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Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

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Exploring Techniques Used To Make Doctor-Recommended Changes In Diet And Exercise For Patients With Cardiac Disease, Amy Rechner Sep 2023

Exploring Techniques Used To Make Doctor-Recommended Changes In Diet And Exercise For Patients With Cardiac Disease, Amy Rechner

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Motivation plays an important role in treatment adherence, as patients should make necessary health behavior changes based on their physician’s recommendations. Self-efficacy and resilience can help/hinder the patient from implementing and maintaining these changes. Previous studies concluded that individuals cannot rely on medication alone and must implement healthy lifestyle changes. However, these changes may be difficult, as the individuals may face physical or emotional barriers. Therefore, it is important to analyze the factors that motivate an individual to overcome these challenges and follow the recommended treatment plan. This qualitative study examined four participants age x-y through in-depth interviews. Three participants, …


Exploring The Relationship Between Mothers And Daughters As It Directly Impacts Social Media Use And Body Image From An Adolescent’S Perspective, Desiree Winslow Saleh Sep 2023

Exploring The Relationship Between Mothers And Daughters As It Directly Impacts Social Media Use And Body Image From An Adolescent’S Perspective, Desiree Winslow Saleh

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore how adolescent females between the ages of thirteen and nineteen feel and think about their relationship with their mothers, and examine how this impacts social media use and body image. Although greatly and typically applied to quantitative research studies, the tripartite influence model of body image was the primary theory that guided this study. With the immediate accessibility to social media platforms, young women are recognizing a decline in their body satisfaction. Social media serves as another social pressure for adolescents to navigate and is filtered through their pre-existing perceptions of …


The Role Of Value Congruence On Millennial Employee Organizational Commitment, Victoria Henry Weatherbee Sep 2023

The Role Of Value Congruence On Millennial Employee Organizational Commitment, Victoria Henry Weatherbee

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Recent studies have indicated that employee value congruence may influence the overall organizational commitment of a workforce. Despite the current research, there remains a gap in understanding how the Millennial generation of employees may compare to other generations in the values they hold. As the Millennial generation of employees continues to grow into the biggest working population, older workers are beginning to leave the organizations. This transition combined with the evolution of cultural norms and an ever-increasing workforce across nations are requiring organizational leaders to reexamine how to retain Millennial employees in a meaningful way. While studies have focused on …


The Effects Of Suicide Exposure In Adolescents: Absences, Academic Performance, And Behavior, Mika Pearson Brockington Sep 2023

The Effects Of Suicide Exposure In Adolescents: Absences, Academic Performance, And Behavior, Mika Pearson Brockington

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This quantitative research study is primarily about suicide exposure to adolescents and its effects. Most articles do not address the effects of exposure but only the ideation, attempts, and completion of suicide. In addition to the literature examined is the proposal to do more research to assist counselors and school staff in identifying and addressing students’ problems with academic progress, absences, and behavior. This article asked questions on a survey of participants exposed to suicide during their adolescent years. This information will be captured and analyzed to understand better how being exposed to suicide can affect many aspects of life …


Returning To School After Covid-19: Relationships Between Parental Stress And Resilience With Children’S Mental Health Behaviors, Christa P. Stanley Sep 2023

Returning To School After Covid-19: Relationships Between Parental Stress And Resilience With Children’S Mental Health Behaviors, Christa P. Stanley

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

During the COVID-19 lockdowns, experts predicted an increase of children’s mental health issues. However, not all children showed symptoms after lockdowns lifted. The study’s purpose was to examine parental stress and resilience during COVID-19 lockdowns and their relationship to children’s behaviors, specifically anxiety and aggression after lockdown. Participants included 61 parents of children currently aged 7-11 who did not have mental health disorders before COVID lockdowns. Most parents were white, non-Hispanic within middle to high income ranges. The quantitative study used a correlational design. Parents were recruited through school websites and social media sites which linked them to a 122-question …


Mitigating School Violence Through The Lens Of School Officials In Southern States, Faith Derrick Sep 2023

Mitigating School Violence Through The Lens Of School Officials In Southern States, Faith Derrick

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to understand the threats of school violence to children and school personnel employed in the South Central and Southeastern part of the United States and to identify strategies to mitigate these threats. The theory that guided this study was Clarke’s (2019) Situational Crime Prevention as it aims to improve the understanding of violence and the impact of potential strategies for the prevention of violence. Data for the thematic analysis were obtained directly from school personnel. The information from the findings could aid in understanding the process of threat assessment to determine if …


Empty Nest Couples, Resiliency, And Marriage Stability: A Qualitative Phenomenological Study, Krystal Hall Sep 2023

Empty Nest Couples, Resiliency, And Marriage Stability: A Qualitative Phenomenological Study, Krystal Hall

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

To improve our understanding of the lived experiences of married couples who have transitioned to the empty nest phase of the family life cycle, having had their last child leave home, dyadic perspectives of six married couples were captured. Exploring this understudied midlife transition was important to highlight the relationship experiences that characterized the transition to the empty nest phase of marriage that contribute to positive and negative relational outcomes. Within the context of a resilient and stable marriages, it was also important to understand strategic measures couples have used to buffer and strengthen the marital relationship. Participants included 12 …


Elementary Music Teacher Preparation Gaps In Cultural Diversity: Exceptional Populations, Joshua Learn Sep 2023

Elementary Music Teacher Preparation Gaps In Cultural Diversity: Exceptional Populations, Joshua Learn

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Despite the extensive coursework and training in teacher preparation programs focusing on diverse populations, many teachers feel underprepared to meet the needs of emerging subcultures in the elementary music classroom. Over the years, the term diversity has grown beyond ethnicity and requires continued study and attention. This qualitative study explores the perspectives of elementary music educators about diverse populations of exceptional students with Other Health Impairments (OHI), defined as asthma, ADD, ADHD, diabetes, epilepsy, heart condition, hemophilia, lead poisoning, leukemia, nephritis, rheumatic fever, sickle cell anemia, and Tourette syndrome, in their classrooms. The results of this study identify the existing …


Self-Image As A Micro Reality: A Qualitative Content Analysis Of Social Media Influencers And Adolescent Followers, Jessica Amanda Consterdine Sep 2023

Self-Image As A Micro Reality: A Qualitative Content Analysis Of Social Media Influencers And Adolescent Followers, Jessica Amanda Consterdine

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study aimed to investigate content depicted by social media influencers and examine how its engagement aligns with the theoretical components of social comparison theory, providing an understanding of how adolescents view self-image. The parasocial relationships between social media influencers and adolescent followers on Instagram were investigated by exploring how the relationship dynamic is challenged with paid endorsements, envy by followers, and strategic communication. Incorporating content analysis with thematic analysis from the most popular social media influencers on Instagram, findings revealed a relationship between hashtag usage and the adolescent creation of self-image micro realities. The analysis demonstrated a strong correlation …


Christian Latino Therapists’ Experiences In Integrating Psychology And Theology While Maintaining Client Autonomy, Luis F. Ramos Sep 2023

Christian Latino Therapists’ Experiences In Integrating Psychology And Theology While Maintaining Client Autonomy, Luis F. Ramos

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This qualitative, phenomenological study aimed to examine Christian Latino therapists' experiences integrating psychology and theology while providing therapy in New York City and maintaining client autonomy. The theory guiding this study was Martin Heidegger's phenomenological analysis of these lived experiences. The questions in the study were to determine: (a) how the participants understood their role in the provision of therapy, (b) how the participants described their experiences in providing therapy, (c) what the participants learned about themselves in the provision of therapy, (d) what methods the participants used in the integration of psychology and theology, and (e) how the participants …


The Creative Arts Personal Growth Group With Centering Prayer For Sexual Trauma Survivors: A Transformative-Coping Focused Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis Study, Rachel M. Parrish-Martin Sep 2023

The Creative Arts Personal Growth Group With Centering Prayer For Sexual Trauma Survivors: A Transformative-Coping Focused Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis Study, Rachel M. Parrish-Martin

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Copious research demonstrates an epidemic of sexual trauma (ST) among females resulting in excruciating shame and fear of exposing oneself to others. Shame is an under-researched emerging mental health concern. This study addressed a gap in the literature regarding interventions for shame symptoms experienced by female survivors of ST. Specifically, it was an intervention study that applied a spiritually integrated form of the Creative Arts Personal Growth Group (CAPG) with Centering Prayer (CAPG-CP). Utilizing the Theory of Transformative Coping and Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis, this study explored the lived experience of nine female Christian ST survivors who participated in the CAPG-CP. …


The Lived Experience Of Residential Undergraduates From Minority Ethnic Backgrounds Diagnosed With A Mental Health Condition, Cheryl Gowdie Sep 2023

The Lived Experience Of Residential Undergraduates From Minority Ethnic Backgrounds Diagnosed With A Mental Health Condition, Cheryl Gowdie

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Research has demonstrated that mental health illnesses have increased, particularly among college students. Although there is a general understanding of the implications of this trend, there remains a lack of evidence on the impact of mental health diagnoses on residential undergraduate minority ethnic students. This qualitative phenomenological study aims to gain insight into the lived experiences of 10 residential undergraduate minority students aged 18 to 36 diagnosed with one or more mental health disorders. The goal is to understand their personal experiences, including any stigma they may have encountered. Through comprehensive interviews, the study explored their lived experiences. The findings …


Cognitive Machine Individualism In A Symbiotic Cybersecurity Policy Framework For The Preservation Of Internet Of Things Integrity: A Quantitative Study, Gary C. Wong Sep 2023

Cognitive Machine Individualism In A Symbiotic Cybersecurity Policy Framework For The Preservation Of Internet Of Things Integrity: A Quantitative Study, Gary C. Wong

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This quantitative study examined the complex nature of modern cyber threats to propose the establishment of cyber as an interdisciplinary field of public policy initiated through the creation of a symbiotic cybersecurity policy framework. For the public good (and maintaining ideological balance), there must be recognition that public policies are at a transition point where the digital public square is a tangible reality that is more than a collection of technological widgets. The academic contribution of this research project is the fusion of humanistic principles with Internet of Things (IoT) technologies that alters our perception of the machine from an …


Recommendations To Solve The Problem Of A Lack Of Computer Skills Among Clb 4 And 5 Learners At The Linc Center, Samir Hanna Sefain Sep 2023

Recommendations To Solve The Problem Of A Lack Of Computer Skills Among Clb 4 And 5 Learners At The Linc Center, Samir Hanna Sefain

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this study was to provide recommendations to solve the problem of a lack of computer skills among Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 4 and 5 learners at the Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada (LINC) Center. The problem was that CLB 4 and 5 learners do not have basic computer skills. When the school switched to online mode during the pandemic, most teachers were not sure how to teach and assess learners using technology. Around 75% of learners asked the coordinator to withdraw from the program as they felt they did not get the same teaching quality as …


Pedophilia: Understanding The Origins And Problems Within The Criminal Justice System, James K. Mcelhaney Sep 2023

Pedophilia: Understanding The Origins And Problems Within The Criminal Justice System, James K. Mcelhaney

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Societal stigma, criminal sanctions, and the mental illness or disorder of pedophilia are explored in this paper because of the considerable research gaps that have accumulated over the past decade. Most of the data acquired regarding individuals with pedophilia have been predominantly from male offenders, with most of the information coming from reports to local law enforcement and the FBI. The outcome of multiple studies shows that neuroimaging, associated brainwaves, and related sexual attraction are significantly different for individuals with pedophiliac tendencies than for others. Studies also reveal that research has been limited to prevention techniques and therapy for nonoffenders …


Exploring High-School Students' Positive Lived Experiences With School And Their Perceptions Of Qualities That Make Good Teachers: A Phenomenological Study, Carissa Annmarie Flook Sep 2023

Exploring High-School Students' Positive Lived Experiences With School And Their Perceptions Of Qualities That Make Good Teachers: A Phenomenological Study, Carissa Annmarie Flook

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

There is no shortage of evidence that portrays high-school students' overwhelmingly negative perceptions about schools and teachers today. Negative student perceptions profoundly impact students, educational systems, communities, and society. To address and reverse the detrimental cycle, research must explore the positive elements of student experience so that practices can capitalize on the positive and change the trajectory of education in America. My study explored high-school students’ perceptions of qualities that make good teachers. This hermeneutic phenomenological study utilized positive psychology as its conceptual framework, allowing the five elements of the PERMA model to guide student perception data analysis. Participants included …


A Phenomenological Study Of Teacher Experiences With Implementation Of Crisis Prevention And Intervention In Military-Connected Schools, Rebecca Young Carmichael Sep 2023

A Phenomenological Study Of Teacher Experiences With Implementation Of Crisis Prevention And Intervention In Military-Connected Schools, Rebecca Young Carmichael

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental, phenomenological study was to describe the lived experiences of educators with classroom-based crises at military-connected schools and the crisis prevention and intervention training they have received. Knowles’ theory on adult education guided this study as it provides a useful framework for evaluating the provision and implementation of effective staff training. This qualitative study followed a phenomenological research design and involved 10 special education and general education teachers from military-connected schools. Sources of data included interviews, letters to new teachers, and a focus group. Data gathered was analyzed using the procedures of phenomenological reduction, imaginative variation, …


Jackson State University The Sonic Boom Of The South: Strategies For Recruitment And Retention Through Marching Band Enrollment, Ramon Latrell Jackson Sep 2023

Jackson State University The Sonic Boom Of The South: Strategies For Recruitment And Retention Through Marching Band Enrollment, Ramon Latrell Jackson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Athletic sports and the university marching band play a central role in the success of tertiary institutions as they are the most effective recruitment tools for colleges and universities. They project an institution's vision, values, and identity, which are critical aspects appealing to potential learners. There is a concern about low recruitment and retention rates in institutions of higher learning. To address the low enrollment issues, historically black colleges and universities are reinvesting and funding marching bands since they are central to their ability to attract potential students. In addition, the marching band's effect on an institution influences its ability …


The Effect Of Blended Learning And Virtual Learning On Student Performance In High School Physical Education, Frances E. Caulder Sep 2023

The Effect Of Blended Learning And Virtual Learning On Student Performance In High School Physical Education, Frances E. Caulder

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The relationship between blended, virtual, and traditional learning on student performance can significantly affect the future of physical education programs’ curriculum and instructional methods. This causal-comparative research design study examines the difference in student performance measured by FitnessGram® scores between ninth-grade female physical education students who participate in an all-online/virtual learning instructional model, a blended learning instructional model, and a traditional face-to-face learning instructional model. Using a random sample of 143 students from six physical education classes from two high schools in a rural South Carolina school district, a one-way ANOVA was conducted to examine the difference in student performance …


Being Present Without Being Present: An Internet-Based Approach To Providing Pastoral Counseling To An Always Online Generation, Stephen Lyon Woolverton Sep 2023

Being Present Without Being Present: An Internet-Based Approach To Providing Pastoral Counseling To An Always Online Generation, Stephen Lyon Woolverton

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The increasing reliance that Millennials and Gen-Z Christians have on the internet for almost every question that comes up in their lives should be viewed by pastoral counselors as a cultural context that need to be understood as part of the counseling process and not an obstacle to the counseling process. The emergence of the internet, and the part that it has played in the culture of American Christians who have grown up with constant access to this avenue of communication, has only recently begun to be seen and utilized by pastoral counselors. This research uses the perspective of a …


The Etiology Of A New Era: Where Heroes Become Zeros And Victims Become Villains, Traci Jo Harmon Sep 2023

The Etiology Of A New Era: Where Heroes Become Zeros And Victims Become Villains, Traci Jo Harmon

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The United States is in a state of turmoil. Unlike any time before this, division in the country is overtaking the COVID-19 pandemic as the biggest threat to life and liberty. Previous research is contradictive in identifying the etiology of anti-police rhetoric, anti-Christian rhetoric, and victim-blaming. The current research attempts to find out if mainstream and or social media is the etiology of the racial, religious, and victim division in The United States. Attitudes towards law enforcement, Christians, and victims were measured against platforms for current events, hours per day on mainstream and social media, age, gender, and race/ethnicity. Significant …


Discrimination Against Hispanic And African American Women And Interventions To Improve Patient Outcome: An Integrative Review, Sandi Daneri Cruz Rivera Sep 2023

Discrimination Against Hispanic And African American Women And Interventions To Improve Patient Outcome: An Integrative Review, Sandi Daneri Cruz Rivera

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Racial discrimination in health care has been a heavy topic of discussion on social media. Discrimination against women of color such as those of African American and Hispanic descent has been found to have negative health effects. The aim of this project was to identify how racial discrimination influenced African-American and Hispanic women’s health and current interventions that have been implemented to help address these issues. The findings showed that women who experienced discrimination not only in health care but in everyday life did experience negative health outcomes including cardiovascular disparities, obesity, increasing inflammatory markers, and mental health disparities. Implementations …


The Online Member’S Experience Of Pastoral Care Through Worship, Ryan Michael Loche Sep 2023

The Online Member’S Experience Of Pastoral Care Through Worship, Ryan Michael Loche

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Online church services are normative for many churches. Given the relentless nature of creating a service every Sunday, church and worship leaders often do not consider how the online participant experiences the service they are viewing. Virtual reality church services are not yet as ubiquitous as online services but also warrant study. Careful attention must be given to how and why a church provides online and virtual services for its members. To not do so is a disservice to congregants and potentially a waste of time and resources for a church. This phenomenological qualitative study through the lens of a …


Perceptions Of Applying Universal Design For Learning To Quaver’S Marvelous World Of Music To Increase Engagement Of Students With Autism., Whitney Leanne Mansell Aug 2023

Perceptions Of Applying Universal Design For Learning To Quaver’S Marvelous World Of Music To Increase Engagement Of Students With Autism., Whitney Leanne Mansell

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The prevalence of students with autism is rising in elementary schools across the United States. General music teachers have been tasked with including students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in the elementary music classroom but have had minimal training on the topic. This educational applied research study measured the perceived effectiveness of applying universal design of learning principles (UDL) to Quaver’s Marvelous World of Music curriculum to increase the engagement of students with ASD in elementary music classrooms. Directed by Howard Gardner’s theory of Multiple Intelligence, this applied research study produced quantitative data showing increased engagement using UDL with Quaver’s …


Exploring Academic Goal Commitment And Grit In College Education: A Transcendental Phenomenological Study Of The Experiences Of African American Male Graduates, Anthony Earl Reid Aug 2023

Exploring Academic Goal Commitment And Grit In College Education: A Transcendental Phenomenological Study Of The Experiences Of African American Male Graduates, Anthony Earl Reid

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative transcendental phenomenological study was to explore how African American male graduates experience and understand academic goal commitment and grit regarding college education in a small Southeastern regional North Carolina district. Duckworth’s grit theory was the framework used to explore the learning problems students encounter based on the premise that everyone can use the constructs of passion, perseverance, sustained interest, and sustained effort toward achieving long-term goals. Data from 10 African American male graduates came from a questionnaire; one-on-one, open-ended interviews; and focus groups. The approach used for data analysis was reactive awareness toward bringing a …


Factors Related To Online Doctoral Program Retention And Completion Rates: A Phenomenological Study, Paula Rae Dietz Aug 2023

Factors Related To Online Doctoral Program Retention And Completion Rates: A Phenomenological Study, Paula Rae Dietz

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to understand doctoral students’ experiences participating in an online doctoral program at a university. The study was conducted to answer the central research question: What are the experiences of online doctoral students who attended a program requiring a dissertation? Sub-questions included: (1) Among doctoral candidates in online degree programs, what are the perceived barriers to completing the dissertation? (2) In what ways do online doctoral candidates think the barriers to the dissertation component could be eliminated? The theories guiding this study are Tinto’s (1994), theory of student departure and Bandura’s (1997) theory …


The Relationships Among Number Of Service Member Deployments And Spousal Depression And Parental Attachment, Julia A. Priftis Aug 2023

The Relationships Among Number Of Service Member Deployments And Spousal Depression And Parental Attachment, Julia A. Priftis

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This research examined the relationship between the number of deployments and depression in military spouses, focusing on the correlations among service members' deployments, spousal mental health, and parenting attachment. A quantitative correlational study was conducted using 78 participants, of whom only 19 were veterans and 59 were spouses with no military background. The Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and the Protective Factors Survey (PFS) were used. It was found that military deployments do not negatively associate with parental attachment and spousal depression. It was found that military spouses who experience multiple deployments have less chance of experiencing depression and that deployment …


A Quantitative Study Examining Minority Employees' Comfort Levels Within The Organization, Saunteria Teyana Moorer Aug 2023

A Quantitative Study Examining Minority Employees' Comfort Levels Within The Organization, Saunteria Teyana Moorer

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The term comfort level has been characterized as an employee’s wellbeing within an organization. Employee comfort level has been shown to be related to an employee’s ability to assist in decision making, their opportunity to be around individuals similar to them, environmental surrounding aspects, and experiences. There is limited research connecting employee comfort levels to how satisfied employees feel or their desire to leave the organization. The purpose of this quantitative study was to examine the impact that minority employees’ comfort levels have on their job satisfaction and turnover intention. Variables of comfort, job satisfaction, and turnover intention were analyzed …


Exploring Factors For Employee Attrition And Retention By Life Stage, Robert Joshua Whitton Aug 2023

Exploring Factors For Employee Attrition And Retention By Life Stage, Robert Joshua Whitton

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The objective of this study was to evaluate if a relationship exists between factors for push (attrition) and pull (retention) and employee life stage. With job attrition rates increasing almost 10% in the last 10 years and employers paying $2.4 trillion in 2021 because of employee turnover, the need to understand what drives retention and attrition remains very real. A survey, containing a demographics section and items rated on a Thurstone-like scale, was administered to full-time employees in the United States. Four hundred and eighty participants responded to the survey, but after removing responses that were incomplete or were completed …


A Case Study On How Hbcus Use Social Media To Reduce Uncertainty Of Covid-19, Kelsey Anne-Gabrielle Armstrong Aug 2023

A Case Study On How Hbcus Use Social Media To Reduce Uncertainty Of Covid-19, Kelsey Anne-Gabrielle Armstrong

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This case study aims to understand how HBCUs use social media to deliver crisis communication messages to students about COVID-19 and how the HBCU culture impacts student perspectives. The theory guiding this study is uncertainty reduction theory (Berger & Calabrese, 1974), as it explains the communication strategies used to reduce uncertainty during a crisis. Data collection was conducted using semi-structured interviews and content analysis. Data analysis strategies included deductive and inductive coding and directed content analysis. The study results provide insight into how the HBCU culture impacts the perspective of an HBCUs response to COVID-19 and overall crisis communication messaging …