Digital Commons Network^™

The Effectiveness Of Computer-Assisted Instruction In Developmental Mathematics, Kathy Dye Spradlin

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Colleges and universities are trying alternative instructional approaches to improve the teaching of developmental mathematics with the goal of increasing the number of students who have the skills and knowledge required for college-level math courses and for the twenty-first century workforce. Computers and the internet make possible new methods of delivering instruction so students will have choices of when, where, and how they learn math. The purpose of this study was to compare academic performance of students enrolled in a developmental mathematics course using traditional instruction, traditional instruction supplemented with computer-assisted instruction, and online distance learning. In addition, gender differences …

When Calling A Pastor To Succeed A "Legend" Pastor, Ronald Kovack

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Dr. D. James Kennedy founded the world famous Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. His ministry spanned fifty years and he launched a number of separate related ministries: schools, seminaries, television ministry and a personal evangelism program known as Evangelism Explosion.

The church discovered that calling a pastor to succeed a very influential pastor was not going to an easy task. This paper looks at the process and problems that resulted into the search and selection of a new pastor. The research examines the experience of seven other churches that had influential pastors leave and documents their results.

Narrow Your Focus: A Strategy For Revitalization Of A Small To Medium Size Plateaued Or Declining Traditional Church, Johnny Lamar Kendrick

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This thesis attempts to identify reproducible principles for the revitalization of small to medium sized plateaued or declining traditional churches. These principles were identified by the author in his experience serving as the pastor of three small to medium sized plateaued traditional churches. The principles involve the importance of preparation for Sunday morning worship and Sunday school, the importance of developing leadership, the importance of evaluating and implementing successful ministries, and the importance of indentifying with the community. The principles were studied and validated in the author's interaction with two churches during a year of research in which he consulted …

Relationships Between Students’ Fitness Levels And Academic Achievement, Theresa Linam Roberts

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study compared fifth grade students' physical fitness levels to academic achievement based on the premise that health and physical fitness has an effect on one's ability to learn and achieve academically. Due to No Child Left Behind and the mounting pressures to reach Adequate Yearly Progress, many school officials view non-assessed activities like physical education and recess as unnecessary, consequently creating a case for the elimination of any subject that is not directly measured through standardized testing. Finding a link between fitness and academic achievement may cause educational leaders to reevaluate time spent during the school day. Data was …

The Influence Of Acculturation, Religiosity, And Forgiveness Style On The General Health Of Korean Americans, Woohyun Daniel Chong

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The current study investigated the psychometric utility of several psychological instruments for the Korean population and explored the relationship between acculturation, religiosity, unforgiveness, forgiveness style, and general health of Koreans. Confirmatory Factor Analyses (CFA) were conducted to investigate the appropriateness of the Religious Commitment Inventory-10 (RCI-10), the Transgression-Related Interpersonal Motivations Scale - 12-Item Form (TRIM-R and TRIM-A), the Rumination about an Interpersonal Offense Scale (RIO), the Decisional Forgiveness Scale (DFS), and the Emotional Forgiveness Scale (EFS) with collected data from 273 Korean Americans and Koreans. Several instruments required item adjustments to meet CFA criteria. Multiple regression analyses indicated that factors …

Virtual Learning: Is It Conducive To Student Achievement?, Janie Mae Sheeley Johnson Torain

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The use of technology to compel student learning has become an increasingly central component of teaching, learning, and school improvement efforts. What exactly does virtual learning entail? How does it integrate with curriculum and instruction? Does it present organizational challenges to educational institutions? This study examined unit test scores, end-of-course grades, instructors' opinions of teaching online, students' satisfaction with online course, and instructor interaction, as measures of the effectiveness of online and face-to-face curriculum delivery on student achievement. A series of t tests conducted to compare the mean scores of the face-to-face and the online formats provided data to determine …

An Analysis Of Dissertations On Church Growth Published During The Past Five Years (2004-2008), Kyoung Kim

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this thesis was to analyze dissertations published during five years (2004-2008) and identify recent research trends and principles related to church growth. This was research on researches analyzing 141 dissertations posted on ProQuest Dissertation and Theses. Coding sheets by content analysis and statistical data converted into percentage were utilized. Most dissertations were descriptive and pre-experimental researches. Case study and survey were common. Theological majors and schools, Korean researchers, 10 target subjects, and three denominations covered the majority. Teaching and leadership were prevalent principles. Homogeneous unity was never seen. New principles were associated with social, personal, or cultural …

The Benefits Of Socio-Rhetorical Analysis For Expository Preaching, Joseph R. Buchanan

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Over the past twenty years, the field of Biblical studies has witnessed a marked increase in the interest devoted to the subject of socio-rhetorical analysis. Much of the work done one this subject reveals that it has great potential for shedding new light on the Biblical text. However, in order for this type of analysis to reach its maximum value for the church it must be integrated with the field of homiletics. Surprisingly, a review of the literature reveals that little attention has been given to showing how this type of analysis can be incorporated into the ministry expository preaching. …

An Educational Methodology And Program For The Mitigation Of Compassion Fatigue For Combat Deploying Chaplains, Paul Brian Greer

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Combat deployment presents unique challenges to military chaplains. One such challenge relates to the Vicarious Traumatization, often called "Compassion Fatigue," faced by chaplains who minister to service members experiencing combat-related trauma. There is minimal literature addressing compassion-related stress for clergy, especially those working with combat trauma survivors. Much of the research and literature available has been limited to those in emergency services, medical and mental health professions. This groundbreaking project will draw upon the latest literature, research and empirical data, culminating in an educational methodology and program for compassion stress management for military chaplain combat deployment rotation care.

Science Standardized Achievement Tests: The Relationship Between Publishers, Textbook Completion, Admission Standards And Science Test Scores Of Seventh Through Ninth Grade Students In Faccs Schools, Sharon Javonne Nix

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Scaled scores from the Stanford Achievement Test Series, Tenth Edition were examined in this causal-comparative study to determine if science publishers in Florida Association of Christian Colleges and Schools (FACCS), textbook completion rates, and admission standards affect standardized test scores. Administrators from 34 schools in FACCS participated in the study by returning an original eleven-question survey instrument to help ascertain what differences or relationships affect standardized test scores. Nine Mann-Whitney tests, one for each grade level in seventh through ninth, did not reveal a significant difference on hypotheses 1a-3c. Publishers (BJ U Press, A Beka Book, A.C.E., Glencoe, Prentice Hall), …

The Completion Of Advanced Placement Courses As An Indicator Of Academic Success In First-Year College Students, Sean Michael Preston

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this study was to determine if Advanced Placement (AP) courses were an indicator of academic success in first-year college freshmen. A quantitative analysis of a twenty-one question survey was conducted in order to understand how AP classes create a successful high school graduate for the academic rigors of a postsecondary institution. The survey was administered to one-hundred first-year college freshmen at a large suburban state university in Georgia. The results of the quantitative survey yielded information in support of the research hypothesis and rejected the null hypothesis. The researcher was mindful of threats to both internal and …

Bullying In Public Schools In Missouri, David A. Copeland

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The research conducted sought to find evidence and data to support or lack of support to the following questions: Do school administrators perceive a problem with bullying in their schools in Missouri? Is there a relationship between the victim of bullying and the learning process? Do female adolescents engage in cyber bullying more than male adolescents? Do public schools in Missouri have policies in place that address bullying? The researcher used the Olweus Bullying Prevention Program survey on bullying. The study examined the perceptions and beliefs of the superintendents in the State of Missouri concerning bullying and student responses from …

Three Intra-Departmental Ncate Reviews: A Case Study, Sharon Boylan Hahnlen

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This Action Research case study examined the relationship of the specialty professional association accreditation process to curricular revisions in content concentrations which service both teacher licensure degree candidates and non-licensure degree candidates at a particular liberal arts institution of higher education. It sought to answer the question, "Does the SPA/NCATE accreditation process, as experienced by the content faculty at a particular liberal arts institution of higher education in three licensure programs, contribute to the NCLB Highly Qualified Teachers mandate through curricular change?" through the examination of the NCATE review process, as experienced during the preparation of and subsequent responses to …

The Most Evangelistic Kentucky Baptist Churches In Eastern Kentucky, Paul R. Badgett

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this project is to acknowledge the value and role of the smaller church in Eastern Kentucky as it relates to reaching people for Christ. According to Gary England, Richland Southern Baptist Church in Peoria, Illinois, the average size of a Southern Baptist Church is around one hundred active members. This means that the majority of Southern Baptists are being reached for the kingdom of God by the smaller church. Almost all of the churches in Eastern Kentucky fall into this small church classification. Therefore, this project will attempt to deal with the smaller work, and will seek …

Bridging Academic Writing With Service-Learning: Measuring Student Perceptions And Learning Outcomes Of An Academic Writing Course, Karen Gabrielle Johnson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this study was to determine if there was a significant difference between students who completed a service-learning component and those who did not complete a service-learning component in the areas of student achievement of learning outcomes and perceptions of the course. Proponents of service-learning claim that students write higher quality papers and are more engaged, motivated, and satisfied when they complete a service-learning component. However, these findings are largely based on anecdotal and qualitative evidence that lack empirical evidence to strengthen these claims. This study employed a quasi-experimental design using static group comparison to measure differences between …

The Effect Of School Size On The Utilization Of Educational Technologies, Daniel Nelson Patton

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of school size, as defined by student enrollment and by total school budget, on the utilization of educational technologies. The focus group for this investigation was Christian schools that were further delineated by three criteria: (a) membership, (b) scope of program, and (c) geographic location. Membership was schools that were members of the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI). Scope of program was schools with comprehensive programs. Geographic location was schools in two ACSI regions. The survey instrument covered 23 categorical questions, several of which contained sub-questions. Survey data including …

Developing A Plan To Disciple International Students, Donald E. Bader

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

A current literature review demonstrates that only a limited amount of information is available for missionaries striving to disciple international students attending universities throughout the United States. Therefore, this project attempts to develop a discipleship plan based firmly upon Scripture, focusing particularly on the life and teachings of Jesus as an essential resource for international student ministry. Incorporating these insights, along with the suggestions from discipleship literature and campus missionaries, the plan presents a biblical approach to discipleship that specifically applies to international student ministry in Milwaukee. The project concludes with a thorough evaluation of the plan and several recommended …

Improving Student Engagement: Use Of The Interactive Whiteboard As An Instructional Tool To Improve Engagement And Behavior In The Junior High School Classroom, Georgia Lyn Morgan

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study examined the impact of interactive whiteboard use on student engagement and appropriate at-task behaviors of junior high school students. Two hundred twenty-six students at two public schools in northeast Florida were observed during the second quarter of the school year. Data were collected using an at-task checklist, and students completed an attitude survey regarding their perception of their own engagement and enjoyment with interactive whiteboard use. Significant differences were noted in student behavior between instruction without interactive whiteboard use and instruction with interactive whiteboard use. No significant correlations were found between the variables gender and ethnicity and improved …

The Effects Of Participation In Athletics On Academic Performance Among High School Sophomores And Juniors, Lee Sitkowski

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Athletics and academic performance has been studied at length over the years in the literature. Despite the mostly university level research conducted, no consensus has been reached regarding the impact of athletic participation on academic performance at the high school level. As a result, the relationship between the in season and out of season school academic performance of high school sophomores and juniors in one high school was investigated in this study. It was determined that there was a significant relationship that existed between academic performance, measured by GPA, and athletic participation. Through an analysis of 249 high school sophomore …

Fire/Emergency Medical Services And Coping Methods: Mitigating Traumatic Stress Symptomatology, William Mark Holland

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Firefighters and Emergency Medical Services (EMS) professionals must cope with a variety of job-related stressors. One significant stressor for fire/EMS providers involves exposure to personally disturbing incidents (PDIs). To manage the untoward effects of exposure to PDIs, fire/EMS professionals use a variety of coping methods. In this study, the effectiveness of various coping methods utilized by fire/EMS professionals for mitigating the negative effects of exposure to PDIs was examined. This study provides some clarity by identifying the subjective distress associated with certain PDIs and pinpointing detrimental coping methods of fire/EMS personnel through scores on the 28-item General Health Questionnaire and …

Parent And Community Involvement: A Case Study, Cynthia Crites

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This dissertation is a description of a case study of parent and community involvement and the impact of that involvement on education. The study is based upon the observations, interviews, and reflections of the writer in one elementary school as a plan was implemented to increase parent and community involvement in that school. The primary methods of data collection were structured, open-ended interviews, transcribed minutes from various school-based committees, attendance logs, and event participant logs. The writer interviewed the school’s principal, four parents whose children attend the study school, five individual teachers, a focus group of five teachers, the school’s …

The Application Of Transformational Leadership Among Christian School Leaders In The Southeast And The Mid-Atlantic North Regions, Dan L. Bragg

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Transformational Leadership is part of a growing body of research that is having impact in leadership development in every industry and service organization. The Christian schools leader can also take advantage of the ideas that integrate so well into Biblical principles. This causal comparative study utilizing correlation and parametric statistics (ANOVA) along with descriptive cross-sectional observation investigated the differences of Transformational leadership in two distinct regions to understand how transformational leadership responded to differing cultures. This research has taken a deeper look into the elements of transformational leadership that must be enacted for a Christian school to succeed and thrive …

Examination And Survey Of User Satisfaction With Internet-Based Learning Compared To Traditional Classroom-Based Learning, Melinda Carol Kushniroff

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Abstract Melinda Kushniroff. AN EXAMINATION AND SURVEY OF USER SATISFACTION WITH INTERNET-BASED LEARNING COMPARED TO TRADITIONAL CLASSROOM-BASED LEARNING. (Under the direction of Dr. Clarence Holland) School of Education, April, 2008. Although some research has been done in the internet-based learning discipline, user satisfaction with internet-based classes compared to traditional classroom-based learning requires more attention and research due to the substantial and continued growth in this area. During the 2007 Fall semester, 720 university undergraduate students, internet-based and traditional classroom-based, were randomly sampled with the only requirement that the students be participating in at least one internet class and one traditional …

Education For Woman’S Ministries: A Rationale For And Review Of Woman’S Ministries For The Beginning Of The 21st Century, Monica Dawn Rose

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this project is to provide a theoretical basis for the development of programs for women in the church and Christian ministries. The author will approach this project by first defining women’s ministries as well as presenting the two predominant evangelical views of women in ministry. This project will also provide an overview of issues women encounter and the needs women have in today’s culture. After presenting a need analysis, the author will provide an overview of academic institutions training women in the field of women’s studies and/or ministries as well as curriculum being used to equip women …

The Relationship Between Boards Of Education And The Superintendents In Michigan's Upper Peninsula: The Superintendents' Perspectives, Timothy D. Hall

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The relationship between a board of education and superintendent is one of the most critical in a school district. Research has shown that a positive working relationship between a school board and superintendent has positive effects on a school district. This study examined the perceived relationships between the superintendents of the school districts in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and their boards of education, from the perspective of the superintendents. School districts in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula face declining enrollments and budgetary shortfalls. The intent of the study was to determine if the superintendents’ perception of their relationships with their boards …

A History And Evaluation Of The Revolution Generation Youth Ministries Mentorship Program, William Lee Barnett

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

A review of academic and Para-church organizations reveals that few programs exist that provide a balance of academic and professional preparation for youth ministers. Revolution Generation Youth Ministries has attempted to design such a program. The purpose of this project is to explore the history and design of the Revolution Generation Mentorship Program and evaluate it in comparison to such programs. This evaluation will be accomplished through a programmatic comparison with the standards of the Association for Biblical Higher Education, accredited college programs and other internship programs. The information gathered will be utilized to strengthen the Revolution Generation Mentorship Program.

The Role Of Preaching In Church Growth, In Hwan Kim

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this dissertation is to illuminate the role of biblical preaching in church growth and change, and to understand how to better facilitate growth and change in Korean Protestant Churches. The association between preaching and church growth was investigated and delineated based on literature reviews, on the studies and sermon collections of Dong-won Lee, senior pastor of Global Mission Church, and on the questionnaire survey from members of GMC. I would like this study to contribute to the restoration of biblical preaching, church growth, and church transition in cell church ministry within Korean Protestant Churches.

The Enemy In The Screen: A Collective Case Study On Perpetrators Of Internet Crimes Against Children, Janet M. Brown

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This collective case study explored the phenomenon of Internet crimes against children from the perspectives of select Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) investigators. The research focused on three questions: (1) How do select investigators describe perpetrators of Internet crimes against children? (2) What, if any, common characteristics do participants identify among the perpetrators and (3) How do participants' descriptions compare and/or contrast? Data was obtained utilizing semistructured, conversational interviews with eight ICAC investigators. Three main themes emerged from these interviews: general demographic descriptions, motivations and behaviors. Perpetrators of Internet crimes against children were found to be predominantly non-Hispanic males. Other …

Role Of Spirituality In Persons Choosing A Career In Education: Calling As A Motivating Factor, Jared Bigham

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The job of a teacher undergoes more scrutiny and accountability with each passing year. The esteem for the profession and extrinsic rewards do not increase commensurately to the ever growing challenges that teachers encounter. It therefore raises the question what motivates a teacher to enter such a profession? Many teachers in the profession say they answered a calling to teach. This phenomenological study examined the role that spirituality plays in persons choosing a career in education. Participants were chosen from college students who were in their methods semester of training. The participants were interviewed, and the dialogue was analyzed for …

The Relationship Between Selected Predictor Variables And Successful Completion Of Online Courses, Murray Williams

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between selected variables (age, gender, ethnicity, marital status, financial assistance, student status, number of previous online courses, current online course load) and grade achievement of nontraditional, online students at a selected theological institution. Students who received a grade of A, B, or C were categorized as passing or successfully completing the online courses. Students who received a grade of D, F, W, WD, WP, or WF were categorized as failing or not completing the on line courses. Data for the study was collected from the institution’s enrollment/student database. The participants …