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Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

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Self-Efficacy Among Christian Educators, Jonathan Blake Tolbert Oct 2020

Self-Efficacy Among Christian Educators, Jonathan Blake Tolbert

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Christian educators often lack specialized training in message delivery which leads to a lower self-efficacy. Christian educators devote their lives to fulfillment of the Great Commission; it is the job of the church universal to provide resources and support that equip the saints to boldly share the Gospel with great confidence. When self-efficacy is low, confidence is low. Theological foundations are often strong and well-developed by the local church. The practical aspect of preaching, meaning delivery, is an area that is underrepresented in academic research. This project presents specialized training in message delivery as a catalyst for improving self-efficacy. The …


The Hmong Spiritual Formation From Animism To Christianity, Lang Yang Oct 2020

The Hmong Spiritual Formation From Animism To Christianity, Lang Yang

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The research project is on the Hmong religion. Hmong people believe in a faith called "Animism – the way of the spirit," which is a created religion that they practiced and passed down from generation to generation. The Hmong like to live in the past and do not want to change their customs, traditions, and cultural practices that their ancestors practiced for centuries. They put all their hope in their dead ancestors' spirits to guide them until a new religion appeared to them, and it is called "the Christian faith." The Christian faith brings new hope to the Hmong people, …


Me, We, And Thee: A Hermeneutic Phenomenological Study Of The Targeted Parent's Lived Experience, Teresa Marie Walters Oct 2020

Me, We, And Thee: A Hermeneutic Phenomenological Study Of The Targeted Parent's Lived Experience, Teresa Marie Walters

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Parental alienation (PA) is an extreme form of couple conflict in which one parent (the alienating parent) attempts to damage or destroy the relationship of the child(ren) with the other parent (the targeted parent). Research on PA has principally been based on the 1980s model of Richard Gardner. Inquiry into the lived experience of the targeted parent has been sparse. The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenological study was to understand better the lived experience of parental targeting and the role, if any, intergenerational patterns of marital conflict and social structure play in the formation of parental alienating behaviors as well …


A Curriculum For Developing A Biblical Worldview In Students Attending Central Africa Baptist University, Timothy D. Murdoch Oct 2020

A Curriculum For Developing A Biblical Worldview In Students Attending Central Africa Baptist University, Timothy D. Murdoch

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The problem posed in this thesis project is a segment of the students at Central Africa Baptist University are not exhibiting a worldview change in their lives and ministry after graduation. The purpose of this study is to develop, implement, and test the validity of teaching the core Bible courses using a chronological metanarrative method of instruction to develop a biblical worldview in the students enrolled in Central Africa Baptist University (CABU) in Kitwe, Zambia. The study was conducted on the campus of (CABU), and used the secondary data derived from a worldview questionnaire developed and implemented by CABU. The …


Beautiful Feet: Infusing Liturgical Dance And Discipleship, Ariesha Wilbert Murray Oct 2020

Beautiful Feet: Infusing Liturgical Dance And Discipleship, Ariesha Wilbert Murray

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Liturgical dance, when combined with other biblical elements in addition to worship, can revolutionize the life of a disciple. This mixed-method study explores the infusion of liturgical dance and discipleship as another method that can be used to help disciples better understand the scriptures used in the pastor’s message on fulfilling the Great Commission. While discipleship was previously the church’s primary focus, it has slowly fallen to the wayside, whereas disciples are not being made or taught how to make disciples of all nations. This research uses a focus group with the members of a local ministry to demonstrate whether …


A Phenomenological Study On Career Readiness Among Graduates From College And Career Academy High Schools, Suzanne Rene Morse Oct 2020

A Phenomenological Study On Career Readiness Among Graduates From College And Career Academy High Schools, Suzanne Rene Morse

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study is to understand how graduates of college and career academy (CCA) high schools perceive the influence of the non-traditional educational program on career readiness for participants in a local school district in northern Georgia. The central research question guiding the study is as follows: How do graduates perceive the lived experience of developing career readiness through their participation in the CCA model of secondary education? The theory guiding this study is the Social Cognitive Career Theory developed by Lent, Brown, and Hackett in 1994. The theory has its origins in Bandura’s Social Cognitive Theory. …


A Phenomenological Study Of The Use Of Humor As A Teaching Tool By Middle And High School Teachers, Chad Michael Brown Oct 2020

A Phenomenological Study Of The Use Of Humor As A Teaching Tool By Middle And High School Teachers, Chad Michael Brown

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to understand perceptions of instructional classroom humor used to help students learn and master new material, among teachers at middle and high schools in rural Appalachia districts. Using humor in the classroom is generally defined as deliberate planning and utilization of subject relevant humor in an attempt to improve students’ learning outcomes. Rural Appalachia was defined as the area geographically located in or near the Appalachian Mountain range, and the dominant socioeconomic culture found there. The theories guiding this study were (a) Bandura’s social learning theory, as it describes the way students …


Evaluating Ethical Technology Leadership: Organizational Culture, Leader Behavior, And A Cyberspace Ethic Of Business, Mark Lee Pickel Oct 2020

Evaluating Ethical Technology Leadership: Organizational Culture, Leader Behavior, And A Cyberspace Ethic Of Business, Mark Lee Pickel

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Evaluating ethical technology leadership at a financial services firm in North Carolina requires discovering interactions amongst organizational culture, leadership approaches, and ethical decision-making practices. This study provides insight into how the participating firm’s organizational culture creates a leadership climate accommodative of an applied cyberspace business ethic. A cyberspace business ethic provides guidance to technology leaders addressing ethical challenges arising from emergent digital technologies. The identification of four key influencers that support ethical decision-making and provide protection against reputational risk exposures create an understanding of the collective nature of core values, relational, reputational, and technological influences on ethical behaviors. Self-determination theory …


How The Mattering Experience Of Latino High School Students Impacts Persistence To Graduation: A Transcendental Phenomenological Study, Paulina Lee Collazo Navarro Oct 2020

How The Mattering Experience Of Latino High School Students Impacts Persistence To Graduation: A Transcendental Phenomenological Study, Paulina Lee Collazo Navarro

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to understand how the mattering experience of Latino students impacts their persistence to high school graduation. The study was aimed to establish a greater awareness of how the mattering experience impacts student success. The central research question was, How does the mattering experience impact Latino student persistence to high school graduation? This transcendental phenomenological study included a purposeful sample of 11 high school graduates within Mannaton County, Pennsylvania. Data collection and analysis included interviews, a focus group, and journal documents. Data analysis included data coding in order to establish themes. Additionally, direct …


Factors Affecting Microsoft Dynamics Erp Implementation Project Success, Jt Patterson Gorrell Sep 2020

Factors Affecting Microsoft Dynamics Erp Implementation Project Success, Jt Patterson Gorrell

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study examines the effect the project schedule has on extensions to project duration and budget overruns of Microsoft Dynamics ERP implementation projects. This larger problem was explored through an in depth study of the completeness of the detailed project schedules, the alignment of the detailed project schedules with the activities and deliverables of the ERP implementation methodology, the incorporation of the detailed project schedules into the project manager’s daily project governance activities, and its effect on project adherence to budget and timeline and the organizational behavior of project resources. This study followed the constructivism paradigm and utilized the case …


Dynamics Of Youth Engagement In The Local Church, Jacqueline C. Hanna Sep 2020

Dynamics Of Youth Engagement In The Local Church, Jacqueline C. Hanna

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

According to many biblical accounts, children were included in worship experiences. Despite the efforts of many churches to engage, attract, and retain youth, there is still a lack of youth participation, involvement, and interest in the local church. This not only affects youth, but also the church. Unengaged youth do not have the opportunity to become future leaders of the church. In turn, churches will experience a void in future leadership and will be prohibited from flourishing. This qualitative historical study examined reasons for youth disengagement in an effort to find strategies for effective retention and engagement to benefit youth …


A Biblical System For Growth In Traditional Churches Through Evangelism And Discipleship, Marcus Denton Floyd Sep 2020

A Biblical System For Growth In Traditional Churches Through Evangelism And Discipleship, Marcus Denton Floyd

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The prominence of self-centered philosophies in today’s culture has infiltrated the minds of contemporary believers and has produced a difficult context for urban traditional churches to function in because many parishioners are gravitating away from churches that faithfully proclaim the selfless nature of being a disciple of Jesus Christ. The thesis project will contend that the erosion of truth can be opposed through a systematic process that underscores biblical concepts, which have been proven to be effective. Additionally, the thesis will demonstrate the importance of churches being spiritually healthy to gain and retain members by interacting with the scriptural mandate …


Experiencing God: Engaging Elementary-Aged Children In Corporate Worship, Laura Rushing Hancock Sep 2020

Experiencing God: Engaging Elementary-Aged Children In Corporate Worship, Laura Rushing Hancock

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The engagement of children in meaningful worship has been neglected, despite the investment of modern churches in essential safety protocols and digital media in children’s ministry. The twenty-first-century consumerist mindset is driving worship design, essentially undermining the worship leader’s role as the shepherd of a child-centered and Christ-focused approach. Many churches are neglecting the biblical instruction to cast vision and express value for children’s corporate worship. A sense of awe and wonder is notably absent in many corporate services designed for children. Drawing upon biblical principles, educational theory, and corporate worship practices throughout history, this qualitative historical study seeks to …


Leadership Behaviors And Their Impact On Employee Retention, Shaun Patrick Nichols Sep 2020

Leadership Behaviors And Their Impact On Employee Retention, Shaun Patrick Nichols

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study analyzed the impact leadership behaviors had on employee retention in the Houston, Texas manufacturing sector. Many authors’ work was reviewed with literature pertaining to leadership behaviors and employee retention. Multiple interviews were conducted with current leadership at Houston, Texas manufacturing organizations to gain a better understanding of the experience of these employees. The results of the leadership study have a profoundly positive impact on employee retention. Three emergent themes were developed based on data analysis, which included empathy, listening, and employee development.


Creating A Culture Of Data-Driven Decision-Making, Kevin Bryan Rogers Sep 2020

Creating A Culture Of Data-Driven Decision-Making, Kevin Bryan Rogers

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Researchers have consistently shown that a supportive culture is one of the most crucial success factors in the implementation of any big data solution. Creating a culture that supports data-driven decision-making is a difficult but ultimately required step in transforming an organization into one that can readily and successfully adopt business intelligence technologies. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to understand the ways in which organizations can foster a culture of smarter decision-making and accountability so that businesses can improve operational metrics and ultimately profitability. Participants identified three major themes that drive the adoption of a data-driven culture. …


The Lived Experience Of Evangelical Christian Homeschooling Fathers In Fulfilling The Biblical Role Of Disciple-Maker: A Transcendental Phenomenological Study, William Robert Farrington Sep 2020

The Lived Experience Of Evangelical Christian Homeschooling Fathers In Fulfilling The Biblical Role Of Disciple-Maker: A Transcendental Phenomenological Study, William Robert Farrington

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to describe the lived experience of Evangelical Christian homeschooling fathers in discipling their children. The theological framework that guided this study was that of the biblical call to discipleship by Jesus Christ in Matthew 28:18-20, and how that calling applies to parenting. The theoretical framework that guided this study was the responsible fathering theory, as it focuses on the complex relationships between the father, the mother, the children, and contextual or outside influences. The central research question of the study was: How do Evangelical Christian homeschooling fathers describe the lived experience of …


Experiences Of Special Education Teachers Responsible For Training Novice Paraeducators In The Inclusive Setting: A Phenomenological Study, Rachel Lyn Wilbur-Carlyle Sep 2020

Experiences Of Special Education Teachers Responsible For Training Novice Paraeducators In The Inclusive Setting: A Phenomenological Study, Rachel Lyn Wilbur-Carlyle

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study, as outlined by Moustakas, was to describe the experiences of special education teachers serving as trainers of novice paraeducators in the inclusion setting. It occured within the metro-Atlanta area. The theory guiding this study was Lave and Wenger’s theory of situativity. This theory focused upon social practices occurring within relationships amongst communities and supported the inquiry of special education teachers. The central research question that guided the study was: “How do special education teachers who work in the elementary school inclusive settings describe their experiences supervising special education paraeducators?” To support the focus …


The Impact Of The Model Of Black Femininity And Maternal Anxious Mother Attachment To Adolescent Black Girls' Self-Esteem, Mechell R. Guy Sep 2020

The Impact Of The Model Of Black Femininity And Maternal Anxious Mother Attachment To Adolescent Black Girls' Self-Esteem, Mechell R. Guy

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This research was designed to explore how the traditional Model of Black Femininity stereotypes portrayal of Mammy, Sapphire, Jezebel, and Strong Black Women and maternal anxious mother attachment potentially impacts adolescent Black girls’ self-esteem. These constructs are relevant to increasing concerns regarding developing a high level of self-esteem and psychological well-being amongst adolescent Black girls. Two central questions are guided by this study. First, is the self-esteem of adolescent Black girls influenced by negative stereotypes of African American women? Secondly, would the self-esteem of adolescent Black girls correlate with maternal anxious attachment theory? Participants were twelve adolescent Black females ranging …


Authentic Leadership Within Local Government: An Empirical Evaluation, Anthony Scott Morris Sep 2020

Authentic Leadership Within Local Government: An Empirical Evaluation, Anthony Scott Morris

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This research study established the current issue of low authentic leadership in business as a known issue that has contributed to lower confidence in leadership throughout various organizations. The study aimed to investigate the relationship between authentic leadership and confidence in leadership in a medium to large size department of a local government located in the Commonwealth of Virginia. To achieve this aim, the researcher adopted a descriptive and diagnostic analytical approach. The sample of the study consisted of 207 participants, consisting of positions consistent with regular positions within local government. The researcher used two survey instruments to achieve the …


Faculty-Student Mentoring-Relationship Experiences Of African-American/Black Ces Doctoral Students, Steven Odipo Siaji Sep 2020

Faculty-Student Mentoring-Relationship Experiences Of African-American/Black Ces Doctoral Students, Steven Odipo Siaji

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This phenomenological qualitative inquiry explored the lived experiences of African American/Black (AA/Black) doctoral counselor education and supervision students in relation to faculty-student mentoring relationships. The literature review provides a theoretical framework based on Miller’s (1976) theory of relational-cultural theory. Data were collected through a demographic survey and in-depth telephone interviews. Data analysis included identifying participants’ significant themes, utilizing themes to create structural and textural descriptions, and ultimately describing the essence of participants’ experiences. The five themes that emerged, related to participants’ lived experiences, were these: belonging within the African American/Black community, coping, racism, and multiculturalism. The study results suggest that …


The Old Testament Precedent For The Role Of The Worship Leading Choir, Justin Alan Mclaughlin Sep 2020

The Old Testament Precedent For The Role Of The Worship Leading Choir, Justin Alan Mclaughlin

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

God designed mankind to find fulfillment through worship of him in corporate praise and worship. Detailed plans for corporate worship are outlined in the Old Testament Pentateuch, Books of History and Kingdom Books, especially as related to guidelines for worship in the Tabernacle and Temple. Despite the many biblical examples of the importance of corporate singing and the use of choir in worship, many contemporary evangelical congregations are finding just reason to abandon the use of choirs in any strategic role in facilitating or leading of worship. Thus, establishing the need to discover, determine and articulate the biblical role choir …


A Project To Implement A Missional Development Program Within The Sandy Creek Baptist Association Of Illinois, Robert Thomas Kean Sep 2020

A Project To Implement A Missional Development Program Within The Sandy Creek Baptist Association Of Illinois, Robert Thomas Kean

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The following dissertation will present the issue of declining membership and baptisms over the past fifty years in Sandy Creek Baptist Association of Illinois, (SCBAI). This study will show the need for collaboration by the Association members to address this issue and encourage the members to consider spiritual formation towards vitality. The study will include surveys seeking pastoral input, Director of Missions input, and membership of the SCBAI input regarding missional endeavors in local ministries. A plan toward new missional goals in the churches of SCBAI and in the local communities will be discussed. The goal of the project is …


Exploring The Influence Of Acbsp Accreditation On The Value Proposition Of Nc Business Schools, Jamie Holleman Conrad Sep 2020

Exploring The Influence Of Acbsp Accreditation On The Value Proposition Of Nc Business Schools, Jamie Holleman Conrad

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

National accreditation agencies, such as the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs, offer accreditation opportunities to provide external validation of continuous improvement processes implemented within the business schools’ programs of study. The requirements for obtaining and maintaining the most popular national business program accreditations are resource consuming and do not yet have a documented level of influence on the business schools’ value propositions associated with the accreditation process or accreditation status. The current study is necessary to explore the influence accreditation has on the value proposition presented to the marketplace, which is an essential component of the marketing strategy …


The Relationship Between Parental Stress And Externalizing Behavior: The Mediating Role Of Family Functioning On Ethnically Diverse Families In Multisystemic Therapy, Jennifer D. Vinces-Cua Sep 2020

The Relationship Between Parental Stress And Externalizing Behavior: The Mediating Role Of Family Functioning On Ethnically Diverse Families In Multisystemic Therapy, Jennifer D. Vinces-Cua

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Parental stress is an expected phenomenon during the parenting of an adolescent. Higher levels of parental stress are associated with an adolescent with externalizing behavior. Parents are instrumental in the development of adolescents and are critical agents of change with youth problematic behavior. Family functioning is often determined in part by a parent’s ability to adequately respond and manage their adolescent’s behavior and their environment. Focusing on improving family relations has been known to positively impact both parent and adolescent. Multisystemic therapy is a well-known treatment for adolescent externalizing behavior and families of diverse ethnicities. Additional attention and resources examining …


The Predictive Relationship Between School Climate And Self-Perceived Stress Levels Among Fourth- And Fifth-Grade Teachers, Andrea Wood Eason Sep 2020

The Predictive Relationship Between School Climate And Self-Perceived Stress Levels Among Fourth- And Fifth-Grade Teachers, Andrea Wood Eason

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Educational research continues to show that teachers are leaving the field of education in large numbers for a variety of reasons. One documented reason for teacher attrition is job-related stress. This correlational, predictive study examined the relationships between the predictor variables of school climate (collaboration, decision-making, instructional innovation, school resources, and student relations) with the criterion variable of teacher stress among fourth- and fifth-grade public school teachers from across the United States. A convenience sample of 68 teachers participated in the study by completing the Revised School Level Environment Questionnaire (R-SLEQ), which measured school climate, and the Teacher Stress Inventory …


Cultural Diversity Impact On The Decision-Making Of Leaders Within Organizations, Ahmedin Pasic Sep 2020

Cultural Diversity Impact On The Decision-Making Of Leaders Within Organizations, Ahmedin Pasic

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This case study explored and analyzed cultural diversity’s impact in the workplace and in the overall performance of multicultural or multinational organizations in Richmond, Virginia. The principal investigator’s original intent was to examine its implications for the decision-making of leaders within two or three multinational corporations. However, due to the impact of the COVID-19 worldwide pandemic, he pursued a single case study in one local multicultural organization. This study targeted both leaders’ and employees’ perceptions regarding cultural diversity and integrating their insights into the implications that cultural diversity has for them and the body of knowledge on the topic. The …


Enhancement Of Cohesion And Engagement Through Motivational Factors In The Multi-Generational Workforce, Ralph Jason Hemphill Sep 2020

Enhancement Of Cohesion And Engagement Through Motivational Factors In The Multi-Generational Workforce, Ralph Jason Hemphill

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Leaders in all corporations will have to answer the multi-generational challenges in the workplace to motivate their employees by maintaining cohesion and engagement (Ahmad & Ibrahim, 2015; Lazaroiu, 2015). A gap in the literature exists to understand how leaders can create group cohesion and engagement by possessing the instruction and tools necessary to adequately lead the multi-generational diverse workforce to long-term success of the medical device division (Cote, 2019; Dwyer & Azevedo, 2016; Lewis & Wescott, 2017; Stegaroiu & Talal, 2014; Wesolowski, 2014). The central research questions in this qualitative case study addressed the understanding of how leaders use motivational …


#Generation Z: A Phenomenological Study Exploring The Experiences Of Elementary Title I Teachers’ Use Of Educational Technology In The 21st Century Classroom, Rachel Nichole Hernandez Sep 2020

#Generation Z: A Phenomenological Study Exploring The Experiences Of Elementary Title I Teachers’ Use Of Educational Technology In The 21st Century Classroom, Rachel Nichole Hernandez

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenology was to describe the experiences of teachers’ educational technology use in Title I elementary schools in Central Florida. The central research question in this study was: How do Title I elementary teachers in Central Florida describe their experiences utilizing educational technology in the classroom? The theoretical foundation for this study was grounded in Bandura’s social cognitive theory, more specifically, teacher self-efficacy, which is a significant component of social cognitive theory. The design of this study was a transcendental phenomenology, a qualitative model that is most appropriate since I sought to make meaning from the …


Emotional Regulation And Treatment Progress Of Male Child And Adolescent Therapeutic Campers, Stephen Edward Talley Sep 2020

Emotional Regulation And Treatment Progress Of Male Child And Adolescent Therapeutic Campers, Stephen Edward Talley

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

For the past 75, years Therapeutic Camping (ThC) has been utilized as a therapeutic modality, although it has been largely unknown or unrecognized by the traditional treatment community. ThC bears similarities to wilderness therapy and was initially developed for children and youth suffering from behavioral and emotional problems. Mental and behavioral health issues are frequent in youth which can cause personal, familial, social, and economic problems. Another core underlying issues emotion dysregulation, which involves the inability to regulate emotion across multiple domains. Mental health providers have recognized the need to reduce the effects associated with emotion dysregulation and limited treatment …


The Effects Of Mentoring On Student Outcomes, Leroy Dwan York Sep 2020

The Effects Of Mentoring On Student Outcomes, Leroy Dwan York

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Historically, African Americans males have scored significantly lower than other subgroups on standardized assessments and in academic grades. In addition, African American males have also acquired more disciplinary infractions than all other subgroups. In general, statistics show that adolescent boys have lower achievement and more deviant behaviors than all other subgroups. Boys often struggle with the lack of motivation to excel in school and display appropriate character. This study compared the academic achievement and discipline of a group of boys participating in a mentoring group to a control group with no mentor over a four-month period. Resulting data was analyzed …