Digital Commons Network^™

Mental Illness In African American Women: A Transcendental Phenomenology On Self-Efficacy And The Treatment-Seeking Behavior Of Secondary And Post-Secondary Educators, Sasha N. Gordon

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This transcendental phenomenological research shows the influence of mental health treatment on the self-efficacy of African American women who are secondary or post-secondary educators in Northern Illinois. For African American women educators, taking care of their mental well-being and being aware of mental health conditions are crucial. Sharing personal stories and experiences can help reduce the stigma surrounding mental health. Promoting awareness and understanding of mental health issues are vital in our communities, and access to resources and support are necessary. Using self-identity theory can aid in comprehending motivations and behaviors, leading to greater satisfaction and fulfillment and the prioritization …

Exploring The Uses And Gratifications Of Higher Education Online Multimedia Instructional Tools: A Qualitative Study, Shelby Lord

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This research study examined the communication goals that motivate California Community College (CCC) faculty to employ multimedia instructional tools in their online classes. Additionally, this study investigated the positive and negative impacts of multimedia instructional tools on faculty-to-student communication. A qualitative research method was utilized for this research study. Findings were obtained from June 2024 through August 2024 using 25 qualitative semi-structured one-on-one interviews. Participants were faculty who were currently teaching remote classes through the CCC system, faculty who approved the informed consent for the study, and faculty who agreed to participate in a semi-structured interview. A thematic analysis process …

United In Purpose: Establishing Community Partnerships Amongst District-Level Music Education Programs And After-School Music Organizations In Delaware, Malcolm S. Richardson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Despite the benefits of Music Education Programs in Delaware, there was a critical need to build community partnerships to enrich the music learning experience for all participants. This research explored implementing change by connecting with community leaders and organizations. It gathered perspectives from music educators, students and their parents, school administrators, community organization leaders, and after-school program directors. A qualitative, programmatic evaluative approach was applied to examine the impact of these community partnerships between district-level music programs in Delaware. The study addressed the purpose and framework of alliances, the need for establishing and maintaining them, and potential barriers to sustainable …

The Lived Experiences Of African American Female First-Generation College Students As They Matriculate Through College: A Phenomenological Study, Rosa Denise Mcallister-Mcrae

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to examine the lived experiences of African American female first-generation college students’ (FGCS) academic, social, emotional, and low economic challenges while attending either a Historically Black College and University (HBCU) or a Predominately White Institution (PWI) located in the southeastern area of the United States. First-generation college students are students whose parents never attended college. Tinto’s retention theory was the framework that guided the research, particularly, the challenges faced by first-generation students. The central research question was, how do African American female FGCSs describe their lived experiences matriculating through an HBCU or …

Planning In Advance (Pia): Teaching London Seventh-Day-Adventist Church Leaders In Providing Spiritual Care For Dying And Mourning Parishioners, Walace Saint Louis

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The London Seventh-Day Adventist Church (LSDAC), Maybee, Michigan, grapples with the lack of trained leaders in EoL to provide pastoral care for dying and mourning African American parishioners. The purpose of this DMIN action research project is to educate LSDAC leaders in providing spiritual care for their congregants as lay chaplains. The city of Maybee contains 612 people, with 95 % Caucasians and 5% other racial groups. The LSDAC membership is 99% African Americans and 1% Caucasians. It has around 30 members.

The philosophical concept of this research lies in the presuppositions that African Americans prefer spiritual EoL care from …

Edification, Exhortation, And Consolation In A Prophetic Context, Drorester Ornas Alexander Ii

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

According to 1 Corinthians 14 and Ephesians 4, edifying one another is necessary for building Christ’s body in love. Wayne Grudem, a notable theologian, stated that the gift of prophecy in the New Testament is “a human being reporting in merely human words something that God has brought to mind.” The researcher explored how and in what way people are affected by the words of prophecy in a New Testament context. Does the gift of prophecy in Christian music recordings from 2014 to 2024 provide consolation, edification, and exhortation to individuals identifying with Continuationists?

In examining songs containing prophetic contours, …

Racial Reconciliation In Black And White: A Qualitative Study Of Live Mississippi Blues Music Communication, Christian Patterson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological research effort is to investigate a problem regarding communication between Black and White Mississippians in live Mississippi blues music settings. The central research question for this study is as follows: Can live Mississippi blues music communication be used as a tool to strengthen race relations between Black and White Mississippians? Few studies exist regarding this matter. Understanding this phenomenon is relevant because racial reconciliation is critical to the Magnolia State’s future success, and research has proven that music can unify individuals. To facilitate comprehension, a thorough literature review describes Mississippi’s racial challenges from the …

Implementing A Patient Decision Aid Tool To Improve Knowledge Of Lung Cancer Screening And Lung Cancer Screening Rates In A Primary Care Setting, Emily Evans Brown

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

It is well known that lung cancer is a devastating disease affecting many individuals in the United States. Through education and early screening efforts, lung cancers can be identified earlier when they can be more easily treated. This evidence-based practice project was developed for the purpose of improving patient and provider knowledge of lung cancer screening and to increase lung cancer screenings in primary care. The evidence-based lung cancer screening educational tool, referred to as a patient decision aid tool, was implemented in a family medicine practice setting over a 10-week period. After the 10-week implementation, there was an increase …

Solution-Focused Pastoral Counseling For Bereavement, Wayne A. Benner

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The topic of this action research is Solution-Focused Pastoral Counseling for grief and bereavement. The need for the research completed is for hospice chaplains to have a workable tool to use for grief and bereavement. The problem is that many hospice chaplains do not have a framework to use for counseling in grief. The action researcher worked on the thesis of if chaplains use Solution-Focused Pastoral Counseling for grief they will be more effective. The research was completed using Solution-Focused Pastoral Counseling to counsel six participants in grief. Each participant completed a pre-counseling questionnaire and a post-counseling questionnaire to assess …

Stopping The Transference: Family Resilience Concerning High Adverse Childhood Experience Through A Genogram Study Of Southern Appalachian Storytelling Culture, Brittany Shay Teague

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenological study was to explore the experiences of multi-generational Appalachian storytellers and their culture to discover if there was a decrease in Adverse Childhood Experiences and increase resilience across generations. Vygotsky's Communication Theory, which emphasizes child development through language and communication, and Masten’s Resilience Theory, which emphasizes that children can develop resilience with the assistance of their caregivers, guided this study. The research questions asked were as follows: How do they describe the impact of storytelling and genograms on resilience and intergenerational transference?  How do they describe the importance of storytelling? How would they describe …

Special Education Teachers' Perspective On Burnout When Legal Counsel Is Part Of The Iep Team: A Phenomenological Study, Erin M. Squibb

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to understand teacher perceptions of special education teacher burnout rates when legal counsel or parent advocates are Individualized Education Program (IEP) team members in public schools in Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Virginia. The two theories guiding this study are the social cognitive theory and the job demands-resources model. Special education teachers are leaving the field at an alarming rate. It is essential to understand burnout specifically related to special education teachers. This study determined how fourteen special educators with varying years of teaching experience described their experience when an advocate or legal counsel was …

Exploring Job Demands That Increase Burnout Rates Among Secondary, Public, Interrelated Special Education Teachers: A Hermeneutic Phenomenology, Wendy M. Turner

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenology is to understand the experiences of secondary, interrelated, public-school teachers in Georgia and their job demands and job resources that affect the development of burnout syndrome. There are two theories guiding this study: the burnout theory and the job demands-resources theory. These theories work together to frame understanding and guide the research questions for this phenomenological study. The burnout theory lays the foundation for identifying the characteristics of burnout syndrome while the job demands-resources theory allows us to identify specific characteristics of the job that can increase or decrease the likelihood of special education …

The Psychological And Spiritual Experiences Of Christian Caregivers Of Physically Or Mentally Disabled Family Members, Doneshia Burns

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study aimed to understand the lived experiences of Christian caregivers caring for mentally or physically ill family members. This qualitative phenomenological study described the psychological and spiritual influence of caring for mentally or physically ill family members. The first question that the researcher attempted to answer was: What lived experiences do family caregivers experience when caring for loved ones with physical or mental disabilities? The second question that was explored was: How does caring for loved ones influence Christian family caretakers' spiritual well-being. The third question explored how caring for loved ones influences Christian family caretakers' psychological or mental …

A Qualitative Study Of Emdr Clinician Treatment Modality Choice And Client Needs, Carole Petrides Bakke

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological qualitative research study was to explore and understand the lived experiences of clinicians practicing eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) in the state of Nebraska and their choice of treatment modality, between the audio, visual, and kinesthetic techniques of EMDR. As an evidenced-based treatment therapy, EMDR has been shown to decrease the symptoms of distress in clients with a history of trauma and the treatment of choice for clients with a diagnosis of PTSD. A qualitative approach was used to assess the possible connection between the EMDR techniques as factors in individual preferences and …

Contact Refusal In Children And Adolescents Post-Parental Separation, Ashten N. Gallagher

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore and understand the underlying themes in contact refusal between a parent and a child through a developmentally sensitive lens. This study examines how trauma, relational dynamics, and developmental stages influence a child’s refusal to engage with a parent post-separation or divorce. The theories guiding this research include Erikson’s psychosocial development stages (Erikson, 1950, 1968), which highlight how children’s developmental needs and challenges impact their relational attachments. Additionally, the diagnostic framework for complex posttraumatic stress disorder (CPTSD) as outlined by the World Health Organization’s International Classification of Diseases 11 (Cloitre et al., …

Assessing A Reading Score's Ability To Predict Pta Program Student Success, Tiffany H. Bain

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Admission into a physical therapist assistant (PTA) program continues to be highly competitive, with consistently more applicants than available seats. Student success is essential for maintaining CAPTE accreditation. There is limited research on admission criteria and predictors of success in physical therapist assistant education. This study aimed to determine if the Accuplacer or ACT reading test scores can predict student success (program completion and first-time NPTE-PTA) in a physical therapist assistant program using Astin’s input-environment-output (IEO) model as the theoretical foundation. This non-experimental logistic regression study used retrospective secondary data from an associate degree-level physical therapist assistant program 2016 through …

Exploring How Religiously Affiliated Schools’ Ecological Systems Influence Policies On Students With Disabilities, Michelle Lyon Bizeau

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this exploratory multiple-case study was to gain an understanding of the ecological systems that are most influential in how religiously affiliated schools establish their policies that ultimately include or exclude students with disabilities in California. The theory guiding this study was Urie Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems theory as it emphasizes that an individual’s development is influenced by dynamic interplay between individual characteristics and the broader social, cultural, and environmental contexts in which they live. The participants in this study were school leaders who were purposely selected as representatives of their primary and/or secondary religiously affiliated school located in …

How Successful Are Female State Lawmakers? A Study Examining The Legislative Success Of Female State Lawmakers In Professional And Non-Professional State Legislatures, Samuel Eugene Keys

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This non-experimental, quantitative study examined the impact of legislative professionalism on female state lawmakers' legislative success regarding women's issues. This study is important in determining if there is a significant difference in the legislative success of female state lawmakers based on the level of legislative professionalism. Additionally, this study is important in determining how much variation in legislative success can be explained by legislative professionalism and other factors. Participants for this study were drawn using a stratified sampling frame of state lawmakers elected to serve from 2003 – 2021 in professional and non-professional state legislatures in the U.S. For this …

Comparing Physiological, Psychological, And Performance Changes Between Myo-Reps Vs Traditional Hypertrophy Protocols, Antonella V. Schwarz

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

In long-term athlete development, it is common to emphasize hypertrophic adaptations during the beginning training phases prior to focusing on strength and power performance. The purpose of this study was to compare the physiological, psychological, and performance differences between myo-reps (MYO) vs. traditional (TRAD) hypertrophy protocols in trained n=8 male subjects over eight weeks. Current literature suggests hypertrophy may be optimized through 3-6 sets of 6-12 repetitions at 60-80% of one-repetition maximum (IRM) with 1-3 minutes of rest per set. However, alternative hypertrophy protocols such as MYO are underexplored. This quantitative experimental study assessed MYO vs TRAD protocols on hypertrophy …

Faith Formation: Spiritual Gifts For Evangelism Outreach, Jacquelin Copeland

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This thesis project addresses the gap in the literature concerning spiritual gifts for evangelism. This Doctor of Ministry action research project at Prevailing Word Ministries hypothesizes that if Prevailing Word Ministries fulfills the spiritual gifts for evangelism Bible study and training course, the Bible study participants will grow in faith and attendance. This was achieved through eight Bible study teaching and training sessions with questionnaires, journalling, a survey, and a focus group interview; assessments were made from answers given by the fourteen participants upon completing the eight online Zoom Bible study sessions. These assessments measured how successfully the intervention project …

Motivation In The Remote Workplace: Basic Psychological Need Satisfaction During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Nina R. Simmons

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Due to their essential role in the promotion of employee and organizational effectiveness, internal processes regulating work motivation have been a topic of interest for decades. Influenced by a need-supportive environment, work motivation is at least partially controlled by the organization. However, employee needs and need satisfaction have been largely addressed in research in traditional work settings, leaving a vastly different work arrangement insufficiently explored: remote work. This holds especially true for involuntary remote work - a viable solution for organizations during a crisis. To address this gap in knowledge, a qualitative descriptive study was conducted to examine basic psychological …

Development And Evaluation Of Nurse Practitioner- Driven Appointment Reminder Initiative At An Outpatient Mental Health Clinic, Adaku Ogoke

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

No-shows or missed appointments have a negative impact on the effectiveness and efficiency of healthcare facilities. No-shows contribute to high healthcare costs and lost revenue due to underutilization of services, unnecessary disruptions in workflow, increased workload, and scheduling challenges. Mental health clinics report high no-show rates due to factors such as forgetfulness among patients. The purpose of this quality improvement project was to implement a text message patient appointment reminder system to reduce the no-show rate and increase provider knowledge in an outpatient mental health clinic in 15 weeks. The project was guided by the Iowa model of evidence-based practice …

Evaluating Pharmacokinetic And Age-Related Parameters In The Static Mechanistic Model To Enhance The Accuracy Of Drug-Drug Interaction Prediction In The Geriatric Population, Jing Wang

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Drug-drug interactions (DDIs) can significantly impact drug efficacy, patient safety, and healthcare costs. While potentially life-threatening, DDIs are also predictable, manageable, and avoidable. Due to polypharmacy and age-related physiological changes, DDIs are most prevalent in the geriatric population. However, geriatric patients are often excluded from clinical trials for ethical and scientific reasons. DDI assessments in the geriatric population are typically replied on extrapolated from younger populations, which may not always be appropriate. This research investigates whether the computational model, particularly the static mechanistic model, can accurately and appropriately predict DDIs in the geriatric population by modifying pharmacokinetic and age-related parameters …

A Mission Simulation Retreat For Senior Youth Leaders To Train Adventist Young Professionals In The South Bahamas Conference, Jamal Doran Franklyn

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The mission simulation retreat SDA action research project trains senior youth leaders of young adult professionals for urban ministry through their vocational orientation. To address the problem of only having a global youth day one-day mission drive, the Mission Simulation Retreat (MSR) equipped young leaders in local SDA churches to simulate mission projects matching their professional careers. By building on the Hebrew culture, the priesthood of all believers, and spiritual gifts, MSR customizes a spiritual gifts database that aligns with vocational careers to provide mission project options by vocational skills. Through focus group presentations, a questionnaire, and a survey, data …

The Relationship Between Perceived Leadership Communication And Feedback On Job Satisfaction, Organizational Commitment, And Professional Isolation Of Remote Workers, Simone I. Orlowski

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting lockdown have significantly contributed to the fact that teleworking has established itself in all branches of industry. With remote working, communication mainly occurs via digital channels such as emails, chat platforms, or video conferencing, and leaders need to ensure that communication is clear, regular, and effective to avoid misunderstandings and promote collaboration. The purpose of this quantitative correlational study was to examine the relationship between effective communication and feedback from leadership with job satisfaction, organizational commitment, and professional isolation of remote employees. In a quantitative correlational study, participants were recruited from different branches in …

Perceived Childhood Paternal Betrayal Trauma: The Impact To Attachment And Interpersonal Relationships As Adults, Jacquelyn S. Marcum

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to explore adult female perspectives of being abandoned by a father during their grade school years (between ages 6 and 12). Current research has indicated that parental abandonment or rejection creates anxious, avoidant, and insecure attachments into adulthood. Wounded attachment can significantly impact the ability to form healthy attachments as adults. Limited research is available on children between the ages of 6 to 12 on how betrayal trauma impacts the developmental stages, the sense-of-self, and the ability to form and maintain healthy attachments within relationships throughout adolescence and adulthood. In the current …

Family Communication Patterns Theory: A Mixed Methods Examination Of Single Mothers’ Communication Styles, Susan Renee Mattson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The mixed methods approach was used to research single mothers’ communication patterns. Fitzpatrick and Ritchie’s family communication patterns theory (FCPT) was used to guide the research. Online surveys and semi structured interviews were used to gather data that were analyzed through MAXQDA and SPSS software. The research examined factors such as age, culture, and the number of children a mother has in correlation to variables such as conformity and conversation orientation on the FCPT scale. The quantitative portion of the research revealed significant findings about culture and conformity orientation in single mothers from collectivist cultures. The qualitative section mirrored similar …

Readiness For Interprofessional Teamwork Of Graduate Public Health Students At The Time Of Their Graduation, Liliana Morosanu

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this applied study was to solve the problem of lacking empirical evidence for the contribution of interprofessional education (IPE) towards readiness for teamwork interprofessional practice (T-IPP) of Master of Public Health (MPH) graduates, and to design an IPE evaluation model in response. Current knowledge about T-IPP of MPH graduates is insufficient yet critical for professional practice. It is unclear how academic IPE builds MPH students’ T-IPP skills, and whether other training sources exist. A cross-sectional multimethod design was implemented with a sample of 58 MPH graduates from accredited programs within 12 months from graduation, of whom 12 …

Examining Parenting Styles And Dimensions As Predictors For Adolescents’ Perceived Life Satisfaction As Adults, Katelin Waddell

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Literature supports the idea that parenting practices have a lasting impact on an individual's life and development. The purpose of this quantitative study was to examine parental parenting styles, parental parenting dimensions, and independent adult child life satisfaction to determine what aspects of parental parenting styles are more likely to increase the chances of greater life satisfaction among males and female adults A sample of 94 adult participants were surveyed through Prolific to gather information on their perceived parental parenting styles, parental parenting dimensions experienced in childhood by their mother and their current level of perceived life satisfaction. Results indicated …

Attachment Security In Adult Offspring Of Parents With Narcissistic And Borderline Personality Disorder, Habiba Jessica Zaman

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Available research in understanding the correlation of insecure attachment in the offspring of caregivers with traits of personality disorders and how the two presents in adulthood includes the experiences from childhood to adolescence, though thus far, no other studies have been done to understand these variables into adulthood. This mixed methods study of 172 participants for the quantitative portion and 12 participants for the qualitative portion explored the impact of having an early childhood caregiver with Narcissistic or Borderline Personality Disorder characteristics on attachment styles and interpersonal relationships in adulthood. Online self-reports utilizing The Personality Inventory (PCL-5 Brief Form) to …