Digital Commons Network^™

A Predictive Study Of Factors Impacting Technology Integration In Elementary Public Charter Schools, Carrie D. Ortiz

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this predictive correlational study was to determine if technology integration in elementary public charter schools can be predicted from a variety of factors. These factors included self-efficacy for technology usage, perceived benefits of technology usage, teachers’ beliefs and behaviors related to technology, and the available support. The study addressed technology integration in public charter schools by analyzing relationships between these factors and the level of technology integration. The target population was public charter school classroom teachers in the state of New Mexico. All teachers were general education teachers in grades kindergarten to sixth. Teachers completed the Teacher …

Experiential Truth In Contemporary Worship Environments: The Role Of Late Twentieth And Early Twenty-First Century Worship Music In The Spiritual Formation Of Millennials, Clifford Ernest Lambert Ii

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Over the past forty years, the American Church has gone to great lengths to make corporate worship culturally attractive for the purpose of evangelizing the Millennial population. Their main emphasis in accomplishing this has been to shift their approach to culturally relevant modes of presentation.  The main components of this shift have included the style, presentation aesthetic, and lyrical content of corporate worship music.  However, immediately following these methodological shifts has been a disillusionment with the flaws of attractional ministry, leading many to a biblically compromised faith and the espousal of progressive theologies.  A distrust of authority paired with postmodern …

Ecology Of Faith And Learning: A Case Study Of The Experience Of Spiritual Formation Of Online Undergraduate Students, Phillip Vincent

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this collective case study was to describe the spiritual formation practices of online undergraduate students at a Christian college. This study employed a qualitative methodology approach involving 12 online undergraduate students engaged in studies at a Christian college in the United States. The theoretical framework that guided this study was the ecological systems theory and the ecologies of faith model. The central research question was: How do online undergraduate students describe their experiences of spiritual formation while engaged in online studies? The data collection methods consisted of interviews, journal prompts, and document analysis. The data analysis process …

Regular Education Teachers' Lived Experiences With Self-Efficacy In Light Of The Endrew F. Decision Of 2017 - A Phenomenological Study, Brian Edward Helsel

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to describe the lived experiences of regular education teachers' perceptions of self-efficacy aligned with the FAPE mandate in an inclusion model at a small, rural school district on the east coast. The central research question was as follows: What are the lived experiences of regular education teachers working within an inclusion model with students with disabilities? The theory guiding this study involves Bandura's self-efficacy theory of behavioral change, which Bandura defines as a core belief in one's capabilities to act to produce results. A qualitative hermeneutical phenomenology approach aligns with the study by …

The Duality Of Teachers As Learners Through Influences Of Self-Regulation In Pedagogical Competencies: A Case Study, Rebecca Young

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this multiple case study was to describe the elements of self-regulated learning utilized by K-12 teachers navigating the process of improving instructional pedagogy and self-efficacy in a rural school district. The guiding theory of this study was Bandura’s social cognitive theory of self-regulation, as it addresses the connection of self-directedness in goal attainment actions, motivation, and efficacy in learners. A multiple case study of twelve K-12 teachers in a rural school district was used to showcase the individuals’ lenses of self-regulatory practices. Open-ended interviews focused on the patterns and experiences with self-regulation each educator exhibits while designing, …

Teachers' Perceptions On The Implementation Of Behavioral Intervention Initiatives In Alternate Schools: A Phenomenological Study, Teddrick Mccreary

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative transcendental phenomenological study was to understand the teachers' perceptions of the implementation of behavior intervention initiatives in alternative schools. The theory guiding this study was the Concerns-Based Adoption Model (CBAM) framework, as it suggested that teachers' attitudes and behaviors in learning or implementing new philosophies, resources, and methodologies would be addressed to proceed to higher levels of curriculum implementation. This phenomenological study investigated 13 teachers' perceptions of implementing behavior intervention initiatives at several alternative school campuses in the United States. Qualitative data collection methods included individual interviews, a focus group, and questionnaires with experienced teachers …

Mental Health Literacy Among Adolescents In Rural Communities, Chantel Amelia-Lyn-Marie Windy

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Having an understanding of mental health literacy in rural based adolescents is essential for creating change in levels of knowledge, beliefs about mental health, and help-seeking behaviors. The Mental Health Literacy Scale (MHLS) is a self-report measure of mental health literacy. This study used the MHLS to measure mental health literacy in rural students ages 14-17 and in Grades 9–12. Results from this study can help researchers understand the relationships between mental health literacy, age, gender, and stigma. A sample of 120 participants was used for this study. Participants' guardians were asked to complete a consent form, and participants completed …

One Church’S Apathy Toward Fulfilling The Great Commission, David Thomas Williamson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Philippians 1:9-11 records Paul’s prayer containing four assessments believers can use to measure their progress toward spiritual maturity. These areas include a love that flows, a mind that knows, a character that shows, and a fruit that grows. The purpose of all these qualities is to demonstrate God’s glory. Where spiritual maturity is absent, apathy and complacency abound, and this dilemma must be overcome before a church can effectively pursue and sustain a viable focus on church revitalization. Because theological academia has not effectively focused on the partnership between spiritual maturity and church revitalization, this DMIN research project will address …

A Causal-Comparative Study Of Student And Faculty Perceptions Of Academic Misconduct In Advanced Practice Nursing Education, Jennifer Marie Oakes

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this quantitative, causal-comparative study was to identify whether there is a difference between student and faculty perceptions of academic misconduct in APRN education. The findings of this study may aid in the strategic management of academic policies and enforcements. The study took place at a single private university in Texas which houses six graduate-level APRN programs. The sample size consisted of 92 students and 42 faculty. The Exams and Assignments Scale (EAS) was used as an instrument for both groups and anonymous data was collected using an online survey platform. Statistical analysis took place using an independent …

Systemic Barriers In Victims Of Commercial Sexual Exploitation Of Children (Csec), Caitlin Brooks

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children (CSEC), also known as child sex trafficking is a topic trending amongst the media both nationally and internationally. Within the United States, numerous agencies such as law enforcement (LE), the Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ), the Division of Family & Children Services (DFCS), Children’s Advocacy Centers (CACs), and others tend to become involved in child trafficking cases in some capacity. This qualitative study aims to fill a gap in research by investigating how the child-serving system creates its own barriers, leaving child victims without services. Two data collection methods were utilized to obtain which …

A Phenomenological Study Of Parents Accessing And Receiving Professional Care For Their Child With Autism Spectrum Disorder (Asd) During The Covid-19 Outbreak In Washington State, Patrick Michael Barry

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

COVID-19 changes and restrictions have necessitated a change in the way schools, mental health providers, medical providers, and other educational and therapy services provide for children with autism. This study explores, in-depth, the experience of parents of children with ASD as they have navigated the COVID-19 required changes to professional treatment and services for children with ASD and their families. Research suggests that raising a child with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) can be an overwhelming experience for parents and families, and greater family burden is positively associated with the number of unmet professional help service needs. As services were …

The Impact Of Stressors On Undergraduate College Students With Anxiety Disorders: A Phenomenological Study, Whitney Shea Dickerson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

ABSTRACT The purpose of this qualitative transcendental phenomenological study was to understand the essence of the shared lived experiences of undergraduate college students with anxiety disorders at two universities in the Southeastern United States. One institution is a mid-sized, public, nonsectarian university; the other is a small, private, faith-based liberal arts college. The theory guiding this study is Ellis’s cognitive theory, rational emotive behavior therapy (REBT), which posits that irrational core beliefs create intense negative emotions that cause suffering. The central research question is intended to elicit rich data regarding the shared lived experiences of the study participants. The four …

The Communication Culture Of Flourishing Churches, Ronald Drake Jenkins

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study provides qualitative phenomenological observations that analyze and describe communication styles in ten flourishing churches. Practicing Christians contribute significantly to our society and culture. The primary goal of this study was to investigate the communication cultural themes within healthy and flourishing churches. The parameters of this study were limited to ten churches found on the Outreach Magazine Top-100 largest and fastest growing churches in America. Each of these churches was visited one time during a Sunday morning service. During this process, this researcher was a participant observer, examining and flourishing themes in real-time while observing the ten churches. People …

A Phenomenological Study Of Pastors Leaving Employment Due To Experienced Poor Person-Organization Fit, Stephen T. Buys

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore and describe pastors’ experiences who have served full-time in a lead/senior pastor role in evangelical churches after having lost or left their employment as a result of experiencing poor person-organization fit. For this study, pastoral staff turnover was defined as the employment of full-time pastoral staff employed for at least one year who have resulted in voluntary or involuntary resignation from their place of employment because of value incongruence. In this phenomenology, the church is viewed as an educational institution, including similarities between pastoral roles and educator and administrator roles. As …

K-12 Florida Christian Schools In Crisis: A Correlational Study Of Educational Leadership During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Cesar O. Irizarry

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

K-12 Florida Christian schools were disrupted due to the advent of a global crisis brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic. Flexibility was needed by educational leadership during this time of crisis. For that reason, this study will aim to understand the leadership principles necessary to provide leaders with the flexibility to adapt to extreme circumstances. The literature addresses the leader’s importance of being flexible during a crisis (Ruffner & Huizing, 2016). However, the literature continues to examine the effects of the pandemic on education but has not identified those contingencies that are necessary for leaders in the Christian educational system …

Managing Cyber Defense As A Business Threat For Small And Medium Enterprises, Binh Quang Vo

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The U.S small and medium businesses (SMBs) are constantly attacked by cybercriminals. Alarmingly, the number of victimized SMBs is growing considerably every year. This results in the increasing loss of billions of dollars and risks to the national economy. The problem addressed was the rising number of cyberattacks critically harming SMBs resulting in revenue loss, damages to reputation, and business closure. The purpose of this research was to reveal the contemporary barriers and challenges that impact cybersecurity competencies of SMBs. This study used semi-structured interviews of participants who are currently working as cyber professionals in SMBs across industries. The goal …

A Transcendental Phenomenological Investigation Of Perceived Spirituality And Persistence Of Jamaican Women Who Have Received A Tertiary Degree, Ashleigh Jacqueline Yearde

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to discover the perceived spirituality and persistence for Jamaican women who had received a tertiary degree at schools in Jamaica. At this stage in the research, a tertiary degree was generally defined as all formal post-secondary education, including public and private universities, colleges, technical training institutes, and vocational schools. The theory guiding this research was Lev Vygotsky’s social constructivist theory. Constructivists believe that knowledge was informed by perspective and shaped by values. The theoretical framework for the study was based on the positive foundation of social support in the learning process. Moustakas’s …

A Content Analysis Of A Black Plus-Size Woman And Social Media Influencer Making Policy Change: Through The Lens Of Instagram, Tamika Nicole Johnson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study examines how a Black plus-size woman social media influencer, @CurvyNyome, encounters censorship, dehumanization, sexualization, and body-shaming on Instagram. Social media, such as Instagram, have formed communication channels and opened avenues for people to be expressive, positive, hostile, or indifferent. The long history of the sexualization and dehumanization of Black women is rooted in centuries of oppression, which led the recipients of oppression to inadvertently adopt dehumanizing beliefs and behaviors (Burnette et al., 2017). The study’s significance is that Black plus-size women are often made to believe and feel that their body is not beautiful. Black women have struggled …

The Impact Of High School Math Teachers' Conceptions Of Teaching And Learning On Implementation Of Student-Centered Instructional Practices, Melissa Marie Lute

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this quantitative, predictive, correlational study is to investigate the relationship between high school math teachers’ conceptions of constructivist instructional practices and their conceptions of traditional teaching practices with their implementation of student-centered learning (SCL) practices in their math classes. Cognitive constructivism, theories of teacher beliefs, and teacher self-efficacy provide a theoretical framework for understanding math teachers’ beliefs about teaching and learning and their use of SCL. This quantitative, nonexperimental study uses a correlational research design to investigate teachers' conceptions of teaching and learning and their implementation of student-centered instructional practices. The convenience sample included 68 high school …

The Impact Of Juvenile Drug Court On Recidivism, Mallory Noelle Watkins

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The number of youths entering the juvenile justice system is a viable concern throughout the United States. A gap in the existing literature surrounding juvenile justice is recidivism rates among young offenders who are incarcerated or sanctioned to a community-based level of supervision after committing a transgression of a law. Federal juvenile justice practitioners, such as the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP), the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges (NCJFCJ), the United States Department of Justice (DOJ), and others, in addition to individual states and localities throughout the United States, have taken various approaches to …

Church Personnel Perceptions Of Disorderly Students: A Case Study Of Misconduct In Child Ministry Programs, Regina M. Davis

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The problem: undisciplined children in church settings disrupt biblical teachings and provide the impetus for other children to act inappropriately. Therefore, discipline issues must be addressed. Christian teachers have a unique responsibility to establish high moral and ethical standards in their classrooms based on God’s Word, thus, student discipline issues must be addressed for the wellbeing of all concerned.

The purpose of this Qualitative Case Study is to understand the student discipline issues experienced by teachers in child ministry programs and how they coped with these issues. Student discipline issues can be defined as incidents of disruptive behaviors exhibited by …

Student Perceptions Of Learning Loss Following Traumatic Multi-Event School Closures: A Phenomenological Study, Robert Todd Mitchell

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to describe the lived experiences of students who suffered learning loss due to multiple school closures during the 2018-2019 and 2019-2020 academic years while attending Bay District Schools (BDS) in Bay County, Florida. The theoretical framework utilized in this study was Weiner’s Attribution Theory (AT). Weiner (1974) posited that the pursuit of understanding the motivation of an individual’s behavior requires attributing one or more causes to the behavior. Using attribution, I engaged participants in their personal narratives in order to understand and interpret their experience, motivation, and dimension of behavior regarding the …

Integrating Social-Emotional Learning And The 2014 National Music Ensemble Standards In High School Instrumental Programs, David Paul Sohayda

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The combination of academic content standards and social-emotional learning in the high school setting continues to be an underserved area. The high school instrumental ensemble remains a vehicle through which social-emotional learning can flourish through incorporation of the 2014 National Music Ensemble Standards. This qualitative research study seeks to address how a skills-based approach is consistent with and supports the social-emotional learning (SEL) of the high school instrumental student. Identifying perspectives on how integrating the 2014 national ensemble standards and social-emotional learning into the high school ensemble supports content-rich musical development and student mental health, the benefits of SEL, 2014 …

The Texas Reading Academies And The Experiences Of Teachers Who Instruct Students With Disabilities: A Phenomenological Study, Suzanne S. Jones

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

To build today's students' reading skills, teachers must know effective instructional reading practices. Therefore, the purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to understand the experiences with learning and incorporating the elements of the Texas Reading Academies with a focus on language comprehension by teachers who instruct students with disabilities in Texas. The Texas Reading Academies' goal is to provide teachers with reading instructional practices grounded in the science of reading. The theory guiding this study was Malcolm Knowles' adult learning theory, with the central research question asking what the experiences of teachers who instruct students with disabilities were with …

The Role Of Military Chaplains And Effective Spiritual Care For Strengthening Military Marriages During Deployments, Carl Michael Johnson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Military chaplains provide spiritual support and counseling to the military populations alongside conducting religious services. As a military process, chaplaincy operates as a liaison between military personnel, mental health professionals, and clinical marriage counselors. In this context, the military population is extensive and consists of military personnel, military chaplains, and their civilian families. It must be acknowledged that various service-motivated challenges confront these individuals. For instance, military marriages are threatened by lengthy deployment and family separations. Therefore, it is significant to contextualize military marriages’ coping, survival, and strengthening as most contemporary researchers have focused on this subject. Most studies have …

The Dark Web And Human Trafficking, Jamie Kay Graham

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This is a quantitative-comparative analysis that focuses on Artificial Intelligence (AI) platforms that assist law enforcement agencies as they combat human trafficking. Human trafficking is a Transnational Organized Crime (TOC) which means it can impact every country in the world, and in doing so, impact every person in the world. AI uses machine-learning capabilities to identify clusters, odd and/or unusual font, words, numbers, and other markers in advertisements that promote the sale of human beings. Human trafficking affects males, females, and children of all ages and can include different types of trafficking such as sex and labor trafficking. By using …

Success Vs. Survival: The Challenges Of Teaching K-12 School Music In South Metro Atlanta, Davion Rashad Battle

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Music education has been an essential part of American education and society. Since the earliest beginning of our nation's founding, many proponents of music education successfully advocated for musicians to teach music as a curricular discipline within the core of academics. Still, changes continue to occur with governmental reform and educational policies. Coupled with the demographic changes within our society, successful and influential music education has become a difficult challenge for many educators who teach within communities with limited resources. Many teacher-educator preparation programs across the nation modify curriculums to meet the concerns of an ever-changing society, including socioeconomic status, …

A Hermeneutic Phenomenological Study Of Surgical Technology Graduates Who Achieved Transformative Learning, Anna Danielle Campbell

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenological study was to understand the experiences of successful surgical technology graduates who achieved transformative learning during their CAAHEP accredited surgical technology program while encountering risk factors for failure. The study’s central research question is: What experiences of successful surgical technology graduates contributed to transformative learning? The theory guiding this study is Mezirow’s (1981) theory of transformative learning. Mezirow’s theory relates to this study as it requires individuals to find meaning in learning in order, through a disorienting dilemma, to acquire new perspectives on their subject matter. The setting of this study is Commission on …

After-School Programs: Impact On The Academic Outcomes Of Elementary Students In A Rural School, Jeremy Brent Hogan

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this quantitative, causal-comparative study was to determine if there is a difference in academic achievement between first-, second-, and third-grade students who attended a 21st Century Community Learning Center after-school program and first-, second-, and third-grade students who did not attend a 21st Century Community Learning Center after-school program. There is limited research investigating the effect of after-school programs on the academic achievement of students from rural school settings. Offering quality after-school programs in rural communities is important to meet the needs of students and families and promote positive academic and social outcomes. The sample (N=1062) included …

Elementary Teachers' Experiences Of Student Engagement During Forced Virtual Learning: A Phenomenological Approach, Heather Nicole Campbell

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to understand and describe Virginia's Shenandoah Valley Elementary School teachers' experiences of student engagement during forced virtual learning. Teachers' experiences were defined by their positive or negative perceptions of virtual learning experiences. Bandura's social learning theory guided this study on the importance of student engagement in the classroom. This qualitative, transcendental phenomenological study included 12 elementary school teachers from the Madre school division. Data were collected through interviews, letter writing, and focus groups. The precoding and coding processes were used for data analysis to identify three final themes. The themes were online …