Digital Commons Network^™

An Exploration Of How Working At Marching Band Camps Can Benefit Pre-Service Instrumental Music Educators, Cody Franklin Knott

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Equipping pre-service music education students for a teaching career requires practicum experience working with mentor teachers and students. It can be challenging to acquire enough practicum experience through typical undergraduate coursework to prepare future teachers for a classroom of their own entirely. Guided by the phenomenological research approach, this study will investigate pre-service teaching opportunities available to instrumental music education students who work at summer marching band camps to gain experience teaching in the classroom. Data will be gathered from pre-service teachers’ experiences as instructors or technicians at marching band camps through an online survey. This survey will examine the …

The Connections Among Adoption, Attachment, And Violence, Victoria M. Sanders

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Research regarding the experience and outcomes for adopted children has largely ended upon the individual turning 18 years old and has failed to provide adequate information about how adoption impacts an individual throughout the lifespan. Because of a lack of information gathering from the Department of Justice, there is little information about the incarceration rates of adopted individuals and the reasons for those incarcerations. This qualitative research study seeks to gain a better understanding of those individuals who were adopted and committed murder at some point after they were adopted. Court records, transcripts, motions, and evidence related to the murders …

A Qualitative Phenomenological Study Of The Perceptions Of Teachers' Lived Experiences Of The Connection Between Classroom Management And Teacher Attrition, Trisha Hofmann

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to understand what meaning teachers ascribe to classroom management and teacher attrition in the lived experiences of teachers with less than 10 years teaching experience in U.S. public schools. Classroom management was defined as the process teachers use to ensure a safe learning environment for all students. The theory that guided this study was Albert Bandura’s social cognitive theory, which posits that self-efficacy is the foundation of human motivation and well-being. The central research question for this study was: What meaning do teachers with less than 10 years of teaching experience ascribe to …

What's In It For Me? Applying Social Exchange Theory To Beverage Brand Engagement On Facebook, Destiny Elise Rinder

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Managing engagement with existing and potential consumers on social networking sites has proven to be a challenge for many brands (Gretry et al., 2017). Focusing on the marketing communications of American beverage brands on Facebook, the researcher aimed to learn why some brands earn more engagement than competing brands. To answer this question, the researcher conducted a qualitative study that utilized a content analysis. Social exchange theory was applied to the findings of the content analysis, which allowed the researcher to perceive and interpret the high-value rewards of brand communication. Applying a communication theory that combines behavioral psychology and elementary …

The Efficacy Of Group Therapy As A Primary Treatment For Military Veterans, Sheldon Kauffman

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and moral injury (MI) are often comorbid in military veterans. While various manualized group treatments have demonstrated efficacy in reducing symptom severity, the effect sizes for these diverse treatments have been similar indicating something other than the intervention (e.g., peer social support) may be driving symptom reduction. This mixed methods study examined the efficacy of non-manualized group psychotherapy for reducing PTSD and MI symptom severity in military veterans. The sample (n = 34) consisted of post-911 and Vietnam military veterans, aged 30 - 78, who attended voluntary government and non-government funded PTSD groups in southcentral Pennsylvania. …

Prophetic Theology: The Essence Of Prophecy, Charmain M. Jarrett

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this action research project is to equip the members of Jesus Strong Ministries to discern the authenticity of contemporary prophetic messages. This research project aimed to measure the effectiveness of teaching the members of Jesus Strong Ministries the purpose or essence of true prophecy, focusing on discerning and interpreting prophetic messages. To accomplish this, the researcher developed and taught thirty-two participants an eight-week virtual prophetic training course via Zoom. The course examined eight vital elements of prophecy: the definition of prophecy, types of prophets, history of prophecy, relevance or purpose of prophecy, dimensions of prophecy, Spirit of …

A Transcendental Phenomenological Study On Teacher Self-Efficacy: Exploring The Lived Experiences Of Teachers With Provisional Licensure While Working In The Classroom, Shawn Kristine Ruiz

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental qualitative phenomenological study was to describe self-efficacy through the lived experiences of K-12 teachers working with a provisional license in the Commonwealth of Virginia and the state of Georgia. The theory guiding this study was Bandura’s theory on self-efficacy, as it explained the sources of self-efficacy. The central research question this study set out to answer was: What are the self-efficacy experiences of K-12 teachers working with a provisional license in the Commonwealth of Virginia and the state of Georgia? The subsequent sub-questions focused on each of the four sources of self-efficacy: (1) mastery, (2) …

An Investigation Of Law Enforcement Officer Background And Personality: A Study Of The Effects Of Education And Time In Service On Personality Characteristics, Courtney A. Claiborne

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Within the last ten years, the actions of law enforcement officers have received increased attention, particularly in events involving disproportionate use of force. However, researchers and individuals should not generalize all law enforcement officers based on these incidents. In other words, the actions of law enforcement officers in these incidents should not be used as a basis to predetermine the actions of all law enforcement officers. Therefore, examining law enforcement officers' personalities and backgrounds is one way to understand individual police officers better. Through an exploratory research study, the researcher was able to examine the effect education and time in …

Teaching Aural Skills In Undergraduate Music Using World Music Concepts: A Narrative Inquiry, Eugene Seow

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This project recognizes the potential of pedagogical innovation through world music concepts, particularly in applying world music education techniques to acquiring undergraduate aural skills. The study examines concepts from African drumming, Indian tala, Arabic maqam, and Japanese gagaku, briefly inquiring into the psychology and theory behind these world musics, and determines how best to transfer the concepts to an undergraduate aural skill teaching curriculum alongside its core concepts rooted in the Western classical idiom. Thus, teachers can augment aural skills education at the collegiate level with cross-cultural perspectives and integrative techniques. This qualitative narrative inquiry research recognizes the imbalance in …

Community Partnerships For Music Education In Rural Eastern New Mexico And West Texas, Joseph Manuel Flores

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Despite the availability of music education courses in rural America’s secondary school setting, the quality and quantity of music education offerings may be in a state of decline due to student retention, lack of collaborations between extra/co-curricular activities and their instructors, scheduling conflicts, or lack of community involvement. Music education opportunities allow students to engage in art forms that further life-long learning and music advocacy. This study will investigate the perspective of music educators in rural Eastern New Mexico and West Texas as they continue to create high-quality music-band programs. The qualitative phenomenological research study highlights perspectives of rural American …

Do Something: Does The Use Of Compassionate Empathy By Staff Affect The Safety Of A Colorado Correctional Facility?, Kelly Lynn Kuhns

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this applied multimethod study is to explore the relationship between the use of compassionate empathy and safety in a Colorado correctional facility. This research involved 25 staff members and employed a thematic analysis approach, integrating results from the Toronto Empathy questionnaire and semi-structured participant interviews. The study aimed to provide insights into the potential impact of compassionate empathy on safety within correctional facilities and inform policy and training initiatives to enhance overall safety. The findings offer valuable information to correctional administrators and policymakers in Colorado and beyond, aiding efforts to improve the safety and well-being of both …

The Battle Of Mobile Bay: A Joint Masterpiece, Thomas Rutherford Key

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The United States and Confederate Navies saw the most action and glory in the first days of the Battle of Mobile Bay in 1864. It is therefore not surprising that historians paint the opening scenes of the battle with naval accounts such as Admiral David Glasgow Farragut shouting, “Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead!” as he sails into Mobile Bay. They mention little about the Army. In contrast, historians record little about the U.S. Navy’s role in the following three weeks while the Army laid siege to Fort Gaines and Fort Morgan. However, both services played critical and interdependent roles …

Keeping The Beat: A Comprehensive Analysis Of Retention Strategies And Their Impact On Historically Black Colleges And University Band Student And Alumni Success, Melton Randolph Harvey Ii

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Music programs at Historically Black Colleges and Universities have a rich cultural legacy, but there is still little understanding of how these programs impact students in particular ways. HBCUs provide Black individuals a chance to achieve equality, gain respect as a collective in the United States, and secure employment in professional fields. The purpose of this study aims to explore the factors concerning retention that contribute to participation in Historically Black Colleges and University band participation and analyze the effectiveness of its current retention initiatives.

the main research tool created to investigate the dynamics of recruitment and retention in HBCU …

Hyperlipidemia: Enhancing Patient Education And Clinical Support To Improve Self-Efficacy, Kelly L. Caniglia

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Hyperlipidemia is a chronic, progressive disorder routinely encountered in primary care practice. In the United States, coronary artery disease and cerebrovascular disease are the leading causes of death. Hyperlipidemia is a modifiable risk factor for the development of coronary artery disease, cerebrovascular disease, and peripheral artery disease. However, many individuals fail to recognize the severity of the health consequences associated with hyperlipidemia. Most often, hyperlipidemia is the direct result of unhealthy lifestyle behaviors. Comprehensive care falls short in primary care settings, often due to non-compliance with necessary lifestyle behavior changes. Primary care patients' lack of knowledge and awareness signals a …

A Causal-Comparative Study Of Reading Motivation And Reading Achievement In Middle School Special Education Students Of Black, Hispanic, And White Descent, Anisha L. Mendez

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this quantitative, causal-comparative study is to determine if there is a difference between reading motivation and reading achievement of middle school special education students of Black, Hispanic, and White descent. The importance of this study was to close reading gaps between ethnic groups. This study was conducted in four middle schools in a suburban area in Northeast Georgia. Participants included 58 Black=Group 1, 35 Hispanic=Group 2, and 33 White=Group 3 middle school special education students with a total of 126 students. The research questions guided this causal-comparative study with the following: (a) Is there a difference between …

Increasing Self-Efficacy Of Nurse Practitioner Preceptors In Primary Care By Using The One-Minute Preceptor Model, Amy J. Lancaster

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Nurse practitioners represent the fastest growing profession in the United States, with 385,000 practitioners currently licensed. Over 70% of these licensed practitioners are serving in primary care settings. As the growth of this workforce continues, so does the need for nurse practitioner preceptors. The preceptor plays an essential role in championing clinical competencies for nurse practitioner students. This project was implemented in a primary care setting with an aim to improve the self-efficacy of nurse practitioner preceptors by using the One-Minute Preceptor teaching method to improve the practicum experience for both the preceptor and the nurse practitioner student. The One-Minute …

Nursing Faculty Exposure To Student Incivility And Interventions In Place To Address: A Case Study, Kimberly Lowe

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative case study was to explore nursing faculty exposure to nursing student incivility at a nursing college in the Mid-Atlantic region. Bandura's social learning theory provided this study’s theoretical framework. The continuum of workplace aggression and conceptual model fostering incivility in nursing education also guided this study. This study answered the following central research question: How have nursing faculty been exposed to incivility by nursing students? Data were collected for this study through one-on-one interviews with nursing faculty exposed to nursing student incivility and a focus group with the same nursing faculty to discuss the current …

Improved Clinical Outcomes Due To Gfr-Based Clinical Interventions For The Prevention And Treatment Of Renal Disease As It Relates To The Veteran Population Managed By A Patient-Aligned Care Team, Sidneca Evangella Hazward

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this study was to understand if the use of eGFR (CKD-EPI 2021) in the absence of race modification influenced early detection of renal disease for veterans managed by patient-aligned care teams. A retrospective cohort study design was used, analyzing patient data from the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VAMC). The study included veterans with available serum creatinine, albumin, eGFR, CKD-EPI 2021, etc. measurements and demographic data. The study employed a systematic data review of electronic medical records from 2019 to 2024 and utilized electronic data collection through a computerized patient record system (CPRS) data collection system. …

Edification And Evangelism Through Worship Leadership, Donald G. Wolf

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

To gain Christ worshipers, evangelism is the church’s most significant commission. Disciples of Christ are commanded to preach the gospel: Mark 16:15. However, the church's edification through worship leadership produces the heart for evangelism in God’s people to be evangelists. This multiplies the ministry of the congregation to their world. This paper addresses the components of successful leadership that help people to be edified and evangelized in through the integrity of the gospel presentation through worship, specifically American evangelical worship leadership. Adaptive approaches must be considered as cultures evolve while retaining the accurate theological gospel message. Recorded historical commentary and …

Cultural Motivations And Effects Of Live Game Streaming, Gordon David Littleford

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Live game streaming combines many of the social mechanisms and cultural impacts of social media with the entertainment and social impacts of traditional media. Live game streaming (LGS) is growing in audience size and engagement. Further, the financial impact of LGS is rising to the level of Hollywood films and the music industry. As such this study focused on how the communicative environment of live game streaming impacts the live game streaming culture at large, as well as the effects on both the individual streamers and their communities during live game streams. The emergent design of this qualitative digital ethnography …

The Effects Of Social Media Presence On Historically Black College And University (Hbcu) College Student Band Selection, Kuronde Washington

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This research reveals the effects of social media presence on Historically Black College and University (HBCU) college student band selection. This quantitative correlational research study investigates the impact of social media presence and engagement on how HBCU band students select the college band they wish to attend. Variables in the digital space are the students’ influence of choice and social media. The researcher surveyed 75 HBCU band students from various athletic conferences to determine what social media content factors influence how college and university band students perceive and rank band programs. Participants were selected based on active college or university …

A Hermeneutic Phenomenological Study Of College Students' Experiences With College-Provided Mental Healthcare Services, Adrian M. Campbell

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to understand college students' perspectives on college-provided mental healthcare services. The framework guiding this study is the theory of planned behavior (TPB), developed by Fishbein and Ajzen. The TPB theory is based on attitude, social norms, perceived behavioral control (PBC), and intention. The central research question: What are college students' perspectives on college-provided mental healthcare services? The design of this qualitative study is hermeneutic phenomenology, a rigorous and well-established approach. A sample of twelve participants, carefully selected based on pre-determined criteria, was included in the study. The participants, a diverse mix of current …

Emotional Intelligence, Perceived Stress, Coping Strategies And Burnout In High Stress Nursing Job Types, Chris Hutsell

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This quantitative, correlative study examined the relationships between emotional intelligence (EI), burnout, perceived stress, coping strategy approaches, and dimensions of burnout in nurses According to many in the healthcare industry, the U.S. is facing a potential nursing crisis by 2030. Research has indicated that inadequate staffing leads to heavier workloads that contribute to higher rates of injuries, medical errors, absenteeism, financial loss, stress, and job burnout in nurses. Studies have also indicated that emotional intelligence can alleviate perceived stress and burnout in nurses that reduce nursing injuries, medical errors, absenteeism that manifests as financial losses for the overall healthcare industry. …

Action Crisis Intervention Response, Dwayne Pine

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Establishing a peer-to-peer mental health intervention program for healthcare workers at Henry Mayo Hospital is imperative for addressing stress, anxiety, depression, job burnout, and compassion fatigue. The growing mental health crisis among healthcare workers, leading to a significant number leaving the industry due to lack of support from management, underscores the urgency of this initiative. This action research project emphasizes the need for such a program in conjunction with the established Mental Health First Aid. While the latter provides tools to recognize a mental health crisis, it lacks holistic approaches to aid healthcare workers in immediate crisis mode. The project …

Investigating High School Students' Engagement And Presence In Foreign Language Learning Using Virtual Reality: A Quasi-Experimental Study, Nibras Clapp

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this quasi-experimental, nonequivalent control group study was to determine if a statistically significant difference existed in the engagement and presence of high school foreign language learners who used virtual reality in their language learning and those who used traditional methods. This study seeks to add to the existing literature by bridging the gap of understanding related to increasing the proficiency of foreign language learners. A convenience sample of 158 high school students was drawn from a school district in the southeast of the United States. The study utilized the user engagement scale and the presence questionnaire, with …

Incorporating Aaron Copland's Philosophy Of Inclusion In Midwest Rural Band Programs: A Qualitative Study Of Attracting And Retaining Students Of Low Socioeconomic Status, Jonathan, S. Laflamme

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The field of music education has established the value of instrumental band music instruction as congruent with students’ intellectual, kinesthetic, psychological, and academic success. However, one should scrutinize the validity of the above data, as it addresses issues concerning access to instrumental music education that persist within underserved populations, particularly those characterized by low socioeconomic status (SES) in rural Midwest America. Researchers have synthesized very little data specifically to address the needs of Midwest rural schools and underserved student populations. This qualitative study explores the effects of applying Aaron Copland’s philosophy of inclusion, specifically regarding students of low SES, in …

Understanding The Characteristics Of The Artistic Temperament In A Local Church Through The Eyes Of The Choir Members And The Lens Of Scripture: A Case Study, Deborah A. Mcilrath

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Madness has long been associated with musical geniuses, known as temperamental musicians with uncomfortable mood swings that often border on manic depressive episodes. Secular studies show parallels between musicians with an artistic temperament (AT) and bipolar/manic depressive disorders. Many church choir members and church leaders expect church music directors to be more expressive, but if negative characteristics associated with an artistic temperament (AT) emerge during rehearsals, such as anger or moodiness, conflict is inevitable. This is a phenomenological qualitative study of the characteristics associated with AT in a local church through the lens of Scripture. The purpose of this research …

Determining The Effectiveness Of A Nurse-Led Heart Failure Education Program In Reducing 30-Day Hospital Heart Failure Readmissions, Amy Suzanne Cosby

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this project was to determine if a nurse-led heart failure (HF) education program would reduce overall 30-day hospital readmissions related to. Affecting millions of adults in the United States, HF is a growing health epidemic as well as an economic burden to healthcare systems. The population for this project included patients admitted with a diagnosis of acute or chronic HF based on the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (ICD-10) codes. An electronic health record intervention indicated that when a healthcare provider diagnosed a patient with any HF ICD-10 code, the nurse-led HF education …

The Effectiveness Of An Interdisciplinary Care Team: An Integrative Review, Lindsey Marie Ellingford

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

As health care is ever growing and changing, demands for interdisciplinary care team collaboration are crucial for collective competence and team performance across settings. In healthcare facilities across the county, interdisciplinary care teams are made up of multiple disciplines. The following is an integrative review with a purpose to determine if the existing literature supports the implementation of an interdisciplinary care team in the healthcare environment. After completion of this integrative review, the author concluded there should be a standardized tool in the healthcare system to guide the creation and implementation of an interdisciplinary care team. The Jerry Falwell Library …

Authenticity And Worship Technology: An Evaluation Of The Use Of Prerecorded Vocal And Instrumental Tracks In Worship In Augusta, Georgia, Susan R. Burgess

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Every week, congregations in Augusta, Georgia, gather for corporate worship. A common practice among these congregations is incorporating pre-recorded music technology in their services. Technological advancements have significantly transformed the worship landscape. In this performance-oriented culture, the focus at times shifts from congregationally focused praise to a worship stage production, overshadowing the importance of biblical and authentic worship. This phenomenological case study investigates the lived experiences of worshipers in Augusta, Georgia, focusing on the perceptions of authenticity of worship when pre-recorded music is used. The study involved 15 participants from the Central Savannah River Area, examining their perspectives on authentic …