Digital Commons Network^™

Effects Of Mayfield's Four Questions (M4q) On Nursing Students' Self-Efficacy And Multiple-Choice Test Scores, Linda Riggs Mayfield

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study examined the effects of being taught the Mayfield's Four Questions multiple-choice test-taking strategy on the perceived self-efficacy and multiple-choice test scores of nursing students in a two-year associate degree program. Experimental and control groups were chosen by stratified random sampling. Subjects completed the 10-statement General Self-Efficacy survey and two additional statements based on guidelines by the survey authors and self-efficacy theorist Albert Bandura. The intervention consisted of weekly half-hour sessions to learn and practice M4Q. Survey data was statistically analyzed by group and by statement. Multiple-choice test scores were analyzed by group, level, test and test group. Statistically …

Coaching Bivocational Ministers For Greater Ministry Effectiveness, Dennis Bickers

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this project is to explore the benefits of coaching as a technique to better equip bivocational ministers for greater ministry effectiveness. The author of this project was a bivocational pastor for twenty years and has written on bivocational and small church ministry. Five bivocational ministers in the United States and Canada were coached as part of this project, and this paper will describe the issues that were addressed in the coaching relationship, the benefits the bivocational ministers enjoyed as a result of coaching, and the lessons learned.

A Phenomenological Study Of The Attitudes & Perceptions Of Middle School Students Towards The Character, Advocacy, Remediation, Enrichment, & School Spirit (Cares) Program, Nathan John Buhl

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This phenomenological research study, using three tiers of interview and focus group data, described the attitudes and perceptions of middle students towards the Character, Advisory, Remediation, Enrichment, and School Spirit (CARES) program implemented at a rural middle school in north Georgia. The CARES program is a middle school advisement program designed to better meet the needs of the adolescent learner with the intent of creating a caring learning community which supports the social, emotional, and academic needs of middle school students. Results of the study showed that the students perceived the CARES program positively. Specifically, students communicated high levels of …

The Effects Of An Afterschool Program On Standardized Testing And Behavior Of Middle School At-Risk Students In A Rural County In Georgia, Tracy Deanna Horton

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this study was to examine the effect an afterschool program had on middle school at-risk students' standardized test scores and behavior. The study examined students who participated in the 21st Century Community Learning Center afterschool program at two similar schools in a county in Northwest Georgia. Data were compiled for the two school years, 2007-2008 and 2008-2009. The researcher compared students' math and reading CRCT scale scores from before and after they attended an afterschool program; the number of office referrals for students from before and after they attended the afterschool program were also compared. The researcher …

Examining The Effects Of A National League For Nursing Core Competencies Workshop As An Intervention To Improve Nurse Faculty Practice, Robin Renata Wilson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Due to the complex challenges facing schools of nursing, a research study was implemented to introduce nurse faculty at one small rural northeastern Tennessee school of nursing to the NLN Core Competencies for Nurse Educators. Utilizing Kalb's Nurse Faculty Self-Evaluation Tool as a pre- and post-intervention test, 30 nurse faculty members participated in a quasi-experimental quantitative study and focus group interview. Clinical adjunct staff members participated in a test-retest process to establish tool reliability with somewhat mixed results. The overall study demonstrated that participants did exhibit a significant increase in knowledge and ability of the NLN Core Competencies for Nurse …

Biblical Strategy And Shift To Spiritual Driven Church Growth, Chang Kyu Kim

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this project is to present the biblical standards, principles, components, and methods of spiritual discipline for 21st century churches' conversion from human efforts and programs oriented church growth to spiritual driven church growth like an early church. The early church is a best model as a spiritual driven church. Modern churches are trying to build like the early church. The biblical study of the early churches in Bible and the results of survey of growing churches in Washington area will give biblical concepts and methods to make the spiritual driven church.

Engaging Postmoderns In Worship: A Study Of Effective Techniques And Methods Utilized By Two Growing Churches In Northern California, Jon Paul Lepinski

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this project is to provide effective methodology for engaging postmodern worshipers. Bethel Church and The Stirring, both located in Redding, California, were the target churches for this study. Each of these culturally-relevant churches was researched for the period of five weeks and data was collected through personal interviews, worship observations, and questionnaires. The findings of this study have produced numerous techniques for appropriately engaging postmoderns.

An Effective Strategy For Leadership Development In The Cell Church, Dea Hee Kim

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this project is to understand the cell church and leadership development in the cell church, and invent an effective strategy for leadership development in the cell church through literature research and a case study of New Covenant Fellowship Church (NCFC). The case study will focus on the strategic process for leadership development at NCFC. This thesis will also analyze and evaluate the current situation of NCFC based on responses to a questionnaire survey from 140 leaders of NCFC, its historical documents, and its website. This thesis intends to develop healthy spiritual cell leaders who have characteristics that …

A Study Of The Conflicts Within Churches That Lead To The Termination Of Pastors Within The Southern Baptist Convention, Accompanied By A Proposal Of Preventive And Interventional Solutions, Donald Quentin Hicks

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Since 1984, LifeWay of the Southern Baptist Convention has collected data through the Pastoral Ministries division of LifeWay from state conventions to determine how many pastors were being fired each year from their churches. They discovered that approximately two hundred pastors were being fired from their churches each month. Leader Care was formed in 1996 in order to find solutions to this problem. Throughout the last decade some progress has been made educating and helping churches and ministers in conflict, as well as ministers and their families who were terminated from the churches they served. In 2008, LifeWay disbanded LeaderCare, …

A Multi-Plantation Ministry: Blending A Multi-Site And Church Planting Strategy In The Local Church, Nick Floyd

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

A review of current literature shows a growing interest in the multi-site movement. However, very little is written about churches who are showing a commitment to both multi-site and to church planting. This kind of both/and commitment is called multi-plantation. The goal of this project is to provide a resource to pastors who are actively seeking to find new ways to fulfill the Great Commission. Through a study of the theological, ecclesiological, practical, and personal matters of multi-plantation ministry, the goal will be accomplished.

A Strategy Of Promoting Health In The Local Church, Kichun Yoo

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this thesis project is to find out the strategy of promoting health in the local church setting, mobilizing healthy church checkup. This thesis is primarily concerned with understanding the Church as designed by God. If church matters, church health is to be ensured. To ensure a healthy church, this project tries to see the Church from the perspective of Biblical theology, researching the nature of the Church in connection with the Kingdom, and identifying God's plan with the Kingdom. As a basis of evaluation, the author sees Rev. 2-3 as a standard for measuring church health. The …

An Analysis Of Rev. Oak, Han-Hum's Sermons, Dae Shik Yoo

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

An accomplished preacher, teacher, and church-planter, Rev. Oak, Han Hum was the pastor of Korea's famous Sarang Community Church, which he founded with less than 50 members but grew under his leadership to over 80,000. In an attempt to better appreciate Rev. Oak's success, this thesis will analyze Rev. Oak's sermons, giving special attention not only to his preaching techniques and style but also his mindset, philosophy, and attitude toward his pastoral responsibility. Unquestionably, his passion for and commitment to preaching the Word of God, was a significant part of his ability to connect to his congregation through his sermons. …

Factors Influencing Korean Immigrant Fathers' Involvement With Adolescent Children: The Mediating Effect Of Father Identity, Chan Young John Park

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study used an exploratory cross-sectional structural equation modeling (SEM) design, in which 376 Korean immigrant fathers were administered measures of Father Involvement, Father Identity, Acculturation, Marital Satisfaction, and Religious Commitment and a demographic questionnaire. The surveys were administered primarily in Korean church environments throughout an 18-state region. The primary purposes of this study were to test a model for factors influencing Korean immigrant fathers' involvement with their adolescent children and examine the mediating effect of Father Identity on Father Involvement. This study also aimed at finding the most influential factor on Father Involvement through a general linear model (GLM). …

Effective And Economical Outreach And Evangelism For The Small To Medium Church, Stanley Wayne Kesler

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Pastors of small to medium size churches face a dilemma. Without exception, when asked in what areas they feel inadequate, inevitably one of the prominent deficiencies mentioned is outreach and evangelism. Many feel like they cannot compete with big-budget, high-attendance churches. Honest appraisal shows that most are facing attendance patterns that are declining or flat. Faced with the current economic depression, many churches experience a decrease in giving, and salaries, benefits and programs are either frozen or cut. What's a pastor to do?

The purpose of this project is to provide pastors of small to medium size churches with not …

Developing A Strategy Of Worship For Evangelical Believers Born From 1945 To 1955, Rodney Dale Whaley

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This project researched the need for developing a worship ministry strategically designed to meet the cultural, spiritual, musical, and emotional demands of early senior adults, those born from 1945 to 1955. The research question is, "How can the evangelical church meet the worship needs of her members born from 1945 to 1955?"

The Revitalization Process In A Small Rural Plateaued Southern Baptist Church, Rodney Merrill Sprayberry

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

New Zion Baptist Church is a small Southern Baptist church in rural Northeast Texas. The church has been stagnant for approximately three decades. This project is a record of the journey that the pastor and people of NZBC have traveled towards revitalization. The researcher began this project intent on implementing a strategic plan. However about half-way through the process, after evaluating the culture of NZBC, an intentional shift in methodology occurred. NZBC is a small church and therefore not a rationally structured, task driven, goal oriented organization. Instead it is a relational, biological and organic community. Therefore the process of …

The Effects Of Implementing Bloom's Taxonomy And Utilizing The Virginia Standards Of Learning Curriculum Framework To Develop Mathematics Lessons For Elementary Students, Kristel Williams Hawks

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this study was to determine if teachers who developed lessons based on Bloom's Taxonomy and the Virginia Standards of Learning Curriculum Framework saw increased scores on the mathematics benchmark assessment for fourth grade. Two classes taught by different mathematics teachers participated. The mean of the posttest scores for the experimental group in which the teachers developed lessons using Bloom's Taxonomy would be significantly higher than the mean of the group which used textbook bound instruction. An analysis of covariance was conducted, and the hypothesis was rejected. The experimental group would yield significant gains as measured by the …

Filial Therapy With Adolescent Parents: The Effect On Parental Empathy, Acceptance And Stress, Cathy Ford Sparks

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship of filial therapy training on adolescent parents' parental empathy, acceptance, and stress, and attainment of educational goals. It used a quasi-experimental, non-randomized sample drawn from three different high schools, pretest/posttest design, to measure the effectiveness of filial therapy. Each parent completed a ten week training period using either a filial therapy model or a typical parenting education model. Data included pretest and posttest questionnaires and videotaped sessions of play with their child. Statistical analyses showed a significant difference in seven of the thirteen areas. Parents in the filial therapy group …

Phonological Awareness In The Kindergarten Classroom: How Do Teachers Perceive This Essential Link From Oral Communication To Reading Skill Development, Margaret Catharine Dahmer

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This descriptive research study, combining survey and correlation methods, described the perceptions and behaviors of kindergarten teachers in relation to phonological awareness usage in their classroom experience. Current research related to early literacy development acknowledges the significance of phonological awareness in emergent reading programs. The benefits of explicit phonological awareness instruction are well documented in reference to implications for current reading abilities and future academic achievements. The current study was developed to address a gap in current research associated with how kindergarten teachers perceive the importance of phonological awareness, and how this importance is demonstrated in their classroom experience. Participants …

The Effects Of Using Bloom's Taxonomy To Align Reading Instruction With The Virginia Standards Of Learning Framework For English, Charla Faulkner Crews

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study examined the effects of aligning the Virginia Standards of Learning (SOL) English Framework with Bloom's Taxonomy on student achievement. Changes prompted by No Child Left Behind legislation increased accountability for student success, as well as mandated testing to determine annual academic growth of all students. Documentation supported the need of fourth grade students to improve comprehension skills. The goals of this research were to determine the effects of aligning the SOL English Framework with Bloom's Taxonomy on student achievement and determine the effects of developing reading lesson plans based on the SOL English Framework aligned with Bloom's Taxonomy …

Comparing Academic Achievement Of African-American Males Who Do And Do Not Participate In High School Athletics, Thomas Victor Montgomery, Iii

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study was conducted to investigate the impact on academic achievement that high school athletics had on African-American male students who participated in high school athletics against African-American male students who did not participate in high school athletics during the 2008-2009 school year. The results were measured by grade point averages (GPAs) and surveys developed by the researcher. The purpose of this study was to determine whether or not African-American males that participated in high school athletics showed higher academic achievement than African-American males that did not participate in high school athletics. The study also assessed attitudes about the relation …

The Senior Pastor's Role And Responsibilities In Leading A Pastoral Staff, Keith Robinson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The Senior Pastor's position innately requires that he be able to lead his pastoral staff effectively. Current--and potential--Senior Pastors often enter their ministry assignments with no specific preparation for leading a pastoral staff. The purpose of this project is to enable a Senior Pastor to lead well from both a relationship-oriented perspective and a task-oriented perspective. The content of this project is based on research/literature review and personal interviews with Senior Pastors. In essence, this project might be compared to a manual, providing theoretical information and how-to help for the Senior Pastor.

A Study Of Doubling Class Time For Low Achieving High School English And Math Students And The Impact On State Tests Required Under Nclb, Richard J. Ney

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The re-authorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act in 2002, commonly known as the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB), increased the accountability of public schools throughout the United States, holding them individually responsible for the education levels attained by their students as measured by high stakes tests developed and administered at the state level. Administrators responded by developing programs targeted at increasing students' test scores. One program considered by administrators is the doubling of class time in math and English for students that are at risk of not succeeding. This study analyzes the viability of such a program …

Sober And Alone: A Phenomenological Exploration Of The Loneliness Experienced By Recovering Alcoholics, Timothy John Evans

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This phenomenological inquiry investigated the loneliness experienced by recovering alcoholics. Select participants responded to open-ended interview questions pertaining to their experience of loneliness as well as its impact on their lives. Moreover, participants were asked to indentify what factor or factors may have contributed to the onset or persistence of their loneliness. Phenomenological analysis of the data revealed that loneliness, as experienced by recovering alcoholics, is a recursive experience that is co-morbid with a number of debilitating affects.

Therefore, the loneliness that was experienced during recovery represented just one part of a combination of painful affective experiences. In addition, the …

Achievement Effects Of Sustained Silent Reading In A Middle School, Mary Pinson Sullivan

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this study was to determine the reading achievement effects of a school- year-long program of sustained silent reading in a middle school. Students' scores on the Stanford Achievement Test, Ninth Edition across three years (2006, 2007, and 2008) were analyzed to test eleven null hypotheses. A 3 x 3 repeated measures factorial ANOVA showed significant post treatment differences in gains for Total Reading and Reading Comprehension at each of the three grade levels (sixth, seventh, and eighth grades) and for Reading Vocabulary for seventh grade. Pretreatment gains were greater for Reading Vocabulary in sixth and eighth grades. …

School Achievement For Students With Behavioral Disorders, Steven Wayne Burnett

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of the descriptive qualitative study was to examine the successful strategies, accommodations, and interventions utilized for students with emotional behavior disorder (EBD) and the influences they have on the students' academic achievement (GPA, passage rates of courses, passage rates of state mandated assessments, student satisfaction, attendance rates, and disciplinary infractions) and glean greater understanding of instructional strategies and environmental differences alternative schools offer to students with EBD. In addition to a parent and a student with EBD, an alternative school staff was analyzed in rich detail to glean understanding of environmental influences. Data were collected using document analysis, …

Non-Traditional Entrants To The Teaching Profession: A Hermeneutic Phenomenological Study Of The Motivations, Experiences, And Reflections Of Second-Career Teachers, William Darrell Lee

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Individuals entering the teaching profession from other fields have much to offer in terms of practical experience in fields such as business, private industry, law enforcement, and the military. This study examined the phenomenon of second-career teachers with specific emphasis on the motivating factors, common experiences, and reflections of the participants in this study concerning the decision to leave already established professions in order to pursue a career in teaching. The study also inquired into the process involved in professional preparation as well as in assimilating to the culture of schools. Twelve diverse second-career teachers were purposefully chosen for this …

A Study Of Effective Strategies For Evangelism Applied To Richmond Korean Central Presbyterian Church, Kon Tae Kim

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this project is to map out a strategy of evangelism applied to Richmond Korean Central Presbyterian Church. The project examines field analysis, case study, and literature research. The case study was done on eight outstanding Korean churches both outside and inside the U.S.A. with productive ministries of evangelism. The author has been working for Richmond Korean Central Presbyterian Church as an assistant pastor for one and a half years. He develops a strategy with regards to evangelism out of his experience and lessons from his ministry.

Preschool Education In Virginia And The Resulting Academic Effects For Third- And Fifth-Grade At-Risk Students, Pamela Perry Randall

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

While there remains little doubt that the "founding" preschool programs in America--the High/Scope Perry Program, the Chicago Child-Parent Centers, and the Abecedarian Project--had a positive academic and social impact on the students they served, such claims are difficult to substantiate for students being served in the Virginia Preschool Initiative Program. This study was designed to investigate the educational impact of the state-funded preschool program on the academic achievement of at-risk students who attended school from 1999-2002. These students' third- and fifth-grade Standards of Learning tests, in the subject areas of mathematics and reading, were compared using T-tests and ANOVA calculations …

The Relationship Between Stress, Work Hours And Depressive Symptoms Among Migrant Factory Workers In China, Anthony Ping-Kam So

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study sought to identify the relationship between work hours, stress, and depressive symptoms among migrant factory workers in China (N = 911). Using correlational analyses, the researcher arrived at results that indicated there was a weak but significant positive correlation between working hours and stress levels; a significant moderate relationship between working hours and depression levels, and a significant association between stress levels and depressive symptoms among migrant factory workers in China. Additionally, multiple regression analysis found a significant correlation between depressive symptoms and dorm-living (environmental factor) in the participants. Data indicated social support and gender difference were found …