Digital Commons Network^™

Fire/Emergency Medical Services And Coping Methods: Mitigating Traumatic Stress Symptomatology, William Mark Holland

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Firefighters and Emergency Medical Services (EMS) professionals must cope with a variety of job-related stressors. One significant stressor for fire/EMS providers involves exposure to personally disturbing incidents (PDIs). To manage the untoward effects of exposure to PDIs, fire/EMS professionals use a variety of coping methods. In this study, the effectiveness of various coping methods utilized by fire/EMS professionals for mitigating the negative effects of exposure to PDIs was examined. This study provides some clarity by identifying the subjective distress associated with certain PDIs and pinpointing detrimental coping methods of fire/EMS personnel through scores on the 28-item General Health Questionnaire and …

Examination And Survey Of User Satisfaction With Internet-Based Learning Compared To Traditional Classroom-Based Learning, Melinda Carol Kushniroff

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Abstract Melinda Kushniroff. AN EXAMINATION AND SURVEY OF USER SATISFACTION WITH INTERNET-BASED LEARNING COMPARED TO TRADITIONAL CLASSROOM-BASED LEARNING. (Under the direction of Dr. Clarence Holland) School of Education, April, 2008. Although some research has been done in the internet-based learning discipline, user satisfaction with internet-based classes compared to traditional classroom-based learning requires more attention and research due to the substantial and continued growth in this area. During the 2007 Fall semester, 720 university undergraduate students, internet-based and traditional classroom-based, were randomly sampled with the only requirement that the students be participating in at least one internet class and one traditional …

The Application Of Transformational Leadership Among Christian School Leaders In The Southeast And The Mid-Atlantic North Regions, Dan L. Bragg

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Transformational Leadership is part of a growing body of research that is having impact in leadership development in every industry and service organization. The Christian schools leader can also take advantage of the ideas that integrate so well into Biblical principles. This causal comparative study utilizing correlation and parametric statistics (ANOVA) along with descriptive cross-sectional observation investigated the differences of Transformational leadership in two distinct regions to understand how transformational leadership responded to differing cultures. This research has taken a deeper look into the elements of transformational leadership that must be enacted for a Christian school to succeed and thrive …

A Strategy To Equip Youth Leaders Into Developing Strategic, Balanced, And Strong Local Church Student Ministries, Richard Stanley Brown

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this project is to provide a strategy for a youth leader to comprehend the needed administrative elements of a successful local church student ministry so thoroughly that the youth leader can equip his leaders. The sources used are the Word of God, personal youth ministry experience, and external research. The key phrase used is “building a strategic, balanced, and strong” student ministry. The metaphor used is the construction of a building as it correlates to building a local church student ministry. The project emphasizes two major areas needed in student ministry: the necessary foundational components and the …

A Strategy On Small Group Leadership Development For Transitioning Of Gaeumjung Church Into A Cell-Based Church, In Ho Jei

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this project is to invent a strategy of small group leadership development to transition Gaeumjung Church to a cell-based church. This project was performed on the basis of field analysis, case study, and literature research. The case study was performed on nine churches with outstanding small group ministry. The author had been an associate pastor of Gaeumjung Church for one and half years and will be the senior pastor of the church in a few years. Therefore, this thesis is a result of his experience and expectation on the small group ministry of the church.

Using Career Education To Enhance School Success And Reduce The Dropout Rate, Cindy Lue Martin

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The new career education program was developed to help over-aged and under achieving 9th graders who are one or more years behind in earning their high school diplomas. This program was designed to reduce the dropout rate and provide every student with a South Carolina State Diploma and a marketable skill upon entering the workforce. This study determined if the program reduced the dropout rate and if students participating in the career education program would show an improvement in factors established as dropout indicators. The students who met the programs qualifications began in the fall of 2006 and were studied …

The Relationship Between Boards Of Education And The Superintendents In Michigan's Upper Peninsula: The Superintendents' Perspectives, Timothy D. Hall

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The relationship between a board of education and superintendent is one of the most critical in a school district. Research has shown that a positive working relationship between a school board and superintendent has positive effects on a school district. This study examined the perceived relationships between the superintendents of the school districts in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and their boards of education, from the perspective of the superintendents. School districts in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula face declining enrollments and budgetary shortfalls. The intent of the study was to determine if the superintendents’ perception of their relationships with their boards …

Teacher Training Manual For The Christian Education Program Of Bethesda Church, Rick Allen Wolgamott

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Current teacher training in local churches often consists of asking a teacher to read pre-developed curriculum and follow the publishers’ instructions. Teachers are not being taught to critically evaluate the materials, and as a result they simply follow the directions provided. The purpose of this project is to train teachers in the local church in basic theology, hermeneutics, and preparing a Bible lesson. As a result, teachers will be trained to study Scripture and evaluate lessons based on Scriptural truth, and to prepare their own lesson plans. Recruiting and retaining teachers will become more effective as a result of providing …

The Enemy In The Screen: A Collective Case Study On Perpetrators Of Internet Crimes Against Children, Janet M. Brown

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This collective case study explored the phenomenon of Internet crimes against children from the perspectives of select Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) investigators. The research focused on three questions: (1) How do select investigators describe perpetrators of Internet crimes against children? (2) What, if any, common characteristics do participants identify among the perpetrators and (3) How do participants' descriptions compare and/or contrast? Data was obtained utilizing semistructured, conversational interviews with eight ICAC investigators. Three main themes emerged from these interviews: general demographic descriptions, motivations and behaviors. Perpetrators of Internet crimes against children were found to be predominantly non-Hispanic males. Other …

Using Formative Assessment Results To Predict Student Achievement On High Stakes Tests, Lisa W. Smith

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this study was to examine whether comprehensive post formative assessments can accurately predict student academic achievement on AYP (Adequate Yearly Progress) indicators as measured by standardized criterion-referenced tests.

The primary participant populations for this study were sixth, seventh, and eighth grade students enrolled in a middle school in north Georgia from 2004-2007. Over 2,900 student assessments were used to conduct the statistical research and variables such as gender, race, and socio-economic levels were not disaggregated in the data collection compilation. The data sources included the first quarter, second quarter, and third quarter post formative assessments which are …

Job Satisfaction Of Adjunct Faculty Serving In The Online Environment At A Private Evangelical University, Anita Satterlee

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this study was to describe levels of satisfaction of the adjunct faculty who teach in online modalities of instruction at a private evangelical university located in the southern United States. The three faculty groups included in the study were (a) online adjunct faculty (independent contractors), (b) adjunct faculty (university full time staff and administrators teaching part-time in the online program) and (c) full-time residential faculty who teach online courses in the distance format. The abridged Job Descriptive Index and the abridged Job in General index were chosen to survey respondents regarding satisfaction levels. The results of the …

The Cell Keys Are Turning: Spiritual Integration In The Treatment Of Christian Women With Anorexia Nervosa, Lisa Sosin

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This case study explored Christian spirituality, counseling practice, and recovery from anorexia nervosa. A spiritual integration model based on a comprehensive review of the literature was proposed. This model reflects a step care treatment approach, including the current standard of practice, spiritual integration, and Christian spiritual integration.

Next, a phenomenological analysis of document, interview, and observation data revealed several themes pertinent to counseling practice with Christian women suffering with anoexia nervosa. These themes were classified as (a) prior to treatment: spiritual disconnection, including suffering and brokenness, taking control of brokenness through anorexia nervosa, and her broken faith; (b) during treatment: …

The Relationships Between Cognitive Deficits And Spiritual Development, Charles Nolan Thomas

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

An individual’s spirituality is shaped and supported by his or her cognitive capacities. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between various cognitive deficits and the spiritual development in individuals who qualified for special education under the category of Specific Learning Disability. Participants were randomly selected through systematic sampling of students and former students of Kellyville Public School who met the criteria. The cognitive deficits were measured by the Woodcock-Johnson III Tests of Cognitive Abilities (2001) or the Woodcock-Johnson Psycho-Educational Battery- R (1989), and spiritual development was measured by the Spiritual Assessment Inventory (2002). The results of …

The Relationship Between Selected Predictor Variables And Successful Completion Of Online Courses, Murray Williams

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between selected variables (age, gender, ethnicity, marital status, financial assistance, student status, number of previous online courses, current online course load) and grade achievement of nontraditional, online students at a selected theological institution. Students who received a grade of A, B, or C were categorized as passing or successfully completing the online courses. Students who received a grade of D, F, W, WD, WP, or WF were categorized as failing or not completing the on line courses. Data for the study was collected from the institution’s enrollment/student database. The participants …

The Relationship Of Principal Leadership And Teacher Morale, Keith A. Rowland

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This Study examined the relationship of the leadership practices of middle school principals and the morale of the teachers in these schools. Seven middle schools in a Metropolitan Atlanta school system participated in the study. The Leadership Practices Inventory was used to collect information on the principal practices and the Purdue Teacher Opinionaire was used to collect information on teacher morale. Results indicated that principal leadership and teacher morale were significantly correlated and that the leadership practice of Enable Others to Act had the strongest positive correlation to teacher morale. These results imply that a principal’s daily behavior plays a …

Character Traits In Newbery Award Literature 1997-2007, Julie Beth Bryant

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this study was to determine the character example elements in the Newbery Award winning books from 1997-2007. Content analysis was used to identify the pertinent character traits identified by the researcher using the acronym C.H.A.R.A.C.T.E.R. These example elements include: (a) caring/compassionate, (b) helpfulness, (c) acceptance, (d) respect, (e) ambition, (f) citizenship, (g) trustworthiness, (h) encouragement, and (i) responsibility. Using a coding system developed for this study, four readers read and discussed the books to attempt consensus as to the character traits identified. The researcher sought answers to the following questions: (a) Do the Newbery Award winning books …

The Sunday School As A Viable Tool For Church Growth In The 21st Century, Billy Nale

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this project is to disprove the allegations by many pastors and denominational leaders that Sunday School is no longer a viable tool for church growth. This project will show that pastors who work the Sunday School will find that Sunday School will work for them. The author of this project is pastor of one of the four churches studied. Based on the history and growth of Sunday School in these churches, interviews, and personal perspectives, this paper will describe lessons that were learned and the principles that are effective for Sunday School growth.

Developing A Lay Ministry Team Led Student Ministry, Stuart W. Cox

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this project is to demonstrate the process of how one church developed a lay ministry team in both principle and practice which now provides effective leadership for its student ministry. The church is Nall Memorial Baptist Church of Graham, North Carolina. The author of this project serves as the church’s senior pastor. The ministry team as developed in this project is designed to not only provide quality ministry, but also to build effective ministers through the wedding of the task-oriented characteristics of traditional church committees to the relational and transformational qualities of contemporary cell groups.

The Continuing Personal Spiritual Development Of Pastors, George Wayne Thomas

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The Personal Continual Spiritual Development of Pastors is intended to be solution based project. The proposed solutions are intended to empower pastors to minister for a life time. The issues and the proposed solutions are not declared to be comprehensive. The solutions are intended to be a spring board for continual spiritual development of pastors.

The Role Of Preaching In Revitalizing Declining Churches, Jammie D. Vance

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

A review of current literature demonstrates that very little material is available to assist Pastors in declining churches, develop a preaching plan to effect turn around in their church. The purpose of this project is to explore various styles of preaching and decide what style is biblical and most effective in reviving a declining church. This project also explores the causes and needs of the declining church so as to determine what subjects need to be addressed by the pastor of the declining church.

The Relationship Between University Nursing Student Classroom Engagement Activities And Academic Performance, Helen Reyes

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Academia is struggling to meet an increasing nursing shortage with limited resources; therefore, student success is paramount in any university nursing program. Research data suggests one major reason for increased attrition rates is course failure. Research also reveals that college students often feel disengaged in the classroom. The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between classroom engagement activities and the academic performance of professional nursing students. Is there a relationship between nursing student classroom engagement activities and academic performance? The Classroom Survey of Student Engagement (CLASSE) was administered to 317 university nursing students enrolled in seven different …

An Analysis Of Rx For Discovery Reading For Elementary Students Below Average In Reading, Susan Kay Stanley

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Rx for Discovery Reading® is an intervention developed by the National Institute for Learning Development to impact the reading abilities of students below grade level in reading. The program was designed to address every area of reading acquisition, but, for this study, the areas of phonological processing, decoding, and fluency were investigated using pre- and post-test scores from the KTEA-II, GORT, and DIBELS. The problem studied was whether Rx for Discovery Reading® would raise the mean standard scores in the three areas at the conclusion of the field test. Using a small-group format, twenty-nine students who were not on grade …

The Twenty-First Century Pastor: His Calling, Character And Competencies, Seth Nathan Polk

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This paper defines modern ministry utilizing timeless and unchanging biblical principles, thereby providing a guide that pastors can utilize in fulfilling their God given responsibilities. It discusses, outlines, and synthesizes the calling, character, and competencies of the twenty-first century pastor. Directives related to calling and character come primarily from biblical and historical research. Based on surveys sent to pastors of middle sized churches, the project researches how modern ministry is being practiced related to the competencies of preaching, pastoral care, and church administration. Directives are then given concerning how modern ministry should be practiced based on the Word of God.

A Study Of The Care Ministry, Jeffrey Eugene Mims

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

CARE is total church ministry that places people into service based on their spiritual gifts. It was started at Mud Creek Baptist Church in Hendersonville, North Carolina, by Mark Hunnicutt. This project seeks to determine if CARE can be implemented successfully in a small, rural church setting. It also documents the changes made during the implementation process. Finally this project evaluates whether or not the CARE ministry has been successful at Bethlehem Baptist Church in Dillwyn, Virginia, and at other churches of varying size.

Evangelism On Target: A Proposal To Use Hunting And Fishing As Means To Evangelism And Discipleship, Jackie Andrew Mccullough

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Reach people where they are. The purpose of this project is to identify, explore, evaluate and recommend practical means of using hunting and fishing as tools of evangelism and discipleship. A review of printed literature reveals little about this subject. Other available information shows effective use of these means for the proposed purposes. The research utilized responses to questionnaires completed by pastors, seminary students, seminary graduates, and outdoor speakers who employ these means. Hunting and fishing are being used effectively for these goals. Practical methods for implementation of these means are explored and presented.

Increasing Financial Stewardship In The Church Of Christ, Ben A. Bruce

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

INCREASING FINANCIAL STEWARDSHIP IN THE CHURCH OF CHRIST Ben A. Bruce Liberty Theological Seminary, 2007 Mentor: Dr. Frank Schmitt God desires for man to make wise stewardship choices that will glorify Him. The purpose of this research paper is to increase financial stewardship in the Church of Christ. The author discusses the Biblical principles pertaining to financial stewardship, the qualifications of financial stewardship, and the dangers of poor stewardship. This dissertation also includes an analysis of a stewardship survey sent to members of the Church of Christ. Over 3,000 members of the Church of Christ completed the survey. The last …

Effective Strategies For Healthy Church Growth In The Hap Dong Jung Tong Presbyterian Denomination In Korea, Manoh Han

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this project is to understand the biblical principles of healthy and highly effective strategies of church growth and to apply them to today’s Hap Dong Jung Tong (Hap-Jung) Presbyterian Denomination (HJPD) in Korea. Based on surveys and interviews, this project also analyzes and evaluates current conditions within 328 HJPD churches, exploring growth factors such as: pastors’ leadership, preaching, professional development, prayer, evangelism, making-disciples, ministry focus, the reasons for HJPD growth, and strategic approaches for future ministry. Finally, this project suggests twelve healthy and effective principles to develop HJPD churches for the next ten years.

Alone In A Crowd: A Phenomenological Inquiry Into Loneliness As Experienced By Pastors' Wives, Jama L. Davis

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This phenomenological study investigated the individual experiences of eight pastors’ wives with the phenomenon, loneliness. The topic of loneliness generated emotionally charged responses from women who live their lives in the public eye. Data was collected using informal, conversational, taped and transcribed interviews. Descriptions of the experiences of loneliness and the general factors contributing to loneliness were identified by the participants. The experiences and general contributing factors were compared and contrasted. Participants identified loneliness as an indescribable void, resulting from guardedness, and a normal experience. General factors contributing to loneliness were identified as explicit or implicit. Explicit factors, those directly …

Towards An Effective Christian Cross-Cultural Youth Training Model: A Youth Ministry International Case Study, Jeddy Katule Kaleli

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This project is an attempt to explore the indispensable components of an effective Christian cross-cultural youth training model within the context of contemporary youth culture. Taking Youth Ministry International training philosophy as a case study, it analyzes it from an African Christian perspective within the framework of Biblical, anthropological and missiological perspectives. The study has revealed that an effective Christian cross-cultural youth training model must take seriously the cultures in which others live without compromising the authority of Biblical absolutes.

Encountering God Through His Creation, Philip Joseph Parker

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

A review of current literature demonstrates the need for a comprehensive understanding of the revelation of God through His creation. The purpose of this project is to examine this subject from a biblical, historical, and theological perspective. Personal testimonies, pertinent research, and the writings of numerous authors have also been employed in this study. Additional insights have been gleaned from a survey given to the members of seven Southern Baptist churches. The project concludes with a number of recommendations for those who wish to pursue more meaningful encounters with God through His creation.