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Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

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A Fitness Model For Pastors, Kevin Lynn Elders Jan 2010

A Fitness Model For Pastors, Kevin Lynn Elders

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Pastors struggle with weight and fitness to a greater extent than the average person. The results are a lack of credibility, a decrease in ability, and a shorter life span, all of which reduce service to God. This project will serve as a fitness model for pastors to improve health, fitness, and effectiveness in the ministry of the Gospel of Jesus Christ by giving simple diet, lifestyle, and exercise instructions and changes.


The Effect Of Athletic Participation On Academic Achievement For High School Seniors In Eastern Tennessee, David Andrew Gorman Jan 2010

The Effect Of Athletic Participation On Academic Achievement For High School Seniors In Eastern Tennessee, David Andrew Gorman

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This causal-comparative study with a narrative component investigated the effect athletic participation on the academic achievement of senior student-athletes and non-athletes who attended three public high schools in Eastern Tennessee. The impetus for the study was the conflicting research as it relates to the impact athletics participation had on academic success at the college and high school levels. Through student athlete and non-athlete comparisons of ACT scores and GPAs, the researcher found athletic participation did not affect academic achievement for high school seniors who graduated in 2009 from the three target high schools when compared to non-athletes. However, statistically significant …


Effective Blended Family Ministry In The Twenty-First Century Church, Ronald Lee Beck Dec 2009

Effective Blended Family Ministry In The Twenty-First Century Church, Ronald Lee Beck

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The Blended or Step family is the number one family unit in the United States today. As a result, it is imperative that the New Testament Church learn to more effectively minister to the needs of this growing family group. Although the blended family has many issues, six of the more prevalent issues are discussed in this thesis with solutions given to help any family in the blending process to have a better chance of success.


Influence Of Technology On Adolescent Development And Spiritual Formation, Kevin Daniel Monahan Dec 2009

Influence Of Technology On Adolescent Development And Spiritual Formation, Kevin Daniel Monahan

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Adolescence is the time when a person develops perceptions about religious thoughts and with proper guidance, can be a stronger follower of Christ. The purpose of this project is to analyze the effects of technology on young people and to show a direct correlation between the influence of technology and spiritual growth of adolescents. I will argue that both the positive and negative influences of technology have made our students more informative yet less personally intimate. This shift of personal interaction presents a challenge to the cognitive development and spiritual formation of all students.


Stress And Anxiety Among Korean International Students At Liberty University Analyzed With The State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (Form Y), Jae Duk Kim Dec 2009

Stress And Anxiety Among Korean International Students At Liberty University Analyzed With The State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (Form Y), Jae Duk Kim

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

International students face unique issues, including anxiety while adjusting to cultural unfamiliar and academic challenges. This research study examined characteristics and anxiety levels as Korean international seminary students (n = 61) living in the U.S. and compared them with Korean domestic seminary students (n = 120) living in Korea using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (Form Y) (Spielberger, 1983). The results: the Pearson correlation indicated that the state anxiety scores and trait anxiety scores were significantly related. Korean international seminary students had statistically significantly higher mean scores on state and trait anxiety than Korean domestic seminary students. The 2×2×2 ANOVA revealed …


Computer/Video Games As A Play Therapy Tool In Reducing Emotional Disturbances In Children, Kevin Boyd Hull Nov 2009

Computer/Video Games As A Play Therapy Tool In Reducing Emotional Disturbances In Children, Kevin Boyd Hull

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this study is to examine the effectiveness of computer/video games as a play therapy tool for children suffering from an emotional disturbance of sadness (pervasive feelings of irritability, loss of enjoyment in activities previously enjoyed, withdrawal from friends or family, decline in school performance, and hopelessness). Children who suffer from emotional disturbances have problems functioning in school, in social and family settings, as well as transitioning into adulthood. Play therapy is an effective and creative way to work with children with emotional disturbances. Play becomes a way for the child to communicate and heal. Computer/video games are …


Impact Of Self-Esteem And Identification With Academics On The Academic Achievement Of African American Students, Edward Earl Bell Nov 2009

Impact Of Self-Esteem And Identification With Academics On The Academic Achievement Of African American Students, Edward Earl Bell

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study examined the impact of self-esteem and identification with academics on the academic achievement of African American students in a charter school setting. Ninety-three students participated in this study. Using a pretest/posttest control group design, both the experimental group and the control group were administered the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Inventory and the School Perception Questionnaire (SPQ) as pretest measures of self-esteem and identification with academics at the beginning of the experiment. The control and experimental groups were administered the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Inventory and the School Perceptions Questionnaire (SPQ) at the end of the experiment. The control group received no intervention …


Addressing The Lack Of Male Elementary School Teachers: Factors That Influence Grade-Level Preference, Michael David Patrick Nov 2009

Addressing The Lack Of Male Elementary School Teachers: Factors That Influence Grade-Level Preference, Michael David Patrick

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this study was to determine which, if any, specific factors are deterring male teachers from pursuing elementary education. The number of male elementary teachers in America's public school systems had continued to decline, and this survey sought to discover what specific factors had contributed to this. This study surveyed 231 male public school teachers from six different school districts in Tennessee, Georgia, and Missouri. Male participants recorded their viewpoints regarding male elementary teachers while at the same time they provided personal information concerning factors which contributed to their own personal grade level selection. Participants were surveyed to …


The Effectiveness Of A Proactive School-Wide Discipline Plan On Office Discipline Referrals At The Elementary School Level, Elizabeth Anne Anderson Nov 2009

The Effectiveness Of A Proactive School-Wide Discipline Plan On Office Discipline Referrals At The Elementary School Level, Elizabeth Anne Anderson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this study was to examine the effectiveness of a proactive school-wide discipline plan on office discipline referrals, and as a predictor of incidents of chronic disciplinary referrals. The study examined two consecutive school years, 2007-2008 and 2008-2009, with 2007-2008 being the control group without a school-wide discipline plan, and 2008-2009 the treatment group with a school-wide discipline plan in place for a full academic year. The purpose was to determine if there would be a statistically significant decrease in the number of office discipline referrals and the number of office discipline referrals which resulted in In-School or …


God’S Shield: The Relationship Between God Attachment, Relationship Satisfaction, And Adult Child Of An Alcoholic (Acoa) Status In A Sample Of Evangelical Graduate Counseling Students, Karin Mcpeak Dumont Nov 2009

God’S Shield: The Relationship Between God Attachment, Relationship Satisfaction, And Adult Child Of An Alcoholic (Acoa) Status In A Sample Of Evangelical Graduate Counseling Students, Karin Mcpeak Dumont

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The conceptual framework for this study focused on adult attachments and adult relationship satisfaction being defined and supported by initial attachment style. The literature review consistently revealed that individuals with a secure attachment style report higher relationship satisfaction than individuals with an insecure style. The purpose of this study was to explore the effect of attachment to God and a history of an alcoholic parent on adult relationship satisfaction while controlling for romantic attachment. A total of 267 participants from an evangelical graduate program in counseling were administered the Children of Alcoholics Screening Test (CAST), Attachment to God Inventory (AGI), …


A Study Of Physical Fitness And Academic Performance Levels Of Sixth And Seventh Grade Students, James Woodward Nov 2009

A Study Of Physical Fitness And Academic Performance Levels Of Sixth And Seventh Grade Students, James Woodward

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this study was to examine the difference in academic performance levels between physically fit and physically unfit sixth and seventh grade students. Fitness levels were determined by assessing participants on the Fitnessgram® battery of physical fitness tests, which measures body composition, aerobic capacity, muscular strength, muscular endurance, and flexibility. Academic levels were assessed using the school district's academic benchmark tests as well as Grade Point Average (GPA). The researcher used a series of nine independent t-tests to determine if there was a significant difference between the academic performance levels of physically fit and physically unfit students according …


Discipleship: Stepping Stones To Developing Your Church’S Strategy, John G. Johnston Oct 2009

Discipleship: Stepping Stones To Developing Your Church’S Strategy, John G. Johnston

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this project is to guide a church to develop a biblically based discipleship strategy that is intentional and ongoing. This will be done by focusing on current and future plans of developing a discipleship strategy of a local church. This project is influenced by my experiences in a disciplemaking process , observations and visits I conducted with hundreds of church leaders over the past twenty years, and my work to develop a church's disciplemaking ministry. This project proposes five steps toward developing a discipleship strategy that will encourage a lifelong journey of obedience that spiritually transforms values …


Study To Show Thyself Approved: The Case For Continuing Clergy Education, Dan R. Jividen Oct 2009

Study To Show Thyself Approved: The Case For Continuing Clergy Education, Dan R. Jividen

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

There has been little study focused upon the role of the pastor's personal growth and how it may relate to growth or the lack thereof in the local church. Although the problem of ministerial competence as a whole can not be fully addressed in the limited scope of this project, it is this writer's contention that much of the plateau in church growth experienced in Southern Baptist Churches today may be predicated by the lack of ministerial training in the churches of the Southern Baptist Convention as a whole. It is the intent of this project to determine if there …


Analyzing The Effects Of Two Response To Intervention Tools, Oral Reading Fluency And Maze Assessments, In The Language Arts Classrooms Of Middle School Students, Donna Lyerly Jones Oct 2009

Analyzing The Effects Of Two Response To Intervention Tools, Oral Reading Fluency And Maze Assessments, In The Language Arts Classrooms Of Middle School Students, Donna Lyerly Jones

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This quantitative study analyzed data to find a valid and reliable assessment for progress monitoring also having predictive power of a student's future reading performance on a state-mandated standardized reading achievement evaluation. The Response to Intervention (RTI) model was implemented in the language arts classrooms of a rural middle school in northeast Georgia to study the effectiveness of instruction for all students, the at-risk, general, and advanced population. This study used Oral Reading Fluency (ORF) and Maze fluency assessments to monitor student progress and to analyze data to drive instruction. The data were gathered weekly over a 23 week period, …


Evaluation Of Pastoral Peer Learning Groups And The Application Of Principles In A South Florida Context, Dale R. Faircloth Oct 2009

Evaluation Of Pastoral Peer Learning Groups And The Application Of Principles In A South Florida Context, Dale R. Faircloth

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The choice of peer learning groups by the Florida Baptist Convention as the primary leadership development approach for pastors is documented and examined. Surveys, Delphi Panels, and questionnaires were utilized to examine the perspectives of peer learning group participants and leaders regarding the effectiveness of the peer learning group method. Additionally, highly effective pastors in South Florida were surveyed to formulate their perspective of what characteristics are needed for a pastor to be effective in South Florida. Results were compared and evaluated to determine the effectiveness of the peer learning groups. Practical suggestions are then offered for improvement.


Perceived Factors Influencing The Pursuit Of Higher Education Among First-Generation College Students, Lynne Coy-Ogan Oct 2009

Perceived Factors Influencing The Pursuit Of Higher Education Among First-Generation College Students, Lynne Coy-Ogan

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Students who are first in their families to pursue higher education are often less likely to receive the academic, social, and financial support needed to experience success when compared to students from college-educated families. This study examined the perceived differences among salient factors influencing the pursuit of higher education between first-year, first-generation college students and students from college-educated families. These factors include family influence, secondary school support, peer influence, preparation for college, awareness and access to financial aid, and relative functionalism. An independent samples t-test was used to analyze data derived from The Factors Influencing the Pursuit of Higher Education …


The Impact Of Hurricane Katrina On Adolescent Psychological Adjustment And Adaptation In Southeast Louisiana, William Stephen Kelly Oct 2009

The Impact Of Hurricane Katrina On Adolescent Psychological Adjustment And Adaptation In Southeast Louisiana, William Stephen Kelly

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Hurricane Katrina ripped through Louisiana and the Gulf Coast in late August 2005. This devastating storm left thousands of people homeless and forever changed the lives of those who lived in these areas. Adolescents in the storm-impacted areas continue to be affected by life events brought about by this natural catastrophe. Many adolescents moved to another parish or state and started a new school, and many students reported attending multiple schools. Adolescents lost possessions and friends, and many continue to experience grief and loss issues related to Hurricane Katrina. Family job loss and associated financial hardship added to the already …


God Attachment, Romantic Attachment, And Relationship Satisfaction In A Sample Of Evangelical College Students, Joshua Straub Sep 2009

God Attachment, Romantic Attachment, And Relationship Satisfaction In A Sample Of Evangelical College Students, Joshua Straub

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The current study sought to answer the following research questions: First, does God Attachment account for unique variance in Relationship Satisfaction after controlling for Romantic Attachment? Second, what is the complex relationship between these two sets of variables (God Anxiety and God Avoidance and Romantic Anxiety and Romantic Avoidance) and Relationship Satisfaction? The study revealed that the two dimensions of both God Attachment and Romantic Attachment were significantly (inversely) correlated with Relationship Satisfaction. God Attachment accounted for 6% unique variance on Relationship Satisfaction after controlling for Romantic Attachment. God Anxiety and Romantic Avoidance had a direct effect on Relationship Satisfaction. …


The Effectiveness Of Computer-Assisted Instruction In Developmental Mathematics, Kathy Dye Spradlin Sep 2009

The Effectiveness Of Computer-Assisted Instruction In Developmental Mathematics, Kathy Dye Spradlin

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Colleges and universities are trying alternative instructional approaches to improve the teaching of developmental mathematics with the goal of increasing the number of students who have the skills and knowledge required for college-level math courses and for the twenty-first century workforce. Computers and the internet make possible new methods of delivering instruction so students will have choices of when, where, and how they learn math. The purpose of this study was to compare academic performance of students enrolled in a developmental mathematics course using traditional instruction, traditional instruction supplemented with computer-assisted instruction, and online distance learning. In addition, gender differences …


Narrow Your Focus: A Strategy For Revitalization Of A Small To Medium Size Plateaued Or Declining Traditional Church, Johnny Lamar Kendrick Sep 2009

Narrow Your Focus: A Strategy For Revitalization Of A Small To Medium Size Plateaued Or Declining Traditional Church, Johnny Lamar Kendrick

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This thesis attempts to identify reproducible principles for the revitalization of small to medium sized plateaued or declining traditional churches. These principles were identified by the author in his experience serving as the pastor of three small to medium sized plateaued traditional churches. The principles involve the importance of preparation for Sunday morning worship and Sunday school, the importance of developing leadership, the importance of evaluating and implementing successful ministries, and the importance of indentifying with the community. The principles were studied and validated in the author's interaction with two churches during a year of research in which he consulted …


Transitioning The Local Church From A Rural To Suburban Context, Jeremy Paul Roberts Aug 2009

Transitioning The Local Church From A Rural To Suburban Context, Jeremy Paul Roberts

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

A review of current literature demonstrates that very little material is available to assist pastors and church leaders in transitioning their churches from a rural to suburban context. This project will serve as a tool to assist pastors in leading their churches to transition from a rural to suburban context. Based on demographic studies, an historical analysis, the development of a plan to move the church forward, analyzing potential disruptions, and seeing the end result of the rural to suburban transition, the goal of the project will be fulfilled.


To Thine Own Self Be True: A Phenomenological Investigation Into The Role Of Self In A Moral Dilemma, Patricia Mccarthy Broderick Aug 2009

To Thine Own Self Be True: A Phenomenological Investigation Into The Role Of Self In A Moral Dilemma, Patricia Mccarthy Broderick

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Moral identity was investigated phenomenologically as it was experienced both by those who adhered to their stated moral convictions as well as those who did not. More specifically, 16 adult, unmarried, pro-life women who had experienced an unwanted pregnancy were interviewed, 8 of whom had carried and 8 had aborted. Significant findings include the propensity of those who carried and aborted, alike, to view their moral dilemmas through the filter of protection of self. Those who carried saw their moral beliefs as serving their self-interests, but those who aborted did not. Connection with a higher purpose was found in those …


A Church Growth Model In Korean-American Presbyterian Churches: With Special Reference To The Messiah Presbyterian Church Of Washington, Sung Gyu Lee Aug 2009

A Church Growth Model In Korean-American Presbyterian Churches: With Special Reference To The Messiah Presbyterian Church Of Washington, Sung Gyu Lee

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study attempted to develop a model of healthy church growth and apply them to the Korean-American Presbyterian Churches (KAPC) in Washington. D. C. The model of churches used was Messiah Presbyterian church (MPC). This paper utilized surveys and interviews; this project also analyzed the current conditions of 100 KAPCs, exploring growth factors such as: Preaching, professional development, prayer, evangelism, Sunday school, and ministry focus. Secondly, church growth was investigated and delineated based on literature reviews, on the personal studies and questionnaire surveys submitted to members of MPC. Finally, this project suggested seven principles to develop KAPC for the next …


No Child Left Behind Act: The Impact On The Performance Levels Of Gifted Students Relative To Those Of Non-Gifted Students, Rochelle Lenea Hopson-Lamar Aug 2009

No Child Left Behind Act: The Impact On The Performance Levels Of Gifted Students Relative To Those Of Non-Gifted Students, Rochelle Lenea Hopson-Lamar

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this causal comparative study was to determine the impact of the implementation of NCLB on the performance levels of gifted students relative to those of non-gifted students. The study involved the 2001, 2002, 2008, and 2009 Georgia Criterion-Referenced Competency Tests (CRCT) results of 1,978 middle grades students from a school in rural Northwest Georgia. The analysis included comparing the Mann-Whitney statistics, two-sample independent z-test statistics, and the percentage of improvement in performance levels of the gifted and non-gifted students, as measured by the CRCT in reading, language arts, and mathematics. The findings revealed that, since the implementation …


Relationships Between Students’ Fitness Levels And Academic Achievement, Theresa Linam Roberts Aug 2009

Relationships Between Students’ Fitness Levels And Academic Achievement, Theresa Linam Roberts

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study compared fifth grade students' physical fitness levels to academic achievement based on the premise that health and physical fitness has an effect on one's ability to learn and achieve academically. Due to No Child Left Behind and the mounting pressures to reach Adequate Yearly Progress, many school officials view non-assessed activities like physical education and recess as unnecessary, consequently creating a case for the elimination of any subject that is not directly measured through standardized testing. Finding a link between fitness and academic achievement may cause educational leaders to reevaluate time spent during the school day. Data was …


A Case Study Of Nontraditional Females In Teacher Education Programs, Natasha Brown Spellman Jul 2009

A Case Study Of Nontraditional Females In Teacher Education Programs, Natasha Brown Spellman

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study examined the experiences of nontraditional female students age 30 and older as they persisted in teacher education programs. The impact of life roles, internal and external risks to persistence, and support systems were considered. Case studies of five nontraditional female students from three university settings were conducted to understand the overall experiences, barriers encountered, and supports utilized in teacher education programs. Interviews, two-column memoing, and document analysis were used to triangulate data. The findings revealed that situational barriers, followed by institutional barriers, posed significant threats to persistence in teacher education programs. All of the nontraditional females struggled to …


Teachers’ Perceptions Of How Leadership Styles And Practices Of Principals Influence Their Job Satisfaction And Retention, Eric Matthew Denton Jul 2009

Teachers’ Perceptions Of How Leadership Styles And Practices Of Principals Influence Their Job Satisfaction And Retention, Eric Matthew Denton

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study addresses the challenge principals face in retaining highly qualified and effective teachers in their schools. Although efforts to recruit new teachers have proven successful, teachers are leaving education at alarming rates, especially in the first four years of their careers. The purpose of this study was to identify what school principals can do to increase teachers' job satisfaction and retention. To do so, 12 veteran teachers from four schools were interviewed from February to April 2009. The participants answered questions concerning their levels of job satisfaction, their perceptions of their principals' leadership styles, and their reasons for continuing …


The Influence Of Acculturation, Religiosity, And Forgiveness Style On The General Health Of Korean Americans, Woohyun Daniel Chong Jul 2009

The Influence Of Acculturation, Religiosity, And Forgiveness Style On The General Health Of Korean Americans, Woohyun Daniel Chong

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The current study investigated the psychometric utility of several psychological instruments for the Korean population and explored the relationship between acculturation, religiosity, unforgiveness, forgiveness style, and general health of Koreans. Confirmatory Factor Analyses (CFA) were conducted to investigate the appropriateness of the Religious Commitment Inventory-10 (RCI-10), the Transgression-Related Interpersonal Motivations Scale - 12-Item Form (TRIM-R and TRIM-A), the Rumination about an Interpersonal Offense Scale (RIO), the Decisional Forgiveness Scale (DFS), and the Emotional Forgiveness Scale (EFS) with collected data from 273 Korean Americans and Koreans. Several instruments required item adjustments to meet CFA criteria. Multiple regression analyses indicated that factors …


An Evaluation Of The Relationship Between Criterion-Referenced Competency Test Reading Comprehension And Lexile Scores And Fountas And Pinnell's Guided Reading Levels In A Georgia Public School District, Lynnda G. Higgins Jun 2009

An Evaluation Of The Relationship Between Criterion-Referenced Competency Test Reading Comprehension And Lexile Scores And Fountas And Pinnell's Guided Reading Levels In A Georgia Public School District, Lynnda G. Higgins

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of the current study was to compare Irene C. Fountas and Gay Su Pinnell's guided reading levels to the reading comprehension and Lexile scores on the Criterion-Referenced Competency Test (CRCT). The researcher designed a correlational study to answer the following question: How do the Fountas and Pinnell guided reading levels among third grade students who were instructed in guided reading correlate with the reading comprehension and Lexile scores which were generated by the CRCT? The purpose was also to determine whether guided reading levels, gender, and ethnicity had a correlation to reading comprehension and Lexile scores on the …


An Analysis Of Dissertations On Church Growth Published During The Past Five Years (2004-2008), Kyoung Kim Jun 2009

An Analysis Of Dissertations On Church Growth Published During The Past Five Years (2004-2008), Kyoung Kim

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this thesis was to analyze dissertations published during five years (2004-2008) and identify recent research trends and principles related to church growth. This was research on researches analyzing 141 dissertations posted on ProQuest Dissertation and Theses. Coding sheets by content analysis and statistical data converted into percentage were utilized. Most dissertations were descriptive and pre-experimental researches. Case study and survey were common. Theological majors and schools, Korean researchers, 10 target subjects, and three denominations covered the majority. Teaching and leadership were prevalent principles. Homogeneous unity was never seen. New principles were associated with social, personal, or cultural …