Digital Commons Network^™

Mark Steyn: America Alone Study Guide, Steven Alan Samson

Faculty Publications and Presentations

No abstract provided.

International Resources Selected Websites, Steven Alan Samson

Faculty Publications and Presentations

No abstract provided.

Comparative Economic And Political Ideas: Bibliography, Steven Alan Samson

Faculty Publications and Presentations

No abstract provided.

Lamp Winter 2009, Liberty University

Lamplight: Literary and Fine Arts Magazine

No abstract provided.

The Day We All Became Hokies: An Exploratory Uses And Gratifications Study Of Facebook Use After The Virginia Tech Shootings, Sabrena Michelle Carter

Masters Theses

Facebook has been incorporated into the regular activities of over 100 million users. After the Virginia Tech Shootings, individuals began interacting with Facebook in a unique way. This exploratory project analyzed uses and gratifications of Facebook use in the time following the Virginia Tech shootings. In-depth qualitative interviews were conducted with seven college students whose Facebook profiles acknowledged the event in at least one area.

The study found preliminary evidence of Blumler's categories of Surveillance, Diversion, Personal Identity, and Personal Relationships. The category of Curiosity was not substantiated in the findings. New categories were suggested based on the results. These …

The Effect Of Classroom Experiences On Future Success, Jennifer R. Presson

Senior Honors Theses

This thesis explores the impact that classroom experiences have upon students’ academic and future success. It begins by discussing Charles Dickens’ criticism of education in his works, specifically in the novel Hard Times. Next, the thesis examines a number of studies that have sought to identify the factors that determine students’ academic success. Finally, the careers of Erin Gruwell and Rafe Esquith are described as ‘real life’ examples of the way that teachers can impact students’ success.

A Pure Woman, Archetypally Presented: Towards A Jungian Criticism Of Hardy’S Tess Of The D’Urbervilles, Bethany M. Gullman

Senior Honors Theses

Tess Durbeyfield is one of the most memorable characters in English literature. She is at once a working-class woman and a mythic figure. Abused by her superior and caught between classes, she represents the individual struggling for identity.

Tess of the d’Urbervilles appeals universally to the nature of the woman in literature. Her status as the natural or archetypal woman is clear throughout the novel. Hardy created Tess who cannot be defined by just one categorization. Tess certainly fulfills the limited idea of the fallen woman. However, Hardy is appealing beyond this narrow view of humanity to the more ancient …

Ibsen’S Female Characters In Captivity: An Exploration Of Literature And Performance, Christina K. Forshey

Senior Honors Theses

In Henrik Ibsen’s plays, A Doll’s House, The Wild Duck, The Lady from the Sea, and Hedda Gabler, the theme of captivity is demonstrated in the female protagonists Nora, Hedvig, Ellida, and Hedda. The theme of captivity also serves as a performance guide for the portrayal of these characters. Ibsen’s female protagonists are in bondage to an object or person that manipulates the character’s mental and emotional senses. The character’s inner captivity reaches a climax where a decision must be made to abolish the chains of captivity or forever remain enslaved. Since the nineteenth century, the actor has greatly benefitted …

A Comparative Analysis Of Factors Contributing To The Biblical Worldview Among High School Students In The American Association Of Christian Schools Of Georgia, North Carolina, And South Carolina, Michael Hugh Bryant

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This non-experimental quantitative study is a comparative analysis of factors contributing to the biblical worldview of students attending select Christian schools in the states of Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina. The research design uses non-randomized control groups, an instrument which includes original questions in addition to items from three other instruments, and a Likert-type scale. Results imply that the subjects appear to consistently reflect orthodox doctrine in their responses, if not always in their behavior. The subjects were homogenous in many of their answers even though there were particular questions that evoked a wide disparity of answers. The particular …

Stealing Sacraments: What Protestant Educators Can Learn From Other Religious Traditions, Mark A. Lamport

Christian Perspectives in Education

This somewhat provocative article is not a treatise on theological doctrine and interfaith dialogue, but addresses how adherents of various faith traditions practice their faith in ways that can enhance their witness in the world and from which Protestants should learn. The author calls these faith-building religious practices sacraments. He proposes that Protestant educators – whether in faith-based or in public schools which teach religion classes in their curriculum – would be wise to adapt the most effective means of nurturing faith in subscribers to other religious traditions; these means should be incorporated as a supplement to those practices most-commonly …

The “Kaleidoscope Of Life”: Story As Vital For Values Education, Anna L. Cates

Christian Perspectives in Education

Educators and the general American public continue to favor character education programs in public schools, but many are unsure how best to teach values. Currently, and in the past, literature-based approaches to character education have received advocacy because of the values stories contain and because of the nature of story itself. Story is universal and uniquely character-molding and is a time-honored method to fostering understanding. This fact can be gleamed in religious and secular traditions alike, having been used and advocated by as wide array of individuals as Jesus Christ and N. Scott Momaday. Numerous bases—spiritual, historical, psychological, and philosophical—exist …

11-11-08 (The Liberty Champion, Volume 26, Issue 9)

2008 -- 2009

No abstract provided.

The Effect Of Graphic Organizers On The Academic Achievement Of High School Students In United States History Who Receive Instruction In A Blended, Computer-Based Learning Environment, George Kim Conley

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of graphic organizers on the academic achievement of high school students receiving instruction in United States History via an online blended learning environment. With 60 participants in the study, the students were equally divided into two groups of 30 participants each. Group I was designated as the treatment group, while Group II formed the control group. A two-tailed t-test was used to determine that the means of the two posttests were not significantly different at a probability level of .05. Therefore, the results of this research study indicated that high …

10-21-08 (The Liberty Champion, Volume 26, Issue 7)

2008 -- 2009

No abstract provided.

Finding Your Track To Success, Karen L. Parker

Faculty Publications and Presentations

No abstract provided.

Existential Temporality As Fore-Ignorance: Implications For Divine Foreknowledge, David Pensgard

Masters Theses

Investigation into the nature of time is commonly taken to be a necessary precursor to the study of God's temporal status. These studies involve metaphysical concerns within the philosophy of time that focus on the logical structure of tensed statements about the future. Taking a different approach, this paper investigates the nature of temporality, rather than time, and proceeds via a phenomenological methodology. This often-overlooked methodology, it is argued, is preeminent over the metaphysical methodology. When the results of the two methods conflict the phenomenological methodology should dominate discussion. Proceeding with the more powerful method, it is argued that temporality, …

Pride, Sloth, And Lust: A Specific Look At Dante’S Use Of The Seven Cardinal Sins In Purgatorio, Rebekah J. Waltmann

Senior Honors Theses

The Divina Commedia (1308-1321) has been hailed as one of the greatest and most influential literary works in history, and one of the characteristics that puts it in the annals of time is Dante’s mastery of Catholic theological ideals, especially the Seven Cardinal Sins, his artistry in portraying them, and his mix of unique and traditional depictions. Dante utilizes both traditional and unique artistic aspects of the Seven Cardinal Sins to provide both structure and to put moral messages in his greatest work, but in order to be aware of Dante’s deep understanding of the Sins and how he shapes …

Church Marketing: Promoting The Church Using Modern Methods, Bethany L. Conrad

Senior Honors Theses

Marketing is a part of nearly every aspect of business. Without marketing, businesses would have very little means of communication. It is an essential part of promotion and growth. The same is true within the church. Churches often stray from advertising for a variety of reasons, but marketing and promotion can be a very effective way of fulfilling the Great Commission in a new, unique, and modern way. ' This thesis will illustrate important steps in developing a communications plan for the marketing of local church. Research was done on existing marketing plans in both the business and church setting. …

Interpersonal Cognitive Complexity And Cross-Cultural Dating: An Application Of Personal Constructs Psychology, Jennifer Gelar

Senior Honors Theses

The purpose of this study is to investigate interpersonal cognitive complexity, which is an individual difference variable describing a person’s cognitive system, and its role in cross-cultural relationships, particularly Caucasian-American males’ willingness to date a woman from another country. This study is an application of Personal Constructs Psychology and employs Crockett’s Role Category Questionnaire to tap into participants’ levels of social perception through the investigation of interpersonal cognitive complexity scores.

Obtaining Success With Freshman Transition Plans: A Study Of Programs In Four High Schools In Virginia, Martin Eugene Ringstaff

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study focused on the successes and challenges small school (school population between 300-900 students) administrators and teachers experienced when designing, implementing, and sustaining their ninth-grade transition programs. The purpose of this study was to add valuable insight to the knowledge that currently existed for the development and implementation of freshman transition programs. This study identified common and unique elements in the implementation designs of transition programs in four small high schools in the state of Virginia. Fifty-two teachers were surveyed and the four high school principals completed their questionnaires. Significant differences were noted in the years of teaching experience …

The Power Of ‘When I Was Your Age’: Research On Parental Narratives And Their Influence On Cognitive Dissonance In Children, Darci C. Adams

Masters Theses

Parents are continually looking for correct and effective ways to discipline and instruct their children. Often, parents will tell a personal narrative beginning with “when I was your age” to demonstrate to their children the appropriate way to think and behave. This thesis asks three research questions: What are the common themes in parental narratives that young adults remember in relation to instruction or discipline? How does the narrative structure demonstrate narrative coherence and fidelity? What do young adults self-report about the impact of the parental narrative on their cognitive dissonance? Through a content analysis of eighty completed surveys by …

Personality Characteristics Of Counseling Students At A Midwest Evangelical Seminary As Correlates Of Success, Satisfaction, And Self-Perceived Effectiveness, Keith Edward Marlett

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

his study examined the question of how well personality traits as assessed by the MMPI-2 (clinical and L, F, K validity scales) and the NEO PI-R (domain scales) predict useful post-graduation markers of success in Master's level counselor education students. The subjects were 74 graduates of a seminary counselor education program in the Midwest. Participants completed the MMPI-2 (first 370 questions) and the NEO PI-R prior to admission and a post-graduation self-report questionnaire. Significant correlation between several personality traits and post-graduation markers of success emerged, but after Bonferroni adjustment, did not retain statistical significance and are therefore noted as trends …

09-02-08 (The Liberty Champion, Volume 26, Issue 2)

2008 -- 2009

No abstract provided.

Panic Attacks: Can They Really Be Stopped?, John C. Thomas

Faculty Publications and Presentations

Published in Christian Counseling Today magazine, this article addresses the nature and impact of panic attacks and how they can be addressed.

Called To Teach: Interpreting The Phenomenon Of Calling As A Motivating Factor, Jared T. Bigham, Samuel J. Smith

Faculty Publications and Presentations

This hermeneutic phenomenological study examines the phenomenon of the calling to teach. Nine participants were interviewed, and the dialogue was analyzed for themes uncovered from participants’ interpreted experiences. The following themes were revealed: the calling experience as a process, esteem for the teaching profession as a calling, the use of spirituality for affirmation, and the direct impact of spirituality on career choice.

Heard But Not Seen: Instructor-Led Video And Its Effect On Learning, David E. Holder

Faculty Dissertations

Educators and instructional designers are seeking ways to increase levels of learning. One of the ways this is being done is through cognitive load theory which attempts to reduce cognitive load through a better understanding of working memory and the factors that impact its function. Past studies have found that working memory processes visual and auditory information using separate and non-sharable resources (dual coding theory) and that by properly utilizing multimedia elements, information processing in working memory is more efficient (multimedia learning). What is not known is the effect that instructor-led video, which uses the visual channel but delivers no …

A Comparison Of A Christian And A State Institution Of Higher Education: The Relationship Between Religiosity And Academic Dishonesty Among Athletes, Lori Robertson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this dissertation was to explore the relationship between religiosity and academic dishonesty among intercollegiate athletes at a private Christian college and a state university. This study also examined the level of academic dishonesty and the level of religiosity among intercollegiate athletes at both institutions. The researcher administered a questionnaire to 163 intercollegiate athletes. The questionnaire included 17 cheating behaviors and several subscales of religiosity (overall religiosity, intrinsic religiosity, organizational religiosity, and non-organizational religiosity). A significant difference was found in the level of religiosity between the athletes in the two schools. However, no significant difference was found in …

Pestalozzianism, Samuel J. Smith

Faculty Publications and Presentations

The Pestalozzian movement of the 19th century represented the ideas of Swiss educator Johann Heinrich Pestalozzi (1746-1827) and was based on the premise that learning occurs best in an emotionally-secure environment where knowledge is acquired by sense perception. Influenced by Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Pestalozzi introduced psychology into education and was the first to systematize the science of teaching. Though known for the object lesson, he also influenced the transformation of elementary schools and planted seeds for teacher licensure.

The Effects Of Participation In Athletics On Academic Performance Among High School Sophomores And Juniors, Lee Sitkowski

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Athletics and academic performance has been studied at length over the years in the literature. Despite the mostly university level research conducted, no consensus has been reached regarding the impact of athletic participation on academic performance at the high school level. As a result, the relationship between the in season and out of season school academic performance of high school sophomores and juniors in one high school was investigated in this study. It was determined that there was a significant relationship that existed between academic performance, measured by GPA, and athletic participation. Through an analysis of 249 high school sophomore …

The Effect Of The Teacher's Worldviews On The Worldviews Of High School Seniors, James A. Fyock

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

James A. Fyock. THE EFFECT OF THE TEACHER’S WORLDVIEWS ON THE WORLDVIEWS OF HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS. (Under the direction of Dr. Steve Deckard) School of Education, June, 19, 2008. Christian educators today are interested in assisting their students in formulating a biblical Christian worldview. One important factor in developing a biblical worldview in students is the Christian school teacher. This study examined the effect of teacher’s worldviews on the worldviews of high school seniors in a Christian school. The teacher’s worldview was measured by Nehemiah Institute’s PEERS (2003) worldview survey and was designated the attribute independent variable. A convenience sample …