Digital Commons Network^™

Relationships Between Experiential Learning And Effects On Senior Nursing Students’ Self-Efficacy And Knowledge: A Non-Experimental Predictive Correlation Multiple Regression Analysis, Shanna Akers

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Preparing nursing students to transition into the professional registered nurse role is the task of nurse educators. These educators must train students to function in multiple nursing specialties post-graduation, to include critical care. As more nursing graduates enter into areas such as intensive care units and emergency rooms, nurse educators must prepare them to work with critically ill patients. Increased exposure to critical care clinical experiences and simulations may be one method to prepare them for these complex, high-acuity patient situations. In order to determine whether or not a relationship exists between increased hours of experience and effects on self-efficacy …

Exploring The Convergence Of Ministry, Tenure And Efficacy: A Phenomenological Study Of Long-Tenured Pastors, Joshua Strunk

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

In recent years there has been an increased interest in understanding the cultivation of effective pastoral ministry. While much has been written on the dynamics of short-tenure, less attention has been devoted to the dynamics of long-tenure. Why do pastors stay and how do they perceive their efficacy is affected by this? In light of this gap, the purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to explore the lived experience of long-tenured senior pastors. Data was collected by a purposeful sampling of 10 participants and consisted of a combination of documentation, field notes and interviews. Data analysis utilized Moustakas’ methodology …

Preservice Elementary Teachers' Self-Efficacy For Teaching Writing: A Phenomenological Study, Kallen Dace

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore the self-efficacy of teaching writing for elementary preservice teachers at a small private university in southern Missouri. Preservice elementary teachers’ self-efficacy for teaching writing was defined as the level of confidence preservice teachers possess in their ability to effectively teach writing to elementary students. This study explored how the preservice teacher participants viewed their self-efficacy as writers and their experiences as writers in both kindergarten through twelfth grade education and higher education. Additionally, the study explored how the writing experiences of these preservice elementary teachers shaped how they might teach writing …

The Relationship Between Gaming Addictive Behavior, Satisfaction, And Success In Computer-Based Learning, Marlene Carrilho

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this quantitative, correlational study was to examine the association between college students’ levels of gaming addictive behavior and their levels of student satisfaction and student success in a computer-based learning environment. Additionally, gender was investigated as a moderator of the association between gaming addictive behavior and student success and between gaming addictive behavior and student satisfaction. Data was collected through online surveys from a convenience sample of undergraduate students enrolled at a large, Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)-accredited, evangelical Christian university located in Virginia. The statistical program SPSS 22.0 was used for the analyses. Hierarchical …

Mere Christian Theism And The Problem Of Evil: Toward A Trinitarian Perichoretic Theodicy, Ronnie Campbell

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

There is perhaps no problem confronting Christian theism more than that of the problem from evil. Evil in the world is not merely a problem for the Christian worldview, however, but also for various other metaphysical systems. This project takes up a comparative analysis of four major worldviews—naturalism, pantheism, process panentheism, and theism—and argues that of the four, theism provides not only the best explanation for the phenomena of evil in the world but it also gives an overall thicker worldview response to the challenges that evil presents. But theism in-and-of-itself is not enough. A specific form of theism is …

An Examination Of The Prosperity Gospel: A Plea For Return To Biblical Truth, Aaron Phillips

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The prosperity gospel teaches that the Bible promises health, wealth and uncommon success to all believers. A problem surfaces when the prosperity that is promised does not materialize to all members of the congregation. In examining the validity of this teaching, extensive writings, books, articles and sermons by leading proponents, have been reviewed. Additionally, interviews with at least one hundred pastors inform this writing. The purpose of the research is to furnish contemporary, active insight to this project. The conclusion of this writer is that the prosperity gospel offers an unbalanced application of scripture, which results in a departure from …

Relationship Of Teacher Perception Of Principal Leadership Practices And Job Satisfaction In The Southeast Region Of The Association Of Christian Schools International, John Barlow

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Many studies have been conducted on principal leadership and employee perceptions in the corporate and public sector. However, there are gaps in the research regarding the relationship between the perception of principal leadership practices and one dimension of person-organization fit, job satisfaction, in the specific demographic of teachers in the Southeast Region of the Association of Christian Schools International. This study was conducted to begin the process of understanding this phenomenon. Kouzes and Posner’s (2012) five practice of exemplary leadership and the theoretical framework of person-organization fit supported the development of this study (Kristof-Brown & Guay, 2011). Teachers from the …

An Organic Model Of Leadership Development For The Rural, Traditional Church, Douglas Brooks

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This thesis project examines the nature of leadership development relating to an organization known as the local body of Christian believers. This study reveals that the average believer lacks confidence in his or her ability to clearly define what it means to be a Christian, what is required of a believer in the areas of discipleship and leadership, and how to be a disciple maker. Pursuant to completion of this thesis project, the pastor will progressively develop each member of the local body of believers at Woodland Trails Baptist Church into servant leaders who make disciples. The questionnaire results of …

Joonhyun, Joonhyun Bae

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

During the last decade, most new church plants in South Korea remained as small churches of less than one hundred members that are not self-sustaining or growing, because their leaders are heavily dependent upon limited discipleship models of few megachurches that rarely reflect the characteristics of small churches. Since newly planted churches rarely grow in the absence of effective discipleship models that suit their given cultures and geographical locations, their leaders need to be equipped with a biblical framework and applications for establishing discipleship models that aptly respond to the needs of their churches. The purpose of this thesis project …

Maternal Communication During A Deployment With School Staff: A Phenomenological Study, Carolyn Davis

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to describe the experiences of maternal soldiers’ in communicating with school staff during a military deployment. The increasing number of deployments since 2001 has affected the family unit, especially the children. The primary focus of the research on military deployments has been related to the effects on children and the family. This study used purposeful sampling to select seven maternal veterans who experienced a military deployment within the past five years lasting six months or longer. Participants shared their experiences with a deployment through a semi-structured interview. Prior to the interview, participants completed …

Exploring The Relationship Between Cultural Intelligence And Teacher Burnout In The Mississippi Delta, Lakeysha Hallmon

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

School districts in the Mississippi Delta are located within one of the poorest regions in the United States (United States Census Bureau, 2012). These school districts face challenges such as low reading and math scores, high concentrations of students living in poverty, and a critical shortage of teachers. Researchers link the critical shortage to high turnover rates and the associated teacher burnout (Darling-Hammond, 2010). The problem of teacher burnout and the consequential attrition that persists in the Mississippi Delta may be ascribed to a cultural disconnect between teachers and students (Brown-Jeffy & Cooper, 2011). Thus, in this exploratory, correlational study, …

Job Satisfaction And Dissatisfaction Factors Influencing Contract Renewal Of Generation Y And Non-Generation Y Teachers Working At International Schools In Asia, Benny Fong

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Current literature on job satisfaction and dissatisfaction does not comprehensively explain the possible relationship among the many factors in Herzberg et al.’s (1959) two-factor theory and teacher retention in international schools in Asia. While research exploring different individual factors to retention and job satisfaction exists, quantitative studies do not appear in great abundance, especially literature with international schools as the target. Given access to quantitative data, international school administrators may plan strategically and implement initiatives to retain and empower effective teachers, both Gen Y and non-Gen Y. The purpose of this correlational study is to examine the relationship between factors …

A Proposal For A Local Church Infertility Ministry, Melanie Gruner

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

How is the church addressing the difficult issue of infertility? Pastors may not be adequately trained to handle the demon of infertility, which is a growing epidemic. Thirteen Scriptural remedies for the struggle of infertility are proposed in the form of a manual which is designed to equip and be implemented by churches. The hope is that churches will effectuate either a group dynamic or individual canvas for a detailed analysis of what Scripture teaches about infertility. Research involves surveying pastors and infertile couples about what they believe is being done in churches to relieve the sting of infertility. Results …

Adoption Of Ereaders By Senior Adults: A Phenomenological Study, Dale Tysor

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

A majority of the previous research on older adults and their use of technology has focused on computers and the Internet. Most of the eReader-specific research examined younger participants in an academic setting. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to describe the perspectives of Georgia senior adults in their adoption of eReaders. The adoption of an eReader was generally defined as the acquisition of an eReader, followed by the selecting, downloading, navigating, and reading of eBooks using an eReader. This study took place in a public library and was designed to answer 3 research questions: (a) What are contributing …

Phenomenology Of Transformation Through Participation In A General Education Development Program, Sherrie Mitchell

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative, phenomenological study was to describe how young adults experience transformation through participation in a federally funded General Education Development (GED®) program located within a small urban area in the southeastern region of Georgia. Specifically, transformative learning theory and its overarching themes was applied to the perspective of the individuals who shared the experience of transformation. The queries of the study were to determine: (a) how the participants understood transformation, (b) how the participants described their experience of transformation in a federally funded GED program, (c) what transformation(s) were described and perceived from the GED program, …

Understanding Factors Contributing To The Persistence Of First-Generation College Students From Appalachian Distressed Counties: A Phenomenological Study, Richard Hunley

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

• Appalachia
• Distressed
• Endurance
• First-Generation
• Persistence

The Relationship Between Hexaco Personality Traits And Cyberbullying Perpetrators And Victims, David Smith

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

There is an increasing problem in high schools across America with the threat of cyberbullying from both a perpetration and victimization standpoint. Cyberbullying is a problem for many youth because of the inability to escape the use of technology and the incapability of escaping the online community. This non-experimental predictive correlational study examined personality traits, using the HEXACO personality structure model, to predict the susceptibility of freshman high school students either being perpetrators or victims of cyberbullying. There were a total of 256 participants who took the Cyberbullying and Online Aggression survey along with the HEXACO personality model survey. This …

Teacher Immediacy From The Perspective Of Teachers Who Educate At-Risk Students In A High School Alternative Setting: A Transcendental Phenomenological Study, Connie Locklear

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study is to gain a deeper, richer understanding of teacher immediacy from the perspective of teachers who educate at-risk students in an alternative setting. This study consisted of 12 teachers who educate high school students that have dropped out of school or were potential dropouts prior to entering the alternative program. The study was designed to answer the following questions: (a) What are the opinions of teachers who work in an alternative setting about teacher immediacy? (b) What do teachers state as obstacles to establishing teacher immediacy? (c) What additional resources do teachers state …

A Quantitative Study Of Dropout And Suspension Rates Of Native American High School Students Enrolled In Title Vii And Non-Title Vii School Districts, Annette Skinner-Coleman

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The North Carolina Commission of Indian Affairs (NCCIA) works collaboratively with The North Carolina State Advisory Council on Indian Education (SACIE) to support educational agencies with large populations of American Indian and Alaska Native students. The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI) and the North Carolina SACIE identified the American Indian students as having one of the highest dropout rates in North Carolina. This quantitative study employed a design combining causal comparative and correlational methods to examine the relationship between high school dropout and suspension rates among American Indian high school students enrolled in school districts that provide Title …

A Collective Case Study Of Expectant Father Fears, Robert Grand

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This qualitative, collective case study explored how men perceive fears of childbirth and level of preparedness to become fathers. An additional purpose of this study was to explore the perceptions of expectant and new fathers with regard to how the Boot Camp for New Dads (BCND) program helped them to alleviate pregnancy fears and develop preparedness to become a parent. Data collection consisted of semi-structured interviews and focus groups conducted after the participants completed a three-hour boot camp for the BCND program. Additionally, participants completed the Kessler-6, a short questionnaire designed to glean their perspectives of fears after the childbirth. …

Non-Science Co/Prerequisite Course Grades As Predictors Of Associate Degree Nursing Program Completion And First-Attempt Nclex-Rn Performance, Joey Trader

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study examined the potential relationship between non-science co/prerequisite courses (English Composition I, English Composition II, General Psychology, Child Psychology, and Nutrition and Diet Therapy) upon successful program completion and first-attempt NCLEX-RN results while controlling for age and gender in a traditional associate degree nursing program in the South Atlantic region of the United States. The rationale for the study was described with General Systems Theory while Schema Theory was tested and framed the study. The researcher employed binary logistic regression. There were 216 cases in the program completion dataset while there were 177 in the NCLEX-RN result data set. …

Elementary Students’ Perceptions Of Gender Equity In Mathematics Classes, Debra Jacobson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

There have been various research studies stating that in elementary school, gender bias in all subjects is nonexistent. However, other researchers interested in gender equity in the mathematics classroom have recognized that gender bias does not occur in early elementary school grades but exists by middle school. Thus, research in this area is greatly needed. This study examined children in the third, fourth, and fifth grades to determine whether students’ perceptions of their own mathematical abilities relate to their perceptions of their teacher’s beliefs about gender bias in mathematics. Pearson Product-Moment correlation and Point-Biserial correlations were used to analyze data. …

Flight Lead: The Mission Of A Father And Husband, John Marselus

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Similar to fighter pilot flight leads, the Lord created multiple roles and responsibilities for husbands and fathers to lead their families. Millions of dollars are invested into the training and readiness of a fighter pilot to lead a flight into combat. Flight leads must perform multiple missions to ensure the success of friendly armed forces against their enemy. The multiple roles and responsibilities for husbands and fathers are remarkably similar to the functions a flight lead must execute to successfully complete a mission. This study compares the author’s military experience with scholarly research, Scriptural analysis, quantitative survey, and case study …

Effects Of Student Family Structure And Attendance On Academic Achievement In Middle Grades Mathematics, Bobby Sneed

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this study was to explore the impact student attendance and family structure had on academic achievement as measured by the Georgia mandated criterion referenced competency test (CRCT) in middle grades mathematics. There were many factors that could have come into play regarding the level of academic achievement each child experiences. With federal, state and local entities placing increased pressure on schools and educators to be more accountable, specifically in the form of student test scores, it seemed imperative to understand the external variables that may negatively impact student learning potential. Utilizing the student’s family structure data reported …

Six Key Concepts In Training Evangelical Lay Chaplain For Effective Local Hospital Ministry, Lisa Kanne

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Many professional hospital chaplaincy organizations have ethics statements that specifically prohibit paid chaplains from proselytizing, unless specifically requested by the patient. The intention of the dissertation is to train lay chaplains in what to communicate with the patients, family and friends. Restrictions will be imposed on lay volunteer chaplains by the hospital and the chaplaincy department dealing with proselytizing and other topics concerning religion. The presentation will introduce biblical principles regarding ministering to the sick and dying, providing comfort to those who are hurting, and fostering hope and who are grieving. Between the survey findings and the interview key concepts …

Personalized System Of Instruction And Student Performance In High School Weight Training Courses, Charles Allen

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

School reform has applied pressure on the United States public school systems to improve student achievement. As a result of this pressure, educators are seeking instructional models that research supports improves student achievement. The purpose of this causal comparative study was to test the Social Cognitive Theory by comparing the achievement of all-male high school weight training students who had been taught using the personalized system of instruction (PSI) instructional model to students who had not been taught using the PSI instructional model on the state mandated Fitnessgram assessments, after controlling for prior Fitnessgram achievement within a large, urban high …

The Experience Of Recalling Christian Spiritual Songs On Affect Dysregulation In The Mood And Anxiety Disorders, Nancy J. Cochran

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Although existing treatment methods for the mood and anxiety disorders have improved the lives of many who suffer from these conditions, there remains a significant portion of the population for whom these methods are only partially effective or are ineffective entirely. The purpose of the present study was to explore the experiences of a spiritually-integrated music therapy intervention with a nonclinical population during times of affect dysregulation. Ten participants used this intervention over the course of a two-week period and were interviewed regarding their experiences. The results indicated that the participants were impacted in their biological, spiritual, social and psychological …

Perfect Harmony: An Examination Of The Necessity Of Interdependency Between First And Second Generation Korean Congregations, Hank H. Shin

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The English speaking second-generation Korean Americans coexisting with the first-generation Koreans topic identifies the issues associated in a typical Korean immigrant church. Based on the resources, the English Ministry has a tendency to stay under the authority of the Korean Ministry leadership, coexist independently with a separate administration, or depart to set up a separate church. This project is separated in three parts. The first section reviews the history of the early Korean American churches in the United States. The second section addresses the problems between English Ministry and Korean Ministry. The third section identifies a strategy to provide harmony …

Perceived Parental Factors As Predictors Of Spiritual Maturity In Emerging Adults, Lizabeth L. Matthews

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Scant research has focused on possible parental factors behind increasing rates of disengagement by millennial emerging adults (18- to 25-years-old) in church attendance and other traditional Christian practices. Cluster, quota, and convenience samples of emerging adults (N = 266) who had identified with Christian practices in high school were recruited from social media, Web sites for religious doubt, and various universities and churches across America. Independent sample t tests and regression analyses were performed to explore the effect of selected parent variables (as perceived by the emerging adult child) on the child’s self-reported spiritual maturity (measured by a spiritual assessment …

The Correlation Between Nutrition And Academic Achievement In Georgia Middle Schools, Lesia Griffin

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day and it is an important part of the academic achievement of students. Several hours after breakfast, the body requires more fuel. The fuel is used to energize the body and help feel refreshed. The wrong fuel may have the opposite effect. The primary objective of this correlation study was to determine if there was a relationship between the academic achievement, as measured by reading and math scores on the Georgia Criterion Referenced Competency Test (CRCT) of 8th grade students and their nutritional intake. The qualifications of the selected participants were that …