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A Phenomenological Study Of The Lived Experience Of Online Instructors Of Theological Reflection At Christian Institutions Accredited By The Association Of Theological Schools, Judy Arline Jowers

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to describe the lived experience of teaching theological reflection in the online environment for instructors at Christian institutions accredited by the Association of Theological Schools. The central theories guiding this study were reflective practice and transformative learning theory as they explore the relationship between experience and reflection. Since relatively few inquiries have been published on the ways in which seminary professors assist future religious leaders in the use of reflective practice, the central research question for this study was: How do instructors at Christian institutions accredited by the Association of Theological Schools …

Mentoring Relationships Among Women Leaders, Gayle Fauber Elliott

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This qualitative research collective case study explored the mentoring relationships among veteran women leaders and novice women leaders in the nuclear vendor industry in Central Virginia. The general problem addressed in this study was the potential lack of mentoring relationships among women leaders despite the many advantages of mentoring. The purpose of this qualitative collective case study was to add to the body of knowledge of the lack of mentoring relationships among women leaders in a technical industry by exploring the mentoring experiences, or lack thereof, and the perception of women on mentoring who are or have been in leadership …

Does The Interactive Push-Presentation System Nearpod Effect Student Engagement In High School Anatomy?, Jan Anderson Hirtz

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The ability of the United States to succeed and compete successfully in the 21st Century will be directly related to the effectiveness of America’s Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) education. In 2012 the U.S. President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology set a goal to add one million STEM college graduates over a 10-year period. Motivation in STEM secondary classrooms is a critical contributor to students entering college in declaring and persisting in a STEM related major. The purpose of this study is to add research findings to the literature regarding means of using technology to increase K12 …

The Impact Of Externalization On The Sexual Satisfaction Of Pornography Users: A Moderated Mediation Analysis, Kristin Liesl Hauswirth

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

In committed relationships, pornography use has been associated with a contradictory influence on relationship and sexual satisfaction, particularly for women. Previous research indicates that sexual shame and moral disapproval may be related to pornography use, especially for religiously-affiliated individuals. Research also suggests that individuals may use defense mechanisms such as externalization to avoid negative emotions. This study explored the correlations between women’s mutual pornography use and sexual satisfaction and used ordinary least squares regression to examine the moderating influence of externalization on the effect of moral disapproval on the relationships between mutual pornography use and sexual shame and mutual pornography …

Lay Leader Development And The Model Of Christ: Intentional Small Group Organization For Multiplying Groups At Green Acres Baptist Church, Michael Wayne Gossett

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this thesis is to develop a strategic process for leader development utilizing small groups at Green Acres Baptist Church in Tyler, Texas. The development of lay leaders will determine the efforts of starting and sustaining small groups and ministry efforts in the local church. The structure of groups and the strategy to develop leaders should be a replicable system formulated within biblical parameters. The biblical research is concentrated toward the methods practiced by Jesus with his disciples. Biblical discipleship is examined for the purpose of assessing adequate organization that cultivate leader development and group multiplication. Effective small …

A Multi-Case Qualitative Study Of Servant Leadership In The Appalachian Mountains Of Southwestern Virginia, Deidra Kaye Jackson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

There is a need for capable leaders within churches to provide interconnected stability for economically challenged regions. The purpose of this multi-case study research was to understand and assess the exposure to the Ken Blanchard servant-leadership model on Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) church congregations located in the three-county area of Buchanan, Tazewell, and Russell in the rural Appalachian Mountains (RAM) region of Southwestern Virginia (SWVA) and select outcome assessment criteria. At this stage of the research, servant-leadership was generally defined as a leader who works for the common good and attempts to empower others in ways that strengthen and transform …

Teacher Perception Of Administrators' Leadership Qualities Based On The Administrator's Biological Sex, Jennifer Derickson Washington

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Determining the criteria necessary for an educational leader or principal to be effective by including employees, such as teachers in evaluating their principals, may aid in strengthening educational leadership overall. The purpose of this quantitative causal-comparative study was to determine if there is a difference between teacher perception of their administrator’s leadership qualities of inspiring a shared vision, modeling the way, and enabling others to act based on the biological sex of their administrator. The Leadership Practices Inventory (LPI) Observer form was used to measure the leadership quality of educational administrators as perceived by their teachers. The population for the …

School Counselors' Perceptions Of Trauma-Informed Approaches In Schools, Elizabeth Anderson Burkhardt

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Adverse childhood experiences affect millions of children and adults on a daily basis and this results in many people who are unable to effectively navigate the pathways of life to lead a productive life. Schools are in an ideal position to intercede and provide trauma-informed care to children who are experiencing academic or behavioral problems by providing programs aimed at decreasing the effects of these adverse experiences. One such program being implemented is the multi-tiered support system (MTSS) programs, which is incorporated into the entire school day of all students. Interventions are provided in tiers which correspond to the needs …

Examining The Effects Of Stress, Ego Identity, And Life Satisfaction On The Resilience Of Single-Parent Subgroups, Tara Marie Whitfield

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Single-parent homes have been identified as a family structure that is disadvantageous to the well-being of children. Being a single parent can also be extremely stressful, thereby putting the mental health of parents at risk. This study examined how the varied life paths of civilians and military veterans can alter an individual’s identity, stress levels, life satisfaction, and resilience when faced with the same adversities. The self-concept of the two populations was examined through the use of the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale, Ego Identity Scale, Perceived Stress Scale, and the Satisfaction with Life Scale. The study was guided by three research …

Enhancing Pastoral Care And Support By Providing Opportunities For Spiritual Growth And Transformation To Crisis And Trauma Sufferers, Angela Roberts Jones

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Trauma experiences are becoming more prevalent in today’s society. For example, each day, the media reports the widespread impact of war, gun violence, domestic and international terrorism, violent crimes, sexual assault, domestic violence, child abuse and neglect, mass shootings, and natural disasters in the general population. The church has long been considered a place of refuge, hope, and healing for people who suffer from crises and trauma. It is often the first place Christians and the surrounding community turn in times of distress. Because pastors and churches are often the first responders when people experience crises and traumatic events, there …

A Phenomenological Study Of North Carolina Elementary Teachers' Lived Experiences With Google Classroom Integration, Hilary Elizabeth Dodson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to understand North Carolina elementary school teachers’ perceptions of Google Classroom technology integration as a lived experience. Google Classroom is a learning management system and component of the technology integration that many teachers use to organize their classroom content. The discovery learning theory by Bruner guided this study. The problem of this study was North Carolina elementary teachers experience difficulties integrating technology, using applications like Google Classroom, in combination with more traditional curriculum and instructional strategies. The central research question was: What are North Carolina elementary teachers’ perceptions of the ways in …

Examining The Role Of On-Campus Experiences: A Phenomenological Study Of Persistence For Limited-Residency Doctoral Graduates, Kaitlin Elizabeth Yourous

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to describe the residential experiences of individuals who completed a terminal degree in education within a limited-residency program from various institutions of higher education. Tinto’s theory of integration provided the theoretical framework for the study to answer the central and research subquestions: (a) How do individuals who completed a terminal degree in education in a limited-residency program describe their residential experiences? (b) How do limited-residency doctoral graduates describe the role, if any, of their residential experiences in relation to their ability to conduct independent research? (c) How do limited-residency doctoral graduates describe …

A Transcendental Phenomenological Inquiry Of First-Generation Community College Students’ Experiences, Jean Marky Leandre

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

In the United States, 36% of community college enrollments are comprised of first-generation students (FGCS); however, little is known about FGCS as a cohort. Various initiatives have been formulated to encourage success among students with constraints related to social capital, bandwidth recovery, and the education system. The purpose of this phenomenological study aimed to understand the experiences of FGCS in community colleges in the Northeast region of the United States. FGCS are defined as students whose parents did not graduate from college with at least a bachelor’s degree. This study addressed student experiences—including social interactions—that impacted academic achievement positively or …

Pornography And Purpose In Life: A Moderated Mediation Analysis, Cynthia Marie Evans

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Extensive research has examined the relationship between pornography use, religiosity, and perceived addiction to pornography. Other research has explored the connections between religiosity and meaning or purpose in life. No research has examined the potential relationship combining all four constructs in one research study. To rectify this gap, the present study examined the mediating effect of perceived addiction to pornography, as well as the moderating effect of religiosity on the direct relationship between frequency of pornography use and meaning in life. Two hundred and eighty-nine participants, aged 18–30, who admitted using pornography in the past six months completed assessments addressing …

Predicting Academic Achievement Based On Sense Of Community Among Online Public High School Students, Randy Boydie Maraj

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Limited research has investigated the relationship between sense of community and academic achievement, as determined by students’ self-reported Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test (PSAT)/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (NMSQT) scores. The purpose of this correlational study was to determine the extent by which sense of community can predict academic achievement among online public high school students. The predictor variables were social community and learning community. The criterion variable was academic achievement using student’s PSAT/NMSQT scores. The school form of the Classroom and School Community Inventory was given to 98 online high school students to complete. They represented a major suburban public …

The Priority Of Homiletics In Preaching Teams: A Strategy For An Effective Homiletical Process For Christ-Centered, Gospel-Driven, Expository Sermons, Bob C. Greene

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this thesis project is to propose an effective strategy for preparing Christ-Centered, Gospel-Driven, Expository Sermons (CGES) by developing an effective methodology for redemptive sermon preparation. Many contemporary churches today often have multiple preaching pastors and preaching teams, many of which have little to no seminary training in homiletics, yet even those that do, recognize that a seminary education does not necessarily mean that competency in preaching exists merely due to the education or degree earned. Due to talented and gifted pastors with multiple approaches to sermon preparation, it is imperative that preachers have a proper homiletical process, …

Growing A God-Centered Academy In The Church: Developing A Spiritually-Grounded Teaching Paradigm, Virgil Melvin Walton Jr

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The Sunday schools of some churches of the Mount Olive Baptist District Association, MOBDA, are not well attended. Could effective discipleship teaching and a change in the spiritual formative mind-set of an instructor aid in disciple-making? This thesis will focus on the church’s didactic ministries and the presence of God, the Holy Spirit, in those ministries. An examination of the quality of instruction and teaching materials for authentic and God-centered instruction will be studied.

It is necessary that all of the MOBDA church’s teachers have a evidential relationship with the Holy Spirit. An instructor who is consistently spiritually grounded as …

The Role Of Leading Worship In The African Church, Emmanuel Olugbenga Adu

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Despite the surge in worship leadership, some African evangelical churches have historically placed little emphasis on the role of leading worship. A review of worship on worship leadership in the African evangelical church reveals little information specifically useful for the training and mentoring of African congregational worship leaders. Therefore, this project researched and presents a primary argument for the practical training of worship leaders in the African evangelical congregation and brings attention to the lack of emphasis on worship leadership. Moreover, the thesis investigates the proposition not only for the role of worship leading in the African church to target …

A Phenomenological Study That Examined The Experiences Of High School Teachers Who Build Supportive Classroom Environments That Encourage African-American Students To Graduate, Tressa D. Matthews

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to explore the perceptions and lived experiences of high school teachers who have created supportive classroom environments that encourage African-American students to graduate. The theory guiding this study was the self-determination theory (Deci & Ryan, 2008) as it explains the psychological needs of students to encourage persistence toward high school graduation. The central question guided the research in describing the experiences of high school teachers who have created a supportive classroom environment at high schools with high graduation rates for African-American students in Southeastern Michigan. The study sought to determine the experiences …

Self-Efficacy Score Differences Between Supported, Unsupported, Departmentalized And Non-Departmentalized Classical Christian Elementary Mathematics Teachers, Cristina Marie Dube

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Classical Christian schools have increased exponentially over the past 20 years. The main mission of a classical Christian education is to produce a student who is better equipped to think and apply the Christian worldview to every situation. Classical schools are based on the Greek Trivium which focuses on the tools of learning: grammar school, logic school, and rhetoric school. Classical tenets include integration of content, memorization of basic facts, and reliance on the Socratic Method. Utilizing the Socratic Method requires teachers to be confident in their understanding of mathematics. Because of the lower mathematics self-efficacy of elementary school teachers, …

Comparisons And Contrasts Of Topical And Expository Preaching At The First Free Will Baptist Church Of Tampa From 2005 - 2015, Will Beauchamp

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study compares and contrasts two styles of preaching (Topical and Expository) at the First Free Will Baptist Church from 2005 – 2015. The objective of this study was to find if one method of preaching is more effective, biblical, and preferred for a congregation. The strategy for this mixed research is to deploy multi-choice questions to capture quantitative data on the impact of the sermons on the listeners, and an open-ended question on the application aspect for qualitative data on the listeners’ responses. Based on the results of the listener response questionnaire, recommendations were given based on the sermon …

Universal Leadership Model, Derwin Lamont Hickman Sr

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The Great Commission is the call of Jesus to his people to go out into the world and make disciples. The universal leadership model presents an opportunity for disciples/leaders to step up and fulfill the Great Commission. The church should be involved in discipleship training, outreaches and supporting the issues that are aligned with Christian ideology and important to people in the communities they serve. An effective universal leadership model should include diversity, training, desired change, accountability and effectiveness of change. In so doing, the church can then find parishioners within the church who may be transformed into disciples/leaders and …

A Causal-Comparative Study On The Efficacy Of Intelligent Tutoring Systems On Middle-Grade Math Achievement, Kevin Lamar Rholetter

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study is a quantitative examination of intelligent tutoring systems in two similar suburban middle schools (grades 6-8) in the Southeastern United States. More specifically, it is a causal-comparative study purposed with examining the efficacy of intelligent tutoring systems as they relate to math achievement for students at two similar middle schools in the Midlands of South Carolina. The independent variable, use of an intelligent tutoring system in math instruction, is defined as the supplementary use of two intelligent tutoring systems, Pearson’s Math Digits and IXL, for math instruction. The dependent variable is math achievement as determined by the Measures …

Smooth Transitions: An Examination Of Succession Planning And Leadership Continuity Among Directors And Associate Directors Of The Potomac Conference Corporation Of Seventh-Day Adventists, Fred-Richard T. Warfield

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Far too many organizations fall short of the strategic task of succession planning. The absence of satisfactory solutions in this area stifles the ability of an organization to achieve its mission and vision. Lack of planning in this area also contributes to a negative impact on overall morale, staff performance, and effectiveness as these turnovers ensue. The purpose of this thesis project is to explore the perceived absence of intentional succession planning and leadership transitioning among director and associate director-level leadership positions within the Potomac Conference Corporation of Seventh-day Adventists. In this project, surveys and one-on-one interviews are conducted among …

Case Study On Providing Telemental Health Video Counseling Services In A Sober Living Home, Kenneth Ray Taylor

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this case study is to examine the process and report outcomes of providing telemental health video counseling to men who reside at Providence Home, a sober living facility located in Columbia, South Carolina. This case study is instrumental in design. The South Carolina Telehealth Alliance (SCTA) provided a $20,000 grant jointly, for Bright Side Counseling Center and Midlands Recovery Center to expand telehealth services into underserved populations. An extensive search, at the time of this writing, was conducted and we found no instances of telemental health video counseling services being provided to residents of sober living homes …

Boarding School Syndrome: A Phenomenological Study Giving Single-Gender Military Boarding School Alumni A Voice To Tell Their Stories Of Life After Graduation, Bruce Alan Patterson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to understand boarding school syndrome for single-gender boarding school alumni. The theory guiding this study was Erikson’s (1968) socioemotional development theory as it describes human development. Development during Erikson’s adolescent period is fragile. This fragile adolescent period is interrupted when students are separated from their families and placed in the boarding school environment under the care of strangers. Research indicates boarding school syndrome correlates with relationship difficulties, college struggles and employment problems of military boarding school graduates (Marsh, 2011; Schaverien, 2011). Schaverien (2011) created the term boarding school syndrome after treating a significant …

The Struggle For Leadership In The African American Church, Curtis Lee Johnson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study focuses on looking at the struggles that African American leaders have within the church setting. It analyses the failings of the church in its mandate to offer spiritual and social nourishment to the black community. There have been concerns by clergy and the community at large that the reverent position that the church leader is no longer present. In its place, lies frustration and, in some cases, anger. The study will unravel the cause of the descent of the church. It examines a plethora of literature on the area, finding both supporting and opposing information. In the methodology, …

The Qualities Of The Worship Leader Perceived To Engage Others To Serve In Worship Ministry, Dawn H. Cochran

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The person serving in the role of the worship leader represents one of the primary positions of leadership within the Church. In the corporate worship setting, the worship leader is entrusted with the responsibility of fostering an atmosphere that is conducive to active participation, but may lack the proper skills needed to accomplish this task. This thesis project proposes that the worship leader must demonstrate the essential qualities necessary to engage others to serve in the worship ministry. This project will focus on four specific qualities that are crucial in this process: character, capability, commitment and chemistry. Through the examination …

Evaluating The Effects Of The Re|Engage Marriage Enrichment Program On The Use Of Christian Spiritual Disciplines, Erica P. Holmes

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this program evaluation is to evaluate the church-developed marriage small group intervention, re|engage, for its effects on the use of spiritual disciplines of the Christian faith to improve marital satisfaction of program participants. Utilizing quantitative archival data from the sole empirical study, Engaging with re|engage : A Study of Watermark Community Church’s 16-Session Marriage Intervention Program – re|engage (Boyd & Charlemagne, 2016), pre-test / post-test responses were evaluated to assess the effects of the re|engage marriage program on the use of Christian spiritual disciplines, including faith in God, prayer, and forgiveness, to improve the marital satisfaction of …

A Phenomenological Exploration Of Hispanic Student Persistence In The Online College Environment, Lee Richard Wilson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study is to find the essence of the experiences of Hispanic students who persist to complete online degrees at accredited universities. This information is essential to grasp the factors that motivated these students to complete their degrees. The central question is, “What are the experiences of Hispanic students who persisted to complete online undergraduate degree programs?” Purposeful sampling was used, and journal entries, interviews, and letters of advice were utilized through email and telephone communications. The Student Integration Model (Tinto, 1993) is a guide this study. This data is useful in studying how Hispanic …