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Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

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The Effect Of Drug Legalization On Property Crime In A County In Washington State: A Causal-Comparative Study, Trent Michael Dow Apr 2024

The Effect Of Drug Legalization On Property Crime In A County In Washington State: A Causal-Comparative Study, Trent Michael Dow

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Washington state embarked on an ambitious policy of drug legalization from February of 2021 to July of 2023. Initially arising from the Washington State Supreme Court’s Blake decision and continued through new legislation later in the year, drug legalization had a significant impact on Washington State communities. The lack of criminal sanctions for drug possession eliminated deterrence, increased impairment and cognitive deficits related to drug use, and prevented the use of court-ordered rehabilitative interventions. An understanding of the impacts of drug legalization on American communities is essential and currently understudied. This study set out to assess the effect of drug …


Exploring The Relationship Between Leadership Style And Psychological Capital Constructs, Matthew Austin Clark Apr 2024

Exploring The Relationship Between Leadership Style And Psychological Capital Constructs, Matthew Austin Clark

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

There is currently a gap in knowledge regarding how leadership styles relate to employee psychological capital. Leaders can use this knowledge to emphasize employee health. It will also help organizations by promoting employee development and retention. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between each leadership style of situational leadership, servant leadership, authentic leadership, transformational leadership and levels of employee psychological capital. This research also examined whether age acted as a moderator in the relationship. The research questions that guided this study were does leadership style have a relationship with employee psychological capital, and does age act …


The Experiences Of Low-Income Students Focusing On An Online Learning Environment In Southwest Georgia: A Hermeneutical Phenomenology, Jayda M. Williams Apr 2024

The Experiences Of Low-Income Students Focusing On An Online Learning Environment In Southwest Georgia: A Hermeneutical Phenomenology, Jayda M. Williams

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this hermeneutical phenomenological study is to understand the experiences of low-income students in an online learning environment and how they are socially and academically integrated at an institution in southwest Georgia. Tinto’s 1997 revised student integration model and theory on how institutions must socially and academically integrate students to improve students’ persistence is to guide this research. The participants for this study are ten low-income students who participated in the data collection tools, which are surveys, focus groups, and individual interviews. The participants expressed their experiences, barriers, social and academic integration, and persistence in an online learning …


Leadership Experiences Of Athletics Directors In Faith-Based Small College Departments: A Phenomenological Study, Michael Teague Apr 2024

Leadership Experiences Of Athletics Directors In Faith-Based Small College Departments: A Phenomenological Study, Michael Teague

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to understand the leadership experiences of intercollegiate athletics directors at faith-based, small colleges and universities throughout the United States. The theory guiding this study was Hersey and Blanchard’s situational leadership theory, as it explores how leaders can most effectively lead and engage their employees given unique circumstances and how those types of leaders are found within the faith-based, small college and university intercollegiate athletics departments. The central research question in this study is: How do athletics directors describe their leadership experiences in a faith-based, small college intercollegiate athletics setting? The phenomenological research using …


A Phenomenological Study Addressing Clinicians’ Understanding Of The Effectiveness Of Evidence-Based Trauma Treatment For Black Male Veterans Diagnosed With Ptsd, Kelvin Tyler Jr. Apr 2024

A Phenomenological Study Addressing Clinicians’ Understanding Of The Effectiveness Of Evidence-Based Trauma Treatment For Black Male Veterans Diagnosed With Ptsd, Kelvin Tyler Jr.

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This qualitative, phenomenological study sought to address clinicians understanding of the effectiveness of individual and group trauma therapy for Black male veterans. The investigation sought to expand previous research by conducting a more in-depth study on the efficacy of evidence-based trauma therapy practices for Black male veterans. The participants included in this study were nine clinicians that utilized evidence-based trauma therapy when treating Black male veterans that are students in Liberty University’s Behavioral Health Doctoral Programs. The current research reveals that various treatment options are found to help treat Black male veterans with PTSD. The stress that is linked to …


First-Generation Doctoral Students, Impostorism, And Belonging: A Transcendental Phenomenological Study, Karen Sullivan Pore Apr 2024

First-Generation Doctoral Students, Impostorism, And Belonging: A Transcendental Phenomenological Study, Karen Sullivan Pore

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this study was to explore the experiences of first-generation doctoral students as they relate to their feelings of belonging, impostorism, and otherness. The study was guided by use of Tajfel social identity theory which provided insight to how an individual evaluates their identity within their environment and groups. The research design used was qualitative and the approach was transcendental phenomenological. The qualitative design allowed the first-generation doctoral students to share their experiences and behaviors during their doctoral journey. The participants were 10 self-identified as first-generation doctoral students who experienced impostor feelings during their doctoral journey. The data …


The Predictive Relationship Between Pre-Nursing Boot Camp Participation And Successful Completion Of The First Semester And Retention In An Associate Degree Nursing Program, Misty Beth Stine Apr 2024

The Predictive Relationship Between Pre-Nursing Boot Camp Participation And Successful Completion Of The First Semester And Retention In An Associate Degree Nursing Program, Misty Beth Stine

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

First semester students in undergraduate nursing programs are at the highest risk for attrition, so retention of these students is a priority concern. The purpose of this non-experimental correlational predictive quantitative study was to investigate whether participation in a pre-nursing student boot camp is predictive of successful completion of the first semester and retention at an Associate Degree Nursing program at a community college in the rural Southwestern United States. Data was retrospectively obtained from archival student records for all first semester nursing students accepted into the ADN program from 2018-2022. Sample size was N = 227. The chi-square test …


The Daily Lived Experiences Of Traumatic Brain Injury Survivors: An Examination Of The Emotional, Cognitive, And Spiritual Repercussions, Nanette Stewart Haney Apr 2024

The Daily Lived Experiences Of Traumatic Brain Injury Survivors: An Examination Of The Emotional, Cognitive, And Spiritual Repercussions, Nanette Stewart Haney

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to describe the experiences of traumatic brain injury survivors, seeking to understand their lived experiences by examining the emotional, cognitive and spiritual daily experiences. The study participants were adult male and female survivors of a life altering moderate to severe traumatic brain injury who live within the United States of America. The theories guiding this study are Jean Piaget’s (1896-1980) Constructivism Theory and John Watson’s (1878-1958) Behavioral Approach Systems Theory. Jean Piaget believes that all cognitive development progresses towards complex levels of organization. When an individual acquires new knowledge, it is received, …


Professional Development And Training For The Inclusion Of Students With Autism Spectrum Disorder In Pre-Kindergarten: A Phenomenological Study, Melinda K. Parsons- Shadid Apr 2024

Professional Development And Training For The Inclusion Of Students With Autism Spectrum Disorder In Pre-Kindergarten: A Phenomenological Study, Melinda K. Parsons- Shadid

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to describe the experiences utilizing professional resources to aid in the early childhood education development of children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder for teachers at charter schools in a large city in the mid-Atlantic region of the United States. The problem is that there are limited professional resources to reduce early childhood education teachers' ability to educate students diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder within the general classroom. One central research question and three sub-questions explored the purpose and problem of this study, which were guided by social cognitive theory. The central research question …


A Phenomenological Study Of Adoptive Parents’ Distress, Erica Rhoads Apr 2024

A Phenomenological Study Of Adoptive Parents’ Distress, Erica Rhoads

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to explore the lived experiences of distress in parents who have adopted internationally. The aim was also to discover what this lived experience is like through the perception of both objective and subjective reality, providing understanding and meaning from the perception and experience of adopting and then parenting children who have experienced significant trauma. An additional goal of this study was to evaluate the experience of sharing their adoption story within a narrative therapy support group as a way to alleviate some of their distress. A focus on the background of adoption …


The Impact Of Disability Support Services On The Success Of Student Veterans: A Hermeneutic Phenomenology, Chante Kimberly Burnell Apr 2024

The Impact Of Disability Support Services On The Success Of Student Veterans: A Hermeneutic Phenomenology, Chante Kimberly Burnell

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenology was to explore the lived experiences of student veterans using disability support services at postsecondary institutions. Disability support services for student veterans was generally defined as any resource or service providing accessibility and support to aid academic success. Therefore, the central research question focused on the experiences of student veterans when utilizing disability support services. The conceptual framework used to guide this study was Vacchi’s (2017) Model of Student Veteran Support, as it establishes veteran-friendly propositions and suggests cornerstones needed to support the successful degree completion of student veterans. Data triangulation was used to …


Examining The Impact Of Sustained Trauma-Informed Care Training With Educators Who Service Students With Exceptionalities And Challenging Behaviors, Miyokia D. Carter Apr 2024

Examining The Impact Of Sustained Trauma-Informed Care Training With Educators Who Service Students With Exceptionalities And Challenging Behaviors, Miyokia D. Carter

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The number of trauma-exposed children is on the rise, and it poses a significant public health issue. Trauma-exposed children especially those with exceptionalities and behavioral problems require support across various aspects of their lives, including their school environment. One way to properly support students is adopting a trauma-informed approach as it diminishes presumptions regarding misbehaviors, increases understanding, genuinely helps students with traumatic symptoms, and restores relationships in the classroom. However, the transition to new approaches such as this can affect the perceptions and attitudes of those encouraged to implement the framework. This qualitative case study aimed to comprehend how staff …


A Phenomenological Study Examining The Lived Experiences Of Middle School Students Who Have Demonstrated Challenges In Math And Their Expectations To Improve Their Performance, Steven Duane Fencl Apr 2024

A Phenomenological Study Examining The Lived Experiences Of Middle School Students Who Have Demonstrated Challenges In Math And Their Expectations To Improve Their Performance, Steven Duane Fencl

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to understand the lived experiences of middle school students who have challenges in math and their expectations of opportunities provided to improve their performance at a middle school in the Spring Valley School District. The theory that guided this study was Vroom’s expectancy theory, which argues that the tendency of a person to act in a certain way depends on what the person expects to happen, that it will be favorable to the person, and that the person feels the result will provide a potential gain. The central research question was, “How do …


Cocurricular Activities As Contributors To The Development Of Intercultural Competence In Undergraduate Non-Nursing Allied Health Students: A Causal-Comparative Study, Tanya Lewis Apr 2024

Cocurricular Activities As Contributors To The Development Of Intercultural Competence In Undergraduate Non-Nursing Allied Health Students: A Causal-Comparative Study, Tanya Lewis

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This quantitative, causal-comparative study aimed to explore the difference between the intercultural development scores of physical therapy assistants, radiological technology, sonography, and surgical technology undergraduate health science students based on their participation in a diversity module. Interculturally competent allied health students transitioning into practice support a more diverse, culturally competent workforce of healthcare workers challenged to care for an increasingly diverse patient population. There is scant research in higher education literature on the intercultural development of undergraduate non-nursing health science students. There is a gap in the literature on whether higher education systems should develop a standardized curriculum that supports …


Exploring The Relationship Between Emotional Intelligence And Religiosity And The Experience Of Emotional Labor In Working Women, Jane Naa Koshie Acquah-Bailey Apr 2024

Exploring The Relationship Between Emotional Intelligence And Religiosity And The Experience Of Emotional Labor In Working Women, Jane Naa Koshie Acquah-Bailey

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Women serve crucial roles within the home as caregivers and outside the home in the workforce, where they often fill many essential support positions such as service industry workers, teachers, social workers, nurses, and human service workers. In these roles, women must often mitigate the psychosocial issues of those whom they serve, resulting in high emotional labor with subsequent deleterious effects for them. Religiosity and emotional intelligence have been demonstrated to alleviate psychosocial stressors. Current research identified on emotional intelligence and emotional labor in diverse workspaces shows ongoing development. Biblical references to emotional intelligence and religiosity in emotional management highlight …


Police Brutality: The Nexus Between Historical Injustices, Police Culture And The African American Experience, Claude M. Rhone Apr 2024

Police Brutality: The Nexus Between Historical Injustices, Police Culture And The African American Experience, Claude M. Rhone

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study focused on the harassment, maltreatment, and brutality of African Americans by police officers. The recent widespread condemnation and social justice protests in response to incidents of police brutality point to historical injustices inherent to the culture of policing. Slavery provides the overarching backdrop; however, Jim Crow laws cultivated the structural adaptations necessary to fulfill segregation between African Americans and Whites. The American policing model, which evolved from slave patrols to public entities, continued as an apparatus in the marginalization and disenfranchisement of African Americans. The narrative of “defunding the police” suggests that the past’s cultural proximity renders the …


Trait Morbid Inquisitiveness: Horror Attraction, Religion, And The Final Girl, Charley Elles Brown Apr 2024

Trait Morbid Inquisitiveness: Horror Attraction, Religion, And The Final Girl, Charley Elles Brown

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

People are attracted to horror entertainment, such as movies, video games, dark tourism, and human-made haunted attractions, to experience fear and scary play. It is also utilized in research on emotional responses. Three types of attractors have been identified: dark copers, white knucklers, and adrenaline junkies. In horror movies, the evolution of threat management is exemplified by the resourcefulness and adaptability of the final girl. Furthermore, the attraction to horror-based entertainment is linked to morbid curiosity. A new research perspective known as trait morbid curiosity has identified this fascination as the development of psychological traits to handle morbid, threatening, and …


Special Education Teachers' Experiences Addressing Mental Health Concerns In Students With Comorbid Disabilities: A Phenomenological Study, Alison L. Simmons Apr 2024

Special Education Teachers' Experiences Addressing Mental Health Concerns In Students With Comorbid Disabilities: A Phenomenological Study, Alison L. Simmons

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to describe the lived experiences of special education teachers in public schools regarding addressing mental health needs in their students experiencing comorbid disabilities. The theory guiding this study was contextual organizational framework as it applies to individual special education teachers addressing comorbid mental health concerns in their students. The research addresses the central research question: What experiences within the organizational context(s) do special education teachers describe with regard to working with special education students with comorbid mental health disorders? All participants were special education teachers in either elementary or secondary schools, who …


Understanding Their Journeys: A Hermeneutic Phenomenological Study On The Lived Experiences Of Noncredit Homeless Students, Maureen C. Rubalcaba Apr 2024

Understanding Their Journeys: A Hermeneutic Phenomenological Study On The Lived Experiences Of Noncredit Homeless Students, Maureen C. Rubalcaba

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenological study was to explore the lived experiences of noncredit homeless students enrolled in a retention model program at a noncredit community college institution. The lived experiences of noncredit homeless students were generally defined as homeless adult learners enrolled in a noncredit community college institution participating in a retention model program. Retention was generally defined as keeping students enrolled each term or term to term. The research examined noncredit homeless students’ basic needs, barriers to retention, and motivation to stay enrolled. The theory guiding this study was Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, which provided a holistic …


Reinventing Holistic Healthcare: Pastoral Perspectives Of Biblical Insights For The American Healthcare System, Leanne Michelle Bergey Apr 2024

Reinventing Holistic Healthcare: Pastoral Perspectives Of Biblical Insights For The American Healthcare System, Leanne Michelle Bergey

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this case study was to examine pastoral perspectives of Biblical healthcare. These perspectives are essential to consider due to the long history of the connection between spirituality and healthcare and the church’s successful intervention worldwide for increasing healthcare outcomes. Since the church has been successful worldwide at creating faith-based organizations that meet community needs, it is vital that research focus on how churches might continue this success within the United States. This study used semi-structured interviews to examine the research questions of 1) What is the Biblical responsibility of healthcare? 2) How does culture influence the role …


Use Of Acupuncture As A Complementary Therapy For The Treatment Of Chronic Pain In The Veteran Population To Improve Outcomes: An Integrative Review, Tabitha T. Smithers Apr 2024

Use Of Acupuncture As A Complementary Therapy For The Treatment Of Chronic Pain In The Veteran Population To Improve Outcomes: An Integrative Review, Tabitha T. Smithers

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Clinical care in patient management is progressive and should change as evidence-based practice research is available. Veterans’ experiences with pain related to their service-related injuries are unique. This pain can limit their ability to function in society successfully. Many of the patients continue to experience uncontrolled pain, as well as side effects from medications that have been prescribed. This integrative review focused on the use of acupuncture as a complementary therapy to improve pain and quality of life in the Veteran population. The review analyzes systematic reviews, randomized control trials, and additional levels of evidence from scholarly articles supporting the …


Spiritual Care And The Art Of Holistic Healing At Swedish Hospital In Chicago, Mary Pamela Eke Apr 2024

Spiritual Care And The Art Of Holistic Healing At Swedish Hospital In Chicago, Mary Pamela Eke

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Despite the importance of spiritual care as an act of holistic healing process, there has continued to be a problem of imbalance between the physical care, and the spiritual and emotional care with cardiac care patients. The purpose of this DMIN action research project is to develop and implement a model of holistic healing for integrating spiritual and emotional care alongside physical treatment. This project’s main goal is to promote a sense of connectivity across the various aspects of physical, social, emotional, and spiritual care for cardiac care patients at Swedish Hospital in Chicago. Utilizing qualitative research methods for data …


Addressing Professional Training And Teacher Retention At Urban Public Schools In Southeast Texas, Elaine Rene' Pangle Apr 2024

Addressing Professional Training And Teacher Retention At Urban Public Schools In Southeast Texas, Elaine Rene' Pangle

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Nationally, teacher shortages reached all-time highs, leaving schools needing qualified teachers where vacancies were made by teachers leaving the profession, particularly during the post-COVID-19 era. Although a growing national problem, specifically, the area of Southeast Texas remains particularly affected by this mass exodus. The purpose of this applied study was to solve the teacher retention problem for urban public schools in Southeast Texas and to design educator training and intervention methods to address the issue. The theory guiding this study was human capital theory, as it addresses education and how it could foster social change and be the primary tool …


Military Spouse Counselors: Exploring Mental Health, Resilience, Coping, And Burnout, Melinda Poteet Brinkley Apr 2024

Military Spouse Counselors: Exploring Mental Health, Resilience, Coping, And Burnout, Melinda Poteet Brinkley

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Military spouses (MLSPs) are an integral part of the military family and key mental health providers in military community. This study explores the mental health, resilience, coping, and burnout of MLSP counselors, counselor educators, and supervisors (CES). This study was grounded in resilience theory, investigating relationships between mental health and burnout, mediated by resilience, and conditioned by coping. An online survey was distributed through social media and email, open to MLSP counselors/CES of all branches and components of service (N = 68). This quantitative, descriptive, cross-sectional correlational research designed utilized PROCESS Models 4, 58, and 59, which determined that resilience …


A Phenomenological Study On Teachers' Perspectives On Experiencing Burnout In Title I Rural Appalachian Schools Grades 4–9, Kara J. Howard Apr 2024

A Phenomenological Study On Teachers' Perspectives On Experiencing Burnout In Title I Rural Appalachian Schools Grades 4–9, Kara J. Howard

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to describe and explore the burnout experiences of teachers in Title I rural Appalachian schools Grades 4–9 in southern Ohio. The theoretical framework guiding this study is Maslach’s burnout theory. The central research question was “What are the burnout experiences of teachers in Title I rural Appalachian schools Grades 4–9?” Convenience sampling was employed to select the 12 participants, all of whom are teachers teaching in Grades 4–9 within Sunshine County, a rural Appalachia-based school qualifying as a Title I institution in southern Ohio. The data presented in this study were collected …


The Inclusive Music Classroom For Elementary Students With Emotional And Behavioral Disorders, Benjamin Bartow Harrison Apr 2024

The Inclusive Music Classroom For Elementary Students With Emotional And Behavioral Disorders, Benjamin Bartow Harrison

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Even though considerable research has been conducted regarding the inclusion of self-contained students in regular education settings, little research has been conducted specifically on elementary, self-contained students with EBDs in music classes. Given the fact that there are increasing numbers of students with EBDs, suggestions for empirically supported techniques specific to this demographic, as well as evaluation of unique challenges with educating this population, will prove beneficial to the overall classroom environment. Considering the negative impact of emotional outbursts on mainstream students, deciding when it is appropriate to exclude self-contained students from the inclusive classroom is crucial. Identifying proper utilization …


Understanding The Lived Experiences Of Law Enforcement Officers Utilizing Employee Assistance Programs After Critical Incidents, Lovetta Quinn-Henry Apr 2024

Understanding The Lived Experiences Of Law Enforcement Officers Utilizing Employee Assistance Programs After Critical Incidents, Lovetta Quinn-Henry

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological research was to understand and describe the lived experiences of Central Florida law enforcement officers who utilized an employee assistance program (EAP) following a critical incident. Law enforcement professionals exposed to critical workplace incidents are often referred to an EAP for their mental health. The problem is that law enforcement officers severely underutilize the available services offered by an EAP, even after critical incidents when the support is urgently needed. Piaget’s work is underpinned by McCann and Pearlman’s constructivist self-development theory guiding the study. The theory asserts that individuals draw from their experiences to …


Military Married Couples’ Reintegration Adult Attachment Experiences: A Hermeneutic Phenomenological Study, Marchell Coleman Apr 2024

Military Married Couples’ Reintegration Adult Attachment Experiences: A Hermeneutic Phenomenological Study, Marchell Coleman

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this research study was to explore and understand how active-duty and veteran long-term military married couples mitigate separation and divorce after multiple post-deployment reintegration periods. This study employed qualitative research design and hermeneutic phenomenology to discover how these couples maintained long-term marriages. The researcher explored these military married couples' internal working models and adult attachment styles. In addition, it explored how these factors shaped their beliefs, responses, and attitudes toward separation and reunion as a married military couple. As a result, the researcher identified strategies and best practices to help military couples successfully mitigate the risk of …


The Academic Achievement Gap And The Cultural Experiences Of Black College Students: A Phenomenological Study, Sonia Barnett Apr 2024

The Academic Achievement Gap And The Cultural Experiences Of Black College Students: A Phenomenological Study, Sonia Barnett

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The United States education system has faced an academic achievement gap that outlines a disparity in students’ academic performance. This phenomenological study will discover the relationships between the educational achievement gap and the culturally related experiences of Black adult college students in Northern Virginia. A theoretical framework that the researcher observed is transcendental phenomenology (TPh). which was developed mainly by Husserl as a philosophical approach to qualitative research methodology that seeks to understand human experience by looking at how Black college students perceive their culturally related experiences. The researcher collected data using the purposive sampling strategy through focus groups, interviews, …


Leveraging Ministry And Community Partnerships To Address Community Needs, Chaunceia Renee Mayfield Apr 2024

Leveraging Ministry And Community Partnerships To Address Community Needs, Chaunceia Renee Mayfield

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This qualitative DMIN project aims to expand the outreach impact of Strengthen Thy Sister Ministry by continuing to leverage ministry and community organization partnerships to address a specific community need. Strengthen Thy Sister, an ecumenical women’s ministry in St. Louis, Missouri, partnered with Jennings School District Hope Houses to provide tangible support to the organization during the COVID-19 pandemic. The partnership helped to address food insecurity among homeless students and families in a crisis. This partnership granted Strengthen Thy Sister an opportunity to partner with certified and experienced educational practitioners with the infrastructure to serve the students at Jennings School …