Digital Commons Network^™

Fostering Greater Interest And Engagement In Scripture Through An Eight-Week Scripture Reading Intervention, Jeffrey Lee Willey

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this thesis is to encourage the reading of the Scriptures at Femme Osage Church. The project demonstrates how the Holy Spirit can use simple, daily exposure to the Scriptures to transform apathetic participants into persons enthusiastic about reading their Bibles. The thesis explores the enigmatic problem of apathy toward the Word and its causes from Christian and secular viewpoints. A review of popular methodologies used to address Bible apathy is included. This study claims that Christians fail to read the Scriptures, not because they are lazy, but because of overlooked and misunderstood obstacles that cause apathy toward …

Effects Of Strategic Communications Of Middle-Level Managers On Strategic Thinking And Organizational Performance: A Quantitative Study, Anthony Uwem Wilson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study explored the relationship between Middle-Level Managers' (MLM) strategic communications, strategic thinking, and organizational performance. Pieces of evidence about strategic communications processes and strategic thinking supporting increased organizational performance are critical to an organization. According to researchers, when strategic communications and strategic thinking are not in the manager’s thought processes, any plans based upon such methods might fail to achieve the desired outcomes concerning organizational performance. While strategic communications and strategic thinking are essential to corporate performance, researchers have not fully substantiated their impact on the performance outcomes of an organization. Identifying to the highest Degree how a relationship …

Effect On Student Achievement For Middle School Math Students Using Blackboard, Canvas And Schoology In The State Of Virginia, Rosa Ann Woodley-Richard

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this quantitative, causal-comparative research was to compare the differences in middle-school student achievement for grade 7 math students among three different learning management systems: Blackboard, Canvas, and Schoology. The instrument was the Virginia Grade 7 Math Standards of Learning test. The population included students in the 7th grade attending a public school in the state of Virginia. The participants were the individual school districts. The study examined the means between the pass rates of the three learning management systems to see if there was a significant difference. The independent variable included the three learning management systems: Blackboard, …

An Icu-Specific Pressure Injury Risk Assessment Tool To Improve Outcomes, Solange Flore Kamdem

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Aim: To use an ICU-specific pressure injury (PI) risk assessment scale to promptly identify the risk for PIs in critically ill patients and promptly implement the appropriate PI prevention interventions to decrease the incidence rate of pressure injuries over 11 weeks.

Background: The risk of developing PIs is 3.8 times higher in the ICU patients than in other patient populations. The state of illness and or treatments increase their odds of developing hospital-acquired pressure injuries (HAPIs). The Braden scale currently in use may not identify the risk early enough to provide preventive interventions. An ICU-specific tool is needed to screen …

Adapting North American Selling Methods To Cross-Cultural Technology Sales Engagements In The Borderless Global Economy, Zachary Paul Mckinley

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Successful selling relies heavily upon effective communication, mutual understanding, and other complex interpersonal dynamics. Accordingly, the highly unique qualities distinguishing North American culture from other global regions can create unique challenges for North American salespeople attempting to sell to non-US buyers from different cultural backgrounds, especially when competing against non-US salespeople. This study examined these challenges through a phenomenological framework to identify pattern cultural interactions and their consequences upon selling outcomes from the described cross-cultural sales experiences of twelve highly tenured North American technology salespeople who participated in this study. The observed phenomena were analyzed through a qualitative coding process …

Grit As A Predictor Of Academic Achievement Among Street-Connected Boys In Bungoma, Kenya: A Quantitative Study, Brigid Siobhan Scripa

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this quantitative, predictive, correlational study was to examine the relationship between street-connected children’s grit while enrolled in Reach International Children’s Center and street-connected children’s grit while living with family of origin. Furthermore, the purpose of this study was to examine hypothesized predictors of rank-ordered academic achievement among street-connected children, recently rescued street-connected children, recently reintegrated street-connected children, and home-connected children. A world phenomenon is currently occurring where children are migrating to the streets in search of shelter, security, and safety; children are migrating to the streets in search of meeting their basic needs. While the factors that …

Interactive Textbooks: A Study On The Effects On Learning Gains And Course Grades Among Community College Minority Students, Victoria C. Brower

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this quantitative quasi-experimental study is to examine whether the use of interactive e-textbooks by community college minority students makes a difference in academic outcomes (as measured by final course test grades) and if the use of interactive textbooks could lead to course completion and terminal degrees. This study adds to the existing literature insight into alternative methods of increasing learning and developing positive attitudes among minorities in the community college setting. The sample population included minority students enrolled in a government class attending a community college in an urban area in South Florida. There were N = …

The Overlooked Mission-Transitional Care Programs For Veterans In Civilian Settings: An Integrative Review, Cynthia Louise Gonzales

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The number of veterans within the United States continues to increase. With the addition of healthcare laws, veterans can seek care within the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) and civilian settings. The collaboration among multiple healthcare providers must ensure veterans are provided safe and efficient care when transitioning from provider to provider. Transitional care programs (TCPs) are effective strategies to ensure that veterans receive safe and efficient healthcare. The VHA employs interventions across their healthcare settings to facilitate optimal care. A variety of TCPs were discovered during the review. Most TCPs were used in VHA settings, which revealed an opportunity to …

A Transcendental Phenomenology To Understand The Persistence Of African American Males At A Historically Black Liberal Arts College, Jill Triplett Ellis

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to understand the experiences that contributed to the persistence of African American males at a historically Black college. The problem was that the percentage of 18- to 24-year-old African American males enrolled in the nation's colleges and universities over the past two decades has been lower than the rates of White and Hispanic men and women, as well as African American women. The guiding theory in this study was Tinto's persistence theory. This transcendental phenomenological study aimed to obtain individual living experiences of African American male students enrolled in a historically Black, …

Leadership Qualities Needed For A School-Based Police Chief, Tridung Tran

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Although it has evolved over the years, school-based law enforcement remains vital in a school setting for safety and security. The dynamic of school-based law enforcement has been heavily researched through the popular crime prevention program called School Resource Officer. The introduction of police officers in schools’ thrusts law enforcement’s reputation, abilities, and authority into the spotlight. Limited studies have shown the unique leadership qualities needed to lead a school-based law enforcement agency. Police chief qualification is dependent on the law enforcement agency’s requirements and expectations and often requires years of experience and education. Further, there are excellent police chief …

The Relationship Between Servant Leadership And Self-Efficacy Among Law Enforcement Officers In Western North Carolina, Anthony Scott Teague

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The role of a servant united with the role of a leader, combines to form the servant leader. The term self-efficacy is defined as a person’s belief in the ability within a specific situation to be successful. The purpose of this quantitative non-experimental correlational descriptive research study was to discover law enforcement officers’ perception regarding the influence of the servant leader behaviors of their immediate supervisor on the officers’ own self-efficacy level in law enforcement officers located in western North Carolina. Law enforcement officers who attended training at two community colleges in western North Carolina was surveyed for this study. …

The Effects Of Computer-Assisted Instruction On Student Learning Of Fractions In Middle School Mathematics, Rebecca Love Palculict

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

In today’s increasingly technologically-driven classroom, exploring whether computer-assisted instruction ensures students gain critical mathematic skills is an important area of study. The purpose of this study was to explore the effect of computer-assisted instruction in learning manipulation of fractions. This study used archival data collected in August 2021 (pre-test) and January 2022 (post-test). Sixty-nine fifth-grade students in a middle school in rural Mississippi were participants in the study. This quantitative quasi-experimental pre-test/post-test control group design analyzed data from the i-Ready diagnostic using an Analysis of Covariance. Results indicated a significant difference between the post-test scores of students who received interventions …

Social Emotional Learning In The Choral Classroom, Courtney A. Hulsey

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Middle school is a pivotal time for many students as they navigate through mental, emotional, and hormonal changes which affect various aspects of their personal and educational well-being. A teacher’s care balancing social and emotional aspects of learning can be catalyst that makes a profound difference for students. Social-emotional learning (SEL) under this title is still in its infancy as a tool for classroom engagement and management. Additionally, there is very little research in the way of SEL specific to the middle school choral classroom. The hope is that in a content analysis of the benefits of SEL through the …

Exploring The Lived Experiences Of Working Mothers Persisting In Cacrep-Accredited Ces Doctoral Programs Transitioning Through The Covid-19 Pandemic: A Phenomenological Study, Shannon Mercer Pugh

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated pre-existing gender inequities in work and academia and further strained working doctoral student mothers struggling to balance multiple roles. The purpose of this transcendental phenomenology was to describe how working mothers of children under the age of 12 persisting in the final year of a Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Program-accredited counselor education and supervision doctoral program described their lived experiences moving through the COVID-19 pandemic. The central research question explored how participants described what the COVID-19 pandemic has been like for them as they moved in, moved through, and moved out of …

Elementary School Teachers' Perceptions Of Student Motivation To Use Classroom Integrated Technology, Jason Lynn Webb

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The integration of technology into the classroom transforms curriculum design and instructional methods. Research suggests that the perspectives of teachers and students are not always in agreement regarding the influence of classroom integrated technology on learning motivation. The purpose of this causal-comparative study was to determine if there is a significant difference in how teachers perceive the influence of technology integration on student learning motivation based on teacher gender, teacher weekly hours of computer use, and teacher years of teaching experience. The study used the Teacher Attitudes toward Classroom Computing Scale to collect data from 238 4th- and 5th-grade rural …

The Kindness And Severity Of God: A Defense Of The Conquest Of Canaan, Jordan Peter Ballard

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The Conquest of Canaan has become a hot-button issue in Christian apologetics because of the moral dilemma it poses. Would an all-loving God command the wholesale slaughter of the Canaanite men, women, and children? Christians throughout the centuries have grappled with this problem and have offered many interpretations to alleviate the tension between God’s love and God’s wrath displayed in the Conquest. This dissertation defends a straightforward reading of the account: God really did command the destruction of the Canaanites, and the Israelites carried it out as described in the pages of the Old Testament. When understood in its biblical, …

Causal Comparative Study Of The Compassion Satisfaction Of School Counselors Working With Students Engaging In Self-Harm, Raymond Edward Storms

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

School counselors have several responsibilities above ensuring students are in their correct classes. One of those responsibilities is assisting in a school crisis. The purpose of this causal-comparative study was to examine the compassion satisfaction of school counselors when working with students engaging in acts of self-harm. To identify the school counselors’ compassion satisfaction, the study researched the following two questions. RQ1: Is there a difference between the compassion satisfaction scores of high-experience counselors and low-experience counselors working with students engaging in self-harm? RQ2: Is there a difference between the compassion satisfaction scores of elementary-middle school counselors and high school …

The Impact Of Increased Interdisciplinary Communication On Hospital Admission Rates In The Geriatric Population: An Integrative Review, Molly K. Langston

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The medical complexity of geriatric residents puts them at an increased risk of hospital readmissions related to coronary artery disease, myocardial infarction, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and diabetes, along with other chronic diseases. Geriatric residents of assisted living, skilled nursing, and memory care facilities should hold a particular interest to stakeholders, as the simple intervention of increasing early communication and correspondence regarding chronic diseases can have a great impact on quality improvement outcomes as well as financial burden of the institution. Additionally, interdisciplinary communication can be individualized to meet the needs of each geriatric resident in order to reduce the …

Exploratory Analysis Of Variance: Examining The Role Of Teacher Education Level On Educator Sense Of Self-Efficacy, Jonetta L. Cooper

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this causal-comparative study was used to analyze the hypothesized differences among inclusion teachers’ sense of self efficacy (TSES) based on their highest level of degree completion (bachelor’s, master's, master's plus). In an era of educational reform, students with specific learning disabilities (SLD) continue to lag behind regular education counterparts in all schooling environments. Schools in the southwestern region of Tennessee are now servicing a growing number of SLD-diagnosed students with a paucity of research addressing teacher's impact on SLD literacy scores. Participants in the study comprised 59 English language arts (ELA) inclusion teachers in 12 public middle …

A Phenomenological Study Of The Experiences Of Parents As They Choose The Appropriate Classroom For Their Child With High-Functioning Autism Spectrum Disorder, Lorie Michele Mick

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study is to explore the experiences and challenges of parents as they choose an appropriate classroom setting for their child with highfunctioning autism spectrum disorder (HFASD) at an elementary school. Parents of students with HFASD must grapple with this decision each year at their child’s annual IEP review meeting. The theory guiding this study is Knowles’ adult learning theory. Adult learning theory states that adults use both their personal experiences and intrinsic motivation to discover information that they need to make a decision. Ten parents of elementary-aged children diagnosed with HFASD were selected as …

Leaders And Restraints: Investigating How Attitudes Of School Leaders Predict The Number Of Physical Restraints, Sarah S. Ulmer

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study investigates how attitudes of school leaders predict the number of physical restraints that occur in schools that serve students under IDEA. This study focuses on the attitudes of school leaders from the geographical regions of Virginia in public and private schools. The “Educational Leadership and Behavioral Interventions” survey was used to gather research from 33 schools within Virginia. After collecting the data through the survey, the data was analyzed using a predictive correlation research design. The bivariate linear regression was used to analyze the predictor and criterion variables using SPSS. Based on the results of the data analysis, …

Church Stigma: Healing A Wounded Reputation In The Community, Ryan Shane Ward

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

MWBC developed a pernicious stigma in their community that consumed their reputation, making it virtually impossible to witness because of the negativity encompassing the church. If the stigma was not remedied, it was apparent that the church would struggle to be a light for Christ in the community and keep its doors open. The methodology of this research project successfully designed a model that revived the church and restored its reputation in the community. Sources on revitalization are abundant, but unearthing sources on how a church might restore a stigma or wounded reputation in the community to a holy character …

Leadership Strategies And Behaviors That Support Career Advancement For Teleworkers, Glory Ann Sanders

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Research in telework has primarily focused on the study of teleworkers or on the comparison between teleworkers and non-teleworkers. For this reason, leader behaviors in the telework context has been a relatively neglected area of study. This study emphasizes the lack of career advancement within the telework arena that has contributed to higher turnover intentions and a reluctancy to participate in telework programs. This research specifically explores leader behaviors and strategies that support career advancement for teleworkers within Denver, Colorado. The findings indicate that leaders are more intentional about communication with teleworkers than with non-teleworkers. Physical distance creates many challenges …

Effect Of Vertical Alignment On Elementary, Middle, And High School Music Programs, Tamekia Denise Holliday

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study examined the effects of vertical alignment on elementary, middle, and high school music programs. Thirty-five (n = 35) elementary, middle, and secondary music educators participated in the study. Of the 35 participants, 41% (n = 15) were high school music educators, 25% (n = 9) were middle school music educators, 27% (n = 10) were middle and high school music, and 2% (n = 1) taught elementary, middle, and high school. Analysis of survey data revealed significant relationships related to vertical alignment. The most significant relationship was between vertical alignment and retention (r = .643, p < .01), suggesting that student retention increases as vertical alignment increases. As well, results indicated that as vertical alignment decreases, the number of students “who wish to continue in music classes but cannot” increase (r = -.530, p < .01). Analysis of open-ended survey questions revealed valuable themes related to consistent band participation, music teacher expectations, and the effect of vertical alignment on music programs. Applying the results of this study may improve understanding of the effects of vertical alignment and enhance effective teaching and learning in music.

Local Food In Caribbean Small Island Developing States (Sids) Destination Marketing – The Case Of Trinidad & Tobago, Winston Mohammed

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Trinidad & Tobago is a Caribbean and Small Island Destination State (SIDS) tourism anomaly because it is neither a mass leisure nor a traditional (3S) sun, sea, and sand tourist destination. There is growing scholarly attention on food-related destination marketing in the most successful and attractive tourist destinations globally. Despite the influence of food on a destination's competitiveness and attractiveness, policymakers and tourism organizations of the Caribbean and Trinidad & Tobago have at best underutilized and even ignored the potential of local food because they poorly understand its capacity and capability. Traditional destination marketing treats food merely as a complementary …

Exploration Of How Unified Theory Of Acceptance And Use Of Technology Enhances Trust In Communication, Samantha M. Ricciardi

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The qualitative study aims to understand the central phenomenon of how trust enhances communication with online grocery shopping for participants who are 25 years and older and are active online grocery shoppers. Venkatesh, Morris, and Davis created a technology acceptance model called Unified created Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology, which explains the acceptance and use of information systems and communication technology innovations with consumers (Kim et al., 2008; Phillippi et al., 2021). The Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology is an alternative theoretical model that ties into eight existing user acceptance models: (a) Technology Acceptance Model …

The Impact Of Kinesthetic Movement On Flute Performance Musicality And Performance Anxiety In Undergraduate University Flute Students, Regina Helcher Yost

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Kinesthetic movement has gained significant attention within the flute community over the last several decades as a performance enhancement tool. Somatic therapies such as the Alexander Technique, body mapping, Feldenkrais, and Dalcroze-Eurythmics incorporate kinesthetic movements into their practices. Although most musicians seek out these therapies solely to alleviate pain or injury, could these kinesthetic movements promote concentration and provide positive self-talk by decreasing mental distractions? Despite much research analyzing the impact of kinesthetic movements on reducing injury and pain, there is a lack of research explicitly regarding its abilities to enrich a flutist’s musical performances by reducing negative self-talk. This …

Full-Hearted Leading: A Multiple Case Study Of Principals' Sensemaking Toward Implementing Moral Character Development In Elementary Schools, Kimberly Renee Starks

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this multiple case study was to understand how elementary school principals make sense of moral character development in their schools. The theories that guided this study were Weick’s sensemaking theory and Kohlberg’s moral development theory as it provided explanations to principals’ sensemaking regarding the effectiveness of moral character development implementation in elementary schools. The case studies, in one Midwestern school district, examined ten school administrators’ sensemaking toward implementing essential and effective moral character development programs in their schools. This study utilized a multiple case design that was critical to theory, deviated from theoretical norms, and captured everyday …

Bereavement In Isolation During Covid-19 Pandemic, Shelia Renee Stroman

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The COVID-19 pandemic with the protocols of social distance, isolation, and quarantine changed the practices associated with traditional funerals and rituals. The purpose of this phenomenology study was to understand the lived experience of individuals that process bereavement in isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study is a new phenomenon; the research questions will guide this study to understand the lived experience of individuals that process bereavement in isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic. The research questions were (1) What are the experiences of those that processed death without rituals or traditions during COVID-19, and (2) How has COVID-19 transformed and …

720-960 Steps: A Historical Review Of Contemporary Techniques And Pedagogies And How They Revolutionized Pageantry For The Modern Marching Band, Stanley K. Holloway

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

There is a need for new and innovative marching band techniques in the music field, and most band directors have limited capacity to instill these concepts. Texts from the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s concentrated primarily on these concepts and techniques. Gradually, a comprehensive show concept became standard practice. Examination of the existing literature does not reveal a need for more research. Still, some literature demonstrates a need for new and innovative band techniques for marching band, particularly in band pageantry. Although these materials help create a foundation for marching band concepts and have proven effective. They are dated and do …