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A Phenomenological Study Exploring The Impact Of Spousal Support On Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (Ptsd) In South Florida Firefighters, Karla Ramirez

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to explore the impact of spousal support on firefighters in South Florida who have post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The Theory of Stress and Coping by Richard Lazarus proposed that stress occurs when situations are negatively interpreted, leading to health problems when adequate coping mechanisms are not utilized (Lazarus & Folkman, 1984). The way in which an individual copes or changes the cognitive and behavioral efforts to manage specific external and/or internal demands influences mental and physical outcomes, including PTSD. This qualitative phenomenological design allowed participants to interpret their lived experiences as they …

Virtual Reality Mindfulness For Nursing Stress And Burnout, Rebecca Jean Cantrell

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Burnout has been a term that has been researched since the 1970’s; however, it has been noted that throughout the past few years there has been increased burnout amongst healthcare workers. Mindfulness has been researched as a tool to decrease burnout and stress. The delivery of mindfulness activity has been completed through different avenues such as in-person and virtual. The purpose of this research project was to evaluate the effectiveness of virtual reality mindfulness experiences and the burnout rates amongst nursing staff in the ambulatory units of a VA Healthcare System. Six nursing staff members volunteered to participate in the …

Examining The Relationship Of Simulation To Nursing Communication Competency: A Quantitative, Causal-Comparative, Retrospective Study, Patresha Pamella Pearson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This quantitative, causal-comparative, retrospective study investigated the impact of simulation-based education on nurse communication competence by evaluating communication skills between two groups of recently graduated and licensed registered nurses while controlling for total experience hours. Though nursing communication competence significantly impacts patient care outcomes, few studies have addressed the impact of simulation on the communication competence of licensed nurses practicing in the clinical setting. The study was conducted in the clinical setting with 78 participants divided between two categorical groups of recently graduated and licensed registered nurses depending on the proportion of simulation-based education received during clinical experience requirements. The …

Disunity Of Pentecostal Pastors Planting Churches In Suburban Areas: Unifying Leaders With The Same Goal, Jamare L. Razor

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The problem is that disunity exists among suburban church planting pastors of multidenominational and nondenominational churches in a tri-state region of the United States. Approximately 4,000 churches are planted in America each year and sadly about 3,700 of those churches will close. One reason for this is disunity among pastors that leads to the lack of support needed for church plant success and longevity. This problem must be remedied if the church plants are to succeed. The purpose for this Doctor of Ministry action research project is to identify the causes of the disunity that hinder church plant success in …

The New “Female Hysteria”: A Phenomenological Approach To Understanding The Effects Of The Imposter Phenomena In African American Women In Educational Leadership: A Qualitative Study, Alexandria Nicole Purifoy

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study is to understand the intersectionality of imposter phenomenon, misogyny, and racism and the impacts on African American women in educational leadership roles at secondary schools. The theory guiding this study is Maslow’s hierarchy of needs as it applies to the importance of belongingness for Black women in these roles. The central research question for this study is: What perspectives have shaped the views of Black women in educational leadership roles? The proposed methodology utilizes a combination of journals, interviews, and focus groups to gather information from participants. This study used the transcendental phenomenological approach …

The Impact Of State Investment In Cancer Research Capacity And Infrastructure: A Mixed Methods Study, Paul E. Hull

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The aim of this mixed-methods study is to understand the fiscal and practical impact on a state’s biomedical research ecosystem when state policymakers decide to invest substantially in cancer research capacity and infrastructure. It posits that an investing state is more likely to realize a greater share of contract and grant dollars from the National Cancer Institute (NCI) for its researchers and cancer centers. The quantitative portion of the study, employing a multiple regression analysis of data from all 50 states, finds that investment in cancer research capacity and infrastructure does improve a given state’s relative share of NCI support, …

Is Learning Relative? Exploring Student Learning In A Special Relativity Digital Game Case Study, Meredith Rae Kunz

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this embedded single case study was to explore how undergraduate students learn special relativity theory in a digital game at Midwest College. The theory guiding this study was Sweller’s cognitive load theory as it applies to how students learn in a digital game environment. The central research question was: How do students learn special relativity theory in a digital game environment? I conducted a qualitative embedded single case study at a small liberal arts college in the Midwest under the pseudonym of Midwest College. Purposive and criterion sampling was used to select participants. This embedded case study …

The Call To Worship/Music Vocational Ministry: A Case Study To Better Understand The Function Of The God-Ordained Call To Vocational Worship Ministry, Jerry Leonard Newman

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study investigates the multifaceted role of worship and music leaders in Christian congregations. It emphasizes that their responsibilities extend beyond mere musical proficiency to embody a profound spiritual calling rooted in a vocational call to ministry. A survey of 401 worship leaders from various Christian denominations reveals the role's dual nature: they are skilled musicians and spiritual guides uniquely called to facilitate the congregation’s faith journey. This vocational calling highlights their divine appointment to ministry, aligning with biblical principles such as those found in Ephesians 4:11-12, which stress the equipping of the saints and the building up of the …

A Mission Simulation Retreat For Senior Youth Leaders To Train Adventist Young Professionals In The South Bahamas Conference, Jamal Doran Franklyn

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The mission simulation retreat SDA action research project trains senior youth leaders of young adult professionals for urban ministry through their vocational orientation. To address the problem of only having a global youth day one-day mission drive, the Mission Simulation Retreat (MSR) equipped young leaders in local SDA churches to simulate mission projects matching their professional careers. By building on the Hebrew culture, the priesthood of all believers, and spiritual gifts, MSR customizes a spiritual gifts database that aligns with vocational careers to provide mission project options by vocational skills. Through focus group presentations, a questionnaire, and a survey, data …

Exploring Family Mealtime Environment, Screens, And Mental Health Among School-Aged Children In Japan, Ami Nishimori Alnouri

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This qualitative phenomenological study explored the lived experiences of family mealtimes during breakfast and the mental health of school-aged children (6-18 years) in Japan, comparing those who used and did not use screens during breakfast. This study involved two research questions: How did parents of Japanese school-aged (6 to 18 years) children who used screens (electronic devices) at mealtime experience family mealtime during breakfast? How did parents of Japanese school-aged (6 to 18 years) children who did not use screens (electronic devices) at mealtime experience family mealtime during breakfast? In this study, a qualitative phenomenological approach employed semi-structured interviews with …

Rooted In Identity: A Phenomenological Qualitative Study Describing The Pre-Freshman Self-Esteem Experiences Of African American Female Students Entering Historically Black Colleges And Universities, Wanda Minor

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This qualitative phenomenological study aimed to describe the pre-freshman self-esteem experiences of African American (AA) female students at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). The study explored the experiences of AA women and the factors that contribute to the development of their self-esteem before their enrollment as students in HBCUs. Literature suggests that numerous issues, including racial discrimination and prejudice, cultural stereotypes, socioeconomic concerns, historical and intergenerational trauma, beauty standards, and institutional and systemic hurdles, have affected their self-esteem (Woods-Giscombe, 2010). However, there was a void in addressing the issues AA women face in college, particularly students at HBCUs. This …

Exploring Job Demands That Increase Burnout Rates Among Secondary, Public, Interrelated Special Education Teachers: A Hermeneutic Phenomenology, Wendy M. Turner

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenology is to understand the experiences of secondary, interrelated, public-school teachers in Georgia and their job demands and job resources that affect the development of burnout syndrome. There are two theories guiding this study: the burnout theory and the job demands-resources theory. These theories work together to frame understanding and guide the research questions for this phenomenological study. The burnout theory lays the foundation for identifying the characteristics of burnout syndrome while the job demands-resources theory allows us to identify specific characteristics of the job that can increase or decrease the likelihood of special education …

Challenged And Chosen: Discipling Christians With Chronic Conditions Towards Kingdom Identity And Purpose, Allison J. Hampton

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose for this DMIN action research project was to create an eight-week discipleship program and accompanying workbook to help Christians diagnosed with chronic medical conditions to rediscover their identity in God. Because of the limitations and physical changes that often accompany chronic diagnoses, members of Living Chronic Faith (a faith-first nonprofit organization that serves believers with chronic diagnoses) felt incapable of serving on the same level as their physiotypical counterparts. Marginalized by their faith community and hesitant to engage in their ministry contexts, eleven LCF members participated in this online focus group. This project’s surveys, interviews, journal entries, and …

Readiness For Interprofessional Teamwork Of Graduate Public Health Students At The Time Of Their Graduation, Liliana Morosanu

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this applied study was to solve the problem of lacking empirical evidence for the contribution of interprofessional education (IPE) towards readiness for teamwork interprofessional practice (T-IPP) of Master of Public Health (MPH) graduates, and to design an IPE evaluation model in response. Current knowledge about T-IPP of MPH graduates is insufficient yet critical for professional practice. It is unclear how academic IPE builds MPH students’ T-IPP skills, and whether other training sources exist. A cross-sectional multimethod design was implemented with a sample of 58 MPH graduates from accredited programs within 12 months from graduation, of whom 12 …

Gatekeeping The Choral Classroom: The Existence Of Caste System Levels In High School Choral Singing, Amber J. Klein

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The high school choral music sector has become increasingly competitive in education, leading to selectively allowing certain students into the choral classroom and fostering exclusionary practices within choral music instruction. The term "gatekeeping" may evoke a sense of unease and concern, although it refers to a long-standing system that has existed for centuries. Gatekeeping, which excludes pupils who do not meet the standards set by the competitive choral world, is a growing concern in music education. The all-ability choir movement has experienced gradual growth in urban areas following years of challenges that originated from implementing the No Child Left Behind …

The Shared Experiences Of Silenced Struggles Of A Deaf And Hard-Of-Hearing Community In North Carolina Seeking Mental Health Services, Lindsey J. Laws

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to describe the challenges members of a Deaf/Hard of Hearing (D/HOH) community in North Carolina have experienced when seeking mental health services. A major challenge is the lack of trained professionals to accommodate the needs of hard-of-hearing and Deaf clients. Barriers include a limited number of providers who know American Sign Language or offer hearing assisted devices to effectively communicate with clients. The theory guiding this study is the social learning theory initially presented by Albert Bandura in 1971. Specific emphasis is placed on learning by direct experience and motivational function of …

A Case Study Exploring Implementation Of Gamified Adaptive Learning Technology As A Response To Instruction And Intervention (Rti²) Strategy In Elementary Mathematics Education, Tina Marie Clowser

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this single instrumental case study was to understand educators’ implementation of gamified adaptive learning programs in mathematics education as an intervention (RtI²) strategy for public elementary (K-5) teachers in a rural city school district in the Western United States. The study's central research question explored how educators implemented gamified adaptive learning technology as an intervention (RtI²) strategy in public elementary mathematics education. A single instrumental case study design was used for this study to illicit implementation strategies while uncovering successes, challenges, and barriers for in-service public elementary school educators. Data were collected from twelve participants through individual …

Uncertainty As To The Wide Adoption Of Cryptocurrencies As A National Currency Alternative Within The Financial Services Industry In The New York City Metropolitan Area, Dariusz Przywalny

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Cryptocurrencies still have not been adopted widely and there is uncertainty as to whether they can become a mainstream asset while becoming a viable alternative to a national currency such as the U.S. dollar. This research explored cryptocurrency adoption among financial institutions in the New York City Metropolitan Area, the nation’s major financial hub. Both encouraging and discouraging factors related to cryptocurrency adoption were explored with in-depth interviews with cryptocurrency professionals in addition to a literature review. The responses were coded, and emerging themes were discovered. The multiple-case study method was applied to three cases including banks, asset managers/financial advisors, …

The Development Of A Men’S Ministry At Remnant Church To Foster The Spiritual Leadership Development Of Men To Provide Leadership For Family, Church, And Community, Anthony L. Herron

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The problem this student seeks to address is that the Remnant Church in Midwest City, Oklahoma, does not have a men's ministry to develop men as spiritual leaders. The Remnant Church is a non-denominational church focused on growing and developing people to become more like Jesus Christ. The men of the Remnant Church do not meet regularly for discipleship or fellowship.

The men of Remnant Church are not organized to provide a network of support for men. Men need a support network within the church to develop spiritually. Men need a forum for discussing men's issues, such as leading in …

Exploring The Utility Of The Septicyte In Clinical Decision-Making In The Emergency Department, Sylvia Lowery-Taylor

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Know thy enemy. A significant obstacle in treating and managing sepsis is the absence of a test or method to diagnose the disease rapidly. Sepsis is defined as a life-threatening organ dysfunction caused by a dysregulated host response to infection (Sinha & Ray, 2018). Despite improvements to sepsis-related care and sepsis outcomes, it remains a worldwide concern and a leading cause of mortality. Early recognition and management of sepsis is critical to provide rapid treatment and to prevent deaths associated with sepsis and septic shock. Since most patients with sepsis receive their initial care in the emergency department, it is …

A Predictive Correlational Study Of The Relationship Between Two-Year College Faculty Participation In Professional Development And Career Commitment, Faculty Leadership, And Professional Service Activities, Deborah Josey Burks

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this predictive correlational non-experimental study was to examine the relationships between faculty participation in professional development, and career commitment, faculty leadership, and engagement in professional service activities. The predictor variable was faculty professional development and criterion variables were career commitment, faculty leadership, and engagement in professional service by faculty employed within two-year colleges in the southeastern United States. This study contained a convenience sample of 76 faculty employed at two-year colleges within a system of colleges. Data was gathered utilizing the combined self-reported Career Growth Opportunity Measure (Adams, 1999), the Teacher Leadership Inventory [TLI] (Angelle & DeHart, …

Attachment Security In Adult Offspring Of Parents With Narcissistic And Borderline Personality Disorder, Habiba Jessica Zaman

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Available research in understanding the correlation of insecure attachment in the offspring of caregivers with traits of personality disorders and how the two presents in adulthood includes the experiences from childhood to adolescence, though thus far, no other studies have been done to understand these variables into adulthood. This mixed methods study of 172 participants for the quantitative portion and 12 participants for the qualitative portion explored the impact of having an early childhood caregiver with Narcissistic or Borderline Personality Disorder characteristics on attachment styles and interpersonal relationships in adulthood. Online self-reports utilizing The Personality Inventory (PCL-5 Brief Form) to …

Task Force 57: The British Struggle Of Implementing A Pacific Fleet, J Robert John Streit

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

By the Fall of 1941, the British were struggling to fight the German and the Axis powers in the European theater. The Royal Navy was occupied in the home, Atlantic, and Mediterranean waters and did not have the available ships to send to the Pacific. In December of 1941, the Japanese had not only attacked the Americans at Pearl Harbor, but also attacked Singapore and other British possessions, to include a small naval task force sent by the British as a deterrent to the Japanese. From December 1941 on, the British struggled to have enough forces to fight against the …

Causal-Comparative Study Of The Difference In Teacher Perceptions Of School Climate And Teacher Occupational Stress Among Elementary, Middle, And High School Teachers, Jennifer L. Miller

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this quantitative, causal-comparative study is to determine if there is a difference in teachers’ perceptions of school climate and teacher occupational stress among elementary, middle, and high school teachers. There is a gap in the literature pertaining to teachers’ perceptions of school climate and occupational stress in different school settings. The sample included 79 teachers from a district in eastern North Carolina. The instrument used for teacher stress was the Teacher Stress Inventory-Short survey (TSI-S), and the instrument for school climate was the Delaware School Climate Scale–Teacher/Staff (DSCS-T/S) survey. Data was collected using Survey Monkey. A one-way …

A Transcendental Phenomenology Study On Teacher Experiences And Perspectives On The Efficacy Of Trauma-Informed Practices In Public Schools With Students With Behavior Intervention Plans, Elaina Marie Lawrence

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to understand public school teachers’ lived experiences and perceptions of the efficacy of trauma-informed practices for students with Behavior Intervention Plans (BIPS) within the Desert Coral Independent School District (DCISD). Due to the complexities that trauma has on personal, social, and cognitive development, Vygotsky’s theory on the zone of proximal development (ZPD) frames this study to combine the relationship between the stages of child development, trauma, and self-determination. ZPD provides a relational model of emergent interactive agency for students with BIPs. It highlights reactions to observation, modeling, and emulating behaviors, attitudes, and emotional …

Ensuring Careful Interpretation And Application Of The Bible Through The Lens Of The Covenants, James Kenneth Rainwater

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

For centuries, believers in Jesus Christ have turned to the Bible to discover His will for their life. For the most part, this discovery has resulted in joy and significance and has benefited the journeys of millions. However, there have been many examples where the misunderstanding and misinterpretation of the Bible has brought about devastating consequences. Wolves have crept in and used the Bible for their own nefarious purposes. This paper offers a bridge for believers to navigate many of the difficult passages of the Bible and their behavioral application. Specifically, this is achieved through a closer look at how …

Physiological Response To Resisted Plyometric Training On Swimmers Sprint Swim Abilities, David Newman

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study used a casual comparative/quasi-experimental research design to determine whether resisted plyometric training has a more significant effect than non-resisted plyometric training on competitive teenage swimmers’ power and speed. Twelve swimmers were randomly assigned to a resisted group (n = 6, age: 14.5 ± 0.96 years; G (RES)) and an unresisted group (n = 6, age 14.17 ± 1.77 years; G UNRES). In both RES and UNRES groups the plyometric training consisted of lateral box step-ups and squat jumps before swim training twice per week. Pre and post-tests consisted of a power test (vertical jump via Vertical Jump Challenger) …

Exploring The Perceptions And Attitudes Of Teacher Effectiveness Regarding Student Achievement In An Inclusive Classroom Environment: A Phenomenology, Rhonda Zellner

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to explore the perceptions and attitudes of teachers regarding their effectiveness in meeting the needs of students in an inclusive classroom environment. The theory guiding this study was Bandura’s self-efficacy theory, which applies to teachers’ perceptions and attitudes in teaching in an inclusive classroom setting. The central research question for this study was: What are teachers’ perceptions and attitudes toward teaching students with special educational needs in an inclusive classroom environment? The research questions addressed teachers’ perceptions regarding their effectiveness and ability to meet the needs of students in an inclusive classroom …

Evaluating Pharmacokinetic And Age-Related Parameters In The Static Mechanistic Model To Enhance The Accuracy Of Drug-Drug Interaction Prediction In The Geriatric Population, Jing Wang

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Drug-drug interactions (DDIs) can significantly impact drug efficacy, patient safety, and healthcare costs. While potentially life-threatening, DDIs are also predictable, manageable, and avoidable. Due to polypharmacy and age-related physiological changes, DDIs are most prevalent in the geriatric population. However, geriatric patients are often excluded from clinical trials for ethical and scientific reasons. DDI assessments in the geriatric population are typically replied on extrapolated from younger populations, which may not always be appropriate. This research investigates whether the computational model, particularly the static mechanistic model, can accurately and appropriately predict DDIs in the geriatric population by modifying pharmacokinetic and age-related parameters …

Hellenic Cohesion: A Historic Approach To Transnationalism, Particularism, And Cosmopolitanism In The Greek Immigrant Communities Of Wyoming, Patrick Michael Pace

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Greek immigration to the United States began slowly in the late nineteenth century but found its stride by the second decade of the twentieth century. Behind the incrementally increasing numbers of Greeks emigrating from Greece was an economic collapse related to a mismanaged agricultural industry, leading mostly young men to pursue economic reward abroad in support of families and villages back home. Most early Greek migrants anticipated an eventual return home; however, many moved beyond simple sojourning into permanent settlement for a variety of reasons, including the establishment of proprietorships, the building of families, and nativist driven anti-immigrant legislation. For …