Digital Commons Network^™

Home Educators’ Experiences Teaching Beginning Readers: A Phenomenological Study, Meghan K. Allred

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to investigate how home educators describe their experiences teaching literacy to beginning readers in the United States. The theory guiding this study was Gagné’s conditions of learning theory as it relates to the literacy teaching experiences of presenting literacy content, eliciting performance of literacy skills, assessing literacy performance, and enhancing literacy retention and transfer in homeschool settings. The central research question was: How do home educators describe their literacy teaching experiences for beginning readers? A transcendental phenomenological approach was used to explore the shared homeschool experience of teaching beginning readers. Participants were selected …

The Moderating Effect Of Teacher Experience On Secondary Traumatic Stress And Teacher Self-Efficacy Among Rural Public School Teachers, Donna Short

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Millions of teachers have exited the teaching profession as of 2020 and over 50% are likely to leave the profession during the next five years. High emotional stress is most often cited as the primary reason for the loss of teachers. There is also an increasing number of students entering school who having experienced various forms of trauma, such as abuse, death, violence, and neglect. In rural areas, poverty is a concern. These students often display trauma behaviors because of limited mental health resources. As rural public school teachers learn about student trauma, these teachers are at risk of secondary …

A Phenomenological Study Of Novice Special Education Teachers' Experience Applying Causal Attributions To Challenging Behavior, Mandy Marie Augst

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to describe novice special education teachers’ experiences attributing causes to challenging behaviors in U.S. public schools. This study was guided by Bernard Weiner’s attribution theory of motivation. This framework allowed for the examination of teachers’ causal attributions for challenging behavior as well as their personal motivation in responding to challenging behaviors. This study's central research question focused on novice special education teachers’ experiences attributing causes to challenging behavior. The researcher employed a transcendental phenomenological approach, engaging participants as co-researchers to understand their lived experiences. A sample of 11 participants was recruited from …

Exploring Teachers' Perception And Use Of Whole Brain Teaching: A Hermeneutic Phenomenological Study, Tiffany Amber Jay-Claycomb

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenology study was to understand Whole Brain Teaching (WBT) through the experiences and perceptions of teachers who utilize this system in the United States. The theory guiding this study was George Miller’s information processing theory, which identified how information is attained, stored, and retrieved, a foundation of the WBT system. This study attempted to answer the central research question: What are the perceptions of classroom success for teachers who use WBT systems? This qualitative hermeneutic phenomenology research focused on WBT teachers across the United States, contacted through an online platform. Data collection consisted of interviews, …

Developing A Biblical Worldview: Equipping African American Leaders With The Tools Needed To Combat The Reemergence Of Syncretism Within The African American Church, William Taft Wallace Jr.

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Historically, African Americans have grappled with questions of identity, a struggle initially precipitated by the diaspora. Over time, this ongoing struggle has led many to seek answers from various sources, each of which has influenced and shaped their worldview. In response to this ongoing identity crisis, the African American church has traditionally served as a stabilizing force, emphasizing that identity is rooted in the image of God, as affirmed by the Bible. However, today’s African American church faces significant insider threats from other African American-based groups that promote counter-biblical and anti-Christian narratives regarding identity. These threats have infiltrated the church, …

A Qualitative Study Of Federal Employee Whistleblowing And Reprisal For Whistleblowing, Bruce S. Mclean

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Federal employee whistleblowing is essential to holding government officials accountable. The U.S. Office of Special Counsel (OSC) was established in 1979 to provide a secure channel for federal government employees to report wrongdoing while protecting them from reprisal. More statutory protections were enacted with the Whistleblower Protection Act (WPA) in 1989; however, deficiencies in the WPA led to the eventual passage of the Whistleblower Protection Enhancement Act in 2012. The problem is that the literature on whistleblowing fails to distinguish the OSC as the Executive Branch whistleblower protection agency nor recognize its annual reports and surveys as the only known …

Providing A Paradigm Of Pastoral Care For The Marginalized Through Jesus Centered Eyes At Cornerstone Christian Fellowship Church, Dawn E. Pratt

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This project outlines a paradigm of pastoral care for the marginalized through Jesus-centered eyes. Enhancing resources and implementing pastoral care within Cornerstone Christian Fellowship Church (CCF) will establish a Jesus-centered pastoral care center while developing a more profound theological paradigm to identify and implement strategies to enhance pastoral care in marginalized communities. CCF's pastoral theological approach to empathy requires that many layers of different circumstances be inquired about while keeping close to the subject or individual in need. CCF is the vehicle that has established a transformational view through the eyes of Jesus at the center. A solid literature review …

High-Fidelity Simulation And The Development Of Self-Confidence In Clinical Decision Making When Delivering Patient Care, Deborah Marie Posey

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The competition for available clinical practice sites has increased the need for alternative measures to provide the means for nursing students to develop self-confidence in clinical decision making when providing patient care. The purpose of this one-group, pretest-posttest correlational study was to determine fourth semester associate-degree-seeking nursing students’ perceived levels of self-confidence and anxiety with clinical decision making when delivering patient care after completing a standardized high-fidelity simulation (HFS) following the pandemic. Kolb’s experiential learning theory provided the theoretical framework for this study explaining the connection between experiential learning and HFS. The Nursing Anxiety and Self-Confidence with Clinical Decision Making …

The Perceived Effect Of The Cliftonstrengths Assessment Of Christian Leader Self-Awareness, Daniel Lee York

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to explore the perceived congruence between the coached CliftonStrengths (CS) assessment model and leader self-awareness (SA: internal, external, and spiritual) as described by the participants (Creswell & Creswell, 2018). The theory behind this study was emotional intelligence, with specific attention on self-awareness and its import to general leadership theory (Antonakis et al., 2009; Bar-On et al., 2000; Goleman, 2019; Higgs, 2002; Eurich, 2017).

A selective phenomenological study was utilized because the author evaluated leaders’ perception of the effect of CS on their SA or “What is it like to experience such-and-such?” (Leedy …

Educating Providers On The Utility Of Pharmacogenomic Testing, Angela L. Holloman

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Pharmacogenomic testing is the use of an individual’s genotype to help determine their response to certain medications metabolized by the cytochrome P450 enzyme family. This information can help to prevent adverse drug effects and guide medication selection and dosing. This testing is becoming more widely utilized and more commonly available. It is now available as a direct-to-consumer test. Many providers lack the necessary education in pharmacogenomics to utilize this technology or discuss it with their patients. Educational interventions for providers are effective at improving provider knowledge and confidence regarding pharmacogenomic testing. This practice project sought to educate providers at a …

A Hermeneutic Phenomenological View Of Professional Development Motivation As Experienced By Secondary High School Staff Who Engaged With New Instructional Coaches, Emily Marie Cornwell

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this hermeneutical phenomenological study was to describe the lived experiences of public-school teachers at the secondary level who engaged with an instructional coach at Peach Tree High School and Rock High School in a rural desert of California. The theory that guided this study was Knowles’s theory on adult learning, as it explained how adults learn and their motivations for professional development. The central research question was: what were the lived experiences of 10-12 public-school teachers at the secondary level while interacting with an instructional coach? The methodology in this qualitative study was hermeneutic phenomenology in which …

Using Situational Leadership To Disciple And Develop Men For Spiritual Leadership In The Home, Christopher N. Andrews

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

God has designed the family to be the primary source of faith and spiritual formation, commanding all parents to pass along the faith and teach the commandments to their children. Scripture teaches that men hold a special role as the spiritual leader of the home. For men to fulfil this God appointed role they need to be trained and mentored. At the time of this research there was no formal ministry dedicated to the spiritual development of men at FBC Brandenburg. The purpose of this research was to test the Situational Leadership Model in a discipleship program designed to train …

Leadership Diversity In The Technology Industry, Renee' Y. L. Smith

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Diversity is a relevant topic in the modern workplace. This research is an exploration of diversity in the workplace from a leadership perspective. Specifically, this research includes the lack of leadership diversity in the technology industry and its impact on employee turnover and operational costs. The purpose of this research was to contribute to the extant body of knowledge by understanding the issue and determining factors to mitigate the issue. This study utilized a flexible design and qualitative research methodology, specifically a case study. A constructivist paradigm aligned with my Christian worldview. The study included interviews, surveys, and documents as …

The Relationship Between Servant Leadership Attributes / Behaviors And Congregant Commitment Among United Pentecostal Church International Churches, Corey D. Driggs

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Research regarding servant leadership has grown and resulted in positive results supporting the potential benefits for organizations to adopt a servant leadership culture among leaders (Neubert et al., 2008; Walumbwa, Hartnell, and Oke, 2010). Most prior research has focused solely on the development of a working construct model (Barbuto and Wheeler, 2006; Dennis and Bocarnea, 2005; Ehrhart, 2004; Hunter, et al. 2013, Liden, Wayne, Zhao, and Henderson, 2008; Parolini, Patterson, and Winston, 2009; Sendjaya, Sarros, and Santor, 2008; van Dierendonck, 2011). Studies have also shown that there is a significant relationship between servant leadership attributes and behaviors with organizational commitment …

Building Hope In Outreach Ministry, Preston W. Boerner

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Churches and faith-based organizations may discover their role in fulfilling the Great Commission seems to be overshadowed by their efforts to provide other forms of relief and support. Central Florida, like many different regions in the United States, is facing an epidemic of homelessness and addiction. Natural and manmade disasters also present urgent and existential threats. The researcher believes that building true and lasting hope in Jesus is key to facing these challenges in the long term. He hypothesized that intractable barriers may create hopelessness and shift the focus of ministry away from inspiring hope. He conducted purposive interviews and …

The Mediating Effect Of Organizational Identification On Shared Identities And Turnover Intention In Large Companies, Quentin T. Singletary

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study sets the foundation for a relational investigation of the relationship between shared identification (shared experiences and shared characteristics) and the turnover intentions of employees from large organizations, mediated by the construct of organizational identification. The research aimed to highlight which shared identification style is most important for the reduction of turnover in large corporations. Participants answered a questionnaire that consisted of forty-nine items: six items that measured shared experiences, four items that measured shared characteristics, twenty-five items that measured organizational identification, six items that measured turnover intention, and eight items that measured demographic variables. Through a mediation regression …

Relationship Between Use Of Online Dating Apps And Mental Well-Being In Young Adults, Kyndal A. Burdin

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Technology and social media use are steadily becoming the preferred way to form and maintain relationships. A large majority of young adult populations investing time and energy into dating applications to meet romantic partners. Research has identified that there are many benefits, but also many risks, to using technology. It is important to identify the potential negative outcomes that dating app users may face and inform mental health professionals who can create proper preventive measures and treatment plans when working with clients. This study addresses the gap in the literature about some of the potential relationships between negative mental health …

A Quantitative, Cause-Comparative Design Study Of Teacher Self-Efficacy Based On Classroom Environment And Professional Development, Tiffany Cain Woodward

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this quantitative, causal-comparative design study is to determine if there is a difference in teacher self-efficacy scores between teachers who participate in professional development on inclusion and teachers who do not participate in professional development on inclusion and to determine if there is a difference in teacher self-efficacy scores based on the classroom environment. Identifying teacher self-efficacy is important as it will help determine what teachers need professional development in to better serve students with disabilities. The researcher used the Teacher Sense of Efficacy (TSES) scale to identify teacher self-efficacy scores. A convenience sampling procedure was used …

The Relationship Between Parental Regard And Youth Athlete Performance And Contingency Of Self-Worth, Alysia M.K. Smith

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Youth athletic participation is important for the socioemotional development of children, such as lowering the risk of antisocial behaviors, increasing prosocial behaviors, improving physical and mental health, and lowering the risk of obesity. The purpose of this quantitative, correlational study was to explore the relationship between the youth athletes’ perception of how their parents regarded them and their self-worth and perception of their athletic performance, which was explored from the perception of the former youth athlete. The variables were operationalized by utilizing the following instruments: the Parental Conditional Positive Regard Scale (PCPRS), the satisfaction of sporting experience using Turman’s (2006) …

Exploring The Impact Of Trauma Informed Care In Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Practice: A Holistic Approach To Healing, Sharon O. Obide

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This scholarly work seeks to establish the significance of Trauma-Informed Care (TIC) in the Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) practice to improve mental health results. Hence, TIC changes the paradigm from “What’s wrong with you?” to “What happened to you?” and recognizes the existence of trauma. This paper discusses how TIC can enhance patient communication, decrease patients’ Retraumatization, and enhance rapport with clinicians, resulting in improved outcomes for patients. The outlined project employs a quasi-experimental design and targets 50 PMHNPs in the University of Maryland Medical Center. The expected outcome involves the reduction of the symptoms of PTSD, enhanced …

Identifying Effective Leadership Styles Among Winning College Head Football Coaches: A Hermeneutic Phenomenological Study, Valin Kattoula

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenological study was to discover and interpret the successful leadership styles of winning college head football coaches (HFC) in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). The theory that guided this study is Bass’s (1995) transformational leadership theory. The central question asked, “What are the lived experiences of winning college HFCs leadership initiatives?” The study used a hermeneutic phenomenological design where HFCs participated in interviews and a focus group and submitted a writing prompt response to obtain the lived experiences about proven winning leadership styles. The study’s findings identified sixteen themes and five sub-themes. The sample …

Nurses’ Ability To Provide Diabetes Education In A Hospital Setting, Nicole Ancrum

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Diabetes is a destructive health problem that affects millions of people throughout the United States. Diabetes rates are drastically increasing, and diabetic adults have a higher risk of excessive hospitalization and readmission. One in every four or five hospitalized adult patients has diabetes. Hospitals nationwide are saddled with the responsibility of assessing the need for and supplying diabetic education. Registered nurses’ perception, awareness, and utilization of diabetes education are essential to patients’ ability and willingness to perform diabetes self-management interventions effectively. Meeting inpatient diabetes educational needs requires persistent, innovative strategies appropriate for available resources and staffing models. Nurses play a …

The Perceived Effects Of Black Students' Involvement With Microcommunities On Academic Success At Predominantly White Institutions, Darryl D. Wright-Greene

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative hermeneutic phenomenological study explored the perceived influence that micro-communities and support networks have on the academic success of Black students at Predominantly White Institutions across the United States. This study explored how the roles of micro-communities or strong support networks influence the academic success of Black students at Predominantly White Institutions (PWIs). Through the Social Capital Theory lens, the researcher assessed the lived experiences of current or former Black students to understand how involvement with support networks impacted their academic achievement or success, which included factors contributing to network structure, resources, support and the relationship …

Trust Building Within The Instructional Coaching Process: An Existential Phenomenological Study, Brandi R.M. Jones

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this existential phenomenological study was to understand how teachers experience the trust-building process as they work with instructional coaches. Relational trust theory drove the work done for the study as it structures the elements necessary to build trust in the workplace. This qualitative study explored the experiences of teachers as they work with instructional coaches and their perceptions of how trust is built or areas that may interfere with the building of a trusting relationship. Participants were selected through the use of a group on the social media platform, Facebook. Targeted teachers were secondary teachers that have …

A Phenomenological Study Of Support To Develop Teacher Efficacy In State Funded Preschool Classrooms, Jennifer Stark

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative transcendental phenomenology study was to understand the support for teachers in state funded preschool classrooms through the teachers’ lived experiences. The theory guiding this study is Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems theory as it relates to the role of teacher efficacy in preschool programs and its impact on improving learning environments for children. This study includes a central question and three sub-questions focusing on the support, coaching, and professional learning opportunities provided to educators to improve the learning environment for children in state-funded early childhood classrooms. The setting will include South Carolina state-funded prekindergarten classrooms. The participants …

Developing Resiliency Body Armor Through Psychological And Spiritual Means: How U.S. States' Icac Personnel Cope With Secondary Traumatic Stress, Jameson Lee Denagel

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Global online child sex abuse and exploitation is rising due to the immense accessibility of the internet, and it takes specially trained and devoted investigators to combat the problem. However, combating these heinous crimes can create traumatic events for investigators, resulting in secondary traumatic stress. This quantitative correlative study examined the psychological and spiritual coping strategies to develop a resiliency body armor concerning Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force personnel (ICAC-TF) working on child sexual exploitation investigations. The theoretical framework combined the concepts of Resiliency Theory, psychology body armor, and spiritual body armor to create resiliency body armor. The study …

Teacher Experience With Ai In Middle School Education: A Qualitative Research Study, Aimee Lintner

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of the case study was to understand the use of technology, particularly AI, for public middle school teachers in Michigan. The theory that guided this study is Albert Bandura's social cognitive theory. Self-efficacy is relevant in that it relates to self-achievement and the belief in the desired goal —Bandura's view of social cognition keys to self-efficacy, incorporating self-evaluation and focusing on goal orientation. Consistent with the case study, the focus was on teachers' structure for teaching, the potential to use AI in the classroom, and the increased use of technology. The central question is to determine if AI …

An Exploration Into The Social And Emotional Effects Of K-12 Music Education, Jerrod T. Perry

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

In music education, a student must learn to read music notation, develop eye-hand-mind coordination, develop keen listening skills, develop team skills for playing in an ensemble, and develop the discipline to practice. Several research findings show that musical training is a powerful intervention that could help students emotionally and intellectually mature. This research aims to connect the current research on music education with the lack of exploration and knowledge to find the correlation between music and students’ academic success. The methodology used for this study will be a quantitative historical study format directed to discover research-backed evidence based on this …

A Conversation Between Tone-Deaf Rivals: A Phenomenological Study Of Lebanon’S National Dialogue, Amal A. Chmouny

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

National dialogue in Lebanon is an engaging practice vital in times of instability. This research addresses the complexities and challenges inherent in Lebanon's consociational political landscape through a qualitative analysis of the dialogue processes. Despite Lebanon's reliance on dialogues to navigate high tensions and conflict, this study finds that such dialogues still need to address the core issues, including enhancing security, unity, reform, transparency, and elections. The influence of Lebanon's confessional elites, deeply rooted in its sectarian divisions, further complicates the political efforts toward achieving comprehensive and equitable solutions. This study argues that national dialogues in Lebanon are a political …

Essential Groaning: The Resurrection Hope Of Romans 8:18-25 And 2 Corinthians 4:7-5:10 Against Word Of Faith Theology, Samuel Arthur Knaus

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Word of Faith theology affirms that God wants to bless all who agree with him with health, wealth, and prosperity in this life. The movement admonishes its followers to seek these gifts from God for a life of material goods, ease, and comfort here and now. However, a look at the lifestyles of faithful saints throughout redemptive history demonstrates that the clear majority did not receive health, wealth, and prosperity in this life. Scripture affirms that believers should not love the world or the things in it (1 John 2:15) but instead, seek prosperity in the life to come. This …