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Examining The Sufficiency And Appropriateness Of Audit Evidence In The United States Banking And Securities Industries, Adama Guilavogui

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The substratum of performing an effective and value-added audit engagement centers on the ability of qualified professionals to gather, assess and draw inferences from audit evidence independently. Generally Accepted Auditing Standards (GAAS) in the United States instruct auditors to design and implement audit procedures to gain relevant audit evidence to sustain the opinion conveyed in the auditor's report (AS 1105.03). This research examined the scope of audit evidence sufficiency and appropriateness in the United States banking and securities industries. The thesis aimed at enriching the existing body of knowledge on auditing in the target industries. Specifically, the thesis investigated the …

The Impact Of Repatriation On Third Culture Kids And The Role Higher Education Institutions Play In Supporting Repatriating Students: A Transcendental Phenomenological Study, Kylee Rae Spangler

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to understand, as a lived experience, the impact of repatriation on Third Culture Kids (TCKs). For this study, repatriation was generally defined as the transitional process of an individual moving from a host country back to the home country to attend college. The central research question for this study was aimed to gain insight into the lived experiences of TCKs whose lives were impacted by repatriation for higher education. The research sub-questions were designed to gain an understanding of the perceptions TCKs have about the preparedness of higher education institutions to meet …

A Room With A View: Experiences Of Moms Off Meth Using Heuristic Inquiry, Joey Leigh Gude

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Methamphetamine related consequences continue to darken many families and communities. Multiple service provider types are often overburdened in dealing with the reality of methamphetamine misuse (Brownstein et al., 2012). This research explored the impact of the methamphetamine epidemic with a specific focus on mothers with methamphetamine addiction. Mothers present with a myriad of challenges, and inadequate contextual information exists to address these challenges (Alexander et al., 2018; Bathish et al., 2017; Cunningham & Finlay, 2013). This qualitative heuristic inquiry sought to illuminate experiences of methamphetamine addiction in mothers. The qualitative research questions sought to give a voice to the lived …

The Lived Experiences Of Students And Faculty In High School And College Following A Natural Disaster: A Phenomenological Study, Cyrenna L. Moreno

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to determine the characteristics of students in higher education who persisted in their studies following the Hurricanes Irma and Maria in Puerto Rico in September 2017. The central research question for this study was: "what are educators’ and students’ perceptions of the characteristics necessary to persist in a difficult environment following a natural disaster?” The theories guiding this study were Maslow’s hierarchy of needs and Hobfoll’s conservation of resources theory. This study was conducted as a transcendental phenomenological study utilizing a sample that contained five educators and eight students who attended high …

A Case Study Investigation: Student's Perceptions Of Preferential Treatment Of Student-Athletes, Darrin Scott Tipton

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this exploratory case study was to understand students’ perceptions of teachers’ preferential treatment of high school student-athletes at two Georgia high schools using a multiple case design. Social cognitive theory and the social identity theory guided this study as they relate to high school students’ perceptions of the treatment of student-athletes by classroom teachers. The participants were seniors from two north Georgia high schools who were asked to complete a demographic survey. Purposeful sampling was used to select four student-athletes and four non-student-athletes from each school that then participated in interview sessions and created documentation in the …

Overcoming Trauma: A Phenomenological Study Of Adults Who Overcame Childhood Trauma, Mary Ann P. Crowder

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This transcendental phenomenological study examined the lived experiences of individuals who overcame childhood trauma to become resilient adults. For this study, a resilient adult was defined by successful academic and career outcomes. Successful academic outcomes were operationalized as post-secondary educational attainment and successful career outcomes were demonstrated by steady employment of a professional career pathway. Terr’s (1991) theory of childhood trauma and Garmezy and Rutter’s (1983) resilience theory guided the study designed to answer the following central research question: What are the lived experiences of individuals who have overcome adverse childhood experiences to become resilient adults? The study involved thirteen …

What Long-Term Effects Occur From Combat Deployment In Effecting Later Adaptation To Civilian Life?, Corey E. Waites

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study shows the effects that combat exposure can have on an individual by compiling information gained from surveys and collecting data from Facebook interactions. Members of the study who were deployed to the Southern area of Baghdad, Iraq, between 2003-2005 were included in this research after they voluntarily responded to an initial group message on Facebook to members of the 703rd medical company members. This research sets out to determine how a review of the veterans of the US Army 3rd Infantry Division 703rd medical unit between the years 2003-2005 in Iraq can tell us about the long-term effects …

Perceptions Of The Impact Of Cultural Awareness Training On Southern Municipalities And Their Communities, Charles Robert Love Ii

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The overall purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study is to explore the perception of the impact of Cultural Awareness Training toward improving the negative relationship that exists between southern municipalities and their communities, especially those individuals who are culturally different from the given officer(s). In many cases, these relationships involve abuse of power which leads to mutual disrespect and a subsequently diminished relationship. A review of the literature on community-oriented policing provided vivid descriptions with clear examples regarding what is identified as relationship-based policing. Relationship-based policing seeks to get not only the community’s input, but also community involvement in establishing …

The Effects Of Embedded Orientation On Online Developmental Mathematics Students' Performance In Community College: A Causal-Comparative Study, William Randal Swenson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Students in developmental mathematics courses exhibit poor pass rates. This problem is exaggerated for traditionally aged online community college learners, who frequently demonstrate few self-regulatory skills. Self-regulated learners are intrinsically motivated, plan for success, monitor their progress, and reflect on their learning. These learners are significantly more likely to pass and eventually graduate. Self-regulatory skills can be taught through direct instruction and reflection over a protracted learning experience. This form of instruction was attempted using an embedded orientation in online developmental mathematics courses at a community college. Embedded orientations provide consistent training, opportunities for socialization, and increased instructor-to-learner interaction within …

A Phenomenological Study Of Academic Retention: The Lived Experiences Of Adults Who Were Retained In K-12, Suzann Faye Bouray

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative transcendental phenomenological study was to understand the lived experiences of young adults who were retained during their K-12 education and persisted to high school graduation from a southwestern Kansas school. The central research question guiding the study were: What are the lived experiences of young adults who were retained during their K-12 education and persisted to high school graduation from a southwestern Kansas school? Guiding questions were implemented to further understand the phenomenon of grade retention. The guiding questions were: How did the young adults believe their self-efficacy was influenced either positively or negatively by …

First Responder Chaplaincy: Sending Sources As Key Social Support Structures, Christopher Alan Bassett

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Police and fire chaplaincy comprises an emerging ministry profession that is underrepresented in academic study. This study addresses the problem of support structure inadequacies among First Responder Chaplains (FRCs) which create conditions that lead to burnout. The study examines their often-problematic connections to churches, denominations, and other endorsing agencies (sending sources). The purpose of the project is to assess those connections and provide remediation inadequacies. The thesis project examines Chaplaincy Organizational Agencies (COAs) and develops solutions for FRCs to build better initial and ongoing relationships with their sending sources. The thesis suggests that chaplains who are properly affirmed, supported, and …

Mental Health Delivery Method Outcomes For The Postsecondary Student: A Quantitative Quasi-Experimental, Non-Equivalent Control Group Pretest-Posttest Study, Mallory Nicole Ball

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this study is to examine the impact that a virtual mental health intervention has on distance education postsecondary students. This study utilized a quantitative quasi-experimental non-equivalent control group pretest-posttest study design. The study design was used to determine if there is a statistically significant difference in the pretest and posttest scores for the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale-Revised (CESD-R). Furthermore, how these differences impact distance education postsecondary students utilizing online delivery method of mental health interventions compared to postsecondary distance education students who did not. The study setting was at …

A Survey Of North Carolina School Resource Officers: Training And Roles, Alesha Poole Troutman

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this study is to develop an understanding of the roles of SROs in North Carolina and the training that they receive. This study is based on the perceptions of SROs in North Carolina and the roles and training that they need to be effective within the school(s) they serve. The quantitative design used a survey that consisted of different measurement scales, including ordinal, nominal, and fill-in-the-blank. The findings of this study were analyzed using Qualtrics XM that lets you statistically analyze your response data and allows researchers to identify trends and produce predictive models. Descriptive statistics were …

A Multiple Case Study: Church Leaders And Project Management, Booker Mitchell

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

As a sector of the nonprofit industry, churches strive to execute the mission, realize the vision, and accomplish the strategic objectives established by their leaders. Comprising pastors, elders, and deacons, church leaders are responsible for the spiritual guidance of the congregation and performing as business managers of the organization. Specifically, church leaders are responsible for managing the unique events or special operations of their organizations, aligning them with vision and mission of the organization. A literature review revealed significant challenges among church leaders in their performance as business managers. This qualitative, multiple-case study sought to obtain information of the knowledge, …

An Illumination Of The Road To Resilience For Black Millennial Teachers As A Means Of Addressing The Black Teacher Shortage, Jameka Tanae Jones

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to describe Black millennial teachers’ self-perceived factors of resilience in Virginia public elementary schools. The central question of this study was: “What are the lived experiences that Black millennial teachers ascribe to their resilience in Virginia public school elementary settings?” The theory guiding this study was resilience theory by Masten (2014) which described positive human adaptation through the interplay of individual and contextual risk and protective factors that contributed to resilience. This study followed a qualitative design with a transcendental phenomenological design. A sample with a minimum of 10 participants from Woodrow …

The Engagement Of Digital Technology And Social Media At Promise Land Church Following Covid-19, Rowevina G. Herring

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This research project aims to explore the full integration of digital technology and social media at a local church following the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic formed a global perspective, consisting of so-called "new rules" of churchgoing resulting from different social engagement expectations, cleanliness, and protecting vulnerable populations. During and following the pandemic, the world awaited sheltering-in-place and social distancing to return to some semblance of normalcy. Considering these changes, most churches struggled to understand how to maintain and proliferate the gospel. The focus of this study is based on a local non-denominational church that failed to predict expository preaching and …

Biblical Emotional Intelligence In Relation To Clinical Pastoral Education, Deborah Ann Digel

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study addressed the education of biblical emotional intelligence among chaplains and pastors in promoting self-care in ministry. A literature review revealed that research projects had not fully explored the relationship between biblical emotional intelligence and clinical pastoral education. This project explored biblical emotional intelligence as a teaching method that bridges the gap between pastors' clinical pastoral education and healthy emotional well-being. Emotional intelligence is a field that is associated with success in business and ministry. Pastors and chaplains are not addressing the lack of biblical emotional intelligence in their training and how it can affect ministry. This study aimed …

The Messiah, The Mandate, And The Mission To Implement Multicultural Evangelism Through Intentional Racial Reconciliation Among African Americans And Caucasian Christians, Panisha Levern Stigger

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

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The Way Of Jesus: A Leadership Development Journey Within City Church Marietta, Eugene Fidell

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The leadership of City Church Marietta has identified the need to create a leadership development process for adult volunteers. This is due primarily to the fact that the church does not currently possess a process that would accomplish this. In addition, there is a lack of understanding amongst the majority of the current volunteer leaders concerning what it means to be an apprentice of Jesus. The research will emphasize the the fact that apprenticeship and leadership are best understood when examined side by side. This research will propose a leadership journey, The Way of Jesus, as the remedy to this …

Implementing A Discipleship Strategy At Open Door Evangelical Church, Samuel Odney

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This thesis project aims to address the lack of involvement of church members in leadership at Open Door Evangelical Church. With the implementation of a discipleship strategy that will coach those not involved, they will become true disciples of Christ and serve in the church with any ability they have received from the Lord. The researcher will use three different methods for data gathering, including surveys, focus groups, and interviews. Every Member of the church will participate in the survey phase of the project. Still, the bulk of the study consisting of focus groups and interviews will focus on members …

Teachers’ Self-Efficacy And Augmentative And Alternative Communication Technology Use, Tamara Therese Parks

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Students identified with disabilities and complex communication needs (CCN) add a unique aspect to teaching practice and pedagogy. Both special education and general education teachers play a vital role in providing opportunities for students to learn and succeed. Using augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) devices is one way for students with CCN to access the general curriculum as well as become active participants in the classroom. Research has indicated that teachers’ attitudes and self-efficacy using AAC may affect how well the devices are used in the classroom. Though teachers are expected to provide the necessary supports required by students with …

Equipping Military Chaplains With A Framework For Mental Wellness: A Qualitative Descriptive Study, Stephanie Okolo

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Although it is said that the sight of a battlefield after combat can fill princes with a love of peace and haunt them with the horrors of war, the mental health effects of war on soldiers are often frustratingly difficult to comprehend. It is, however, clear that warzones and the general environments in which deployed soldiers work can have negative impacts on their mental health. Military chaplains work closely with deployed soldiers and should be well-equipped with the knowledge to help them understand their mental health needs. It is important that they possess the right skills to do this well. …

Challenges That Clergy In Small Black Churches Face In The 21st Century During The Covid Pandemic, Samuel Paul

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Leadership plays a critical role in any institution. Church leadership can guide the institution in the direction that it should go. In Small Black Churches (SBC), this research will identify the strategic leadership styles used in handling challenges. The intent is to identify the effectiveness of these styles in managing challenges in the 21st century church and their effect on personal leadership fulfillment. The study will interview pastors of local churches who had seminary training and those who did not. This author intends to record and transcribe the interviews for research purposes. By identifying the interviewees' leadership styles, the researcher …

Creating Collaborative Missional Communities To Enhance Church Revitalization, Bradford William Reaves

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

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This project utilizes the revitalization efforts of Grace Community Church in Winchester, VA to examine the precedence of collaborative strategies for church revitalization. In this study contemporary literature, theological foundations, surveys of church leaders in the United States, and interviews with collaborative church and ministry leaders from around the United States are evaluated to determine the need for greater collaboration for the health and revitalization of church and ministries. The findings of this research argue that contemporary church growth strategies that emerged from the recent church growth movement may actually inhibit church revitalization efforts …

Examining The Relationship Between Crime And Major Weather Events And Disasters In The 10 Largest Cities In Texas, Daniel Augusto

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This dissertation uses Social Disorganization Theory as a foundation to examine the relationship between yearly days with a major weather event or disaster and crime in the 10 largest cities in Texas. Multiple regressions and moderation analyses were conducted, with models that incorporated total Days with Disaster or major weather event, Social Disorganization, Population Density, and Disaster Consequences predicting all Index Crimes other than Arson. Days with Disaster significantly predicted Robbery, Murder, Rape, Burglary, and Auto Theft, but did not significantly predict Larceny or Assault. Additionally, Social Disorganization and Population Density were often found to predict crime. Moderation analysis also …

The Challenges Of Balancing Personal And Professional Relationships Among Historically Black Colleges And Universities (Hbcus) Band Directors, Rodney Deshun Chism

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative study is to identify common challenges and provide strategies for band directors at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), who face work-life balancing issues. HBCU band directors typically experience a high level of stress, burnout, and professional and personal role conflicts. There is a significant gap in the literature regarding how HBCU band directors maintain work-life balance (WLB) when dealing with administrative pressure, protecting the band program's reputation, and serving as a leader role-model, teacher, and mentor to their staff and students. Band directors commonly identify with or experience issues related to these research questions: …

The Cultural Relevance Model Of Worship, Mark David Brumagin

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

n the early decades of the twenty-first century a new model of worship has begun to emerge in some North American evangelical churches. Significant events in North American church history combined with cultural ideologies inherent to the North American context have influenced particular churches resulting in new worship practices. Churches that are affected are often marked by the development of highly affective worship experiences, the production and consumption of goods, the involvement of the worship team in marketing, and an elevated use of technology. In examining the cultural values at work in this development, this study found a historical thread …

Lived Discipleship Experiences Of Fourth- And Fifth-Grade Students In Christian Schools, Krystal Dawn Morrow

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to explore and describe lived discipleship experiences of fourth- and fifth-grade students in Christian schools. The theory guiding this study was Vygotsky's impact of social and environmental factors on development because of the connection between relationships and discipleship. The phenomenon of discipleship was explored through a theoretical lens as upper elementary students shared their lived discipleship experiences. Ten students who experienced discipleship in selected Christian school settings were selected for this study using criterion sampling. This study took place in three different Christian elementary school settings in the state of Kentucky, where …

Developing The Practice Of Biblical Mentoring Through Expository Preaching At Kepler Road Baptist Church, Jerry L. Durden

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Developing the Practice of Biblical Mentoring Through Expository Preaching at Kepler Road Baptist Church (KRBC) is a project in which the presence and practice of mentoring in the Bible is studied and how applying that practice in the local church would benefit the individual participants and the church ministry. The author’s goal for this project was to teach participants about how the Bible presents mentoring and to instill in them the desire to adopt mentoring as a lifestyle. The research for this project was accomplished through accessing material from the Jerry Falwell Library Online and by visiting the library at …

The Efficacy Of Emergency Management Certification Training In Georgia Through The Lived Experiences Of Local Emergency Managers, Jack Robby Westbrook

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenology qualitative inquiry was to understand the efficacy of the Basic Georgia Certified Emergency Manager Program curriculum on preparing local emergency managers in each of Georgia’s eight geographical regions for their role. Emergency managers are professionals tasked with helping communities and organizations to anticipate all hazards and undertake measures to deal with disasters (McEntire 200 7). Demands placed on local emergency managers have increased significantly since the turn of the century. Between 2002 and 2020, the number and frequency of disasters have dramatically increased, and Georgia's social and economic demographics have undergone significant changes, presenting …