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Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

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A Qualitative Study Of Burnout Among Clergy Wives In The African Pentecostal Church, Patricia Catherine Aladekoba May 2023

A Qualitative Study Of Burnout Among Clergy Wives In The African Pentecostal Church, Patricia Catherine Aladekoba

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study is to understand why pastors’ wives within the African Pentecostal Church (APC) in the United States experience burnout in ministry. With the African Pentecostal Church being the fastest-growing denomination around the world and in the United States, it is important to give careful attention to the wives of clergy in this denomination. Analysis of the data includes the description or identification of themes, supported by anecdotes or other markers within the data. The design of this study is basic qualitative research, a common type of interpretive study. The collection of data for a basic …


Spirituality After Divorcing In Older Age: A Hermeneutical Phenomenological Study Exploring The Impact Of Divorce On The Spirituality Of Older Adults Who Divorce In The Later Life-Span, Glenn Edward Evans May 2023

Spirituality After Divorcing In Older Age: A Hermeneutical Phenomenological Study Exploring The Impact Of Divorce On The Spirituality Of Older Adults Who Divorce In The Later Life-Span, Glenn Edward Evans

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this hermeneutical phenomenological study was to describe the impact of divorce on the spirituality of people 50 and older whose marriages end after three or more years. Divorce is painful at any age, but this study focused on how people 50 and older who have lived by their spiritual beliefs for most of their lives were impacted. The study applied life-span theory, life course theory, and developmental psychology, as they offered integrated empirical guidance in studying human behavioral changes throughout a person's life. These theories provided a framework for exploring the central research question: How do participants …


Methodist Pastoral Retention: A Quantitative Analysis Of The Relationship Between Clergy Burnout And Self-Perceived Leadership Attributes., Joseph Francis O'Donnell May 2023

Methodist Pastoral Retention: A Quantitative Analysis Of The Relationship Between Clergy Burnout And Self-Perceived Leadership Attributes., Joseph Francis O'Donnell

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study targeted pastoral burnout symptomology and its relationship to self-perceived leadership attributes. Pastors experience a professional environment that call for ministering to their congregation's spiritual needs; however, additional social and business responsibilities often exist for which the pastor is poorly trained or improperly supported. These situations may cause high levels of stress and anxiety, challenging a pastor's self-perception of their leadership attributes. Eventually, this condition could promote the onset of burnout, which might compel the pastor to leave the ministry. As such, this research sought to establish whether a relationship exists between self-perceived leadership attributes and ministerial burnout for …


A Causal-Comparative Study Of Teachers' Attitudes Toward Science Teaching Based On Biological Sex, Teaching Experience, And An Instructional Resource In An Urban Elementary School Setting, Melissa Davis May 2023

A Causal-Comparative Study Of Teachers' Attitudes Toward Science Teaching Based On Biological Sex, Teaching Experience, And An Instructional Resource In An Urban Elementary School Setting, Melissa Davis

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This quantitative, causal-comparative research study analyzed the difference in teachers’ attitudes toward science teaching in an urban elementary school setting based on biological sex, teaching experience, and the use of a science instructional unit of study. The study was significant because it revealed that teaching experience influenced elementary teachers’ attitudes toward science teaching, contributing to the body of knowledge about elementary teachers in an urban setting and related to science education. A convenience sample of 120 study participants in the Georgia urban area was selected. The teacher participants completed the online ten-minute Dimensions of Attitude Toward Science instrument that measured …


The Effects Of Intimate Partner Violence (Ipv) On African-American Christian Females, Rebecca C. Crane May 2023

The Effects Of Intimate Partner Violence (Ipv) On African-American Christian Females, Rebecca C. Crane

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to communicate the experiences of African American Christian females with intimate partner violence (IPV). The central phenomenon of the study aimed to research religious effects on African American Christian females' decision-making regarding IPV in the state of Georgia. The theory guiding this study was social constructivism, introduced by two sociologists, Peter L. Berger and Thomas Luckman. The study's goal was to depend as much as possible on the stories of the members being examined. Data will be collected using two methods: interviews and oral history. A critical case sampling was used to collect …


The Impact Of A Stem Education Program On Female And Racial Minorities' Knowledge And Attitude, Amira S. Flores May 2023

The Impact Of A Stem Education Program On Female And Racial Minorities' Knowledge And Attitude, Amira S. Flores

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of a STEM education program, specifically STARBASE, on the STEM knowledge and attitudes of fifth grade students, as well as its effect on their pursuit of STEM careers, with a focus on female and racial minority students. Based on a sample of 197 fifth graders from a school district in Southern California, the intervention took place at STARBASE, while the control group remained at their respective schools. A quasi-experimental design was used in the study, with four experimental and four control groups. A STEM knowledge assessment and S-STEM attitude survey …


Forgiveness As A Moderator Of The Relationship Between Religiosity And Intimate Partner Violence, Leroy Sapp May 2023

Forgiveness As A Moderator Of The Relationship Between Religiosity And Intimate Partner Violence, Leroy Sapp

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This quantitative study uses an online survey method to examine forgiveness in a woman with patriarchal religious beliefs (PRB) who has experienced intimate partner violence (IPV) and the predictive role of forgiveness in moderating the relationships between IPV and religiosity and IPV and PRB. The participants received scores on PRB, which were divided into two groups: adherence and nonadherence. The findings concluded no statistically significant difference between the means of the adherence group and nonadherence group’s mean forgiveness levels. The study found that forgiveness moderated the positive relationship between religiosity and IPV violence approval, and forgiveness negatively affected said relationship. …


Enhancing Effective Discipleship Recruitment In The Local Church, Anna Patrice Shanklin May 2023

Enhancing Effective Discipleship Recruitment In The Local Church, Anna Patrice Shanklin

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study evaluates effective discipleship recruitment in the local church. The overarching goal of this thesis research project is to increase the transition of new members completing new members’ orientation to discipleship training. Through the result of this research, the researcher will design and implement an enhanced recruitment campaign in the local ministry context and target it to new members to increase the population of membership committed to formal discipleship training.


Social Media: A Tool For Discipleship, Allen James Williams May 2023

Social Media: A Tool For Discipleship, Allen James Williams

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this DMIN action research project is to equip students within The Next Generation Ministry at Christ Community Church Pinehurst with social media as a tool for discipleship. The academic literature reviewed reveals that social media introduces significant levels of influence, causes addictive habits, and often results in overconsumption of content. To determine if these aspects could be overcome, an intervention was developed to train and equip a group of thirteen participants to avoid those traits and instead use social media as a tool for discipleship. The research shows that it is possible for social media to be …


Thriving: Best Student Ministry Practices For Reaching Generation Z Most Effectively, Seth Conner Peterson May 2023

Thriving: Best Student Ministry Practices For Reaching Generation Z Most Effectively, Seth Conner Peterson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

In 1972, the Jesus movement’s proliferation brought on the professionalization of student ministry into Southern Baptist churches. Over the last 50 years, the U.S. population has increased by 110 million, yet student ministry baptisms in the Southern Baptist Convention continue to decline. Despite recent efforts by The Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee to reverse the downward trend of student ministry baptisms (ages 12–17), the phenomenon persists. The public profession of baptism remains as a strong indicator that an individual has been effectively reached with the Gospel. Operating under this premise that increased baptisms indicate effectiveness in student ministry, the researcher …


Succession Planning In The Federal Government, Christine Noel Roberts May 2023

Succession Planning In The Federal Government, Christine Noel Roberts

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Succession planning is a term that refers to the systematic and methodological efforts an organization uses to plan for organizational stability and proficiency. Organizations must provide employees the training, experiences, and knowledge required to assume positions of increased responsibility when those jobs are vacated. Agencies should strive to create a diversified pool of qualified candidates to avoid a talent gap, workforce shortages, or a loss of agency knowledge. Over the past fifteen years, the Federal Government has continued to highlight the need to take a proactive approach to succession planning by first identifying the skill sets needed for critical positions …


The Semiotics Of Type 1 Diabetes: A Qualitative Content Analysis Of Publicly Accessible Information, Laura Elizabeth Zhao May 2023

The Semiotics Of Type 1 Diabetes: A Qualitative Content Analysis Of Publicly Accessible Information, Laura Elizabeth Zhao

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative content analysis was to explore the content and semiotic structure of publicly accessible type 1 diabetes information and assess what content is tailored to the adolescent and young adult population. As an effort to enhance adolescent and young adult self-management practices and outcomes, this research aimed to better understand what information is accessible to the type 1 diabetes community and the ways in which it is categorized. Framed by Greimasian semiotics, ten peer-reviewed sources were selected and coded using frequency and thematic analysis. This comparative process identified five themes including Management, Staying Alive, Type 1 …


From Rags To Riches: Examining Teacher Perceptions Of The Influence Of Financial Literacy On The Psychological Well-Being Of Military-Connected Students In Kindergarten Through Grade Twelve, Cynthia Fletcher Davis May 2023

From Rags To Riches: Examining Teacher Perceptions Of The Influence Of Financial Literacy On The Psychological Well-Being Of Military-Connected Students In Kindergarten Through Grade Twelve, Cynthia Fletcher Davis

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this quantitative study was to examine teacher perceptions as related to the influence of financial literacy on the psychological well-being of military-connected students in kindergarten through grade twelve. Financial literacy among students serves a vital function in the development of financially literate adults. A lack of financial resources has been linked to depressive symptoms, marital discourse, and suicide. Financial literacy includes the knowledge and skills required to make enlightened and effective decisions with money. The theory guiding this study was Constructivism as formulated by Jean Piaget. Constructivism provides for the incorporation of new information within existing constructs …


Small Groups That Fuel Active Service In The Local Church, Stephen Jerel Love May 2023

Small Groups That Fuel Active Service In The Local Church, Stephen Jerel Love

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Manna Church prioritizes empowering and developing leaders as an imperative objective of the local church. Such development is fueled through various avenues, including small groups. This thesis project will survey the purpose of small groups within Manna Church and how newly designed groups can address the problem of low voluntary participation in weekly services. The need for more active serve team members problematically exists among six site locations in the Fayetteville-Fort Bragg region. Furthermore, each ministry leader seeks innovative strategies to initiate and maintain involvement during weekly services. However, numbers are at an unprecedented low point. The effects of these …


The Perception Of K-12 Instrumental Directors In Low-Income Areas On Virtual Learning With Skill Development And Retention, Anthony Lewis Hunt May 2023

The Perception Of K-12 Instrumental Directors In Low-Income Areas On Virtual Learning With Skill Development And Retention, Anthony Lewis Hunt

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Due to the extreme measures taken to protect students from COVID-19 during the pandemic, schools closed their doors, and educators struggled to continue teaching through virtual learning platforms. Performance-based classrooms were encouraged to discover new methods and strategies to motivate students to thrive even though face-to-face rehearsals were restricted. This study examined the experiences secondary music education instrumentalists faced while attempting to utilize synchronous and asynchronous instruction in a 100 percent virtual performance-based environment. This study aimed to understand the negative and positive effects placed on secondary instrumentalists’ performance abilities, fundamental development, and participation/retention since the introduction of virtual learning …


Strengthening Community Trust: A Qualitative Exploration Of College-Aged African American Males' Perceptions Of And Experiences With The Police, Craig Vernon Vanclief May 2023

Strengthening Community Trust: A Qualitative Exploration Of College-Aged African American Males' Perceptions Of And Experiences With The Police, Craig Vernon Vanclief

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The researcher of this phenomenological qualitative multiple case study aimed to examine how community trust between the police and the community they serve is strengthened based on the perspectives of college-aged African American males. The following research questions that guided this study included what do college-aged African American males see as the most significant opportunities to strengthen the relationship between the police and the community they serve? What do college-aged African American males believe are the most essential steps law enforcement can take to increase community trust and confidence in the police? How can law enforcement foster more community engagement …


Exploring Lived Experiences Of Suicide Surviving Spouses: An Interpretive Phenomenological Qualitative Study, Amanda Jo Guin Apr 2023

Exploring Lived Experiences Of Suicide Surviving Spouses: An Interpretive Phenomenological Qualitative Study, Amanda Jo Guin

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

A crippling concern that has swept the world and shown to be a significant public health issue is suicide. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC, 2022) show suicide is among the top ten leading causes of death in ages 10–64. The survivors of suicide are at increased risk of adverse consequences. The purpose of this interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) study explores the lived experiences of spouses of suicide loss (SOSL) living in the United States (U.S.) regarding the spiritual change (SC), the process of suicide bereavement, and posttraumatic growth (PTG) within ten years post-loss. To better understand lived …


Are Aces Barriers To African American Male High School Students Achieving Academic Success: Can Implementing Trauma-Informed Practices Help?, Tamelyn Danay Motley Apr 2023

Are Aces Barriers To African American Male High School Students Achieving Academic Success: Can Implementing Trauma-Informed Practices Help?, Tamelyn Danay Motley

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Research has shown an increase in African American students experiencing trauma due to adverse childhood experiences (ACEs). African American students are at a greater risk of disengagement, school failure, dropping out of school, and increased mental health disorders due to ACEs. Unfortunately, minority racial/ethnic groups are at a greater risk of exposure to trauma, particularly African American students. Implementing trauma-informed practices (TIP) into school systems can provide trauma training to teachers to decrease school failures, and reduce disengagement, leading to African American students dropping out of school. The purpose of this research is to assess the impact that ACEs have …


The Effects Social Media Has On Depressive And Neuro Developmental Disorders, Daniel James Goble Apr 2023

The Effects Social Media Has On Depressive And Neuro Developmental Disorders, Daniel James Goble

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Social media has played a huge role in society today and is one of the most common activities in everyday life for people of all ages. Due to the long amount of time that most users spend on social media daily, some trends seem to grow and become very visible over time that have a negative impact on mental health but also on neuro developmental disorders. Neurodevelopmental disorders are identified through a list of symptoms and characteristics that show a problem in how the brain is developing. Due to social media still being very new in this generation and with …


Jailhouse Religion: A Study On The Perceived Effects Of Religious Prison Rehabilitation That Affects Recidivism, William George Bumphus Iii Apr 2023

Jailhouse Religion: A Study On The Perceived Effects Of Religious Prison Rehabilitation That Affects Recidivism, William George Bumphus Iii

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study focused on the relationship between Christian programming to prisoners and their lives when released into society. During this study, several men from The Jesus House ministry location were observed and interviewed on the lives they now lead after getting saved or finding Christ while in prison and being released to a faith-based aftercare facility. This study examined the mission and vision leaders of this ministry believed while interviewing participants and staff about their personal stories, and why they chose to help ex-offenders reintegrate into society. Furthermore, this study investigated the current rehabilitation programming to see where Christian programming …


A Grief Intervention For Early Perinatal Loss, Dani M. Helm Apr 2023

A Grief Intervention For Early Perinatal Loss, Dani M. Helm

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Early pregnancy loss has a multidimensional effect on patients, touching the body, soul, and spirit. This project addresses patients’ lack of spiritual and emotional support following early pregnancy loss, commonly called a miscarriage. The available research on the emotional impact of early pregnancy loss has grown stronger over the last three decades. However, there is a deficit of research exploring the spiritual implications of miscarriage and how faith is used as a coping mechanism for pregnancy grief. In modern culture, the term spirituality can mean many different things. With this awareness, Mercy Healthcare embraces and supports patients wherever they find …


Evaluating The Impact Of The Southern Community College Mental Health Services Program On Persistence And Academic Performance, Rosa Maria Rodriguez-Alvarez Apr 2023

Evaluating The Impact Of The Southern Community College Mental Health Services Program On Persistence And Academic Performance, Rosa Maria Rodriguez-Alvarez

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

College students presenting with mental health concerns are increasing as is the severity of those issues. Researchers agree that mental health issues are associated with negative academic outcomes. This college student mental health crisis along with decreased enrollments and budgets has caused administrators to examine the return on investment of services programs. The purpose of this non-experimental study was to determine the impact of receiving counseling services on persistence and academic performance measures by grade point average (GPA). This study conducted a quantitative analysis of archival data from the Southern Community Colleges Mental Health Services program. One hundred records were …


A Qualitative Study Comparing The Teaching Philosophies And Practices Of Children's Choir Artistic Directors In South-Central Ontario, Rebecca Hope Strutt Apr 2023

A Qualitative Study Comparing The Teaching Philosophies And Practices Of Children's Choir Artistic Directors In South-Central Ontario, Rebecca Hope Strutt

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Despite the number of studies related to community music in North America, very little research is available regarding children's choir artistic directors, specifically those in Ontario. This research project examined the philosophical and pedagogical teaching practices of children's choir artistic directors of south-central Ontario for a comparative study through a phenomenological qualitative approach. Guided by the research of notable conductors such as Doreen Rao, Helen Kemp, and Jean Ashworth Bartle, this study identified perspectives not yet explored and documented concerning teaching philosophies and practices of children's choir artistic directors in south-central Ontario. Emerging themes from the literature review included building …


Efficacy Of A Christian Intervention To Promote Posttraumatic Growth In Women Recovering From Intimate Partner Violence, Jerra L. Dooley Apr 2023

Efficacy Of A Christian Intervention To Promote Posttraumatic Growth In Women Recovering From Intimate Partner Violence, Jerra L. Dooley

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This quantitative pretest-posttest design evaluated a biblically based personal development program (PDP) for promoting PTG in Christian women who have experienced intimate partner violence (IPV). A convenience sample (N = 7) of volunteers included women within a large county in the Southeastern United States. Participants were recruited through numerous large and small Southern Baptist churches. Qualifications included being female, at least 19 years old, and having experienced IPV but not within the last 12 months, to reduce the possibility of reinjury by rumination. Participants completed pretest assessments, attended the 3-hour personal development program, and completed a posttest assessment. Data was …


Christian Volunteer Leadership In The Megachurch: A Quantitative Study Of Transformational Leadership And Training, Matthew Alexander Freyre Apr 2023

Christian Volunteer Leadership In The Megachurch: A Quantitative Study Of Transformational Leadership And Training, Matthew Alexander Freyre

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this correlational study was to determine if a relationship exists between training volunteer leaders undergo to take on a leadership role in the Megachurch and the number of hours volunteers invest in the church, controlling for the quality of leadership for volunteers in the Megachurch who take on a leadership role. Further, this study sought to determine what, if any, relationship exists between volunteer leadership behavior and volunteer leadership quality in the select megachurches. Megachurches have developed stigmas pertaining to leadership involving its quality and the lack of quantity of leadership for attendees. This study examines if …


An Investigation Into The Relationship Between Perfectionism And Adverse Childhood Experiences In African American Adults, Natasha Maria Beckum Apr 2023

An Investigation Into The Relationship Between Perfectionism And Adverse Childhood Experiences In African American Adults, Natasha Maria Beckum

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Decades of research have confirmed an association between family dysfunction, adverse parentchild relationships, and perfectionism. However, to date, only one study has confirmed a link between perfectionism and specific types of ACEs. There are no studies that have examined the relationship between ACEs and perfectionism in predominately racial/ethnic populations. The purpose of this non-experimental quantitative survey research was to investigate the relationship between conventional and expanded ACES and perfectionistic traits and behaviors. Additionally, this study aimed to determine if the experience of ACEs is associated with higher levels of perfectionism in African Americans. Data was collected using the Hewitt Multidimensional …


Law Enforcement Officers And The Domestic Violence Advocacy Referral Process, Aaron Allen Cubbage Apr 2023

Law Enforcement Officers And The Domestic Violence Advocacy Referral Process, Aaron Allen Cubbage

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Domestic violence incidents impact the daily activities of the law enforcement agencies responsible for responding to these calls for service. Legislators and law enforcement leaders have expended countless hours, staffing, and finances to adequately protect the victims of domestic violence. In Virginia, an essential component of protecting victims of domestic violence involves the referral process, used by law enforcement officers to connect victims of domestic violence to domestic violence advocacy groups. The Code of Virginia and law enforcement agencies receiving accreditation through the Virginia Law Enforcement Professional Standards Commission (VLEPSC) require these referrals. There is available research regarding the referral …


Thematic Analysis Of Food Safety Literature: The Fda Food Code And State Legislation, Sabrina Nicole Backlund Apr 2023

Thematic Analysis Of Food Safety Literature: The Fda Food Code And State Legislation, Sabrina Nicole Backlund

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

One of the most important purposes of communication is to warn people of environmental dangers. More specifically, communication can identify risks associated with food safety. The government and food safety experts are to provide information on these dangers. This study aims to determine whether these entities use consistent language to communicate these dangers. The reader will first take a journey through relevant communication concepts and an introduction to food safety. This qualitative applied communication analysis uses MAXQDA software to ascertain similarities in word choice between the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) food code and state legislative material. This comparison uses …


Regular Education Teachers' Lived Experiences With Self-Efficacy In Light Of The Endrew F. Decision Of 2017 - A Phenomenological Study, Brian Edward Helsel Apr 2023

Regular Education Teachers' Lived Experiences With Self-Efficacy In Light Of The Endrew F. Decision Of 2017 - A Phenomenological Study, Brian Edward Helsel

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to describe the lived experiences of regular education teachers' perceptions of self-efficacy aligned with the FAPE mandate in an inclusion model at a small, rural school district on the east coast. The central research question was as follows: What are the lived experiences of regular education teachers working within an inclusion model with students with disabilities? The theory guiding this study involves Bandura's self-efficacy theory of behavioral change, which Bandura defines as a core belief in one's capabilities to act to produce results. A qualitative hermeneutical phenomenology approach aligns with the study by …


Effects Of Student Leadership Style On Their Academic Performance, Ignatius Luke Chan Apr 2023

Effects Of Student Leadership Style On Their Academic Performance, Ignatius Luke Chan

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Leadership is a topic that is often researched. Most research surrounds the management's leadership and how it affects the environment and people around them in an academic institution or the instructional leadership of instructors and how it affects students. There is little to no research done on students' leadership styles and how these various leadership styles affect their academic performance. The importance of this study surrounds the need to understand students to better cater to them. By understanding students' leadership styles and their effects on academic performance, instructors can better cater to the needs of these students to prepare them …