Digital Commons Network^™

Burnout Among African American Pastors: A Biblical And Practical Solution, Ronald Strong

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Pastors are dropping out of the Christian ministry at an alarming rate. These spiritual leaders often experience burnout due to excessive demands, which lead to physical, emotional and spiritual exhaustion, impairing their pastoral effectiveness. Qualitative and quantitative surveys and interviews were used to determine the relationship between burnout and ministry effectiveness by focusing on three mitigating factors: physical, emotional, and spiritual rest. The results identified overall fatigue as the primary cause of spiritual aridness and pastoral failings. Using this research, this thesis provides a model for holistic health with specific solutions for ministry burnout, thereby, improving pastoral effectiveness.

A Causal Comparative Study On The Effect Of Proficiency-Based Education On School Climate, Kay York

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

his quantitative, causal comparative study sought to determine if proficiency-based education has an effect on school climate. With sweeping school reform across the United States, educators are seeking ways to improve student achievement and maintain a positive school climate. This study consisted of 87 teachers in proficiency-based high schools and 125 teachers in non-proficiency-based high schools in New England who were emailed the Secondary School Climate Assessment Instrument (SCAI-S-G). Data analysis consisted of descriptive statistics computed for each teacher group through SPSS. SPSS was also used to conduct separate t tests for each of the eight domains of the SCAI-S-G …

Before God And These Witnesses: An Evangelistic Guide To Weddings, David Anderson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Every year, according to the Center for Disease Control, an average of 2.3 million couples wed in the United States, while nearly 900,000 divorces occur. One fourth of couples marry outside of a church. Though most ceremonies take place in a church building, the church’s presence is small. An opportunity exists to reach receptive engaged couples and provide needed counseling services to those marrying outside of the church. Premarital counseling reduces the risk of divorce approximately 30 percent. To impact marriages and see growth, the church must take a proactive and evangelistic role in providing premarital counseling and weddings services …

Classroom Teachers And Their Experiences With A Diagnosed Mental Disorder In The Atlanta Area: A Hermeneutic Phenomenology, Becki Kelly

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenological study is to describe the experiences of nine classroom teachers with clinically diagnosed mental disorders in the southern part of the metro Atlanta area. An ontological philosophical assumption is utilized through a social constructivist view while framed through the modified labeling theory (Link, Cullen, Struening, Shrout, & Dohrenwend, 1989) and the social identity theory (Tajfel, Billig, Bundy, & Flament, 1971). The central research question is: How do classroom teachers diagnosed with a mental disorder describe their experiences in the school environment? Research questions cover (a) their emotions and the prevalence of them, (b) their …

Exploring The Experiences Of Combat Veterans’ Degree Attainment In Online Higher Education: A Phenomenological Study, Ester Warren

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to describe the essence of the experiences of combat veterans with significant combat exposure who successfully completed their bachelor’s degree through a private online program despite the presence of challenges related and unrelated to their combat exposure. For the purpose of this study, combat veteran was generally defined as a veteran of the United States Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, or National Guard who served in Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF), Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF), or Operation New Dawn (OND). In addition, significant combat exposure was indicated by a score of “light-moderate” to …

A Quantitative Analysis Of Virginia Public School Special Education Due Process Cases And Their Resolutions From 2004-2016, Valerie Beaudoin-Saunders

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Special education-related lawsuits are a concern to school systems. They are time-consuming, expensive, and contentious. School and parental relationships become strained when litigation is involved. This study analyzed data from the Virginia Department of Education’s due process database over a 12-year period of time to note common disabilities involved in special education litigation. Specific characteristics from each case were noted to determine if there was a trend in the frequency of due process cases: the sex, grade, age, disability, and outcome. The data was obtained from the Virginia Department of Education’s Office of Dispute Resolution and Administrative Services. The purpose …

A Church Planting Church In South Korea: A Case Study On Missional Outreach, Deokjong Bang

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Gallup Korea, in 2015, reported that 30% of people under 30 years old had stopped attending churches in South Korea during last ten years. The primary reasons that young people leave a church is secularization of growth-oriented churches represented by huge buildings, power-oriented pastors and lack of morality of Christians. Therefore, a new church model that will engage young people is required for Korean Christianity. The missional church movement can be an alternative model for churches in South Korea. That is because the movement pursues a small church, a non-power-oriented pastor, and real life as a disciple of Jesus. Based …

A Qualitative Grounded Theory Study Of Secondary Educators' Pedagogical Strategies And Perceptions Of College Readiness In A Concurrent Enrollment Program, Amanda Stirgwolt

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study explored the impact of the educator on the success of concurrent enrollment programs. Concurrent enrollment (CE) programs provide students the opportunity to earn college credit while still in high school. This study aimed to understand the past success of CE programs by identifying the pedagogical strategies of the teacher. Through a qualitative grounded theory approach, 16 high school CE teachers from different high schools in Connecticut were studied to explore their teaching perceptions and pedagogical strategies. Data were collected through self-perception questionnaires, a semi-structured teacher interview, classroom observation, and document analysis. Data were analyzed through constant comparative analysis, …

The Leadership Behaviors Of College Freshmen, Kevin Wallace

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this quantitative, causal-comparative study was to determine if a difference exists between leadership behaviors of male and female college freshmen and the amount of extra or co-curricular activities they participated in during high school. Leadership was measured using the Student Leadership Practices Inventory (S-LPI) (Kouzes & Posner, 2013) and was guided by the theoretical framework of leader identity development (LID) as promulgated by Komives, Owen, Longerbeam, Mainella, and Osteen (2005) and revised by Komives, Longerbeam, Osteen, Owen, and Wagner (2009). Participants consisted of 98 male and 84 female incoming college freshmen attending a mid-size Catholic university located …

A Case Study Describing Practices And Beliefs Of Teachers Who Are Effective In Their Classroom Behavior Management In A Diverse Rural School System In Georgia, Busani Siphambili

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this nested case study was to describe the practices and beliefs of teachers who are effective in their behavior management with minority students (African American) in three rural schools. This study was shaped by Vygotsky’s (1978) sociocultural behavior theory that states that learning is a social process and the origination of human intelligence in society or culture. It also emphasizes that the development of thinking is a shared process, not an individual one, and that children learn by participating and sharing other people’s frame of reference. Social interactions play an important role in the development of cognition. …

How Service Learning Opportunities Impact Transformational Learning Experiences For Grades 6-12 School Students: A Case Study, Sherry Ballew

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this single instrumental case study was to explore how service learning (SL) opportunities are perceived by participants to impact transformational learning (TL) experiences for students in Grades 6-12. The model used to support this concept was the Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child model (WSCC), which views community involvement to be as important in the development of the child as traditional classroom instruction (Rooney, Videto, & Birch, 2015). The theory guiding this study is transformational learning (Mezirow, 2000). TL theory is a lens through which to view the learning experiences associated with SL. For this single instrumental …

The Relationship Between A Community Of Inquiry And Transformative Learning, Patrick Dempsey

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

To prepare learners for success in the 21st century, institutes of higher education must provide students with meaningful learning opportunities, including participation in discourse and critical reflection. The community of inquiry framework describes the elements necessary to create collaborative, online learning environments, while transformative learning describes the content and outcomes of meaningful learning. The purpose of this quantitative, correlational study of 242 online, graduate MBA students from a business school in Maryland, was to measure the relationship between a community of inquiry and transformative learning in online, graduate business courses. Multiple linear regression analyses were used to analyze scores from …

A Phenomenological Study Of Ninth Grade Students' With Disabilities Perceptions Of Educational Settings, Micole Talley

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Few research studies listened to the voices of high school students with disabilities’ regarding their lived experiences during placement in an inclusion setting and a resource setting. The purpose of this qualitative, phenomenological study was to understand the central phenomenon of the study for 10 ninth grade students with disabilities served in either an inclusive setting or a resource setting in 2 rural high schools located in Southeastern Georgia. The research design for this study is a qualitative, phenomenological because further exploration is needed to understand the perceptions of students with disabilities regarding their instructional environments. The central research question …

The Effects Of Case-Based Instruction On Undergraduate Biology Students’ Understanding Of The Nature Of Science, Amy Burniston

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Undergraduate science education is currently seeing a dramatic pedagogical push towards teaching the philosophies underpinning science as well as an increase in strategies that employ active learning. Many active learning strategies stem from constructivist ideals and have been shown to affect a student’s understanding of how science operates and its impact on society- commonly referred to as the nature of science (NOS). One particular constructivist teaching strategy, case-based instruction (CBI), has been recommended by researchers and science education reformists as an effective instructional strategy for teaching NOS. Furthermore, when coupled with explicit-reflective instruction, CBI has been found to significantly increasing …

A Case Study Of Black Students' Education And Socialization Since Public School Closure In Prince Edward County Virginia, Jeffrey Scales

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this case study was to explore the concerns about lower academic and social achievement of current Black students in Prince Edward County Public Schools where many local citizens believe were the results of public schools closing for five years from 1959-1964 and forced court ordered reopening. This single instrument qualitative study was conducted to gather greater knowledge from participants who had firsthand knowledge of the extended closure of public schools or reopening of schools over 50 years ago from former students, and community leaders. This researcher utilized face-to-face interviews, focus groups and extensive historical documentation to explore …

Mental Health Rehabilitation In Victims Of Sex Trafficking, Kayla E. Freemire

Senior Honors Theses

Human trafficking is a global epidemic that leaves victims with short- and long-term physiological, psychological, and sociological issues. The mental health needs of trafficked persons have become a topic of research in both medical and psychiatric circles. In order to comprehensively understand the mental health consequences of trafficking, the process must be defined and related to the mental health effects on its victims. The specific mental health disorders diagnosed within this population will be discussed. Treatments used currently for this population will be reviewed, along with future treatments presently being researched and evaluated regarding their potential for use in the …

As A Matter Of Fact: Factual Methodology In Obergefell V. Hodges And Its Implications For Public Policy, Clint Hamilton

The Kabod

What are the implications of the confusing decision the Supreme Court reached in Obergefell v. Hodges that challenged the definition of marriage as legal bond between a man and a woman. Much of this confusion has arisen because instead of following the usual factual methodology to reach this groundbreaking (and very controversial) decision, the Supreme Court used an abnormal pattern of fact-finding. The use of abnormal methodology resulted in many complicated and tumultuous policy questions at both the State and National levels of government. This paper investigates both the methodology that resulted in the Supreme Court’s decision and its ramifications.

Study Of Nurses' Attitudes And Practices Towards Pain Evaluation In Nonverbal Patients, Rebekah Lovin

Senior Honors Theses

Pain, and the appropriate treatment of it, has recently come to the forefront of issues addressed with healthcare providers. Since the cornerstone of pain management is an appropriate assessment, methods of accurate pain evaluation are necessary. This need is particularly important in the population of patients who cannot express their pain. While pain assessment tools are available for use with nonverbal patients and hospitals typically mandate the use of one of these tools, actual compliance with such policy may not actually occur. Various barriers, such as education in the use of a tool, time, and the personal views of the …

Arminianism And Molinism On Divine Foreknowledge, Nathan S. Justice

Senior Honors Theses

Evidence is examined concerning the coherence of divine foreknowledge as defined by Arminianism and Molinism. Arminianism argues that God has complete and infallible knowledge of the future, and attempts to simultaneously maintain a strong view of libertarian freedom. Molinism agrees with the Arminian stance on foreknowledge and human freedom, but argues that middle knowledge must also be posited for God to have strong providential control over His creation. It is argued that Molinism better accounts for the biblical data and provides a more coherent theological and philosophical position, since Arminianism cannot provide a strong theory of providential control. Subsequently, a …

What Affects Perceived Job Stress? Influence Of Work Passion And Goal Orientation, Montana L. Drawbaugh

Senior Honors Theses

The dualistic model of passion theorizes that passion is multidimensional, consisting of both harmonious passion and obsessive passion. Similarly, theories regarding goal orientation assert that goal orientation is a multifaceted construct, consisting of a learning goal orientation, prove performance goal orientation, and avoid performance goal orientation. Specifically, this study aimed to determine if the combination of an employee’s work goal orientation and passion for work is predictive of the amount of job stress he or she perceives. Data from individuals (N=116) employed full-time were collected through Amazon’s Mechanical Turk platform. Only obsessive work passion was found to be …

Deaf Access To Healthcare, Jennifer L. Yates

Senior Honors Theses

Modern medical professionals strive to provide culturally competent care; however, Deaf[1] culture remains overlooked. Common language and experience draw deaf individuals together as a cultural group. Ignorance about Deaf culture perpetuates barriers to holistic care in the medical setting. Deaf patients receive misdiagnoses, delayed treatment, and privacy breaches. Deaf culture understandably avoids healthcare and is characterized by numerous health disparities as a result. Obstacles hindering Deaf access to healthcare are directly opposed to the intended therapeutic relationship and holistic care. Increased awareness of Deaf culture is required to improve the Deaf’s access to healthcare.

[1] The word deaf should …

Trust-Based Prayer Expectancies, Attachment To God, And Perceived Stress, Sadie Davis

Senior Honors Theses

The current study analyzed the impact of trust-based prayer expectancies on the relationship between attachment to God and perceived stress levels. High trust-based prayer expectancies indicate a high trust in God to answer prayers in His time and in His way. It was hypothesized that trust-based prayer expectancies would mediate the relationship between attachment to God and perceived stress, since prayer expectancies are heavily reliant on trust in and a belief that God is a secure base. Three-hundred fifteen college students were surveyed on their trust-based prayer beliefs, perceived stress, and attachment to God. Results of the study indicated a …

Retaining Volunteers In A Non-Profit, Kristina D. Ward

Senior Honors Theses

Non-profits are a vital part of today’s society. Non-profits fulfill a vital role in today’s society, providing much needed services that the government cannot or will not provide. These services include health care, education, religion, and humanitarian aid which are all imperative to any society. These organizations are unique in that they run primarily on the volunteer work of others. This type of system is very different from any other kind of organization in the world. Non-profits are powered by the motivation of people to help people. Understanding the volunteer is the key to understanding how a non-profit can thrive …

The Mechanism Of Sex Trafficking And What You Can Do About It, Benjamin J. Huebner

Senior Honors Theses

Awareness for sex trafficking is on a steady incline. Many organizations and events help to raise awareness for sex trafficking and often collect money to combat the issue. However, the unfortunate reality is that the public has gained a non-functional awareness of the issue. The public knows about the problem, they know that the number affected is astronomical, and they know that it is ugly, but they know of no tangible way to work toward the solution. Nothing is wrong with donating to an organization that is working to resolve the issue, but people need to be made aware of …

Behavioral Finance And Its Impact On Investing, Jordan Fieger

Senior Honors Theses

The field of behavioral finance has seen incredible growth over the past half century as it has explored the effect that cognitive psychological biases can have on investors’ financial decisions. Behavioral finance stands in stark contrast to the efficient market hypothesis, as it attributes market inefficiencies to investors who are not perfectly rational human beings. It offers a solution to the observed 3.5% gap that active equity investors miss out on in the market compared to passive index funds, which it attributes to their emotions and psychological biases. These common human biases can be grouped into five major categories: heuristics, …

The Importance Of Branding In Small Businesses, Amber J. Rabie

Senior Honors Theses

The Land of Milk & Honey Farm exists to provide quality food produced in facilities that practice good stewardship to the Earth. It is a small business devoted to loving, careful stewardship and the production of quality goods. The mission of The Land of Milk & Honey is to combine traditional farming practices with a sustainable and environment-friendly approach to agriculture. It aims to provide customer satisfaction by being respectful and responsible over animals and the earth, and by producing quality products. To reach this objective, the farm intends to educate consumers and provide an alternative source for truly farm-fresh …

How Trump Won: Media And The Silent Majority In The 2016 Us Presidential Election, Joshua K. Miller

Senior Honors Theses

Donald Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign ended in victory because of two powerful forces: enormous media advantage gained through sensationalism and a strong coalition made up of evangelicals, pragmatic conservatives, and the silent majority. The work of Neil Postman sheds light on the underlying cultural foundation of Trump’s media advantage. Parallels from the video game industry explain how intentional sensationalism played into Trump’s success in the primary process. Evangelicals and pragmatic conservatives joined Trump’s coalition in spite of his scandals, and Eric Hoffer’s work helps explain his appeal to the silent majority. Ultimately, the patterns of Trump’s victory yield significant learning …

A Review Of Ankylosing Spondylitis, Hannah L. Owen

Senior Honors Theses

Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a systemic autoimmune disorder that induces ankylosis of the spine (fusion of the vertebrae at their various joints) and inflammatory arthritis of peripheral joints among other symptoms. Overexpression of cytokines, the presence of genetic mutations not exclusive to the human leucocyte antigen (HLA)-B27 region, and environmental factors all have large roles in the progressive development of AS. Although a definitive pathology continues to be sought after, researchers believe the adaptive immune system in AS patients attacks fibrocartilaginous entheses (supportive connective tissue between bone and attached structures like tendon, ligament, and fascia).

AS markedly reduces proper systemic …

Effectively Alleviating Poverty Requires Economic Development: The Role Non-Profits Serve In This Endeavor, Dustin Michael Lape

Senior Honors Theses

The aim of this paper is to analyze the role that nonprofit organizations can play in utilizing economic development to alleviate poverty. The thesis components will be analyzed by answering six research questions (RQ): (1) What is economic development in developing countries? (2) What is the connection between economic development and poverty alleviation? (3) What are some examples of economic development lessening poverty? (4) What are the essential features of a nonprofit organization? (5) What can nonprofit organizations do to create economic development? and finally, (6) What are archetypical examples of nonprofits creating economic development and reducing poverty? To understand …

The Creation Of A Building Map Application For A University Setting, William T. Whitesell

Senior Honors Theses

The use of navigational technology in mobile and web devices has sharply increased in recent years. With the capability to create interactive maps now available, navigating in real time between locations has become possible. This is especially essential in areas and organizations experiencing rapid expansion like Liberty University (LU). Therefore, the author proposes a project to create an interactive map application (IMA) for LU’s academic buildings that is scalable and usable through both the university’s website and with a mobile application. There are several considerations that must be taken into account when creating the LU map application, such as development …