Digital Commons Network^™

Experiences Of Looping For Students With Learning Disabilities: A Phenomenological Case Study, Laura C. Brown

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The problem is the academic, social, and emotional needs of students with learning disabilities are not being met within the general classroom. Looping, the practice of a teacher staying with the same group of students for two or more years, has been suggested as an educational approach designed to meet the needs of students with disabilities. The purpose of this research project was to examine the experiences of looping for students with learning disabilities from the perspectives of the looping teacher, the students with learning disabilities, and their parents. Therefore, a phenomenological case study design was utilized. The methods of …

The Effects Of Effort-Based And Ability-Based Reinforcement Cues On Student Perseverance, Rory Allen Boone

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study examined the impact of "ability-based" and "effort-based" verbal reinforcement cues prior to task engagement in traditional sixth grade students attending Christian schools in northwest Indiana. Perseverance levels were measured during a numerically-based, problem solving task by tracking time signatures (in seconds) of the first, second, and third use of restricted "clues." The research population (n = 102) was randomly assigned into two groups (ability-cued and effort-cued). Statistical significance was found at all three measurements. Target measurement one revealed ME = 518.7 (SD = 310.7), MA = 402.4 (SD = 293.5), with two sample t(100df) = 1.94, p = …

Sound Field Amplification: Effects On Managerial Time In Small Group Speech Therapy, Jeffrey Craig Meeks

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study addresses the use of speech amplification devices in speech therapy sessions. The major factor addressed is the impact that speech amplification has upon the managerial time of speech-language pathologists who provide therapy in small group sessions. This study measured the change in the amount of time speech-language pathologists spent on managerial tasks during small group speech therapy with the use of speech amplification equipment versus managerial time without the treatment. Managerial tasks included giving and repeating instructions, and behavior management. Results of the study suggest that there was significant improvement in student on-task behaviors, including a decrease in …

The Effect Of Single-Gender Education On The Achievement Of Sixth Grade Mathematics Students, Rhonda Lee Hill

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact on students' academic achievement when served with a single-gender instructional model. Sixth grade students enrolled in single-gender classes were compared to heterogeneous classes utilizing the Measures of Academic Progress (MAP). MAP data from the fall and spring administrations were evaluated to determine academic growth. In the analysis of growth in academic achievement between groups based upon MAP scores, there was no significant difference found between academic growth and gender. While there was group variability that may have impacted achievement scores, overall growth of MAP scores and the amount of achievement …

The Effects Of Physical Activity On Physical Fitness Of Northern Mississippi Middle School Students, Jerry Wayne Floate

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this study was to investigate the possible effects of physical activity scheduling of middle school students on their overall physical fitness. This quantitative causal comparative design was utilized to determine if significant differences existed in the FITNESSGRAM® subtests performances of 529 middle school students based on their enrollment in show choir, marching band, athletics, or physical education? Archival data was pulled from the school's physical education department. The results concluded that significant differences existed among the four physical activity classes on the seven FITNESSGRAM® subtests (1-mile run, push-ups, curl-ups, BMI, Trunk Lift, Left-Side Sit and reach, and …

The Psychometric Study Of The Attachment To God Inventory And The Brief Religious Coping Scale In The Taiwanese Christian Sample, Ju-Ping Chiao Yeo

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The present study investigates the psychometric properties and factor structures of two religious instruments, the Attachment to God Inventory (AGI) and the Brief Religious Coping Scale (Brief RCOPE), when applied to a sample of Christians living in the collectivist culture of Taiwan, and the usefulness of these two instruments for this sample. Translation, back-translation, and a pilot study were conducted on the two instruments, and needed adaptations were made. Three hundred and thirty-five subjects were recruited from eleven Protestant and Catholic churches in Taipei and a series of statistical analyses was conducted on the collected data. The results were compared …

Motivation And Dual Enrollment: An Analysis Of The Motivation Of High School Students To Participate In Dual Enrollment In Association Of Christian Schools International Schools, Mitchell Acri Salerno

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

A phenomenological study utilizing the Consensual Qualitative Research method was conducted to understand the motivation of high school students dually enrolled in high school and college, commonly referred to as dual enrollment, in relation to the Self-Determination Theory and to connect this motivation to research on personal calling. This qualitative study begins a research thread linking dual enrollment as a reform model to research on motivation and personal calling. The participants were high school students in two Association of Christian Schools International schools in the southeastern United States dual enrolled in an evangelical Christian university in the Southeast. Data was …

The Biblical Use Of Rewards As A Motivation For Christian Service, Bill Fredric Korver

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

A review of current cultural trends and Christian literature reveals very little writing and preaching about a motivation for personal obedience in general and vocational ministry in particular. The purpose of this project will be to demonstrate how one's motivation for service to Christ will be greatly enhanced when considering the possibility of gaining, or losing, rewards from Jesus Christ both in this life and more specifically at the future judgment seat of Christ. It will be the intent of this project to demonstrate conclusively that not only is this a scripturally sound motivation, but also that it is a …

Satisfaction And Contributing Factors In Satisfying Long-Term Marriage: A Phenomenological Study, Mark A. Nimtz

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This phenomenological study investigated the subjective marital experiences of five couples married for more than forty years. Select participants responded to interview questions pertaining to the phenomena of marriage satisfaction and marriage longevity. Participants completed the Dyadic Adjustment Scale (DAS) to assure the phenomenon of satisfaction was experienced in the marriage.

The data was collected using semi-structured, conversational, recorded, transcribed interviews in which the participants were interviewed separately by same-sex interviewers within the participant couples’ homes. The marriage experiences and answers were compared and contrasted.

Two major themes emerged from the participants’ descriptions of satisfaction: “Togetherness” and “Children/Grandchildren.” Additionally, two …

The Relationship Factor: Understanding The Role And Development Of Teacher-Student Relationships In Middle School, Tracy Davis Sands

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this grounded theory study was to explain the process by which relationships evolve between teachers and students in a suburban East Tennessee middle school. Based on the assumption that "knowledge is created through action and interaction" (Corbin & Strauss, 2008, p. 2), this study aimed to gain a deeper understanding of the relationships between middle school teachers and their students. A grounded theory approach (see Corbin & Strauss, 2008) was used to collect and analyze data, with the purpose of generating a theory that explains the phenomena. Because the study was driven by teachers' and students' voices, …

Effects Of Departmentalized Versus Traditional Settings On Fifth Graders' Math And Reading Achievement, Connie B. Yearwood

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this quantitative study was to determine whether fifth grade students who received instruction in a departmentalized setting achieved higher mean scale scores on the reading and math sections of the Georgia Criterion Referenced Competency Test (CRCT) than students who were taught in a traditional setting. Two one-way between-groups analyses of covariance were conducted to control for previous achievement while seeking to determine if a statistically significant difference existed in the mean reading and math scale scores of fifth grade students who were taught in different organizational structures. The findings suggest that students who received instruction in departmentalized …

The Effects Of A Remedial Math Intervention On Standardized Test Scores In Georgia Middle Schools, Chastity London Adams

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Schools are looking for interventions to improve academic achievement and increase test scores due to the requirements of No Child Left Behind. One such intervention in middle schools is remedial math. This causal comparative study examined the differences in the standardized test scores for at-risk students who receive remedial math instruction and at-risk students who do not receive this intervention. In addition, this study examined gender differences for the remedial math students. The Georgia Criterion-Referenced Competency Test of 293 at-risk seventh-grade students was used in this study. Using the previous year's standardized math test scores as a control variable, there …

The Effectiveness Of Process Oriented Guided Inquiry Learning To Reduce Alternate Conceptions In Secondary Chemistry, Michelle Jones Barthlow

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

A nonequivalent, control group, pretest-posttest design was used to investigate student achievement in secondary chemistry. This study investigated the effect of process oriented guided inquiry learning (POGIL) in high school chemistry to reduce alternate conceptions related to the particulate nature of matter versus traditional lecture pedagogy. Data were collected from chemistry students in four large high schools and analyzed using ANCOVA. The results show that POGIL pedagogy, as opposed to traditional lecture pedagogy, resulted in fewer alternate conceptions related to the particulate nature of matter. Male and female students in the POGIL group posted better posttest scores than their traditional …

What Factors Of Cultural Intelligence Predict Transformational Leadership: A Study Of International School Leaders, Emerson K. Keung

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

International schools are a microcosm of the globalization that is occurring throughout the world. Effective leadership is critical to ensure that schools are successful in accomplishing their missions. This study examines if there is a relationship between cultural intelligence and effective leadership, defined as transformational leadership, in international school leaders, and if so, what factor(s) of cultural intelligence best predicts transformational leadership in international school leaders. International school leaders received an online survey that included the Cultural Intelligence Scale and the Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire 5X. Standard multiple regression analysis was used. The results indicate that there is a significant positive …

Empowering Teachers: The Influence Of Transformational Leadership In Christian Schools, John Irungu Kirika

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The object of this study was to investigate transformational leadership in Christian schools. The study investigated the perception of empowerment of K-12 Christian school teachers and its influence on organizational and professional commitment and job satisfaction. It explored correlations between teacher empowerment and selected demographic variables. The study also investigated how K-12 Christian school leaders and teachers perceive teacher empowerment. A combination of causal comparative and a correlational research method using a series of t-test, ANOVA, and multiple regression statistics was used for parametric statistical analyses. The research findings were mixed. While the study pointed to the prevalence of teacher …

An Effective Internet Ministry Strategy For Church Evangelism Through A Case Study Of The Sarang Community Church, Dae Suk Lee

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purposes of this dissertation are to shed light on the essence of the church internet ministry from the biblical and ministerial angles and to suggest effective strategies for churches launching an internet ministry. In the thesis, I conducted a literary review of online ministry and a case study of the Sarang community church. Basic Web analysis, an interview, and a survey were performed to analyze Sarang's case and to draw lessons from it. I sincerely hope my suggestions on internet strategies can become a compass that points churches to the right direction as they navigate through the wave of …

The Effect Of A Manualized Group Treatment Protocol On God Image And Attachment To God, Jacqueline Diane Rasar

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study tested the effect of a manualized group treatment protocol on God image and attachment to God in a sample of college students attending a Christian college. Thirty undergraduate students from a homogenous population were tested with one measure of God attachment, two measures of God image, one measure of religious coping, and one measure of spiritual outcomes. It was hypothesized that significant God image and attachment to God change would occur among the treatment group participants. In addition, it was hypothesized that significant religious coping and spiritual outcome change would occur among the treatment group and comparable group …

Compassionate Procedures For The Dismissal Of Church Staff Members, Mark David Nalepa

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this project is to offer church leadership compassionate procedures for dismissing a church staff member for reasons other than immorality and impropriety. This will increase the likelihood he will continue to fulfill his calling to serve Christ elsewhere in ministry. For this to be accomplished the process must recognize and address the needs of all spheres impacted by the dismissal. The project will integrate the Biblical account of John Mark, collect sampling of church data on termination procedures, stories and perspectives of previously terminated staff members and family, and resource related literature on this subject.

Determining Factors Contributing To Graduation For Students With Learning Disabilities In Community Colleges, Crystal Perry Ange

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study examined Students with Learning Disabilities (SLD) graduation rates from two-year community colleges. Specifically, the purpose of this paper was to determine if identifiable demographics or accommodations were related to SLD who graduated from community colleges. Data were collected from the records of SLD at four community colleges in North Carolina. The information collected included demographic data, the accommodations of SLD, and graduation status from community college. The results were analyzed using hierarchical multiple regression. The overall study demonstrated no factors were identified that predict graduation for SLD from a two-year community college. Implications for future research include the …

Muslim Pakistani And Indian Students In Their New York School System Experience, Alfonse Javed

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This hermeneutical phenomenological research study, using two rounds of semi- structured open ended interviews and focus group data, described the lived experience of Muslim Pakistani and Indian students in their New York school system experience. The purpose of this study was to collect and examine the stories and explore the lived experience of Muslim young adults from Pakistan and India in the American school system and document the positive and negative experiences they had while in the American school system. The study looked for the common denominators, which helped and encouraged the Muslim students to continue their education, regardless of …

Helplessness To Hope: Cultural Transformations For The Maasai Girl-Child, Kelly Suzanne Bingham

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study examined how the life dreams of the girls at the MTH Center of Hope in Kenya are being altered as a result in a change of cultural experience. The center was built as a place of rescue to protect Maasai girls from early marriage, FGM and extreme poverty while allowing them to stay in school. The phenomenological study included observations, interviews, focus groups and a questionnaire that was used to elicit responses and begin dialogue. Results indicate that there is a definite need not only for secondary and tertiary education for the girls but also to train the …

The Role Of Appreciation In Higher Education: The Experience Of Online Faculty Members With Instituional Administration, Aubrey Leeanne Coy

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study explored the role of expressed appreciation in an online education working environment. The research method used was a transcendental phenomenological approach in order to provide a foundational base for giving a voice to the participants' experiences in higher education, based on the participants' preferences for experiencing appreciation. Through assessments and interviews, this research intended to evaluate the role of appreciation in the workplace, namely higher education, and the relationships between online faculty members and their administration. Utilizing a newly created assessment tool, the Motivating by Appreciation Inventory, the act of appreciation was evaluated in terms of the Languages …

Economically Disadvantaged Students: A Case Study Of Resilient Qualities That Encourage Academic Success, Stephanie Kim Hawkins

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This case study examined academically successful economically disadvantaged (ED) students from one intact Caucasian family through parents', students', and teachers' perceptions of the reasons for resilience. The problem is that little research exists exploring qualities of academically successful ED Caucasian students. Because being a high school dropout significantly affects students, families, schools, and society, risk factors were explored; protective factors that help students overcome risk factors were also investigated. This study describes why academically successful ED students from one intact Caucasian family in Tennessee thrive despite risk factors working against them. Findings include the importance of Christian faith to the …

Representations Of L2 Motivational Self System With Beginning Chinese Language Learners At College Level In The United States: Heritage And Nonheritage Language Learners, Yan Xie

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Dornyei (2005) proposed the L2 motivational self system in response to the need to develop the socioeducational model. This study further tests the validation of the L2 motivational self system by investigating beginning Chinese language learners at the college level in the United States. A questionnaire combining two published questionnaires was administered to 197 subjects, including heritage language learners and nonheritage language learners, and compared the motivational representations of the two types of learners. This is the first study to test the L2 motivational self system by investigating learners of a language other than English. Through a correlation analysis, the …

The Relationship Of Religous And Existential Variables To Scores On The Animal-Human Continuity Scale And Perception Of Beliefs About Animals And Equality Of Mankind, Frank Lyle King

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of the present study is to determine the relationship between religious and existential variables and the Animal-Human Continuity Scale (Templer et al., 2006). The AHCS measures the extent that the respondent views animals and humans in a dichotomous versus a continuous perspective. Ninety nine (99) students at an evangelical southern university scored in the dichotomous direction as compared to the ninety six (96) students at a southern secular university. Likewise the more religious students, both those at the evangelical southern university and at a secular southern university, scored more in the dichotomous direction than the less religious students. …

A Proposal For Construction And Implementation Of A Focused Approach To A New Member Discipleship Program, Joshua Walters

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this project is to reveal the benefits of new member discipleship, for without this process there are many who do not follow through with their commitment to be an active part of that body of believers. This project shall: examine the purpose and history of discipleship, analyze surveyed responses from local pastors and new members, explore the results of new member discipleship in local churches, and conclude with a discipleship plan ready for implementation. This project seeks to show that through new member discipleship, the church can increase the understanding and dedication of their new members.

Perceptions Of Administrators And Teachers Regarding Kindergarten Giftedness, Patricia S. Thirey

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study examined perceptions of administrators and kindergarten teachers
regarding kindergarten giftedness. The study looked at whether administrators and
teachers believe kindergarten students can be gifted; whether their schools and districts
have policies in place to identify those students; and whether they are required to vary the
curriculum for these students. All elementary-school administrators and kindergarten
teachers in North Carolina were invited to participate in the study. The survey
respondents consisted of 127 administrators and 260 kindergarten teachers. The data
concluded that although 98% of respondents believe kindergarten students can be gifted,
almost 70% of their schools and districts do …

A Strategy For A Successful Christian Sexual Education Ministry In The African American Church, Darryl Lee Jones

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

A review of current literature demonstrates that very little material is available to assist churches on how to effectively communicate on the subject of sexuality in the African American church context. The purpose of this project is to illuminate the African American Church regarding the nature of this project on sexuality in the African American Church, its common elements, and an effective strategy for preparing a project. By applying a strong understanding of current and past literature reviews, surveys and questionnaires sent to homes and churches, in addition to interviews and workshops, the project reviews historical African American Church perspectives …

Perceptions Of High School Minority Students And High School Teachers Regarding Racism: A Phenomenological Study, Paige Shiver Boomer

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Research shows that racism is still prevalent in schools today. This qualitative study using a phenomenological design identified different forms of racism in schools and the impact racism has on students and teachers. The study identifies the perceptions 9th-12th grade minority students and high school teachers have regarding racism, and compares and contrast those perceptions in a rural Georgia high school. Participants were selected from a pool of approximately 103 ethnic minority high school students and 68 high school teachers. The participants were selected through purposeful sampling due to ones minority status or employment status. Surveys, individual interviews, and journaling …

Effective Personal Evangelism For Today's Church, Thomas M. Roatch

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This project is designed to demonstrate that any church or group of Christians can be effective in personal evangelism. Christians gathered together in any location and number, and in any life situation form the taskforce to share the good news of salvation.
The rationale for the selection of this thesis topic rests on the recent heart felt need of many churches to share the Gospel and become active in personal evangelism. Secondly, another important part of the rationale for thesis is to encourage, and challenge small churches, missions, Bible studies and other smaller Christian ministries to be bold in new …