Digital Commons Network^™

Predicting Emotional Intelligence Based On Cultural Dimensions And Narcissism Among Military And Educational Leaders, Juan P. Remy

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this quantitative predictive correlational design study is to examine how well cross-cultural dimensions and narcissistic tendencies predict emotional intelligence among military and educational leaders. This study is important because it will identify how cross-cultural dimensions and narcissistic tendencies influence the emotional intelligence of military and educational leaders. The sample consisted of 90 of 122 military leaders who had attended any professional military education (PME), and 120 educational leaders were recruited from a population of 183 within a military school district in the central United States. The data were collected using the Trait Emotional Intelligence Questionnaire-Short Form (TEIQue-SF), …

Phenomenological Qualitative Study Exploring The Lived Experiences Of Women With Terminal Degrees Related To The Gender Gap In Education Leadership Roles, Ashley Walker

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenological study was to understand the gender gap within education leadership for female teachers with terminal degrees within a Midwestern suburban school district and geographically similar educators recruited via Facebook. The theory that guided this study was Bandura’s theory of self-efficacy as it explains the relationship between self-efficacy and the choice to pursue professional leadership roles. Using purposeful and snowball sampling, 10 women were selected to participate in this study. Nine women who fit the selection criteria were recruited from the XYZ school district, and one participant was recruited via Facebook. Data were collected through …

The Impact Of Instagram Exposure On The Beauty Standards And Body Images Of Young Black American Women, Chiquila Tonelle Arrington

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of the phenomenological study was to explore the impact of Instagram exposure on the beauty standards and body image of young Black American women. Drawing from literature highlighting the negative psychological effects of social media, such as comparison, body surveillance, and negative emotions, the research aimed to capture the experiences of Black women navigating beauty ideals in digital communication spaces. The study focused on Instagram because of the visual nature of the content and its alignment with the visual nature of the construct of beauty. The study explored behaviors, intentions, and habits associated with Instagram use.

The research …

Motivating And Retaining Alabama Band Directors: A Comparison Of Rural, Suburban, And Urban Band Directors, Brandon Jay Benson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Despite existing challenges in rural, suburban, and urban communities, band directors face a lack of motivation due to burnout and insufficient resources. This study examines the motivational factors of forty-two Alabama band directors who teach in rural, suburban, and urban communities. Guided by a correlational research design, this mixed-method research study identifies motivational factors that still need to be explored to highlight the motivational factors that drive band directors to continue teaching in their current Alabama communities. This study explores the motivational factors of forty-two Alabama band directors based on their responses to a Likert-type survey and emailed interview questionnaire. …

The Great Hawaiian Revival: A Historical Survey Of The Totality Of Events Of The Great Hawaiian Revival From 1836-1842, Nicholas A. Freeman

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

While much has been written on the Great Hawaiian Revival, most has provided a general historical overview in which the primary focus has been on the great missionary Titus Coan and the immense revival that took place at the church in Hilo, Hawai’i. However, this paper argues that, when digging a little deeper, one soon discovers that there was so much more to the story. Beginning with prior, smaller revivals reported in Honolulu, Lahaina, Waimea, and Kaua’i before 1837, along with the revival noted among the missionaries themselves in 1836 during their annual mission meeting on Oahu, the great revival’s …

Building Belonging: Designing A Training Program To Foster Inclusion In Children's Ministry, Amanda J. Lemieux

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The strategic problem aims to address how to train volunteer children’s ministry workers to feel more confident and well-equipped to handle children with diverse needs. Paul wrote in Romans that one should be accepting of all people just as Jesus accepted (Rom. 15:5-7). Humanity is created in the very image of God, the Creator. It is essential to recognize that everyone is created in God’s image and, therefore, deserves to be treated as such (Gen. 1:27). A healthy children’s ministry should ensure that all children are not only welcome within the classroom but also taught in a way that they …

Church Hurt: A Phenomenology Of The Lived Experience Of African American Christians, Danny Streeter

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to describe the lived experiences of African American Christians in the Mississippi Delta who have experienced church hurt in the Black Church. The theory guiding this study was Abraham Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, which consists of five levels of needs: physiological, safety, love, esteem, and self-actualization. This study addressed the following research questions: How do African American Christians in the Mississippi Delta describe their experience with church hurt in the Black Church? How do African American Christians in the Mississippi Delta describe their relationship with the church after their church-hurt experience? How do …

Methods For The Discovery Of Antibodies Toward Junin Virus Utilizing Yeast Surface Display, Jonathon E. Corral

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The importance of this study is to perform antibody discovery as a means to derive novel preventative and therapeutic antibody countermeasures against the Junín virus, to alleviate the potential risk of a global pandemic. The purpose of this methodological study was to develop a protocol that utilizes yeast surface display to discover antibodies, from naïve human antibody libraries, that can bind the Junín Virus antigen. The methodology of yeast surface display employs the galactose-inducible GAL1 promoter to synthesize and express antibody proteins bound to the Aga2p and Aga1p and anchored to the cell wall by glycosyl phosphatidylinositol motif (GPI). The …

Lift Every Voice: A Qualitative Descriptive Phenomenological Study, Janet Singleton Wooten

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Many teacher preparation programs include coursework in special education; however, music educators often begin their careers without adequate training to effectively teach students with special needs, particularly those with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Music can serve as a vital avenue for communication and belonging for students with ASD, underscoring the importance of inclusive choral education as a research focus. A review of existing literature revealed a gap in pedagogical preparation and a lack of attention to inclusive practices in secondary choral classrooms. Although specialized training could enhance educators’ understanding of how students with ASD learn and thrive, further research is …

A Quantitative, Predictive Correlational Design Study Examining The Relationship Between School Principal’S Transformational, Transactional, And Laissez-Faire Leadership Style And School Culture In A Public High School, Michelle Andrews

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this quantitative, predictive correlational design study is to examine how well the school principal's transformational, transactional, and laissez-faire leadership style predicts school culture among public high schools in eastern Maryland. This study is important because a principal’s leadership style can have a direct impact on school culture, and understanding that relationship could influence student achievement, teacher satisfaction, and overall school effectiveness. The purpose of this study is to add to the literature regarding the impact of a principal’s leadership. The study uses a convenience sample of 73 teachers from traditional public high schools in the eastern region …

The Impact Of The Covid-19 Pandemic On Middle School Educators And The Need For Healthy Coping Techniques: A Transcendental Phenomenological Study, Dionne E. Mitchell

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

In this transcendental phenomenological study, the researcher investigated how the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) pandemic impacted public middle school educators’ mental health and well-being (MHWB) and how they developed effective coping strategies in response. Using Lazarus and Folkman’s transactional stress and coping theory model and the social support theory as frameworks, the study explored the lived experiences of ten middle school instructors from the southeastern United States who taught during the COVID-19 pandemic. Semi-structured interviews, a focus group, and reflective diary entries were implemented as data collection methods. Thematic analysis identified several significant findings. Teachers faced professional challenges as they adapted …

Social Media As Informal Professional Development For Music Educators Teaching Students With Disabilities, Bailie Queen Greeson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Music educators enter the profession with little experience teaching with disabilities. Professional development opportunities are limited, so music educators are left to discover how to do so independently. Many music educators have turned to social media as a form of informal professional development. Guided by Brown and Poortman’s model of Professional Learning Networks, this research study identifies why in-service music educators seek informal professional development in teaching students with disabilities through online social media communities. As educators resort to online communities to gain pedagogical knowledge, results may help current and future music educators in discovering and planning their learning through …

The Invisible Struggle: Exploring The Experiences Of African American Women Diagnosed With Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (Pcos) And Their Interactions With Healthcare Providers, Trulissa L. Moore

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to understand the lived experiences of African American women diagnosed with PCOS, focusing on their interactions with medical providers, perception of healthcare, and overall well-being. The cultural competence framework guided this study, and the patient-centered care model is a theory that operated within the broader cultural competence framework. The cultural competence framework and patient-centered care model took into consideration the systemic and individual issues that affect African American women diagnosed with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome. This study examined the difficulties African American women diagnosed with PCOS faced in healthcare, as well as their mental …

A Causal-Comparative Examination Of The Impact Of Male And Female Secondary Students' Social Anxiety Enrolled In Blended Courses, Tabitha C. Batts-Turner

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this quantitative causal-comparative study was to determine if a difference existed in male and female students’ social anxiety scores in the pedagogical approach of blended learning. This study was essential because social anxiety impacted students' quality of life, affecting them long after leaving high school. The ramifications of social issues impacted future earnings, relationships, and psychological well-being; therefore, this study added to the literature on social anxiety and blended learning pedagogy. The sample was comprised of 79 students in blended learning with flipped instructions and 79 enriched virtual. All students were from a rural high school in …

A Phenomenological Study Of Homeschooling From A Single Parent Perspective: Pipe Dream Or Possibility?, Sarah C. Ball

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to understand the lived experiences of single parents who chose to homeschool their students in South Florida. The theory guiding this study was Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems. The central research question was focused on how single-parent home educators describe their experience. The methodology used was qualitative, utilizing the following data collection methods: personal interviews, journaling, and focus groups. The participants were single parents — widowed, divorced, or by choice — who chose to homeschool their students in South Florida. Once the data were collected, the analysis included identifying commonalities, recognizing emergent themes, and transcribing …

The Lived Experience Of Students With Neurodevelopmental Disabilities And Smartphones For Higher Learning, Eric F. Sandstrom

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study is to describe the lived experiences of college students with neurodevelopmental disabilities (NDD) using smartphones for online learning during historic levels of both enrollment of students with NDDs and smartphone use in education. The guiding framework is Bandura's (1986) social cognitive theory, which explains how learning occurs in a social context that includes interpersonal, behavioral, and environmental factors. This study asks: What are the lived experiences of students with NDDs in college using smartphones for online learning? The study seeks to understand how smartphones influence students’ perceptions of disability accommodations, internal locus of control, …

Workplace Violence: A Paradigm Shift, Ann Marie Hutchens

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Workplace violence (WPV) has reached epidemic proportions. WPV poses devastating results on the healthcare industry: affecting quality of care and patient outcomes, contribute to the development of physical and psychological conditions for nurses, and reduce the healthcare teams’ level of job satisfaction and organizational commitment. The United States is already facing a nursing shortage due to baby boomers retiring and an increase chronic disease and the elder population. Although strongly prevalent, WPV is significantly underreported. It is believed that the low rate of reporting is a consequence of apathy that violence is an occupational hazard, and that nothing will change. …

The Perspectives Of Secondary School Science Teachers Regarding The Next-Generation Science Standards In Fostering Critical Thinking Skills In The Rural Public High Schools Of A Southeastern Coastal State: A Transcendental Phenomenological Study, Janakikutty Vipin Das

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to describe the experiences of secondary school science teachers regarding the Next-Generation Science Standards (NGSS) in fostering students’ critical thinking skills in rural public schools in a southeastern coastal state. The theory guiding this study was Bandura’s social cognitive theory (SCT), which helps describe the interconnected personal, behavioral, and environmental factors that explain teachers’ challenges in implementing NGSS. SCT provided a framework for answering the central research question: What are the perspectives of secondary school science teachers in rural public secondary schools of a southeastern coastal state regarding the Next-Generation Science Standards …

Perceptions Of Educators Of Native American Students In Special Education And Why They Were Placed In Special Education, Megan N. Rose

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to understand the lived experiences of educators of Native American students related to the disproportionality of Native American students who are placed in special education in a school in the Southeastern U.S. The theory that guided this study was critical race theory and its relationship to the disproportionality of Native American students being placed in special education. The central research question that guided the study was: What are educators' experiences with the placement of Native American students in special education? The participants included eleven teachers of Native American students who were placed in …

A Collaborative Leadership Development Model For Classical Christian School Consortiums, Lisa Diane Smith

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Over 55% of young adults in the United States have experienced some form of leadership development; however, their leadership skills are not being used within the church. Nearly 60% of those who regularly attended church during their youth are distancing themselves from it (Barna, 2023). Nonetheless, the same report suggested a link between youth who were well-integrated into a youth ministry and those who stayed active in the church. This Praxis program partnered with Redeemer Classical Academy to implement a Christ-centered leadership development initiative for its high school students. The argument supporting the Praxis program indicates that grounding students' leadership …

Resolutions, Radio, Razzle Dazzle, Resilience, And Rachamim: An American Initiative For The Jews During The Jewish Refugee Crisis And The Holocaust, Holly Ann Sproule

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Since the 1960s, historians have focused on American inaction during the Holocaust, concluding that the War Refugee Board (WRB) was the definitive involvement of the United States in aiding the Jews in Nazi occupied Europe. Consequently, American aid efforts preceding the creation of the WRB remain unfamiliar and underexplored. By examining the Foreign Relations Diplomatic collections of the Office of the Historian, the databases of the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, and qualitative research, this dissertation argues that there was a dynamic American initiative in Jewish aid and rescue preceding the War Refugee Board. Through analysis of government and organizational …

Delay Of Gratification And Relationship To Eating Disorders, Monica D. Grambusch

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Delay of gratification has been studied across a wide range of topics, with a typical association with positive traits for self-control and behavior adaptation. This study focuses on eating disorders and Delay of Gratification to understand the contradictory nature it may have related to eating disordered behaviors. The Eating Attitudes Test (26), Delay of Gratification Inventory, and a demographics survey were conducted online, screening for participants over 18 years of age with self-reported previous eating disorders. This quantitative study focused on two research questions. Research Question 1 examined if there was a relationship between Delay of Gratification scores and selfreported …

To Buzz Or Not To Buzz: A Survey Design Of Embouchure Development Among Kentucky Brass Musicians In Higher Education, Christopher P. Schmidt

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This survey design study examined the methods of embouchure development practiced by Kentucky brass musicians in higher education. The purpose of the study was to explore how collegiate brass professors, their graduate teaching assistants, and undergraduate student musicians apply or omit mouthpiece buzzing in their daily practice routines and private-studio instruction. The study explored pedagogical influences rooted in the teachings of William Adam, Philip Farkas, Emory Remington, and Arnold Jacobs to identify how their philosophies inform contemporary approaches to brass pedagogy. The findings revealed consistent pedagogical diversity among KPUBPs, with most participants using mouthpiece buzzing, long tones, airflow drills, and …

Kingdom Classrooms: A Redemptive Framework For Revitalizing Christian Schools, Chad A. Kellogg

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Rural Christian schools across the United States face critical threats to their long-term sustainability, particularly in remote communities such as Salmon, Idaho. These institutions frequently operate without public funding, endure persistent staffing shortages, and struggle within aging facilities while lacking robust community advocacy. This Dissertation-in-Praxis (DiP) addresses these systemic inequities by developing a replicable, biblically grounded framework designed to strengthen the financial viability, educational quality, and missional integrity of rural Christian schools. Calvary Chapel Heritage Center (CCHC) in Salmon, Idaho, serves as the central case study. Utilizing a mixed-methods action research approach, the study incorporates qualitative interviews with church and …

The Efficacy Of Experiential Learning In Chinese Education: Bridging The Gap Between Academic Rigor And Real-World Application, Megan Hutchinson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to explore the perceived effectiveness of experiential learning in developing practical English skills for Chinese EFL students at a university in China. The theory building this study, Kolb’s experiential learning theory, was used to explore how incorporating experiential learning theory could help students bridge the gap between classroom knowledge and real-life ability, allowing them to practice in authentic learning environments and preparing them for life outside the classroom. The central research question was, “What are the lived experiences of college students who participate in experiential learning in EFL classrooms in China?” This …

Vocal Pedagogy Training For Vocal Music Education Students, Melissa N. Hinds

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative grounded theory research is to investigate choir teachers’ perceptions of their undergraduate vocal pedagogy training. The problem is that choir teachers may enter the profession with insufficient vocal pedagogy training to teach their choral ensembles adequately. The rationale for this study is to help close the gap by creating a vocal pedagogy curriculum designed for preservice vocal music educators. The foundation of the created curriculum is the participants’ perception of their undergraduate training. The research questions that guided this study are as follows: (1) How do secondary-level choral conductors’ perceptions of their undergraduate vocal pedagogy …

A Phenomenological Study: The Lived Learning Experience Of Learning-Disabled Formerly Incarcerated Individuals With Learning-Based Ptsd Symptoms, Sirsey H. Martinez

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to explore the lived K—12th grade learning experience of formerly incarcerated adults with specific learning disorders (SLDs) and learning-based posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms. This study aimed to understand how specific learning disorders affected school learning experiences and obtain input on how to improve learning in schools. A transcendental phenomenological approach was utilized in this qualitative study to obtain and report trustworthy research findings that represented the overall essence of the participants’ lived learning experiences. Ten formerly incarcerated adult males with specific learning disorders and learning-based PTSD symptoms were interviewed. Data was …

The Relationship Between Perceived Misogyny, Patriarchy, And Gender Discrimination, And The Socio-Emotional Development Of Black Females During Adolescence In Black American Christian Churches, Renée L. Roberts

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This qualitative phenomenological study explored Black women’s perceptions of misogyny, patriarchy, and gender discrimination within Black American Christian churches. While research has examined adolescent social and emotional development in relation to religion, little attention has been given to how negative religious experiences shape psychological development. This study addressed that gap by examining how systems of oppression are encountered from adolescence through adulthood. Fourteen Black women ages 35–60 were recruited through social media and participated in 60–75-minute interviews. Using reflexive thematic analysis, six themes emerged: Misogyny as Restriction and Silencing; Long-term Emotional and Social Impact of Misogyny; Patriarchy as Normalized Male …

Exploring John Maxwell’S 16 Undeniable Laws Of Communication As A Possible Framework For Public Speaking Success: A Qualitative Content Analysis Of The Top 20 Ted Talks And Their Alignment With The Principles, Kevin C. Mcintyre

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The qualitative content analysis aimed to discover whether Maxwell’s 16 undeniable laws of communication are applied to the top 20 TED Talks of all time based on view count catalogued on the TED website and inform a framework for public speaking success. Through the lens of Fisher’s narrative paradigm of coherence and fidelity, while situated in Craig’s rhetorical tradition, which builds on ethos, pathos, and logos, the study examined the gap in workplace competence moving beyond theory to practical guidance. Additionally, the study was guided by three research questions that were answered in the study. Through an immersive multimodal examination …

Nursing Faculty Attitudes Toward Artificial Intelligence: A Quantitative Causal-Comparative Cross-Sectional Study, Micaela Mcspadden

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The rapid growth of artificial intelligence (AI) in healthcare has highlighted the importance of understanding how nursing faculty perceive this technology. Although prior studies have explored public views, nurses’ perceptions, and faculty attitudes toward technology and curriculum change, limited research has focused on nursing faculty perspectives toward AI. Through the lens of the Theory of Reasoned Action (TRA) and the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), this study examined factors that influence nursing faculty attitudes toward AI in nursing education. This study used a quantitative, causal-comparative, cross-sectional design with 263 nursing faculty participants from undergraduate pre-licensure programs in the United States. Participants …