Digital Commons Network^™

The Perceived Effectiveness Of A Beginning Teacher Mentoring Program In Central Virginia, Toni M. Flanagan

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This descriptive study examined the perceived effectiveness of a beginning teacher mentoring program in a public school district in Central Virginia. A total of 87 participants, including beginning teachers, new-to-district teachers, mentor teachers, and administrators were surveyed about the perceived effectiveness of the teacher mentoring program and general demographic information. In addition, 17 of the survey respondents were interviewed as a follow-up to the study. A 5-point scaled survey questionnaire based on Virginia’s guidelines for teacher mentoring programs was the primary means of assessment. Results from the study indicated that the teachers and administrators surveyed had overall positive perceptions of …

Analysis Of Reading Comprehension And Thinking Process , Kevin D. Washburn

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

According to the U.S. Department of Education, middle school literacy research in four areas is currently mandated: neurocognitive elements, instructional processes, instructional materials, and professional development. This study presents appropriate statistical analysis of fifth grade student gains in reading comprehension and thinking processes. The results suggest reading programs based on findings from the four key areas of research produce significantly greater student achievement in reading comprehension and thought processes than programs not based on findings from the key research areas. The study includes a Research-Based Rubric for Reading Comprehension Components, detailing findings from the four research areas. This rubric serves …

Selected Bachelor Of Science In Nursing Programs Variables Impacting Graduate Scores On The National Council Licensure Examination For Registered Nurses, Lois B. Borek

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Students graduating in 2005 from a state approved BSN program in a Christian University experienced a reduced passing rate on the NCLEX-RN licensure examination as compared to their peers in 2004. An examination of program variables provided insight into the cause for such decline. The quantitative analysis of variables reported in this study identified the significant differences occurring between the two groups of students as (a) cumulative GP A, (b) grades in selected pre nursing science courses, and (c) grades in post admission nursing courses. Findings from this study may enable program administrators to better identify students who have special …

Early Childhood Cognitive Development: A Descriptive Study On The Effectiveness Of Preschool Curricula, Alisa Shook Dyson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study examined the lack of rigorous, systematic evaluation of preschool curricula utilizing three survey instruments developed by NSSE: Parent/Guardian Questionnaire, Staff Questionnaire, Program Specific Indicators o/Teaching and Organizational Effectiveness. The measures were designed to reflect the concepts of developmentally appropriate practices (DAP) as presented in the revised 2005 NAEYC guidelines, Association of Christian Schools International Intended Student Outcomes, and The National Study of School Evaluation (NSSE) accreditation assessment instruments. Two hundred surveys completed by nonprofit, Christian early childhood center administrators across the United States were utilized in this study. Quantitative data presented utilizing NSSE's psychometric instruments provides the information …

An Assessment Of Effective Senior Level Leadership Within The United States Air Force Chaplain Service, David W. Kelley

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this dissertation is to determine what leadership qualities, traits, and/or behaviors will produce effective leadership of chaplains within the Air Force Chaplain Service. Twelve senior level Air Force chaplains were assessed using three tools: the Dimensions of Leadership Profile, the Contextual Leadership Questionnaire, and Personal Leadership Interviews. Based upon the responses of the senior chaplains the results of these leadership tools will be analyzed and conclusions drawn in reference to successful leadership within the Air Force Chaplain Service.

Introversion And Self-Advocacy: Concomitant Predictors Of End-Of-Year Attrition Rates For College Freshmen With Learning Disabilities, Shirley E. Tucker

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This attrition research investigated the social aspect of two independent variables, introversion and self-advocacy, and explored whether they functioned as a concomitant unit to reliably predict end-of-year attrition rates for college freshmen with learning disabilities. The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator categorized subjects dichotomously as introverts or extraverts while the Tucker Self-Advocacy Tool used a continuous scale to indicate the degree of self-advocacy each subject exhibited.

Several statistical procedures facilitated this correlational study: the Fisher's Exact Test compared the percentage of dropouts between the introvert and extrovert groups while a two-sample t-test compared the average self-advocacy score between the group that dropped …

The Relationship Between Student Perceptions Of Parental Involvement And Grade Eight Reading And Math Achievement In A Rural Georgia Middle School, Wayne A. Hickman

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between students' perceptions of parental involvement and grade 8 reading and math achievement as measured by the Georgia Criterion Reference Competency Test (CRCT). This study relied on a theoretical framework developed by Epstein (1987). This framework includes a six-part categorization of parent involvement typologies (Type 1—parenting, Type 2—communication, Type 3—volunteering, Type 4—learning at home, Type 5—decision-making, and Type 6—collaborating), which were used as the basis for data collection and analysis. The High School and Family Partnerships: Questionnaires for Teachers, Parents, and Students were developed by Epstein and Salinas (1993) for …

A Spiritual Disciplines-Based Discipleship Curriculum For The Local Church, Steven Hugh Mathews

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The practice of the spiritual disciplines in local Baptist churches is in decline, and there does not exist a curriculum designed to implement the disciplines into the public teaching ministry of the local church. The purpose of this project is to design, implement, and evaluate such a curriculum, with respect to participants' understanding of, motivation to practice, and perceived effectiveness in, ten key spiritual disciplines. The curriculum is evaluated by a diagnostic tool based on Bloom's Taxonomy, and is intended to measure increases in knowledge, motivation, and effectiveness.

Family And Consumer Sciences In Higher Education: Common Elements In Undergraduate Curriculum, Susan Lovett

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study of undergraduate programs was undertaken to create a current portrait of Family and Consumer Sciences programs and to determine whether common ground exists among the various academic units particularly in the area of curriculum content. The thirty four schools having accreditation with SACS and AAFCS were chosen as the population to be studied. Two lists of curricular element categories were created to evaluate the programs: a 28 item list derived from historical categorizations used in professional journals and educational reporting and a 16 item list taken from the national standards for FCS in secondary programs. The subject matter …

The Influence Of Parenting Styles On The Development Of Moral Judgment In College Level Adolescents, Scott M. Hawkins

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This research project addresses the relationship between parenting styles and the development of moral judgment in college students enrolled in a four year private University in Central Virginia. The purpose of this study is to identify the extent to which parenting styles are one of the "building blocks" for the development of moral judgment in adolescents. The instruments used are the Parental Authority Questionnaire (Buri, 1988) and the Defining Issues Test - II (Rest, 1999). The researcher hypothesized that the levels of moral judgment found in college students who perceive that they were parented by parents utilizing an Authoritative parenting …

Understanding The Glory Of God Through The Expository Preaching By Young Sun Park, Young Han Park

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this project is to understand the glory of God through the expository preaching by Young Sun Park. The reason I write this thesis is that I was called and challenged to be a preacher and pastor by God, after listening to the sermon by my pastor, Young Sun Park.

What does it mean to bring Glory to God?

How can it be realized? God the Father took glory through the ministry and personality of His Son, our Lord, Jesus Christ. God receives glory by saving sinners and by our obedient living which can be demonstrated through worship …

A Multidimensional Assessment Of The Impact Of A Spiritual Growth Campaign (40 Days Of Purpose) On Individual Spiritual Development, Debra K. Burton

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study evaluated the impact that the 40 Days of Purpose had on personal spiritual development of the participants. The experimental group was comprised of 163 volunteers recruited from three different churches participating in the 40 Days of Purpose. Two of the churches, a Baptist and an Assembly of God are located in a small town in East Texas, while the remaining Baptist church is located in a metropolitan city in North Carolina. The control group consisted of 46 recruited volunteers from a Baptist church that was not participating in the 40 Days of Purpose. Spiritual growth was measured using …

A Model For Computational Undergraduate Research Using Molecular Orbital Theory And A Low-Cost Unix Workstation, David Raymond Dinsmore

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This research study used current molecular orbital theory and UNIX desktop computer workstations running the PSI suite of programs developed by Dr F. Schaefer group of the Center for Computational Quantum Chemistry at the University of Georgia to investigate the structures and characteristics of several hypothetical hydrogen-lithium compounds. The researcher, a physics professor with no background in computational quantum chemistry, and very limited chemistry background, experienced this project much like an upper-level undergraduate science or mathematics major. Approaching the research experience from the perspective of an undergraduate research student, the researcher was able to gain unique insight into the undergraduate …

Historical Perspectives Current Operation And Future Projections For Temple Baptist College, Layne Carter

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This dissertation study will propose to present the rich historical past of Temple Baptist College, as well as the current operations and future projections. The trend in current academia is to move away from biblical principles and established moral standards. Many Christian schools too, have succumbed to the pressure of the age. This dissertation was written not merely to record the history of Temple Baptist College (which was never done before) but also to provide standards and guidance to other small Christian institutions. The information recorded in this dissertation was collected after researching archived records and minutes of several Board …

Personality Characteristics Of Bulimic Behavior In College Women Analyzed With The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, Lori Lyn Anderson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Eating disorders are a growing phenomenon in today's society, and adolescent women are prime candidates for this disorder. The present research study is designed to analyze bulimic behavior in college age women by administrating the Eating Disorder Inventory- 2 (Gamer, 1991), specifically focusing on the bulimia sub scale of this self-reported inventory. The purpose of the study is to measure specialized temperamental characteristics of persons demonstrating bulimic behavior as analyzed using the Myers Briggs Type Indicator (Myers-Briggs & McCaulley, 1986). The researcher surveyed 221 women from psychology classes at a private Midwest university, and each woman completed both the Eating …

A Discipleship Model For Missionaries Establishing Churches In Thailand, Yong Woong Lee

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This project focuses on using a discipleship program for new church plants in Thailand. This is one way to help accomplish world evangelization. This author's experience in Thailand has been under the ministry of Global Partners (GP) and his ministry includes both church planting and campus ministry.

The author develops an indigenous discipleship model for missionaries and the Thai church leaders to use based on the surveys and interviews. A successful mission program depends on training faithful and powerful native leaders.

Discipleship Training through effective and Biblical methods is the best way to shift the Thai Christian's paradigm which is …

Analytic Study Of Criteria To Maximize The Effectiveness And Quality Of Decision Making, Joseph E. Sanders

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

A review of current literature indicates that decision making is an evolving area of study and one of considerable importance to managers, pastors and teachers, as well as to professors and students of leadership and management. Regretfully, the subject of decision making is usually seen as merely one of several activities that differentiates managers from other employees in an organization. However, decision making is a complex process that must be understood completely and made easier before it can be practiced effectively. Given its obvious and cogent aura of organizational significance, it is surprising to note that decision making has not …

The Considerations Of Interpretation Through The Function Of Imagery In The Song Of Songs And Its Application To The Current Believing Community, Sanggeol Lyu

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The Song of Songs parallels with the synthetic method of literary criticism. This criticism places value on the text because it is literature for the believing community to maximize the celebration of delight and consummation of love within marriage and it deemphasizes the search for the hidden meaning beyond the text. Literary criticism demonstrates not only the function of the literary message but also the aesthetic effect, and is suitable and adaptable to explain and help determine the identity of today's young adults. The study focuses on the wisdom of others and how it is adapted for today. It also …

Strategies For Successful Establishment And Development Of Schools For Missionary Kids On The Mission Field, Unkil Jung

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this project is to investigate and find solutions to the educational needs of missionary children. Many of MK schools are being forced to close, yet the need for a good education still exists for missionary families on the field. How to provide a good education for these missionary children has become a major problem.

This study is motivated by the writer's personal experience as the founder and director of Bangkok International Academic School (BIAS). The information for this thesis was gathered through the writer's personal visits and interviews with other educators in Christian schools in several countries. …

The Development Of Family Ministry For The Local Church, Daryl W. Pitts

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

All social and cultural indications demonstrate that the American society is in desperate need. Divorce rates and addictions have multiplied both within and without the church. The local church is uniquely positioned to offer hope and healing, from a biblical perspective to those who have been beaten, bruised, and left beside the freeway of the New World Order. The local church also has the ability to provide preventative services so its members can avoid these life hazards. Based on surveys and research, this project presents a strategy to implement a comprehensive professional pastoral Christian counseling service for the local church.

An Analysis Of The Impact Of Age On The Academic Performance Of Students In The Liberty University External Degree Program, Frank Lyle King

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this project is to explore whether the age of a Liberty University External Degree Program (EDP) student impacts the degree of student success, as measured by the earned grade point average (GPA). EDP student GPAs were compared with Liberty University resident students GPAs. The EDP students consistently performed better than the resident students in all age groups examined. Demographic variables such as race, gender, socioeconomic status, marital status, military status, and amount of credits transferred to Liberty University were found not to be statistically significant factors in the performance of EDP students compared to resident students.

The Influence Of Shamanism On Korean Churches And How To Overcome It, Jin Woo Lee

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

What problem do Korean churches have now? Korean churches have had serious growth problems since the 1990s'. Although Korean churches have grown rapidly with the economic growth of Korea, there have been many contributions and evil influences of shamanism, which lies deep in the minds of Korean people. Obviously, shamanism has made a contribution to growth of the Korean church since Christianity was introduced. Many churches and pastors have consented to or utilized such a tendency. However, this created serious problems. Shamanism is anti-Biblical. Shamanism brought about a theoretical combination, transmutation of religion and many mistakes in church life. A …

A Strategy For The Use Of Ministry Action Teams In The Relocation Of A Church Of The Nazarene, Truman Daniel Casey

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

When Atlanta First Church of the Nazarene faced the task of relocating their current facilities to a location several miles away, the pastor and the leaders of the church searched for a strategy that would allow the church to relocate without greatly reducing the amount of time the pastor had available for pastoral care. The church also wanted to avoid an excessive increase in the level of stress for other participants in the project. Based upon (1) research of church management literature, (2) research of the Bible, (3) a survey of the people involved in the church relocation project, and …

A Strategy For Effectiveness In Preaching Old Testament Narrative Scripture, C. Timothy Clark

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Old Testament preaching appears to be on the decline. Very often when it is preached, it is done poorly. Since narratives comprise 40% of the Old Testament, a large portion of God's Word is being either neglected or abused by many modern preachers. The purpose of this project is to show how proven hermeneutical and homiletical skills may be combined to provide a strategy for effectively preaching Old Testament narratives. The project will present a series of sermons based on the Old Testament book of Ruth which will demonstrate the author's strategy as it is fleshed out in practical exposition.

Justification For Master Of Arts In Religion With A Concentration In Leadership – Program And Curriculum Suggestions, Jack F. Deans

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

A review of current literature reveals a critical need for Christian Leadership Development. The purpose of this project is to document, both Christian and secular literature, demonstrating that need. It also includes interviews with recognized Christian leaders in Leadership Development. The project examines the curriculum programs of other seminaries and theological schools in order to ascertain the contemporary teaching on the subject. The project surveys pastors throughout the United States to determine their opinions as to effective education and their suggestions of problem areas in which to focus curriculum. The conclusion shows an agreement with the stated thesis.

Single Parent Ministry In The Local Church, William A. Connors

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This project in ministry titled, "Single Parent Ministry in the Local Church," is the result of the author's concern for the unique issues faced by today's ever increasing single parent households. This relatively new phenomenon is discussed in light of the historical roots of singleness in general. It is then shown that this "new phenomenon" is really not new at all. Single Parenting is virtually as old as creation itself, going back to the first single parent described in the Bible, Hagar. Much instruction regarding the circumstances of the single parent is discussed. The paper then examines the various, specific …

Seminary Student Spiritual Formation: Recommendations Based On A Review Of Scripture And A Survey Of Evangelical Seminaries, William E. Wegert

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Concern for the spiritual formation in ministerial training has grown in recent years, and reasons for this are discussed. The history of spiritual formation in pastoral training as well as relevant Scriptures are reviewed. Particular attention is given to Christ's earthly ministry as well as key biblical terms related to spiritual formation. Certain expectations based on the weight of Scripture are determined. Results of a spiritual formation survey sent to thirty-five evangelical seminaries and a self-study of the writer's own seminary are analyzed. This project makes recommendations for enhancing seminary spiritual formation efforts.

Developing An Effective Ministry With Mid Life Single Adults In A Mega Church, Charles Richard Hughes

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

A review of current literature demonstrates that very little material is available to assist local churches with developing a targeted ministry with mid life single adults. The purpose of this project was to answer the basic research question of how an effective ministry with mid life single adults was developed in a mega church by answering six sub questions concerning demographic analysis, the need, a model, the membership, leadership and administration, forming a chain of variables for effective ministry. Based on an extensive questionnaire of the membership in 1991 and 1994 the project draws conclusions in this historical perspective case …

A Strategy For Evaluating The Liberty University Convocation Program, Robert Roy Jackson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

A review of the current literature demonstrates that virtually no material is available that assists accredited Christian universities and colleges in evaluating their convocation! chapel programs. The purpose of this project is to develop a strategy for evaluating the Liberty University Convocation Program with a view towards helping others with the same process. This project accomplishes the purpose by examining the particular audience that we are currently ministering to in convocation (Generation X), along with strategies for reaching them, and analyzing data from internal and external convocation surveys with the goal of improving convocation.

A Strategy For Ministry To Widows In The Local Church, Richard Watson Sadler

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

In examining current literature, very little research has been done in the area of caring for widows in the local church. The biblical mandate, present social conditions, and the results from questionnaires sent to pastors and widows of Southern Baptist Churches of West Virginia validate the need to assist the church in developing and implementing a strategy in ministering to widows. Deacons, the servant-leaders, are the responsible agents for ministry to widows and the catalyst in getting others involved. This project is an instrument to awaken and equip God's people for the tremendous ministry privilege in serving widows.