Digital Commons Network^™

Case Study: Moral And Ethical Decisions Some Students Make Pursuing Their Doctoral Degrees From Accredited For-Profit Universities, Anne Pinchera

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this case study is to identify issues some doctoral students face in obtaining their Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree from accredited for-profit colleges and universities. The three participants attended for-profit universities in the past five years and failed to obtain their doctoral degrees. Data collection is through an initial demographics survey, qualification survey, vignettes, and the interview itself. Data analysis from the Coding Manual for Qualitative Research by Johnny Saldana is used to analyze the data collected from problems doctoral students encounter in pursuit of their doctoral degree (Saldana, 2013). The theoretical foundations for this project come …

A Practical Guide For Creating A Group Environment To Reach A Postmodern World, Anthony Michael Randall

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

There are disturbing statistics about the number of young people who are leaving the church after they graduate high school and are no longer bound by obligation to the family to attend worship services. If the church does not begin to change its methodology, it will not be able to succeed in reaching this generation. This project seeks to help local churches create an environment in their groups that is comfortable and engaging to the postmodern generation. Churches must create a group environment that not only fosters true Biblical community but also engages our congregations in fulfilling the mission of …

Blended Online Learning Versus Traditional Classroom Learning: A Comparison Of Mathematics Content Mastery For High School Students Of Homeowners And Non-Homeowners, Jeannette Hallam

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this causal-comparative study was to compare the methods of traditional face-to-face classroom instruction and blended online instruction for students from differing home environments who were repeating a Mathematics I course at the high school level. This quantitative study, conducted at three high schools in Georgia, used the theories of self-regulated learning, student-centered learning, Keller’s ARCS (Attention, Relevance, Confidence, and Satisfaction) model of motivational design of instruction, and cognitive load theory to compare the two approaches to learning. The participants in this study consisted of 398 high school students taking a Mathematics I class for the second time …

Teacher Preparedness For Spiritually Transformational Teaching: A Case Study In One Christian High School, Wendy Lewis

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This single instrumental case study examined a purposive sample of teachers from Live Oak Christian High School (a pseudonym) for indications that they were spiritually qualified, sufficiently trained, and intentionally committed to transformational Christian teaching. Spiritually qualified teachers would evidence an active Christian faith as demonstrated by a sound basic theology, verbalization of a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, and various spiritual practices. Teachers who were sufficiently trained would evidence personal knowledge, experience, education, or training related directly to Christian education. Teachers who were committed to transformational Christian teaching would evidence that intentionality in documents, surveys, classroom observations, and personal …

An Analysis Of The Financial Impact Of Changing Athletic Conference Affiliation Within The Ncaa, Christopher Parker

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this causal comparative study was to provide Division I athletic programs with athletic and institutional fundraising insight when considering a change in athletic conference affiliation. The study provided descriptive data regarding athletic conference affiliation pre and post-conference change. The research evaluated if there was a significant increase in athletic and educational fundraising when changing athletic conferences. The quantitative study compared educational and athletic foundations’ IRS 990 forms for 15 NCAA Division 1 institutions that changed athletic conferences between 2012 and 2013. Data was analyzed using an ANOVA and t-tests from the institutions’ academic and athletic foundations. The …

A Phenomenological Study Of The Impact On Collaboration As Perceived By Educators While Using Software To Manage Individualized Education Programs, Vaughn Hammond

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to gain a deeper, richer understanding of how educators’ use of software to manage individualized education programs (IEPs) impact collaboration in the IEP process. Research questions included: (a) What are the challenges identified by educators when using software to manage IEPs? (b) What are the benefits identified by educators when using software to manage IEPs? (c) What are educators’ perceptions on the impact using software to manage IEPs has on the collaboration among the IEP team? (d) What are educators’ perceptions of the use of software on increasing collaboration skills? Educators from …

Integrating The Psychological Audit Of Interpersonal Relationships Into Short-Term Pastoral Marital Counseling – Help Or Hindrance?, Floyd Marsh

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This research project was undertaken to determine if integrating the Psychological Audit of Interpersonal Relationships (PAIR) test into a short-term pastoral marital counseling model would help or hinder the busy multi-tasking pastor in economizing his time and improving his effectiveness while counseling couples presenting with mild to moderate dissatisfaction. The PAIR test is a relationship compatibility inventory, used by psychologists, physicians, professional counselors, and licensed clinical social workers, which assesses 20 separate dimensions of interest, personality, behavior, attitudes, and values. The research findings of this study strongly suggest that the PAIR test, when integrated into the counseling plan, will help …

An Examination Of The Relationship Between Instructional Technology Integration And Student Achievement, Carla Holt

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This correlational, causal-comparative research study examined the relationships between secondary career and technical education teachers’ gender, experience, professional development and their perceptions of technology use. The research also investigated how the teachers in this study perceive the adequacy of their student’s technology skills for meeting college and workplace demands. Eighty-four career and technical education teachers in six North Carolina high schools completed the School Technology Needs Assessment Survey 4.0 (STNA), which also included demographic questions that asked about age, gender and years of experience. A two sample t test, correlation analysis and multiple linear regression were performed. The results of …

A Phenomenological Study Of Public School Biology Teachers Who Believe In The Literal Genesis Account Of Creation, Eric Dougherty

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

he purpose of this phenomenological study was to understand the experiences of Christian public high school biology teachers who believe in a literal, young earth account of creation as revealed in the book of Genesis. There is a gap in the literature regarding understanding the teaching experiences of Christians who believe in a strict interpretation of the biblical book of Genesis. This study was conducted by interviewing 11 Christian public school biology teachers from multiple states who met the criteria for being identified as young earth creationists. Data were also collected through a focus group and reflective vignettes. Data were …

How Educator Attitudes, Knowledge, And Practice Impact The Academic Achievement Of Students Who Have Epilepsy: A Phenomenological Investigation Of Canadian Secondary School Teachers, Tawnya Fanjoy

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to discover how teacher attitude, knowledge, and practice with epilepsy impact the academic achievement of students who have epilepsy. This study assumed that middle school teachers perceive students diagnosed with epilepsy as lower academic achievers when compared to students who do not have epilepsy. The stigma associated with labels, such as epileptic, can negatively impact the academic performance of children with this disorder. For this study, stigma was generally defined as the negative perceptions about epilepsy held by middle school teachers. The participants included six middle school teachers from the Anglophone West School …

The Effects Of Professional Development On Online Adjunct Faculty Job Satisfaction In A Community College Setting, Marie Ferguson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This quantitative causal comparative research study, guided by Herzberg’s (1964) Two Factor Theory of Motivation, and conducted with 106 online adjunct faculty members teaching at a community college in a Southeastern state, examined the effects of four types of professional development (PD) training for online instruction (i.e., fully online, fully face-to-face, blended [online and face-to-face], and none) on online adjunct faculty members’ levels of motivation and hygiene job satisfaction. Data were analyzed using two one-way MANCOVAs. The first one-way MANCOVA addressed the first research question, which inquired if there were significant differences across online instruction PD training groups on the …

Rescuing The Millennials: Four Essential Lessons Learned And Eight Key Principles To Reclaiming This Generation, Alethia Janise Simmons

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Recent trends reveal the decline in church attendance among younger generations, with the Millennials. The purpose of this project is to develop a Christian model that will offer churches practical steps and instructions on how to rescue this generation. Research will be conducted through surveys and interviews with sixty senior pastors, young adult pastors, and Millennials between the age of 18 and 29 years old to ascertain relevant data. This research will provide four essential lessons learned and eight key principles to reclaiming the Millennial generation.

Critical Thinking Skills And Information Literacy Skills: Discerning Online Information Among High School Students, Patricia Flood

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study examined the impact of discerning information accessed on the Internet that is authentic, reliable, and valid as facilitated by a 1:1 iPad program on students’ critical thinking skills and information literacy skills. Students enrolled in a Career Magnet School where each student has an iPad to receive and deliver assignments were measured on their critical thinking skills in solving real-world problems using the Test of Everyday Reasoning (TER). Their information literacy skills were measured using iSkills which is based on real-world problem solving through digital means. Students enrolled in a traditional high school with limited exposure to the …

Teachers’ Perceptions Of A Sixth Grade Academy: Implications For The Transition To Middle School, Rebecca Davis

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to examine and evaluate teachers’ perceptions of the effectiveness of a sixth grade academy program, at a rural middle school in North Georgia, in helping students transition into sixth grade. The transition from fifth grade to sixth grade is a critical year in a student’s educational career. Over the past two decades, transitioning programs have grown as an effort to meet students’ distinct needs. There is very little research documenting teachers’ voices on this matter. The research conducted in this study sought to add the teacher’s perception in identifying the significant features …

The Relationship Between Gaming Addictive Behavior, Satisfaction, And Success In Computer-Based Learning, Marlene Carrilho

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this quantitative, correlational study was to examine the association between college students’ levels of gaming addictive behavior and their levels of student satisfaction and student success in a computer-based learning environment. Additionally, gender was investigated as a moderator of the association between gaming addictive behavior and student success and between gaming addictive behavior and student satisfaction. Data was collected through online surveys from a convenience sample of undergraduate students enrolled at a large, Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)-accredited, evangelical Christian university located in Virginia. The statistical program SPSS 22.0 was used for the analyses. Hierarchical …

A Proactive, Experiential And Student-Centered Learning Approach: A Case Study Of The Effects Of A Social Media Video Editing “App” In A Traditional Classroom Setting, Bruce Kirk

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The use of social media App’s has exploded in recent years. The purpose of this case study was to explore the use and implications of a social media App for shooting and editing video, when used in a higher education classroom where video projects are required. The study examined how the use of a student-centered App — in place of more traditional video and editing instruction — effected the student-learner model. The research questions included: RQ1 How does a social media video App impact student learning in a traditional higher education classroom? RQ2 What is the impact of a social …

Five Characteristics From Past American Awakenings That God Can Use To Produce Another One Today, John Cole

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The American Southern Baptist church and society in the twenty first century has not experienced a movement by the Lord resulting in mass conversions to Him, nationwide, in a Great Awakening for 150 years. America experienced two awakenings in her first century as a country. This thesis seeks to answer the questions: What were five characteristics in churches of America prior to Spiritual Awakenings in her first century? How can God replicate these today? Scripture teaches that it is imperative for all Christians to help fulfill the great commission. This thesis will examine and provide a possible resolution, based on …

The Impact Of E-Readers On The Domains Of Reading Comprehension In High School Students, Erika Zeidler

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

n this quasi-experimental static comparison group design, a homogenous sample of 128 American Literature (high school juniors) students were placed in a comparison and treatment group to determine whether e-readers can improve decoding skills and language comprehension, the two main domains of reading comprehension. Both groups took a pre- and posttest that measured their reading comprehension skills in both areas. The comparison group read a class assigned novel in a traditional paperback version while the treatment group read the novel on either a Kindle or a Kindle app on his or her smart phone or device. The treatment group was …

An Examination Of The Prosperity Gospel: A Plea For Return To Biblical Truth, Aaron Phillips

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The prosperity gospel teaches that the Bible promises health, wealth and uncommon success to all believers. A problem surfaces when the prosperity that is promised does not materialize to all members of the congregation. In examining the validity of this teaching, extensive writings, books, articles and sermons by leading proponents, have been reviewed. Additionally, interviews with at least one hundred pastors inform this writing. The purpose of the research is to furnish contemporary, active insight to this project. The conclusion of this writer is that the prosperity gospel offers an unbalanced application of scripture, which results in a departure from …

The Worship Experience: Five Essential Ways A Pastor Leads A Congregation To Respond To God, Changhwan Choi

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Today many churches do not take time in worship service for their congregations to respond to God’s Word proclaimed through sermons. They also may be unaware of biblical reasons for the response. This project will suggest five essential ways that a pastor can lead a congregation to respond to God’s Word at the end of each sermon. This project will lay a foundation for the understanding and development of the congregational response through examination of biblical and theological backgrounds. Furthermore, an approach utilizing these five strategies will be developed specifically for worship services in Korean churches by surveying 30 or …

Teacher Implementation Of Mobile Learning Initiative At A Sixth Grade School: A Phenomenological Study, Tina Hemphill Fitts

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative, phenomenological study was to investigate teachers’ perceptions of and experiences with the adoption and implementation process as teachers at Tops Sixth Grade School (all participant and institutional names herein are pseudonyms, unless otherwise specified) transition from a one-to-one laptop initiative to a school-wide adoption of mobile learning. Using Rogers’s (1995) IDT and Wenger’s (1998) CoP theories, this study defined the adoption process as the manner through which an individual or group seeks and processes information about an innovation and then forms an attitude that leads to adoption or rejection. Participants included eight sixth-grade teachers whose …

A Correlation Analysis Of Faculty Interaction With Undergraduate Students In Online Courses And Student Course Completion Rates, Claudia Restiano

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The extent in which a teacher communicates with his or her students in an online setting may affect student course completion rates. The increased use of online courses and degree programs at the post-secondary level has fundamentally changed the way faculty members and students interact, and ultimately may impact student course completion rates. Course completion is an aspect of student retention. The purpose of this quantitative correlational research study was to analyze the correlation between faculty interaction with online undergraduate students in required introductory English composition courses and student completion rates in those courses. Blackboard is a learning management system …

A Proposal For A Local Church Infertility Ministry, Melanie Gruner

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

How is the church addressing the difficult issue of infertility? Pastors may not be adequately trained to handle the demon of infertility, which is a growing epidemic. Thirteen Scriptural remedies for the struggle of infertility are proposed in the form of a manual which is designed to equip and be implemented by churches. The hope is that churches will effectuate either a group dynamic or individual canvas for a detailed analysis of what Scripture teaches about infertility. Research involves surveying pastors and infertile couples about what they believe is being done in churches to relieve the sting of infertility. Results …

Adoption Of Ereaders By Senior Adults: A Phenomenological Study, Dale Tysor

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

A majority of the previous research on older adults and their use of technology has focused on computers and the Internet. Most of the eReader-specific research examined younger participants in an academic setting. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to describe the perspectives of Georgia senior adults in their adoption of eReaders. The adoption of an eReader was generally defined as the acquisition of an eReader, followed by the selecting, downloading, navigating, and reading of eBooks using an eReader. This study took place in a public library and was designed to answer 3 research questions: (a) What are contributing …

Understanding Factors Contributing To The Persistence Of First-Generation College Students From Appalachian Distressed Counties: A Phenomenological Study, Richard Hunley

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

• Appalachia
• Distressed
• Endurance
• First-Generation
• Persistence

The Relationship Between Hexaco Personality Traits And Cyberbullying Perpetrators And Victims, David Smith

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

There is an increasing problem in high schools across America with the threat of cyberbullying from both a perpetration and victimization standpoint. Cyberbullying is a problem for many youth because of the inability to escape the use of technology and the incapability of escaping the online community. This non-experimental predictive correlational study examined personality traits, using the HEXACO personality structure model, to predict the susceptibility of freshman high school students either being perpetrators or victims of cyberbullying. There were a total of 256 participants who took the Cyberbullying and Online Aggression survey along with the HEXACO personality model survey. This …

A Collective Case Study Of Expectant Father Fears, Robert Grand

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This qualitative, collective case study explored how men perceive fears of childbirth and level of preparedness to become fathers. An additional purpose of this study was to explore the perceptions of expectant and new fathers with regard to how the Boot Camp for New Dads (BCND) program helped them to alleviate pregnancy fears and develop preparedness to become a parent. Data collection consisted of semi-structured interviews and focus groups conducted after the participants completed a three-hour boot camp for the BCND program. Additionally, participants completed the Kessler-6, a short questionnaire designed to glean their perspectives of fears after the childbirth. …

A Phenomenological Study Of Adult Reading Motivation, Audra Blyseth

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to describe the factors that influence young adults’ (aged 18 to 24) reading experiences, reading habits and behavior, and desire to read. Three research questions guided this study: (a) How do young adults between the ages of 18 and 24 describe the factors that influence their reading experiences? (b) How do participants describe the effect of factors on their reading habits and behavior? (c) How do participants describe the effect of factors on their personal desire to read? Participants included young adults between the ages of 18 and 24. Data collection methods …

The Relationship Between Elementary Teachers’ Years Of Experience And Their Self-Perceived Pedagogical Competence In Alabama Elementary Schools, Amy Jones

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Years of teaching experience have been found to increase student achievement more than advanced degrees, formal training, and in-service professional development. Additionally, teachers with high pedagogical competence levels have achieved excellent academic results and have also taught and led students to be well-rounded. It has been competent teachers who have lain at the heart of the educational process, as a bridge between the curriculum and the learner. The purpose of this correlational study was to determine whether a statistically significant relationship exists between years of teaching experience and elementary teachers’ self-perceived effective pedagogical competence. A convenience sample of 159 elementary …

Effects Of Student Family Structure And Attendance On Academic Achievement In Middle Grades Mathematics, Bobby Sneed

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this study was to explore the impact student attendance and family structure had on academic achievement as measured by the Georgia mandated criterion referenced competency test (CRCT) in middle grades mathematics. There were many factors that could have come into play regarding the level of academic achievement each child experiences. With federal, state and local entities placing increased pressure on schools and educators to be more accountable, specifically in the form of student test scores, it seemed imperative to understand the external variables that may negatively impact student learning potential. Utilizing the student’s family structure data reported …