Digital Commons Network^™

Shame, Blaming Others, Forgiveness, And Depression, Louis Alvey, Bonnie Mckinney, Caroline Vaile, Hannah Murch, Jichan Kim

Liberty University Research Week

Depression is a pervasive mental health disorder often worsened by the damaging effects of shame. This creates a critical need for applied research to identify protecting coping mechanisms for use in clinical settings. To address this problem, this study employed a rigorous cross-sectional quantitative methodology, surveying adults to test whether forgiveness and blaming others moderate the well-established relationship between shame and depression. The study's robust statistical analysis revealed that while the maladaptive tendency to blame others worsens depressive symptoms, self-forgiveness acted as a significant moderator that effectively deactivated the harmful impact of shame. Ultimately, this research provides actionable, real-world solutions …

3d Printed Square Packing: Making Math Accessible For Everyone, Joseph Holt, Jacob Drambi

Liberty University Research Week

Making math tangible and accessible to everyone has always been an ongoing process, and as a part of that process this study aims to take steps forward in the area of square packing. Mathematics can often seem theoretical and aloof, something only for those in their “ivory tower.” Making mathematics into something tangible, something that anyone can see and, more importantly, play with, brings the extensive and invaluable field of mathematics down to an accessible level for everyone to use and enjoy. This study investigates square packing, the problem of deducing the smallest square that can contain a given number …

Ai-Augmented Leadership: Examining The Influence Of Generative And Agentic Ai Decision-Support Tools On Leadership Decision Quality And Psychological Safety In Organizational Teams, Michael Areola

Liberty University Research Week

In today’s ever-evolving digital transformation business environment, market leaders are expected to make decisions at the speed of light, and those who have mastered the science of market disruption remain competitive. The quest to be a market leader and the ability to respond to market changes have become driving factors for decision makers who are increasingly integrating Artificial Intelligence (AI) into business processes and workflows, transforming how leaders analyze information, evaluate alternatives, guide teams, and remain responsive to digital evolution. Organizational decision-making processes, too, are not lagging in this ever-evolving digital transformation market. While AI-enabled decision-support tools eliminate or reduce …

Teaching Hope As A Measurable Skill: Building Resilience In Students And Educators, Cathleen Beachboard

Liberty University Research Week

Schools are experiencing rising levels of disengagement, stress, and declining connectedness, while simultaneously facing high rates of educator burnout and attrition. Psychological hope is strongly associated with engagement, well-being, and resilience. It is often treated as an emotional trait as opposed to a cognitive skill that can be intentionally developed through systems and environments. Grounded in Snyder’s hope theory, which proposes hope in quantifiable terms as a goal-directed thinking process composed of agency, pathways, and goals, this project proposes and examines measuring hope and utilizing a tier-based system of support designed to strengthen psychological hope among both students and educators …

Voices From The Pacific: A Transcendental Phenomenological Study Of Paraprofessionals’ Experiences Using Aac Devices To Support Students With Autism In The Northern Mariana Islands, Edieson Louie Aguirre

Liberty University Research Week

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to understand the lived experiences of paraprofessionals implementing augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) devices to support students with autism in K–12 schools within the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands Public School System (CNMI PSS). The theory guiding this study was Vygotsky’s sociocultural theory, which framed AAC as a cultural tool that mediates social interaction and explained how paraprofessionals scaffold communication within students’ zones of proximal development. The central research question was: What are the lived experiences of paraprofessionals implementing AAC devices to support students with autism in the Northern Mariana Islands? …

A Comparative Analysis Of Cognitive And Social Outcomes In Toddlers With Speech Delay (Sd) Versus Autism Spectrum Disorder (Asd), Francisca Atem

Liberty University Research Week

The dissertation is a comparative analysis of cognitive and social performance between toddlers aged 18 to 36 months with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Speech Delay (SD). Although both groups show early communication difficulties, their developmental patterns are vastly different, and they should be adequately separated to inform intervention planning and future developmental prognoses. Firmly rooted in the context of Developmental Psychopathology, Social Pragmatic Theory, and the Ecological Systems Theory by Bronfenbrenner, this qualitative study aims to investigate ways in which toddlers with SD and ASD are different in their cognitive functioning, including executive functioning, nonverbal IQ, and problem solving, …

A Phenomenological Study On The Connection Between Perceived Funding And Hbcu Athletic Staff Self-Efficacy, Ashley Keys

Liberty University Research Week

No abstract provided.

The Impact Of Computer-Based Memory Screening Administration On Variables Associated With Cardiovascular Functioning In A Sample Of Young Adults: A Pilot Study, Kanaan Hurst, Haley Hughes

Liberty University Research Week

With the rising number of individuals diagnosed with dementia, Alzheimer's and related neurodegenerative disorders, research shows that there is a grand need to understand such impairments. Our team examined cognitive function using a previously developed memory screening computer-based test. In addition to screening for cognitive function, Blood Pressure was recorded 3 times (to ensure accuracy on average) preceding the computer-based assessment and immediately following completion. Blood pressure was monitored as having hightened pressure can indicate increased likelihood of developing cognitive impairment. Developed by clinical psychologist, Dr. Crews, CogniCheck is a computer-based screening tool that uses active recall tests to assess …

Engaging The Non-Dominant Hand In Creative Tasks As A Pathway To Emotional Expression And Healing, Tiffany Spatz, Deepa Michelle Emmanuel, Janita Daggy

Liberty University Research Week

Traditional therapeutic approaches may not fully engage the brain's creative processing, limiting individuals' capacity to effectively manage stress and navigate emotional discomfort. Utilizing the non-dominant hand for creative tasks shows potential as a therapeutic approach to emotion regulation while helping individuals manage stress and improve self-control. The practice works to reduce stress by means of physiological and psychological processes while also establishing relaxation and emotional balance. These activities demand brain management of motor control tasks which form cognitive flexibility and mindfulness and create better self-control and impulse regulation. A case example is included for incorporating this intervention into counseling practice.

Music Enhances Theta Brainwave Activity Regardless Of Tuning Frequency, Robert Somerville, Davis Raz, Jettson Yarborough, Luc-Shalom Kouame

Liberty University Research Week

No abstract provided.

A Lack Of Cultural Diversity In Leadership In Multinational Corporations, Amelia Smalls

Liberty University Research Week

Organizations increasingly rely on culturally diverse teams to support global collaboration and innovation. However, many organizations continue to struggle to translate workforce diversity into improved communication, team cohesion, and performance outcomes. This study examines how leadership behaviors influence communication dynamics and relational processes within culturally diverse teams in multinational organizational environments. Guided by transformational leadership theory, servant leadership theory, and leader–member exchange (LMX) theory, the research explores how leadership practices shape communication clarity, team cohesion, and organizational effectiveness. A qualitative research design supported by descriptive survey data was employed. Data was collected from 33 professionals working in multinational organizational contexts …

Mental Health Consequences Of Climate-Related Hazards: A Us Case Study., Perseverance Nothando, Fadzai Nyarugwe, Wuraola Awosan

Liberty University Research Week

Background: The planet has warmed considerably over the past four decades, leading to more extreme weather events like floods, fires, and hurricanes. In the U.S., the number of climate-related disasters has surged, affecting approximately 1.7 billion people between 2010 and 2020. Projections suggest that by 2050, the U.S. population impacted by climate-related disasters could double, with a quarter of the population affected annually. Research indicates that 25% to 50% of people exposed to extreme weather events are susceptible to negative mental health consequences, such as anxiety and PTSD. This underscores the urgent need to address the psychological impact of climate …

Barriers To Breastfeeding In Marginalized Communities In The U.S, Naa Komley Commey, Wuraola Awosan

Liberty University Research Week

Background: Breastfeeding is widely recognized as the optimal method of infant nutrition, offering numerous health benefits for both mothers and infants. Breastfeeding initiation and continuation rates in the U.S. vary significantly based on factors such as age, income, education, and race, because marginalized communities encounter various barriers that hinder breastfeeding success. Addressing these barriers is crucial for promoting breastfeeding as a public health imperative. This study aims to investigate the primary barriers to breastfeeding in marginalized populations in the U.S.

Methods: PubMed, Scopus, and ScienceDirect databases were searched using predetermined search terms for literature published between 2020 and 2025. The …

Mapping The Barriers: A Socioecological Scoping Review Of Healthcare Access Among International Students In The United States, Oyebolu Aderinola Akinkugbe, Akuchinyere Titus-Okpanachi, Oluwatosin Marylyn Oduneye

Liberty University Research Week

No abstract provided.

Joy Under The Sun: Ecclesiastes And Existential Positive-Psychology, Alexander Lee, Clayton Hess

Liberty University Research Week

Christian counselors can benefit from theological research into effective counseling theory and practice. Biblical wisdom literature has been long overlooked as an effective tool in biblically-informed counseling. Biblical wisdom parallels recent trends in positive-psychology toward emphasizing holistic human flourishing (Hawkins, 2026). Further, interpretations of Ecclesiastes can parallel existentialism, with similar emphases on coherence and meaning-making (Keefer, 2019). In Lee’s (2012) discussion of Ecclesiastes, flourishing is pinpointed in qohelet’s treatment of joy. Lee develops a theology of enjoyment based on qohelet’s diagnosis of the human condition, his description of humanity’s position in relationship with God, and his meditation on injustice. In …

Instructors’ Lived Experiences Of Using Authentic Assessments In College Calculus Courses Across The United States: A Phenomenological Study, Christy Kains

Liberty University Research Week

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to describe the lived experiences of instructors with authentic assessments in college calculus courses across the United States. The theory guiding this study was Astin’s student involvement theory, which provided a framework to study the involvement of students in higher education. The central research question for this study was: What are the lived experiences of instructors who utilize authentic assessments in college calculus courses across the United States? This study used a qualitative design following the transcendental phenomenological approach of Moustakas. The sample included 12 instructors from two-year and four-year colleges in …

Vicarious Trauma And Compassion Fatigue Among Counselors Serving Law Enforcement Populations, Makayla Thompson

Liberty University Research Week

Approximately 98% of clinical therapists report treating clients who have experienced at least one traumatic event (Bride, 2007). Research has established associations between clinical work with trauma-affected populations and increased vulnerability to vicarious trauma (VT) and compassion fatigue (CF) among counselors (Armes et al., 2020; Rayne et al., 2020). VT refers to cumulative and enduring changes in a clinician’s cognitive schemas resulting from sustained empathic engagement with clients’ traumatic experiences (McCann & Pearlman, 1990). CF describes emotional and physical exhaustion that diminishes a clinician’s capacity for empathy and compassion, often understood as the cost of caring for those suffering (Figley, …

Exploring The Impact Of Emotion Focused Therapy As A Model For Meeting Men’S Emotional Needs, Emily Hendricks

Liberty University Research Week

In Western culture, masculinity standards have created an overall negative perception of help-seeking and mental healthcare treatment for many men. Although help-seeking is becoming a well-researched category of men's mental health treatment maintenance research is limited. Additionally, there are few models of care that have been developed specifically for male populations that honor their inherent values and perception of masculinity. This theoretical proposal will highlight Emotion Focused Therapy as a possible framework for men's care due to its' evidence-based use with couples and families and focus on emotional intelligence and regulation. Emotion Focused Therapy should be researched with men specifically, …

Executive Succession And Organizational Stability In Community Health Centers: A Theory-Integrated Framework, Jisa Kusanthan, Timothy Sumarsono

Liberty University Research Week

Leadership transitions are difficult for organizations to manage. This is especially true for Community Health Centers (CHCs). The departure of a long-tenured leader can have a host of secondary effects on the culture, employee morale, and employee retention. This study explores the effects of a CHC leader on the organization's stability and proposes practical steps that CHCs can take to implement effective succession planning. A theory-integrated framework is used to apply Schein's Organizational Culture Theory, Social Identity Theory, and Institutional Theory to better understand the effects of a CHC leader on the organization's cultural foundation. A three-phase succession process is …

Systematic Review On Tertiary Policies And Programs For Survivors Of Intimate Partner Violence In The U.S. (2020-2024), Brittany Carman, Haley Gebhard, Krista Coipel, Raymond Suonyir

Liberty University Research Week

Background: Intimate partner violence (IPV) affects 1 in 4 women and 1 in 7 men in the United States, yet tertiary interventions supporting survivors remain understudied compared to primary and secondary prevention efforts. This systematic review identifies and evaluates existing tertiary prevention programs and policies addressing IPV in the U.S., focusing on their effectiveness in reducing IPV-related fatalities and promoting survivor recovery, safety, independence, and long-term stability.

Methods: This study systematically reviewed literature published January 2020-December 2024 across five leading journals using the Scopus database. From 861 initial results, 24 articles met inclusion criteria following PRISMA guidelines.

Results: Interventions clustered …

“Be Early, Be Loud, Wear Red”: An Ethnographic Study Of The Performance Of Liberty University Football Fan Identity And Boundaries, Cathryn Thomas

Liberty University Research Week

Social identity theory explains how college sports fandom can shape both social and personal identities, particularly through the formation of in-groups and out-groups based on identification with a team and opposition to rivals. Sports fans often communicate and behave in ways that signal their membership in the in-group while simultaneously distinguishing or excluding out-group members. This study examines how Liberty University football fans perform these in-group behaviors and how they mark boundaries with out-group members. Through observations made during a Liberty University Homecoming football game, the study deepens understanding of how sports fans construct belonging and unbelonging, and how these …

How Enneagram Types And Communication Styles Influence Political Party Affiliation, Hadley Hunt

Liberty University Research Week

The purpose of this research is to explore how political party affiliation is associated with personality differences, as shown through Enneagram types. This study will use a quantitative survey method. Data will be collected using a survey through Qualtrics. Participants will be asked to disclose their Enneagram type and political party affiliation. This research is needed to better understand how personality traits influence political identity. It is relevant because political conversations are becoming more polarized, and understanding communication differences could potentially reduce misunderstanding and conflict. This research helps communication scholars understand the connection of personality and ideology shape communication styles.

Reframing Treatment For Binge Eating Disorder: Integrating Physical, Psychological, Behavioral And Spiritual Domains To Improve Treatment Outcomes, Lily Carone

Liberty University Research Week

Binge Eating Disorder (BED) is the most prevalent eating disorder and is frequently treated using interventions designed for Bulimia Nervosa (BN and Anorexia Nervosa (AN). In fact, many programs treat clients with BED, BN, and AN in the same milieu with similar interventions. As a result, specific clinical issues are not addressed, so many clients with BED exit treatment prematurely with little to no improvement in symptoms. Traditionally, interventions for BED have been universally prescribed and include food exposure to decrease binges and cognitive behavioral therapy to improve negative self-image without addressing other important aspects of BED such as weight-related …

Perceived Coaching-Based Leadership As A Predictor Of Employee Communication Quality, Rachel Gaines

Liberty University Research Week

Effective workplace communication plays a critical role in employee engagement, collaboration, and overall organizational effectiveness. Leadership behaviors significantly influence communication climates; however, limited research has examined how coaching-based leadership specifically predicts the quality of employee communication. The purpose of this quantitative correlational study is to examine whether perceived coaching-based leadership predicts the quality of employee communication in organizational settings. Coaching-based leadership emphasizes behaviors such as reflective thinking, developmental feedback, and supportive guidance, which may foster communication environments characterized by clarity, openness, and constructive feedback. Data will be collected from approximately 100–150 working adults across sectors, including healthcare, education, and nonprofit …

Ethical Discernment In Virtual Supervision: Implications For Supervisory Practice, Joshua Freeman

Liberty University Research Week

As counselor supervision increasingly occurs in virtual settings, supervisors must attend not only to ethical standards and professional judgment, but also to how technology reshapes communication, relational dynamics, and ethical interpretation. Virtual environments alter the conditions under which supervisory presence, power, and meaning-making are experienced, introducing new ethical complexities, especially when addressing values, spirituality, and religious worldviews in clinical work. This presentation advances a conceptual framework positioning ethical discernment as a primary mediating process in virtual supervision. Drawing from the Discrimination Model of supervision and professional ethical standards, the framework integrates supervision theory, ethical decision-making, spirituality, and worldview considerations within …

The Silent Trigger Theory: A Predictive Behavioral Safety Framework, Yazeed Almutairi

Liberty University Research Week

This theoretical study introduces The Silent Trigger Theory, a predictive behavioral safety framework designed to identify early, often overlooked human signals that precede safety incidents. Despite advances in established safety approaches such as Behavior-Based Safety (BBS), Human and Organizational Performance (HOP), and ISO 45001 management systems, incidents continue to occur in environments where procedures, audits, and controls are fully implemented. This gap suggests a limitation in current models’ ability to capture subtle behavioral warning signs, particularly silence, emotional withdrawal, and ambiguous communication.

The Silent Trigger Theory addresses this gap through the STARC framework (Shift, Traceable, Ambiguity, Risk Link, Corrective Loop) …

A Scoping Review: The Relationship Between Mindfulness, Resilience, And Wellness For First Responders With Work Related Trauma, Gary Oliver

Liberty University Research Week

This study reviewed research that explores the relationship between mindfulness, resilience, and wellness for First Responders with work related trauma. Mindfulness has a basis firmly rooted in Buddhist psychology, and shares similar conceptual tenets with Greek philosophy, existentialism, transcendentalism, and humanism which all center around the consciousness of attention and awareness. Resilience has a variety of interpretations within the literature and is understood as a dynamic process accounting for environmental and psychosocial factors that help people survive, grow, and thrive despite adversity. Wellness, though not concretely defined, is similar to overall health which is defined by the World Health Organization …

Ai-Augmented Music And Emotion Processing: Exploring Whole-Brain Integration In Counseling Sessions, Janita Daggy, Patricia Mcglothlin

Liberty University Research Week

This study explores how AI-adaptive music applications might support emotional awareness and self-regulation when used during counseling sessions. While creative arts interventions have long been recognized for engaging emotion-related brain processes, and AI technologies show promise in providing adaptive, real-time feedback, little research has examined how these approaches work together in actual counseling practice. The study introduces the Neuro–AI–Creative Integration Framework (NACIF) to guide this exploration. Thirty participants will attend five counseling sessions that incorporate AI music applications responsive to their emotional and physiological states, along with therapist-facilitated reflection on their emotional and bodily experiences. The study will measure changes …

Critical Decisions Regarding Retirement, Philip Zettlemoyer

Senior Honors Theses

Many retirees in America do not understand the variables and important decisions that go into a retirement plan. These variables, however, have a significant effect on any retiree’s financial wellbeing. This case study explains such variables and decisions, as well as the various rules and regulations from the United States Government around the decisions. It then applies this knowledge of variables and regulations in a practical manner by analyzing a specific case study of a middle-class couple nearing retirement. This analysis includes in-depth projections for the couple’s specific situation which would traditionally be created with the expertise of a financial …

Rhetorical Strategies In Writing-Based Suicide Prevention: A Qualitative Study For Navy Chaplains And Command Leadership In Region East, Herode Jean-Vilien Thomas

Masters Theses

Suicide prevention remains a critical challenge within military environments, particularly in operational settings where communication between leaders and service members often occurs under conditions of stress and urgency. While the United States Navy has implemented numerous prevention initiatives, limited attention has been given to the role of written communication as a relational and persuasive tool in crisis response. This study examines how rhetorical strategies influence writing-based suicide prevention communication within Navy Recruiting Command Region East. Drawing on classical rhetorical theory and contemporary communication research, the study explores how tone, clarity, message structure, and audience awareness shape the effectiveness of crisis …