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Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

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Promotion Of Leaders Based On Skills Not Related To Leadership, Emily Kathryn Stites Feb 2021

Promotion Of Leaders Based On Skills Not Related To Leadership, Emily Kathryn Stites

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

A qualitative case study allowed for understanding the skills and achievements desired for individuals holding formal leadership positions in rural businesses located in Indiana. The general problem to be addressed was leaders being promoted based upon achievements and skills not related to leadership resulting in diminished morale and lower productivity. The purpose of the study was to add to the body of knowledge by expanding on the understanding of reasons behind promoting leaders based on non-leadership skills and abilities and the impact it has on employee morale and company productivity. Three primary research questions evaluated the skills and achievements of …


Proximity Search Techniques To Reduce Cognitive Load: A Case Study, Donald G. Campbell Feb 2021

Proximity Search Techniques To Reduce Cognitive Load: A Case Study, Donald G. Campbell

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative case study was to explore the usefulness of higher-level search techniques to reduce students’ cognitive load. The central question of the study is, “What causes students of higher education to avoid using syntax operator commands to provide better search results?” The participants in the study were new students at a community college in northern Arizona. As defined by Sweller (1988), cognitive load theory indicates that the reduction of cognitive load increases learning and reduces stress, guided this study. The sample size was five participants. Data were collected through semi structured individual interviews in a closed …


Multicultural Competence In Vocational Rehabilitation: The Role Of Multicultural Awareness Among Black Vrcs, Regina Walden Alston Feb 2021

Multicultural Competence In Vocational Rehabilitation: The Role Of Multicultural Awareness Among Black Vrcs, Regina Walden Alston

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Over the past 30 years In the United States, multiculturalism has expanded due to a larger number of diverse populations. In this qualitative research project, the researcher explored the multicultural awareness development of Black vocational rehabilitation counselors (VRCs). The participants consisted of six Black VRCs. The data were analyzed using phenomenological theory methodology. In vocational rehabilitation, counselors are not considered competent unless they comprehend multicultural counseling competence, have the proper educational backgrounds, and are achieving successful employment outcomes with culturally diverse clients. Research shows that the component of multicultural awareness development is considered the promising, yet essential contributor to overall …


Secondary Content Teachers' Perceptions Of Instructing English For Speakers Of Other Languages (Esol) Students: A Phenomenological Study, Wendy Lane Bailey Feb 2021

Secondary Content Teachers' Perceptions Of Instructing English For Speakers Of Other Languages (Esol) Students: A Phenomenological Study, Wendy Lane Bailey

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to describe the lived experiences of secondary content teachers who instruct English Language Learner (ELL) students. ELLs are the fastest growing population of students in the United States. As this group continues to grow, so do the challenges of providing equitable education. Although most schools have adopted one or more models of instruction for ELLs, there is no universal model. High stakes testing and improved college readiness curriculum are designed to provide higher expectations for student achievement. However, ELL students continue to fall behind their native English-speaking peers in math and reading. Secondary …


A Collective Case Study Of Factors That Promote Academic Motivation Among High-Performing, Economically Disadvantaged Middle School Students, Gregory M. Shields Jr Feb 2021

A Collective Case Study Of Factors That Promote Academic Motivation Among High-Performing, Economically Disadvantaged Middle School Students, Gregory M. Shields Jr

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative case study was to explore the influencing factors that promote academic motivation among high-performing, economically disadvantaged middle school students. Poverty affects students in various ways, such as socially, emotionally, and cognitively. Due to the adverse experiences stemming from poverty, many students lack motivation and confidence in their academic abilities. On the contrary, some students overcome the adversity of poverty by demonstrating resilience. The following central question was used to further investigate the study: What factors promote academic motivation among high-performing, economically disadvantaged middle school students? The theory guiding this study is self-determination theory (Deci & …


A Phenomenological Study: The Experiences Of Homeschool Students Who Persisted In College At A Faith-Based Institution, Venda Kaye Johnson Feb 2021

A Phenomenological Study: The Experiences Of Homeschool Students Who Persisted In College At A Faith-Based Institution, Venda Kaye Johnson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to describe the experiences of homeschool students who persisted in college at a faith-based institution in the Southeastern United States. The theory guiding this study was Tinto’s student integration model as it focused on students’ integration into campus life to increase persistence in college. The central question for this study was the following: What are the experiences of homeschool students who persist in college? The participants in this study were recent students who have graduated college within the last five years and had self-reported as a homeschool student upon admission. There was …


The Role Of Leadership On Corporate Governance, John Brackett Feb 2021

The Role Of Leadership On Corporate Governance, John Brackett

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Corporate governance and internal controls over the accounting and financial reporting processes are critical to timely and accurate financial data reporting. Sheikh (2019) concluded that internal controls establish accepted practices, manage risk choices in decision-making, and improve ongoing monitoring activities to ensure compliance with laws, regulations, and company policy. Wang and Zhou (2016) identified leadership as a critical component of corporate governance and concluded that a company’s accounting process and related controls were interdependent with enterprise management and directly correlated to the sustainability of operations and business success. The Board of Directors and the Chief Audit Executives are responsible for …


Sons Of Nehemiah: Raising The Level Of Leadership In Ten Pastor Revitalizers Of The Montgomery Baptist Association, Donald Neal Hughes Feb 2021

Sons Of Nehemiah: Raising The Level Of Leadership In Ten Pastor Revitalizers Of The Montgomery Baptist Association, Donald Neal Hughes

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

There are churches in America seeking vitality through the restorative and refreshing power of the Holy Spirit. The present term of renewal is called “church revitalization.” Each struggling congregation has or is securing a pastor revitalizer. The question many will ask is, “Are these holy shepherds high capacity leaders? Will they lead the church with a compelling vision, a devoted work ethic, a contagious passion, and a kingdom focus based on a community context?” The thesis project researches ten pastor revitalizers from Montgomery, Alabama. The researcher gives them the name Sons of Nehemiah to build rapport and accentuate Nehemiah’s biblical …


Predictive Effects Of Physician Assistant Students' Pre-Admission Direct Patient Contact Hours On Performance In Supervised Clinical Practice Experiences, Gerald Robert Weniger Feb 2021

Predictive Effects Of Physician Assistant Students' Pre-Admission Direct Patient Contact Hours On Performance In Supervised Clinical Practice Experiences, Gerald Robert Weniger

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The demand for physician assistants (PAs) is predicted to rise because of the growing shortage of physicians. PA educational programs are tasked with producing graduates who are skilled within six domains of competency: 1) medical knowledge, 2) professionalism, 3) interpersonal and communication skills, 4) patient care, 5) practice-based learning and improvement, and 6) systems-based practice. The Physician Assistant National Certifying Exam only assesses two of the six competencies: medical knowledge and professionalism. Without much time in a curriculum to teach the ‘softer skills’ like communication and interpersonal skills, many PA programs require pre-admission patient contact experience in order to at …


Millennials In The Workforce: An Examination Of Motivation And Behavior, Josephine L. Bennett Feb 2021

Millennials In The Workforce: An Examination Of Motivation And Behavior, Josephine L. Bennett

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

In recent years there has been much dialogue about retaining millennials. This dialogue has been fueled by a growing concern over millennial turnover trends. Because millennials have been said to have different work values than previous generations and have demonstrated behaviors outside of what employers describe as “norms” there has been much difficulty with understanding the turnover behavior of this generation. Sourced in motivation theory, this study sought to examine how the turnover intention behavior of millennials is related to rewards, specifically intrinsic and extrinsic rewards. Data from the 2016 Federal Employment Viewpoint Survey was examined to meet the objectives …


Hispanic First-Generation College Student Perceptions Of University Support Programs, Katelynn Elizabeth Wheeler Feb 2021

Hispanic First-Generation College Student Perceptions Of University Support Programs, Katelynn Elizabeth Wheeler

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this case study was to understand the Hispanic first-generation student perspectives on provided support programs at universities across the United States. Only 54% of Hispanic students graduate from public universities within six years, and the rates are drastically lower at private for-profit schools. Additionally, for those Hispanic students who do graduate from college, the chances of continuing to graduate school are slim, with only ten percent of Hispanic students enrolling in graduate school, compared to 64% of white students. With statistics such as these, universities need to create useful and valuable support systems for Hispanic students that …


From Spectator To Servant: Addressing The Heart Of The Christian For Service Within The Church Based Upon Ephesians 5:18-21 And Biblical Principles Of Servanthood, David Warren Di Raddo Feb 2021

From Spectator To Servant: Addressing The Heart Of The Christian For Service Within The Church Based Upon Ephesians 5:18-21 And Biblical Principles Of Servanthood, David Warren Di Raddo

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

In the ninth chapter of Matthew's Gospel, verses thirty-six through thirty-eight, Jesus said to His disciples that the fields were ripe for harvest, but the workers are few. This dissertation project will address the question of why today, as in the days of Jesus, workers in the church continue to be few in number. Specifically, what factors have contributed to the majority of those who attend church becoming spectators rather than servants, and what will change the heart of the individual? This study will include three primary data collection methods comprised of a pre- and post-intervention questionnaire, a ten-question survey …


Prevalence Of Cyberbullying Among Traditional Undergraduate Students Attending Faith-Based Universities: A Causal-Comparative Study, Susan Alice Hayes-Mcelroy Feb 2021

Prevalence Of Cyberbullying Among Traditional Undergraduate Students Attending Faith-Based Universities: A Causal-Comparative Study, Susan Alice Hayes-Mcelroy

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Cyberbullying among traditional undergraduate students is a relatively new issue that involves the safety of postsecondary students. The purpose of this study was to provide statistical data to faith-based universities that relate the prevalence of cyberbullying victimization experiences and the prevalence of cyberbullying offending experiences of traditional undergraduate students to biological gender (female/male) and level of religiosity (higher/lower), and to add to the small body of research conducted among this demographic. In this quantitative, causal-comparative study, traditional undergraduate students were recruited from two faith-based universities in the southern United States. Level of religiosity and cyberbullying prevalence were determined through responses …


Understanding And Equipping Female Leadership At Prosperous Temple Church Of God In Christ, Jonathan R. Hackett Feb 2021

Understanding And Equipping Female Leadership At Prosperous Temple Church Of God In Christ, Jonathan R. Hackett

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Debates on whether women qualify to take up church leadership have persisted over the years. In 2016, there was an instance in Alabama where a woman was appointed as the assistant pastor of a church. Within three months of her service, the number of congregants dropped. Efforts by the church management to unravel the cause of the decline revealed that a majority of the people, particularly women, who canceled their church attendance were uncomfortable with women taking up leadership positions. The case informed this research, which will use the case study of Prosperous Temple Church of God in Christ. The …


Christian Liberty, Harry Allotey Feb 2021

Christian Liberty, Harry Allotey

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Christian liberty is freedom from the law, made possible through the finished work of Christ. This project seeks to present a biblical and theological explanation of Christian liberty and develop concepts that apply to the believer’s everyday experience. It is important to address the ever-present dangers of legalism and libertinism and their impact on the Christians and churches. The project focuses on a New Testament explanation of Christian liberty, drawing lessons from both the deliberations of the Jerusalem Council of 49 A.D. and the Pauline thesis to the Galatians. What happens after a person has been freed from the demands …


Biblical Concepts In Action: A Case For Discipleship In The Worship Ministry, Wendall D. Reed Jan 2021

Biblical Concepts In Action: A Case For Discipleship In The Worship Ministry, Wendall D. Reed

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative historical study is to examine the discipleship of the worship ministry in the local church according to biblical principles of discipleship. Despite the biblical examples of discipleship benefits, worship ministry personnel are often not included in discipleship efforts from church leadership. The leadership and the congregation alike may assume their spiritual maturity. The preaching ministry and the worship ministry are the most public act of worship viewable by congregants. Some worship ministry volunteers and staff may feel they are expected to have already been discipled and may be reluctant to pursue discipleship engagement. This study …


Social-Emotional Learning And Its Relationship To High School Student Academic Achievement In Stem Courses, Maurice Lavelle Mcdougald Jan 2021

Social-Emotional Learning And Its Relationship To High School Student Academic Achievement In Stem Courses, Maurice Lavelle Mcdougald

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this study was to determine the correlation of high school student social-emotional learning and its relationship to academic achievement in STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) courses as moderated by gender and racial groups and within a rural school in the Sandhills area of North Carolina. Using a quasi-experimental variable-centered design, 202 Junior Reserve Officer Corps students participated in this research. The researcher sought to answer: (1) Do individual high school students' self-perceptions of social-emotional learning skills influence academic achievement in traditional STEM courses? (2) Are there significant variations of individual high school students' self-perception of social-emotional learning …


Predictors Of The Treatment Retention And Quality Of Recovery From Opioid Use Disorder Using Buprenorphine In Medication-Assisted Treatment: A Pilot Study Of The Effects Of Hope, Grit, And Readiness To Change, John S. Pulliam Jan 2021

Predictors Of The Treatment Retention And Quality Of Recovery From Opioid Use Disorder Using Buprenorphine In Medication-Assisted Treatment: A Pilot Study Of The Effects Of Hope, Grit, And Readiness To Change, John S. Pulliam

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Opioid misuse remains at epidemic proportions in the United States and other countries. Buprenorphine has been found effective in treating opioid use disorder (OUD). Understanding the roles of personal characteristics and readiness to change in addiction treatment retention and quality of recovery could be beneficial in office-based medication-assisted treatment for OUD. Researchers have explored OUD treatment methods and outcomes and have examined various predictive factors in treatment results, including demographic, socioeconomic, and psychological variables. However, few characteristics have been found to be consistent indicators of treatment retention and recovery quality. The constructs of hope agency, hope pathways, grit, and readiness …


A Causal Comparative Study Of Burnout Among Public And Charter Elementary School Teachers In North Carolina, Kaleatha Roberts Jan 2021

A Causal Comparative Study Of Burnout Among Public And Charter Elementary School Teachers In North Carolina, Kaleatha Roberts

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this study was to examine the difference between the Maslach Burnout Inventory-Educators Survey (MBI-ES) scores of traditional public school teachers and those of public charter school teachers as measured by the three subscale levels of exhaustion, depersonalization, and personal accomplishment. A sample of 138 teachers from two school districts in North Carolina participated in this study by completing a demographic questionnaire and the MBI-ES. The total number of public schools in both districts totaled 118 and over 10 charter schools. The overall results of the independent t-tests indicate that there is no significant difference between traditional public …


Removing God From Public Schools-Beneficial Or Not, Angela Kay Constantine Jan 2021

Removing God From Public Schools-Beneficial Or Not, Angela Kay Constantine

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Despite the Constitution allowing for the removal of religious conceptions from public schools, the perspectives of most United States middle school-age kids show that the cultural shift towards scientific naturalism as the de facto worldview has impacted worship music in the Church. The worldview is one of worship that presents more as a concert than that of praise. The data, such as suicide statistics, show that there is a correlation between a negatively shifted moral valuation and the aversion, or inability, for the subject of God to be approached in the school setting (i.e., the science classroom) - even where …


Employee Perceptions Of Honesty And Integrity Within National Park Service Leadership, Christy Lea Strand Jan 2021

Employee Perceptions Of Honesty And Integrity Within National Park Service Leadership, Christy Lea Strand

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study focuses on employee perceptions of leadership honesty and integrity within the National Park Service in response to the 2018 Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey results. Answers to two questions on the survey returned highly negative reactions to employee perspectives on senior leaders’ honesty and integrity and low measures of employee motivation and commitment levels. The qualitative nature of the research presents a case study design that develops an understanding of negative employee perceptions of honesty and integrity within leadership and employee commitment and motivation. It addresses the general problem of negative employee perceptions of leadership honesty and integrity and …


The Rural Church As Community Support For Grandparents Raising Their Grandchildren, William Shane Cassida Jan 2021

The Rural Church As Community Support For Grandparents Raising Their Grandchildren, William Shane Cassida

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

A growing trend in rural communities located in the Southern Appalachian Mountains, as well as across much of the United States, is the significant increase in the number of grandparents that are being forced to accept the responsibility of raising their grandchildren due to a crisis within the family structure. The US Census Bureau cited in 2016 that over 2.5 million grandparents are helping with the responsibility of raising their grandchildren, and that 7.8 million children live in homes owned by their grandparents. This accounts for almost 10% of all children nationally. There is a current ministry need for churches …


Unhealthy Leadership In The Christian Church: A Study Of The Divorce Rate, Curtis William Carter Dec 2020

Unhealthy Leadership In The Christian Church: A Study Of The Divorce Rate, Curtis William Carter

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this project is to bring healing and direction to a particular area of the Christian church that is destroying marriages and greatly emotionally damaging children and families. This specific research will look at both the divorce rate in the secular community and the divorce rate in the Christian church, thus comparing and contrasting the two. While at the same time, showing how unhealthy leadership in the Christian church continues this damage. Furthermore, this research will also illustrate which gender is most likely filing for the divorces here in the 21st century and answer the questions why, where, …


A Transcendental Phenomenological Description Of Experiences Of Graduates Of Alternative High Schools Using An Exclusively Online Curriculum In North Carolina, Courtland Dwayne Coffer Dec 2020

A Transcendental Phenomenological Description Of Experiences Of Graduates Of Alternative High Schools Using An Exclusively Online Curriculum In North Carolina, Courtland Dwayne Coffer

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative transcendental phenomenological research was to describe the experiences of students of alternative North Carolina high schools as they transitioned from traditional conventional high schools to an exclusively online curriculum at alternative high schools and to understand the impact of that educational format on the students’ preparation to succeed as high school graduates. Schlossberg’s (1981) transition theory, grounded on the belief that life changes result in new behaviors and self-perceptions and that individuals differ in their ability to adapt to change, guided this study. Thirteen volunteer graduates from three counties in North Carolina were purposefully selected …


Professor-Student Relationships And The Perceived Influence On Motivation To Persist In Undergraduate Students: A Phenomenological Study, Tammy S. Hogan Dec 2020

Professor-Student Relationships And The Perceived Influence On Motivation To Persist In Undergraduate Students: A Phenomenological Study, Tammy S. Hogan

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Undergraduate students leaving their chosen field of study due to a lack of positive relationships between faculty and students is increasing at an alarming rate. The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenological study was to describe how undergraduate college students experience professor–student relationships and the influence of relationships on their motivation to persist in higher education. There is a significant amount of research examining the influence of relationships in the K–12 setting; however, research is lacking regarding the perceptions of college students and motivation to persist based on academic and social integration at the collegiate level. The theory guiding this study …


Organizational Strategies To Promote Nurse Resilience In The Acute Care Hospital Inpatient Setting: An Integrative Review, Marcia A. Depolo Dec 2020

Organizational Strategies To Promote Nurse Resilience In The Acute Care Hospital Inpatient Setting: An Integrative Review, Marcia A. Depolo

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Nurses practicing in acute care hospital environments are exposed to constant stressors from a variety of sources. Workplace stress can lead to unhealthy coping behaviors, illness, and burnout, with intent to leave the organization or the nursing profession altogether. Resilience-building strategies can be employed to foster coping, improve nurse wellbeing, increase job satisfaction, promote retention, and enhance quality patient outcomes. This integrative review provides a synthesis of scholarly publications on nursing resilience from January 2014 through October 2020. Themes to promote nursing resilience occurred at three levels: personal or individual, unit or group, and organizational. This paper will provide a …


A Bicultural Service Member/Civilian Identity And Motivations-Based Assessment Of Moral Injury In U.S. Military And Veteran Populations From America’S Longest Wars, Jamie Allison Mcnally Dec 2020

A Bicultural Service Member/Civilian Identity And Motivations-Based Assessment Of Moral Injury In U.S. Military And Veteran Populations From America’S Longest Wars, Jamie Allison Mcnally

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Experiences in war are often traumatic in nature. Over the past thirty years, research has resulted in increased understanding of these experiences and the unique trajectory that values-based, as opposed to fear-based, traumas can cause. This study investigates these values-based traumas and the mental health outcomes that may result in a syndrome known as moral injury. The current research examined the relationship between potentially morally injurious event exposure and mental health symptomology. Event exposure was conceptualized both as objective occurrences and as the subjective experience of events, with notable distinctions in significance of outcomes. After attempting to replicate previous research …


Who Is Leading Our Churches In Worship And Are They Ready? A Study On Worship Leading In The Free Will Baptist Denomination, James Anthony Cooper Sr Dec 2020

Who Is Leading Our Churches In Worship And Are They Ready? A Study On Worship Leading In The Free Will Baptist Denomination, James Anthony Cooper Sr

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Since the institution of Old Testament-Temple corporate worship, there has been someone assigned the task of leading congregational worship. The Chronicler records King David’s divisions of the sons of Asaph to be “set apart for service…under the direction of their father in the music in the house of the Lord.”1 Although for some churches, a full-time, salaried position is not feasible or there may not be enough existing duties to justify a paid position. In this case, the responsibility of leading worship falls to a person in the congregation who might have any type of background in music or an …


Latino Pastors And Their Spouses' Marital Satisfaction And Its Predicting Factors, Tanya Paniagua Dec 2020

Latino Pastors And Their Spouses' Marital Satisfaction And Its Predicting Factors, Tanya Paniagua

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The Latino population in the United States has been the primary driver of demographic growth in the country (Flores, 2017). With this increasing shift in America, it is important to investigate the unique strains on clergy families among Latino pastors as evidence suggests stress is a threat to marital satisfaction and its longevity (Randall & Bodenmann, 2009). Very little literature on marital dynamics has focused on Latino pastors; thus, a need exists for more research in examining how cultural values and acculturation impact marital satisfaction while considering the relationship between marital satisfaction and selected variables: affection, sexual satisfaction, communication, burnout, …


Implementation Of A Fall Risk Assessment Tool In Primary Practice May Decrease Fall Frequency In The Aging Population, Regina M. White Dec 2020

Implementation Of A Fall Risk Assessment Tool In Primary Practice May Decrease Fall Frequency In The Aging Population, Regina M. White

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this evidence-based project was to illustrate the benefits of utilizing a fall risk assessment tool during office visits for the aging population of a Midwestern U.S. primary care practice. Utilization of this tool helped minimize fall frequency, thus improved quality of health. The reduction in falls helped minimize unnecessary healthcare expenses. This manuscript identified a rationale for the project, specific tool utilization, outcome measures before and after implementation, limitations, and future application for practice. Provider compliance with tool utilization and frequency were measured. Multiple potential causes of falls and recommendations to minimize falls were identified with the …