia as full-time campus students. The theories that guided this study are Bandura’s social learning theory and the theory of self-efficacy as they focus on retention and motivation and the influence on one’s surroundings. Data sources included open-ended questionnaires, interviews, and a focus group. Data analysis followed the phenomenological method of listing and grouping, reduction and elimination, clustering, validation, and textural description of participants. …

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The Decline Of Ministry Participation And Leadership Amid Black Males In The Worthington Missionary Baptist Church In Houston, Texas, Joseph Ray Davis Nov 2020

The Decline Of Ministry Participation And Leadership Amid Black Males In The Worthington Missionary Baptist Church In Houston, Texas, Joseph Ray Davis

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This DMin thesis project sought to address the decline of male participation in ministry leadership at the Worthington Missionary Baptist Church (WMBC) in Houston, Texas. Not only are males absent from many church congregations, but those that do attend church services tend to be seemingly content with the female populace leading an abundance of church ministries. This research study accessed rationales prompting male withdrawal and then ascertained how to restore balance to the initial design of God at WMBC. Assessment tools of questionnaires, surveys, and one-on-one interviews were utilized to gain insights from 10 WMBC males between the ages of …

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Effectiveness Of Treatment Modalities For Those With Diagnosed Opioid Use Disorder And Co-Occurring Disorders, Amy Parousis Nov 2020

Effectiveness Of Treatment Modalities For Those With Diagnosed Opioid Use Disorder And Co-Occurring Disorders, Amy Parousis

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Substance abuse has always been an issue in society. As time has passed, the adverse consequences of substance abuse have become more evident. These consequences include physical and mental addiction, disruption of purposeful and productive everyday life, disruption of the family unit, spread of diseases, and death. Recently, the rate of overdose has rapidly increased due to the potency and accessibility of illicit opiates. Fentanyl and carfentanyl have been added to many opioid and non-opioid substances to provide a more euphoric experience, to intensify the addiction of the client, and for economic reasons because they are much more potent than …

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African American Pastoral Counseling: The Dynamics On Self-Worth, Personal Efficacy, Motivation, And Responsible Discipleship, Charles T. Walker Nov 2020

African American Pastoral Counseling: The Dynamics On Self-Worth, Personal Efficacy, Motivation, And Responsible Discipleship, Charles T. Walker

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This qualitative study evaluated the counseling practices of African American pastors in the Southeastern region of the United States. The study examined their perceptions and relevant themes when counseling their parishioners on self-worth, personal efficacy, and motivation. Relevant themes were: Cultural Context counseling; impaired self-worth and self-love in rural young females; and whether the rural male is dominated by loss of hope. The exploratory study collected data from 19 digital surveys, 10 selected pastoral counselors’ semi-structured interviews, and 10 collected member focus interview questionnaires. The findings from the data collected show that members felt comfortable receiving counseling from their pastor …

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Women Who Endured Childhood Maltreatment: How Resiliency Led To Lower Mental Health Issues, Rebecca Lee Hirshman Nov 2020

Women Who Endured Childhood Maltreatment: How Resiliency Led To Lower Mental Health Issues, Rebecca Lee Hirshman

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this study was to have a better understanding of the positive impact that resiliency has on an individual that has endured childhood maltreatment. This qualitative study focused on the information gathered from seven women ranging in age from 18 to 60 years old. Each participant answered three questionnaires (the Adverse Childhood Experience, Brief Resilience Coping Scale, and a Survey Questionnaire) prior to participating in a Zoom interview. This study elaborated on the four types of childhood maltreatment, what prompted the need for programs and interventions, the detrimental effects it has on the development of children and their …

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A Model For Pastoral Care And Shepherding Of A Mid-Sized Growing Church, Willis Dean Wainwright Nov 2020

A Model For Pastoral Care And Shepherding Of A Mid-Sized Growing Church, Willis Dean Wainwright

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study addresses the challenges related to the caregiving ministry of Mountain View Community Church located in Temecula, California. This revitalized Church has grown from 50 attendees in 2004 to over 2000 by 2010. The growth has led to many challenges, including the development of a ministry strategy that will meet the needs of the congregation. The leadership team sought to answer the question of an appropriate ministry strategy through examining scriptures, reviewing the history of ministry, and evaluating current models of caregiving used in large Baptist churches. Additionally, a survey of pastoral care methodology employed in large Baptist churches …

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Helms School Of Government Newsletter - Fall 2020, Liberty University Oct 2020

Helms School Of Government Newsletter - Fall 2020, Liberty University

The Helms School of Government Newsletter

Helms School of Government Newsletter - Fall 2020

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Contraceptive Methods In The United States: The Question Of Abortive Mechanisms, Tara Ferenczy Oct 2020

Contraceptive Methods In The United States: The Question Of Abortive Mechanisms, Tara Ferenczy

Senior Honors Theses

This thesis reviews the many methods of contraception available in the United States. Although society’s understanding of women’s health has become a major topic, there is still a significant deficit of information regarding how the accessible methods affect women’s bodies, specifically reproductive tissue. The thesis analyzes numerous contraceptive options focusing specifically on the mechanisms of action to determine whether options have abortifacient properties so that readers may develop educated opinions regarding medical and ethical uses. Information involving strengths and limitations of each technique and the effects on both the female body and the reproductive material assist in understanding the process …

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Determining The Impacts Of Exercise Participation On Disaster Response, Tanya Jean Hockett Oct 2020

Determining The Impacts Of Exercise Participation On Disaster Response, Tanya Jean Hockett

Masters Theses

There are many opinions surrounding the importance and effectiveness of emergency exercises and their influence on the response phase of emergency management. Understanding how exercises affect emergency response operations can help training and exercise programs enhance the structure and implementation of meaningful, strategic exercises. However, there is limited research available to validate this. This qualitative study analyzed the responses of 106 survey participants and found that exercise participation positively impacted the ability of individuals to respond to incidents and disasters. By analyzing and categorizing a series of open-ended responses, it was determined that the most important benefit of exercise participation …

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Peer And Professor Relationship Quality: A Moderation Model For Student Persistence In Distance Education, Rayella Stevens Oct 2020

Peer And Professor Relationship Quality: A Moderation Model For Student Persistence In Distance Education, Rayella Stevens

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Relationships matter, as hypothesized. This study finds the association between the DE relationship variables of COI relationships, teaching alliance, student bonding, professor rapport, and impact of face-to-face learning on DE psychology/counseling graduate students’ factors are significant in relationship bonding environment. The ubiquity of relationships is seen in educational and social growth contexts within various populations’ bonding environments. Our research further establishes that social contact alliances and interaction are necessary elements for effective DE in psychology/counselor education. The findings of this DE study is consistent with psychological research on the associated factors within therapeutic bonding relationships. Results address whether the direct …

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Examining Title I Elementary Schools In Tennessee: A Quantitative Study Of Predicted Outcomes, Jessilon Ann Madison Oct 2020

Examining Title I Elementary Schools In Tennessee: A Quantitative Study Of Predicted Outcomes, Jessilon Ann Madison

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this predictive, correlational study was to determine how accurately Tennessee Comprehensive Assessment Program (TCAP) English Language Arts (ELA) achievement scores can be predicted from a linear combination of Lottery for Education Afterschool Programs (LEAPs) participation, geographic location, and Community Eligibility Participation (CEP) at Title I elementary schools in Tennessee: A quantitative research method using a linear multiple regression analysis was used to assess these variables. Data was gathered from publicly available records. For the sample, 100 Title I elementary schools participated in LEAPs and 100 Title I elementary schools did not participate in LEAPs. One hundred and …

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A House Mended: Hope For Christians Who Are Married To Or Cohabitate With Unsaved Spouses/Partners, Angela Marie Houchins Oct 2020

A House Mended: Hope For Christians Who Are Married To Or Cohabitate With Unsaved Spouses/Partners, Angela Marie Houchins

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Some Christians face unique challenges within the context of their marriages and cohabitating relationships because their spouses or partners are unsaved. This unequally yoked spiritual dynamic may negatively impact not only their marital/cohabitating relationships, but also their Christian spiritual growth and maturity. Many of these Christians are unsure about what the Bible advises about their situation. Unfortunately, many churches do not have programming to support this Christian demographic. This thesis project, through a qualitative, phenomenological research framework, will seek to understand, interpret, and describe the experiences these individuals contend with as a result of their unequally yoked marital/cohabitating way of …

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A Faith-Driven Protocol On Gratitude, Forgiveness, And Stress For Chin Refugees From Burma: An Exploratory Study, Sally Goh Oct 2020

A Faith-Driven Protocol On Gratitude, Forgiveness, And Stress For Chin Refugees From Burma: An Exploratory Study, Sally Goh

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The influx of immigrants from a diverse cultural and religious tradition into the United States has renewed counselors’ and researchers' interest in how collectivistic populations from a refugee background experience pre-settlement and post-settlement stress in this country. Refugees who have experienced trauma before their settlement are more likely to experience increasing psychiatric pressure from daily stressors such as language barriers, employment difficulties, familial and generational conflicts, and dwindling psychosocial support. However, some refugee populations, such as the Chin people from Burma, have a low-uptake of help-seeking for their psychological problems, leading to more insufficient adjustment to the host culture. Since …

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Biblical Worldview Development While Learning Origins Science, Charleton Dean King Oct 2020

Biblical Worldview Development While Learning Origins Science, Charleton Dean King

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenology was to understand the lived experience of how homeschooled high school students integrate origins science into a biblical worldview. For this study, biblical worldview development is the process of faith development in either form or content through an individual’s understanding and application of the Bible. The theoretical framework guiding this study is Fowler’s faith development theory as it relates an individual’s physical, mental, and moral growth to the development of their worldview. This study sought to answer the following research question: how do homeschooled high school students integrate origins science into a biblical worldview? …

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Predicting And Preventing Inactive Members, James David Barrett Oct 2020

Predicting And Preventing Inactive Members, James David Barrett

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Most churches have many members classified as inactive. The purpose of this project is to discover if there are any common characteristics among those who have become inactive that can be used to identify and prevent others from becoming inactive members. Based on surveys and questionnaires sent to pastors, active, and inactive members from several churches in the Cabarrus Baptist Association, the project seeks to identify patterns among members who have become inactive. It then reviews the information to propose strategies to identify possible methods for preventing members from becoming inactive in the future.

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Students’ Experiences Of College Professor Communication In Online Instruction: A Transcendental Phenomenological Study, William E. Carpenter Oct 2020

Students’ Experiences Of College Professor Communication In Online Instruction: A Transcendental Phenomenological Study, William E. Carpenter

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to describe 13 students’ experiences of college professor communication in asynchronous online courses at a large urban community college in central North Carolina. The focus was to answer the central research question of how online students describe communication experiences in an online college learning environment. The theories guiding this study were Knowles’ (1980) theory of adult learning- andragogy, and Short, Williams, and Christie’s (1976) social presence theory, as they correlated the need for professor communication with adult learning and social presence since communication can impact academic success for adult learners. To collect …

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The Leader's Role In Motivating Public Sector Workers, James B. Meeks Jr Oct 2020

The Leader's Role In Motivating Public Sector Workers, James B. Meeks Jr

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

In municipalities throughout the United States, there exists a belief that many public sector workers are unmotivated, disengaged from their work and disinterested in serving the public (Lavigna, 2014). This qualitative case study sought to understand the central phenomenon of the perceptions of public sector leaders in South Carolina for motivating their workers. Herzberg’s theory regarding the efficacy of leaders to understand the intrinsic motivational factors influencing worker performance, along with the four aspects of transformational leadership served as the theoretical framework for this study. Franklin (2016) explored the impact of leadership styles using Herzberg’s two-factor theory and a variety …

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Self-Efficacy Among Christian Educators, Jonathan Blake Tolbert Oct 2020

Self-Efficacy Among Christian Educators, Jonathan Blake Tolbert

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Christian educators often lack specialized training in message delivery which leads to a lower self-efficacy. Christian educators devote their lives to fulfillment of the Great Commission; it is the job of the church universal to provide resources and support that equip the saints to boldly share the Gospel with great confidence. When self-efficacy is low, confidence is low. Theological foundations are often strong and well-developed by the local church. The practical aspect of preaching, meaning delivery, is an area that is underrepresented in academic research. This project presents specialized training in message delivery as a catalyst for improving self-efficacy. The …

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From Ideology To Implementation: Moving One Church Staff From An Aspirational Mindset Of Developing Leaders To An Actionable Movement Of Leadership Development, Trevor Blake Hislop Oct 2020

From Ideology To Implementation: Moving One Church Staff From An Aspirational Mindset Of Developing Leaders To An Actionable Movement Of Leadership Development, Trevor Blake Hislop

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

According to a recent article on “The Paradox of Leadership” from Harvard University, there are more than 15,000 books in print on the topic of leadership, and the number of works written about leadership in the past decade is greater than the total number of works ever written. So, if leadership is so highly valued in our culture today, then why is there a decline in leadership development in the church? Additionally, there are a growing number of churches that have detailed programs for leadership development; however, few churches are producing new leaders. Church at Viera in Viera, Florida, embraces …

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Evaluating Ethical Technology Leadership: Organizational Culture, Leader Behavior, And A Cyberspace Ethic Of Business, Mark Lee Pickel Oct 2020

Evaluating Ethical Technology Leadership: Organizational Culture, Leader Behavior, And A Cyberspace Ethic Of Business, Mark Lee Pickel

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Evaluating ethical technology leadership at a financial services firm in North Carolina requires discovering interactions amongst organizational culture, leadership approaches, and ethical decision-making practices. This study provides insight into how the participating firm’s organizational culture creates a leadership climate accommodative of an applied cyberspace business ethic. A cyberspace business ethic provides guidance to technology leaders addressing ethical challenges arising from emergent digital technologies. The identification of four key influencers that support ethical decision-making and provide protection against reputational risk exposures create an understanding of the collective nature of core values, relational, reputational, and technological influences on ethical behaviors. Self-determination theory …

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Inability Of Leaders Of Religious Not-For-Profit Organizations In New Jersey To Identify And Implement Adequate Internal Accounting Controls To Detect And Deter Accounting Fraud, Wayne Terrence Balfour Oct 2020

Inability Of Leaders Of Religious Not-For-Profit Organizations In New Jersey To Identify And Implement Adequate Internal Accounting Controls To Detect And Deter Accounting Fraud, Wayne Terrence Balfour

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study examined the inability of leaders of religious not-for-profit organizations (RNPOs) in New Jersey to identify and implement adequate accounting internal controls to detect and deter accounting fraud. Fraud affects all organizations negatively, including those that are religiously altruistic with good intentions. This study argued that protecting the organization’s resources rests primarily upon the shoulders of its leaders. Previous studies argued that philanthropic organizations were more prone to fraud because of poor management, enormous trust in their employees, and poor internal accounting controls. This multi-case qualitative study studied ten RNPO leaders, validating and contradicting some previous findings of not-for-profit …

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The Role And Function Of A Hospital Chaplain In An Interdisciplinary Team, Joseph Richard Jeffries Oct 2020

The Role And Function Of A Hospital Chaplain In An Interdisciplinary Team, Joseph Richard Jeffries

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Healthcare workers provide quality of care to patients who enter the hospital. However, to provide the holistic care, patients need interdisciplinary teams who meet and collaborate on a plan of care. There are various skills sets required on an interdisciplinary team including chaplains. However, members of an interdisciplinary team do not necessarily understand how to utilize the chaplain’s multifaceted training for the best holistic care of the patient. The purpose of this study is to review the interdisciplinary team in the hospital context and address the understanding of the chaplain’s role and function. The study will utilize a qualitative research …

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The Rising Costs Of Hospital Pharmaceutical Shortages And The Impact On Patient Care: Exploring The Use Of Predictive Analytics In New York Area Hospitals, Leticia Laura Currin Oct 2020

The Rising Costs Of Hospital Pharmaceutical Shortages And The Impact On Patient Care: Exploring The Use Of Predictive Analytics In New York Area Hospitals, Leticia Laura Currin

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This qualitative case study examined the rising cost of hospital pharmaceutical shortages and the impact on patient care. This study also explored the use of predictive analytics to reduce costs and improve patient care efficiency. Increased health-care spending is partially due to prescription medication prices. Management of hospital drug procurement affects patient health, quality care, and hospital budgets, while risk management needs to minimize possible medication shortages. For patients to get the drugs that they need, pharmacists need to have resources at their fingertips to obtain a deep insight into the knowledge of drugs through the supply chain. The research …

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Effective Church Leadership Through Emotional Intelligence, Joshua T. Lancaster Oct 2020

Effective Church Leadership Through Emotional Intelligence, Joshua T. Lancaster

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

In On Leadership, John Gardner wrote, “Most of what leaders have that enables them to lead is learned.” Effective leadership skills can be learned and become habits. In Primal Leadership, Daniel Goleman wrote, “Not only can emotional intelligence be learned, but it also can be retained over the long term.” Southern Baptist congregants expect their pastors to be theologians, but also effective leaders. The emotional quotient barrier suggests that pastoral leadership is less effective because of behaviors such as inconsistent management of emotions, inability to genuinely connect with people, or leading without inspiration. This has led to stagnated or declining …

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Me, We, And Thee: A Hermeneutic Phenomenological Study Of The Targeted Parent's Lived Experience, Teresa Marie Walters Oct 2020

Me, We, And Thee: A Hermeneutic Phenomenological Study Of The Targeted Parent's Lived Experience, Teresa Marie Walters

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Parental alienation (PA) is an extreme form of couple conflict in which one parent (the alienating parent) attempts to damage or destroy the relationship of the child(ren) with the other parent (the targeted parent). Research on PA has principally been based on the 1980s model of Richard Gardner. Inquiry into the lived experience of the targeted parent has been sparse. The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenological study was to understand better the lived experience of parental targeting and the role, if any, intergenerational patterns of marital conflict and social structure play in the formation of parental alienating behaviors as well …

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A Phenomenological Study Of The Use Of Humor As A Teaching Tool By Middle And High School Teachers, Chad Michael Brown Oct 2020

A Phenomenological Study Of The Use Of Humor As A Teaching Tool By Middle And High School Teachers, Chad Michael Brown

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to understand perceptions of instructional classroom humor used to help students learn and master new material, among teachers at middle and high schools in rural Appalachia districts. Using humor in the classroom is generally defined as deliberate planning and utilization of subject relevant humor in an attempt to improve students’ learning outcomes. Rural Appalachia was defined as the area geographically located in or near the Appalachian Mountain range, and the dominant socioeconomic culture found there. The theories guiding this study were (a) Bandura’s social learning theory, as it describes the way students …

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Relationship Of Hispanic Students' School Absenteeism To Mathematics Achievement And Interest In Stem Careers, Rolando Casado Oct 2020

Relationship Of Hispanic Students' School Absenteeism To Mathematics Achievement And Interest In Stem Careers, Rolando Casado

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this bivariate correlational study was to identify whether there was a relationship between Hispanic students’ high school absenteeism and their scores on the Algebra I Florida Standards Assessment (FSA) and to identify whether there was a relationship between Hispanic students’ high school absenteeism and their aspiration to pursue STEM careers. The population sample consisted of 431 Hispanic students from two Title I high schools located in a Florida school district. A quantitative design was used for this study and the researcher obtained ex post facto data from the high schools with the largest number of enrolled Hispanic …

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How The Mattering Experience Of Latino High School Students Impacts Persistence To Graduation: A Transcendental Phenomenological Study, Paulina Lee Collazo Navarro Oct 2020

How The Mattering Experience Of Latino High School Students Impacts Persistence To Graduation: A Transcendental Phenomenological Study, Paulina Lee Collazo Navarro

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to understand how the mattering experience of Latino students impacts their persistence to high school graduation. The study was aimed to establish a greater awareness of how the mattering experience impacts student success. The central research question was, How does the mattering experience impact Latino student persistence to high school graduation? This transcendental phenomenological study included a purposeful sample of 11 high school graduates within Mannaton County, Pennsylvania. Data collection and analysis included interviews, a focus group, and journal documents. Data analysis included data coding in order to establish themes. Additionally, direct …

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Spiritual Disciplines For Men In A Medium-Sized Church, Scott Lowry Willis Oct 2020

Spiritual Disciplines For Men In A Medium-Sized Church, Scott Lowry Willis

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The problem is that the men of Freedom Fellowship Church in Canyon, Texas, do not have adequate training in the spiritual disciplines. Training in the spiritual disciplines would offer to the men in the church the proper leadership instruction that would give them the tools necessary to accomplish this goal. If the men of the church receive instruction in the spiritual disciplines, they will be able to utilize them in their daily lives. The men will, in turn, be able to use the spiritual disciplines in leadership positions in the church with confidence in being able to increase the spiritual …

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