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Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

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The Impact Of Social Media On Emerging Adults' Psychological Well-Being: Spirituality As A Protective Factor, Lori Dewald Feb 2024

The Impact Of Social Media On Emerging Adults' Psychological Well-Being: Spirituality As A Protective Factor, Lori Dewald

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Approximately 70% of emerging adults, individuals ages 18-29 years, report using social media daily. Emerging adulthood is a time of role transition and exploration; therefore, it is important to understand the role social media has on this population. Social media use in young adults has shown mixed results. The inconsistencies of the research center on the content of social media use and the impact it has on well-being. When social media is used to build relationships and increase social support increased well-being was noted. Conversely, when social media use resulted in social comparisons and negative feedback decreased well-being was reported. …


Servant Leadership: The Change Needed In Law Enforcement, Shane H. Shetler Feb 2024

Servant Leadership: The Change Needed In Law Enforcement, Shane H. Shetler

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Servant leadership is a moral-based form of leadership in which leaders place the well-being of followers before their own (Canavesi & Minelli, 2022). It is a theory that has gained increased notoriety over the past several decades. Despite this, there remains a limited amount of empirical research on it and its potential benefits. However, several professions have adopted it, and their results have been positive. Leadership change is needed in many professions, and law enforcement is no exception. The policing profession faces many challenges, such as recruiting quality candidates and retaining existing personnel. Furthermore, the challenges plaguing policing also exert …


Fear, Racism, Agriculture: The Drive For Japanese Internment, Brandon James March Feb 2024

Fear, Racism, Agriculture: The Drive For Japanese Internment, Brandon James March

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The focus of this dissertation is the timing of the forced evacuation of the ethnic Japanese population from the West Coast in 1942. This work focuses on three key factors driving the timing of the evacuation: racism, security concerns, and agriculture. Racism has been studied and written about extensively; however, an overview of this factor is critical as it directly influenced the removal of Japanese American citizens in addition to Japanese immigrants. This dissertation will focus on the intellectual origins of racism and prejudice by focusing on key figures and tracing the ideas and beliefs and how they influenced the …


The Lived Experiences Of African American Undergraduate Students With Formative And Summative Assessments At A Predominantly White Institution: A Hermeneutic Phenomenological Qualitative Study, Virgil Clyde Phillips Jr. Feb 2024

The Lived Experiences Of African American Undergraduate Students With Formative And Summative Assessments At A Predominantly White Institution: A Hermeneutic Phenomenological Qualitative Study, Virgil Clyde Phillips Jr.

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative study was to investigate the lived experiences of African American undergraduate students who have taken formative and summative assessments while attending a predominantly white institution. The theory guiding this study is Albert Bandura’s social cognitive theory as it relates to its main three elements of person, behavior, and environment. The research framework for this qualitative study was hermeneutic phenomenology, which focuses on obtaining, describing, and interpreting lived experiences of individuals. The central research question asks, “What are the experiences of African American undergraduate students attending a predominantly white institution (PWI) taking summative and formative assessments?” …


The Impact Of Wwii And Changes Brought By The War On A Small Kentucky Community, Barry A. Kennedy Feb 2024

The Impact Of Wwii And Changes Brought By The War On A Small Kentucky Community, Barry A. Kennedy

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

War is a regular tool that brings changes and new opportunities for people. For the people of Logan County, life was rather stagnated between the American Civil War and WWII. During the Civil War Logan County played a very important role in the pro-Confederate movement in Kentucky, even housing multiple meetings and a convention with the goal of Kentucky joining the Confederacy. While this did not happen, this movement continued in the years that followed the war, as a massive Confederate hangover reigned over the county. This hangover, which can be associated with the “lost cause” dominated the way of …


A Phenomenological Study Exploring The Factors That Contribute To Persistence In Online Doctoral Programs For Students With Learning Disabilities Or Adhd, Jerry L. Pitts Feb 2024

A Phenomenological Study Exploring The Factors That Contribute To Persistence In Online Doctoral Programs For Students With Learning Disabilities Or Adhd, Jerry L. Pitts

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to discover the factors that contributed to persistence in online doctoral programs for students with learning disabilities (LD) and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The theory guiding this study was Tinto’s theory of student persistence, as it suggested the more students were academically and socially integrated into their institution, the more likely they were to persist in their studies. The Central research question of this study is, “What are the factors that contribute to persistence in online doctoral programs for students with LD and ADHD?” Participants in this study consisted of seven …


A Phenomenological Multi-Case Study Of Perceptions Of Older Adults’ Loneliness During Covid-19 Within Selected Online Churches, Bethney Wright Sikes Feb 2024

A Phenomenological Multi-Case Study Of Perceptions Of Older Adults’ Loneliness During Covid-19 Within Selected Online Churches, Bethney Wright Sikes

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological multi-case study was to understand the perceptions of older adults regarding their feelings of loneliness related to the lockdown during COVID-19 and to discover if online church platforms for the older adult Christian population at Crosspoint Church in Niceville, Florida, Cross Church in Northwest Arkansas, and Community Life Church in Gulf Breeze, Florida, minimized those feelings of loneliness which may have caused mental, physical, and emotional concerns. Isolation from the church body was generally defined as nonattendance via traditional means or online platforms. The theory guiding this study was Lev Vygotsky’s zone of proximal development. …


Embracing Racial Diversity In The Workplace, Iris J. Kugmeh Jan 2024

Embracing Racial Diversity In The Workplace, Iris J. Kugmeh

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The United States’ equality law system policy has mandated ethnic equality in securing employment and job prospects. According to current national workplace racial equity guideline figures, substantially all companies in the United States have difficulty recruiting multiethnic candidates with comparable qualifications and credentials as their white counterparts. This is a problem because businesses that place a high priority on equal opportunity are considerably more likely to enjoy long-term prosperity since there are many more advantages than disadvantages associated with diverse workplaces. This study seeks to identify institutional or structural hurdles to employment and advancement for African Americans to better understand …


Indirect Prophecies Concerning The Death Of Christ In Narrative, Lindsay A. Siemers Jan 2024

Indirect Prophecies Concerning The Death Of Christ In Narrative, Lindsay A. Siemers

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

In Luke 24, two disciples recognized that Jesus had predicted He would suffer, be betrayed, and handed over to death by crucifixion, and had said He would rise again on the third day. It was now the third day, and Jesus was no longer in the tomb, but they were confused as to what these things meant and how they came to be. Jesus says to them, “‘O foolish ones and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His glory?’ And beginning …


Indirect Effects Of Self-Compassion On Self-Forgiveness Through Self-Esteem And Self-Condemnation With Gender Moderation: A Parallel Moderated Mediation Analysis, Jill A. Marin Jan 2024

Indirect Effects Of Self-Compassion On Self-Forgiveness Through Self-Esteem And Self-Condemnation With Gender Moderation: A Parallel Moderated Mediation Analysis, Jill A. Marin

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Two studies explored the relationship between self-compassion and self-forgiveness as well as the role of self-esteem, self-condemnation, and gender in that relationship. Since self-forgiveness is associated with greater well-being, the studies’ importance included gaining knowledge to increase well-being by investigating factors that contribute to self-forgiveness. Research questions were if the relationship between self-compassion and self-forgiveness was mediated by self-esteem and self-condemnation and if gender moderated those mediations. Two quantitative correlational studies, of 94 MTurk and 114 social media participants, used online Qualtrics surveys with established measurements to collect data. Associations, mediators, and moderators were examined by bivariate correlations, mediation analysis, …


Influence Of Preaching’S Rhetorical Appeal On Evangelical Listeners’ Motivation, Nicholas Anene Oji Jan 2024

Influence Of Preaching’S Rhetorical Appeal On Evangelical Listeners’ Motivation, Nicholas Anene Oji

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Preaching is a form of rhetorical narratology aimed at persuading its audience via sermons to experience a renewal of the mind and the transformation of their life. While previous research established the fact that listeners comprehend sermons through their rhetorical appeal, it has been unclear how this has motivated evangelical listeners to act. The purpose of this qualitative narrative study was to explore how the rhetorical appeal of preaching influences evangelical listeners’ motivation at evangelical churches in Savannah, Georgia. A comprehensive approach to exploring a sermon’s rhetorical appeal was utilized by focusing jointly on individual perception and social context. The …


The Effects Of Social Gratitude On Anxiety, Depression, And Persistence To Graduate Among College Students, Terrie L. Hilbun Jan 2024

The Effects Of Social Gratitude On Anxiety, Depression, And Persistence To Graduate Among College Students, Terrie L. Hilbun

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Anxiety and depression have become increasingly prevalent among college students, leading to negative consequences such as decreased persistence to graduate. This study’s goal was to research the effects of a two-week gratitude intervention on attitude health, focusing on gratitude, depression, anxiety, and persistence of college students. The participants were drawn from a convenience sample of community college students located in northeast Alabama. A single pre-and post-test design was utilized, to compare the effects of a social gratitude intervention on gratitude, anxiety, depression, and persistence. A total of 25 volunteers, aged 18 or older, participated. It was hypothesized that there would …


An Existential-Phenomenological Exploration Of The Experience Of Being A White Undergraduate Psychology Student In A Multicultural Counseling Course, Mona Lynnette Swallow Jan 2024

An Existential-Phenomenological Exploration Of The Experience Of Being A White Undergraduate Psychology Student In A Multicultural Counseling Course, Mona Lynnette Swallow

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This existential-phenomenological study sought to explore the experiences of White undergraduate psychology students enrolled in a multicultural counseling course to gain an understanding of how White students described their lived experiences while enrolled in the course. This was accomplished by conducting virtual interviews with nine participants recruited through an online university announcement. Three key experiential constituents emerged from the data supporting previous research of the conflicts White students experience as they process understanding their racialized identities as members of the dominant ethnic-racial group in U.S. society in context to the topics discussed in the course. This lack of understanding was …


Crowdsourcing Strategizing: A View From The Top, Priscilla L. Eddings Jan 2024

Crowdsourcing Strategizing: A View From The Top, Priscilla L. Eddings

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Crowdsourcing strategizing is the application of crowdsourcing for organizational strategy development. While crowdsourcing is experiencing popularity in application and discussion, the concept is not new. However, literature on the value of crowdsourcing strategizing is not widespread in academic or business works. This qualitative case study explored crowdsourcing strategizing in Richmond, Virginia metro area nonprofits. The study was conducted to explore the lack of understanding on the value of crowdsourcing strategizing, with a focus on leaderships perspective of value. The results showed that nonprofit leaders found value in the crowdsourced data gathered through crowdsourcing strategizing.


Moral Disengagement And Psychopathy: A Quantitative Correlational Study On Attachment To God And Empathy, Kimberly Essler Jan 2024

Moral Disengagement And Psychopathy: A Quantitative Correlational Study On Attachment To God And Empathy, Kimberly Essler

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Moral disengagement and lack of empathy are rising concerns in the United States. Those who are morally disengaged or display limited empathy are often associated with anti-social personality disorder or psychopathy. Studies consistently show trauma and early childhood attachment are predictors for the development of behaviors associated with psychopathy. Current literature has demonstrated semi-effective therapeutic treatment and pharmacotherapy for comorbid disorders and symptoms such as anxiety. However, research fails to adequately address the prevention and treatment of lack of empathy – a major factor in the perilous behaviors of psychopathy. Psychopathy includes structural and functional brain abnormalities in the cortical …


Moral Injury: The Hidden Adversary Of War, Lashell Y. Davis Dec 2023

Moral Injury: The Hidden Adversary Of War, Lashell Y. Davis

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative hermeneutic phenomenological study was to understand the lived experiences of United States Army combat veterans who have supported combat operations at least once over the past fourteen years in either Iraq or Afghanistan who self-identified as suffering from symptoms of moral injury. This study was designed to elucidate the impact of faith on resilience and coping mechanisms and broaden previous research on moral injury and whether Army leaders should identify and mitigate moral injury within the ranks. Phenomenology focuses on the interpretation and meaning of how individuals experience their world within a given context. Seven …


A New Mother’S Cry: Analyzing Traditional Social Support Versus Online Social Support In Relation To The Postpartum Crisis, Emily Hughes Dec 2023

A New Mother’S Cry: Analyzing Traditional Social Support Versus Online Social Support In Relation To The Postpartum Crisis, Emily Hughes

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The present study examines the gap that remains involving the transition from traditional to online social support that many mothers have participated in and how this change in communication methods during postpartum recovery may contribute to mental health disorders. This qualitative study aims to examine the differences in lived experiences among mothers regarding in-person and online forms of social support and how these experiences may impact a new mother’s mental well-being. Based on previous research, the present study hypothesizes that a more significant amount of online social support compared to in-person support will result in a detriment to a new …


Coveting Relationships Over Association: The Church's Response To The Millennial's Exodus, Erik W. Switzer Dec 2023

Coveting Relationships Over Association: The Church's Response To The Millennial's Exodus, Erik W. Switzer

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This project identified the reasons church-affiliated millennials in Tyler, Texas, have exited the church after reaching adulthood and have failed to return in significant numbers. To capture the reasons for this generational church exodus, area millennials were invited to participate in an anonymous online survey. To participate in the survey, millennials must have regularly attended an Evangelical or Catholic church during childhood and adolescence and stopped attending church after age eighteen. The survey invitation was distributed through emails and the social media platform Facebook. The invitation contained an embedded hyperlink that directed participants to Survey Monkey. All survey results reside …


A Provident Mindset To Impostor Phenomenon Of In-Service Music Educators, Jerry Mark Buttrum Dec 2023

A Provident Mindset To Impostor Phenomenon Of In-Service Music Educators, Jerry Mark Buttrum

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Impostor Phenomenon (IP) is a psychological construct that affects many high-achieving professionals to doubt their competence, intelligence, and self-worth. As a result, many with IP will overwork and self-sabotage as they constantly feel like a fraud within their profession or daily lives. Despite previous literature and research with pre-service and graduate students in music education, more data on the IP of In-Service Music Educators still needs to be collected. Therefore, the purpose of the current study is to examine the provident mindset of IP among In-Service Music Educators. A quantitative MANOVA design method evaluated this phenomenon. The study collected quantitative …


A Qualitative Descriptive Study: Exploring Organizational Justice, Equity, Diversity, And Inclusion In The Workplace For Individuals With A History Of Criminal Behavior, Heather Danielle Morton Dec 2023

A Qualitative Descriptive Study: Exploring Organizational Justice, Equity, Diversity, And Inclusion In The Workplace For Individuals With A History Of Criminal Behavior, Heather Danielle Morton

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Individuals with a history of criminal behavior often experience difficulties finding employment once labeled a criminal by society. Maintaining stable employment post-release has been found to lower recidivism rates, thus supporting safer communities. In concert, positive experiences with equity and inclusion in the workplace have further been found to support stronger social identities and belonging in the workplace. Currently, no study has specifically examined the impact of organizational justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion implementation and practices in the workplace among individuals with a history of criminal behavior. Therefore, the purpose of this qualitative descriptive study was to better understand the …


Exploring The Lived Experiences Of Graduate School Students On Developing Human Capital Through Family Life Education And Leadership Development, Francis Ngulefac Dec 2023

Exploring The Lived Experiences Of Graduate School Students On Developing Human Capital Through Family Life Education And Leadership Development, Francis Ngulefac

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore the lived experiences of graduate school students on developing human capital through family life education and leadership development in the Washington, DC Metropolitan Area. The theory that informed this study is the human capital theory, which postulates that human beings can improve upon their productive capacity by pursuing further education and acquiring more work-related skills and experience. Thus, this study explored the lived experiences of graduate school students in the Washington, DC Metropolitan Area concerning this theory. I recruited 12 graduate school students living in the Washington, DC Metropolitan Area in …


Relationships Between Shame, Cognitive Distortions And Positive Relationships With Others Among Young Adults, And Changes In Shame Resulting From An Intervention Focusing On Cognitive Distortions, John E. Shanks Dec 2023

Relationships Between Shame, Cognitive Distortions And Positive Relationships With Others Among Young Adults, And Changes In Shame Resulting From An Intervention Focusing On Cognitive Distortions, John E. Shanks

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Experiences of shame are strongly correlated with diminished social relations in individuals of all ages. Difficult and traumatic early childhood situations and experiences such as partner abuse, sexual violence in situations with differences in status commonly lead to shame. Difficult family situations and traumatic situations also frequently result in cognitive distortions, flawed thinking which often continues through adulthood. This study evaluated the experiences of shame, satisfaction of social relations, and cognitive distortions of young adults ages 18-25 years of age. Participants included 88 young adults recruited from social media sites and email contacts. Self-report measures were used to evaluate the …


Increasing The Number Of High School Seniors Meeting The South Carolina "Profile Of A Graduate" Mandate, Cecil Bonner Dec 2023

Increasing The Number Of High School Seniors Meeting The South Carolina "Profile Of A Graduate" Mandate, Cecil Bonner

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This applied study aimed to solve the problem of the inadequate number of high school seniors at Avenger Career Technology Center that meet the requirement of South Carolina's Profile of a Graduate. A multimethod approach was utilized to examine the problem of high school seniors not meeting college and career mandates. Data was collected through interviews with administrators, a focus group of ACTC students, and a quantitative survey from Avenger Career Technology Center teachers. Interviews were conducted with five administrators. A focus group of 10 students was held. Eighteen teachers completed a quantitative survey. Data were analyzed for codes and …


Assisting Ministry Leaders Managing Bipolar Disorder In Adolescents And Young Adults: Development Of An Eight-Week Educational Program, La'shanna A. Williams Dec 2023

Assisting Ministry Leaders Managing Bipolar Disorder In Adolescents And Young Adults: Development Of An Eight-Week Educational Program, La'shanna A. Williams

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Bipolar disorder poses significant challenges for individuals and their communities, particularly within religious ministry. This research project addressed the need for an educational program that equips ministry leaders to support adolescents and young adults with bipolar disorder effectively. The Love Faith Church (LFC) in Columbia, South Carolina, serves as the focal point for this study. This project included the development of an eight-week Ministry Leaders’ Educational Plan to educate ministry leaders about bipolar disorder in adolescents and young adults. It emphasized evidence-based research and biblical foundations to help ministry leaders better understand and recognize the signs associated with bipolar disorder. …


The History Of Systemic Racism In The Texas Rangers, John E. Jordan Jr. Dec 2023

The History Of Systemic Racism In The Texas Rangers, John E. Jordan Jr.

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

White people dominated North American society from the first settlement of North America through the twentieth century and their own cultural norms dictated their actions, both good and bad. The Texas Rangers and other police officers in Texas played a major role in the discrimination of people of color, particularly the Hispanic population. Systemic racism is found in the militarizing of the police and how they interacted with people of color.


Examining Moderating Effects Of The Strong Black Woman (Sbw) Schema And Religiosity On Mental Health, Stressful Life Events, And Attitudes Toward Seeking Help For Professional Psychological Services, Carlisa Anderson Stallings Dec 2023

Examining Moderating Effects Of The Strong Black Woman (Sbw) Schema And Religiosity On Mental Health, Stressful Life Events, And Attitudes Toward Seeking Help For Professional Psychological Services, Carlisa Anderson Stallings

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Since the origins of slavery, Black women have consistently exhibited extraordinary strength and resilience in the face of diversity and stressful life experiences. Research has shown that stress often leads to adverse mental health outcomes, which often go untreated due to the reluctance of Black women to seek help to preserve the cultural ideal of the SBW schema. Due to complex and cumulative stress experiences encountered by Black women and concerns of untreated mental health disease, this quantitative research study utilized intersectionality and theory of planned behavior frameworks to explore the relationship between stressful life events and attitudes toward seeking …


The Effect Of Adding Students To School-Parent Communication To Improve Parental Attendance At School Events, Amanda Sue Kirby Hart Dec 2023

The Effect Of Adding Students To School-Parent Communication To Improve Parental Attendance At School Events, Amanda Sue Kirby Hart

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This quantitative, quasi-experimental static group comparison study aimed to determine parents' perspectives on their school involvement and the effects of student influence on parent attendance at school events when communication methods included students and parents. Communication about ways parents can become involved with their student's school is vital in improving the connection between parental involvement and student achievement. Sample participants included the parents of 381 elementary school students (Kindergarten-Fifth Grades) of one public charter school. The parent involvement events consisted of two asynchronous parent involvement videos, one for reading and one for math, delivered through the Family Involvement Questionnaire emailed …


Perceived Problems And Advantages Associated With Teaching Band In Rural Northern New York, Joseph Charles Ianaconi Dec 2023

Perceived Problems And Advantages Associated With Teaching Band In Rural Northern New York, Joseph Charles Ianaconi

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Teaching instrumental music in rural northern New York presents unique advantages and problems for music educators. While most research highlights obstacles to teaching in a rural area, this study identifies the unique positive aspects of working in this environment. Educators often overlook the opportunities and benefits within small, rural schools. Directors and students can define and find success in multiple ways within these rural band programs. This qualitative study examines the opinions, feelings, and experiences of those who teach band in rural northern New York. The research focuses on the perceived advantages of directing an instrumental ensemble in a rural …


The Political Evolution Of Howell Cobb On The Road To Secession In Antebellum Georgia History, Kathryn M. Haney Dec 2023

The Political Evolution Of Howell Cobb On The Road To Secession In Antebellum Georgia History, Kathryn M. Haney

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

“The Political Evolution of Howell Cobb on the Road to Secession in Antebellum Georgia History” examines how Howell Cobb, the Southern Democratic politician who fiercely advocated for the preservation of the Union, eventually capitulated to the secession of Georgia. The five-term congressman, Georgia Governor, and Secretary of the Treasury was a key figure in the political history of Antebellum Georgia on the eve of secession. Cobb sought compromise through legislative solutions to sectional issues, argued against a state’s constitutional right to secession without just cause, and advocated for the doctrine of popular sovereignty with regards to the institution of slavery. …


John’S Complementing Of Mark’S Wicked Tenants Parable In His Metaphor Of The True Vine, John F. Cespedes Dec 2023

John’S Complementing Of Mark’S Wicked Tenants Parable In His Metaphor Of The True Vine, John F. Cespedes

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The relationship between the gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke is well known, but the question of John’s dependence has been researched by countless scholars since the first century without the formation of a consensus. This study seeks to enter this discussion through the examination of the relationship between Mark’s wicked tenants parable (Mark 12:1–12) and John’s true vine metaphor (John 15:1–17). John’s metaphor of the true vine is replete with images woven through the Old Testament and carried forward into the New. In John’s metaphor, Jesus presents himself as the true Israel and says that His followers are the …