Digital Commons Network^™

Spelling Achievement Of Third Culture Children Compared To United States Norms, Lauren Jayne Berry Cuidon

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Spelling is a critical component to literacy development. Teachers of American children living overseas as well as adult "Third Culture Kids" (TCKs) have reported that spelling is especially challenging for the TCK population. This study investigated whether a difference existed in TCK spelling achievement compared to U.S. norms, as well as the effects of gender and schooling choice on TCK spelling achievement. Participants included children who were enrolled in fourth through seventh grades in an English-speaking instructional program, who held an American passport, who have lived internationally more than two years in a non-English speaking country, and who scored in …

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 …

Curriculum Implementation: A Study Of The Effect Of A Specialized Curriculum On Sixth Grade Mathematics Summative Test Scores In A Rural Middle School, Libby Plath Bicknell

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this study was to examine curriculum implementation in sixth grade mathematics as it related to standardized testing in a rural district. The school in the study contained two groups of students, one group who had been taught the new statemandated curriculum and another group who was taught an outdated curriculum. The purpose was to determine if there was a statistically significant disparity between the criterion-reference test scores of the two groups while controlling for differences in student ability level through the use of pre-test scores as measured through an analysis of covariance (ANCOVA). The hypothesis was that …

The Benefits Of Socio-Rhetorical Analysis For Expository Preaching, Joseph R. Buchanan

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Over the past twenty years, the field of Biblical studies has witnessed a marked increase in the interest devoted to the subject of socio-rhetorical analysis. Much of the work done one this subject reveals that it has great potential for shedding new light on the Biblical text. However, in order for this type of analysis to reach its maximum value for the church it must be integrated with the field of homiletics. Surprisingly, a review of the literature reveals that little attention has been given to showing how this type of analysis can be incorporated into the ministry expository preaching. …

The Effect Of The Use Of Christian-Published Science Textbooks On The Act Science Reasoning Subtest Scores Of Midwest Christian High Schools, Janice Marie Guthrie

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Statistics indicate that students in conservative Christian schools earn higher standardized test scores in mathematics, reading, science, and writing compared to their public school counterparts, while many are criticized for using curricular materials deemed inferior in quality and for employing uncertified and ill-trained teachers. This study investigates the effectiveness of Christian-published science textbooks in preparing students for college-level science courses as measured by the Science Reasoning subtest of the ACT college entrance examination. A questionnaire was sent to conservative Christian high schools in five Midwest states which are affiliated with the American Association of Christian Schools, Association of Christian Schools …

The Relationship Between The Dynamic Indicators Of Basic Early Literacy Skills (Dibels) Oral Reading Fluency (Orf) And The Alaska Standards Based Assessment (Sba) For Proficiency In Reading, Polly Shuman Rowell

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The impact of No Child Left Behind and making Adequate Yearly Progress is influencing classroom instruction with Curriculum Based Measures such as the Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills (DIBELS). The primary population of this study was from a small school in rural Alaska. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between the first grade scores of the DIBELS Oral Reading Fluency (ORF) and the subsequent third grade scores of the Alaska Standards Based Assessments (SBAs) in reading. A Pearson's r statistical test was performed on the data from both scores. The results indicated that there …

Inclusive Learning Environments: An Analysis Of Early Intervention Service Options For Preschoolers With Special Needs, Mimi L. Heath

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

In the quest to restructure educational programming toward higher student outcomes for preschoolers with special needs, professional educators are continuously challenged to provide with integrity a free appropriate public education (FAPE) in the least restricted environment (LRE) as mandated by law. This study analyzed the effectiveness of an inclusive programming model for preschoolers with special needs by examining achievement gains in the developmental domains of adaptive, motor, and cognitive skills as assessed by the Battelle Developmental Inventory, Second Edition. Analysis of an inclusive learning environment for six preschoolers with special needs as guided by IEP committee recommendations occurred. In order …

Three Intra-Departmental Ncate Reviews: A Case Study, Sharon Boylan Hahnlen

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This Action Research case study examined the relationship of the specialty professional association accreditation process to curricular revisions in content concentrations which service both teacher licensure degree candidates and non-licensure degree candidates at a particular liberal arts institution of higher education. It sought to answer the question, "Does the SPA/NCATE accreditation process, as experienced by the content faculty at a particular liberal arts institution of higher education in three licensure programs, contribute to the NCLB Highly Qualified Teachers mandate through curricular change?" through the examination of the NCATE review process, as experienced during the preparation of and subsequent responses to …

A Comparative Analysis Of Factors Contributing To The Biblical Worldview Among High School Students In The American Association Of Christian Schools Of Georgia, North Carolina, And South Carolina, Michael Hugh Bryant

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This non-experimental quantitative study is a comparative analysis of factors contributing to the biblical worldview of students attending select Christian schools in the states of Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina. The research design uses non-randomized control groups, an instrument which includes original questions in addition to items from three other instruments, and a Likert-type scale. Results imply that the subjects appear to consistently reflect orthodox doctrine in their responses, if not always in their behavior. The subjects were homogenous in many of their answers even though there were particular questions that evoked a wide disparity of answers. The particular …

A Comparison Study Of Remediation Services Offered To Latino Students In The Primary Grades, Melissa Harold Lannom

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This comparative study was designed to assess the efficacy of Reading A-Z, an online reading program with differentiated reading levels from kindergarten to sixth grade, on first through third grade Latino students. Ten Virginia elementary schools in a single school district participated in this study of tutoring services offered to low-performing, Spanish-speaking students. Increases in individual instructional reading levels (IRL) and word recognition in isolation (WRI), as measured by Phonological Awareness Literacy Screening (PALS) assessment, were documented using pretest scores collected in fall 2007 with posttest scores collected in spring 2008. An independent t-test was used to determine if differences …

The Impact Of The Ferst Foundation For Childhood Literacy On The Home Literacy Environment, Gina Bennett Thomason

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study examined if, among families whose children were enrolled in the Ferst Foundation for Childhood Literacy, there was a relationship between the home literacy environment, measured by a scale survey, and the length of time enrolled in the program. Participants were a stratified random sampling from the population of parents in the State of Georgia whose children were enrolled in the Ferst Foundation for Childhood Literacy program. Using a pilot-tested original survey instrument, 2,100 survey packets were mailed to participants. Valid returned surveys totaled 1,082. Valid surveys were analyzed to determine if a relationship existed between the home literacy …

The Efficacy Of Foundations & Frameworks On Elementary Students' Reading Achievement In Urban Christian Schools, Cheryl Mcclure Blackmon

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study was designed to assess the efficacy of Foundations & Frameworks (F&F), an instructional program emphasizing reading comprehension, on fourth and fifth grade students' reading achievement, as measured by the Stanford Achievement Test and the Gates-MacGinitie Reading Test. Seven urban Christian schools in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, participated in the study. A causal-comparative analysis was conducted of reading comprehension and vocabulary achievement between F&F schools and comparison schools. A pre-experimental pretest and posttest analysis of achievement and a comparison of actual growth to expected growth were also conducted in F&F schools. No significant differences in achievement were found between F&F schools …

A Theatrical Take On Educational Self-Esteem, David Seagraves

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study examined the constructs of self-esteem and theatre arts. The experimental research utilized a Solomon four-group design, which included four groups of public high school freshmen. The study investigated whether or not self-esteem would increase after studying theatre arts, and if a cause and effect relationship existed between theatre arts and self-esteem. The study’s independent variable was a theatre arts treatment of ten lessons centered around a novel. The dependent variables were the scores on the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (1965), a self-reporting and numerically measurable self-esteem survey. The scale was administered in a pretest and posttest format. The self-esteem …

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 …

Impact Of Racial, Ethnic, And Socioeconomic Diversity: Student Perceptions Of Educational Outcomes In A Northern Virginia Public School System, Joseph F. Fontanella

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study examined the relationship between diverse learning environments and students’ perceptions of their educational experiences within a large Northern Virginia public school system via quantitative, nonexperimental, survey methods. Five areas reflecting frequently established goals of education were explored: student diversity; curricular diversity; student learning and peer interaction, to include development of critical thinking skills; future educational aspirations; and goals and perceptions of support by the school. Subjects were 11th-grade high school students from across a selection of the 10 high schools in the subject school division. Data was derived from the Diversity Assessment Questionnaire (DAQ), an instrument that asked …

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 …

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.

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.

The Effects Of Life Skills Instruction On The Personal-Social Skills Scores Of Rural High School Students With Mental Retardation, Mary K. Quigley

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The Effects of Life Skills Instruction on the Personal-Social Skills Scores of Rural High School Students with Mental Retardation. (Under the direction of Dr. Margaret Ackerman) School of Education, March, 2007. The current legislation No Child Left Behind mandates that students with mental retardation have access to core curriculum courses. A comprehensive life skills program, Life Centered Career Education (LCCE), was integrated into the curriculum of high school students with mental retardation. The LCCE program was utilized to educate students on Personal-Social, Daily Life skills, and Occupational lessons with an academic emphasis. The study measured improvements made in the personal-social …

The Relationship Between Oral Reading Fluency And Comprehension, Jessica A. Talada

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Oral reading fluency and reading comprehension are identified as components in effectively gaining meaning from text. A reciprocal relationship exists between the two that allows one to comprehend more thoroughly as one reads more fluently. Additionally, as one reads more fluently, one’s ability to comprehend also improves. This is due to the fact that one’s brain is more capable in processing text meaning when one is able to read fluently. Therefore, when one automatically identifies words one is able to comprehend text more completely. The oral reading fluency and comprehension relationship was tested for a second and third grade population …

Professional Soccer Ministries: The Deconstruction Of Secularization Through The Globalization Of Soccer In Conjunction With The Biblical Worldview, Aaron Matsuo Tredway

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This project is an attempt to present the ministry of, conceptual/theological impetus for, and assessment of Professional Soccer Ministries as it pertains to the deconstruction of secularization. This will be accomplished by one presenting the inception of Professional Soccer Ministries. Secondly, a review of the cultural/societal shift from Christendom to Enlightenment thought and its implications for the church of the modern era will be discussed. Third, the methodology and pragmatic implementation of Professional Soccer Ministries will be reviewed and conclusions drawn based upon its effectiveness as an avenue of the church for the proactive deconstruction of secularization.

Select Counselors’ Perspectives On Alcohol And Substance Abuse Among Hispanic Adolescents., David E. Tetrault

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This qualitative instrumental case study investigated the issue of alcohol and substance abuse among Hispanic adolescents through the perspectives of select counselors. Hispanic-Americans are the largest and fastest growing minority population in the United States. Simultaneously, alcohol and substance abuse among Hispanic adolescents is increasing with the commensurate consequences and need for solutions.

Data was collected using semi-structured, recorded, transcribed interviews with middle school and substance abuse counselors—key informants—who practiced in a community located in the Southwestern United States. Participants’ interactions with Hispanic adolescents spanned Hispanic adolescents’ experience with alcohol and substance abuse prior to onset through treatment.

The first …

The Role Of The Pastor In Southern Baptist Churches: A Biblical View Versus A Prevailing View, Wilford A. Stone

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This project will address the role of the pastor by looking at the Biblical view of the role of the pastor and the prevailing view of the role of the pastor in the Southern Baptist Church. Biblical research will be conducted and will be presented in the Biblical view of the role of the pastor. Based on surveys sent to Southern Baptist pastors, Southern Baptist seminary students, and laity in Southern Baptist Churches, perspectives on the prevailing view of the role of the pastor will be presented. Then, the two views will be compared.

An Examination Of The Preaching And Teaching Style Of Jesus In Relation To Current Evangelical Homiletics, Daniel Light

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Much of current evangelical pulpit ministry has veered away from the style and content demonstrated by Jesus in His preaching and teaching. The purpose of this project is to encourage pastoral preachers and teachers to prepare and practice their preaching and teaching according to the model provided by Jesus as revealed in the Gospels. Based on an examination of available literature concerning Jesus’ ministry as a communicator, and interviews with leading evangelical pastors, the project offers personal perspectives and practical advice concerning greater effectiveness in pastoral preaching and teaching by using Jesus as a model.

A Discipleship Model For Missionaries Establishing Churches In Thailand, Yong Woong Lee

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This project focuses on using a discipleship program for new church plants in Thailand. This is one way to help accomplish world evangelization. This author's experience in Thailand has been under the ministry of Global Partners (GP) and his ministry includes both church planting and campus ministry.

The author develops an indigenous discipleship model for missionaries and the Thai church leaders to use based on the surveys and interviews. A successful mission program depends on training faithful and powerful native leaders.

Discipleship Training through effective and Biblical methods is the best way to shift the Thai Christian's paradigm which is …

The Considerations Of Interpretation Through The Function Of Imagery In The Song Of Songs And Its Application To The Current Believing Community, Sanggeol Lyu

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The Song of Songs parallels with the synthetic method of literary criticism. This criticism places value on the text because it is literature for the believing community to maximize the celebration of delight and consummation of love within marriage and it deemphasizes the search for the hidden meaning beyond the text. Literary criticism demonstrates not only the function of the literary message but also the aesthetic effect, and is suitable and adaptable to explain and help determine the identity of today's young adults. The study focuses on the wisdom of others and how it is adapted for today. It also …

Justification For Master Of Arts In Religion With A Concentration In Leadership – Program And Curriculum Suggestions, Jack F. Deans

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

A review of current literature reveals a critical need for Christian Leadership Development. The purpose of this project is to document, both Christian and secular literature, demonstrating that need. It also includes interviews with recognized Christian leaders in Leadership Development. The project examines the curriculum programs of other seminaries and theological schools in order to ascertain the contemporary teaching on the subject. The project surveys pastors throughout the United States to determine their opinions as to effective education and their suggestions of problem areas in which to focus curriculum. The conclusion shows an agreement with the stated thesis.

A Strategy For Church Planting In The Central Region Of The Fellowship Of Evangelical Baptist Churches In Canada, Douglas Brent Powell

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Church planting is essential for the evangelization of Canada. The purpose of this project is to develop a strategy for church planting within the central region of The Fellowship of Evangelical Baptist Churches in Canada (FEB CENTRAL).

This project examines the biblical nature of the church and church planting, highlights salient features of contemporary church planting, outlines a history of Baptist church planting in FEB CENTRAL, reviews two survey/questionnaires given to FEB CENTRAL church planters and administrators, and develops a strategy for church planting in the FEB CENTRAL region of The Fellowship of Evangelical Baptist Churches in Canada.

An Outcome Assessment: The Use Of Greek In Ministry, Blair A. Yager

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This Thesis Project analyzes the use of Greek in ministry by Bachelor of Arts graduates of Roanoke Bible College (RBC). The author presents a defense of the value of Greek to ministry in the areas of preaching and teaching, hermeneutics, exegesis, and word studies. The Project's aim is to improve the Greek courses. A survey was distributed to alumni of RBC which determined areas where Greek is used in their ministries. This project is a part of on-going evaluation and outcomes assessment at Roanoke Bible College. Course objectives of the Greek classes taught are related to the Mission statement of …