Digital Commons Network^™

Interactive Textbooks: A Study On The Effects On Learning Gains And Course Grades Among Community College Minority Students, Victoria C. Brower

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this quantitative quasi-experimental study is to examine whether the use of interactive e-textbooks by community college minority students makes a difference in academic outcomes (as measured by final course test grades) and if the use of interactive textbooks could lead to course completion and terminal degrees. This study adds to the existing literature insight into alternative methods of increasing learning and developing positive attitudes among minorities in the community college setting. The sample population included minority students enrolled in a government class attending a community college in an urban area in South Florida. There were N = …

Leadership Qualities Needed For A School-Based Police Chief, Tridung Tran

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Although it has evolved over the years, school-based law enforcement remains vital in a school setting for safety and security. The dynamic of school-based law enforcement has been heavily researched through the popular crime prevention program called School Resource Officer. The introduction of police officers in schools’ thrusts law enforcement’s reputation, abilities, and authority into the spotlight. Limited studies have shown the unique leadership qualities needed to lead a school-based law enforcement agency. Police chief qualification is dependent on the law enforcement agency’s requirements and expectations and often requires years of experience and education. Further, there are excellent police chief …

Leaders And Restraints: Investigating How Attitudes Of School Leaders Predict The Number Of Physical Restraints, Sarah S. Ulmer

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study investigates how attitudes of school leaders predict the number of physical restraints that occur in schools that serve students under IDEA. This study focuses on the attitudes of school leaders from the geographical regions of Virginia in public and private schools. The “Educational Leadership and Behavioral Interventions” survey was used to gather research from 33 schools within Virginia. After collecting the data through the survey, the data was analyzed using a predictive correlation research design. The bivariate linear regression was used to analyze the predictor and criterion variables using SPSS. Based on the results of the data analysis, …

Social Emotional Learning In The Choral Classroom, Courtney A. Hulsey

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Middle school is a pivotal time for many students as they navigate through mental, emotional, and hormonal changes which affect various aspects of their personal and educational well-being. A teacher’s care balancing social and emotional aspects of learning can be catalyst that makes a profound difference for students. Social-emotional learning (SEL) under this title is still in its infancy as a tool for classroom engagement and management. Additionally, there is very little research in the way of SEL specific to the middle school choral classroom. The hope is that in a content analysis of the benefits of SEL through the …

Effects Of Strategic Communications Of Middle-Level Managers On Strategic Thinking And Organizational Performance: A Quantitative Study, Anthony Uwem Wilson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study explored the relationship between Middle-Level Managers' (MLM) strategic communications, strategic thinking, and organizational performance. Pieces of evidence about strategic communications processes and strategic thinking supporting increased organizational performance are critical to an organization. According to researchers, when strategic communications and strategic thinking are not in the manager’s thought processes, any plans based upon such methods might fail to achieve the desired outcomes concerning organizational performance. While strategic communications and strategic thinking are essential to corporate performance, researchers have not fully substantiated their impact on the performance outcomes of an organization. Identifying to the highest Degree how a relationship …

Exploring The Lived Experiences Of Working Mothers Persisting In Cacrep-Accredited Ces Doctoral Programs Transitioning Through The Covid-19 Pandemic: A Phenomenological Study, Shannon Mercer Pugh

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated pre-existing gender inequities in work and academia and further strained working doctoral student mothers struggling to balance multiple roles. The purpose of this transcendental phenomenology was to describe how working mothers of children under the age of 12 persisting in the final year of a Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Program-accredited counselor education and supervision doctoral program described their lived experiences moving through the COVID-19 pandemic. The central research question explored how participants described what the COVID-19 pandemic has been like for them as they moved in, moved through, and moved out of …

A Transcendental Phenomenology To Understand The Persistence Of African American Males At A Historically Black Liberal Arts College, Jill Triplett Ellis

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to understand the experiences that contributed to the persistence of African American males at a historically Black college. The problem was that the percentage of 18- to 24-year-old African American males enrolled in the nation's colleges and universities over the past two decades has been lower than the rates of White and Hispanic men and women, as well as African American women. The guiding theory in this study was Tinto's persistence theory. This transcendental phenomenological study aimed to obtain individual living experiences of African American male students enrolled in a historically Black, …

Ace Survey Among Individuals With A History Of National Guard Service, Daniel Lee Burns

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The study is based on previous studies regarding Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) among veterans and military service members, with an emphasis on mental health outcomes in the National Guard community. Military service can induce levels of stress that can require a high level of resilience and strong coping skills. As American service members deploy for prolonged periods on a recurrent basis, their ability to cope with the stress of deployment may be more difficult. Long term deployments, combat exposure, and stressful working conditions can have lasting effects on both the body and mind. The impacts of these factors are magnified …

Differences In Test Anxiety Levels Among Elementary Students: A Causal-Comparative Study, Candice Lynn Nurney

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Studies have shown an increase in the prevalence of test anxiety among students since the introduction of the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) of 2001. Test anxiety has been found to significantly impact student achievement and motivation. A review of the literature indicates a gap exists in the study of test anxiety among elementary students, particularly as it relates to changes in the prevalence of test anxiety between grade levels at the elementary level. A nonexperimental cross-sectional causal comparative research design was utilized to determine the relationship between students’ grade level and level of test anxiety. The research questions …

Bereavement In Isolation During Covid-19 Pandemic, Shelia Renee Stroman

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The COVID-19 pandemic with the protocols of social distance, isolation, and quarantine changed the practices associated with traditional funerals and rituals. The purpose of this phenomenology study was to understand the lived experience of individuals that process bereavement in isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study is a new phenomenon; the research questions will guide this study to understand the lived experience of individuals that process bereavement in isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic. The research questions were (1) What are the experiences of those that processed death without rituals or traditions during COVID-19, and (2) How has COVID-19 transformed and …

The Impact Of Increased Interdisciplinary Communication On Hospital Admission Rates In The Geriatric Population: An Integrative Review, Molly K. Langston

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The medical complexity of geriatric residents puts them at an increased risk of hospital readmissions related to coronary artery disease, myocardial infarction, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and diabetes, along with other chronic diseases. Geriatric residents of assisted living, skilled nursing, and memory care facilities should hold a particular interest to stakeholders, as the simple intervention of increasing early communication and correspondence regarding chronic diseases can have a great impact on quality improvement outcomes as well as financial burden of the institution. Additionally, interdisciplinary communication can be individualized to meet the needs of each geriatric resident in order to reduce the …

The Effects Of Computer-Assisted Instruction On Student Learning Of Fractions In Middle School Mathematics, Rebecca Love Palculict

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

In today’s increasingly technologically-driven classroom, exploring whether computer-assisted instruction ensures students gain critical mathematic skills is an important area of study. The purpose of this study was to explore the effect of computer-assisted instruction in learning manipulation of fractions. This study used archival data collected in August 2021 (pre-test) and January 2022 (post-test). Sixty-nine fifth-grade students in a middle school in rural Mississippi were participants in the study. This quantitative quasi-experimental pre-test/post-test control group design analyzed data from the i-Ready diagnostic using an Analysis of Covariance. Results indicated a significant difference between the post-test scores of students who received interventions …

Sky High Anxiolytics For Rocket City Women: A Holistic Health Approach Offered, Sandra L. Bruno

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The action research project aimed to implement a counseling model to equip clients experiencing anxiety with a holistic health approach. Anxiety is often treated by prescribed anxiolytics, although many women seeking counseling at Madison Counseling have not been formally diagnosed with an anxiety disorder. The study's goal was to provide participants with physical, mental/emotional, spiritual, and relational tools that can aid the participants in the reduction or alleviation of anxiety. The proposed model incorporated empirically proven techniques that balance the women's self to reduce symptomology by providing a healthy alternative to dealing with daily anxiety and stressors, thus reducing the …

Church Stigma: Healing A Wounded Reputation In The Community, Ryan Shane Ward

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

MWBC developed a pernicious stigma in their community that consumed their reputation, making it virtually impossible to witness because of the negativity encompassing the church. If the stigma was not remedied, it was apparent that the church would struggle to be a light for Christ in the community and keep its doors open. The methodology of this research project successfully designed a model that revived the church and restored its reputation in the community. Sources on revitalization are abundant, but unearthing sources on how a church might restore a stigma or wounded reputation in the community to a holy character …

The Effects Of The Union Blockade On The Confederacy During The United States' Civil War, Ronald C. Piccirilli

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Historians have disagreed on the effects of the Union naval blockade on the states that formed the Confederacy during the United States’ Civil War. This research shows that the Union naval blockade caused a spiraling effect on both the Confederate home front and the Confederate war effort. The Confederacy developed new ordnance factories, machine shops, and sources of essential raw materials such as salt and copper. This growth was not adequate to compensate for the loss of imports from the Union naval blockade. The Confederate government could not meet the needs of its population. Because of the blockade by the …

Faith Development In Eighth-Grade Christian Students Studying Creation-Theory-Based Science: A Phenomenological Study, Stephen Matthew Lowe

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to explore the lived faith development experiences of eighth-grade Christian students following a creation-theory-based curriculum at a Northern Michigan Christian school. The 12 male and female students who participated were aged 13–14 years and self-identified as Christian. The study setting was a small Christian middle school in Northern Michigan. Researchers have thoroughly investigated many aspects of faith development but had not addressed the faith development of eighth-grade Christian students following a creation-theory-based curriculum. The theoretical framework underlying the study was Fowler’s faith development theory. Data were triangulated from semistructured interviews, focus groups, …

Local Food In Caribbean Small Island Developing States (Sids) Destination Marketing – The Case Of Trinidad & Tobago, Winston Mohammed

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Trinidad & Tobago is a Caribbean and Small Island Destination State (SIDS) tourism anomaly because it is neither a mass leisure nor a traditional (3S) sun, sea, and sand tourist destination. There is growing scholarly attention on food-related destination marketing in the most successful and attractive tourist destinations globally. Despite the influence of food on a destination's competitiveness and attractiveness, policymakers and tourism organizations of the Caribbean and Trinidad & Tobago have at best underutilized and even ignored the potential of local food because they poorly understand its capacity and capability. Traditional destination marketing treats food merely as a complementary …

An Icu-Specific Pressure Injury Risk Assessment Tool To Improve Outcomes, Solange Flore Kamdem

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Aim: To use an ICU-specific pressure injury (PI) risk assessment scale to promptly identify the risk for PIs in critically ill patients and promptly implement the appropriate PI prevention interventions to decrease the incidence rate of pressure injuries over 11 weeks.

Background: The risk of developing PIs is 3.8 times higher in the ICU patients than in other patient populations. The state of illness and or treatments increase their odds of developing hospital-acquired pressure injuries (HAPIs). The Braden scale currently in use may not identify the risk early enough to provide preventive interventions. An ICU-specific tool is needed to screen …

Effect On Student Achievement For Middle School Math Students Using Blackboard, Canvas And Schoology In The State Of Virginia, Rosa Ann Woodley-Richard

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this quantitative, causal-comparative research was to compare the differences in middle-school student achievement for grade 7 math students among three different learning management systems: Blackboard, Canvas, and Schoology. The instrument was the Virginia Grade 7 Math Standards of Learning test. The population included students in the 7th grade attending a public school in the state of Virginia. The participants were the individual school districts. The study examined the means between the pass rates of the three learning management systems to see if there was a significant difference. The independent variable included the three learning management systems: Blackboard, …

Elementary School Teachers' Perceptions Of Student Motivation To Use Classroom Integrated Technology, Jason Lynn Webb

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The integration of technology into the classroom transforms curriculum design and instructional methods. Research suggests that the perspectives of teachers and students are not always in agreement regarding the influence of classroom integrated technology on learning motivation. The purpose of this causal-comparative study was to determine if there is a significant difference in how teachers perceive the influence of technology integration on student learning motivation based on teacher gender, teacher weekly hours of computer use, and teacher years of teaching experience. The study used the Teacher Attitudes toward Classroom Computing Scale to collect data from 238 4th- and 5th-grade rural …

Exploration Of How Unified Theory Of Acceptance And Use Of Technology Enhances Trust In Communication, Samantha M. Ricciardi

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The qualitative study aims to understand the central phenomenon of how trust enhances communication with online grocery shopping for participants who are 25 years and older and are active online grocery shoppers. Venkatesh, Morris, and Davis created a technology acceptance model called Unified created Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology, which explains the acceptance and use of information systems and communication technology innovations with consumers (Kim et al., 2008; Phillippi et al., 2021). The Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology is an alternative theoretical model that ties into eight existing user acceptance models: (a) Technology Acceptance Model …

Full-Hearted Leading: A Multiple Case Study Of Principals' Sensemaking Toward Implementing Moral Character Development In Elementary Schools, Kimberly Renee Starks

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this multiple case study was to understand how elementary school principals make sense of moral character development in their schools. The theories that guided this study were Weick’s sensemaking theory and Kohlberg’s moral development theory as it provided explanations to principals’ sensemaking regarding the effectiveness of moral character development implementation in elementary schools. The case studies, in one Midwestern school district, examined ten school administrators’ sensemaking toward implementing essential and effective moral character development programs in their schools. This study utilized a multiple case design that was critical to theory, deviated from theoretical norms, and captured everyday …

Grit As A Predictor Of Academic Achievement Among Street-Connected Boys In Bungoma, Kenya: A Quantitative Study, Brigid Siobhan Scripa

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this quantitative, predictive, correlational study was to examine the relationship between street-connected children’s grit while enrolled in Reach International Children’s Center and street-connected children’s grit while living with family of origin. Furthermore, the purpose of this study was to examine hypothesized predictors of rank-ordered academic achievement among street-connected children, recently rescued street-connected children, recently reintegrated street-connected children, and home-connected children. A world phenomenon is currently occurring where children are migrating to the streets in search of shelter, security, and safety; children are migrating to the streets in search of meeting their basic needs. While the factors that …

The Overlooked Mission-Transitional Care Programs For Veterans In Civilian Settings: An Integrative Review, Cynthia Louise Gonzales

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The number of veterans within the United States continues to increase. With the addition of healthcare laws, veterans can seek care within the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) and civilian settings. The collaboration among multiple healthcare providers must ensure veterans are provided safe and efficient care when transitioning from provider to provider. Transitional care programs (TCPs) are effective strategies to ensure that veterans receive safe and efficient healthcare. The VHA employs interventions across their healthcare settings to facilitate optimal care. A variety of TCPs were discovered during the review. Most TCPs were used in VHA settings, which revealed an opportunity to …

Becoming A Trauma-Informed School: Teacher, Administration, And Support Staff's Perception To Handle Trauma In The School Setting, Jaime Baas

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Childhood trauma is an increasing issue that families, children, and schools face. Schools are often restricted to specific protocols when handling undesired behaviors that could overlook or perpetuate trauma. Teachers, administration, and support staff could lack the skills to handle trauma and crisis in the school setting. This research used a single case study in a Title 1 school district focused on the perception of preparedness to address crisis using trauma-informed care— the district supports approximately 4,000 individuals including students, teachers, administration, and support staff. The purpose of this study was to explore the perceived ability of teachers, administration, and …

A Comparative Study Of Elementary Teacher Efficacy In Christian Private Schools And Public Schools, Jasmine Floyd

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this quantitative causal-comparative study was to compare elementary teacher efficacy in Christian private schools and public schools to determine if there was a difference in overall efficacy, instructional strategies, classroom management, and student engagement. Teacher efficacy shapes instructional performance and student academic achievement, so a deeper study of public and Christian school teacher efficacy was significant to recognize factors present in each type of school that could impact instruction and achievement. This study consisted of a convenience sample of 229 teachers of kindergarten through fifth grade at Christian private and public schools in the southeastern United States. …

Personality Traits And Forgiveness After Infidelity, Tammy Porter

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This correlative phenomenological study aims to discover the relationship between personality traits and forgiveness, specifically when infidelity has taken place. The purpose is to identify personality traits that are positively associated with forgiveness after infidelity. The research analyzed responses from both married and divorced couples that participate in a Facebook event. The theory guiding this study is the Big Five personality traits model with the analysis of those traits related to forgiveness, specifically for infidelity. The study took a close look at each personality trait within the Big Five Personality Model as it relates to forgiveness for the couple for …

The Use Of Self-Efficacy Evaluations, Self-Care Evaluations, And Motivational Interviewing To Improve Glycated Hemoglobin Values In Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus, Meredith Ann Kelley

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

When improperly managed, type 2 diabetes mellitus is a serious and chronic health condition with far-reaching repercussions for individuals, families, and societies. In the United States, 34.2 million individuals live with diabetes, and 90%-95% have type 2 diabetes. While the United States healthcare system faces the monumental task of improving diabetic care outcomes and associated costs, publications have established that motivational interviewing (MI) can improve self-efficacy and associated self-care behaviors of type 2 diabetics, resulting in improved hemoglobin A1c values. Thus, this scholarly project’s intent was to track participant hemoglobin A1c values over three months, measure participant self-efficacy and self-care …

Character Education For Elementary School Students And Parental Commitment: A Qualitative Phenomenological Study, Joshua J. Barela

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to understand the parents’ experiences with their children's character education. The central research question for this study was the following: What are the parents’ experiences with their child’s character education? The two subsequent research questions were: (a) What are the perceived critical factors experienced by the parents influencing their child’s character education process? (b) What are the perceived obstacles experienced by the parents hindering their child’s character education and development? The central phenomenon of the study included 12 parental participants at a private elementary school in South Asia. The central phenomenon was …

Evaluating The Use Of Poetry To Reduce The Signs Of Depression, Anxiety, And Stress In Veterans, Misty Pearl Ely

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

A veteran is anyone who has served on active duty in one of the five branches of the military, regardless of peacetime or combat exposure. Currently, veterans make up 2.2 million of our nation’s population and the rates of mental health concerns are continually on the rise due to the prolonged nature of Operations Enduring Freedom, Iraqi Freedom, and New Dawn. With the drawdown of forces, the military is smaller than usual and yet must maintain the safety and security of the world at the same standard. Therefore, these service members are recycled over and over to deployments abroad and …