Digital Commons Network^™

Edification And Evangelism Through Worship Leadership, Donald G. Wolf

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

To gain Christ worshipers, evangelism is the church’s most significant commission. Disciples of Christ are commanded to preach the gospel: Mark 16:15. However, the church's edification through worship leadership produces the heart for evangelism in God’s people to be evangelists. This multiplies the ministry of the congregation to their world. This paper addresses the components of successful leadership that help people to be edified and evangelized in through the integrity of the gospel presentation through worship, specifically American evangelical worship leadership. Adaptive approaches must be considered as cultures evolve while retaining the accurate theological gospel message. Recorded historical commentary and …

Cultural Motivations And Effects Of Live Game Streaming, Gordon David Littleford

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Live game streaming combines many of the social mechanisms and cultural impacts of social media with the entertainment and social impacts of traditional media. Live game streaming (LGS) is growing in audience size and engagement. Further, the financial impact of LGS is rising to the level of Hollywood films and the music industry. As such this study focused on how the communicative environment of live game streaming impacts the live game streaming culture at large, as well as the effects on both the individual streamers and their communities during live game streams. The emergent design of this qualitative digital ethnography …

The Impact Of Colonization, The Problem Of Evil, And The African Traditional Religion Worldview On Biblical Hermeneutics In West Africa, Christopher Blay

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This research paper delves into the complex relationship between colonization, African Traditional Religion (ATR), the problem of evil, and their impact on interpreting biblical texts in West Africa. The study explores how historical colonization, cultural beliefs rooted in ATR, and the existential question of evil have shaped the lens through which Millennials and Gen Z in West Africa engage with Christianity.

Through an analysis of historical sources, scholarly works, and academic articles, this paper highlights how these factors have contributed to a decline in interest in Christianity among the youth in the region. The paper also emphasizes the importance of …

The Effects Of Social Media Presence On Historically Black College And University (Hbcu) College Student Band Selection, Kuronde Washington

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This research reveals the effects of social media presence on Historically Black College and University (HBCU) college student band selection. This quantitative correlational research study investigates the impact of social media presence and engagement on how HBCU band students select the college band they wish to attend. Variables in the digital space are the students’ influence of choice and social media. The researcher surveyed 75 HBCU band students from various athletic conferences to determine what social media content factors influence how college and university band students perceive and rank band programs. Participants were selected based on active college or university …

A Hermeneutic Phenomenological Study Of College Students' Experiences With College-Provided Mental Healthcare Services, Adrian M. Campbell

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to understand college students' perspectives on college-provided mental healthcare services. The framework guiding this study is the theory of planned behavior (TPB), developed by Fishbein and Ajzen. The TPB theory is based on attitude, social norms, perceived behavioral control (PBC), and intention. The central research question: What are college students' perspectives on college-provided mental healthcare services? The design of this qualitative study is hermeneutic phenomenology, a rigorous and well-established approach. A sample of twelve participants, carefully selected based on pre-determined criteria, was included in the study. The participants, a diverse mix of current …

Emotional Intelligence, Perceived Stress, Coping Strategies And Burnout In High Stress Nursing Job Types, Chris Hutsell

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This quantitative, correlative study examined the relationships between emotional intelligence (EI), burnout, perceived stress, coping strategy approaches, and dimensions of burnout in nurses According to many in the healthcare industry, the U.S. is facing a potential nursing crisis by 2030. Research has indicated that inadequate staffing leads to heavier workloads that contribute to higher rates of injuries, medical errors, absenteeism, financial loss, stress, and job burnout in nurses. Studies have also indicated that emotional intelligence can alleviate perceived stress and burnout in nurses that reduce nursing injuries, medical errors, absenteeism that manifests as financial losses for the overall healthcare industry. …

Cultural Influence On Recruiting Middle School Children To The Jordanian Nai Choir, Diana Samir Talhami

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Social practices influenced the recruitment of middle school children to the Nai choir despite the rich Jordanian culture. This research addressed beliefs, cultural dynamics, social values, and strategies to identify a critical gap in the literature regarding the recruitment of middle school students to the Nai choir. To understand students’ enrollment challenges, the researcher examined community perspectives related to the Jordanian culture, socioeconomic status, communication between students and community, beliefs, and values. Furthermore, exploring the age perspectives of middle school students was essential. The culture of these students also influenced their decision and motivation to join the choir. This study …

A Transcendental Phenomenological Study Of Early Childhood Teachers’ Perceptions Of Their Ability To Provide Mental Health Supports In The Classroom To Preschool-Aged Children, Stacie Linette Parham

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to understand the pre-service or continuing professional training needs of early childhood teachers in regard to providing support for mental health and challenging behaviors displayed in children ages three to five years old. Bandura’s self-efficacy theory and Knowles’ andragogy theory guided the study. The guiding research question was as follows: What are early childhood teachers’ classroom experiences regarding providing instruction to address mental health, ACEs, childhood trauma or other factors that cause young children to display challenging behaviors? The study’s sample included 11 preschool teachers with two to 26 years of experience …

Action Crisis Intervention Response, Dwayne Pine

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Establishing a peer-to-peer mental health intervention program for healthcare workers at Henry Mayo Hospital is imperative for addressing stress, anxiety, depression, job burnout, and compassion fatigue. The growing mental health crisis among healthcare workers, leading to a significant number leaving the industry due to lack of support from management, underscores the urgency of this initiative. This action research project emphasizes the need for such a program in conjunction with the established Mental Health First Aid. While the latter provides tools to recognize a mental health crisis, it lacks holistic approaches to aid healthcare workers in immediate crisis mode. The project …

Investigating High School Students' Engagement And Presence In Foreign Language Learning Using Virtual Reality: A Quasi-Experimental Study, Nibras Clapp

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this quasi-experimental, nonequivalent control group study was to determine if a statistically significant difference existed in the engagement and presence of high school foreign language learners who used virtual reality in their language learning and those who used traditional methods. This study seeks to add to the existing literature by bridging the gap of understanding related to increasing the proficiency of foreign language learners. A convenience sample of 158 high school students was drawn from a school district in the southeast of the United States. The study utilized the user engagement scale and the presence questionnaire, with …

Hugging A Porcupine: A Phenomenological Study On Attachment In Young Children In Foster Care, Stuart Parker Meyer

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to describe foster parents’ experiences attempting to build healthy attachment with young children in their care in Northern Virginia. The foster parent’s role is pivotal in nurturing these valuable relationships. The theory guiding this study was the theory of attachment by John Bowlby, as attachment impacts development in a child. Promoting secure attachment builds resilience in young children, supporting them as they overcome trauma (Storey & Fletcher, 2022). The research question was: What are the lived experiences of foster parents who attempted to build a secure earned attachment with their young foster child? …

The Qualitative Ethnographic Research Of The Relationship Related To Parental Involvement, Community Support, And School Administrative Substructure Amid To Inner-City Title-I High School Band Programs In Memphis, Tennessee, Thomas Akil Perry

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This qualitative ethnographic research investigated the fundamental unsubstantiated relationship related to parental involvement, community support, and school administrative substructure amid two inner-city Title-I high school band programs. This qualitative research embraced an ethnographic process managed by anthropology and sociology approached framework geared to study cultural responses over some time based on similar analytical cultural statistics. This study depicts the socioeconomic domain of a high school band community, highlighting key factors that add to the success and decline of the inner-city and Title-I high school band programs. It was conducted within Memphis, TN, within the North Memphis region, outlining the Raleigh, …

A Case Study Of Using Social Media Influencers For Sponsored Posts, Meagen Rockenbach

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The use of social media changed consumer behavior and how company leaders conduct business, including the way that they promote products and services. Instagram is a social media platform that many companies use to promote products and services. In the beauty and lifestyle industry, company officials hire social media influencers for influencer marketing campaigns. In the Unites States, the Federal Trade Commission has rules for these sponsored posts that influencers must disclose that they are working with a brand within the sponsored post. This study was to establish a connection between Instagram influencers and their use of disclosed sponsorship in …

Exploring The Connection Between Student Self-Efficacy And Student Success In A Prelicensure Nursing Programs: A Predictive Correlational Study, Leanne I. Moreira

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this quantitative, nonexperimental, correlational study was to determine if a passing score on the standardized Health Education Systems Incorporated (HESI) exit examination for prelicensure nursing students can be predicted from the number of working hours and self-efficacy scores for those same students. This study is important because of high attrition and low retention rates among prelicensure nursing students, preventing more nurses from providing care to society at a time when the demand for nurses is high. The study included 79 prelicensure nursing students in rural Maine and Ohio. Two measurement instruments were included in this study: the …

A Hermeneutic Phenomenological Study Of First-Year Christian Student Success In Theological Studies During The Pandemic, Philip Lamar Nash

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study examined the journeys of first-year undergraduate theological students during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic to figure out what, if anything, aided the students in completing their coursework with passing grades. COVID-19 has impacted organizations and individuals around the world, prompting changes to ensure that things kept moving forward safely. The research was conducted to discover what, if anything, brought about achievement for students in a COVID-19 collegiate environment. The research was guided through a hermeneutic phenomenological qualitative approach by conducting interviews with students about their first year in a residential secondary educational setting that moved to being online because …

A Quantitative Survey Exploring The Types Of Internet Accessible Mental Health Resources Recognized By U.S. Long-Haul Truck Drivers, Cristal Angela Reyna

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Long-haul truck drivers (LHTDs) are an important part of the supply chain in the United States. Their work schedules include holidays, weekends, night shifts, and can last anywhere from 60–70 hours for a single 6- to 8-day run to meet the demands of society. Poor work–life balance, high job demands, and poor sleep quality that can be experienced on the job as an LHTD can negatively affect not only their physical health but also their mental health. Depression, anxiety, and stress are three psychological effects that can develop from an unhealthy lifestyle and inability to maintain any healthcare appointments, despite …

Feedback In Emergency Medical Services: A Missing Cornerstone, Stephen E. Taylor

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this mixed methods constructivist grounded theory (CGT) study is to explore how paramedics and medical directors (MD)s in the United States perceive outcomes feedback regarding its type, quality, and quantity. This type of feedback, which can influence their critical thinking skills, knowledge base, and job satisfaction, is crucial to their professional development. In this study, patient outcomes feedback refers to general patient information, including emergency department assessment, treatment, diagnosis, admission or discharge decisions, and the overall outcome of the patient's hospital experience. The conceptual framework, focusing on the perspectives of paramedics and medical directors, is based on …

Understanding The Silos Of Assessment, Strategic Planning, Institutional Effectiveness, And Their Relationships To Accreditation, Dana Marie Juenemann

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this case study was to understand how collaboration, or lack of collaboration between community college-level silos, affected the process of accreditation as conducted by the Higher Learning Commission. The theory that guided this study is Smith’s theory of seven silos of higher education, as it explains the relationships between the areas of assessment, strategic planning, institutional effectiveness, and their impact on accreditation. This study sought to discover how collaboration and communication between administration, faculty, and staff, as well as between the silos of assessment, strategic planning, and institutional effectiveness, affected accreditation efforts at Moses Community College. The …

Purpose, Performance, And Process Influence On Airline Pilot Trust In Automation Technology: A Quantitative Study, Thomas Robert Meyer

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this quantitative, descriptive survey study was to determine if purpose, performance, and process influence airline pilot trust in automation technology. The role of a tool is an extension of human capabilities. Initially limited to mechanical extensions of arms and legs, tools are more sophisticated and extend into mental abilities. Quantum leaps in computer and automation technology mitigate repetitive or complex calculations using developed cognitive processes. Through the Trust in Automation theoretical lens, this study used the Likert-based System Trustworthiness Scale offered online to approximately 3,000 airline pilots using simple random sampling methods comprising voluntary submissions. Data was …

The Relationship Between Overtime And Burnout Among Alabama Secondary Music Ensemble Directors, Ashley Deleen Gresko

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Although there is an existing body of literature discussing stress and burnout among music educators, there has yet to be a significant study regarding the relationship between working hours and the burnout of secondary music ensemble directors. This study covers the perspectives of secondary school instrumental and choral music ensemble directors in Alabama. This quantitative research study identifies influences of overtime that require additional exploration regarding the burnout of Alabama secondary school music ensemble directors. This study surveyed secondary music ensemble directors in Alabama to illustrate the correlation between overtime and burnout. This study is vital to music ensemble directors …

An Integrative Review: Improving Copd Patient Outcomes Using The Teach-Back Method, Bichundo Lambert

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a common clinical health concern that causes airflow resistance to the lungs and persistent respiratory symptoms, which can impact quality of life for the COPD patient. The condition is common to adults over 40 years of age. It is estimated that 210 million people worldwide suffer from the disease, and its incidence is on the rise. In United States, COPD affects 16 million people and costs the government $24 billion annually. The researchers predicts that COPD will be the third-leading course of mortality by 2030 worldwide. The objective of this integrative review was to …

Moral Panic In The Modern Era: The Effects Of Moral Panic On Policy Implemented Through The Field Of Law Enforcement, Charles J. Oakley

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study employed a grounded qualitative approach to explore the intricate relationship between moral panic and public administration policy in the subfield of law enforcement administration. Using a nationwide survey derived from the U.S. Major Cities Chief Association census, postsurvey interviews and employing document analysis and crime statistics, the research investigated the impact of moral panic-induced policy decisions on law enforcement agencies from 2018 to 2022. Social media emerged as a significant catalyst, fueling public outrage and facilitating political rent-seeking. The punctuated equilibrium theory highlights abrupt budgetary and policy shifts notably found in a surge of legislative initiatives in 2021. …

An Examination Of The Influences Of Critical Thinking Tasks On Mathematics Instruction: A Qualitative Study, Glen E. Miller

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study will be to understand the mathematics critical thinking process for teachers in primary education in northern Virginia. The theory guiding this study is Kolb’s experiential learning theory, which applies to critical thinking processes. The central research question will be: What are the experiences of primary mathematics teachers implementing critical thinking? This qualitative hermeneutic phenomenological study aims to determine the influences of critical thinking tasks on planning and instruction. Using qualified participants from northern Virginia, this study will collect data through interviews, a focus group, and document analysis. After data collection, the data will be …

Effects On The Enduring Marriage Of Parenting A Young Adult With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Tawnya Anne Fabian

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study is to understand the challenges facing couples who have been married for more than 18 years, and whose autistic child is now a young adult. It seeks to describe how the couples have overcome their trials. In addition, this study will investigate the dimensions along which the couple and the family are affected by the autistic family member. Parents raising a child with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have a higher propensity than parents of neurotypical children to report worry, anxiety, stress, and depression, burdened as they are with the behavioral and social challenges …

A Transcendental Phenomenological Study On First-Generation Native Hawaiian College Students' Persistence In Online Courses, Nikki K. Kinoshita

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative transcendental phenomenological study was to describe the lived experiences and persistence of first-generation native Hawaiian college students (FGNHCS) in their first online courses at the University of Hawai‘i Maui College in the Hawaiian Islands. Tinto's student integration theory provided the theoretical framework for the research study. The central research question was: How do first-generation Native Hawaiian college students (FGNHCS) describe their persistence and success in at least one online course? The methodology involved an in-depth exploration of the participants' experiences through a phenomenological lens. Using three data collection methods: individual interviews, reflective written assignments, and …

Understanding How Public Elementary School Teachers' Trust Perceptions Affect Innovation In Educational Practice: A Multiple Case Study, Catherine Nichole Hampton

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this multiple case study was to understand organizational distrust that led to a lack of innovative educational support for elementary school teachers at five elementary schools in the Knight School System. The theory guiding this study is Homans’s social exchange theory as it applies to organizational trust. The central research question explored how public elementary school teachers’ organizational trust perceptions affect innovative educational practices. This multiple case study explored 10 teachers’ experiences in three elementary schools within Georgia. Data were collected from individual interviews, focus group interviews, and journal prompts. This study used qualitative data analysis methods …

The Impact Of Social Media Use On Maternal Vaccination Decisions, Natalie Raquel Flynn

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This quantitative study aimed to explore the impact of social networking sites (SNS) on maternal vaccination decisions. Utilizing purposive sampling, the study ensured a representative sample of mothers or expectant mothers over 18 years old, with at least one child under 18, residing in the United States. Participants completed a composite survey consisting of three individual surveys assessing social media usage, vaccination decisions, and information-seeking behaviors. Descriptive statistics were employed for comprehensive analysis, investigating the influence of accessing social media platforms on maternal COVID-19 vaccination decisions. The Shapiro-Wilk test assessed the normality of age, while frequencies, percentages, median, and interquartile …

Teacher Retention In Title I Schools: A Phenomenological Qualitative Study, Jessica Marie Stetekluh Cain

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenological study was to understand the elements contributing to teacher retention through the lived experiences of K-5 teachers at Title I schools in the Southern United States. The theory guiding this study is Maslow’s hierarchy of needs as it applies to teacher retention. The central research question of this study is as follows: what are the experiences related to retention of K-5 teachers who teach in a Title I school? The sample size included 10 participants. The sample was a convenience sample of teachers from three Title I schools in an urban school district in …

Exploring The Role Of Innovation Across Social And Academic Integration For First-Generation Caribbean Undergraduate Persistence, Angelina Natasha Carvalhal

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this intrinsic case study was to understand how innovation across social and academic integration among first-generation Caribbean Undergraduates supports persistence at three public universities in the Northeast. The theory underpinning this study was Tinto’s dropout theory and theory of institutional departure. Tinto’s theory connected to this study of how supporting innovation through social and academic integration supports the persistence of first-generation Caribbean Undergraduates. The central research question guiding this study was: How has innovative academic content delivery affected the retention of first-generation Caribbean Undergraduates? Purposeful sampling was applied to interview students on-site, while random sampling was applied …

The Influence Of Internet Media On Young Adult Development, Michael A. Ouellette

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The study examines from a Christian worldview how free will, regarded as God's greatest gift, is now being shaped by human influence. New treatment methods become essential to adapt to the media-changing world and help with developmental delays. The purpose of this qualitative grounded theory lite study was to explore Internet media’s influence on young adults in Quebec, Canada. Data on Internet media demographics, social behavior, identity, influence, emotional self-regulation, and moral decision-making were collected by conducting twelve semi-structured, audio-recorded interviews with young adults in Quebec. The responses were coded into six primary themes, with an intercoder conducting a cross-verification …