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Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

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How Participation In Student-Run Media Impacts A College Student's Sense Of Self-Efficacy: A Transcendental Phenomenological Study, Hugh Davis Bouchelle Apr 2021

How Participation In Student-Run Media Impacts A College Student's Sense Of Self-Efficacy: A Transcendental Phenomenological Study, Hugh Davis Bouchelle

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to discover and understand college students’ perceptions of the ways their lived experiences while participating in college student-run media have impacted their sense of self-efficacy. The central research question was, what are college student perceptions of how participation in college student-run media impacts their sense of self-efficacy? Bandura’s social cognitive theory of self-regulation, which explains how an individual’s environment, behavior, and personal factors combine and intertwine to produce feelings of self-efficacy, was used as the framework for this study. Purposeful sampling was used to select full-time students that had worked at least …


A Transcendental Phenomenological Study Of The Motivations Of Minority Police Recruits Participating In An Entrance-Level Police Academy, Jennifer A. Beskid Mar 2021

A Transcendental Phenomenological Study Of The Motivations Of Minority Police Recruits Participating In An Entrance-Level Police Academy, Jennifer A. Beskid

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to describe the lived experiences of minority police recruits who were participating in an entrance-level police academy. The central research question of the study was what were the lived experiences of minority police recruits who were participating in an entrance-level police academy? Data was collected using interviews, a questionnaire, and records analysis. The interviews were transcribed with the initial results being preliminarily grouped. Once the groups were established, the researcher reviewed the records for inclusion in the groupings. Participants completed a questionnaire designed to elicit information about their motivations to become police …


An Exploration Into The Impacts Of Life Satisfaction And Social Support On Military Wives' Successful Performance While Enrolled In Graduate School, Marlene Blyden Mar 2021

An Exploration Into The Impacts Of Life Satisfaction And Social Support On Military Wives' Successful Performance While Enrolled In Graduate School, Marlene Blyden

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The military population is a unique segment of American society. Military members have specific obligations to their unit and fulfilling the mission. Even though military spouses do not wear the United States Armed Forces uniform, they play an integral direct, and supportive role in their partners’ lives. Military wives experience personal and professional challenges that influence their success in a graduate program. The purpose of this archival study is to examine the association between the independent variables, life satisfaction, and social support and the dependent variable, military wives’ successful performance while enrolled in graduate school. Life satisfaction is measured with …


Early Learning Teacher Collaboration And Classroom Transitions: A Qualitative Case Study, Danielle Christine Robertson Mar 2021

Early Learning Teacher Collaboration And Classroom Transitions: A Qualitative Case Study, Danielle Christine Robertson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this collective case study was to examine how Early Head Start and Head Start teachers collaborate to create successful transitions for students from classroom to classroom. The theory guiding this study was the sociocultural theory by Lev Vygotsky (1978), which focuses on learning through interactions and communications with others and collaborative learning. Vygotsky’s theory aligned with the study by informing educators that children learn from a guide and teachers should be intentional in adding to children’s knowledge and supporting children’s ways of understanding the world around them. This study addressed the following research questions: How do early …


Church Revitalization: Fashioning Church For Growth, Willie Lee Wormack Mar 2021

Church Revitalization: Fashioning Church For Growth, Willie Lee Wormack

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This thesis research project is an approach to resolve the issues of the critically declined and dying Friendship Baptist Church whose membership cannot support a viable ministry. Friendship Baptist Church exists with minimal infrastructure at 38503 Mosstown Road, Dade City, Florida, in the rural Lacoochee, Florida area. Friendship Baptist Church needs a visionary plan with leadership and team support directed to assist with church development and growth. The case study approach will implement exploration on the meanings and beliefs of Christianity for the church in the church’s social setting. Investigations about cultural associations of faith with the church is engaged …


Program Evaluation Of Life Skill Curriculum For Young Adults With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Sandra J. Schmiedeknecht Mar 2021

Program Evaluation Of Life Skill Curriculum For Young Adults With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Sandra J. Schmiedeknecht

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to discover the effectiveness of curriculum specific to young adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) within a specific community. This paper supports a program evaluation of a life skill curriculum compiled, taught and refined, and specifically designed for young adults with ASD. Young adults with ASD have few resources for a successful transition from adolescence to young adulthood. There is diminutive amount of literature evaluating and providing evidence that teaching a life skill curriculum is effective in enhancing success in the transition for young adult with ASD. There is a great deal of …


Perceptions Of Health Insurers Towards Pay-For-Performance As A Cost Control Model For Hospital Services, Mandlenkosi Moyo Mar 2021

Perceptions Of Health Insurers Towards Pay-For-Performance As A Cost Control Model For Hospital Services, Mandlenkosi Moyo

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Hospital costs are the most significant portion of health-related costs incurred by non-profit health insurers registered as medical schemes in South Africa. Medical schemes continue to use retrospective reimbursement models for hospitals despite general acknowledgment that these models do not limit hospital costs and utilization. Although medical schemes are interested in implementing alternative reimbursement models, such as pay-for-performance (P4P), they are uncertain about which P4P models they can use to reduce hospital costs, resulting in their inability to make critical changes to their costs from traditional fee-for-service models. This qualitative exploratory multiple case study used 17 open-ended case interviews to …


Defining Revitalization As The Initial Step In The Revitalization Process, Bradley Kent Childres Mar 2021

Defining Revitalization As The Initial Step In The Revitalization Process, Bradley Kent Childres

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The revitalization of churches that are either plateaued or declining is a daunting task for any pastor. The idea for this thesis project arose when this researcher engaged in his first revitalization program as a Senior Pastor. This researcher noticed that many people in the church were confused about what revitalization meant which led to confusion and mistrust in the revitalization process. This is when this researcher observed the need to define what revitalization means. As challenging as church revitalization is, pastors can make this process easier by knowing the first step to take in a revitalization program. This thesis …


The Moderation Of An Intimate Relationship On Pornography Use Among Religious Singles, Brandon Paul Waggoner Mar 2021

The Moderation Of An Intimate Relationship On Pornography Use Among Religious Singles, Brandon Paul Waggoner

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Previous research has explored the relationship between religious involvement, loneliness, and pornography use. For some, pornography use can be used as a coping mechanism to overcome feelings of loneliness. This pornography use is especially problematic for those who are religious, as this use contradicts their convictions and beliefs and has been shown to have many negative outcomes. To date, little research has focused on the specific growing population of singles who can be more prone to loneliness due to the lack of a romantic relationship. To rectify this gap, this study seeks to explore the ability an emotionally intimate relationship …


Cauti Prevention For Long Term Indwelling Bladder Catheters In Icu Patients: An Integrative Review, Joseph Andrew Chamness Mar 2021

Cauti Prevention For Long Term Indwelling Bladder Catheters In Icu Patients: An Integrative Review, Joseph Andrew Chamness

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This project aims to determine when a catheter should be removed in the intensive care unit to prevent premature removal. Subsequent multiple straight catheterizations may introduce bacteria into the urethra and result in hospital-acquired infections (HAI). The aim is to reduce the incidence of Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infection (CAUTI), a preventable HAI. A change in protocols is needed to match evidence-based research on the best practice methods. Strategies are proposed to decrease the risk of CAUTI, and limitations are discussed. Poorer strategies require more exclusions than good ones. The findings indicate more research is needed on newer strategies to determine …


Educating Church Leaders: Providing End-Of-Life Spiritual Care To Life Changers Church Ministry, Jermaine Joshua Ruffin Mar 2021

Educating Church Leaders: Providing End-Of-Life Spiritual Care To Life Changers Church Ministry, Jermaine Joshua Ruffin

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Life Changers Community Fellowship Church, of Jackson, Mississippi, struggles to provide end-of-life spiritual care to its members. Its church leadership has placed the responsibility of providing end-of-life spiritual care on institutions such as hospice and palliative care companies. These organizations do their best to provide end-of-life spiritual care, but struggle due to cultural and ethnical boundaries, and a lack of resources to provide such care. This study seeks to examine whether end-of-life spiritual care is a biblical concern and/or mandate within church leadership. In addition, this study will explore how hospice chaplains understand end-of-life spiritual care provided to patients and …


A Study Of A Systematic Evangelistic Discipleship Process At The Lighthouse Free Methodist Church, Thomas Michael Doherty Mar 2021

A Study Of A Systematic Evangelistic Discipleship Process At The Lighthouse Free Methodist Church, Thomas Michael Doherty

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The Lighthouse Free Methodist Church in Barryton, Michigan, lacks a systematic discipleship program that produces disciple-makers. This Doctor of Ministry project purposes to integrate a systematic discipleship program into the Lighthouse Free Methodist Church. The research methodology includes pre-and post-surveys and interviews. Pre- and post-survey data were collected to compare the number of disciplers, salvations, worship attenders, and the number of new systematic evangelistic discipleship groups. Six People participated in the training provided. The Lighthouse FMC is located near a small community of three-hundred people and is in the middle of a ten-mile circumference with thirty thousand. Thirteen people started …


An Applied Research Study On Improving Parental Involvement At A School In Southeastern North Carolina, Jacqueline Susan Hahn Mar 2021

An Applied Research Study On Improving Parental Involvement At A School In Southeastern North Carolina, Jacqueline Susan Hahn

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this applied research study was to solve the problem of low parental involvement for school stakeholders at a school in southeastern North Carolina and to formulate a solution to address the problem. The central research question for this study was “How can the problem of low parental involvement be improved at a school located in southeastern North Carolina?” The theoretical framework for this study was comprised of Piaget’s cognitive development theory and Vygotsky’s sociocultural theory. Accordingly, the philosophical assumption that guided this research study was an ontological assumption through the interpretive framework of social constructivism. This study …


The Relationships Between Student Veterans' Marital Status, Parental Status, Military Service, Program Of Study And Their Perceived Levels Of Academic Self-Efficacy, Tyler Ray Nelson Mar 2021

The Relationships Between Student Veterans' Marital Status, Parental Status, Military Service, Program Of Study And Their Perceived Levels Of Academic Self-Efficacy, Tyler Ray Nelson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this quantitative predictive correlational study is to identify predictive indicators of perceived levels of academic self-efficacy for student veterans enrolled in Alabama community colleges and seeks to determine if the predictor variables of marital status, parental status, military service, and program of study have any relationship to their perceived levels of academic self-efficacy. It is noted by several studies that having low levels of academic self-efficacy is a significant contributing factor leading to student attrition. One way to mitigate this growing problem is to identify key elements that may predict a student's level of academic self-efficacy. This …


Purging The New Age: A Theological Analysis Of The Use Of New Age Practices By The Church, Christopher Michael Berg Mar 2021

Purging The New Age: A Theological Analysis Of The Use Of New Age Practices By The Church, Christopher Michael Berg

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This dissertation sets out to demonstrate that Yoga and the Enneagram are not compatible with orthodox Christianity. Additionally, this dissertation will show that all possible attempts at Christianizing these practices ultimately fail due to incompatible underlying philosophies and theologies. In order to accomplish this task, assessment criteria will be developed through a comparison of a subset of evangelical Christian theological topics with their New Age counterparts. These criteria will be used to assess the level of syncretization in each practice as presented by the most popular and prolific Christian practitioners. After assessment, a recommendation will be given concerning each practice’s …


Christian Women's Pornography Usage: The Role Of Perceived Addiction, Social Anxiety, Shame, And Grace, Kathryn Ellen Bohannon Mar 2021

Christian Women's Pornography Usage: The Role Of Perceived Addiction, Social Anxiety, Shame, And Grace, Kathryn Ellen Bohannon

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

For decades, researchers have examined the relationship between pornography use, anxiety, and depression. The emotional component of shame has also been explored in connection with pornography use and other addictive behaviors. Recently, scholars have started to consider how the pornography user’s moral values and religious beliefs influenced their usage and outcome behaviors (Baltazar, Helm, H. W., McBride, Hopkins, & Stevens, J. V., 2010; Bradley, Grubbs, Uzdavines, Exline, & Pargament, 2016; Hook et al., 2015). Extensive resources have been dedicated to investigating the male gender’s usage of pornography both in solitude and relational settings (Hald, 2006; Manning, 2006; Twohig, Crosby, & …


Improving Students' K-Prep Reading Scores By Investigating The Reading Culture At Harrison Independent School, Rebecca Anne Grace Mar 2021

Improving Students' K-Prep Reading Scores By Investigating The Reading Culture At Harrison Independent School, Rebecca Anne Grace

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this applied study is to examine the problem of low reading performance among Kentucky middle school students by exploring the reading culture of Harrison Independent School with the aim of identifying positive practices that can be endorsed as viable solutions to the problem. The researcher reviews the existing research to define the components of a positive reading culture and provide evidence of the link between a school’s reading culture and the reading performance of its students. The ensuing study examines teachers’ perceptions of their roles in promoting independent reading, strategies used by ELA teachers to improve students’ …


Surviving Or Thriving? A Phenomenological Study Of The Well-Being Of Experienced Special Education Teachers, Katherine Beth Carpenter-Ware Mar 2021

Surviving Or Thriving? A Phenomenological Study Of The Well-Being Of Experienced Special Education Teachers, Katherine Beth Carpenter-Ware

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to describe the well-being of experienced special education teachers (SETs) in southeastern, Virginia. Experienced SETs’ well-being is a relevant issue based upon the role-related stressors SETs grapple with daily. These stressors influence SETs’ attrition and the SET shortages which have impacted much of the United States. The theory guiding this study was the well-being theory introduced by Martin Seligman in 2011. This theory indicates that there are five elements of well-being that are required to flourish. These elements are positive emotion, engagement, relationships, meaning, and accomplishment. The central research question for this …


Does The Management Of Compassion Fatigue In The Healthcare Setting Decrease Nurse Turnover: An Integrative Review, Barbara Fulcher Williams Mar 2021

Does The Management Of Compassion Fatigue In The Healthcare Setting Decrease Nurse Turnover: An Integrative Review, Barbara Fulcher Williams

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Healthcare systems are rapidly changing and with the increased age of the baby boomers, and shortage of nurses, and COVID-19, there is a rapid growth in compassion fatigue within the nursing community. More than 22% of nurses in direct patient care roles report experiencing emotional exhaustion. This results in negative consequences, reduced productivity, workplace violence, and poor patient care. Does the management of compassion fatigue in the healthcare setting decrease nurse turnover? This was an integrative review of the literature, utilizing 15-20 articles using Melnyk framework for evaluation. The variables addressed included the emotional state with negative psychological and physical …


A Phenomenological Study Of How Black South African University Students Experience Cultural Identity In An English-Medium Instruction Context, Arthur Kent Cason Mar 2021

A Phenomenological Study Of How Black South African University Students Experience Cultural Identity In An English-Medium Instruction Context, Arthur Kent Cason

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to describe the experience of cultural identity in an English-medium instruction context for Black university students in South Africa. Data were collected from 10 Black South African university students representing a cross-section of South African society. In-depth individual interviews were used as the primary data collection method complemented by a focus group interview and self-reflection letters written to a hypothetical new student in which the participant recalls his or her experience with cultural identity. Data analysis followed Moustakas’ methodology involving bracketing biases, horizonalization, organizing and classifying significant statements into themes, writing the textural …


Reduction Of Hospital Readmissions In Patients With A Diagnosis Of Copd: An Integrative Review, Guerline Norbrun Mar 2021

Reduction Of Hospital Readmissions In Patients With A Diagnosis Of Copd: An Integrative Review, Guerline Norbrun

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a progressive lung disease with potential to interfere with breathing ability. It is the third leading cause of 30-day readmission and death in the US, and the leading cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide. It constitutes a society burden and poor disease management leads to major health consequences such as acute COPD exacerbation resulting in frequent costly readmissions, add to its massive direct healthcare costs. Over $50 billion are spent annually in direct care alone in addition to $15 billion in hospital readmissions; with 12 million adults are being affected in the United States …


Leadership Development Of Ethnic Minoritized Men In Ces: A Phenomenological Theory Study, Maria E. Moore Mar 2021

Leadership Development Of Ethnic Minoritized Men In Ces: A Phenomenological Theory Study, Maria E. Moore

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Ethnic minoritized men continue to be underrepresented in the counselor education and supervision (CES) field in faculty and leadership roles. This qualitative phenomenological study highlights the lived experiences of six ethnic minoritized men leaders in CES to examine the factors that helped them in their leadership development and how those elements can be fostered in others to increase diversity in leadership in CES. The six participants come from universities across the United States. Limited research has been done on ethnic minoritized men leaders in counseling and CES, and that research focused on their current leadership experiences. A semi structured interview …


A Class Of Their Own: A Correlational Study On Household Composition, Chronic Absenteeism, And Graduation Among African American Males, Melissa E. Garrett-Moultrie Mar 2021

A Class Of Their Own: A Correlational Study On Household Composition, Chronic Absenteeism, And Graduation Among African American Males, Melissa E. Garrett-Moultrie

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between household compositions of African American male students, chronic absenteeism, and graduation. Chronic absenteeism is missing 10% or more of the academic school year. Using Bowen family systems theory as the theoretical framework helped examine if household composition is related to chronic absenteeism and graduation in African American males. In addition, this study explored the factors that best differentiated single-mother households from two-parent households. This study was conducted in order to develop paternal involvement programs, mentoring programs, attendance programs, and academic programs to increase graduation rates and decrease chronic absenteeism …


Middle School Students’ Perceptions Of Teacher Empathy In Christian Schools: A Transcendental Phenomenological Studymiddle School Students’ Perceptions Of Teacher Empathy In Christian Schools: A Transcendental Phenomenological Study, Harold Wade Brackins Mar 2021

Middle School Students’ Perceptions Of Teacher Empathy In Christian Schools: A Transcendental Phenomenological Studymiddle School Students’ Perceptions Of Teacher Empathy In Christian Schools: A Transcendental Phenomenological Study, Harold Wade Brackins

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this study was to understand the experience of teacher empathy for middle school students at two Christian academies in central Alabama. Extant studies have contributed to the theoretical, empirical, and practical understanding of teacher empathy, but few have captured the voices of middle school students to understand their lived experiences; no studies have explored the topic in Christian academies. The theories guiding this study were Rogers’ theory of self and subsequent theories about student-centered pedagogy. The central research question was focused on the perceptions of teacher empathy as voiced by middle school students in Christian academies. Four …


Individual Pastoral Counseling In Combination With Celebrate Recovery Group Experience, Stephen F. Curtis Mar 2021

Individual Pastoral Counseling In Combination With Celebrate Recovery Group Experience, Stephen F. Curtis

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Celebrate Recovery is a Christ-centered twelve-step program in which participants benefit from testimonies and mutual sharing of their struggles and victories. However, “cross-talk” and giving advice is not permitted in the group. Some participants may need or desire individual counseling. This thesis project focused on a Celebrate Recovery ministry in a rural setting where travel and economic obstacles create an impediment to access the services of a licensed therapist. Individual pastoral counseling was combined with the Celebrate Recovery group experience to ascertain whether the combination of these two approaches would yield enhanced and accelerated recovery as perceived by the participants. …


A Phenomenological Study Examining The Challenges And Strategies Of Students Who Are Parents In The Higher Education Setting, Amy Joelle Dewitt Mar 2021

A Phenomenological Study Examining The Challenges And Strategies Of Students Who Are Parents In The Higher Education Setting, Amy Joelle Dewitt

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to understand the challenges of student-parents, or those students who are also parents, in higher education and discover the strategies that this student population has found to overcome such challenges. Participants included student-parents who attended residential classes, online, and/or in hybrid formats at a public institution. Tinto’s (2012) theory of student persistence guided this study with the abundance of trials student-parents encounter through their student career. Knowles’ (1990) theory of adult learning and views on self-directed learning also contributed to this study examining how students learn as adults who take accountability for …


A Phenomenological Study On Teacher Perceptions Of The Influence Of Governance On Teacher Retention In Ugandan Private Primary Christian Schools, Jomo Zizwe Morani Thomas Ii Mar 2021

A Phenomenological Study On Teacher Perceptions Of The Influence Of Governance On Teacher Retention In Ugandan Private Primary Christian Schools, Jomo Zizwe Morani Thomas Ii

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenological study was to answer the following central research question, “what are teachers’ perceptions of the effects of governance on teacher retention in private primary Christian schools in Uganda?” The theoretical model that guided this study was an integrated model comprising distributed leadership and transformational leadership and its relationship to governance influences on teacher retention. The study utilized a hermeneutic phenomenological methodology for data analysis. The selected participants were comprised of 13 teachers from four approved Christian primary school sites located in the Wakiso district of Uganda. The primary data collection methods were individual questionnaires, …


Becoming Fitly Joined Together: Unifying The Church Body For Vision Manifestation, Keisha Hodge Mar 2021

Becoming Fitly Joined Together: Unifying The Church Body For Vision Manifestation, Keisha Hodge

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This DMIN action research project fulfilled the purpose of increasing awareness within the four churches in the Greater Berea District concerning the value and function of having a vision. Preintervention and postintervention questionnaires, interviews, hypothetical case studies, and a class-styled intervention was employed. The one-day intervention educated participants concerning how a vision supports the work of the church, which enables it to be more fruitful. Furthermore, the class equipped attendees with a biblical foundation showing that God is a proponent and encourager of vision. The necessity of this study was determined when the researcher witnessed a church vision being cast …


Analysis Of Healthcare Miscommunication And How To Effectively Improve Communication Outcomes: An Integrative Review, Jill Suzanne Smith Mar 2021

Analysis Of Healthcare Miscommunication And How To Effectively Improve Communication Outcomes: An Integrative Review, Jill Suzanne Smith

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Healthcare workers convey client information regularly to provide essential and safe care. Errors in communication have been linked to a decrease in client satisfaction and an increase in medical errors. Both the Joint Commission and the World Health Organization have recommended using a standard communication tool, SBAR, to increase client satisfaction and decrease medical errors. A review of 52 research articles determined effective SBAR training should be conducted utilizing simulations to improve the healthcare providers’ self-confidence and usage of the SBAR tool. This integrative review also concluded the number and length of SBAR simulation sessions have no consequence on the …


Local Government School Funding And Student Achievement In Virginia School Divisions: A Correlational Research Design, Stanley Lee Schoppe Jr Feb 2021

Local Government School Funding And Student Achievement In Virginia School Divisions: A Correlational Research Design, Stanley Lee Schoppe Jr

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study examined the correlation between school division graduation rates and the percentage of expenditures above the required local effort (PEARLE) for all 133 school divisions located within Virginia in the fiscal years 2015–2018. This study aimed to discover whether increased local government school funding beyond the required local effort had a significant impact on the terminal completion of student achievement in the form of on-time graduation rates. The researcher conducted the study using a correlational bivariate data analysis. Convenience sampling was utilized to attain needed data for the study by collecting funding and graduation rate archived data for each …