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Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

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In Search Of New Originals: An Examination Of Experiences In Upper-Division Jazz Improvisation Pedagogy, Bruce Babad Nov 2024

In Search Of New Originals: An Examination Of Experiences In Upper-Division Jazz Improvisation Pedagogy, Bruce Babad

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Jazz improvisation courses have become part of the canon within upper-division course offerings, yet only a few students end up sounding original or creative. This descriptive phenomenological study aimed to elucidate, understand, and articulate the significance underlying the lived experiences of adept jazz musicians as they contemplated developing and disseminating improvisational skills. Upper-division jazz improvisation pedagogy is rooted in music theory, a chord-scale approach to jazz harmony, solo transcriptions, and commonly used patterns. Combining these approaches has reduced improvisation to feats of problem-solving or painting by numbers. This study aimed to illuminate the lived experiences of original, creative jazz improvisers …


A Case Study Of The Perceived Pedagogical Strategies Used To Increase Student Motivation And Effective Technology Use In The Secondary Classroom, Adam Herring Nov 2024

A Case Study Of The Perceived Pedagogical Strategies Used To Increase Student Motivation And Effective Technology Use In The Secondary Classroom, Adam Herring

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this single-instrument case study is to understand the strategies that educators perceive to be effective in successfully increasing student motivation when using personal technology in the high school classroom at River Valley High School in the Southeast United States. The theory guiding this study is Ryan and Deci’s theory on self-determination as it examines the relationship between motivation and academic achievement. The central research question in this study, that is, how can relatedness, competency, and autonomy support the use of personal technology in the secondary education classroom, explores how personal technology could influence the perceived motivation of …


Home Educators’ Experiences Teaching Beginning Readers: A Phenomenological Study, Meghan K. Allred Nov 2024

Home Educators’ Experiences Teaching Beginning Readers: A Phenomenological Study, Meghan K. Allred

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to investigate how home educators describe their experiences teaching literacy to beginning readers in the United States. The theory guiding this study was Gagné’s conditions of learning theory as it relates to the literacy teaching experiences of presenting literacy content, eliciting performance of literacy skills, assessing literacy performance, and enhancing literacy retention and transfer in homeschool settings. The central research question was: How do home educators describe their literacy teaching experiences for beginning readers? A transcendental phenomenological approach was used to explore the shared homeschool experience of teaching beginning readers. Participants were selected …


Early Childhood Educators' Training And Support For Addressing Challenging Behaviors Of Students: A Phenomenological Study, Sonia Monica Sumner Nov 2024

Early Childhood Educators' Training And Support For Addressing Challenging Behaviors Of Students: A Phenomenological Study, Sonia Monica Sumner

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to explore the training and support early childhood educators receive when addressing challenging behaviors. The theory guiding this study is Mezirow’s transformative learning theory. Many early childhood educators response to repeated challenging behaviors is to suspend or expel. This can be an ineffective strategy with many negative developmental trajectories for the future. This study explored the central research question: How do early childhood educators address repeated challenging behaviors from their students? The participants were early childhood educators from the state of North Carolina and were recruited using snowball and purposeful sampling. Data …


Examining The Predictive Relationship Of Perceived Preparedness And Career Stage On The Emotional Exhaustion Of Interrelated Resource Special Education Teachers: A Quantitative Study, Navia Doris Penrod Nov 2024

Examining The Predictive Relationship Of Perceived Preparedness And Career Stage On The Emotional Exhaustion Of Interrelated Resource Special Education Teachers: A Quantitative Study, Navia Doris Penrod

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This quantitative, predictive correlational study aimed to investigate the extent to which emotional exhaustion can be predicted by the perceived preparedness and career stage of interrelated resource (IRR) special education teachers serving students with disabilities. This study is important, as understanding the correlation between preparedness, career stage, and emotional exhaustion offers the opportunity to understand better other issues within the field, such as teacher burnout, turnover, and shortage. Literature relevant to the topic was reviewed, including special education legislature, special education settings, teacher burnout and emotional exhaustion, teacher preparedness, and career stage. The expectancy theory of motivation, originating from Victor …


Investigating For A Relationship Between Race/Ethnicity And The Presence Of A Mental Health Crisis Among Individuals Involved In A Fatal Police Encounter In Texas, Unaleshia O. Jackson Nov 2024

Investigating For A Relationship Between Race/Ethnicity And The Presence Of A Mental Health Crisis Among Individuals Involved In A Fatal Police Encounter In Texas, Unaleshia O. Jackson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Mental illness is emerging in the United States as a public concern. In 2021, an estimated 60 million adults in the United States were affected by mental illness (National Institute of Mental Health, 2023). Mental illness is increasingly becoming a topic of conversation among households, churches, schools, and workplaces due to the diminishing of societal stigmas. Ongoing discussions among researchers underline the different manifestations and demographic disparities in the effects of mental illness. A 12-month study revealed a higher prevalence of mood, anxiety, and substance abuse disorders among non-Latino whites. In reference to Asians, African Americans, and Latinos, mood disorders …


Scenario - Based Training In Law Enforcement, Troy Michael Bankert Nov 2024

Scenario - Based Training In Law Enforcement, Troy Michael Bankert

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The discovery of the value and obstacles of scenario-based training for law enforcement from a phenomenological perspective was pursued from a grounded theory. The lack of empirical data and research guided the use of the grounded theory methodology, which attempts through individual professional interviews to discover the values and obstacles of scenario-based training for law enforcement. Clarifications and comprehensive definitions of the constituent elements characterizing a scenario-based training methodology are presented while concurrently identifying the intricate interdependencies between its qualitative measurement and associated cost factors. The exploration of implementing scenario-based training was conducted through personal interviews of criminal justice practitioners …


Bearing The Weight: A Phenomenological Exploration Of Burnout And Stress Among Medicolegal Investigators, Ava Juliette Thorpe Nov 2024

Bearing The Weight: A Phenomenological Exploration Of Burnout And Stress Among Medicolegal Investigators, Ava Juliette Thorpe

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This phenomenological study aimed to investigate and comprehend the impact of burnout and associated maladaptive behaviors among medicolegal and coroner investigators in the United States. Burnout is broadly defined as factors impeding practitioners' physical and psychological well-being in these fields. Despite extensive research on burnout among criminal justice practitioners in trauma-informed care environments, there is a notable gap in the literature concerning support mechanisms for medicolegal and coroner systems (Slack, 2020). This study addressed this gap by exploring the lived experiences of medicolegal and coroner investigators, providing insights for addressing burnout in these contexts. The central problem addressed in this …


Understanding The Lived Experiences Of Culturally And Linguistically Diverse Families: A Phenomenological Study Of Transition Planning And Post-Graduation Outcomes, Tamara Martinez-Fernandez Nov 2024

Understanding The Lived Experiences Of Culturally And Linguistically Diverse Families: A Phenomenological Study Of Transition Planning And Post-Graduation Outcomes, Tamara Martinez-Fernandez

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to understand the lived experience of transition planning for culturally and linguistically diverse (CLD) families in a parent advocacy group located in southeastern Pennsylvania. The theory guiding this study was Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems theory as it placed an emphasis on the interaction between the environments in which individuals developed throughout the lifespan and stressed that all environments are interdependent and play a significant role in human development. The Central Research Question was: What are the lived experiences of CLD parents and guardians as their students’ transition from high school to adulthood? Data were …


Equipping Church Leadership Through Team Ministry: A Dissertation-In-Praxis Model, Judith Aarian Hawkins Nov 2024

Equipping Church Leadership Through Team Ministry: A Dissertation-In-Praxis Model, Judith Aarian Hawkins

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Using teams in the workplace has become an efficient means to employ workers' creativity, productivity, and effectiveness (Ross et al., 2008). Likewise, ministry through teams offers the Church these same outcomes to meet its charge of the Great Commission (King James Bible, 1769/2017, Matthew 28:16-20). This research was implemented with BOLD Deliverance Ministries Incorporated (BOLD), a non-denomination church in Temple Hills, Maryland. The church’s theme of “Where together we equip the saints to serve all people” indicates an existing ideology of collaboration. This project aimed to build on this collaborative mindset by applying team leadership theory within a team ministry …


The Moderating Effect Of Teacher Experience On Secondary Traumatic Stress And Teacher Self-Efficacy Among Rural Public School Teachers, Donna Short Oct 2024

The Moderating Effect Of Teacher Experience On Secondary Traumatic Stress And Teacher Self-Efficacy Among Rural Public School Teachers, Donna Short

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Millions of teachers have exited the teaching profession as of 2020 and over 50% are likely to leave the profession during the next five years. High emotional stress is most often cited as the primary reason for the loss of teachers. There is also an increasing number of students entering school who having experienced various forms of trauma, such as abuse, death, violence, and neglect. In rural areas, poverty is a concern. These students often display trauma behaviors because of limited mental health resources. As rural public school teachers learn about student trauma, these teachers are at risk of secondary …


The Moderate Use Of Wine And Alcohol Among Church Elders: An Analysis Of Νηφάλιον And Πάροινον In 1 Timothy 3:1-7 And Titus 1:5-9, Charles Douglas Tarver Miller Oct 2024

The Moderate Use Of Wine And Alcohol Among Church Elders: An Analysis Of Νηφάλιον And Πάροινον In 1 Timothy 3:1-7 And Titus 1:5-9, Charles Douglas Tarver Miller

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The use of alcohol in the Bible is well established. The ancients were known to consume alcohol and fully understood the pain and pleasure associated with it. So, two things are true: the use of wine is permitted in the Scriptures, but only in moderation. Historically, the conversation about the use of wine has focused on answering the question, “Was the wine used by believers in the Scriptures alcoholic or non-alcoholic?” That debate has largely been settled and will not be the subject of this dissertation. What has not been addressed nearly as often is the question, “How was wine …


Developing A Biblical Worldview: Equipping African American Leaders With The Tools Needed To Combat The Reemergence Of Syncretism Within The African American Church, William Taft Wallace Jr. Oct 2024

Developing A Biblical Worldview: Equipping African American Leaders With The Tools Needed To Combat The Reemergence Of Syncretism Within The African American Church, William Taft Wallace Jr.

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Historically, African Americans have grappled with questions of identity, a struggle initially precipitated by the diaspora. Over time, this ongoing struggle has led many to seek answers from various sources, each of which has influenced and shaped their worldview. In response to this ongoing identity crisis, the African American church has traditionally served as a stabilizing force, emphasizing that identity is rooted in the image of God, as affirmed by the Bible. However, today’s African American church faces significant insider threats from other African American-based groups that promote counter-biblical and anti-Christian narratives regarding identity. These threats have infiltrated the church, …


Comparison Of Redevelopment Policies, Gentrification, And Disparate Impact In Tallahassee, Dallas, And San Diego, William Dorsey Oct 2024

Comparison Of Redevelopment Policies, Gentrification, And Disparate Impact In Tallahassee, Dallas, And San Diego, William Dorsey

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Previous studies found that the economics of poverty are closely tied to property values, education, and employment. Racial disparity in income also exists today. Part of this is attributed to mass gentrification through Urban Renewal Administration programs that legally displaced entire Black neighborhoods under the purview of the Housing Act of 1954 prior to the Fair Housing Act of 1968. For example, Harlem Park was vacated and redeveloped using eminent domain. Critical Race theorists claim that these programs continue today using colorblind policies and secondary discrimination. This dissertation sought to develop a theoretical understanding of the impact ideology has on …


A Qualitative Study Of Federal Employee Whistleblowing And Reprisal For Whistleblowing, Bruce S. Mclean Oct 2024

A Qualitative Study Of Federal Employee Whistleblowing And Reprisal For Whistleblowing, Bruce S. Mclean

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Federal employee whistleblowing is essential to holding government officials accountable. The U.S. Office of Special Counsel (OSC) was established in 1979 to provide a secure channel for federal government employees to report wrongdoing while protecting them from reprisal. More statutory protections were enacted with the Whistleblower Protection Act (WPA) in 1989; however, deficiencies in the WPA led to the eventual passage of the Whistleblower Protection Enhancement Act in 2012. The problem is that the literature on whistleblowing fails to distinguish the OSC as the Executive Branch whistleblower protection agency nor recognize its annual reports and surveys as the only known …


The Voices Of Black Women: Experiences Of Intimate Partner Violence And Mandatory Arrest, Lacoya Charnis Crape Oct 2024

The Voices Of Black Women: Experiences Of Intimate Partner Violence And Mandatory Arrest, Lacoya Charnis Crape

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to understand the lived experiences of Black female victims of IPV concerning mandatory arrest and how they perceive the outcomes and effects of the arrest on either partner involved. The findings revealed that Black women had mixed experiences with mandatory arrest; those with Black abusers reported positive experiences with this law, and those with White abusers experienced negative encounters. Eight out of twenty-three mandatory arrest states were identified as problematic states by Black women due to measures of poor police performance. Outcomes suggest that Black women with White abusers experience unique barriers associated …


Banks Shareholder Net Worth And Blockchain Technology, O'Neal Lawrance Barnett Oct 2024

Banks Shareholder Net Worth And Blockchain Technology, O'Neal Lawrance Barnett

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study examined how blockchain technology affects the banking industry, specifically lending. It provided insights into how blockchain technology changes traditional banking operations and its potential to transform the industry. The research emphasized changes in banking and the effects of technological advances, particularly in digitalization. It outlined the research objectives to provide perspectives on how blockchain technology could lower costs and improve shareholders' equity in the banking sector. The study used a mixed-method design for the analysis. It outlined various strategies for banks to use blockchain technology, highlighting its potential benefits, such as improved transparency, faster settlements, increased trust, and …


Educating Providers On The Utility Of Pharmacogenomic Testing, Angela L. Holloman Oct 2024

Educating Providers On The Utility Of Pharmacogenomic Testing, Angela L. Holloman

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Pharmacogenomic testing is the use of an individual’s genotype to help determine their response to certain medications metabolized by the cytochrome P450 enzyme family. This information can help to prevent adverse drug effects and guide medication selection and dosing. This testing is becoming more widely utilized and more commonly available. It is now available as a direct-to-consumer test. Many providers lack the necessary education in pharmacogenomics to utilize this technology or discuss it with their patients. Educational interventions for providers are effective at improving provider knowledge and confidence regarding pharmacogenomic testing. This practice project sought to educate providers at a …


A Hermeneutic Phenomenological View Of Professional Development Motivation As Experienced By Secondary High School Staff Who Engaged With New Instructional Coaches, Emily Marie Cornwell Oct 2024

A Hermeneutic Phenomenological View Of Professional Development Motivation As Experienced By Secondary High School Staff Who Engaged With New Instructional Coaches, Emily Marie Cornwell

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this hermeneutical phenomenological study was to describe the lived experiences of public-school teachers at the secondary level who engaged with an instructional coach at Peach Tree High School and Rock High School in a rural desert of California. The theory that guided this study was Knowles’s theory on adult learning, as it explained how adults learn and their motivations for professional development. The central research question was: what were the lived experiences of 10-12 public-school teachers at the secondary level while interacting with an instructional coach? The methodology in this qualitative study was hermeneutic phenomenology in which …


Using Situational Leadership To Disciple And Develop Men For Spiritual Leadership In The Home, Christopher N. Andrews Oct 2024

Using Situational Leadership To Disciple And Develop Men For Spiritual Leadership In The Home, Christopher N. Andrews

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

God has designed the family to be the primary source of faith and spiritual formation, commanding all parents to pass along the faith and teach the commandments to their children. Scripture teaches that men hold a special role as the spiritual leader of the home. For men to fulfil this God appointed role they need to be trained and mentored. At the time of this research there was no formal ministry dedicated to the spiritual development of men at FBC Brandenburg. The purpose of this research was to test the Situational Leadership Model in a discipleship program designed to train …


A Quantitative, Cause-Comparative Design Study Of Teacher Self-Efficacy Based On Classroom Environment And Professional Development, Tiffany Cain Woodward Oct 2024

A Quantitative, Cause-Comparative Design Study Of Teacher Self-Efficacy Based On Classroom Environment And Professional Development, Tiffany Cain Woodward

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this quantitative, causal-comparative design study is to determine if there is a difference in teacher self-efficacy scores between teachers who participate in professional development on inclusion and teachers who do not participate in professional development on inclusion and to determine if there is a difference in teacher self-efficacy scores based on the classroom environment. Identifying teacher self-efficacy is important as it will help determine what teachers need professional development in to better serve students with disabilities. The researcher used the Teacher Sense of Efficacy (TSES) scale to identify teacher self-efficacy scores. A convenience sampling procedure was used …


Politics And The Catholic Church: The Rise Of Communism, The Modernization Of The Church, And American Involvement In Early Cold War Italy, Victoria L. Bolds Oct 2024

Politics And The Catholic Church: The Rise Of Communism, The Modernization Of The Church, And American Involvement In Early Cold War Italy, Victoria L. Bolds

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The Catholic Church stands as a testament to the strength of Christianity and diplomacy in an age of modernity. The Vatican, however, has struggled in recent history to live up to its moral code and has taken a more political leaning. Between 1943 and 1965, this adaptation or struggle against modern adaptation is clearly seen. It is necessary to understand the development of post-war Europe at a time when its political, economic, and spiritual leanings could have swayed toward communism, especially as it was a prominent political group in Italy at the time. How then, did Italy evade the progressive …


The Relationship Between Parental Regard And Youth Athlete Performance And Contingency Of Self-Worth, Alysia M.K. Smith Oct 2024

The Relationship Between Parental Regard And Youth Athlete Performance And Contingency Of Self-Worth, Alysia M.K. Smith

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Youth athletic participation is important for the socioemotional development of children, such as lowering the risk of antisocial behaviors, increasing prosocial behaviors, improving physical and mental health, and lowering the risk of obesity. The purpose of this quantitative, correlational study was to explore the relationship between the youth athletes’ perception of how their parents regarded them and their self-worth and perception of their athletic performance, which was explored from the perception of the former youth athlete. The variables were operationalized by utilizing the following instruments: the Parental Conditional Positive Regard Scale (PCPRS), the satisfaction of sporting experience using Turman’s (2006) …


Nurses’ Ability To Provide Diabetes Education In A Hospital Setting, Nicole Ancrum Oct 2024

Nurses’ Ability To Provide Diabetes Education In A Hospital Setting, Nicole Ancrum

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Diabetes is a destructive health problem that affects millions of people throughout the United States. Diabetes rates are drastically increasing, and diabetic adults have a higher risk of excessive hospitalization and readmission. One in every four or five hospitalized adult patients has diabetes. Hospitals nationwide are saddled with the responsibility of assessing the need for and supplying diabetic education. Registered nurses’ perception, awareness, and utilization of diabetes education are essential to patients’ ability and willingness to perform diabetes self-management interventions effectively. Meeting inpatient diabetes educational needs requires persistent, innovative strategies appropriate for available resources and staffing models. Nurses play a …


An Exploration Into The Social And Emotional Effects Of K-12 Music Education, Jerrod T. Perry Oct 2024

An Exploration Into The Social And Emotional Effects Of K-12 Music Education, Jerrod T. Perry

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

In music education, a student must learn to read music notation, develop eye-hand-mind coordination, develop keen listening skills, develop team skills for playing in an ensemble, and develop the discipline to practice. Several research findings show that musical training is a powerful intervention that could help students emotionally and intellectually mature. This research aims to connect the current research on music education with the lack of exploration and knowledge to find the correlation between music and students’ academic success. The methodology used for this study will be a quantitative historical study format directed to discover research-backed evidence based on this …


A Phenomenological Study Of Challenges Faced By Pastors’ Kids; Effects On The Children And The Pastor, Comfort Kanco-Ackep Oct 2024

A Phenomenological Study Of Challenges Faced By Pastors’ Kids; Effects On The Children And The Pastor, Comfort Kanco-Ackep

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The goal of this phenomenological study is to identify the challenges faced by pastors' children and understand their repercussions. The phenomenon of pastor's children deviating from the faith and straying from religious beliefs is a prevalent issue. The Bible shows that priests like Eli and Samuel had children who disobeyed the Lord, in the Old Testament. God's children have had their children wander from moral or religious ways many times. This is due to the many obstacles they face. The pastor's children have numerous expectations and challenges. This study examines how these problems affect pastors' children and pastors. Felitti and …


Exploring Attitudes Within Legal Precedents Related To Police Use Of Force, Jazmine L. Garcia Oct 2024

Exploring Attitudes Within Legal Precedents Related To Police Use Of Force, Jazmine L. Garcia

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Policing is a dangerous profession: Data from the National Institute for Occupational Safety revealed that policing is the second highest in occupational homicides (White et al., 2019). Fifty-nine police officers were killed in the line of duty from January 1, 2021, to September 30, 2021, which is a 51% increase compared to results found in 2020 (FBI, 2021). Therefore, officers must-read situational cues, communicate effectively, and make decisions to choose the best actions for a situation whether that be de-escalation or escalation, all within fractions of seconds. These decisions are rarely black and white with each situation being different and …


The Relationship Between Servant Leadership Attributes / Behaviors And Congregant Commitment Among United Pentecostal Church International Churches, Corey D. Driggs Oct 2024

The Relationship Between Servant Leadership Attributes / Behaviors And Congregant Commitment Among United Pentecostal Church International Churches, Corey D. Driggs

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Research regarding servant leadership has grown and resulted in positive results supporting the potential benefits for organizations to adopt a servant leadership culture among leaders (Neubert et al., 2008; Walumbwa, Hartnell, and Oke, 2010). Most prior research has focused solely on the development of a working construct model (Barbuto and Wheeler, 2006; Dennis and Bocarnea, 2005; Ehrhart, 2004; Hunter, et al. 2013, Liden, Wayne, Zhao, and Henderson, 2008; Parolini, Patterson, and Winston, 2009; Sendjaya, Sarros, and Santor, 2008; van Dierendonck, 2011). Studies have also shown that there is a significant relationship between servant leadership attributes and behaviors with organizational commitment …


Building Hope In Outreach Ministry, Preston W. Boerner Oct 2024

Building Hope In Outreach Ministry, Preston W. Boerner

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Churches and faith-based organizations may discover their role in fulfilling the Great Commission seems to be overshadowed by their efforts to provide other forms of relief and support. Central Florida, like many different regions in the United States, is facing an epidemic of homelessness and addiction. Natural and manmade disasters also present urgent and existential threats. The researcher believes that building true and lasting hope in Jesus is key to facing these challenges in the long term. He hypothesized that intractable barriers may create hopelessness and shift the focus of ministry away from inspiring hope. He conducted purposive interviews and …


The Mediating Effect Of Organizational Identification On Shared Identities And Turnover Intention In Large Companies, Quentin T. Singletary Oct 2024

The Mediating Effect Of Organizational Identification On Shared Identities And Turnover Intention In Large Companies, Quentin T. Singletary

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study sets the foundation for a relational investigation of the relationship between shared identification (shared experiences and shared characteristics) and the turnover intentions of employees from large organizations, mediated by the construct of organizational identification. The research aimed to highlight which shared identification style is most important for the reduction of turnover in large corporations. Participants answered a questionnaire that consisted of forty-nine items: six items that measured shared experiences, four items that measured shared characteristics, twenty-five items that measured organizational identification, six items that measured turnover intention, and eight items that measured demographic variables. Through a mediation regression …