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Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

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Pastoral Pitfalls: Solutions To Navigating The Stresses Of Twenty-First Century Ministry, Chris Moore Sep 2022

Pastoral Pitfalls: Solutions To Navigating The Stresses Of Twenty-First Century Ministry, Chris Moore

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

American church clergy and their families are suffering from the effects of Twenty-First Century ministry and the stresses of the local church, according to research from the Fuller Institute, Barna Group, and Pastoral Care Inc. Much of the research in this area and its effects on the clergy and churches occurred more than a decade ago. Through updated research and surveys of current Southern Baptist ministers in the Baptist General Convention of Texas, this thesis will offer solutions to how these dangers can be lessened or alleviated. Through the presentation of updated statistics, the seriousness of this problem for the …


The Relationship Of Perceived Learning And Self-Regulated Learning Of Undergraduate Students And The Curiosity Scores Generated By Packback, Rosemarie Rizzuto Sep 2022

The Relationship Of Perceived Learning And Self-Regulated Learning Of Undergraduate Students And The Curiosity Scores Generated By Packback, Rosemarie Rizzuto

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Institutions work to improve their retention rates. Research supports academically and socially integrated students are more likely to develop a commitment to the institution and persist to graduation. Historically these theories emphasized perceived learning and self-regulated learning as contributing factors for student retention. Curiosity is a motivational factor that improves student engagement and academic integration. Discussion boards are used with face-to-face, online, and hybrid courses. Instructors use the virtual workspace to build a collaborative community for students to engage with one another, the instructor, and the course material. Packback uses artificial intelligence (AI) to heighten student engagement on discussion board …


Experienced Pastoral Burnout And The Self-Reported Role Of Emotional Intelligence On Leadership Effectiveness During Burnout, Craig Wesley Folds Sep 2022

Experienced Pastoral Burnout And The Self-Reported Role Of Emotional Intelligence On Leadership Effectiveness During Burnout, Craig Wesley Folds

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Emotional intelligence (EI), employee burnout, and effective leadership traits are constructs that have been researched from a traditional, organizational perspective since the 1970s. Over the past 15 years, pastoral leaders and clergy have been identified as leaders working in the same capacity as public safety officials, medical professionals, mental health specialists, and other helping professions. Research suggests that leaders working in helping professions are often exposed to situations that may induce burnout, create emotional dissonance, and may have adverse implications on effective leadership behaviors during experienced burnout. The significance of this study lies in its identification of a gap in …


Becoming Men, Consequently: From “Contraband” To Men Through Naval Service In The American Civil War, Micah Paul Bellamy Sep 2022

Becoming Men, Consequently: From “Contraband” To Men Through Naval Service In The American Civil War, Micah Paul Bellamy

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

“Becoming Men, Consequently” examines the lives and experiences of African American sailors, both those free and deemed “contraband,” who served in the U.S. Navy during the Civil War, providing a narrative look into the history of African American naval service from the French and Indian War through the Civil War and finishes at the end of World War II. Examining African American men serving in the U.S. Navy during the Civil War offers a novel analysis of their reasons for enlistment, experiences in the ranks, life after the navy, and their life after the navy. The investigation into the question …


Managing Student Misbehavior Through A Restorative Approach: A Phenomenological Study, Michael Preston Christie Sep 2022

Managing Student Misbehavior Through A Restorative Approach: A Phenomenological Study, Michael Preston Christie

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative, transcendental phenomenological study was to understand the perceptions of alternative education teachers in utilizing a restorative approach to managing student behaviors at a small, rural school district in north Florida. Gordon’s (1981) theory on Teacher Effectiveness Training (TET) steered this study in investigating the research questions central to this study: (1) What are the experiences of alternative education teachers in using a restorative approach for addressing student behaviors? (2) How have these experiences shaped the teacher-student relationship? (3) What are the professional development needs of alternative education teachers to improve the restorative practices experience? Through …


The Relationship Between Technology Readiness And Online Professional Development, Scott Farrell Ringkamp Sep 2022

The Relationship Between Technology Readiness And Online Professional Development, Scott Farrell Ringkamp

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this quantitative, correlational study is to determine if there is a relationship between technology readiness and grades, the number of attempts taken, or the time it took to complete an online professional development. Because of the pandemic, much educator professional development has shifted online. When this occurred, many teachers were unprepared to make this shift. To study the relationship, the researcher surveyed 73 staff members of an LEA in central Pennsylvania using the Technology Readiness Index 2.0 instrument. Then, the researcher computed a correlation coefficient between each participant’s Technology Readiness Index score and their grades, number of …


A Phenomenological Study Of The Experiences Of School Leaders' Preparation And Leadership Of Inclusive And Special Education Programs, April Denise Burwell Sep 2022

A Phenomenological Study Of The Experiences Of School Leaders' Preparation And Leadership Of Inclusive And Special Education Programs, April Denise Burwell

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This transcendental phenomenological study describes how public school leaders experience learning and leading inclusive and special education programs. Two theories guided this study Knowles’s adult learning theory and Mezirow’s transformative learning theory. The central research question for this study was how school leaders describe their professional experiences in leading inclusive and special education programming. The 10 participants in this study were school leaders endorsed in administration and supervision K–12. A criterion sampling was utilized for participant selection across three school districts in Central Virginia. The phenomenological approach was applied during data analysis. Horizontalization and coding were used to identify common …


A Phenomenological Study Of Clergy Job-Related Stress And Stress-Coping During Covid-19, Peter Michael Foxwell Sep 2022

A Phenomenological Study Of Clergy Job-Related Stress And Stress-Coping During Covid-19, Peter Michael Foxwell

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore the lived experience of stress and stress-coping of five Michigan pastors who led their Evangelical Free Church of America (EFCA) congregations through the 2020-21 COVID-19 pandemic. Stress is generally defined as the psychophysiological response to a perceived threat or stressor, and stress-coping is generally defined as intentional behaviors designed to manage stress. The theoretical background of this study is the transactional theory of stress and coping (TTSC) (Lazarus, 1966; Lazarus & Folkman, 1984) as it relates to pastors’ lived experience of ministry-related stress and coping in crisis conditions. The rationales for …


A Phenomenological Study Of Administrators' Perceptions Of College Mergers, Abigail Carter Sep 2022

A Phenomenological Study Of Administrators' Perceptions Of College Mergers, Abigail Carter

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to describe the experience of administrators who participated in mergers of technical colleges in a Southern state in the United States. The theory guiding this study was Lewin’s (1997) change theory. Lewin (1997) suggested that the critical factor of an organization’s tone lies in leadership before, during, and after a change. Therefore, the success of any significant organizational transition, such as a merger, relies on the skills of leaders. A central research question and three sub-questions were used to understand the lived experiences that impact administrators during a college merger. A qualitative …


Examining Synchronous Technology And Corrective Feedback In High School Mathematics Courses: A Collective Case Study, Sharon Owens Sep 2022

Examining Synchronous Technology And Corrective Feedback In High School Mathematics Courses: A Collective Case Study, Sharon Owens

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this collective case study was to present an in-depth understanding of teachers' (N = 9) implementing and using online synchronous technology that provides real-time corrective feedback for students in a high school mathematics course at a Christian school in Taiwan. This qualitative research design examined the implementation of platforms that provided correctives within international high schools in Taiwan. The research-based data analysis methodologies involved within-case and across-case analysis. The theories that guided this study were Bloom's (1968) mastery learning theory and Piaget's (1972) cognitive learning theory. One central research question and two sub-questions guided the study. The …


A Quantitative Research Study On Probability Risk Assessments In Critical Infrastructure And Homeland Security, Alfred B. Lee Sep 2022

A Quantitative Research Study On Probability Risk Assessments In Critical Infrastructure And Homeland Security, Alfred B. Lee

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This dissertation encompassed quantitative research on probabilistic risk assessment (PRA) elements in homeland security and the impact on critical infrastructure and key resources. There are 16 crucial infrastructure sectors in homeland security that represent assets, system networks, virtual and physical environments, roads and bridges, transportation, and air travel. The design included the Bayes theorem, a process used in PRAs when determining potential or probable events, causes, outcomes, and risks. The goal is to mitigate the effects of domestic terrorism and natural and man-made disasters, respond to events related to critical infrastructure that can impact the United States, and help protect …


Mothering While Black: Examining Resilience And Grit In The Raising Of Black Boys By Black Single Mothers, Suzette M. Fagan Aug 2022

Mothering While Black: Examining Resilience And Grit In The Raising Of Black Boys By Black Single Mothers, Suzette M. Fagan

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The ongoing struggles and challenges of the Black experience and the consequences thereof have been widely studied. One of the many challenges that have faced by this population is the growing epidemic of single parenting. The fractured nature of the Black family has been researched, showing the implications of absentee fathers and the raising of children by black single mothers, especially those raising boys. Using the social constructs of resiliency and grit, this study provided insight into how Black single mothers used resilience and grit to turn their parenting into a story of hope. A qualitative phenomenological study was conducted …


The Spiritual And Emotional Dynamics Of Pastoral Transitions: A Phenomenological Study, Carl Michael Mclaughlin Aug 2022

The Spiritual And Emotional Dynamics Of Pastoral Transitions: A Phenomenological Study, Carl Michael Mclaughlin

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to explore the central phenomenon of how the spiritual and emotional dynamics of outgoing and incoming pastoral leadership impacted the pastoral transition and to discover common patterns in successful transitions. The central question addressed in this phenomenological research was, “How do pastoral teams consisting of the outgoing pastor and spouse and the incoming pastor and spouse process the spiritual and emotional dynamics of a pastoral transition?” The church is described as a family (Eph 3:15) with spiritual and emotional needs. The pastor should possess personal competence and social competence to lead the …


A Case Study Of Audio Video Technology And Film Teachers’ Preparedness, Brian Ronald Holt Aug 2022

A Case Study Of Audio Video Technology And Film Teachers’ Preparedness, Brian Ronald Holt

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative case study was to provide a deeper understanding of audio video technology and film (AVTF) teachers’ preparedness to teach this curriculum in the state of Georgia. Their preparedness will generally be defined as the degree of formal training, or lack thereof, for teaching the AVTF curriculum in Georgia public schools. The research questions were as follows: Central Question: To what degree are current AVTF teachers’ formal training experiences sufficient in teaching a CTE course offering? Sub-Question 1: What are AVTF teachers’ training experiences? Sub-Question 2: What research-based teaching strategies are employed by AVTF teachers? Sub-Question …


Exploring The K-12 School Experiences That Contribute To Resilience In Adulthood As Described By Resilient Adults With Adverse Childhood Experiences: A Phenomenology, Susannah Wyndi Bradley Aug 2022

Exploring The K-12 School Experiences That Contribute To Resilience In Adulthood As Described By Resilient Adults With Adverse Childhood Experiences: A Phenomenology, Susannah Wyndi Bradley

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study is to describe the K-12 school experiences that contributed to resilience in adulthood for individuals with adverse childhood experiences (ACEs). The theory guiding this study is Abraham Maslow’s hierarchy of needs as it explains how students’ achievement and engagement in learning, as well as their barriers to the same are related to students’ unmet basic needs, the pursuit of safety, and feelings of fear and mistrust. The research questions will explore how resilient adults with ACEs describe the K-12 classroom experiences that contributed to their resilience in adulthood, the classrooms where they were …


Conflict Surrounding The Red Castle: The Smithsonian Institution During The Civil War, Amber Turner Darby Aug 2022

Conflict Surrounding The Red Castle: The Smithsonian Institution During The Civil War, Amber Turner Darby

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This research project is an attempt to explain the social, racial, cultural, and economic history of the Smithsonian Institution during the Civil War. While the Institution aimed to maintain political neutrality since its establishment in 1846, various events such as the Compromise of 1850 and the Presidential Election of 1860 initiated a four-year-long war that placed the city of Washington and the Institution near enemy lines. During this war, the Institution suffered from labor losses, was forced to halt progress on research, and constantly feared destruction of the artifacts from Confederate attacks. This research project also examines the early history …


Engaging Millennials In Missions, Annell Adams James Aug 2022

Engaging Millennials In Missions, Annell Adams James

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The millennial members of the Power of God Church have shown a lack of interest in participating in the local church's mission ministry. This lack of interest has caused the Missions Department and the church concern because fulfilling the mission of God is the mission of the church. The mission statement of the church is the focus of the ministry programs. Suppose the mission department creates a missions training program designed to focus on a technological learning style in which millennials thrive. Could it attract, involve, and engage millennials in future mission trips while educating them? It is this question …


Facilitating Conditions That Increase Faculty Perceived Usefulness Of Learning Management Systems: A Multiple-Case Study, Darnell S. Kemp Aug 2022

Facilitating Conditions That Increase Faculty Perceived Usefulness Of Learning Management Systems: A Multiple-Case Study, Darnell S. Kemp

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this research study designed as a multiple-case study was to discover the facilitating conditions that led faculty at the higher education level to create activities using student-centered learning tools in the learning management systems (LMSs). The theories guiding this study were Davis’ technology acceptance model and two versions of the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology. Both theories looked at how perceived ease of use (PEU) and perceived usefulness (PU) determine a user’s use of a technology. The unified theory of acceptance and use of technology added facilitating conditions as a primary determiner of technology …


A Step Toward An Interfaith Visitation Ministry To Provide Spiritual, Social, And Emotional Support To The Seriously Ill And Elderly At Their Homes In The Community Served By Good Samaritan Medical Center Lafayette, Colorado, Grant Gill Kirksey Aug 2022

A Step Toward An Interfaith Visitation Ministry To Provide Spiritual, Social, And Emotional Support To The Seriously Ill And Elderly At Their Homes In The Community Served By Good Samaritan Medical Center Lafayette, Colorado, Grant Gill Kirksey

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this Doctor of Ministry action research thesis is to identify the support offered to the seriously ill and elderly by local faith-based communities, to compare the identified interventions provided, to discuss the population’s needs and satisfaction with their local hospitals, and to discuss the results in the context of the population of seriously ill and elderly community members, and explore opportunities for Good Samaritan Medical Center (GSMC), Lafayette, Colorado, to partner with local religious communities to improve the well-being of the seriously ill and elderly in their community. This project will include the analysis of needs and …


A Training Manual For Small-Group Evangelization Of Youth Unbelievers, Stanley Vincent James Aug 2022

A Training Manual For Small-Group Evangelization Of Youth Unbelievers, Stanley Vincent James

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This thesis project is a study on the evangelism toward young adult unbelievers by church members of The Power of the Living God Church of Galveston. This DMin action research project aims to motivate church members to evangelize this critical group of unbelievers. The focus will concentrate on the reasons given by members for non-participation. The questions concerning the lack of participation would be analyzed to assess the behavior of the members and to ultimately determine a path forward for effective participation. The project will utilize interviews and focus groups to ascertain the reasons for the lack of motivation for …


A Case Study Of Cultural Awareness Integration Throughout The Elementary Education Curriculum, Kristina Nicole Laird-Arnold Aug 2022

A Case Study Of Cultural Awareness Integration Throughout The Elementary Education Curriculum, Kristina Nicole Laird-Arnold

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this instrumental case study was to understand the critical aspects of cultural awareness education at the elementary level. This study intended to assess a variety of educators’ perceptions of elementary students’ cultural awareness and character development by asking what role culture awareness plays in the development of the whole child. This instrumental case study sought to identify teachers’ perceptions of the current educational provisions of teaching and learning through cultural proficiency in elementary education. The central research question was: How do elementary teachers’ perceptions of cultural awareness help integrate content throughout the educational curriculum? It was used …


Accepting The Cost: German Baptist Brethren, Faith, And The American Civil War, Sheilah Rana Elwardani Aug 2022

Accepting The Cost: German Baptist Brethren, Faith, And The American Civil War, Sheilah Rana Elwardani

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The German Baptist Brethren, Dunkers, were a Pietist sect which organized in the Palatinate region of the German lands in central Europe in 1708. The sect was founded upon the structure of the Apostolic, or Primitive, Christian Church. The founder, Alexander Mack, was strongly engaged with the theology of the Pietist movement and taught that the structure of the Christian life must be firmly founded in scripture with Mathew 5 proscribing the elemental principles of the sect. The Brethren practiced adult, believers, baptism and firmly adhered to core peace principles as interpreted from Mathew 5. Increasing persecution forced the two …


Third Culture Kids' Repatriation And Planned Transition To College From A South Asian Country: A Qualitative Collective Case Study, Sandra Wiemann Blank Aug 2022

Third Culture Kids' Repatriation And Planned Transition To College From A South Asian Country: A Qualitative Collective Case Study, Sandra Wiemann Blank

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative collective case study was to understand the transition to college in the United States of third culture kids (TCKs) who have spent at least one year in South Asia during their upbringing (ages 6-18). Schlossberg’s adults in transition theory was employed to study planned transitions to college. This study attempted to answer the research questions: How do TCKs perceive the major events or benchmarks in their transition to college? How did expected and unexpected outcomes impact TCKs’ experience during their transition to college? What resources do TCKs typically access during their repatriation to college transition …


A Quantitative Study Examining Individual Employee Experiences Of Change Initiatives And The Impact On Employee Perceptions Of Change And Attitudes, Adrienne Marie Read Aug 2022

A Quantitative Study Examining Individual Employee Experiences Of Change Initiatives And The Impact On Employee Perceptions Of Change And Attitudes, Adrienne Marie Read

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Current organizational change management models focus on information sharing as the primary mechanism for involving employees in change initiatives, but most change initiatives fail due to limited attention given to organizational members impacted by change. The current study provides empirical evidence for more tangible methods of employee involvement by examining individual experiences of organizational change and the influence of involvement factors (leadership communication and work contribution) on employee perception of change and job attitudes (organizational commitment and turnover intentions). A causal-comparative design was implemented using a 39-item survey administered to 344 participants who have experienced an organizational change. The nonparametric …


Exploration Of The Effectiveness Of Trauma Systems Therapy For Foster Care, Laura Marie Doran Aug 2022

Exploration Of The Effectiveness Of Trauma Systems Therapy For Foster Care, Laura Marie Doran

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Permanency is the desired outcome when a child has been placed into a foster care placement. That permanency outcome can involve a return to their birth family, being adopted by a new family, or guardianship with a relative (Lockwood et al., 2015). Achieving the final goal requires foster parents to understand trauma, dysregulated behaviors, and parenting techniques. The foster parent’s attachment and commitment to the foster child is affected by their understanding of those three topics. Trauma training is key to accomplishing that fuller understanding (Patterson et al., 2018). Foster parents’ comprehension of the trauma effects on behaviors and the …


Leadership Competencies For Christian Directors At International Schools In Saudi Arabia, Ayanna Saran Jones Aug 2022

Leadership Competencies For Christian Directors At International Schools In Saudi Arabia, Ayanna Saran Jones

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

As Christian leaders expand their influence into the Middle East, it is important for both leaders and institutions to know what competencies are essential for these leaders. Educational leadership in Saudi Arabia is under reformation as expats and nationals work in collaboration to lead international schools towards Vision 2030. To compile a list of essential competencies, this exploratory qualitative research explored which skills, behaviors, and knowledge were recommended by recruiters and Saudi principals for international directors. The exploratory research included interviews with three Saudi principals and three recruiters who shed light on the essential competencies for expatriate directors. Based on …


A Case Study Examining School Leadership And General Education Teachers' Perceived Preparedness For Inclusion Of Students With High-Functioning Autism, Melony Yvonne Marciniak Aug 2022

A Case Study Examining School Leadership And General Education Teachers' Perceived Preparedness For Inclusion Of Students With High-Functioning Autism, Melony Yvonne Marciniak

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this case study in a Pre-K-12 Christian school environment was to understand the perceived preparedness and perceived efficacy of education professionals and general education middle- and high-school teachers for inclusion of students with high-functioning autism (HFA). The education professionals included a school nurse, one special education teacher, a director of special education and a religion teacher. Three theories guiding the research were self-fulfilling prophecies as defined by Merton (1948), Gilbert and Wilson’s (2007) theory of prospection, and Bandura’s (1995) theory of self-efficacy. The central research question was: How do education professionals and general education teachers in a …


Equipping Members Of Watchmen Supernatural International Ministries To Share The Gospel Effectively In The Local Community, Claudette Elaine Mckenzie Nicholson Aug 2022

Equipping Members Of Watchmen Supernatural International Ministries To Share The Gospel Effectively In The Local Community, Claudette Elaine Mckenzie Nicholson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The problem is that members of Watchmen on the Walls Supernatural International Ministries are not having successful results when they share the gospel message locally. The purpose of this DMIN Project is to equip unisex adults and adolescent members of Watchmen on the Walls Supernatural International Ministries to conduct evangelism. The thesis project seeks to design a plan to enhance the knowledge and abilities of WWSIM members to share the gospel effectively. The design is a theoretical and practical training plan that will impact twelve participants in the classroom, on the streets, and in a coordinated outreach in one of …


Distribution Center Erp Utilization, Andrew B. Davidson Aug 2022

Distribution Center Erp Utilization, Andrew B. Davidson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Globalization has forced the supply chain industry into becoming more reliant on technology. Organizations invest large amounts of resources in remaining competitive in today's market. The primary tool distribution centers leverage in their general business practice is an enterprise resources planning (ERP) system. Unfortunately, this system is often underutilized after the initial implementation. This qualitative case study aimed to explore the benefits of advanced ERP training and knowledge management policies in order to provide recommendations to increase distribution centers ERP utilization. The recommendations, if implemented, will maximize corporate capabilities by influencing ERP efficiency. A manufacturing organization with distribution centers throughout …


Development And Pedagogy Of Vocal Jazz Ensembles According To Illinois High School Choral Directors: Perspectives, Andrew Baguisa Evangelista Aug 2022

Development And Pedagogy Of Vocal Jazz Ensembles According To Illinois High School Choral Directors: Perspectives, Andrew Baguisa Evangelista

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this study is to explore instructional strategies and participation concerns regarding vocal jazz ensembles according to high school choral directors in Illinois who lead their schools’ vocal jazz programs. High school choir directors without jazz experience often recognize the need to expand their performance and pedagogical abilities in jazz and access to vocal jazz repertory; however, professional development opportunities in Illinois’ music education organization have yet to offer guidance. This leaves choral directors without jazz experience little insight on how to familiarize themselves with jazz styles, pertinent pedagogical ideas, and how to apply available resources towards the …