Digital Commons Network^™

Experiences Of Looping For Students With Learning Disabilities: A Phenomenological Case Study, Laura C. Brown

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The problem is the academic, social, and emotional needs of students with learning disabilities are not being met within the general classroom. Looping, the practice of a teacher staying with the same group of students for two or more years, has been suggested as an educational approach designed to meet the needs of students with disabilities. The purpose of this research project was to examine the experiences of looping for students with learning disabilities from the perspectives of the looping teacher, the students with learning disabilities, and their parents. Therefore, a phenomenological case study design was utilized. The methods of …

Georgia High-Stakes Testing: The Correlation Between Eighth Grade And Ninth Grade Achievement, Venita Lee Bruton

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Standardized tests are an education reality and an important accountability consideration in most states and school systems. Most states require standardized assessments to meet requirements of the federal No Child Left Behind Act of 2001. Changes to curriculum and instruction and to the school culture frequently occur through a school improvement process, and standardized test data are often used to inform these decisions. The school improvement process and professional development should focus on student learning, but how administrators and teachers perceive standardized testing and the ensuing data analyses is an important consideration in understanding what needs improvement and the professional …

The Effects Of A Service Learning Introductory Course In Diversity On Pre-Service Teachers Attitudes' Toward Teaching Diverse Students, Dawn Jacoby Lucas

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study examined the impact of a service-based course in diversity on pre-service teachers attitudes toward the inclusion of diverse learners (ethnically, socioeconomically, and disabled) in the general classroom. One-hundred and ten students at a private liberal arts university in North Carolina completed the Pluralism and Diversity Attitude Assessment (PADAA) to measure pre-service teachers' attitudes toward including cultural diverse students in the general education classroom, the Opinions Relative to Integration (ORI) instrument to measure pre-service teachers' attitudes toward including disabled students in the general education classroom, and a short demographic survey Results indicate an introductory class has impact in improving …

Becoming The Message: Using Jeremiah To Develop The Personal Aspect Of Expository Preaching, Thomas Sanford Hensley

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The Word of God was given to the world to move human beings to faith and obedience. It is the role of the expositor to release that Word with all of its potency by faithfully communicating every aspect of every passage. Each passage of Scripture has a personal aspect designed to radically change both the heart and life of the expositor so that he becomes the message to his hearers. Among the Old Testament prophets, Jeremiah particularly models and informs this personal aspect of Scripture. The purpose of this paper is to show that using Jeremiah to develop the personal …

Death Of A Student: Navigating A School Through Grief, Samuel J. Smith

Faculty Publications and Presentations

When a school family experiences the loss of a student, there are many issues to consider. This session will offer suggestions that will minister to the grieving school community.

Sound Field Amplification: Effects On Managerial Time In Small Group Speech Therapy, Jeffrey Craig Meeks

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study addresses the use of speech amplification devices in speech therapy sessions. The major factor addressed is the impact that speech amplification has upon the managerial time of speech-language pathologists who provide therapy in small group sessions. This study measured the change in the amount of time speech-language pathologists spent on managerial tasks during small group speech therapy with the use of speech amplification equipment versus managerial time without the treatment. Managerial tasks included giving and repeating instructions, and behavior management. Results of the study suggest that there was significant improvement in student on-task behaviors, including a decrease in …

The Effect Of Single-Gender Education On The Achievement Of Sixth Grade Mathematics Students, Rhonda Lee Hill

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact on students' academic achievement when served with a single-gender instructional model. Sixth grade students enrolled in single-gender classes were compared to heterogeneous classes utilizing the Measures of Academic Progress (MAP). MAP data from the fall and spring administrations were evaluated to determine academic growth. In the analysis of growth in academic achievement between groups based upon MAP scores, there was no significant difference found between academic growth and gender. While there was group variability that may have impacted achievement scores, overall growth of MAP scores and the amount of achievement …

The Effects Of Physical Activity On Physical Fitness Of Northern Mississippi Middle School Students, Jerry Wayne Floate

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this study was to investigate the possible effects of physical activity scheduling of middle school students on their overall physical fitness. This quantitative causal comparative design was utilized to determine if significant differences existed in the FITNESSGRAM® subtests performances of 529 middle school students based on their enrollment in show choir, marching band, athletics, or physical education? Archival data was pulled from the school's physical education department. The results concluded that significant differences existed among the four physical activity classes on the seven FITNESSGRAM® subtests (1-mile run, push-ups, curl-ups, BMI, Trunk Lift, Left-Side Sit and reach, and …

The Effects Of Effort-Based And Ability-Based Reinforcement Cues On Student Perseverance, Rory Allen Boone

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study examined the impact of "ability-based" and "effort-based" verbal reinforcement cues prior to task engagement in traditional sixth grade students attending Christian schools in northwest Indiana. Perseverance levels were measured during a numerically-based, problem solving task by tracking time signatures (in seconds) of the first, second, and third use of restricted "clues." The research population (n = 102) was randomly assigned into two groups (ability-cued and effort-cued). Statistical significance was found at all three measurements. Target measurement one revealed ME = 518.7 (SD = 310.7), MA = 402.4 (SD = 293.5), with two sample t(100df) = 1.94, p = …

Motivation And Dual Enrollment: An Analysis Of The Motivation Of High School Students To Participate In Dual Enrollment In Association Of Christian Schools International Schools, Mitchell Acri Salerno

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

A phenomenological study utilizing the Consensual Qualitative Research method was conducted to understand the motivation of high school students dually enrolled in high school and college, commonly referred to as dual enrollment, in relation to the Self-Determination Theory and to connect this motivation to research on personal calling. This qualitative study begins a research thread linking dual enrollment as a reform model to research on motivation and personal calling. The participants were high school students in two Association of Christian Schools International schools in the southeastern United States dual enrolled in an evangelical Christian university in the Southeast. Data was …

The Biblical Use Of Rewards As A Motivation For Christian Service, Bill Fredric Korver

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

A review of current cultural trends and Christian literature reveals very little writing and preaching about a motivation for personal obedience in general and vocational ministry in particular. The purpose of this project will be to demonstrate how one's motivation for service to Christ will be greatly enhanced when considering the possibility of gaining, or losing, rewards from Jesus Christ both in this life and more specifically at the future judgment seat of Christ. It will be the intent of this project to demonstrate conclusively that not only is this a scripturally sound motivation, but also that it is a …

The Psychometric Study Of The Attachment To God Inventory And The Brief Religious Coping Scale In The Taiwanese Christian Sample, Ju-Ping Chiao Yeo

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The present study investigates the psychometric properties and factor structures of two religious instruments, the Attachment to God Inventory (AGI) and the Brief Religious Coping Scale (Brief RCOPE), when applied to a sample of Christians living in the collectivist culture of Taiwan, and the usefulness of these two instruments for this sample. Translation, back-translation, and a pilot study were conducted on the two instruments, and needed adaptations were made. Three hundred and thirty-five subjects were recruited from eleven Protestant and Catholic churches in Taipei and a series of statistical analyses was conducted on the collected data. The results were compared …

Satisfaction And Contributing Factors In Satisfying Long-Term Marriage: A Phenomenological Study, Mark A. Nimtz

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This phenomenological study investigated the subjective marital experiences of five couples married for more than forty years. Select participants responded to interview questions pertaining to the phenomena of marriage satisfaction and marriage longevity. Participants completed the Dyadic Adjustment Scale (DAS) to assure the phenomenon of satisfaction was experienced in the marriage.

The data was collected using semi-structured, conversational, recorded, transcribed interviews in which the participants were interviewed separately by same-sex interviewers within the participant couples’ homes. The marriage experiences and answers were compared and contrasted.

Two major themes emerged from the participants’ descriptions of satisfaction: “Togetherness” and “Children/Grandchildren.” Additionally, two …

Semiotics, Habitus And Music In The Transmission Of Tibetan Culture In Toronto, John Robertson

Masters Theses

This ethnographic study explores the role of music in cultural transmission in the Tibetan community of Toronto, Canada. Beginning with an integration of Peircian semiotics, Bourdieu's habitus and musical semiosis, I then identify certain non-Tibetan cultural elements being encountered by those in the Toronto community which are potentially creating cognitive structures foreign to those which have their generative principles in pre-exile Tibetan past, and the ways in which Tibetans are transmitting (to varying degrees) cognitive schemata which identify these non-Tibetan elements and protect against their appropriation. After exploring elements which are not Tibetan, I turn to those which are: a …

The Relationship Factor: Understanding The Role And Development Of Teacher-Student Relationships In Middle School, Tracy Davis Sands

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this grounded theory study was to explain the process by which relationships evolve between teachers and students in a suburban East Tennessee middle school. Based on the assumption that "knowledge is created through action and interaction" (Corbin & Strauss, 2008, p. 2), this study aimed to gain a deeper understanding of the relationships between middle school teachers and their students. A grounded theory approach (see Corbin & Strauss, 2008) was used to collect and analyze data, with the purpose of generating a theory that explains the phenomena. Because the study was driven by teachers' and students' voices, …

Teacher Candidate Success On State Mandated Professional Tests: One Predictive Measure, Jill A. Jones, Connie Mcdonald, Annyce Maddox, Steve Mcdonald

Faculty Publications and Presentations

This article presents a predictive model using teacher candidates' Grade Point Average (GPA) and its relationship to candidate success on two professional state mandated teaching exams. The 196 subjects for the study were traditional undergraduate teacher education candidates at a major university in Virginia. Specifically, the majority of courses were presented in the face-to-face setting, with a few online courses available. Subject selection was based upon completion of the Virginia Communication Literacy Assessment (VCLA) and the Virginia Reading Assessment (VRA). Data were collected for three consecutive years. Analysis of the relationship between GPA and scores on the VRA and VCLA …

Holding Schools Accountable For Their Sex-Ed Curricula, Rena M. Lindevaldsen

Faculty Publications and Presentations

This article examines the legal and policy implications that arise when a school district decides to instruct students on issues concerning same-sex attractions. As more states afford legal recognition to same-sex relationships and adopt non-discrimination codes that include sexual orientation, schools are faced with the decision of what, when, and how to teach children about same-sex attractions. Providing instruction on this divisive issue is fraught with conflict as views and beliefs on the topic are deeply-held, diverse, and often politically charged. In disputes concerning other sensitive topics, courts long have afforded schools broad discretion to implement curriculum without interference from …

The Effects Of A Remedial Math Intervention On Standardized Test Scores In Georgia Middle Schools, Chastity London Adams

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Schools are looking for interventions to improve academic achievement and increase test scores due to the requirements of No Child Left Behind. One such intervention in middle schools is remedial math. This causal comparative study examined the differences in the standardized test scores for at-risk students who receive remedial math instruction and at-risk students who do not receive this intervention. In addition, this study examined gender differences for the remedial math students. The Georgia Criterion-Referenced Competency Test of 293 at-risk seventh-grade students was used in this study. Using the previous year's standardized math test scores as a control variable, there …

What Factors Of Cultural Intelligence Predict Transformational Leadership: A Study Of International School Leaders, Emerson K. Keung

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

International schools are a microcosm of the globalization that is occurring throughout the world. Effective leadership is critical to ensure that schools are successful in accomplishing their missions. This study examines if there is a relationship between cultural intelligence and effective leadership, defined as transformational leadership, in international school leaders, and if so, what factor(s) of cultural intelligence best predicts transformational leadership in international school leaders. International school leaders received an online survey that included the Cultural Intelligence Scale and the Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire 5X. Standard multiple regression analysis was used. The results indicate that there is a significant positive …

Effects Of Departmentalized Versus Traditional Settings On Fifth Graders' Math And Reading Achievement, Connie B. Yearwood

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this quantitative study was to determine whether fifth grade students who received instruction in a departmentalized setting achieved higher mean scale scores on the reading and math sections of the Georgia Criterion Referenced Competency Test (CRCT) than students who were taught in a traditional setting. Two one-way between-groups analyses of covariance were conducted to control for previous achievement while seeking to determine if a statistically significant difference existed in the mean reading and math scale scores of fifth grade students who were taught in different organizational structures. The findings suggest that students who received instruction in departmentalized …

The Effectiveness Of Process Oriented Guided Inquiry Learning To Reduce Alternate Conceptions In Secondary Chemistry, Michelle Jones Barthlow

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

A nonequivalent, control group, pretest-posttest design was used to investigate student achievement in secondary chemistry. This study investigated the effect of process oriented guided inquiry learning (POGIL) in high school chemistry to reduce alternate conceptions related to the particulate nature of matter versus traditional lecture pedagogy. Data were collected from chemistry students in four large high schools and analyzed using ANCOVA. The results show that POGIL pedagogy, as opposed to traditional lecture pedagogy, resulted in fewer alternate conceptions related to the particulate nature of matter. Male and female students in the POGIL group posted better posttest scores than their traditional …

An Effective Internet Ministry Strategy For Church Evangelism Through A Case Study Of The Sarang Community Church, Dae Suk Lee

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purposes of this dissertation are to shed light on the essence of the church internet ministry from the biblical and ministerial angles and to suggest effective strategies for churches launching an internet ministry. In the thesis, I conducted a literary review of online ministry and a case study of the Sarang community church. Basic Web analysis, an interview, and a survey were performed to analyze Sarang's case and to draw lessons from it. I sincerely hope my suggestions on internet strategies can become a compass that points churches to the right direction as they navigate through the wave of …

Empowering Teachers: The Influence Of Transformational Leadership In Christian Schools, John Irungu Kirika

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The object of this study was to investigate transformational leadership in Christian schools. The study investigated the perception of empowerment of K-12 Christian school teachers and its influence on organizational and professional commitment and job satisfaction. It explored correlations between teacher empowerment and selected demographic variables. The study also investigated how K-12 Christian school leaders and teachers perceive teacher empowerment. A combination of causal comparative and a correlational research method using a series of t-test, ANOVA, and multiple regression statistics was used for parametric statistical analyses. The research findings were mixed. While the study pointed to the prevalence of teacher …

The Effect Of A Manualized Group Treatment Protocol On God Image And Attachment To God, Jacqueline Diane Rasar

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study tested the effect of a manualized group treatment protocol on God image and attachment to God in a sample of college students attending a Christian college. Thirty undergraduate students from a homogenous population were tested with one measure of God attachment, two measures of God image, one measure of religious coping, and one measure of spiritual outcomes. It was hypothesized that significant God image and attachment to God change would occur among the treatment group participants. In addition, it was hypothesized that significant religious coping and spiritual outcome change would occur among the treatment group and comparable group …

Do Metacognitive Strategies Improve Student Achievement In Secondary Science Classrooms?, Jaunine Fouché, Mark A. Lamport, Ph.D.

Christian Perspectives in Education

Increasing prevalence of high-stakes testing calls for focus on value-added teaching and learning practices. Following is an inquiry regarding metacognitive teaching and learning practices as it pertains to secondary science classrooms. Research shows that the orchestration and inclusion of metacognitive strategies in the science classroom improve achievement under the following preconditions: (1) are pervasively embedded in the educational structure; (2) are part of appropriately rigorous and relevant curriculum; (3) are supported by ‘metacognitive friendly’ teaching strategies; (4) are explicitly practiced by students and teachers; and (5) enable students to take responsibility for their own learning.

Individual Religious Commitment And Interdisciplinary Academic Achievement: Student Religiosity As A Factor In A National Academic Competition, Joshua D. Reichard

Christian Perspectives in Education

This study included an examination of the differences between the religiosity of students representing both public and private schools that qualified at the state and national levels in the United States Academic Decathlon, a national, interdisciplinary academic competition. The statistical significance of religiosity in relation to achievement scores in the Academic Decathlon was examined. The literature reviewed suggested a positive correlation between religiosity and academic achievement. The Duke University Religion Index (DUREL) instrument was administered to students on both teams to determine religiosity levels. Statistical analysis was applied to the data to test for significant difference. No significant difference between …

The Cyber Pornography Use Inventory: Comparing A Religious And Secular Sample, John Sessoms

Senior Honors Theses

While Internet pornography use is becoming increasingly common in today’s society, until recently no instrument existed to measure compulsive use. Consequently, the Cyber Pornography Use Inventory (CPUI) was developed in order to assess Internet pornography addiction. While demonstrating promise as an assessment tool, the CPUI was only tested on a religious population. In addition to being strongly opposed to pornography, religious males experience extreme distress from their usage and often perceive their behavior as addictive, despite no supporting clinical evidence. Therefore, it seemed necessary to explore the psychometric capabilities of the CPUI further by administering it to a secular population. …

The Eternal Stranger: The Superfluous Man In Nineteenth-Century Russian Literature, Kelly L. Hamren

Masters Theses

The "superfluous man" is one of the most important developments of the Golden Age of Russian literature--that is, the period beginning in the 1820s and climaxing in the great novels of Dostoevsky and Tolstoy. To understand the superfluous man is to understand a key cultural struggle, the battle for self-understanding of a Russian intellectual elite looking for solid ground along the fault between sophisticated Western philosophy and a Slavic heritage understood more instinctively than intellectually. The superfluous man is the bastard child of a volatile, centuries' long love affair between the Western mind and the Slavic soul--between a technologically advanced …

A Myth Retold: How Till We Have Faces Confirms That A Myth Is Not A Fairytale, Rachel Elizabeth Burkholder

Masters Theses

In the last fifty years or so, the study of myth and meaning has changed into the study of fairytales, and into world of non-meaning. But because myths are classified with fairytales, their depth and somber meaning are clouded with the various happy endings of fairytales. Myths, then, are stripped and analyzed the same way as fairytales, for critics do not perceive a distinction; therefore, when discussing modern fairytale criticism the conclusions are invariably applied to myths as well. Fairytales and myth suffer greatly from the modern views; both are lost in a world of criticism set on satisfying its …

You've Got A Friend In Me: An Analysis Of Coworker Friendship Relationships, Ebonee Johnikin

Masters Theses

Relationships between individuals fashion themselves in many settings and on various levels. Friendships are pivotal relationships that significantly contribute to social life, health and well-being, job satisfaction, and workplace interaction. More specifically, coworker friendship relationships are unique in their length, measurement, development, and maintenance as their formation occurs within mutually shared environments outside of family relationships. This study employed a mixed methods procedure to specifically examine these relationships. Three research questions guided the first study in an attempt to find if gender and length of friendship relationships significantly affect strength measurements of the relationship. The second study was guided by …