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The Relationship Between Perceived Sense Of Community And Self-Efficacy In Special Education Teachers: A Quantitative Correlational Study, Laura Sinkonis Apr 2018

The Relationship Between Perceived Sense Of Community And Self-Efficacy In Special Education Teachers: A Quantitative Correlational Study, Laura Sinkonis

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Teacher attrition is a worldwide problem. Teachers leave education for reasons other than retirement, and many retire before the generally accepted retirement age of 65. Further, special education teachers are at an even higher risk of premature exit than their general education counterparts. Self-efficacy is related to teacher burnout and other reasons for leaving the profession. One missing piece in the literature is role of sense of community in special education on teachers’ self-efficacy. The purpose of this correlational study is to investigate possible predictive relationships between sense of community and self-efficacy in special education teachers. Further, relationships between group …


The Effects Of Social-Connectedness And Self-Esteem On The Resiliency Of Homeschool Students, Nicole Jones Apr 2018

The Effects Of Social-Connectedness And Self-Esteem On The Resiliency Of Homeschool Students, Nicole Jones

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this bivariate regression study was to determine if social-connectedness and self-esteem are good predictors of resiliency in homeschool students. Within the study, two research questions were asked: (1) How accurately can resiliency, as measured by the Child and Youth Resilience Measure, be predicted by social-connectedness, as measured by Lee and Robbins Social Connectedness Scale, in homeschooled students? (2) How accurately can resiliency, as measured by the Child and Youth Resilience Measure, be predicted by self-esteem, as measured by Rosenberg’s Self-Esteem Scale, in homeschooled students? To best address these questions, a quantitative approach was used to determine if …


Comparing Active Duty And Transitional Military Veteran Students' Evaluation Of Online Distance Higher Education Learning Environments, Sherry Crissman Apr 2018

Comparing Active Duty And Transitional Military Veteran Students' Evaluation Of Online Distance Higher Education Learning Environments, Sherry Crissman

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Active duty service members’ participation in non-traditional higher education designed for veterans and other non-traditional adults can be uniquely impacted by their unpredictable military schedules, geographic instability, and frequently limited access to technology needed to complete course requirements while in remote areas. The purpose of this study was to examine whether active duty undergraduates differed significantly regarding their attitudes toward distance learning and their perceptions of the distance learning environment compared to veterans and non-traditional adults. This causal comparative study examined adult students’ perceptions after participating in 200-level undergraduate education delivered online at a private four-year institution based on their …


Kentuckian Middle School Students' Self-Efficacy And Their Participation In Physical Sports: A Correlation Study, Alissa Richards Apr 2018

Kentuckian Middle School Students' Self-Efficacy And Their Participation In Physical Sports: A Correlation Study, Alissa Richards

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Self-efficacy is well known as one of the most effective methods to raise student academic achievement (Hattie, 2007). Known as the “I think I can” phenomenon, extensive research is presented concerning the impact of self-efficacy as the predictor to achievement. Likewise, participation in physical sports is known for its impact on academic achievement, as well as social and emotional health. The purpose of this correlational study was to determine the presence of a statistically significant relationship between the level of participation in physical sports activities and the middle school students’ self-efficacy. A convenience sample of 69 seventh and eighth grade …


Academic Achievement With Cooperative Learning Using Homogeneous And Heterogeneous Groups, Patricia Wyman Apr 2018

Academic Achievement With Cooperative Learning Using Homogeneous And Heterogeneous Groups, Patricia Wyman

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Cooperative learning is a proven teaching strategy that teachers have been using for over 40 years. Teachers often group students heterogeneously so that students that are lower achieving are learning from higher achieving students and higher achieving students support and solidify their learning by restating and re-teaching to their lower achieving partners. The purpose of this study was to test homogeneous and heterogeneous grouping while using cooperative learning teaching structure. This dissertation aimed to answer the question, should students be grouped homogeneously or heterogeneously while participating in cooperative learning. The research design for this study was quantitative, quasi-experimental. A convenience …


Connecting The Church Beyond Prison Ministry: Transitioning The Discipled Prisoner Into A Discipleship Community, Joyce Weathers Apr 2018

Connecting The Church Beyond Prison Ministry: Transitioning The Discipled Prisoner Into A Discipleship Community, Joyce Weathers

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The prison population in the United States surpasses all other countries on a per capita basis. The number of released inmates, who return to prison (recidivism) is staggering. In-prison Christian discipleship programs have successfully transitioned parolees into the free world, but little research has been done to confirm a standard practice for the transition process. Theories abound from clergy and laity alike; yet apathy and fear remain persistent deterrents. The church is confronted with a biblical mandate to assist the incarcerated (Matt. 25:36) and to make disciples (Matt. 28:19). By addressing the current concerns of church and prison ministry leaders, …


High Academic Achievement For Adolescents In Blended And Stepfamilies: A Heuristic Inquiry, Vernette Gilbreath Apr 2018

High Academic Achievement For Adolescents In Blended And Stepfamilies: A Heuristic Inquiry, Vernette Gilbreath

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this heuristic study is to understand the lived experiences (i.e., values, attitudes, and practices) of 10 biological parents in blended and stepfamilies in which at least one child experienced high academic achievement at the middle school and high school level. Building on dynamic systems theory and educational resilience theory as theoretical underpinnings, this qualitative study seeks to answer the following central research question: What are the values, practices, and attitudes experienced by biological parents in blended and stepfamily units that contribute to high academic achievement for adolescents in these families? Participants living in the Southeastern area of …


Investigating The Links Between Feedback Orientation And Leadership Self-Efficacy In Field Grade Officers, Robby Key Apr 2018

Investigating The Links Between Feedback Orientation And Leadership Self-Efficacy In Field Grade Officers, Robby Key

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

A myriad of challenges and shifting strategic priorities face today’s military leaders. Since the military is undergoing substantial change as it adjusts to the changing nature of war and a fluid world situation, Field Grade Officers (FGO) must actively develop and hone their leadership behavior by implementing effective feedback counsel. They must also increase their leadership self-efficacy to confidently accomplish specific leadership tasks and challenges. This non-experimental quantitative correlational research addresses the correlation of leadership self-efficacy and feedback orientation in FGOs. Given the impact of the feedback process on the FGO recipient, it is important to understand differences in how …


Music Therapy Techniques For Memory Stabilization In Diverse Dementias, Amanda Shotts Apr 2018

Music Therapy Techniques For Memory Stabilization In Diverse Dementias, Amanda Shotts

Senior Honors Theses

Music contains certain unmistakable healing properties pertaining specifically to the matured body and soul affected by various types of dementia. Music therapy aids in memory retention or the retarding of the loss of mental function as a result of Alzheimer's disease, Dementia with Lewy bodies, and Senile Dementia. Music can help subjects access lost memories through interaction with a music therapist. Certain music therapy techniques have been shown to yield additional physical, communicative, and psychological benefits. The disease progress of Alzheimer's disease, Dementia with Lewy bodies, and Senile Dementia may be further delayed by music therapy when paired with pharmaceutical …


“One Thing That Matters”: An Exploration Of Commercial Music Techniques For The Benefit Of The Local Church, Garrett Thomas Apr 2018

“One Thing That Matters”: An Exploration Of Commercial Music Techniques For The Benefit Of The Local Church, Garrett Thomas

Senior Honors Theses

In this study, I explored the potential benefits of applying commercial music techniques to writing, arranging, and recording church music by interacting with literature as well as performing a full creative project in writing, arranging, and recording a new worship song. Research was focused in two areas: the nature and importance of Scriptural worship music, and commercial music techniques in songwriting, arranging, and recording. The project was written in collaboration with a fellow songwriting student, and then arranged for two church contexts, and recorded at a professional recording studio in Lynchburg, Virginia. By interacting with the research, the process of …


Cross Cultural Transition Success: Personality Variables Influencing Cross-Cultural Transitions According To The Perceptions Of A Population Of Third Culture Kids, Andres Benitez-Devilbiss Apr 2018

Cross Cultural Transition Success: Personality Variables Influencing Cross-Cultural Transitions According To The Perceptions Of A Population Of Third Culture Kids, Andres Benitez-Devilbiss

Senior Honors Theses

Cross-cultural transitions are often difficult for individuals of any background, and are associated with such difficulties as missing friends and family, ignorance of one’s home culture, culture shock, and cultural homelessness. These issues have led researchers to seek out those factors that are common to resilient individuals. Third Culture Kids are a unique population that commonly experiences periods of adjustment and transition, and are a focus of this study. From the literature, several protective trait-based features have been identified: self-efficacy, self-esteem, extroversion, agreeableness, conscientiousness, social connectedness, ethnic identity, cross-cultural identity, emotional stability, and cultural flexibility. Using self-report survey responses from …


Alternative Seating In Middle School Math: Effects On Student Motivation, Kirk Whitfield Renegar Apr 2018

Alternative Seating In Middle School Math: Effects On Student Motivation, Kirk Whitfield Renegar

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The use of alternative classroom seating has recently become a topic of interest in education. Many teachers have redesigned their classrooms to include many forms of classroom seating aside from traditional student desks. These forms of seating include but are not limited to: therapy balls, therapy cushions, and beanbag chairs. While this movement has certainly caused a buzz, little research has been completed that speaks to its educational impact on students when multiple forms of seating are available to students. Most critically, the potential impact of alternative classroom seating on students’ motivation and self-efficacy has also yet to be studied. …


A Multiple Case Study Of The Interagency Relationship Between School Administrators And Law Enforcement Personnel In The Creation, Implementation, And Sustaining Of School Emergency Management Plans, Robert Lopez Apr 2018

A Multiple Case Study Of The Interagency Relationship Between School Administrators And Law Enforcement Personnel In The Creation, Implementation, And Sustaining Of School Emergency Management Plans, Robert Lopez

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to examine how the interorganizational relationship between school administrators and law enforcement personnel in the Midwest, South, and Southwest regions of the United States with diverse cultures, missions, and objectives to collaborate to create, implement, and sustain emergency management readiness. The theoretical concept that guided this study involved interorganizational theories as they relate to two or more organizations working together toward a common goal. This study used purposeful sampling of 12 participants from three school districts from the states of Alabama, New Mexico, and Illinois. A within-case and cross-case analysis along …


Reframing Identity In The Age Of Authenticity, Daphne Edmonston Apr 2018

Reframing Identity In The Age Of Authenticity, Daphne Edmonston

Masters Theses

Many in American culture have either actively or passively adopted the idea that authenticity is one of the highest virtues, if not the highest. The cultural ideal of authenticity states that personal identity and meaning are found within oneself. Being true to ‘the real you’ is the path to meaning, pleasure, and flourishing. This way of framing personal identity proves to be insecure, unstable, and leads to a lack of flourishing. In contrast, a Christian view of authenticity provides stability and security and leads to the possibility of flourishing in this life as well as for eternity. There is a …


A Recent Attempt To Disprove The Resurrection Of Jesus And Supernatural Beliefs, Gary R. Habermas Apr 2018

A Recent Attempt To Disprove The Resurrection Of Jesus And Supernatural Beliefs, Gary R. Habermas

Faculty Publications and Presentations

The Miracle Myth by the University of Wisconsin philosopher Larry Shapiro addresses Jesus’ resurrection and supernatural beliefs in the context of the miracles question. This Review Article outlines briefly Shapiro’s argument, including some critical responses.


Consumer Perception Of Sport Event Sponsors, Omar Olando Brown Apr 2018

Consumer Perception Of Sport Event Sponsors, Omar Olando Brown

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study is to explore sport consumer’s perceptions of sport event sponsors, specifically concerning the 2016 Rio Olympic Games. This quantitative research surveyed 119 participants, employing a 24-questions survey instrument composed of Likert type and demographic questions. The data was analyzed to answer three specific research questions. The analysis of the data indicated although respondents fully supported the Olympics and believed athletes are using the product they endorsed, they believed the products must be beneficial to athletes. The findings also indicated respondents felt it was necessary for companies to support the Olympics, however they did not find …


Emotional Re-Engagement After Deployments: Using Attachment Principles With Relationship Resources For Post-Deployment Relational Enhancement, Rob Fasnacht Apr 2018

Emotional Re-Engagement After Deployments: Using Attachment Principles With Relationship Resources For Post-Deployment Relational Enhancement, Rob Fasnacht

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The understanding of attachment theory helps one to overcome personal and relational problems that are exacerbated by past traumas. This thesis project focused on how long durations of separations, especially in a military setting, may trigger symptoms from past traumas, which may impede relational secure attachments to friends and family. A survey was crafted and answered by over 100 adults, including military members, military dependents, and non-military civilians. The results were analyzed to discover how often people were separated from loved ones, the length that perhaps caused problems, and the feelings that developed. A literary review of books and scholastic …


A Phenomenological Study: The Quest For God In An Epoch Of Distraction, Todd Marcy Apr 2018

A Phenomenological Study: The Quest For God In An Epoch Of Distraction, Todd Marcy

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Distraction happens to everyone at some point in time. Diverted attention while driving can have serious consequences, and being sidetracked while talking on the cellphone can cause one to forget where the car keys were laid down at home. Distraction at church during a worship service can affect one’s relationship with God and others. Personal motivations, pre-existing conditions, and duration of time contribute to how a person will interact with a disturbance of attention; likewise, factors of biology, technology, values, and mores can influence the power of partial attention. The purpose of this phenomenological study is to examine the lived …


A Qualitative Phenomenology Of Christian Middle School Implementation Of Inquiry-Based Science Instruction, Patricia Ferrin Apr 2018

A Qualitative Phenomenology Of Christian Middle School Implementation Of Inquiry-Based Science Instruction, Patricia Ferrin

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative phenomenology study will be to explore curriculum coordinators, teachers, and principals’ implementation of Inquiry-Based Instruction (IBI) in Christian middle school science classes in the central Virginia area. IBI will be referred to as “a teaching method that combines the curiosity of students and the scientific method to enhance the development of critical thinking skills while learning science” (Warner & Myers, 2008, p.3). A qualitative phenomenology study will be made to consider the requirements and implementation of IBI in the Christian middle schools as compared to the requirements and implementation of IBI in the National Science …


Differences Of Mean Scores On The Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test (Psat) For Classical Christian Schools Compared To Non-Classical Christian Schools, Christy Vaughan Apr 2018

Differences Of Mean Scores On The Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test (Psat) For Classical Christian Schools Compared To Non-Classical Christian Schools, Christy Vaughan

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Christian education continues to play an important role in our society. The purpose of the present quantitative study is to compare mean scores on the Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test (PSAT) compared between Classical Christian schools and non-Classical Christian schools to see if there are any significant differences in selected areas of academic performance. Classical Christian schools are defined as private schools employing a distinct Christ-centered pedagogy with an emphasis on the Greco-Roman Trivium. Non-Classical Christian schools are defined as private schools with a Christ-centered pedagogy with no emphasis on the Greco-Roman Trivium. A causal-comparative study was conducted to measure archival …


The Relationship Between Mobile Learning And Academic Achievement In A Community College System Online Environment, Daniel Grenier Apr 2018

The Relationship Between Mobile Learning And Academic Achievement In A Community College System Online Environment, Daniel Grenier

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study poses the question: Is there a relationship between student use of mobile technology in an online environment and student achievement expressed by final grades? The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between mobile learning (m-learning) using mobile technology and academic achievement in terms of final grades in an online environment. The literature on m-learning indicates the freedom and flexibility of the m-learner constitutes a new paradigm in education. The untethered nature of m-learning means students can access course content anywhere, anytime. Studies have focused on the use of specific technologies in learning environments; this study …


The Power Of Transformation: A Grounded Theory Study Of Cultivating Teacher Growth Mindset Towards Student Intelligence, Judith Bethge Apr 2018

The Power Of Transformation: A Grounded Theory Study Of Cultivating Teacher Growth Mindset Towards Student Intelligence, Judith Bethge

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this systematic grounded theory study is to explain the process that teachers experience to transform their mindset regarding student intelligence from fixed towards growth, including effective transformation approaches and obstacles. This study focuses on the transformation experiences of 14 teachers in grades 9-12 from schools in the Midwest region of the United States. Dweck’s mindset theory, Wenger’s communities of practice, Mezirow’s Transformative Learning Theory, and Bandura’s Social Cognitive Theory guided the conceptual framework for developing a theoretical model to explain the process of teacher mindset transformation. Data collected using Dweck’s Mindset Instrument, King’s Learning Activities Survey, interviews, …


Exploring The Phenomenon Of Secondary Teachers Integrating The Lms Canvas In A Blended-Learning Course, Travis Towne Apr 2018

Exploring The Phenomenon Of Secondary Teachers Integrating The Lms Canvas In A Blended-Learning Course, Travis Towne

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Online learning has become fully ingrained within the educational environment and extensive LMS use in higher education settings is challenging secondary education institutions to keep pace with the growing trend to offer LMS resources to their teachers and students; however, schools that have chosen to implement an LMS face multiple challenges in motivating teachers and students to accept and integrate the new technology into their course curriculum. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to investigate teachers’ experiences integrating the LMS Canvas within a blended-learning course in a rural high school district located in the Southeastern United States. The study …


Distance Learning And The Non-Native English Speaker: A Correlational Study, Cristina Cottom Apr 2018

Distance Learning And The Non-Native English Speaker: A Correlational Study, Cristina Cottom

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

In higher education, there is an increasing trend of Non-native English speakers (NNESs) enrolling in courses. In addition to an increase in NNESs in higher education, online learning also continues to rise every year. While there has been research investigating NNESs in traditional higher education courses, an opportunity remains to discover how NNESs perform in online courses. The purpose of this study was to explore the correlation between non-native English speakers’ (NNESs) responses on the Distance Education Learning Environments Survey (DELES) and final course grades in an online research course. The participants for this study were undergraduate NNESs enrolled in …


Self-Compassion In Pornography Users: A Moderation Analysis, Lucy Phillips Apr 2018

Self-Compassion In Pornography Users: A Moderation Analysis, Lucy Phillips

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Pornography use appears to be associated with many psychosocial problems for a subset of pornography users. Previous research indicates constructs such as experiential avoidance and shame-proneness may be related to pornography use. Research also suggests that self-compassion may be helpful in decreasing experiential avoidance, shame, and other predictors of problematic pornography use. To date, no research has been done examining self-compassion in pornography users. This may be an important construct to study in this population because the way people treat themselves during difficult times may be associated with the development of problematic pornography viewing patterns and negative outcomes related to …


Students' Perceptions Of School Connectedness At A Freshman Academy, La'keisha Newsome Apr 2018

Students' Perceptions Of School Connectedness At A Freshman Academy, La'keisha Newsome

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative case study was to understand how school leadership, teacher–student relationships, and school climate impact students’ perceptions of school connectedness at a freshman academy located on a middle school campus in southeast Alabama. The research questions focused on school leadership, teacher–student relationships, and school climate. Hirschi’s social bonding theory provided a framework to understand the association between socialization and social learning by focusing on an individual’s bond to social institutions. Social bond has an impact on perception, emotional well-being, and academic achievement. Data collection included student interviews, a school connectedness survey, and focus group interviews of …


A Strategic Spiritual Formation Study Based On The Book Of Malachi, Rand Muender Apr 2018

A Strategic Spiritual Formation Study Based On The Book Of Malachi, Rand Muender

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

A review of current literature on spiritual disciplines demonstrates the need for a pastor to successfully implement an exegetical preaching methodology toward spiritual formation. The goal of this project is to answer: “What impact would a strategic spiritual formation study based upon the Book of Malachi implemented by a pastor have on a local church that is below 200 in attendance?” Incorporating the results of surveys sent to pastors within The Southern Baptist Conservatives of Virginia having below 200 in attendance, this project will review theological, historical, and exegetical, perspectives and principles for a biblical methodology for spiritual formation.


The Effect Of Social Skills Instruction On Seventh-Grade Students Taking A Language Arts Class, Donna Smith Apr 2018

The Effect Of Social Skills Instruction On Seventh-Grade Students Taking A Language Arts Class, Donna Smith

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

mplementing programs in social skills development will affect academic achievement among children who are Grade 7 students. A quantitative study was conducted using a quasi-experimental, pretest-posttest, nonequivalent control-group design to determine if direct instruction in social skills has an impact upon academic achievement and social skills development. Participants were 128 students drawn from six intact classes of seventh grade students from a rural middle school in West Georgia. Participants completed a pretest and posttests, the Social Skills Improvement System- Rating Scale. During the treatment period, the treatment group received social skills instruction through stories from William J. Bennett’s The Book …


Understanding The Lived Experiences Of University Students Who Self-Identify As Cyberbullies: A Phenomenological Study, Christine Osborne Apr 2018

Understanding The Lived Experiences Of University Students Who Self-Identify As Cyberbullies: A Phenomenological Study, Christine Osborne

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to understand the experiences of university students, aged 18 to 50, in a suburban Atlanta university who have self-identified as perpetrators of cyberbullying. The three research questions that guided this study sought to determine how students perceive their cyberbullying behavior impacts their peers, how students explain their motivation to cyberbully their peers, and how their experiences led to perpetrating acts of cyberbullying. Experiences were examined that may be contributing factors for cyberbullying. Bandura’s social cognitive theory and the concept of moral disengagement of cyberbullies was examined through the research questions as well. …


A Phenomenological Study Of African American College Students' Experiences With College Readiness, Rachel Strang Apr 2018

A Phenomenological Study Of African American College Students' Experiences With College Readiness, Rachel Strang

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenology was to understand how African American college students at mid-Atlantic 4-year public universities experience college readiness their freshman year. Using Schlossberg’s (1981) transition theory, this study has attempted to answer the central research question: How do African American students in mid-Atlantic 4-year institutions describe their college readiness experiences? Sub-questions sought to address the students’ experiences moving in to their freshman year and continued through the stages of the transition theory. These questions explored how they were able to successfully transition into their second year based upon their individual situation, self, supports, and strategies, also …