Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Digital Commons Network™

Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Discipline
Keyword
Publication Year
File Type

Articles 5071 - 5100 of 6520

Full-Text Articles in Entire DC Network

A Phenomenology Of Elementary Teachers' Perceptions Of Alternative Classroom And Behavior Management Strategies To Support Students Impacted By Parental Substance Abuse, Heidi M. Hickman Mar 2019

A Phenomenology Of Elementary Teachers' Perceptions Of Alternative Classroom And Behavior Management Strategies To Support Students Impacted By Parental Substance Abuse, Heidi M. Hickman

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to understand how elementary (PreK-3) teachers in rural southern Ohio alter their classroom management strategies to offer behavioral support to students impacted by parental substance abuse. The theories that guided this study were: (a) Operant Conditioning (Skinner, 1938), (b) Family Stress Theory (Hill, 1958), (c) Social Learning Theory (Bandura, 1977), and (d) Social Development Theory (Vygotsky, 1978). The central question for this study was what are elementary teachers’ perceptions of how they alter their classroom management strategies to offer behavior support to students impacted by parental substance abuse? A purposeful sampling of …


The Experience Of Meaning And Purpose In Life Among Adult Iraqi Refugees In Jordan: A Qualitative Study, Reem Issa Abbasi Mar 2019

The Experience Of Meaning And Purpose In Life Among Adult Iraqi Refugees In Jordan: A Qualitative Study, Reem Issa Abbasi

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this research was to present a study that promotes understanding and exploration about how adult Iraqi refugees living in Jordan can still experience meaning making and hope in the face of suffering. The significance of this research lies in its unique findings that contribute to the body of literature concerning trauma recovery. A qualitative phenomenological in-depth interview methodology was used to explore the phenomenon of meaning in suffering among adult Iraqi refugees. The following research questions were used in this study to explore the phenomenon of meaning in suffering: Can life still be experienced as meaningful in …


The Matthew 16:13-18:20 Chiasm As The Fountainhead Of Matthean Proto-Ecclesiology, Nicholas A. Dodson Mar 2019

The Matthew 16:13-18:20 Chiasm As The Fountainhead Of Matthean Proto-Ecclesiology, Nicholas A. Dodson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The only two instances of the Greek term ἐκκλησία (usually translated “church”) found in the Gospels are in Matthew 16:18 and 18:17. These two passages have been examined, debated, and interpreted in a number of ways by various scholars. The present dissertation presents considerable exegetical evidence that these two uses of ἐκκλησία are actually part of a larger literary structure called a chiasmus, which connects the passages in which Matthew 16:18 and 18:17 are found. Because these are highly significant ecclesiological passages, this study further develops the connection of the chiastic structure to other foundational ecclesiological passages, namely the Matthean …


How Virtual Administrator Behaviors Impact Instruction: A Case Study, Tamra Lanning Mar 2019

How Virtual Administrator Behaviors Impact Instruction: A Case Study, Tamra Lanning

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this case study is to present an in-depth understanding of virtual teachers’ perceptions of how virtual school administrators’ instructional leadership behaviors impact instruction. The theory guiding this study is Haim Ginott’s theory of congruent communication (Ginott, 1965, 1972). Ginott (1972) described congruent communication as harmonious and authentic, where words match the feelings. Virtual school administrators and teachers must rely heavily on communication to accomplish goals. How virtual school administrators relay expectations, criticism, and praise will impact teacher instruction. The experiences associated with teachers and administrators in brick and mortar schools will serve as a framework for discussion …


Character Identification And Mindset: An Experimental Design Using Disney's Finding Nemo, Ashlee Kirby Lakin Mar 2019

Character Identification And Mindset: An Experimental Design Using Disney's Finding Nemo, Ashlee Kirby Lakin

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Mindset is defined as an individual’s view of intelligence or ability. Mindset research began in the 1970s at Stanford with Carol S. Dweck, who coined the terms “fixed mindset” and “growth mindset.” A fixed mindset believes intelligence and abilities are limited and static. Each individual has a certain quantity, and no amount of risk-taking, effort, or perseverance will increase the amount of intelligence currently possessed. A growth mindset sees intelligence as something that can grow, transform, and change. Individuals with growth mindsets believe hard work pays off and are eager to learn new ideas, concepts, and theories to move forward …


Maximizing Discipleship Via An Adult Small Group Ministry, Wendell Jeff Jackson Mar 2019

Maximizing Discipleship Via An Adult Small Group Ministry, Wendell Jeff Jackson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Since its inception in 1996, First Redeemer Church has been firmly committed to Jesus’ commission to make disciples. While all of the church’s ministries aim to do this, First Redeemer Church relies heavily on its adult small group ministry to facilitate discipleship. One indication of this ministry’s strategic importance is the considerable financial investment the church has made, and plans to make, to provide on-campus spaces for adult education. Such investments have been considered worthy in light of the expected spiritual growth of the ministry’s participants and their involvement in and financial support of the church. This study will evaluate …


Resolving Intergenerational Conflict Within The Rural Black Churches Of Central Virginia, Patrick Ward Bland Mar 2019

Resolving Intergenerational Conflict Within The Rural Black Churches Of Central Virginia, Patrick Ward Bland

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this project is to assist church leaders and their congregations in the rural black churches in Central Virginia to become more aware of the intergenerational conflict that has governed and, in some instances, legitimated the church. Qualitative and quantitative analysis and academic research revealed a majority of rural black churches in central Virginia are challenged with limited increase in membership because of the frequency of blatant disregard shown among the various generations. This thesis proposes a biblical model for Christian pastors and church leaders to provide resourceful methods of leading their congregations into more productive growth.


A Phenomenological Study Of What Motivates Secondary Students To Enroll In Virtual Academies, Jan Michelle Huffman Mar 2019

A Phenomenological Study Of What Motivates Secondary Students To Enroll In Virtual Academies, Jan Michelle Huffman

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative, phenomenological study was to determine what motivates secondary students to enroll in virtual academies. Students at the Tennessee Virtual Academy (TeViA) were contacted via email to determine participation interest in this study. Students that chose to participate from TeViA were asked to complete a reflective journal and participate in a semi-structured interview at their residence. In vivo coding and initial coding were conducted on the reflective journals and semi-structured interviews. In vivo coding was also conducted on observation notes before theming of the data. The theory guiding this study was Ryan and Deci’s Self-Determination Theory …


Leadership Factors That Influence Church Growth For Western North Carolina Churches Of God, Harold Jordan Mar 2019

Leadership Factors That Influence Church Growth For Western North Carolina Churches Of God, Harold Jordan

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this project is to identify and describe the essential leadership factors required to stimulate and sustain church growth for Church of God churches operating in Western North Carolina. This will be accomplished using a grounded theory research approach. Sample (N = 30) analysis of statistics provided by the Western North Carolina State Offices of the Church of God showed 3% of the churches in this region to have recorded significant overall growth in attendance and membership (=>10% per year) from April 1, 2014 to April 30, 2016. Few of the sampled churches recorded benchmark conversion growth …


Suicide Prevention Through Spiritual Care: A Guide For United States Military Veterans, Reggie D. Richardson Mar 2019

Suicide Prevention Through Spiritual Care: A Guide For United States Military Veterans, Reggie D. Richardson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The focus of this study is to highlight the growing concern with the suicide rate among United States military veterans. This study seeks to demonstrate how spiritual care can help many veterans that are suffering from thoughts of suicide, by providing various theories of integration between psychotherapy and theology. The methods chosen for integration are the integrationist perspective, cognitive behavioral therapy, and Christian cognitive therapy. The focus of the integration is to help prevent veterans who are at risk of suicide, by focusing on a treatment plan that helps the totality of a person. The theoretical orientation provided offers insight …


The Experiences Of Christian Paideia Among Graduates Of Classical Christian Texas High Schools: A Phenomenological Study, Jared L. Squires Mar 2019

The Experiences Of Christian Paideia Among Graduates Of Classical Christian Texas High Schools: A Phenomenological Study, Jared L. Squires

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this study was to describe the essence of the shared lived experiences in a Christian paideia for classical Christian high school graduates at five different Texas schools. Bronfenbrenner’s (1979) Ecological Systems Theory (EST) was the primary theory guiding this study. EST is significant for classical Christian educators because this theory suggests that the behavior and practices of individuals, embodied within a Christian paideia, will profoundly shape the development of students. The central question for this study was how do classical Christian high school graduates describe their lived experiences of Christian paideia? Participants described their lived experiences of …


Addressing Health Literacy And Collaboration In Mobile Clinics Utilizing Teach-Back Methodology And Healthcare Provider Training, Mark Robert Drye Mar 2019

Addressing Health Literacy And Collaboration In Mobile Clinics Utilizing Teach-Back Methodology And Healthcare Provider Training, Mark Robert Drye

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Focused healthcare provider teaching was used to increase health literacy sensitive care and to improve interdisciplinary collaboration between providers in a mobile clinic setting that serves significantly underserved and socioeconomically challenged populations. The teach-back method was selected as one of the tools to help providers help their patients overcome health literacy challenges by increasing compliance and helping providers engage their patients in collaborative care. Multidisciplinary providers working in a large university clinic system in the southern United States (N = 20) were surveyed, provided focused training, and resurveyed to determine if provider practices addressing health literacy and interdisciplinary collaboration could …


An Education Implementation Project In An Emergency Department To Increase Awareness And Referral For Trafficked Person Encounters, Stacey Lynn Alderman Mar 2019

An Education Implementation Project In An Emergency Department To Increase Awareness And Referral For Trafficked Person Encounters, Stacey Lynn Alderman

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Human trafficking impacts sufferers on a global scale with serious and lifelong health issues associated with the illegal practice. Interventions for these victims’ extensive health issues must ignite healthcare staff education and expert clinical interventions. Due to these health problems, healthcare staff function on the front lines to identify and help trafficked persons. This study focused on the scope of trafficking and health staff awareness, identification strategies to help recognize trafficked persons, techniques for interviewing, best practice strategies for intervention and referral, and new coding guidelines. During the intervention, health staff received a human trafficking pre-education questionnaire, a research supported …


The Relationship Between Student Assessment, Teacher Evaluation, And Teacher Climate, Cheryl Dayan Owens Buchanan Mar 2019

The Relationship Between Student Assessment, Teacher Evaluation, And Teacher Climate, Cheryl Dayan Owens Buchanan

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

High-stakes testing has been a key component in the educational landscape since policies have focused on pedagogical quality in the classroom. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between student assessment, teacher evaluation, and teacher climate. The theoretical framework of Herzberg’s motivation theory guided this study. The researcher used a correlational design to analyze the relationship between student assessment, teacher evaluations, and teacher climate. The survey was given to 109 participants who were selected from a convenience sample of middle school teachers in a rural school district in Tennessee during the 2017-2018 school year. The EVAAS Teacher …


The Unifying Theme Of The Mind Of Christ In Philippians Demonstrated By Paul's Use Of Rhetorical And Linguistic Devices In An Oral/Aural Culture, David Alan Posey Mar 2019

The Unifying Theme Of The Mind Of Christ In Philippians Demonstrated By Paul's Use Of Rhetorical And Linguistic Devices In An Oral/Aural Culture, David Alan Posey

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Among the debatable issues arising from Paul’s epistle to the Philippians are questions concerning the structure, integrity and thematic emphasis of the letter. This dissertation argues that the “Christ Hymn” (2:6-11) is the central point of a chiastic structure of the letter, establishing the “Mind of Christ” as the primary and, thus, unifying theme of this correspondence. Four primary fields of research lend support to this hypothesis. First, rhetorical criticism seeks to understand the meaning of the biblical text through recognized persuasive devices utilized within first-century literature and speech. Second, linguistic studies, in its simplest form, examines the selection and …


Ethical Leadership And Ethical Behavior In The Large Publicly Traded United States-Based Banks, Gerald R. Rowe Iii Mar 2019

Ethical Leadership And Ethical Behavior In The Large Publicly Traded United States-Based Banks, Gerald R. Rowe Iii

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Unethical behavior in business and banking has cost Americans significantly throughout the past several decades. Ethical lapses in banking contributed to the financial disaster of 2008-09, resulted in thousands of families losing their homes, cost consumers millions in bogus overdraft fees, resulted in millions of phony accounts customers did not agree to open, and cost end users billions in credit card fees, just to name a few of the transgressions. This study utilized Brown, Harrison, and Travino’s (2005) Ethical Leadership Scale (ELS) to measure ethical leadership and Kaptein’s (2008) Measure of Unethical Behavior in the Workplace to measure ethical behavior …


Relations Between Placement Criteria And Students' Emporium-Based Developmental Math Final Grades, George Sherman Mar 2019

Relations Between Placement Criteria And Students' Emporium-Based Developmental Math Final Grades, George Sherman

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

With computer-based math emporiums serving many post-secondary students who are assigned developmental coursework, the need to evaluate the predictive value of math placement criteria for math emporium courses presented an opportunity for research. This quantitative, predictive, correlational study explored how accurately the predictor variables of students’ ACT/SAT math component scores, local math assessment results, and unweighted high school GPAs foretold the criterion variable of students’ final math grades in MATH 100, an entry-level, residential, developmental math course taught through a private university’s math emporium. The research relied on archival data pulled from the university’s system of records, and the samples …


An Expositional Approach To The Parables Of Jesus And Applications For Unchurched Korean-American Christians, Junyong Cha Mar 2019

An Expositional Approach To The Parables Of Jesus And Applications For Unchurched Korean-American Christians, Junyong Cha

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Korean-American churches like many immigrant churches often play a role as the ethical and cultural refuge for members. This failure to be a faith-based spiritual community causes ripple effects, in a negative sense, that pastors should not preach uncomfortable messages to the congregation and not to focus on spiritual matters and that this spiritual downspin leads to conflicts and frustrations in church and ultimately to numeral declining in either form of a church split or leaving church. While the reasons for leaving the church are varied, the ultimate source of individual believers’ healing, restoration, and growth is the Word of …


Mental Health And Traumatic Brain Injury Survivors: The Relationship Between Self-Esteem, Shame, And Depression To Quality Of Life After Mild And Moderate Traumatic Brain Injury, Lisa Marie Ansell Mar 2019

Mental Health And Traumatic Brain Injury Survivors: The Relationship Between Self-Esteem, Shame, And Depression To Quality Of Life After Mild And Moderate Traumatic Brain Injury, Lisa Marie Ansell

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Self-esteem, shame, and depression are three factors which can impact quality of life. Mental health counseling and perceived satisfaction of mental health services can also have an impact on quality of life. This study focused on the how mild and moderate traumatic brain injury survivors within a small sample population perceived how self-esteem, shame, and depression were predictors of quality of life. Through survey research, an online survey was utilized to solicit responses to questions related to self-esteem, shame, depression, quality of life, counseling services, and counseling service satisfaction among mild and moderate traumatic brain injury survivors who participate in …


Elementary Teachers' And Administrators' Perceptions Of Teacher Motivation, Jody Mac Foreman Mar 2019

Elementary Teachers' And Administrators' Perceptions Of Teacher Motivation, Jody Mac Foreman

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of the study was to compare elementary teachers’ and elementary administrators’ perceptions of teacher motivation. By identifying that differences exist between elementary teachers’ and elementary administrators’ perceptions of what motivates teachers, it allows for administrators to gain a better understanding and possibly design more effective strategies for enhancing teacher motivation. Additionally, it opens the door for further studies, not only with elementary teachers and administrators, but at the middle and high school levels as well. This study used a quantitative methodology with a causal comparative design. The sample population came from two school districts in South Carolina, the …


Dental Professionals' Preparedness To Manage The Behaviors Of Patients With Autism Spectrum Disorder During Dental Treatment: A Phenomenological Study, Kelli A. Trenga Mar 2019

Dental Professionals' Preparedness To Manage The Behaviors Of Patients With Autism Spectrum Disorder During Dental Treatment: A Phenomenological Study, Kelli A. Trenga

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental, phenomenological study was to explore the preparedness of dentists and dental hygienists to manage the behaviors of patients with ASD during their dental treatments. The research focused on 12 participants who were novice or experienced dentists or dental hygienists, representatives of three states, and chosen from snowball and criterion sampling. The study was grounded in the adult experiential learning theory and the disability model. Data collection included long interviews face-to-face or via phone, open-ended-online surveys, and document analysis. The data was analyzed through the process of Epoche, transcendental-phenomenological reduction, imaginative variation, synthesis of meanings, and …


Comparing The College Persistence Of Dual-Enrolled 11th And 12th Grade High School Students Based On Gender And Mode Of Course Delivery, Joseph Lawrence Depenhart Feb 2019

Comparing The College Persistence Of Dual-Enrolled 11th And 12th Grade High School Students Based On Gender And Mode Of Course Delivery, Joseph Lawrence Depenhart

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this quantitative causal-comparative study was to determine if a statistically significant relationship exists between the level of postsecondary persistence (DV) of dual-enrolled students based on student gender (IV) and the mode of course delivery (IV). This study used Tinto’s and Bean’s Student Integration Theories to explain how gender and participation in the different modes of course delivery in a dual-enrollment program affects the college persistence of 11th and 12th grade high school students as measured using the College Persistence Questionnaire (CPQ). This study examined the relationship between a student’s gender and mode of course delivery and the …


Effectiveness Of Religious Cognitive Behavior Therapy For The Treatment Of Clinical Depression In Religious People: A Single-Case Research Design Analysis, Richard Mark Cozart Feb 2019

Effectiveness Of Religious Cognitive Behavior Therapy For The Treatment Of Clinical Depression In Religious People: A Single-Case Research Design Analysis, Richard Mark Cozart

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study used a single-case research design analysis to investigate the efficacy and effectiveness of the Duke University Center for Spirituality, Theology and Health (Duke Center)’s religious cognitive behavior therapy (RCBT) with four deeply religious Christians reporting moderate to severe depression. Literature suggests that religious individuals prefer interventions that reflect their religiosity and experience at least equal recovery rates compared to the use of conventional cognitive behavior therapy (CBT); however, they may not have access to effective religious treatments in customary religious venues, and there is a lack of understanding of why such individuals respond to religious treatments. The four …


A Multiple Case Study Investigating Utah School District Approaches To Beginning Teacher Retention, Katie Melinda Kimber Feb 2019

A Multiple Case Study Investigating Utah School District Approaches To Beginning Teacher Retention, Katie Melinda Kimber

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this multiple case study was to discover educator perceptions of Utah school district approaches to retaining beginning teachers. Throughout the study, the term “educator” collectively describes the study participants: district leaders, principals, mentors, and beginning teachers. The overarching concept that guided this study was Sher’s (1983) Three Cs of Education framework which categorizes the factors that impact teacher retention into the following three groups: Characteristics, Conditions, and Compensation. The central research question for this study was: How do educators describe Utah school districts’ approaches to retaining beginning teachers? The sub-questions for this study were: What are educator …


School Counselor Experiences Or Perspectives In An Age Of Increasing Pornography Use And Sexual Behaviors Of Students, Natalie Atwell Feb 2019

School Counselor Experiences Or Perspectives In An Age Of Increasing Pornography Use And Sexual Behaviors Of Students, Natalie Atwell

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study explored school counselor interactions or perspectives concerning the impact of pornography use and sexual behaviors among students in K-12 education. Participants, comprised of 51 school counselors in a suburban district in North Carolina, were given a qualitative survey in this case study for the purpose of exploring interactions such as challenging incidents and training needs. Results suggested that school counselors are involved with students impacted by pornography use and sexual behaviors through indirect and direct services, however, school counselors do not report feeling adequately trained to effectively help students in these areas. This study provides implications for further …


Mindfulness Meditation And Self-Regulation On Smartphone Application By Educators: A Qualitative Case Study, Jason Boyle Feb 2019

Mindfulness Meditation And Self-Regulation On Smartphone Application By Educators: A Qualitative Case Study, Jason Boyle

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of the instrumental case study was to explore how educators use a mindfulness meditation application called Calm on their smartphones. The self-regulation theory, as viewed from the perspective of Roy Baumeister, guides this study in exploring educators’ self-regulation using a smartphone application. The study answers the central question and four research questions: CQ) How do educators use a mindfulness meditation application called Calm on their smartphone? RQ1) How do individuals seeking to modify their behavior use the mindfulness meditation smartphone application? RQ2) How does an individual’s motivation to attain a goal shape one’s use of the mindful meditation …


The Correlation Between Employee Job Satisfaction And Leadership Style By Leadership Personnel In Massage Businesses, Veronica Henry Jan 2019

The Correlation Between Employee Job Satisfaction And Leadership Style By Leadership Personnel In Massage Businesses, Veronica Henry

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Job satisfaction plays a significant role in employee retention outcomes. Therefore, examining factors that contribute to employee job satisfaction is vital to formulating and implementing effective organizational protocols that increase job satisfaction, employee retention, and overall business performance. This study was designed to examine the relationship between leadership style and job satisfaction in massage-based businesses. The research question was as follows: Is there a relationship between job satisfaction and leadership style in massage businesses in Columbia, SC? This study utilized three primary leadership styles: transformational, transactional, and passive/ avoidant. The research question was answered through a quantitative correlational analysis of …


The Impact Of Using Elementary Science Specialists On 5th Grade Science Achievement Scores, Wesley Armstrong Roach Jan 2019

The Impact Of Using Elementary Science Specialists On 5th Grade Science Achievement Scores, Wesley Armstrong Roach

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

American students score significantly below several other countries in the area of science achievement. With threats such as epidemics and cyber terrorism facing modern society, it is important for schools to prepare students to succeed in science. Research has shown, however, that substandard science instruction at the elementary level leaves students ill-prepared for future success in science. And, even worse, low quality science instruction in elementary school is, for some students, correlated to the loss of interest in science altogether. The purpose of this causal-comparative study was to examine the effect of using science specialists in elementary schools on science …


Missional Apologetics: An Examination Of Essential Elements In The Apologetic Approaches Of Early Christian Era Apologists In Light Of The Mission Of Christ To A Pluralistic World, George B. Bannister Sr Jan 2019

Missional Apologetics: An Examination Of Essential Elements In The Apologetic Approaches Of Early Christian Era Apologists In Light Of The Mission Of Christ To A Pluralistic World, George B. Bannister Sr

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The cultural ethos known as postmodernism has impacted the epistemological and functional structures of contemporary society in dramatic ways. Changes in the attitudes, standards, and belief systems from which people operate in their day-to-day lives have seen radical alterations in the last fifty years. The impact of the postmodern milieu has been evident in various ways in local church ministry, as well as the extension of local church ministry on the mission field.As a result of the waning effectiveness of traditional evangelism methods and indications that there is a relationship between that waning efficacy and the postmodern milieu, scholars have …


The Influence Of Teacher Effectiveness On Student Achievement: A Case Study, Linda Marie Rogers Jan 2019

The Influence Of Teacher Effectiveness On Student Achievement: A Case Study, Linda Marie Rogers

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative case study was to explore the perceptions and professional practices of 15 middle school teachers regarding teacher effectiveness and the influence on student achievement. The five research questions that guided this study aligned with the Georgia Department of Education five domains of teacher effectiveness: planning, instructional delivery, assessment, learning environment, and communication. This study implemented the qualitative case study design. The research was conducted in four middle schools in a school district in Georgia. The research used individual interviews, focus group interviews, and a prearranged classroom observation. The cross-case synthesis analysis method was implemented to …