Digital Commons Network^™

The Both/And Church: A Qualitative Study On The Motives, Processes, And Impacts Of Instrumental Music In Churches Of Christ In The Bible Belt, Samuel Scott Souder

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Despite the information available on worship styles of churches in America, perspectives of Churches of Christ who have started using instruments have yet to be explored. Since 1906, Churches of Christ have been one of many distinct religious sects in America. Expressions of this denomination are most often found in the Deep South of the United States — what many religious persons refer to as the “Bible Belt.” Known for their emphasis on weekly communion, baptism as a sacramental part of discipleship, and their embrace of extra-biblical additions to ministry like missionary societies, one spiritual practice sets them apart most …

The Relationship Of Physical Literacy, Motivation, Cognitive Function, And Academic Performance Among Elementary School Children, Meagan A. Hartman

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Physical literacy could promote the development of confidence and motivation to engage in physical activity, reducing chronic health issues within the United States. This study examined physical literacy and its relationship with motivation, cognitive function, and academic performance among fourth and fifth graders. Participants completed the Physical Literacy Assessment for Youth – basic (PLAYbasic), Motives for Physical Activity Measure (MPAM) and Raven’s Colored Progressive Matrices (RCPM), which measured physical literacy, motivation to engage in physical activity, and cognitive function, respectively. Academic scores from the Mississippi Academic Assessment Program (MAAP) were collected to measure academic performance. Scores from these measures were …

Taking A Stand: A Phenomenological Study Of Black Christian Pastors' Experiences Of Domestic Violence/Intimate Partner Violence In The Church & Community, Karen Elaine Simmons-Clifton

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study is to describe black pastors’ lived experiences of counseling and/or ministering to female victims (congregants & non-congregants) and survivors of Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) in Texas. These acts of violation against women occur at staggering rates worldwide, often leaving the victims and survivors with damages and issues they dare trust to share with a spiritual figure. In many communities, the Black Christian pastor is often the person these wounded women seek as their counselor, spiritual guide, and safe place, despite the pastor’s lack of education and/or training in IPV. Research indicates that these women …

The Impact Of Digital Communications And Social Media On Government Officials And The Political Sphere: A Case Study Of The Arab Spring Revolutions, Wurood Shaher

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study investigates the dual role of social media as both a tool for political mobilization and a mechanism for government surveillance during the Arab Spring. Through in-depth qualitative interviews with 22 government officials from various Middle Eastern and North African countries, the research explores how social media influenced internal decision-making processes and external governmental responses during the uprisings. Employing the theory of structuration and the sociocultural tradition as its theoretical frameworks, the study uncovers the profound impact of social media on state power and public activism. Thematic analysis reveals several key themes, including the rapid adaptation of governmental strategies, …

Perfect Love: Intertextual And Conceptual Commonalities Concerning Agape In 1 Corinthians 13:8–13 And 1 John 4:12–18, Christopher David Cochran

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This dissertation will examine Paul and John’s mutual focus on agape and teleios. The premise is that in 1 Corinthians 13:10, “perfect” is not used by Paul in an eschatological sense, but to communicate the message of “perfect love” John also references (1 John 2:3–6; 4:12–18). Jesus’s teaching recorded in Matthew 5:43–48 will be considered regarding how it might provide a basis for understanding Paul and John’s thoughts concerning agape. Also, the use of teleios by Aristotle and תָּמִים by the Qumran community will be contemplated, in addition to how the Hebrew word תָּמִים might have influenced Jesus’s teaching and …

A Transcendental Phenomenological Study Exploring The Social Identity Experiences Of Male Teachers Of Color In The Male Scholarship Program, Tamisha Marcena Sales

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to understand the social identity experiences for male teachers of color at the Male Scholarship Program at North Valley University. The theory guiding this study was Tajfel and Turner’s social identity theory, which explained the social cognitive process individuals use to consider joining or exiting a group. Using the social identity theory, this study attempted to answer the central research question: What are the social identity experiences of male teachers of color participating in the Male Scholarship Program? This transcendental phenomenology study used purposeful sampling to recruit participants and collected data through individual …

Optimizing Ehr Utilization: Implementing An Educational Program To Improve Template Use, Knowledge, And Satisfaction Among Primary Care Providers And Staff, Danielle Alley Lewis

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Electronic health record utilization is essential for improving clinical documentation, enhancing patient care, and ensuring regulatory compliance. Despite the benefits, provider reluctance and inconsistent utilization of electronic health records remain significant challenges in many primary care settings. This scholarly project aimed to implement an educational program to increase provider and staff knowledge, satisfaction, and utilization of electronic health record tools and templates within a small primary care office. The project addressed an identified gap in electronic health record adoption where providers continued to rely on paper documentation despite the availability of a fully functional electronic health record system. This inefficiency …

Teachers' Experiences Of Assessing Elementary Students: A Qualitative Phenomenological Study, Brittany Nicole Dawson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This qualitative transcendental phenomenological study examines teachers’ experiences assessing elementary students in Southeastern North Carolina. This study is based on constructivist theory. Constructivism, with its collaborative founders, is a theory that focuses on the learner making meaning based on their experiences. This theory, though considered a learning theory, is imperative to this study as it helps to frame how educators make meaning from their experiences of assessing elementary students. The theory’s tenets create a guide for the mission of the study and form the research questions to be addressed. This is a qualitative phenomenological study. A qualitative design is based …

Exploring The Administrator's Role In Regulating Personal Devices In The Classroom: A Qualitative Hermeneutic Phenomenology, Hope Faith Heard

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of the phenomenological study is to explore the autonomy of developing school site personal device regulations for K-12 administrators in central Indiana. The study is guided by Ryan and Deci’s self-determination theory (SDT), which contributed positive results that support administrators’ autonomy and competence. The study’s findings have had a profound influence on K-12 education. The theory uncovered informative, reflective writing that administrators conducted, which involved introspective analysis of their decisions and actions, such as student confidence, satisfaction, and ability to learn using their devices. This study has the potential to improve the learning experience for students in the …

The Impact Of Church Members On Single Parents In Residential Family Care Systems, Vanessa M. Jackson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This paper discusses the value of grace and its significance for making positive, lasting change. The researcher initially hypothesized that accountability alone was the sole catalyst for transformation (van Manen, 1990; Williams, 2008). The researcher conducted 30-minute interviews of seven single mothers with a minimum of 2 years residence in one or more Residential Family Care (RFC) programs, identifying them with pseudonyms for the purpose of protecting their identities. Each interview transcript was then evaluated for key repeated themes and phrases. While accountability did indeed play a significant role in the women’s change processes, the researcher found that grace, facilitated …

Empowering Kansas City Veterans Administration Chaplains: A Spiritual Leadership Toolkit For Nursing Staff Support, Leonard Gicheru

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This doctoral research project addresses the critical issue of burnout among nursing staff at the Kansas City Veterans Administration (KCVA). Burnout is often worsened by a lack of spiritual support, thereby negatively impacting both the well-being of nurses and the quality of patient care. This project study aims to mitigate these challenges by implementing a spiritual leadership resource toolkit, tailored to equip KCVA chaplains with creative strategies to provide spiritual care for nurses.

Based on Spiritual Leadership Theory and guided by biblical principles, this project explores how structured spiritual direction can improve the resilience and emotional well-being of nursing staff. …

Addressing Subjective Reasoning Through Renewed Pathways: Church Discipline, Anthony F. Williams

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Skyline Baptist Church adopts a subjective approach to the removal of members through its church discipline process. This means that decisions regarding church discipline and the removal of members are not strictly governed by objective doctrine or biblical alignment but are instead influenced by individual circumstances and the specific context of outside influence. This project seeks to establish objective measures grounded in scriptural understanding, promoting biblical alignment and mutual accountability within the congregation. The existing research provides valuable insights that contribute to the broader Christian mission; it aims to cultivate a more united and devoted commitment that reflects the teachings …

Nursing Faculty Perspectives On Students With Learning Disabilities: A Transcendental Phenomenological Study, Marlies Aanensen Hébert

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to record the lived experiences of nursing faculty perspectives of students with learning disabilities in all learning environments. The theories that provide the framework for the study are John Dewey’s theory of education and Malcolm Knowles’ theory of adult learning. Both theories establish a foundation for understanding the challenges faced by adult learners with learning disabilities and how to offer effective support. The research question is: What are the lived experiences of nurse educators working with students with learning disabilities in all learning environments? The study employed a snowball sampling method to …

Preservice Teacher Preparedness To Teach In The Inclusive Classroom Setting: A Hermeneutical Phenomenological Study, Jessica Malter

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this hermeneutical phenomenological study was to understand how teacher preparation programs provided experiences with inclusive practice coursework for novice (no more than three years of experience) special education and general education teachers working with students with disabilities in the inclusive classroom setting at K-12 schools in Southwestern Missouri. The theory guiding this study was the Self-determination Theory (SDT) by Edward Deci and Richard Ryan, as it focused on the social conditions that could allow for or hinder the flourishing of an individual. The central research question guiding this study was: How have teacher preparation programs provided experiences …

A Phenomenological Study Of Principals' Perceptions Of Principal Preparation Programs, Jennifer Gael Wiese

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to understand participants’ lived experiences in Principal Preparation Programs (PPPs) and their perceptions of how these programs prepared them for their roles as educational leaders in a public school district in the western United States. The lived experience is generally defined as the participants’ experiences, options, and choices and the influence these have on the participants’ perception of knowledge and education related to educational leadership. The historical, social, and theoretical context of principal preparation was highlighted in the introduction. A systematic literature review was conducted to explore issues in principal preparation. The focus …

The Decline Of Civil Discourse On Facebook: A Qualitative Content Analysis Of The Comment Sections Of News Organizations' Facebook Pages, Cameron Lawson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study explores the role of Facebook’s comment sections in the decline of civil discourse, examining how the platform’s design influences user behaviors and contributes to increased incivility. Through a qualitative content analysis of 3,030 comments from 12 national and regional news organizations’ posts on both Facebook and their website, the research identifies key structural elements such as engagement-drive algorithms and broader reaction options that amplify uncivil behavior. The study also introduces three prevalent persona types in online discourse—the passionate partisan, the agitator, and the cynical joker. Each of these contributes to the dynamics of incivility in different ways. Grounded …

Converting Membership Into Discipleship: A Spiritual Formation Program In Discipleship For Rural African American Churches, Ernest L. Williams Sr.

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This thesis project addresses the need for rural African American churches to focus on spiritual formation and discipleship for their parishioners. Churches that emphasize the importance of the gospel and believers’ daily commitment to it represent progress toward discipleship. Discipleship creates a connection between worship and lifestyle. Churchgoers, particularly African American Christians in rural settings, may struggle to understand and practice discipleship. Historically, church worship and attendance have been prioritized in this faith community. However, Sunday worship that fails to provide a plan for daily spiritual formation may contribute to the issue. If the gospel is not the church’s primary …

Educational Leadership And Advocacy For Change: A Historical Examination Of Georgia State Superintendents’ Reporting And Public Education Reform (1933–1977), Benjamin Isaac Casado

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This dissertation examines the role of Georgia’s State Superintendents of Schools in shaping public education from 1933 to 1977, a period marked by profound social, economic, and political change. Focusing on the tenures of Dr. Mauney Douglass Collins, Dr. Claude Lamar Purcell, and Dr. Jack P. Nix, it explores how these leaders utilized the Georgia Department of Education reports to the General Assembly to advocate for legislative reforms and address the evolving educational challenges of their respective eras.

Through a detailed analysis of these reports, this study uncovers the superintendents’ strategies, priorities, and policy recommendations, shedding light on their leadership …

The Leadership Barrier: How Organizational Support, Culture, And Stigma Influence Mental Health Utilization In The Nypd, Ian Demodna

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study examined systematic barriers that affect NYPD officers' utilization of mental health resources. Despite efforts to provide mental health resources, deep-rooted stigma, rigid organizational culture, and inconsistent leadership support continue to impede officers' utilization. A survey was distributed to two groups of police officers: officers with 5 years or less of active service (n = 548) and 15 years or more of active service (n = 880). The survey questions focused on leadership support, organizational culture, and stigma to assess the differences in mental health utilization. The results showed no significant differences between groups in utilization (p = .437), …

A Case Study On Successful Post Secondary Transition For Individuals With Disabilities, Junie Louis-Jean

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this single case study was to explore the transitional experiences of employed adults with disabilities who graduated from high school in New York. Bronfenbrenner’s social ecological theory supported the exploration of how the community and school environments influence the employability of students with disabilities as they transition to the work environment. The central question of the study was “How do high school graduates with disabilities describe their experiences of transitioning from school to the workplace?” The participants in this qualitative single case study were 10 teacher’s aides who had been high school students with disabilities at the …

Improving The Work-Life Balance Of The High School Marching Band Director: A Case Study, William Elijah Holmes

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Although many studies have been conducted on high school marching bands, research has yet to be completed on the impact of the number of after-school marching band rehearsals. High school band directors frequently rehearse after school to raise student proficiency and perform at a high level for football games, community events, and marching band competitions. Directors who demonstrate high rehearsal efficacy can reduce the number of marching band practices to avoid negatively impacting the lives of the adults and students involved while maintaining student achievement. This qualitative hermeneutic phenomenological case study investigated the effects of reducing the frequency of secondary …

The Consequences Of Social Isolation On Early Adolescent Youth: The Rise Of Gender Identity Questioning, Rachele Hauck

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The year 2020 brought forth a global pandemic that changed the way human beings went about their daily life. Coinciding at the same point in history, the number of adolescents questioning their gender identity almost doubled. This transcendental phenomenological qualitative study sought to understand the journeys of seven adolescents surviving the stay-at-home mandates put in place by officials attempting to decrease the spread of COVID-19 in a rural midwestern town. These participants identify as a gender that does not align with the gender they were given at birth. Their voices are documented with subject led interviews and attention to expressionistic …

William Perkins And His Polemical Relationship With The Roman Catholic Church, Scott Osattin

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This dissertation covers the polemical relationship that William Perkins had with the Roman Catholic Church. It includes showing how Perkins used his writings and scripture to defend the biblical practices of the Church of England and the Puritans when it came to the practices covered in the dissertation. It provides the reader with the necessary background to understand the life, works, and ministry of William Perkins. There is a treatment of the historiography of the works produced on William Perkins and critical works pertaining to the Puritan Movement. Perkins wrote using polemical language to warn the members of the Church …

A Hermeneutical Phenomenological Study Exploring Divorce In Blended Families, Steve Hudgins

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Marriages are supposed to be for a lifetime, but there is a gap in the research as to what is causing a high divorce rate in blended families. There is a research gap considering why divorce percentage rates are higher and more predictable than those of the first marriage. The causes of second divorces within blended families remain largely unexplored in the current reviewed literature; however, relationship studies are more prevalent on the specific roles, such as those of bio- and stepparents within the family. By revealing the research gap, researchers in the field of mental health can understand the …

A Causal-Comparative Study: Teacher Efficacy With Students With Autism, Natasha Cassidy

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this quantitative causal-comparative study is to compare teacher self-efficacy among elementary, middle, and high school teachers of students with autism. Self-efficacy in teaching is the unwavering belief that a teacher can deliver highly effective instruction to foster positive learning outcomes in students with autism. Teachers confident in their abilities to accommodate the needs of students with autism can provide the necessary support, adjust their teaching methods, and create learning opportunities that promote the development of essential skills. The sample size included elementary, middle, and high school teachers from public schools across the northwest region of the United …

Teacher Perceptions On The Influence Of Note-Taking In The Military-Connected Middle School Classroom, Lauren Mullen Evans

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to understand the influence of note-taking strategies on student writing for teachers in the military-connected middle school classroom. The guiding theories for this study were Lev Vygotsky’s sociocultural theory of cognitive development and its influence on note-taking instruction and student writing in the military-connected middle school classroom. The central question for the study stated: What are teachers’ perceptions regarding the influence note-taking strategies have on writing in the military-connected middle school classroom? The participants were middle school teachers with at least three years of experience teaching in military-connected middle school classrooms. Participants had …

The Impact Of Childhood Sexual Abuse On The Overall Well-Being Of White, Christian Female Survivors: A Phenomenology, Tassanee Sanchez

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to understand the impact that childhood sexual abuse has on the biopsychosocial-spiritual health of White, Christian female survivors. The study revolved around three main research questions: (1) How do participants describe their lived experiences and articulate their understanding of the phenomenon of CSA? Participants described their lived experiences as a painful experience of betrayal. Surprisingly, the betrayal came not only from the perpetrator, but also from those close to the survivor who they trusted to protect them. (2) How do participants describe the impact CSA has on their biopsychosocial-spiritual well-being in adulthood? Participants …

Investigating The Effectiveness Of Implicit Bias Teaching Using High-Fidelity Simulation, Eva Wangia

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Nursing education lacks explicit, effective teaching methods for recognizing and managing student biases, which could potentially impact patient outcomes and perpetuate health disparities. This study may influence changes in the associate degree nursing program curricula to include implicit bias teaching, which in turn helps nurses understand the concepts associated with health equity, such as health disparities. This quasi-quantitative experimental study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of implicit bias teaching using high-fidelity simulation to nursing students at a community college in the Pacific Northwest. A convenience sample of first-year nursing students was utilized in the study. Participants completed demographic surveys and …

Phenomenological Study Of The Lived Experiences Of The Constraint Of Law Enforcement Under The De-Policing Movement, Darren A. Kenyon

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative and descriptive phenomenological study was to explore the lived experiences of law enforcement officers in relation to how the de-policing movement may have constrained their ability to proactively enforce the law and interact with the citizens they serve in Connecticut. This study employed Fritz Heider’s attribution theory as a theoretical framework. Data was collected through a series of semi-structured interviews conducted online via Zoom with 10 participants who were employed as police officers or sergeants for a municipal law enforcement agency in the State of Connecticut. These participants were selected through purposive and snowball sampling …

Exploring Clergy's Use Of Suicide Risk Factor Knowledge: A Qualitative Descriptive Study, Matilda Swanson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This qualitative descriptive study explored clergy members’ understanding of mental health literacy in relations to suicide risk factors and the interventions they used to prevent suicidality among congregants in Central Florida. Guided by Anthony Jorm’s mental health literacy theory, the study explored clergy members’ understanding of mental health literacy related to their knowledge of suicide risk factors and interventions they use to address suicide risk among church congregants. Data collection was through semi-structured interviews and two focus groups. A total of 14 clergy members participated in the study. The findings were analyzed using Braun and Clarke’s six-step thematic analysis, leading …