Digital Commons Network^™

Modern Visual Solutions For Established Brands: Making Graphic Design Accessible To Legacy Businesses, Emma R. Shanton

Masters Theses

Legacy businesses, often family-owned shops or companies that have been around for decades, have real history and loyal customers, but many look old-fashioned and struggle to attract new people today. Outdated logos, hard-to-read designs, and the habit of using ready-made templates or AI-generated images lead to branding that feels generic, turns customers away, excludes people with disabilities, and can even cause legal trouble.

This study asks a simple question: How can small, long-running businesses update their look in a way that is affordable, easy for everyone to use, legally safe, and still feels true to their story, without high costs, …

The Impact Of Teacher Verbal And Nonverbal Communication On Student Motivation, Claire E. Haines

Masters Theses

The classroom environment is one of vast areas of scholarly literature yet may levels of understanding classroom communication remain unexplored. This study provides an in-depth analysis of the lived student experience with how teacher communication impacts student motivation in general as well as intrinsic forms of communication. Data for this research was taken directly from student accounts of verbal and nonverbal interactions with teachers that impacted their motivation. One of the key findings of this research was the observed process that participants described through interviews. This observed three step process displayed how verbal and nonverbal communication were expressed to have …

Man's Modern Need For God: A Literary Apologetic, Matthew G. Jones

Masters Theses

This thesis argues that modern man’s attempt to dispense with God inevitably results in psychological, moral, and existential collapse, a reality most powerfully revealed through the literary works of Friedrich Nietzsche, Fyodor Dostoevsky, and Leo Tolstoy. Before Nietzsche proclaimed the death of God and called humanity to transcend traditional morality through the rise of the Übermensch, Dostoevsky and Tolstoy had already responded, not merely with philosophical counterarguments, but with stories that exposed the devastating consequences of life divorced from the divine. Through literary apologetics, this thesis examines the broader cultural and spiritual conversation taking place between these nineteenth-century thinkers and …

Adam, The First Scientist: Unlocking The True Foundation Of Scientific Thinking, Thomas E. Lohman Jr.

Masters Theses

This thesis investigates the complex relationship between scientific thought and theological perspectives, proposing that God breathing life into Adam symbolizes a full divine inspiration for both scientific and theological understanding. The perceived conflict between science and theology arises from a shift in human thinking at the fall, which altered humanity's ability to rightly grasp both realms. After this crucial event, science shifted to a more naturalistic approach, while theology often downplayed God's sovereign power over creation.

The alterations to the original functions and purposes of science and theology have led to a fragile relationship between the two. According to Scripture, …

Predictive Models Of Student Mental Health: The Correlation Between Academic Burnout And Depression In The Higher Education Environment, Hyejoon Song

Masters Theses

Importance: Over 80% of U.S. college students report significant emotional difficulties, and 58% endorse academic burnout as a persistent concern, yet institution-specific data at faith-integrated universities such as Liberty University remain scarce, limiting evidence-based programmatic response.

Objective: To examine the correlation between academic burnout and depressive symptomatology at Liberty University, identify the most predictive individual burnout item via Random Forest machine learning, and characterize distinct student risk profiles via KMeans clustering. Design, Setting, Participants: Cross-sectional survey (IRB-FY24-25-1491, Exempt) of 236 Liberty University students (mean age 36.9 ± 14.3 years; 84.0% female; 61.0% graduate-level), 2025–2026 academic year.

Main Outcome and Measures: …

Linguistic And Cultural Analysis Of Divine Command In 1 Samuel 15: Implications For Biblical Interpretation, Timothy Arnell Dunn

Masters Theses

This thesis argues that ḥērem in 1 Samuel 15 is not a relic of ancient warfare but a sacred act of covenantal devotion that reveals the tension between divine holiness, human obedience, and Israel’s identity as a people set apart for YHWH. Through historical, philological, narrative, and canonical analysis, the study demonstrates that ḥērem functions as a ritualized declaration of divine sovereignty in which destruction becomes consecration and obedience becomes worship. Saul’s partial compliance is therefore not strategic misjudgment but a rupture in covenant fidelity that exposes the costliness of holiness and the danger of selective obedience. Yet the canon …

Fiction Novel Chapters: Ghost Orchid, Ronald C. Whetsell

Masters Theses

There is a natural tension between governments whose structures are maintained by strong, centralized control like those of Russia and China, and one built on a decentralized, constitutional democracy such as the United States. Although Russia and China have functioned on the global stage in a manner largely reflecting their own self-interests since the early twentieth century, that configuration will change within the fiction novel, Desert Orchid. The narrative will detail their agreement to combine their resources which will better enable them to compete with the free economy of the United States. Their goal is to usurp the global economic …

A Correlational Study Of Work-Related Factors On Private School Teachers’ Stress And Anxiety, Anna E. Guilliams

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this correlational predictive study is to examine the factors of class size, hours worked during the week, and hours given to plan a week and determine if there is a predictive nature between these factors and perceived stress and anxiety in private school teachers. Determining the root causes of the rising rates of teacher stress is imperative to the future of the education system because teacher stress has a direct relationship to attrition, job satisfaction, teacher physical health, and job performance. A group of 115 private school teachers from a southern state participated in online surveys to …

The Role Of Faith In Coping With Mental Health Challenges In Late Life: A Phenomenological Study Of Religious Experience In The Aging Population, Krista Kelley

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation are significant concerns among older adults. These conditions are often neglected due to stigma, atypical symptom presentation, and medical comorbidities, resulting in increased healthcare utilization, heightened suicide risk, and emotional dysregulation. Psychosocially, these challenges obstruct a successful resolution of Erikson’s final stage, ego integrity versus despair, leading to dissatisfaction, regret, and reduced well-being. Although previous research has suggested a link between religious engagement and improved mental health outcomes, few studies have explored older adults’ lived experiences of faith in coping with mental health. This qualitative phenomenological study examined the experiences of 25 older adults regarding …

The Narratives Of Where Black Men On The South Side Of Chicago Found Emotional Connection While Growing Up, Yakima Diemer

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this narrative inquiry study was to explore and understand the lived experiences of Black men from the South Side of Chicago. This study explored, through storytelling, the life experiences of Black men from the South Side of Chicago regarding their emotional connectedness with their primary caregivers in addition to who they turned to, and what they turned to in order to feel a sense of support and connection if and when there were none. Participants for this study included Black men who were over the age of 25 and reported being raised on the South Side of …

Quantitative Correlation Of Middle School Students’ Perspectives Of Teacher Caring And Student Effort, Susan Lackey

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this quantitative, correlational research was to study the potential correlation between the middle school students' perspectives of teacher caring and student effort. The study was important because it investigated an understudied population in a new geographic location. The sample included 352 sixth-, seventh-, and eighth-grade students within five middle schools in eastern North Carolina. Two instruments were used to collect survey data from the students. The first instrument administered included the MUSIC Model of Motivation Inventory, which was derived from the MUSIC Model of Academic Motivation®. The second instrument was the Course Effort Scale, derived from the …

A Phenomenology Study: Exploring The Lived Experiences Of Latino Women In The South Of California With Symptoms Of Depression And The Influence Of Faith And Religion In Their Recovery, Ivette G. Perez-Paquien

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This is a qualitative study of a phenomenological nature that explores the phenomenon and experiences of Latina women with depressive symptoms residing in Southern California, as well as the influence of faith and religion on their recovery. The investigation of this phenomenon was conducted using the theoretical model of descriptive research proposed by Husserl, along with the data analysis technique for descriptive phenomenological research based on the approach designed by Richard Krueger. The research question posed to guide this study was: What are the experiences described by Latina women suffering from symptoms of depression regarding faith, religion, and their recovery …

A Causal-Comparative Study Of Student Enjoyment In Classical Private School, Non-Classical Private School, And Non-Classical Public School Social Studies Courses, Ginger B. Knapp

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this quantitative causal-comparative design study was to investigate differences in the enjoyment of history/social studies as an academic subject among high school juniors and seniors educated in classical Christian private school, non-classical Christian private school, and non-classical public-school settings. The study is important because its measure of enjoyment is associated with teaching pedagogy or instructional methodology. Prior quantitative studies have associated achievement with standardized test scores, recommending that future studies explore the link between instructional methodology and achievement. This research study fills the literature gap by employing a sound psychometric measure of enjoyment to examine its associations …

Barriers To Physical Activity Among Community College Students, Erica Keels

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the perceived barriers, motivators, and student-identified strategies related to physical activity among students enrolled at a community college located in Northwest Florida. Guided by the Social Ecological Model (SEM), Self-Determination Theory (SDT), Health Belief Model (HBM), and Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB), this study employed a qualitative descriptive design to examine students’ lived experiences and perceptions that influence their physical activity behaviors. Data were collected through an online open-ended survey administered to students aged 18 years and older. A total of 134 students initially accessed the survey, and 126 eligible participants …

Unveiling The Journey: A Phenomenological Study On The Lived Experiences Of Caregivers Raising An Adolescent With Diabetes, Lakeisha L. Doman

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to describe caregivers’ experiences raising a middle to late adolescent (ages 14 – 19) with diabetes in Virginia. The study focused on how caregivers perceive stress and develop coping skills while navigating the transition to independence. Guided by Lazarus and Folkman’s Transactional Model of Stress and Coping, this study examined how caregivers appraised stress, evaluated available resources, and sustained engagement in their role. Ten primary caregivers in Virginia were recruited using purposeful sampling. Semi-structured interviews guided data collection. Data was analyzed using Moustakas’ phenomenological approach. Findings indicated that caregiving during adolescence is a …

Building Moral Resilience: The Role Of Biblical Forgiveness In Dealing With Moral Injury Among Christian Combat Veterans, Kwasi Boateng Asamoah

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

An unsuccessful navigation of exposure to potentially morally injurious events (PMIEs) can result in psychological, emotional, and spiritual distress, which can lead to moral injury. Moral injury continues to receive wider attention among researchers and clinicians in the field of military psychology and mental health due to the prevalence of exposure to PMIEs among this population. Research has shown that over half of the veteran population has experienced at least one PMIE, and about 6.5% have reported moral injury. Although moral injury is considered an injury of the soul and has spiritual consequences, there remains a gap in the literature …

The Moderating Influence Of Intrinsic Religiosity For Technostress And Tech Addiction In Adults Working In A Digital Environment, Elaine M. Hensley

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This dissertation examined factors influencing levels of technostress and tech addiction in adults working in digital environments, where technology is rapidly advancing. The main research questions asked: If and to what extent intrinsic religiosity and resilience, independently and through their interaction, predict levels of technostress and tech addiction among adults in a digital workplace environment. The research design used two multiple linear regression analyses and two moderation analyses to ascertain whether the null hypotheses would be retained. The procedure involved recruiting 222 participants through Prolific who activated a survey link from Qualtrics. The link contained demographic data and four surveys …

The Challenges Of Employee Selection, Cayward L. Wiggins

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This qualitative single case study examined the challenges associated with employee selection and the role of emotional intelligence (EI) in improving hiring practices within public sector organizations. The general problem addressed was the failure to consistently utilize EI testing resources, which may result in the selection of less qualified employees. The specific problem focused on the inconsistent integration of EI tools during recruitment and interview processes. Guided by a post-positivism paradigm, the study explored how human resource (HR) managers and personnel understood and applied EI in candidate evaluation. Data was collected from 30 HR professionals using interviews and surveys to …

Understanding The Application Of Military Leadership Skills In Transition To Civilian Leadership Positions, Darik Pickerel

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The problem is that the leadership skills of ex-military leaders are not always effectively leveraged when they transition into civilian organizations, resulting in a missed opportunity to harness valuable competencies. The purpose of this flexible design qualitative single case study was to explore how civilian organizations could effectively leverage the valuable leadership skills of ex-military leaders. Three research questions guided the study: What leadership skills do ex-military leaders bring to civilian employment in the production industry based on the experiences of ex-military leaders, their organizational subordinates, and their organizational superiors? How can ex-military leaders most effectively apply their skills to …

A Quantitative Study On Loneliness: Exploring The Interaction Effects Of Adverse Childhood Experiences, Maladaptive Beliefs, Adult Attachment, And God Attachment, Breanna Mcneal

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this quantitative study is to explore a moderated mediation analysis of the relationship between child adversity and loneliness when maladaptive beliefs are included as a mediator, along with adult attachment and God attachment as separate moderators with two subcategories (anxiety and avoidance). The results are based on 428 adult survey responses in which the key findings indicate that there is an initial direct effect between child adversity and loneliness, and that maladaptive beliefs mediate the relationship between child adversity and loneliness. Each of the moderated mediation models are supported only from the maladaptive beliefs to loneliness path …

One Body Many Members: Toward A Vision Of Individual And Corporate Maturity In The New Testament, Rebecca Mohr

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The apostle Paul and the author of Hebrews both discern within the early Christian communities a critical deficiency: some individual believers did not realize the value they would bring to the corporate Church body by maturing and remaining committed to the fellowship. For Paul, growth in Christ is inherently ecclesial; the believer’s Christian maturity contributes to the edification and unity of the body, as articulated in Ephesians 4, where maturity in faith and knowledge safeguards the church from fragmentation and instability. Spiritual immaturity, therefore, is not merely an individual shortcoming but a communal liability that threatens the integrity of the …

The Relationship Between Mentorship And Career Longevity For New Clinicians In Emergency Medical Services, Katherine Elizabeth Contreras

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative descriptive phenomenological study was to understand how mentorship assisted a new Emergency Medical Services (EMS) clinician in navigating the challenges of the first year at an EMS agency in Central Texas. Guiding the study was Lev Vygotsky’s theory of social constructivism, which focuses on knowledge gained through human activities, social interactions, and behavior modeling. Twelve study participants completed one-on-one interviews, two participants completed a single focus group interview, and the researcher conducted naturalistic observations, during which the participants shared personal, firsthand experiences that answered the study’s central research question: How does mentorship help new EMS …

The Integration Of Cybersecurity In Social Science Classes: A Study On Adolescents, Callie Lynea Hansen

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

In this quasi-experimental, pre-test/post-test study, the researcher examined adolescents’ vulnerability to cyber threats, a challenge exacerbated by the current compartmentalized approach to cybersecurity education. Grounded in psychological theory, biblical world views, and current cybersecurity best practices, the purpose of this research was to investigate the effectiveness of integrating cybersecurity education into social science classes to enhance adolescents’ judgment and confidence in online environments. Approximately 45 adolescent students were recruited to participate. Participants completed a pre-test consisting of a Cybersecurity Judgment Questionnaire (CJQ) and a self-reported cybersecurity confidence survey (CCS), establishing a baseline of their judgment and confidence in virtual spaces. …

Harmonizing Faith: An Investigation Of The Efficacy Of A Small Group Study On The Theology Of Music For Spiritual Growth, Timothy Davis

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The problem this study addresses is that Trinity Anglican Church in Connersville, Indiana, had not cultivated a theology of music among its congregants to enrich encounters with God through music. The purpose of this DMIN action research project was to implement a small group study on the theology of music to enrich encounters with God through God-honoring, captivating music. The researcher employed a novel approach: Luke 10:27 served as a paradigmatic framework for exploring how music relates to the dimensions of heart (i.e., emotion), soul (i.e., spiritual encounter), strength (i.e., embodied experience), mind (i.e., intellect), and neighbor (i.e., communal and …

The Relationship Between Employee Perception Of Perfectionistic Leadership And Employee Outcomes, Jennifer Parras

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Research shows perfectionism to be a multidimensional trait, yielding both positive and negative results. Given its evolving nature and impact, perfectionism is becoming more widely researched and an important trait to study. Multidimensional perfectionism, in its positive side, refers to striving towards excellence, whereas in its negatives side refers to a concern of failure. Today, multidimensional perfectionism research focuses more on the individual and interpersonal consequences of the trait with less focus on the workplace consequences of performance. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between the dyadic relationship of leader’s perfectionism and employee outcomes. This …

A Quantitative Study Examining The Impact Of Gender On Covenantal Empowerment And Mental Health Quality Of Life Among 911 Dispatchers, Michael Ryan Udriét

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This quantitative correlational study examined factors affecting the mental health quality of life (MHQoL) of 911 dispatchers in Greater Richmond, Virginia. Dispatchers frequently experience psychological strain due to exposure to traumatic calls, demanding workloads, and inconsistent organizational support. Leadership is a crucial factor in shaping well-being, yet the influence of covenantal empowerment (CE)—a model emphasizing mutual support, shared accountability, and relational trust—on dispatcher mental health remains underexplored. This study examined the relationship between CE and MHQoL, explored gender as a moderator, and considered additional demographic and work-related factors including age, years of experience, work shift, length of shift, marital status, …

The Silent War Within: A Phenomenological Exploration Of Male Veterans' Lived Experiences Following Military Sexual Trauma In Southwestern Louisiana, Belinda K. Richard

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Military sexual trauma (MST) is an important and often overlooked issue affecting male veterans. Research indicates that men encounter MST at notable rates and confront distinct challenges in accessing care. Although the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) provides specialized MST services, there remains a significant gap in the literature regarding men's underutilization of these resources, particularly given their disproportionate presence in the VA's traditionally male-dominated healthcare system. The purpose of this phenomenological study is to understand the lived experience of men currently living in Southwestern Louisiana who have experienced military sexual trauma while on active duty. The theories guiding this …

A High School Choral Student's Perspective On Bullying, Allen C. Thomas

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this quantitative causal-comparative non-experimental research study was to examine the prevalence, type, and impact of bullying within secondary choral ensembles from the student perspective. Using a slightly modified version of the Swearer Bully Survey, data were collected from a convenience sample of 100 high school students. Initially, responses were to come from several high schools throughout the State of Maine. Due to challenges in survey administration, the researcher received permission to collect responses via social media and expanded recruitment to a national audience. The study employed a cross-sectional design and utilized Google Forms and Tally for data …

Improving Governance In Decentralized Systems, Cynthia L. Cooper

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) has invested heavily in non-pharmacological pain management through the Whole Health transformation, the Opioid Safety Initiative, and national CIH expansion efforts. Despite these systemwide priorities, implementation remains uneven across decentralized facilities, revealing barriers that extend beyond logistics or compliance. This study investigated how governance structures, professional norms, and cultural–cognitive logics shape the translation of federal mandates into local clinical practice. Guided by Policy Implementation Theory (PIT) and Institutional Theory (IT), and applying the Integrated Policy Adaptation Model (IPAM), this qualitative inquiry triangulated semi-structured interviews, surveys, and policy document analysis. IPAM’s mechanisms—Leadership Mediation (LM), Frontline Adaptation …

The Experiences Of Females With Adhd Receiving Their Diagnoses In Post-Secondary School: A Phenomenological Study, Sarah A. Schultz

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to describe the educational experiences of females who received attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) diagnoses while attending postsecondary schools. The theory guiding this study was Albert Bandura’s social cognitive theory. This theory explains the relationship among environmental, internal, and external factors in a person’s motivation. The central research question was: What are the educational experiences of females who received ADHD diagnoses while attending postsecondary schools in the United States? This study used transcendental phenomenology to understand the experiences of females who received delayed ADHD diagnoses while attending postsecondary school. There were 10 participants in …