Digital Commons Network^™

The Experiences Of Teen Text Messaging In The Context Of Family Communication, Relatedness, And Connection: A Phenomenological Inquiry, Jackie Thayer Craft

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study is a phenomenological inquiry of teenagers' text messaging in the context of family communication, relatedness, and connection. Interviews with teenagers and parent are conducted to investigate the experience of text messaging within the family context. Journal entries are also used as sources of data for this study. Transcripts of the audio recordings for the interviews are analyzed for thematic data. Additionally, the participants and two reviewers evaluated the transcripts and interpretations for accuracy. The data for the teenage interviewees is examined next to the data of the parent interviewees for comparative purposes.

Teacher Perceptions Of Disproportionality Of Minorities In Special Education, Kristy Henry Park

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The intent of this study was to determine if special education teachers had certain perceptions regarding the disproportionate amount of minorities in special education classes. I examined special education teachers' awareness of the disproportionality, their causal theories, and the effectiveness of Response to Intervention (RTI) to regulate disproportionality. I implemented three different data collection methods to measure the teachers' perceptions: an initial face-to-face interview session, a written survey, and additional interview questioning. Participants in the study included 11 special education teachers from three middle schools in Northern Georgia. Ten of the 11 teachers admitted awareness of the problem of disproportionality, …

A Comparative Analysis Of Factors Influencing The Development Of A Biblical Worldview In Christian Middle-School Students, Cherie Elder Brickhill

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

One of the important goals of Christian education is to train students to see the world through the lens of scripture. However, Christian schools are regularly graduating students who do not think from a distinctively biblical worldview. This study utilized comparative data analysis (Kruskal-Wallis test) to investigate the relationship between four independent variables and the biblical worldview of middle-school students as measured by the PEERS worldview test. The study examined the influence of type of elementary education, frequency of church attendance, personal faith commitment, and parent Christian belief on the PEERS test scores and religion subcategory scores of students enrolled …

The Relationship Between The Percentage Of African-American Teachers On Public School Secondary Campuses And The Percentage Of African-American Students Passing The Texas Assessment Of Knowledge And Skills Test (Taks), Victor S. Nixon

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

No Child Left Behind has caused educators to take a critical look at the achievement levels of all population groups on campus. African-American student achievement can no longer be masked by the achievement levels of other student populations. Educators must develop strategies to reduce the African-American achievement gap in order to meet Adequate Yearly Progress. This study examined the relationship between the percentage of African-American teachers on secondary Texas campuses and African-American student achievement. Academic achievement was measured by the use of the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills Test (TAKS). The American College Test (ACT) and the Scholastic Aptitude …

Coaching Bivocational Ministers For Greater Ministry Effectiveness, Dennis Bickers

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this project is to explore the benefits of coaching as a technique to better equip bivocational ministers for greater ministry effectiveness. The author of this project was a bivocational pastor for twenty years and has written on bivocational and small church ministry. Five bivocational ministers in the United States and Canada were coached as part of this project, and this paper will describe the issues that were addressed in the coaching relationship, the benefits the bivocational ministers enjoyed as a result of coaching, and the lessons learned.

Church Growth Through Social Welfare In South Korean Churches: Its Situation And Reformation Plan, Insu Kang

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this project is to help church's growth by observing, analyzing and applying the situation of Korean church's social welfare programs. Korean churches are getting interested in social welfare and operating social welfare programs voluntarily to help the neighbors. They are spreading gospel of Jesus and growing through social welfare activities. However, many churches are struggling to find suitable social welfare programs for them. The author will examine the meaning of church social welfare and biblical basis and compare social welfare situation of Korean churches and American churches to research and apply for suitable programs for Korean churches.

Survey Of Best Practices For The Development Of Online Religious Communities, Daniel Charles Doody

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this study is to determine the procedures to develop an Internet-based online church and seminary. Ultimately, the research will define the tools, technologies, and best practices of building religious online communities to better serve the unchurched, church members and seminary students. Research will address the shared resources common to both the online church and seminary for evangelism, teaching and training. The findings of the study will also result in the creation of an implementation guide for the future development of other religious online communities.

Effects Of Mayfield's Four Questions (M4q) On Nursing Students' Self-Efficacy And Multiple-Choice Test Scores, Linda Riggs Mayfield

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study examined the effects of being taught the Mayfield's Four Questions multiple-choice test-taking strategy on the perceived self-efficacy and multiple-choice test scores of nursing students in a two-year associate degree program. Experimental and control groups were chosen by stratified random sampling. Subjects completed the 10-statement General Self-Efficacy survey and two additional statements based on guidelines by the survey authors and self-efficacy theorist Albert Bandura. The intervention consisted of weekly half-hour sessions to learn and practice M4Q. Survey data was statistically analyzed by group and by statement. Multiple-choice test scores were analyzed by group, level, test and test group. Statistically …

A Strategy For Training Hispanic Laymen To Minister In The United States, James Beryl Boswell

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

A review of current literature shows that little material is available for the training of Latino Laymen to minister in Spanish here in the United States. The purpose of this project is to focus on the urgent need for training Hispanics with meager educational opportunities to minister to the overwhelming immigration of Latinos who lack in education also. This strategy is developed in regard to the nature of the project, its common elements, and the adequate strategizing in preparation of the project. Based on interviews, testimonies and personal counseling with Latino Layman and teachers,the project reviews, textbooks, religious journals, blogs, …

Examining The Effects Of A National League For Nursing Core Competencies Workshop As An Intervention To Improve Nurse Faculty Practice, Robin Renata Wilson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Due to the complex challenges facing schools of nursing, a research study was implemented to introduce nurse faculty at one small rural northeastern Tennessee school of nursing to the NLN Core Competencies for Nurse Educators. Utilizing Kalb's Nurse Faculty Self-Evaluation Tool as a pre- and post-intervention test, 30 nurse faculty members participated in a quasi-experimental quantitative study and focus group interview. Clinical adjunct staff members participated in a test-retest process to establish tool reliability with somewhat mixed results. The overall study demonstrated that participants did exhibit a significant increase in knowledge and ability of the NLN Core Competencies for Nurse …

Engaging Postmoderns In Worship: A Study Of Effective Techniques And Methods Utilized By Two Growing Churches In Northern California, Jon Paul Lepinski

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this project is to provide effective methodology for engaging postmodern worshipers. Bethel Church and The Stirring, both located in Redding, California, were the target churches for this study. Each of these culturally-relevant churches was researched for the period of five weeks and data was collected through personal interviews, worship observations, and questionnaires. The findings of this study have produced numerous techniques for appropriately engaging postmoderns.

An Effective Leadership In Raising Evangelical Leaders For Korean Churches: A Case Study Of C. Daniel Kim's Leadership, Sangho Seo

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this project is to illuminate the process and results of how one man facilitated the transition from a denominational church leader to become an "evangelical leader." The man is C. Daniel Kim at Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary. The researcher of this project was a student and was assigned one of committee members, serving Korean Baptist Church of Lynchburg under his evangelical leadership. Based on literature reviews, surveys, and personal perspectives this paper will delineate influences of C. Daniel Kim's leadership as evidenced by Korean graduates.

Gifted Dropouts: A Phenomenological Study, James Zabloski

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This qualitative phenomenological study of the life experiences of seven rural gifted individuals who dropped out of school investigated whether they shared commonalities that might have led to the phenomenon of dropping out. The problem was that no one had asked them to share their stories prior to this study. By searching for meaning in their individual and combined stories, the overarching theme of relationships weaved through all of them. Three themes emerged which contributed to their drop out decision: relational traumas, relational losses, and relationships with teachers. All of these gifted dropouts experienced a significant relational trauma in middle …

The Revitalization Process In A Small Rural Plateaued Southern Baptist Church, Rodney Merrill Sprayberry

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

New Zion Baptist Church is a small Southern Baptist church in rural Northeast Texas. The church has been stagnant for approximately three decades. This project is a record of the journey that the pastor and people of NZBC have traveled towards revitalization. The researcher began this project intent on implementing a strategic plan. However about half-way through the process, after evaluating the culture of NZBC, an intentional shift in methodology occurred. NZBC is a small church and therefore not a rationally structured, task driven, goal oriented organization. Instead it is a relational, biological and organic community. Therefore the process of …

Sober And Alone: A Phenomenological Exploration Of The Loneliness Experienced By Recovering Alcoholics, Timothy John Evans

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This phenomenological inquiry investigated the loneliness experienced by recovering alcoholics. Select participants responded to open-ended interview questions pertaining to their experience of loneliness as well as its impact on their lives. Moreover, participants were asked to indentify what factor or factors may have contributed to the onset or persistence of their loneliness. Phenomenological analysis of the data revealed that loneliness, as experienced by recovering alcoholics, is a recursive experience that is co-morbid with a number of debilitating affects.

Therefore, the loneliness that was experienced during recovery represented just one part of a combination of painful affective experiences. In addition, the …

A Study On The Motives Of High School And Undergraduate College Students For Using The Social Network Site Facebook, Michael Hart

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

An online survey conducted at a mid-Atlantic university and two high schools located in close geographical proximity sought to determine the motives for using the social network site Facebook.com. A redesigned instrument based upon the Interpersonal Communication Motives (ICM) scale used in past uses and gratifications research measured motivations for Facebook use. Motives of undergraduate college students and high school students for using Facebook attempted to predict attitudinal and behavioral outcomes of Facebook use. The study compared the descriptors of the behavioral and attitudinal outcomes of high school students to the descriptors of the behavioral and attitudinal outcomes of undergraduate …

Impact Of Self-Esteem And Identification With Academics On The Academic Achievement Of African American Students, Edward Earl Bell

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study examined the impact of self-esteem and identification with academics on the academic achievement of African American students in a charter school setting. Ninety-three students participated in this study. Using a pretest/posttest control group design, both the experimental group and the control group were administered the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Inventory and the School Perception Questionnaire (SPQ) as pretest measures of self-esteem and identification with academics at the beginning of the experiment. The control and experimental groups were administered the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Inventory and the School Perceptions Questionnaire (SPQ) at the end of the experiment. The control group received no intervention …

Transitioning The Local Church From A Rural To Suburban Context, Jeremy Paul Roberts

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

A review of current literature demonstrates that very little material is available to assist pastors and church leaders in transitioning their churches from a rural to suburban context. This project will serve as a tool to assist pastors in leading their churches to transition from a rural to suburban context. Based on demographic studies, an historical analysis, the development of a plan to move the church forward, analyzing potential disruptions, and seeing the end result of the rural to suburban transition, the goal of the project will be fulfilled.

A Church Growth Model In Korean-American Presbyterian Churches: With Special Reference To The Messiah Presbyterian Church Of Washington, Sung Gyu Lee

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study attempted to develop a model of healthy church growth and apply them to the Korean-American Presbyterian Churches (KAPC) in Washington. D. C. The model of churches used was Messiah Presbyterian church (MPC). This paper utilized surveys and interviews; this project also analyzed the current conditions of 100 KAPCs, exploring growth factors such as: Preaching, professional development, prayer, evangelism, Sunday school, and ministry focus. Secondly, church growth was investigated and delineated based on literature reviews, on the personal studies and questionnaire surveys submitted to members of MPC. Finally, this project suggested seven principles to develop KAPC for the next …

Relationships Between Students’ Fitness Levels And Academic Achievement, Theresa Linam Roberts

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study compared fifth grade students' physical fitness levels to academic achievement based on the premise that health and physical fitness has an effect on one's ability to learn and achieve academically. Due to No Child Left Behind and the mounting pressures to reach Adequate Yearly Progress, many school officials view non-assessed activities like physical education and recess as unnecessary, consequently creating a case for the elimination of any subject that is not directly measured through standardized testing. Finding a link between fitness and academic achievement may cause educational leaders to reevaluate time spent during the school day. Data was …

An Analysis Of Dissertations On Church Growth Published During The Past Five Years (2004-2008), Kyoung Kim

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this thesis was to analyze dissertations published during five years (2004-2008) and identify recent research trends and principles related to church growth. This was research on researches analyzing 141 dissertations posted on ProQuest Dissertation and Theses. Coding sheets by content analysis and statistical data converted into percentage were utilized. Most dissertations were descriptive and pre-experimental researches. Case study and survey were common. Theological majors and schools, Korean researchers, 10 target subjects, and three denominations covered the majority. Teaching and leadership were prevalent principles. Homogeneous unity was never seen. New principles were associated with social, personal, or cultural …

The Benefits Of Socio-Rhetorical Analysis For Expository Preaching, Joseph R. Buchanan

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Over the past twenty years, the field of Biblical studies has witnessed a marked increase in the interest devoted to the subject of socio-rhetorical analysis. Much of the work done one this subject reveals that it has great potential for shedding new light on the Biblical text. However, in order for this type of analysis to reach its maximum value for the church it must be integrated with the field of homiletics. Surprisingly, a review of the literature reveals that little attention has been given to showing how this type of analysis can be incorporated into the ministry expository preaching. …

An Educational Methodology And Program For The Mitigation Of Compassion Fatigue For Combat Deploying Chaplains, Paul Brian Greer

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Combat deployment presents unique challenges to military chaplains. One such challenge relates to the Vicarious Traumatization, often called "Compassion Fatigue," faced by chaplains who minister to service members experiencing combat-related trauma. There is minimal literature addressing compassion-related stress for clergy, especially those working with combat trauma survivors. Much of the research and literature available has been limited to those in emergency services, medical and mental health professions. This groundbreaking project will draw upon the latest literature, research and empirical data, culminating in an educational methodology and program for compassion stress management for military chaplain combat deployment rotation care.

An Effective Strategy For Church Revitalization Through A Case Study Of Hosanna Church, Hyung Woo Park

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this project is to suggest an effective strategy of church revitalization through a case study of Hosanna Church. The case study will focus on the strategic process for church revitalization at Hosanna Church. This model of ministry extracted the principles, critical components, and elements that have been primary for the revitalization. Ten principles of church revitalization were discovered in the literature and diagnose the reality of the Hosanna Church, confirming the application of these principles. The principles were found to be transferable and applicable to various setting.

An Analysis Of Factors That Influence Success In A Low Socioeconomic Georgia Middle School, Faith Mims Simpson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this study was to analyze teacher perceptions as they relate to practices considered critical to success within low socioeconomic middle schools. Teacher perceptions from four schools with similar demographics were included, and survey research was utilized in this quantitative study. The general question addressed in this study was: To what extent is there a difference when comparing teacher perceptions in a school that has been identified as a "needs improvement" school to the teacher perceptions in a school that has been identified as a "successful" school? Analyses showed a significant statistical difference in five of the seven …

A Study Of The Biblical Worldview Of K-12 Christian School Educators, Mark Kelly Wood

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Abstract Mark K. Wood. A STUDY OF THE BIBLICAL WORLDVIEW OF K-12 CHRISTIAN SCHOOL EDUCATORS. (Under the direction of Dr. Ellen Lowrie Black) School of Education, November, 2008. This study was designed to investigate the influence of six factors on the biblical Christian worldview of Christian school educators as measured by The Nehemiah Institute’s PEERS (2003) worldview assessment. The study sample consisted of 141 Christian school educators from six different Christian schools; three Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI) located in Idaho, and three Association of Classical & Christian Schools (ACCS) located in Idaho, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. A causal-comparative design …

A Comparison Of A Christian And A State Institution Of Higher Education: The Relationship Between Religiosity And Academic Dishonesty Among Athletes, Lori Robertson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this dissertation was to explore the relationship between religiosity and academic dishonesty among intercollegiate athletes at a private Christian college and a state university. This study also examined the level of academic dishonesty and the level of religiosity among intercollegiate athletes at both institutions. The researcher administered a questionnaire to 163 intercollegiate athletes. The questionnaire included 17 cheating behaviors and several subscales of religiosity (overall religiosity, intrinsic religiosity, organizational religiosity, and non-organizational religiosity). A significant difference was found in the level of religiosity between the athletes in the two schools. However, no significant difference was found in …

Strategies Of Pastoral Leadership For Resolving Conflicts In Two Korean American Churches Around Los Angeles, Kiyoung Chang

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this project is to understand Paul’s leadership principles for resolving conflict in churches and to apply them to Korean American churches. The project will examine Paul’s leadership principles for solving church conflicts found in 1 and 2 Corinthians, and Ephesians and deal with the application of existing conflict theories.

Education For Woman’S Ministries: A Rationale For And Review Of Woman’S Ministries For The Beginning Of The 21st Century, Monica Dawn Rose

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this project is to provide a theoretical basis for the development of programs for women in the church and Christian ministries. The author will approach this project by first defining women’s ministries as well as presenting the two predominant evangelical views of women in ministry. This project will also provide an overview of issues women encounter and the needs women have in today’s culture. After presenting a need analysis, the author will provide an overview of academic institutions training women in the field of women’s studies and/or ministries as well as curriculum being used to equip women …

The Enemy In The Screen: A Collective Case Study On Perpetrators Of Internet Crimes Against Children, Janet M. Brown

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This collective case study explored the phenomenon of Internet crimes against children from the perspectives of select Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) investigators. The research focused on three questions: (1) How do select investigators describe perpetrators of Internet crimes against children? (2) What, if any, common characteristics do participants identify among the perpetrators and (3) How do participants' descriptions compare and/or contrast? Data was obtained utilizing semistructured, conversational interviews with eight ICAC investigators. Three main themes emerged from these interviews: general demographic descriptions, motivations and behaviors. Perpetrators of Internet crimes against children were found to be predominantly non-Hispanic males. Other …