Digital Commons Network^™

The Perceptions Of Teachers In Rural Title 1 Middle Schools Concerning The Experiences That Negatively Influence Job Satisfaction, Michael Stephen Slaven

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

A qualitative phenomenological research design was chosen to examine the perceptions of teachers concerning experiences that negatively influence teachers' job satisfaction in rural Title I schools in Georgia. Twelve middle school teachers from three Georgia school districts were interviewed. Pilot interviews and follow-up interviews were also held. Interview data was coded, codes were examined for redundancy and codes were collapsed into broad themes. Major themes related to teacher dissatisfaction included negative relationships with administrators and problems with student behavior. Major themes related to teacher satisfaction included positive relationships with colleagues, working with students, and a sense of efficacy. Problems with …

A Leadership Training Manual For The 21st Century Church Leader Based On The Pattern And Principles Jesus Created To Train The Twelve Apostles, Gregory Bruce Baxter

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Christian leadership training for pastors, missionaries, and lay leaders is mostly patterned after academic, business, military, and government models. This leads to a pragmatic, secular, and American approach to building Churches and advancing the Kingdom of God. Secular models of leadership training can inform and supplement but never usurp scriptural principles and values. The best Christian leadership training pattern is the one Jesus created to train the twelve Apostles. This model is found predominately in the gospels. The template this writer will follow is based on A. B. Bruce's 19th century seminal work, The Training of the Twelve. This training …

The Effectiveness Of Process Oriented Guided Inquiry Learning To Reduce Alternate Conceptions In Secondary Chemistry, Michelle Jones Barthlow

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

A nonequivalent, control group, pretest-posttest design was used to investigate student achievement in secondary chemistry. This study investigated the effect of process oriented guided inquiry learning (POGIL) in high school chemistry to reduce alternate conceptions related to the particulate nature of matter versus traditional lecture pedagogy. Data were collected from chemistry students in four large high schools and analyzed using ANCOVA. The results show that POGIL pedagogy, as opposed to traditional lecture pedagogy, resulted in fewer alternate conceptions related to the particulate nature of matter. Male and female students in the POGIL group posted better posttest scores than their traditional …

What Factors Of Cultural Intelligence Predict Transformational Leadership: A Study Of International School Leaders, Emerson K. Keung

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

International schools are a microcosm of the globalization that is occurring throughout the world. Effective leadership is critical to ensure that schools are successful in accomplishing their missions. This study examines if there is a relationship between cultural intelligence and effective leadership, defined as transformational leadership, in international school leaders, and if so, what factor(s) of cultural intelligence best predicts transformational leadership in international school leaders. International school leaders received an online survey that included the Cultural Intelligence Scale and the Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire 5X. Standard multiple regression analysis was used. The results indicate that there is a significant positive …

A Phenomenological Study Of The Beliefs, Attitudes, And Strategies Sixth And Seventh Grade Content Area Teachers Use To Teach Below Grade Level Readers, Lisa A. Clark

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purposes of this study were to identify the attitudes and beliefs content teachers have concerning teaching reading in the content area to below level readers and to identify specific instructional strategies that are used to teach students who are below grade level the content area material. Twelve participants were selected, using maximum variation sampling, based on the grade level and content area they taught. Data was collected from middle school content area teachers using interviews, surveys, observations, and document examination in an attempt to identify attitudes, beliefs, and specific challenges content teachers face instructing below grade level readers. The …

Perceptions Of Effectiveness Of Alternatively And Traditionally Licensed Teachers, Kristi L. Kilby Goodwin

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This qualitative phenomenological study examined the perceptions of both traditionally and alternatively licensed teachers regarding the effectiveness of their teacher preparation program on creating effective classroom teachers. Sixteen teachers at three Northeast Georgia schools participated in a series of semi-structured interviews over a period of five months. The teachers described perceptions of their teacher preparation route and corresponding effectiveness in the classroom. In addition to the interviews the teachers were asked to complete the Teachers Sense of Efficacy Scale in order to establish a quantitative view of self-efficacy among study participants. The interviews revealed that the most important qualities possessed …

A Comparison Research Study On The Use Of School Uniforms And Graduation, Attendance, And Suspension Rates In East Tennessee, William Elihue Gouge

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Graduation rates in Tennessee are 8 points below the state goal of 90%. Implementation of a school uniform policy may be a way to improve these rates by giving students increased school structure. The purpose of this quantitative, causal comparative study was to examine whether a significant difference exists in graduation, attendance, and suspension rates between a school that has a school uniform policy and a school that does not. Two public high schools in East Tennessee, one with and one without a school uniform policy, with similar demographics were compared. A second comparison was made after the implementation of …

Empowering Teachers: The Influence Of Transformational Leadership In Christian Schools, John Irungu Kirika

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The object of this study was to investigate transformational leadership in Christian schools. The study investigated the perception of empowerment of K-12 Christian school teachers and its influence on organizational and professional commitment and job satisfaction. It explored correlations between teacher empowerment and selected demographic variables. The study also investigated how K-12 Christian school leaders and teachers perceive teacher empowerment. A combination of causal comparative and a correlational research method using a series of t-test, ANOVA, and multiple regression statistics was used for parametric statistical analyses. The research findings were mixed. While the study pointed to the prevalence of teacher …

An Effective Internet Ministry Strategy For Church Evangelism Through A Case Study Of The Sarang Community Church, Dae Suk Lee

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purposes of this dissertation are to shed light on the essence of the church internet ministry from the biblical and ministerial angles and to suggest effective strategies for churches launching an internet ministry. In the thesis, I conducted a literary review of online ministry and a case study of the Sarang community church. Basic Web analysis, an interview, and a survey were performed to analyze Sarang's case and to draw lessons from it. I sincerely hope my suggestions on internet strategies can become a compass that points churches to the right direction as they navigate through the wave of …

The Effect Of A Manualized Group Treatment Protocol On God Image And Attachment To God, Jacqueline Diane Rasar

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study tested the effect of a manualized group treatment protocol on God image and attachment to God in a sample of college students attending a Christian college. Thirty undergraduate students from a homogenous population were tested with one measure of God attachment, two measures of God image, one measure of religious coping, and one measure of spiritual outcomes. It was hypothesized that significant God image and attachment to God change would occur among the treatment group participants. In addition, it was hypothesized that significant religious coping and spiritual outcome change would occur among the treatment group and comparable group …

Compassionate Procedures For The Dismissal Of Church Staff Members, Mark David Nalepa

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this project is to offer church leadership compassionate procedures for dismissing a church staff member for reasons other than immorality and impropriety. This will increase the likelihood he will continue to fulfill his calling to serve Christ elsewhere in ministry. For this to be accomplished the process must recognize and address the needs of all spheres impacted by the dismissal. The project will integrate the Biblical account of John Mark, collect sampling of church data on termination procedures, stories and perspectives of previously terminated staff members and family, and resource related literature on this subject.

Online Church: A Biblical Community, Jefferson Todd Mullins

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Faith and spirituality widely exist in the virtual world of the Internet, spanning the continuum of expression from the traditional to the abstract. This religious presence online includes every religion, and included Christianity. Whether one believes the Christian church is capable of existing online has much to do with one's perspective of the Internet and one's definition of church. The author will address the use of the Internet to build Christian community and establish the church in a virtual environment. Arguments for and against the church online will answer the question, "Is church online truly the church?"

A Cohesive Theology Of Christian Living: Principles From The Book Of Daniel, Jeremy Shaffer

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The propensity to force preconceived ideologies and theological systems upon the interpretation of the book of Daniel is evident. The purpose of this project is to provide a proper interpretation of Daniel 1-6 so that proper applications can be made for preaching and teaching, trying to eliminate any preconceptions along the way that are forced upon the text. A six-part theology of Christian living is developed from the preaching outlines of each chapter, all connected to the book's theme of sovereignty and thereby forming a cohesive unit. Ultimately, a greater appreciation for the value of the Old Testament in Christian …

Determining Factors Contributing To Graduation For Students With Learning Disabilities In Community Colleges, Crystal Perry Ange

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study examined Students with Learning Disabilities (SLD) graduation rates from two-year community colleges. Specifically, the purpose of this paper was to determine if identifiable demographics or accommodations were related to SLD who graduated from community colleges. Data were collected from the records of SLD at four community colleges in North Carolina. The information collected included demographic data, the accommodations of SLD, and graduation status from community college. The results were analyzed using hierarchical multiple regression. The overall study demonstrated no factors were identified that predict graduation for SLD from a two-year community college. Implications for future research include the …

The Impact Of Teacher Attitudes On Technology Use During Instruction, Michael David Dartt

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This collective, instrumental case study measured the impact of attitudes on the amount of time technology was used by three Algebra 2 teachers. The Theory of Planned Behavior (Ajzen, 1991) served as the theoretical framework. Data was collected through pre-observational surveys, classroom observations, and stimulated recall interviews. When common attitudes were discovered in participants, the amount of time that they used technology differed. Regarding the impact of attitudes on the amount of time spent using technology, results were mixed. In some instances attitudes had a profound influence, but in other circumstances they had none. There were cases where obstacles prevented …

A Global Approach For The Local Church As Mission Agent And Agency, Jonathan Edward Stairs

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this project is to reclaim the local church's mandate to mobilize disciples to complete the Great Commission. It appears that the evangelical church has abdicated its responsibility of reproducing disciples to other ministries and needs to re-establish disciple-making as its primary focus. Therefore, the project will outline how one church, Calvary Baptist Church in Oshawa, Ontario, Canada, intends to realign itself with the New Testament paradigm of the church as both a mission agent and agency. The potential value will be the development of a clear and effective discipleship pathway leading churches toward a Biblically-balanced "commissional" movement.

Discipleship Within The Home, Mark Edwin Smith

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

God considers parents the primary disciplers of their children. He created the family to be the incubator of a teenager's spiritual growth. God has given parents the responsibility of creating an environment suitable for their teen to become a follower of Christ. He also expects parents to maintain the maturation process while their children still live at home. More specifically, the father has been given the privilege of being the catalyst of each family member's unique journey in becoming like Christ. This thesis will help parents understand why God has given them the enormous task of discipling their teenagers, what …

Investigating The Impact Of Interactive Whiteboard Professional Development On Lesson Planning And Student Math Achievement, Rodney Lee Winkler

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

K-12 teachers lack training in best practices of interactive lesson development. It is essential that teachers utilize interactive whiteboards effectively. Using a collaborative mentor training, this factorial between-within groups study investigated how student achievement was impacted when teachers applied a set of effective interactive technology methods to math lessons. The research population consisted of 18 teachers randomly assigned training, with 311 elementary students. The study found a significant difference between feature-trained and non-feature-trained teacher instructional practices and student test scores for the two teacher groups. Statistical significance was also found for the interaction effect of teacher groups and observation rubric …

Muslim Pakistani And Indian Students In Their New York School System Experience, Alfonse Javed

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This hermeneutical phenomenological research study, using two rounds of semi- structured open ended interviews and focus group data, described the lived experience of Muslim Pakistani and Indian students in their New York school system experience. The purpose of this study was to collect and examine the stories and explore the lived experience of Muslim young adults from Pakistan and India in the American school system and document the positive and negative experiences they had while in the American school system. The study looked for the common denominators, which helped and encouraged the Muslim students to continue their education, regardless of …

Helplessness To Hope: Cultural Transformations For The Maasai Girl-Child, Kelly Suzanne Bingham

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study examined how the life dreams of the girls at the MTH Center of Hope in Kenya are being altered as a result in a change of cultural experience. The center was built as a place of rescue to protect Maasai girls from early marriage, FGM and extreme poverty while allowing them to stay in school. The phenomenological study included observations, interviews, focus groups and a questionnaire that was used to elicit responses and begin dialogue. Results indicate that there is a definite need not only for secondary and tertiary education for the girls but also to train the …

The Role Of Appreciation In Higher Education: The Experience Of Online Faculty Members With Instituional Administration, Aubrey Leeanne Coy

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study explored the role of expressed appreciation in an online education working environment. The research method used was a transcendental phenomenological approach in order to provide a foundational base for giving a voice to the participants' experiences in higher education, based on the participants' preferences for experiencing appreciation. Through assessments and interviews, this research intended to evaluate the role of appreciation in the workplace, namely higher education, and the relationships between online faculty members and their administration. Utilizing a newly created assessment tool, the Motivating by Appreciation Inventory, the act of appreciation was evaluated in terms of the Languages …

Economically Disadvantaged Students: A Case Study Of Resilient Qualities That Encourage Academic Success, Stephanie Kim Hawkins

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This case study examined academically successful economically disadvantaged (ED) students from one intact Caucasian family through parents', students', and teachers' perceptions of the reasons for resilience. The problem is that little research exists exploring qualities of academically successful ED Caucasian students. Because being a high school dropout significantly affects students, families, schools, and society, risk factors were explored; protective factors that help students overcome risk factors were also investigated. This study describes why academically successful ED students from one intact Caucasian family in Tennessee thrive despite risk factors working against them. Findings include the importance of Christian faith to the …

The Role Of Stanford Achievement Test 10tm Subtests In Sixth Grade As A Predictor Of Success On Act's Eighth Grade Explore Examtm, Jeffrey D. Potts

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this study was to determine if there was a predictive correlation between a specific sixth grade achievement test known as the Stanford Achievement Test 10 and the eighth grade college readiness assessment instrument known as the Explore Exam for a group of North Texas students. Following an assessment during sixth grade, via the sixth grade Stanford Achievement Test 10, the sample of 123 students was later administered the Explore Exam during their eighth grade year. A subsequent analysis of the data using the Pearson product-moment correlation coefficient revealed a statistically significant predictive relationship between the respective instruments. …

Representations Of L2 Motivational Self System With Beginning Chinese Language Learners At College Level In The United States: Heritage And Nonheritage Language Learners, Yan Xie

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Dornyei (2005) proposed the L2 motivational self system in response to the need to develop the socioeducational model. This study further tests the validation of the L2 motivational self system by investigating beginning Chinese language learners at the college level in the United States. A questionnaire combining two published questionnaires was administered to 197 subjects, including heritage language learners and nonheritage language learners, and compared the motivational representations of the two types of learners. This is the first study to test the L2 motivational self system by investigating learners of a language other than English. Through a correlation analysis, the …

Success Despite Socio-Economics: A Case Study Of A High Achieving, High Poverty School, Thomas Brent Tilley

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Effective school leadership is becoming more difficult than ever with the challenges of increased accountability and high stakes testing that are components of federal No Child Left Behind (NCLB) legislation. These challenges are more pronounced in schools with high rates of poverty. This was a case study of a high performing, high poverty school that has consistently been one of the highest performing elementary schools in the state. The purpose of the study was to describe the leadership that exists at the school, the culture of the school, and programs that contribute to the school's success. The researcher conducted observations …

The Relationship Of Religous And Existential Variables To Scores On The Animal-Human Continuity Scale And Perception Of Beliefs About Animals And Equality Of Mankind, Frank Lyle King

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of the present study is to determine the relationship between religious and existential variables and the Animal-Human Continuity Scale (Templer et al., 2006). The AHCS measures the extent that the respondent views animals and humans in a dichotomous versus a continuous perspective. Ninety nine (99) students at an evangelical southern university scored in the dichotomous direction as compared to the ninety six (96) students at a southern secular university. Likewise the more religious students, both those at the evangelical southern university and at a secular southern university, scored more in the dichotomous direction than the less religious students. …

A Proposal For Construction And Implementation Of A Focused Approach To A New Member Discipleship Program, Joshua Walters

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this project is to reveal the benefits of new member discipleship, for without this process there are many who do not follow through with their commitment to be an active part of that body of believers. This project shall: examine the purpose and history of discipleship, analyze surveyed responses from local pastors and new members, explore the results of new member discipleship in local churches, and conclude with a discipleship plan ready for implementation. This project seeks to show that through new member discipleship, the church can increase the understanding and dedication of their new members.

A Strategy For A Successful Christian Sexual Education Ministry In The African American Church, Darryl Lee Jones

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

A review of current literature demonstrates that very little material is available to assist churches on how to effectively communicate on the subject of sexuality in the African American church context. The purpose of this project is to illuminate the African American Church regarding the nature of this project on sexuality in the African American Church, its common elements, and an effective strategy for preparing a project. By applying a strong understanding of current and past literature reviews, surveys and questionnaires sent to homes and churches, in addition to interviews and workshops, the project reviews historical African American Church perspectives …

A Study Of Principals' Instructional Leadership Behaviors And Beliefs Of Good Pedagogical Practice Among Effective California High Schools Serving Socioeconomically Disadvantaged And English Language Learners, Jamon Frederick Peariso

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This mixed methods descriptive and causal-comparative study investigates what instructional leadership behaviors effective California high school principals have and what their beliefs are in regards to pedagogy, related issues, and professional issues, either constructivist or instructivist in nature, in the environment of the current NCLB accountability era. Differences found in eight specific demographic variables were analyzed in combination with data obtained from principals' responses on the Principal Instructional Management Rating Scale (PIMRS) and the Principal Beliefs Survey (PBS, a variation of the Teacher Beliefs Survey).

The population comprised of principals whose schools have met their API growth targets for two …

Perceptions Of High School Minority Students And High School Teachers Regarding Racism: A Phenomenological Study, Paige Shiver Boomer

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Research shows that racism is still prevalent in schools today. This qualitative study using a phenomenological design identified different forms of racism in schools and the impact racism has on students and teachers. The study identifies the perceptions 9th-12th grade minority students and high school teachers have regarding racism, and compares and contrast those perceptions in a rural Georgia high school. Participants were selected from a pool of approximately 103 ethnic minority high school students and 68 high school teachers. The participants were selected through purposeful sampling due to ones minority status or employment status. Surveys, individual interviews, and journaling …