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Unburden The Pastoral Chair To Create A More Effective Minister, William Travis Boyd Jul 2025

Unburden The Pastoral Chair To Create A More Effective Minister, William Travis Boyd

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This dissertation explores how to alleviate the burden on senior pastors to create more effective ministers. This research aims to explore the implications of the pastoral chair’s duties and responsibilities and focuses on how the church community can support the senior pastor through encouragement and awareness of the importance of maintaining the pastoral chair’s mental, emotional, and professional health. This research features a comprehensive literature review on the current state of senior pastors’ professional health and the impact that overwhelming duties and responsibilities impose on their professional confidence, ministry, and overall sense of productivity and accomplishment in providing pastoral services …


The Relationships Among Sleep Patterns, Memory, And Attention In School-Aged Children, Ryan Ta'shawna Blount Jul 2025

The Relationships Among Sleep Patterns, Memory, And Attention In School-Aged Children, Ryan Ta'shawna Blount

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study explores the intricate relationships among sleep patterns, memory, and attention in school-aged children. Sleep is important for cognitive development, with studies suggesting that both quantity and quality of sleep significantly influence memory consolidation and attentional processes. Research indicates that insufficient or disrupted sleep can lead to deficits in working memory and sustained attention, negatively impacting academic performance and overall cognitive functioning. There is a lack of comprehensive studies that investigate how sleep disruptions impact both memory and attention during childhood. This study seeks to fill that gap by investigating the relationships among sleep, memory, and attention in school-aged …


Maintaining Elementary Student Engagement And Motivation During Stem Activities: A Phenomenology, Christopher Feiler Jul 2025

Maintaining Elementary Student Engagement And Motivation During Stem Activities: A Phenomenology, Christopher Feiler

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenological study was to describe the lived experiences of maintaining student engagement and motivation during STEM activities in elementary classrooms across the United States. For this research, I applied Bandura's self-efficacy theory as my foundational framework. The study highlights that a teacher’s perception of their efficacy affects their instructional practices and the achievement levels that students reach in STEM disciplines. As such, the primary guiding research question in this case was framed as follows: In what ways do elementary educators articulate their experiences fostering engagement and motivation in students during STEM activities? Data collection for …


An Investigation Of Mental Well-Being Of Music Ensemble Participants At Eastern Arizona College: A Case Study, Geoffrey D. Despain Jul 2025

An Investigation Of Mental Well-Being Of Music Ensemble Participants At Eastern Arizona College: A Case Study, Geoffrey D. Despain

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative case study was to explore the experiences of collegiate music ensemble students with mental illness and if music ensemble participation helped them cope. Students have indicated that participating in a music ensemble or listening to music has helped them cope with perceived or diagnosed mental illness such as depression and anxiety. Music students at Eastern Arizona College (EAC), a rural community college in Thatcher, Arizona, expressed their mental health struggles with band and choir directors. Some students have sought help through the counseling department. Many students do not seek help in any form. This qualitative …


Leading Through Critical Incidents: A Phenomenological Study Of K–12 School Leaders’ Responses To Critical Incidents, Terry-Ann Griffin Jul 2025

Leading Through Critical Incidents: A Phenomenological Study Of K–12 School Leaders’ Responses To Critical Incidents, Terry-Ann Griffin

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to explore how K–12 school leaders respond to critical incidents in schools. A critical incident is any actual or alleged event or situation that creates a significant risk of substantial or severe harm to physical or mental health, safety, or well-being. The study focused on three major critical incidents: school shootings/gun violence, the COVID-19 pandemic, and racial unrest. The research was guided by Bandura’s Social Cognitive Theory, which explains human behavior through reciprocal interactions between personal, environmental, and behavioral factors. The central research question was: How do K–12 school leaders respond to …


Adult Romantic Attachment Styles, Attachment To God And Recidivism Risk Among Adult Male Sexual Offenders, Mary Crystal Wring Jul 2025

Adult Romantic Attachment Styles, Attachment To God And Recidivism Risk Among Adult Male Sexual Offenders, Mary Crystal Wring

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study investigated the possible relationship between attachment to adult romantic partners and attachment to God style and sexual/violent recidivism risk scores. The study, also, sought to understand the lived experiences of adult male sexual offenders in relation to their family of origin, romantic partners, and with the Christian God. Participants (N=38) completed self-report questionnaires on their attachment styles to adult romantic partners (ECR-R) and to God (AGI). These scores were analyzed using chi-squared test of independence and multiple linear regression with scores of sexual/violent recidivism risk assessments performed by their probation or corrections officers (STATIC 99R, CPORT). This study …


The Teaching Motivation Of Filipino Educators In English-Speaking International Schools In Japan: A Transcendental Phenomenological Qualitative Study, Gloria Jean Whitaker Jul 2025

The Teaching Motivation Of Filipino Educators In English-Speaking International Schools In Japan: A Transcendental Phenomenological Qualitative Study, Gloria Jean Whitaker

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative transcendental phenomenology study was to examine the job motivation of Filipino educators in English-speaking international schools in Japan. Filipinos represent the third largest group among nationalities seeking employment overseas. This study was guided by Deci and Ryan’s self-determination theory, which focuses on motivation and three basic human psychological needs for optimum well-being: autonomy, competence, and relatedness. The qualitative transcendental phenomenological approach was used to gather information from participants about their motivation while teaching at English-speaking international schools in Japan. The central research question addressed was, “How do Filipino teachers in English-speaking international schools in Japan …


The Relationship Between Attitude Toward Suicide And Related Sociodemographic Factors That Influence The Use Of Mental Health Resources Among Undergraduate College Students: A Predictive Correlational Study, Floydena S. Smith Jul 2025

The Relationship Between Attitude Toward Suicide And Related Sociodemographic Factors That Influence The Use Of Mental Health Resources Among Undergraduate College Students: A Predictive Correlational Study, Floydena S. Smith

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this quantitative, predictive, correlational research study was to identify the relationship between attitude toward willingness to intervene against suicide scores and the linear combination of sex and age among undergraduate students. Higher education institutions must now determine if these sociodemographic variables prompted undergraduate college students to seek out interventions and use mental health services in case of suicide. The target undergraduate population included 93 full-time students between the ages of 18-45 from a postsecondary institution. A convenience sample was used to obtain 93 students, but only 80 participants in the study completed the survey in its entirety. …


Perceptions Of Air National Guard Students’ Transformative Technology Experiences During Their Professional Military Education Courses: A Transcendental Phenomenological Study, Tiffany Colburn Jul 2025

Perceptions Of Air National Guard Students’ Transformative Technology Experiences During Their Professional Military Education Courses: A Transcendental Phenomenological Study, Tiffany Colburn

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to understand the perceptions of Air National Guard students stationed in the United States about technology integration during their professional military education (PME) courses and its role in encouraging leadership perspective transformative learning in the United States. The theory guiding this study was the transformative learning theory. This study explored how technology could help students expand their views while completing their PME courses and enabled them to use their own experiences to add value to the course. The central research question was: What are the perceptions of Air National Guard students on …


A Phenomenological Study Understanding Religious And Spiritual Coping In African American Female Veterans Who Experienced Combat-Related Trauma, Dawn Raini Long Jul 2025

A Phenomenological Study Understanding Religious And Spiritual Coping In African American Female Veterans Who Experienced Combat-Related Trauma, Dawn Raini Long

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

African American females are drawn to pursue a military career for many reasons, including upholding a family tradition, securing funding for education, or simply due to the stability it offered in a challenging economic climate. This study depicted narratives of battlefield-induced psychological stress arising from the convergence of military culture intersectionality, posttraumatic stress, and the transition to civilian life. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to describe the religious or spiritual coping of African American female veterans who experienced combat-related trauma in the military. The participants were interviewed at Asheville Buncombe Community Christian Ministry (ABCCM) and Veterans Bridge Home. …


Understanding Educators' Experiences Facilitating The Psychological Needs Of Twice-Exceptional Learners: A Transcendental Phenomenological Study, Jennifer L. Hill Jul 2025

Understanding Educators' Experiences Facilitating The Psychological Needs Of Twice-Exceptional Learners: A Transcendental Phenomenological Study, Jennifer L. Hill

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to describe the lived experiences of gifted and special educators as they facilitate the psychological needs of autonomy, competence and relatedness in twice-exceptional learners in schools with gifted and special education programming within the United States. The theory that guided this study was the self-determination theory, which offered a framework to explore teachers' experiences supporting 2e students. The central research question was: What are the lived experiences of gifted and special educators as they facilitate the psychological needs of autonomy, competence and relatedness for twice-exceptional students? This question was studied using transcendental …


Bereavement Experiences Of African American Women In Georgia Ages 30 To 50 As Impacted By Income, Religion, And Career, Doliah Derrelle Snead Jul 2025

Bereavement Experiences Of African American Women In Georgia Ages 30 To 50 As Impacted By Income, Religion, And Career, Doliah Derrelle Snead

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to describe the grief experiences of African American women in the state of Georgia, ages 30 to 50, who have faced the loss of a spouse, parent, sibling, or child. The research questions were: How do African American females describe their experiences with grief resulting from loss in their immediate family? How do African American females describe the grieving process before, during, and after the loss of a loved one? How do African American females describe the coping strategies they used as they moved through their grieving process? How do African American females …


The Protective Factors Of Trauma-Informed Care For Parents With Autistic Children, Carolynn J. Redd-Recksiek Jul 2025

The Protective Factors Of Trauma-Informed Care For Parents With Autistic Children, Carolynn J. Redd-Recksiek

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this current phenomenological study is to understand the experience of parents with autistic children and their lack of trauma-informed care from direct care providers in Northern Utah. This study is guided by trauma-informed theory, which is a model of care delivery created by Maxine Harris and Roger D. Fallot (2001). Trauma-informed care recognizes how adverse experiences can impact a person and have a negative impact on the health and well-being of that person and how those negative experiences have a direct impact on the health and well-being of the family, which directly impacts the health and well-being …


Keep The Family Close: A Hermeneutic Phenomenological Study On Family Support And Successful Re-Entry, Kerry Lynn Shipman Jul 2025

Keep The Family Close: A Hermeneutic Phenomenological Study On Family Support And Successful Re-Entry, Kerry Lynn Shipman

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenological study is to understand successful reintegration with positive family support for formerly incarcerated African American men in a major metropolitan city in North Carolina. Individuals released from prison face challenges that result in the likelihood of recidivism. Previous studies regarding these individuals have focused on the requirements for their successful re-entry into society, including financial stability, housing, employment, and family support; however, there is a need to understand what forms of support are needed from families. The theory guiding the current study is the social support theory, as it explains that support from communities, …


Online Child Sexual Grooming: Understanding The Origins And Problems Within The Criminal Justice System, Tara Kristich Jul 2025

Online Child Sexual Grooming: Understanding The Origins And Problems Within The Criminal Justice System, Tara Kristich

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Grooming children for sexual abuse is complex and challenging to understand because it is constantly evolving due to technology. Prior to the eruption of social media and internet platforms, predators typically had to be in a position to gain access to children or be close to a family with children to sexually groom, abuse, and exploit children. Technology has enabled predators to have instant access to children through chat applications and various internet platforms globally. This qualitative study explored the current platforms that impact child sexual victimization, the impact on victims' mental health, and the laws pertaining to online child …


Exploring The Bidirectional Relationship Between Attachment Styles And Spiritual Practices In Protestant Christians: A Qualitative Study, Emily Lauren Pritt Jul 2025

Exploring The Bidirectional Relationship Between Attachment Styles And Spiritual Practices In Protestant Christians: A Qualitative Study, Emily Lauren Pritt

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This qualitative study explores the bidirectional relationship between spirituality and attachment among Protestant Christians—a topic with limited empirical focus. Grounded in attachment theory and theological insights, prior research often treats attachment as a static predictor of spiritual development, with little attention to how spiritual engagement may reshape attachment. This study addresses the gap by examining how these relational domains mutually inform each other and affect psychological well-being within a Christian context. The purpose was to explore if adult attachment styles and spiritual practices influence emotional health, relational security, and overall well-being among active Protestant Christians. Twenty-two adults actively engaged in …


Evaluating Velocity-Based Training Compared With Percent-Based Loading In High School Football Athletes, Daniel Mullins Jul 2025

Evaluating Velocity-Based Training Compared With Percent-Based Loading In High School Football Athletes, Daniel Mullins

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this study was to investigate velocity-based training (VBT) compared with percent-based training (PBT) protocols in high school American football (AF) athletes. This study evaluated the improvements in 1RM back squat, countermovement jump (CMJ), and linear sprint (LS) times from a 6-week resistance training protocol. The study also compared the total time under tension (TUT) each group experienced throughout the intervention. This randomized controlled trial with pre- and post-measures of all dependent variables included participants (n = 19, age: 16.0 ± 0.9 years, training experience: 1.7 ± 0.7 years) who were enrolled in a physical education class specifically …


Predicting School Culture From Teacher Experience And Funding: A Predictive Correlational Study, Bailey D. Keller Jul 2025

Predicting School Culture From Teacher Experience And Funding: A Predictive Correlational Study, Bailey D. Keller

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this quantitative, predictive correlational study is to understand how accurately the perception of school climate can be predicted from a linear combination of special education teachers’ years of teaching experience and supplemental state and federal funding allocated to teachers in the special education setting. The participants were drawn from a convenience sample of public school special education teachers located in a large school district in a southern state of the United States during the 2024-2025 school year. The setting for this research is a collection of campuses representing the work environments of the participants sampled. The My …


Investigating The Need For A Contemporary Bachelor Of Music In Music Education Degree At Trevecca Nazarene University And Union University, Thomas Paul Goddard Jul 2025

Investigating The Need For A Contemporary Bachelor Of Music In Music Education Degree At Trevecca Nazarene University And Union University, Thomas Paul Goddard

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Despite the traditional music education curriculum being valuable to music education majors, it fails to provide contemporary approaches and relevant content within a modern musical society. Students graduate from Trevecca Nazarene University’s (TNU) School of Music (SoM) and Union University’s (UU) Department of Music (DoM) and enter the music education field without sufficient guidance. This study examined the perspectives of music education professionals from interviews and the Teacher Sense of Efficacy Scale (TSES). Guided by Gordon’s music learning theory, this multimethod study identifies experiences from music educators that create a comprehensive undergraduate music education curriculum. In addition to the traditional …


The Effect Of Stem Professional Development On Self-Efficacy In K-12 Sub-Saharan Educators: A Quantitative, Experimental Study, Erin J. Bergen Jul 2025

The Effect Of Stem Professional Development On Self-Efficacy In K-12 Sub-Saharan Educators: A Quantitative, Experimental Study, Erin J. Bergen

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this quantitative, experimental study is to determine if there is a significant difference in self-efficacy in K-12 Christian educators across sub-Saharan Africa because of STEM professional development. This research will help determine if professional development leads to a sense of feeling equipped in STEM integration. The sample of participants is comprised of overseas educators across three sub-Saharan African schools. The number of participants in this experimental study is 81. The Science Teaching Efficacy Belief Instrument STEBI (Form A) was used to record the self-efficacy of the participating in-service educators for posttest-only control group evaluation. After completing descriptive …


Peaceably If We Can, Forcibly If We Must”: The Scots Irish And Early American Politics, Kacey Mae King Huffaker Jul 2025

Peaceably If We Can, Forcibly If We Must”: The Scots Irish And Early American Politics, Kacey Mae King Huffaker

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The saga of the Scots Irish is a story of generational movement. They moved from a barren existence in the Scottish Lowlands to the plantations of Ulster in Northern Ireland. They moved from economic, religious, and political oppression in Northern Ireland to the American colonies seeking land and opportunity. When they arrived in the American colonies, they found land and opportunity on the frontier. Life on the frontier pushed them to the periphery of society. Living on the fringes of society isolated them from the political and economic centers of colonial life. Vulnerable and disregarded, Scots Irish settlers refused to …


Understanding Dissonance Between Clinical Theory And Christian Principles In Counseling: Equipping Clinically Trained Professional Counselors To Counsel Through A Christian Worldview, Herbert Douglas Geiger Jul 2025

Understanding Dissonance Between Clinical Theory And Christian Principles In Counseling: Equipping Clinically Trained Professional Counselors To Counsel Through A Christian Worldview, Herbert Douglas Geiger

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This action project focuses on addressing the need for a research-based activity to understand the operational worldviews related to the counseling practices of the counselors at the Abundant Life Counseling Center. With the increasing demand for clinically and theologically informed counseling, the study explored how a counselor's worldview affects faith integration into a clinically based, therapeutic approach. The goal is to equip counselors to provide wisdom through theologically grounded and clinically informed training within a Christian philosophical framework, improve their Christian counseling skills, and reduce dissonance caused by the lack of integration skills in Christian-principled counseling (Prov 29:18). Every Christian-principled …


A Phenomenological Study: Exploring The Lived Philanthropic Motivation Of Trustees At Private Universities, Robert Russell Firth Jul 2025

A Phenomenological Study: Exploring The Lived Philanthropic Motivation Of Trustees At Private Universities, Robert Russell Firth

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative, hermeneutical phenomenological study was to understand the lived experiences of motivated philanthropic giving for board of trustee members at two private higher education institutions in the north-central United States. The theory guiding this study is Ryan and Deci's theory of self-determination, as it relates to the trustees’ intrinsic motivation to be philanthropic and benevolent while engaging with the university and serving on the board of trustees. The central research question was: What are the lived experiences that intrinsically motivate the board of trustee members to be philanthropic at two private higher education institutions in the …


The Effect Of Sleep Latency, Duration, And Quality In Adolescents When Altering Nighttime Smartphone And Social Media Use, Ryan R. May Jul 2025

The Effect Of Sleep Latency, Duration, And Quality In Adolescents When Altering Nighttime Smartphone And Social Media Use, Ryan R. May

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Smartphones and social media are quickly becoming standard technological tools for connection and socialization within the modern-day adolescent population. Inversely, sleep for adolescents/young adults is decreasing while sleep problems are rising. This research trend is prompting researchers to investigate how restricting or eliminating smartphone/social media use benefits sleep health. The current study hypothesized that when adolescents/ young adults aged 18-21 eliminate smartphone/social media usage one hour before bedtime there would be a significantly lower number of nighttime awakenings, a reduction in sleep onset, and a higher number of minutes slept for participants in the experimental group when compared to participants …


Uncovering The Parental Self Identification Process, Danita M. Baber Jul 2025

Uncovering The Parental Self Identification Process, Danita M. Baber

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This dissertation sought to uncover the first-time parent’s novel journey of transforming their identity from individual to parent. Through highlighting the well-established theories that describe the self-identification process, this study centered around concepts related to the conceptualization of the self, the developmental process of self-identification, and the establishment of one’s self-concept, through the lens of parenting. Specifically, this study asked, “For first time parents, does the age of one’s infant impact one’s level of obtained parental identity?” To best answer this question, this study followed a quantitative research design to discover if there was a positive relationship between measured parental …


The Christian Impact On Addiction Recovery In The Revive And Restore Recovery Ministry In Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, Donald Albert Walczak Jul 2025

The Christian Impact On Addiction Recovery In The Revive And Restore Recovery Ministry In Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, Donald Albert Walczak

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The problem at Revive and Restore Recovery Ministry is that participants fail to grasp the importance of a biblically based approach to addiction recovery. The purpose of this action research project is to develop a written plan that implements an effective Christian-based approach to addiction recovery. The field of addiction recovery provides a multi-faceted approach to accomplish healing for individuals seeking wholeness and healing. The primary goal of this study is to develop a viable Christian recovery model. The implementation of this model will be detailed in the research. Research methods include the gathering of basic data points through the …


A Phenomenological Study Of African American Males In Education Doctoral Programs, Byron L. Kelly Jul 2025

A Phenomenological Study Of African American Males In Education Doctoral Programs, Byron L. Kelly

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to interpret the lived experiences of African American males in education doctoral programs at three universities in the southern region of the United States. The theory guiding this study was Tinto’s retention theory on integration, as it explained how academic and social integration help to retain students and ultimately assist them in graduating. This hermeneutical phenomenological study was designed to allow the researcher to interpret the lived experiences of individuals. Ten African American males enrolled in or graduated from education doctoral programs from three universities in the Southern region of the United States …


Marketing Culture Of Award-Winning Secondary School Librarians: A Hermeneutic Phenomenological Study, Cynthia Martin Schmidt Jul 2025

Marketing Culture Of Award-Winning Secondary School Librarians: A Hermeneutic Phenomenological Study, Cynthia Martin Schmidt

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenological study was to understand the lived experiences developing, understanding, and implementing marketing culture for award-winning secondary school librarians in the United States. The conceptual framework guiding this study was marketing culture, which explores the context of marketing attitudes, knowledge, and behaviors of organizations, purportedly leading to organizational success. This study used a phenomenological approach with secondary school librarians who had won an award for their work as a school librarian. Data collection consisted of individual semi-structured interviews, artifact analysis, and reflective journal prompts. Data analysis consisted of a hermeneutic epoché-reduction followed by a manual …


Nurse Preceptors' Perceptions Of Effectiveness Precepting Senior Baccalaureate Nursing Students: A Transcendental Phenomenological Study, Kelly Anne Arraf Jul 2025

Nurse Preceptors' Perceptions Of Effectiveness Precepting Senior Baccalaureate Nursing Students: A Transcendental Phenomenological Study, Kelly Anne Arraf

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to explore how clinical nurse preceptors perceive their effectiveness when working with senior baccalaureate nursing students in East Texas. The study was guided by two theories: Invitational Education Theory, introduced by Purkey and Novak, used to understand how preceptors teach, and Bandura’s Social Learning Theory, used to understand how preceptees learn. The central research question was: What is the lived experience of being a nurse preceptor to senior baccalaureate nursing students in East Texas? Data were collected from semistructured virtual interviews, field and journal notes, and a demographic survey. Braun and Clarke’s …


Can You Slow Down A Ticking Clock? An Examination Of The Predictors Of Workaholism And How Each Influences A Correlation Between Workaholism And The Work-Life Balance Of Ncaa Division I Coaches, Brooke Elizabeth Yerger Jul 2025

Can You Slow Down A Ticking Clock? An Examination Of The Predictors Of Workaholism And How Each Influences A Correlation Between Workaholism And The Work-Life Balance Of Ncaa Division I Coaches, Brooke Elizabeth Yerger

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) is one of the largest companies in the world. It is responsible for generating millions of dollars through various sporting events, including the College World Series, the College Football Playoffs, and March Madness. However, this industry is prone to high stress levels, workaholism, and poor work-life balance among the coaches employed by NCAA institutions. Lower work-life balance levels can result in poor overall well-being. These coaches are responsible not only for themselves and their families, but also for the many student-athletes they interact with. If they are not satisfied, their ability to interact positively …