Digital Commons Network^™

A Comparison Of Undergraduate Perceptions Of Institutional Quality At A Public Institution, Nancy M. Woodrow

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Understanding the undergraduate student’s perception of institutional quality is important to university administrators. This understanding can assist the university administrator in adjusting and improving relevant areas that aid in retention of current students and increase their satisfaction with the educational experience. Furthermore, the undergraduate student’s perception of institutional quality could be useful in motivating future students to select the institution as their college choice. Unfortunately, perception of institutional quality is not among the factors of consideration when incoming undergraduate students make their college selection. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to assist the educational administrator in understanding whether the …

Palliative Care And Improving Quality Of Life With End Stage Renal Disease: An Integrative Review, Natoya Bender

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

End-stage renal disease is a rising health care problem effecting greater than 10% of the US population. there are 700,000 patients in dialysis in the U.S who are characterized by multiple comorbidities and increasing, distressing symptom burden. The need for palliative care for patient with end-stage renal disease is becoming standard of care due to their complex medical needs and high symptom burden. The aim of this integrative review investigated the incorporation of palliative care will improve the quality-of-life of patients with end-stage renal disease once introduced in their care. While palliative care provides an ideal opportunity to assess the …

Creating Collaborative Missional Communities To Enhance Church Revitalization, Bradford William Reaves

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

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This project utilizes the revitalization efforts of Grace Community Church in Winchester, VA to examine the precedence of collaborative strategies for church revitalization. In this study contemporary literature, theological foundations, surveys of church leaders in the United States, and interviews with collaborative church and ministry leaders from around the United States are evaluated to determine the need for greater collaboration for the health and revitalization of church and ministries. The findings of this research argue that contemporary church growth strategies that emerged from the recent church growth movement may actually inhibit church revitalization efforts …

Examining The Relationship Between Crime And Major Weather Events And Disasters In The 10 Largest Cities In Texas, Daniel Augusto

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This dissertation uses Social Disorganization Theory as a foundation to examine the relationship between yearly days with a major weather event or disaster and crime in the 10 largest cities in Texas. Multiple regressions and moderation analyses were conducted, with models that incorporated total Days with Disaster or major weather event, Social Disorganization, Population Density, and Disaster Consequences predicting all Index Crimes other than Arson. Days with Disaster significantly predicted Robbery, Murder, Rape, Burglary, and Auto Theft, but did not significantly predict Larceny or Assault. Additionally, Social Disorganization and Population Density were often found to predict crime. Moderation analysis also …

The Cultural Relevance Model Of Worship, Mark David Brumagin

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

n the early decades of the twenty-first century a new model of worship has begun to emerge in some North American evangelical churches. Significant events in North American church history combined with cultural ideologies inherent to the North American context have influenced particular churches resulting in new worship practices. Churches that are affected are often marked by the development of highly affective worship experiences, the production and consumption of goods, the involvement of the worship team in marketing, and an elevated use of technology. In examining the cultural values at work in this development, this study found a historical thread …

The Challenge Of Ecclesiastical Multicultural Integration In Homogeneous Japan, William Paul Petite

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

In 2019, 26% of the attendees at Akita Bible Baptist Church (ABBC) were non-Japanese. However, only 4% of the official members of the church were non-Japanese. The purpose of this action research project was to find a strategy to reduce the gap between the relatively high percentage of non-Japanese attendees (26%) and the low percentage of non-Japanese official members (4%). In other words, the purpose was to identify a strategy to increase multicultural integration regarding organizational influence at ABBC. This strategy was discovered by first interviewing eleven non-Japanese attendees. The research facilitator was surprised to discover that 73% of the …

Understanding How Individual Decisions Contribute To The Success Or Failure Of First-Generation Immigrant Entrepreneurs: Case Studies Of The Nepali Bhutanese In Pittsburgh, Jodi Greco Carver

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) began the process of resettling Bhutanese refugees in U.S. cities in 2008 after many had spent up to 17 years in refugee camps in Nepal. At that time, Pittsburgh became home to 1,000 of these refugees and more than a decade later, their community has grown to an estimated 7,000-8,000 with many entrepreneurs among them (BCAP, 2021). The study included six cases of Nepali Bhutanese entrepreneurs in the Pittsburgh metropolitan area which were compared to better grasp the operational links between decision making and business success or failure while considering how embeddedness …

Understanding The Impact Of Intrinsic, Extrinsic, And Altruistic Motivation On Principal Persistence In An Urban School District: A Case Study, Kimberly Washington

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this case study was to understand the impact of intrinsic, extrinsic, and altruistic motivation on principal persistence in Aberdeen Public Schools (APS, pseudonym). Principal persistence is generally defined as a principal staying in each school for a longer period or the lack of change of a principal within a school. The theories guiding this study are Frederick Herzberg’s theory of work and motivation, Abraham Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, and Self-determination theory. The study focused on the following central research question: What are principal descriptions of their efforts to persist in their administrative positions in Aberdeen Public Schools? …

A Framework For Utilizing Narrative Theory And Life Review In Healthcare Chaplaincy, Joshua M. Fagin

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

In healthcare chaplaincy, narrative theory can help the patient separate themselves from their grief or terminal illness. It has been said that chaplaincy is a “ministry of presence,” however, just showing up is a low-level intervention. The purpose for this Doctor of Ministry thesis is to equip chaplains with a comprehensive framework for apply narrative theory and life review in the healthcare chaplaincy context. This thesis seeks to explore and define biblical models of storytelling and spiritual narratives. This thesis will encourage chaplains to have meaningful, engaging and longer visits in individual and group visits. If the spiritual care department …

The Efficacy Of Emergency Management Certification Training In Georgia Through The Lived Experiences Of Local Emergency Managers, Jack Robby Westbrook

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenology qualitative inquiry was to understand the efficacy of the Basic Georgia Certified Emergency Manager Program curriculum on preparing local emergency managers in each of Georgia’s eight geographical regions for their role. Emergency managers are professionals tasked with helping communities and organizations to anticipate all hazards and undertake measures to deal with disasters (McEntire 200 7). Demands placed on local emergency managers have increased significantly since the turn of the century. Between 2002 and 2020, the number and frequency of disasters have dramatically increased, and Georgia's social and economic demographics have undergone significant changes, presenting …

The Predictive Relationship Between Elementary Pre-Service Teacher Praxis Subject Assessment Scores And Pedagogical Knowledge, Miranda Arnold

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship of elementary pre-service teachers’ pedagogical knowledge with the predictor variable of content knowledge. This quantitative, correlational study measured content knowledge through the Praxis Subject Assessment – Elementary Education: Multiple Subjects scores, including the four subtests: Reading and Language Arts, Mathematics, Social Studies, and Science. The criterion variable of pedagogical knowledge was obtained through the scores from the Candidate Preservice Assessment of Student Teaching Form. Scores from the two assessment instruments for 167 elementary education pre-service teachers were collected through archived data from one educator preparation program. A multiple regression analysis …

The Relationship Between Language Mindsets And Foreign Language Anxiety, Jared David Barber

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The learning of a second language is distinct from other types of learning, and it involves a complex interplay of cognitive, affective, motivational, and emotional factors. Language mindset, the beliefs that learners hold regarding their language learning ability, is one important affective factor, as is language anxiety. The purpose of this quantitative correlational study was to discover whether a relationship exists between language mindsets and foreign language anxiety for university second language students at a large central Virginia university. The study used four bivariate linear regressions to examine correlations between the predictor variable, foreign language anxiety, and four language mindset-related …

A Study On The Essence Of Worship In Online Worship Groups Under Covid-19 Pandemic: Focus On Korean Ministers In The Northern Virginia Area, Nakjung Kim

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this study is to review the current needs regarding online worship that were conducted by Korean ministers in the Northern Virginia area under the COVID-19 pandemic and thereby supplement the found needs through establishing a theological basis and a summary of essential elements of worship that should be applied to online worshiping groups. Thirty-three (N = 33) Korean ministers in the Northern Virginia area who conducted online worship under COVID-19 participated in this survey. Results showed that the dominant need in online worship was an education on the essence of worship followed by technical support and ways …

A Quantative Study Of Heol Students' Perceptions Of Communication Within The Lms, Holly Walker

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this applied study was to provide knowledge and information concerning students’ perceptions of communication within the LMS platforms for higher education institutions, using a quantitative study surrounding communication, sense of community, and LMS tools to address the problem. The quantitative design used a survey that consisted of various closed-ended questions, including Likert, multiple choice, and outcome measures of True/False and Yes/No questions. Various social media platforms were leveraged to provide a convenience sampling method to attract potential participants, and a total of 986 qualified respondents completed the survey. Data was analyzed through a series of descriptive statistics, …

Legacy Trail: Photovoice Of African American/Black Women Ces Doctoral Graduates Persistence, Andrea M. Garraway

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This qualitative study examined the retrospective experiences of seven African American/Black (AA/Black) women who graduated from a Counselor Education and Supervision (CES) doctoral program, accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP). The purpose of the study was to investigate ancestral links to their persistence. This study obtained data from semi-structured individual interviews, a focus group, and PhotoVoice pursuit. Through these different methods of data collection, the validity of the study was increased. The research problem identified was that the CES doctoral degree attrition rate remains stagnated (approximately 50%) and the rate for AA/Black women …

Exploring Appraisal, Emotional, Informational, And Instrumental Support For Novice Agricultural Education Teachers In California: A Phenomenological Study, Alyssa A. Schager

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative study was to understand the perceived emotional, appraisal, informational, and instrumental support for the novice, secondary agricultural teachers in the state of California. The theory guiding this study was social support theory as it frames the social support constructs to be explored. With 10 novice agricultural teachers across the state of California serving as study participants, data collection included a questionnaire, individual interviews, and focus groups. Data were analyzed by a seven-step, modified Van Kamm data analysis procedure. Findings, which will be disseminated to the agricultural education research community and leaders in California’s agricultural education …

Effective Sermon Application In A Charlotte Exurb Baptist Church, David Keuss

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This thesis explores an improvement in expository sermon application using two technical tools added to the sermon divisions of sermon series messages. The background of applicational improvements is explored, the problem at Sandy Plains Baptist Church of Gastonia is outlined, and the solution employed. The problem is a spiritual comfort or plateau among members with previous life applications of sermons. The goal was to provide two new resources that would overcome the spiritual status quo in Sunday worship attendee’s lives. This method was tested utilizing Likert scale surveys, unpaired T-tests, and facilitator notations. The thesis project provides guidance to other …

The Predictive Relationship Between Gpa, Cooperating Teacher Assessment Ratings, And Practice Teacher Performance Assessments Upon Successful Completion Of A Summative Teacher Performance Assessment, Robert Shane Lazzell

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Ensuring quality within teacher preparation programs is critical to the success of producing excellent teachers. Numerous studies focus on the influence teacher preparation programs have on emerging teacher self-efficacy, but few studies explore the correlation between teacher preparation programs and successful teaching performance. This quantitative, correlational research study explores how well cumulative GPA, cooperating teacher feedback scores, and practice teacher performance assessment scores can predict performance on Pearson’s edTPA. The data for this study is collected from institutional records of 72 students at a Midwestern school of education. The results indicate that GPA, cooperating teacher feedback scores, and practice teacher …

The Influence Of Views Regarding Scriptural Authority On Female Leadership: The Independent Baptist African American Denomination, Cynthia Mczeal

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of the proposed exploratory research study is to examine how different views on scriptural authority regarding female leadership impact women in leadership in the Independent Baptist African American denominational church. The research is necessitated by the extant complementarian-egalitarian debates on scriptural authority regarding female leadership in the selected religious denomination, the high view of scripture amongst evangelicals, and the increasing growth of women’s influence on the evangelical church. There have been little, if any efforts, to understand how various views regarding scriptural authority affect women in leadership in the Independent Baptist African American Denominational Church setting. The main …

Micro-Kingdom: A Theological And Missiological Apologetic For The Microchurch Model As An Effective And Faithful New Testament Expression Of The Kingdom Of God, Donald Clayton Dodge

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Using a bibliographic methodology, this thesis is a theological and missiological defense for the microchurch model as a solution to the limitations of the prevalent Western attractional model to effectively live out Jesus command to be a community of disciples making disciples. The declining western model is proving insufficient in a post-Christian, post-Christendom world to fulfill the intended role of the church. And as more churches are continually planted, if the erroneous presuppositions responsible for the decline of the church’s efficacy are not amended, there will be no lasting change regardless of how much effort and money is invested. New …

The Relationship Between Contemporary Evangelical Church Leadership And Church Discipleship Formation, James Lawrence Marshall

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this mixed methods study was to determine if the church leadership paradigm contributes to the problem of a lack of disciple-making in Pennsylvania Evangelical churches. A disciple is defined as an unwavering commitment to the Lordship of Christ that is illustrated by Luke 9:23 in which disciples deny themselves and carry their cross daily. This research sought to identify the causes for the lack of discipleship in Pennsylvania Evangelical churches, and had the following findings from the quantitative survey. First, the vision that leadership provides for disciple-making is much higher than either the member involvement in discipleship …

The Impact Of Out-Of-Home Placements On Juvenile Delinquency And The Protective Factors That Neutralize Offending, Kenneth James Kilian

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The negative effects of adverse childhood experiences have been widely examined; however, there has been limited research exploring the association between out-of-home placements and juvenile delinquency. Evidence suggests that positive bonding and associations mitigate maladaptive behaviors, yet it remains unclear if certain protective factors have an equally mediating effect on offending. The current study expanded on the existing criminological literature of juvenile offending by applying general strain theory and developmental taxonomy as the frameworks for the association between childhood traumas, protective factors, and juvenile offending. Data were drawn from the Pathways to Desistance Study using foster care, residential treatment centers, …

Engagement Of Millennials: Understanding The Decline Within Greater Hartford Area Churches, Victor Thomas

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

ecent trends reveal the sharpest decline in Church attendance in the Greater Hartford area has occurred within the population known as the Millennials. A question that is looming and of significance in this decade is what causes this generation to be attracted to some Churches and not others? Ten Protestant inner-city Churches within the Greater Hartford Area were studied to discover if there is a nexus between millennial participation, church leadership, and tools for equipping the millennial population of the church body. This study discovered several factors which impact millennial engagement which include, social influences, political ideologies, technology, and generational …

A Comparison Of Students’ Interest In Stem Across Science Standard Types, Brienne Kylie May

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this study is to determine whether students enrolled in ninth and 10th grade science classes implementing the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) have significantly different interests in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) compared to students enrolled in classes structured around alternate state standards unrelated to the NGSS. The study also investigates how such interests may differ among genders. No research has been conducted to date to determine the potential effects of the NGSS on student interest in STEM or whether these standards impact student interest at all. This study utilizes a causal-comparative design to study the …

The Recount: Black Men's Experiences Of Predominantly White Institution Undergraduate Stem Programs In The United States, James Hairston

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to understand the undergraduate experiences of Black men who completed bachelor’s degrees in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) at small and large predominantly White institutions (PWIs) of higher learning in the United States. This study focused on student engagement, mentorship, and experiences of racism and discrimination as three factors that might influence Black men’s completion of STEM bachelor’s degrees at PWIs in the United States. The central research question for this study was, “What contributes to the success of Black STEM undergraduate men at predominantly White institutions of higher learning?” The …

An Ex Post Facto Study Of The Glass Cliff Phenomenon In Higher Education Presidencies, Michelle Louise Samuel

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study reviews if the glass cliff phenomenon is occurring in U.S. higher education presidential hires. This topic is essential to review as U.S. higher education institutions are primarily presided over by male presidents. Female presidents do exist, but more often at more risky institutions. One reason for the lack of equity may be the glass cliff phenomenon, which asserts that women are more likely to be hired into leadership roles at riskier institutions. This inequity in hiring practices places women in leadership positions at considerable career risk. This study is a nonexperimental study using an ex post facto, causal-comparative …

A Correlational Study On Institutions' Financial Impact On Undergraduate Graduation Rates, Tiffany Channelle Lee

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Researchers have emphasized higher education accessibility and undergraduate degree completion in the United States for several decades. A significant amount of literature has examined student financial resources' role in influencing the completion of a bachelor’s degree. Not much research exists on how institutional financial resources relate to and impact undergraduate graduation rates. The purpose of this study was to gauge how accurately institutional financial resources predicted undergraduate degree completion rates. The study investigated a random sample of 193 four-year colleges and universities classified as baccalaureate institutions by the Carnegie Classification system. The data collection process extracted institutional information from the …

A Qualitative Study On The Underrepresentation And Minimal Advancement Of African Americans In Higher Education, Sylvester Allen Jr.

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This qualitative case study explored the underrepresentation and disproportionate advancement of African American leaders in higher education. The general problem addressed is the minimal advancement, and the disproportionate representation of African Americans compared to their White counterparts in leadership positions at higher education institutions, resulting in a lack of diversity among individuals in a leadership capacity. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to add to existing bodies of research that address the underrepresentation and low advancement of African Americans in leadership positions in higher education. The research questions explored why African Americans leaders are disproportionately represented in leadership …

Bibliotherapy As Intervention For African American Socially Aggressive Girls In An Urban School Setting: A Case Study, Deborah Kay Charaman

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this collective case study was to describe how bibliotherapy among adolescent African American females in urban middle schools served as an intervention for female social aggression, or the mean girl syndrome. At this stage of the research, bibliotherapy was defined as the use of literature to support positive socio-emotional health and prosocial behavior. The theory guiding this inquiry was Rosenblatt’s (1969) transactional theory of reading. It stands to reason that if there is indeed a transaction between the reader and the text; bibliotherapy could impact the attitudes, perceptions, and behavior of socially aggressive females. The central research …

Campus Recreation And Retention In Higher Education: A Predictive Correlational Study, Christopher John Misiano

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Campus recreation facilities and programs provide various environments and opportunities outside of the classroom for students to socialize, participate in sports, improve their physical fitness, and learn new skills. Existing research has explored the relationship between participation in campus recreation and the social, academic, and physical impacts it has on the lives of students. The purpose of this quantitative correlational study was to determine if participation in various types of campus recreation held predictive significance regarding year-over-year retention of first year college students at a large, private university. The predictor variables were participation in club sports, intramural sports, outdoor recreation, …