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Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

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The Symptoms Of Music Performance Anxiety Unique To College Music Majors Attending Historically Black Colleges And Universities, Kevin D. Durham Apr 2024

The Symptoms Of Music Performance Anxiety Unique To College Music Majors Attending Historically Black Colleges And Universities, Kevin D. Durham

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Themes related to music performance anxiety (MPA) have recently received much attention in the academic media. Numerous specialists offer a variety of divergent remedies to treat this condition, concentrating on conventional college music majors. Still, there are few substantial studies investigating the hypothesis that MPA may be affected by ethnic origins. Academics currently have no dedicated resources for this information. Using proper research, time-tested philosophies, and pertinent case studies, the researcher investigates perceptions of MPA affecting college music majors attending Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) in this project. The symptoms of MPA are becoming increasingly familiar to music majors …


Perceptions Of Senior International Officers' Efforts Regarding The Acculturation Of International Students In Higher Education: A Transcendental Phenomenological Study, Ann-Margaret J. Themistocleous Apr 2024

Perceptions Of Senior International Officers' Efforts Regarding The Acculturation Of International Students In Higher Education: A Transcendental Phenomenological Study, Ann-Margaret J. Themistocleous

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study is to describe Senior International Officers’ lived experiences regarding attitudes and beliefs about the adjustment of international students in private and public universities in the Southeast region of the United States. The theory guiding this study is Berry’s theory of acculturation as it relates to a person’s adjustment to a new culture as they either assimilate, separate, integrate, or marginalize. The central research question focuses on the experiences of Senior International Officers regarding the acculturation process of international students on their respective college campuses. The methodology included a qualitative, transcendental phenomenological approach. The participants …


Digital Technology Use And Influence On The Mission And Ministry Of The Lutheran Church Missouri Synod Church Community In The United States Resulting From The Covid -19 Pandemic: A Quantitative Study, Phillip Steven Woodruff Apr 2024

Digital Technology Use And Influence On The Mission And Ministry Of The Lutheran Church Missouri Synod Church Community In The United States Resulting From The Covid -19 Pandemic: A Quantitative Study, Phillip Steven Woodruff

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Digital technology use within the church has received mixed responses from both the church leadership and members of the congregation. Some believe that using digital technology, such as social media, is a way of expanding the church’s mission and ministry. Other people believe that using these methods are costly, secular, or evil, and have no place in church ministry. The COVID-19 pandemic caused churches to rethink how they connected to their members since in-person worship services were canceled. The purpose of this quantitative study was to explore the relationship between the use of digital technology among the smaller churches within …


The Impact Of Infertility On Relationship Satisfaction, Mental Health, And Expectations During The Transition To Parenthood, Jill Giresi Apr 2024

The Impact Of Infertility On Relationship Satisfaction, Mental Health, And Expectations During The Transition To Parenthood, Jill Giresi

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study examined the relationship between the method of conception (assisted reproductive technology [ART] vs. spontaneous conception) and the associations between parenting expectations, psychological distress, and relationship satisfaction. First-time parents (N=100) completed an online questionnaire within the first six months postpartum. Results indicated a significant difference in reported postpartum relationship satisfaction between couples who conceived via ART and those who conceived spontaneously, with ART couples reporting higher relationship satisfaction. This result was in the opposite direction than what was hypothesized. All other results were as expected. Postpartum relationship satisfaction was negatively associated with both unrealistic parenting expectations and psychological distress. …


Identifying Faculty Development Strategies: A Phenomenological Study On Affective And Behavioral Dimensions Of Worldview Development In Biblical Higher Education, Zane Thomas Darland Apr 2024

Identifying Faculty Development Strategies: A Phenomenological Study On Affective And Behavioral Dimensions Of Worldview Development In Biblical Higher Education, Zane Thomas Darland

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this hermeneutical phenomenological study is to identify effective faculty development strategies used by academic leaders in biblical higher education to enable their faculty members to foster affective and behavioral dimensions of worldview development in their students. The theories guiding this study are the channeling model of religious socialization and Nkana’s conversionism educational theory as they relate to worldview development in young adults. The hermeneutical phenomenological study focuses on the lived experiences of academic leaders in biblical higher education, exploring their perspectives and practices related to worldview development. The sample included 10 academic leaders from biblical higher education …


Stem Smart Goal Planning For Elementary Educators In Rural North Texas: A Transcendental Phenomenological Study, Katherine Marie Mccandless Apr 2024

Stem Smart Goal Planning For Elementary Educators In Rural North Texas: A Transcendental Phenomenological Study, Katherine Marie Mccandless

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of the transcendental phenomenological study was to describe the lived experience of educators setting pre-STEMs SMART goals and implementation at the elementary classroom level in rural North Texas districts. The pre-STEM areas are important to develop and intervene early as they are foundational building blocks later to STEM education and professional opportunities for the rural population. The study's central research question was: What are the experiences of elementary educators in planning STEM SMART goals? The theory guiding the study is Locke's goal-setting theory (1968), based on his five tenets. The tenets of Locke's theory were used to guide …


A Phenomenological Study Of Female Master Of Divinity Graduates' Experiences And Role Incongruity At Texas Baptist Seminaries, Michele Lee Taylor Apr 2024

A Phenomenological Study Of Female Master Of Divinity Graduates' Experiences And Role Incongruity At Texas Baptist Seminaries, Michele Lee Taylor

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Women pursue Christian education, obeying God’s call to prepare for ministry leadership. This qualitative hermeneutical phenomenological research study aimed to examine the perspectives of women graduates from Master of Divinity (MDiv) programs at Baptist Seminaries in Texas and to discover if their treatment could be linked to traditionally held beliefs about gender. The lived experiences of the study participants were defined as their first-hand accounts and perceptions of interactions with their male classmates and professors. The theory that guided this study was the Role-Congruity Theory, defined by Eagly and Diekman (2005) as aligning a group’s characteristics with their typical social …


Emdr And Exercise: Treating Ptsd In Female Veterans, Ericka Day Apr 2024

Emdr And Exercise: Treating Ptsd In Female Veterans, Ericka Day

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The problem was that there was a gap in the literature on providing female-specific interest in EMDR and exercise as treatments for PTSD. The purpose of this study was to describe the severity of PTSD symptoms, mental health stigma, and quality of life in female veterans, and furthermore, to understand the level of desire among these women to engage in exercise and EMDR for PTSD treatment. The study was conducted utilizing a correlational quantitative research design. A sample size of 173 female veterans completed self-report assessments including the PTSD Check List Military Version (PCL-M), the Internalized Stigma of Mental Illness …


Comparing Sense Of Community Scores Between Online Information Technology Students Based Domestically And Those Based Internationally, Spencer Degraw Apr 2024

Comparing Sense Of Community Scores Between Online Information Technology Students Based Domestically And Those Based Internationally, Spencer Degraw

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this quantitative, causal-comparative study is to investigate a student’s sense of community within a globally-available, online, asynchronous, Information Technology (IT) course and explore whether there is a difference in the sense of community scores if the student is currently residing in the United States or is currently residing outside of the United States. A sample size of N = 297 students was drawn from a convenience sample of online students who had self-enrolled in IT classes as part of an IT degree program. The Rovai’s Classroom Community Scale was used to calculate the sense of classroom community …


Equipping Local Pastors To Develop A Comprehensive Chaplaincy Ministry For The Cullman County Sheriff's Office, Matthew W. Smith Apr 2024

Equipping Local Pastors To Develop A Comprehensive Chaplaincy Ministry For The Cullman County Sheriff's Office, Matthew W. Smith

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Law enforcement officers’ high incidence of suicides and career abandonment is often attributed to work stress and inadequate support. The unmet emotional, physical, and spiritual needs further compound this situation. The researcher addressed the problem of unmet needs by training local pastors to serve as chaplains. Seven deputies, including six males and one female, and ten ministers, including eight males and two females, participated in the program. The training sessions included the following topics: introduction to law enforcement chaplaincy, personal issues LEOs’ battle, ministry of presence, building relationships, the chaplain’s purpose and role, qualities desired in a chaplain, ride-alongs, death …


A Transcendental Phenomenological Study Of The Lived Experiences Of Parents' Motivational Influence Behind Their Children's Screen Time Usage, Eric J. Phillips Apr 2024

A Transcendental Phenomenological Study Of The Lived Experiences Of Parents' Motivational Influence Behind Their Children's Screen Time Usage, Eric J. Phillips

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental qualitative phenomenological study explores the lived experience of parents in managing their children's screen time on mobile devices. The study used 10 parents between 25 and 40 years of age of children ages one to five who attend a public school district and regularly use smartphones and related mobile technological devices. The study describes the essence of children's screen time on digital devices, such as smartphones and tablets, by examining the experiences of a specific group of parents. Parents have experienced conflicts in managing their children's screen time usage for as long as screens exist. …


The Interdisciplinary Music Degree: Music Education, Music Performance, And Music And Fine Arts Administration, Edwin R. Williams Apr 2024

The Interdisciplinary Music Degree: Music Education, Music Performance, And Music And Fine Arts Administration, Edwin R. Williams

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Despite numerous available careers and degrees in music education, music performance, and music administration, perspectives of many music educators and students desiring an interdisciplinary music degree program inclusive of music education, music performance, and music administration have yet to be expressed or examined publicly. The notion of 21st-century skills presents a demand for flexibility across most facets of K-12 and higher education. These skills necessitate fluency in problem-solving, critical thinking, and collaboration, thus, music education must move toward more flexible and rigorous preparatory music training programs to remain consistent with current trends. Most undergraduate and graduate degree programs in music …


Efficacy Post-Event: Mass Killing Integrated Response Training, Danny Scott Jarrell Apr 2024

Efficacy Post-Event: Mass Killing Integrated Response Training, Danny Scott Jarrell

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Regarding the killing or attempted killing of people in confined and populated areas, whether defined as an active threat, active shooter, or active killer, the results for public safety professionals responding to these incidents are the same. The Federal Bureau of Investigation statistics indicate that many mass killing events involve the use of firearms(s) with no pattern or method to the killer's selection of victims. The increasing frequency of these events, coinciding with the high number of casualties, is forcing first responders to adopt improved operational responses. Developing procedures through the collaborative efforts between first responders (e.g., fire, emergency medical …


Social Isolation In Older Adults: A Qualitative Study, Jacqueline M. Rich Apr 2024

Social Isolation In Older Adults: A Qualitative Study, Jacqueline M. Rich

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Population aging is a worldwide trend linked to scientific developments such as vaccinations and medical advancements, including improvements in cancer treatment and a lower fertility rate than experienced by previous generations. This phenomenon is poised to instigate one of the biggest social revolutions of the twenty-first century. The consequences of an aging population affect housing, transportation, labor markets, and the demand for goods and services. It also influences interpersonal relationships, including family structures and friendships. This upward drift of improved longevity increases the possibility of developing physical and psychological ailments that can contribute to lifestyle changes and subsequently increase the …


The Influence Of Prayer On Anxiety In Black Males: A Hermeneutic Phenomenological Study, Robin Houston Stitt Apr 2024

The Influence Of Prayer On Anxiety In Black Males: A Hermeneutic Phenomenological Study, Robin Houston Stitt

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Prayer is a primary indicator that Christians use to infuse meaning into their lives and navigate life's difficulties. Acquiring the capacity to cope with anxious feelings through spiritual disciplines, practices, and rituals can assist in anxiety relief. The literature indicates that the church has always served as a refuge when life-altering events occur. According to I Corinthians 12:13, the church is one body of believers, unified for a common purpose. Anxiety is defined as a state of distress caused by a perceived social threat. The purpose of this study in Pastoral Care and Counseling was to ascertain why studies have …


Special Education Teachers' Experiences Addressing Mental Health Concerns In Students With Comorbid Disabilities: A Phenomenological Study, Alison L. Simmons Apr 2024

Special Education Teachers' Experiences Addressing Mental Health Concerns In Students With Comorbid Disabilities: A Phenomenological Study, Alison L. Simmons

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to describe the lived experiences of special education teachers in public schools regarding addressing mental health needs in their students experiencing comorbid disabilities. The theory guiding this study was contextual organizational framework as it applies to individual special education teachers addressing comorbid mental health concerns in their students. The research addresses the central research question: What experiences within the organizational context(s) do special education teachers describe with regard to working with special education students with comorbid mental health disorders? All participants were special education teachers in either elementary or secondary schools, who …


Police Brutality: The Nexus Between Historical Injustices, Police Culture And The African American Experience, Claude M. Rhone Apr 2024

Police Brutality: The Nexus Between Historical Injustices, Police Culture And The African American Experience, Claude M. Rhone

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study focused on the harassment, maltreatment, and brutality of African Americans by police officers. The recent widespread condemnation and social justice protests in response to incidents of police brutality point to historical injustices inherent to the culture of policing. Slavery provides the overarching backdrop; however, Jim Crow laws cultivated the structural adaptations necessary to fulfill segregation between African Americans and Whites. The American policing model, which evolved from slave patrols to public entities, continued as an apparatus in the marginalization and disenfranchisement of African Americans. The narrative of “defunding the police” suggests that the past’s cultural proximity renders the …


Fear Of Failure In High School Band Sight Reading: Effects On Student And Teacher Experiences, Andrew D. Lightner Apr 2024

Fear Of Failure In High School Band Sight Reading: Effects On Student And Teacher Experiences, Andrew D. Lightner

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Students' fear of failure among social, cultural, experiential, and internal pressures influence sight-reading abilities in the high school band classroom. Investigating the error culture in band sight-reading skills can affect the learning and teaching methods found in current practice, emphasizing the need to understand the experiences of both students and teachers. Band teachers may refine their teaching and learning methods to address student fears while enhancing sight- reading skills implied throughout the study. Although copious research exists on high school sight-reading methodology and rehearsal strategies to help music educators provide an all- encompassing musical experience, students may need help applying …


Trait Morbid Inquisitiveness: Horror Attraction, Religion, And The Final Girl, Charley Elles Brown Apr 2024

Trait Morbid Inquisitiveness: Horror Attraction, Religion, And The Final Girl, Charley Elles Brown

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

People are attracted to horror entertainment, such as movies, video games, dark tourism, and human-made haunted attractions, to experience fear and scary play. It is also utilized in research on emotional responses. Three types of attractors have been identified: dark copers, white knucklers, and adrenaline junkies. In horror movies, the evolution of threat management is exemplified by the resourcefulness and adaptability of the final girl. Furthermore, the attraction to horror-based entertainment is linked to morbid curiosity. A new research perspective known as trait morbid curiosity has identified this fascination as the development of psychological traits to handle morbid, threatening, and …


The Predictive Relationship Between Pre-Nursing Boot Camp Participation And Successful Completion Of The First Semester And Retention In An Associate Degree Nursing Program, Misty Beth Stine Apr 2024

The Predictive Relationship Between Pre-Nursing Boot Camp Participation And Successful Completion Of The First Semester And Retention In An Associate Degree Nursing Program, Misty Beth Stine

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

First semester students in undergraduate nursing programs are at the highest risk for attrition, so retention of these students is a priority concern. The purpose of this non-experimental correlational predictive quantitative study was to investigate whether participation in a pre-nursing student boot camp is predictive of successful completion of the first semester and retention at an Associate Degree Nursing program at a community college in the rural Southwestern United States. Data was retrospectively obtained from archival student records for all first semester nursing students accepted into the ADN program from 2018-2022. Sample size was N = 227. The chi-square test …


The Effects Of Mental Health On Emotional Intelligence Among Latino Church Leaders, Janice M. Torres Apr 2024

The Effects Of Mental Health On Emotional Intelligence Among Latino Church Leaders, Janice M. Torres

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Latinos are a culturally based race whose mental health focuses on the foundation established by their cultural upbringing and religion. Stigma, religious values, and culture are essential in Latinos' perspectives regarding their emotional intelligence and mental health. This experimental study investigated the effect of mental health on emotional intelligence in Latino church leaders, utilizing The Emotionally Healthy Leader as an intervention. This study employed a pretest-posttest design where participants' emotional intelligence, mental health, and mental health awareness were assessed before and after the intervention. A randomized, controlled trial (RCT) encompassed a group of randomly assigned Latino church leaders who participated …


Providing Biblical Knowledge To Women Ages 25–70 To Place Women In Ministry And Leadership Positions In The Church, Evelyn Diane Scott Apr 2024

Providing Biblical Knowledge To Women Ages 25–70 To Place Women In Ministry And Leadership Positions In The Church, Evelyn Diane Scott

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this project is to provide biblical knowledge to equip women to assume scriptural roles in church ministry and leadership. The project was conducted at The Word Ministry Church in rural Dallas County, Alabama. The writer reviewed women’s challenges and issues in the Christian community dominated by patriarchal theories. This project provides an overview of the study group and the training criteria for preparing women for ministry and leadership. The goal was to educate women not serving in leadership or ministry positions to obtain biblical knowledge to give them the confidence and support to accept their gift of …


Claiming The Crown — The Agency And Fandom Of “The Woman King”, Cibonay R. Dames Apr 2024

Claiming The Crown — The Agency And Fandom Of “The Woman King”, Cibonay R. Dames

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This content analysis study aimed to understand the culture-sharing pattern of The Woman King fans on X and the film’s impact on Black popular culture. The specific problem that was addressed is the need to explore Black popular culture artifacts, such as The Woman King, to understand how Black culture is produced and reproduced by Blacks and the social commentary it creates. This qualitative dissertation was guided by cultural studies and fandom theories and employed a Critical Technocultural Discourse Analysis (CTDA) to analyze 1,469 public posts on X during the film's opening weekend and a content analysis of the film. …


Retention Of Predominantly Nontraditional Students: A Phenomenological Study Of Distance Education Classes In A Local Community College, Corina Langford Apr 2024

Retention Of Predominantly Nontraditional Students: A Phenomenological Study Of Distance Education Classes In A Local Community College, Corina Langford

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenological study was to understand the impact of inclusion in retention for nontraditional students taking global learning classes (distance education) at XYZ Community College in the southeastern United States. It seeks to answer the central research question: How can social inclusion be used to retain nontraditional students at a local community college when taking online classes? The theory guiding this study was the social systems theory, which is concerned with inclusion and exclusion in social systems through communication. Social systems theory was utilized to understand how minority students are included or excluded at XYZ Community …


A Phenomenological Study Of Adoptive Parents’ Distress, Erica Rhoads Apr 2024

A Phenomenological Study Of Adoptive Parents’ Distress, Erica Rhoads

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to explore the lived experiences of distress in parents who have adopted internationally. The aim was also to discover what this lived experience is like through the perception of both objective and subjective reality, providing understanding and meaning from the perception and experience of adopting and then parenting children who have experienced significant trauma. An additional goal of this study was to evaluate the experience of sharing their adoption story within a narrative therapy support group as a way to alleviate some of their distress. A focus on the background of adoption …


The Impact Of Disability Support Services On The Success Of Student Veterans: A Hermeneutic Phenomenology, Chante Kimberly Burnell Apr 2024

The Impact Of Disability Support Services On The Success Of Student Veterans: A Hermeneutic Phenomenology, Chante Kimberly Burnell

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenology was to explore the lived experiences of student veterans using disability support services at postsecondary institutions. Disability support services for student veterans was generally defined as any resource or service providing accessibility and support to aid academic success. Therefore, the central research question focused on the experiences of student veterans when utilizing disability support services. The conceptual framework used to guide this study was Vacchi’s (2017) Model of Student Veteran Support, as it establishes veteran-friendly propositions and suggests cornerstones needed to support the successful degree completion of student veterans. Data triangulation was used to …


An Exploratory Case Study Of Student Grit With Educational Technology In Learning Environments, Crystal Rees Apr 2024

An Exploratory Case Study Of Student Grit With Educational Technology In Learning Environments, Crystal Rees

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this exploratory case study was to understand the expectations Generation Alpha (Gen Alpha), those born between 2010 and 2024, has on educational technology (edtech) in learning environments and how those students rate their grit with 12 participants in third through ninth grade. The theory guiding this study was grit theory by Angela Duckworth regarding grit. This qualitative study was conducted with 12 student participants in their learning environment using a qualitative questionnaire, student interview, and student observation during their dedicated homework time. Memoing was used during observations and interviews to record common phrases between participants when describing …


Educators’ Perceptions Of Exclusionary Discipline For Students With Disabilities In A Manifestation Determination Review: A Case Study, Jenell R. Huska Apr 2024

Educators’ Perceptions Of Exclusionary Discipline For Students With Disabilities In A Manifestation Determination Review: A Case Study, Jenell R. Huska

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this study was to understand K-12 educators’ knowledge of the characteristics of students with disabilities and how their ability to implement evidence-based practices shaped their perceptions of their role in making decisions regarding exclusionary discipline in a Manifestation Determination Review (MDR). The central research question included: How do K-12 educators’ perceptions regarding organizational support affect the decisions they make concerning exclusionary discipline for students with disabilities in a Manifestation Determination Review? Eisenberger et al.’s (1986) Organizational Support Theory (OST) guided this study. OST relates to educators’ perceptions regarding how their organization supports them in making decisions regarding …


Identifying The Impact Of Specific Parenting Routines On Self-Reported Parenting Satisfaction, Chris Kretschman Apr 2024

Identifying The Impact Of Specific Parenting Routines On Self-Reported Parenting Satisfaction, Chris Kretschman

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Parents face many challenges when raising a child, and how a parent handles these situations and their outcomes influence that parent’s perception of their success. This current research determined that there were not specific routines a parent engages in when interacting one-on-one with their child each day which positively correlate with reported parental satisfaction (Ha1). However, there are specific routines that a parent engages in when a family participates in activities together as a family unit that have a positive correlation with reported parental satisfaction (Ha2). A quantitative descriptive, variable-centered correlation design was utilized to understand the linear relationship between …


The Experience Of Military Families Accessing Early Childhood Education And Care: A Hermeneutic Phenomenological Study, Kristine Clothier Apr 2024

The Experience Of Military Families Accessing Early Childhood Education And Care: A Hermeneutic Phenomenological Study, Kristine Clothier

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study is to understand accessing early childhood education and care (ECEC) opportunities by military families using government and private programs. The study focused on 12 families who have children ages three to five years old enrolled in an ECEC program. The philosophical foundation used in this study is Heidegger’s hermeneutic phenomenology. The theory provided an underlying construct and structure to understand the interconnectedness of ECEC stakeholders and the impact of government policies on ECEC access. The study explored the lived experiences of military families who seek access to high-quality equitable early childhood education opportunities. The …