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Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

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Religiosity, Moral Disapproval, Shame And Pornography Use: Assessing The Relationship Between Shame And Sexual Behaviors, Ryan Carboneau Jun 2018

Religiosity, Moral Disapproval, Shame And Pornography Use: Assessing The Relationship Between Shame And Sexual Behaviors, Ryan Carboneau

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Many compulsive and hypersexualized behaviors, including pornography use, have been associated with negative emotional, neurological, and psychosocial problems in a subset of users. Research showed that the constructs of shame, shame-proneness, and attachment may be related to the use of pornography as well as the theory of addiction. Shame-proneness is a construct that is consistently and positively associated with a variety of internalizing symptoms including depression, social, and generalized anxiety as well as a linked to an assortment of externalizing and risky behaviors such as anger, substance use, and criminal offending. Research suggested that higher levels of religiosity have a …


The Relationship Between Student Teacher Performance And Social Studies Test Performance, Christopher Jones Jun 2018

The Relationship Between Student Teacher Performance And Social Studies Test Performance, Christopher Jones

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Numerous universities throughout the United States of America offer Social Studies Education programs as a major. Naturally, it is the desire of leaders in any credible institution to well train and equip eventual graduates to become quality teachers of Social Studies subject areas, including the field of history. The importance and purpose of this study was to investigate records from Social Studies Education majors of an individual university, to determine if this particular university’s combined efforts between its history department and education department are producing future novice teachers with a keen knowledge of Social Studies fields as well as the …


A Plan For Founding A Christian Alternative School As A Type Of Youth Ministry In Korea With A Rationale For Church-Sponsored Christian Schools, Chan Sik Park Jun 2018

A Plan For Founding A Christian Alternative School As A Type Of Youth Ministry In Korea With A Rationale For Church-Sponsored Christian Schools, Chan Sik Park

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study aims to contribute to the change of the prime age-centered traditional pastoral ministries present in Korean churches for the future generation-centered ministries. The researcher's church, too, has an inverted triangular structure under which the future generations disappear. To overcome this, this study sets up a model of new growth for the future generations. The researcher analyzes and evaluates the cause of the problem of decreasing youth in Korean churches. The researcher will do mentoring work in the special environment of alternative schools so that the youth may have sound faith and not leave the church even after they …


In Covenant: A Grounded Theory Exploration Of What Helps Evangelical Marriages Recover After Sexual Infidelity By The Husband, Theresa C. Allen Jun 2018

In Covenant: A Grounded Theory Exploration Of What Helps Evangelical Marriages Recover After Sexual Infidelity By The Husband, Theresa C. Allen

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Infidelity is a commonly identified reason for the dissolution of marriages, including Christian evangelical marriages. Although there is empirical research investigating factors that contribute to infidelity, there is little research on how couples recover from such a breach to the marriage commitment. This study sought to answer the question: What helps evangelical marriages recover after sexual infidelity by the husband? The qualitative research was built on a semi-structured interview framework that collected the personal narratives of three couples that were a minimum of two years post disclosure of an infidelity in the marriage relationship. Infidelity, for the purposes of this …


Scheduling Of Recess Before Mathematics And Third Grade Students' Mathematical Achievement In Virginia: A Causal Comparative Study, Sarah Danaher Jun 2018

Scheduling Of Recess Before Mathematics And Third Grade Students' Mathematical Achievement In Virginia: A Causal Comparative Study, Sarah Danaher

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Recess is a vital piece of the elementary school day. The impact of this time extends beyond students’ physical, emotional, and social health. Recess has also been shown to have a positive impact on the classroom performance of students. The purpose of this causal comparative study was to test the theory of the impact of recess in elementary school that relates to the scheduling of mathematics directly after recess time to achievement on a standardized mathematics assessment for third grade students in Central Virginia. Grade level and assessment type were controlled for in this study. Participants were third grade students …


Digital Natives' Perceptions On Feeling Understood By Teachers: A Transcendental Phenomenological Study Informing 21st Century Education, Dennis D. Perez Jun 2018

Digital Natives' Perceptions On Feeling Understood By Teachers: A Transcendental Phenomenological Study Informing 21st Century Education, Dennis D. Perez

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to explore the academic and social experiences of digital natives at Patrick Harrison High School (pseudonym) located in southern California. The research questions addressing the study were: (a) What are digital natives’ academic and social experiences; (b) How does feeling understood by teachers shape digital natives’ learning experiences; and (c) How does the use of social media, the Internet and digital devices contribute to 21st-century education as perceived by digital natives? Prensky’s (2001) theory on digital nativity, Gordon’s (1988) theory on feeling understood, and Vygotsky’s (1978) constructivist learning views informed the study. …


The Impact Of Mentorship On The Motivation To Learn: A Phenomenological Study Of High School African American Male Students At Risk For Failure, Godwin M. Prospere Jun 2018

The Impact Of Mentorship On The Motivation To Learn: A Phenomenological Study Of High School African American Male Students At Risk For Failure, Godwin M. Prospere

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to understand how at-risk male African American students who attend Title I inner-city high schools in Central Florida, and are at risk for failure, perceive mentorship impacts their motivation to learn. The theories that guided this study were Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, Vygotsky’s sociocultural theory, and Bandura’s social cognitive theory of self-efficacy, as each theory describes the basic needs that must be satisfied before an individual can be motivated to learn, and the role of interaction in developing self-efficacy and the motivation to learn. The central research question that guided this study sought …


Contextualizing Worship And Music In A Multicultural Church: A Case Study At Christ Fellowship Miami, Kimberly A. Martin Jun 2018

Contextualizing Worship And Music In A Multicultural Church: A Case Study At Christ Fellowship Miami, Kimberly A. Martin

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Christ Fellowship Church is a Southern Baptist, multicultural, multigenerational, and multilingual church with eight local campuses, which hosts worshipers from seventy-six nations every weekend in Miami-Dade County. While the worshiping body of Christ Fellowship Miami is extremely diverse, the music and worship genres and styles are predominantly homogeneous. This case study serves the worship ministry at Christ Fellowship Miami as they seek to engage in more culturally conscious methods of worship and music by exploring the diverse cultures, languages, and music styles represented in the congregation. It discusses the planning, development, and execution of a global worship experience at the …


Examining The Effect Of Parental Attachment, Emotional Maturity, Spiritual Maturity, And View Of Suffering On Sense Of Coherence, Alyssa M. Gavulic Jun 2018

Examining The Effect Of Parental Attachment, Emotional Maturity, Spiritual Maturity, And View Of Suffering On Sense Of Coherence, Alyssa M. Gavulic

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Suffering and loss are inevitable parts of the human experience. Nonetheless, the ability to find meaning in various forms of suffering has been shown to impact individual responses to diverse experiences of pain, distress, and loss. Despite the ubiquitous nature of human suffering, perceptions of the cause, purpose, impact, and outcome of experiences of suffering can vary greatly among individuals. Consequently, this inquiry-oriented, descriptive dissertation research examines how emotional maturity, spiritual maturity, and views of suffering mediate the relationship between parental attachment and sense of coherence. This study employs a correlational research design that examines the scores on a variety …


Effectively Transporting A Spiritually Based Intervention For Reducing Subsyndromal Anxiety And Increasing Coping Skills In Urban Adolescents: A Multiple Baseline Design, Morais Cassell Jun 2018

Effectively Transporting A Spiritually Based Intervention For Reducing Subsyndromal Anxiety And Increasing Coping Skills In Urban Adolescents: A Multiple Baseline Design, Morais Cassell

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

A critical review of literature revealed a gap in the literature of spiritually based interventions, most notably the subject of a spiritually based intervention for reducing subsyndromal anxiety and increasing coping skills in urban adolescents. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between a spiritually based intervention, a triangulation approach, subsyndromal anxiety, and coping skills in urban adolescents, employing the add-on/integration of a Prayer Wheel intervention. Utilizing a multiple baseline design across subjects to demonstrate the controlling effects of spiritually based intervention/prayer wheel, research revealed a decrease in subsyndromal anxiety levels, and an increase in coping skills …


Measuring Pornography Use Identity: Validation Study Of The Modified Centrality Of Event Scale, Michael Takacs Jun 2018

Measuring Pornography Use Identity: Validation Study Of The Modified Centrality Of Event Scale, Michael Takacs

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

There has been an increase in research focused on the influence that pornography use has on an individual. Observations of dysfunction with pornography users, in both clinical and religious settings, have driven a large part of this increase in research. Current research findings on religiosity and incongruent sexual behaviors further support the need to examine the correlation between the individual and their pornography use, especially with religious users. To date, there has been no research in the literature addressing the connection between the individual’s beliefs towards their pornography use and the effect of these beliefs on their identity or other …


An Intrinsic Case Study Examining Adaptive Recreation Instructors Who Address The Needs Of Athletes With Disabilities In Northwestern Colorado, Jenna Jordan May 2018

An Intrinsic Case Study Examining Adaptive Recreation Instructors Who Address The Needs Of Athletes With Disabilities In Northwestern Colorado, Jenna Jordan

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this intrinsic case study was to understand the experience and pathway to becoming an adaptive recreation instructor at Oscar’s School Center for Adaptive Recreation (pseudonym). Knowledge is often missing in the preparation and training of instructors via non-traditional certification programs, on-the-job training, and background education and experience of persons working in adaptive recreation, adaptive physical education, and adaptive health education. I used an intrinsic case study to examine the perspectives of 17 participants including the executive director, program director, marketing director, and adaptive recreation instructors at Oscar’s School Center for Adaptive Recreation in Colorado, to obtain the …


Student Transition Into Kindergarten: A Case Study Of The Reggio Emilia Approach, Joan Stephens May 2018

Student Transition Into Kindergarten: A Case Study Of The Reggio Emilia Approach, Joan Stephens

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this intrinsic case study was to arrive at a better understanding of what teachers contribute to the unique issues of student transition from a Reggio Emilia approach preschool into kindergarten. Transition was defined as “. . . reciprocal organization activities and cooperation (vertical connection), one of the aims of which was to connect with families (horizontal connection)” (Ahtola et al., 2016, p. 169). The central question of the research is; what do Reggio Emilia approach schoolteachers contribute to transition? Vygotsky’s (1978) social constructivist theory involved the “actual relations between individuals” (p. 57), and social constructivist theory, along …


A Phenomenological Study Of Female Stem Majors Who Have Decided To Become Educators, Porcia Richardson-Spears May 2018

A Phenomenological Study Of Female Stem Majors Who Have Decided To Become Educators, Porcia Richardson-Spears

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to investigate, identify, and describe the lived experiences that influence female STEM majors to become secondary educators rather than enter a STEM-related corporate profession. This study was guided by Mezirow’s transformative learning theory (TLT) and Lent, Brown and Hackett’s social cognitive career theory (SCCT) as they related to self-awareness, which guides and motivates the behaviors involved in choosing a career path. The research questions for this study were designed to investigate the experiences that prompted females to major in STEM majors and to enter the field of teaching rather than enter corporate …


The Impact Of Computer-Based Programs On Middle School Math Achievement, Kenyatta Gilmore May 2018

The Impact Of Computer-Based Programs On Middle School Math Achievement, Kenyatta Gilmore

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this correlation research study was to investigate the impact of computer-based learning on middle school math achievement of at-risk students. The participants for this study were drawn from a convenience sample of 83 middle school students located in southeastern Georgia. At-risk middle school students were achieving below their grade equivalent and failing to meet local and state proficiency standards. Computer-based instruction was implemented as an intervention to increase student achievement in mathematics. The study used a pretest-posttest control group design and used SPSS software to conduct the statistical analyses using an ANCOVA and t-test. The results indicated …


Religious Advisors' Mental Illness Stigma: Pentecostal Attributions, Krista Kirk May 2018

Religious Advisors' Mental Illness Stigma: Pentecostal Attributions, Krista Kirk

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Some individuals, who subscribe to religious beliefs, often prefer to seek help from religious advisors when addressing mental health issues rather than seek help from mental health professionals. Although these religious advisors do not believe they have received adequate training to support individuals with these issues, they will still attempt to counsel them without the help of mental health professionals. One particular issue both types of practitioner face is the increase of the addictive qualities associated with problematic pornography use. The representation of the addictive qualities in problematic pornography use is a widespread concern, especially in religious communities, and mental …


The Effect Of Peer Practice On Communication Apprehension In High School Students: A Quantitative, Quasi-Experimental, Static-Group Study, Ashley Bowman May 2018

The Effect Of Peer Practice On Communication Apprehension In High School Students: A Quantitative, Quasi-Experimental, Static-Group Study, Ashley Bowman

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Curricula nationwide is trending toward mandating mastery and assessment of communication skills; however, little research exists to provide insight on how to support students suffering from communication apprehension. This quantitative, quasi-experimental, static-group comparison study examines the impact of peer practice on communication apprehension, public speaking anxiety, group discussion, meeting, and interpersonal communication among high school students. This study utilized a convenience sampling with a control and a treatment group; the sample consisted of 275 participants enrolled in grades nine through 12 at a large, public high school in South Carolina. McCroskey’s Personal Report of Communication Apprehension 24 (PRCA-24) (1982b) was …


Shared Advocacy: A Multiple-Case Examination Of Practices Supporting Postsecondary Students With Learning And Attention Differences, Julie Mcnair May 2018

Shared Advocacy: A Multiple-Case Examination Of Practices Supporting Postsecondary Students With Learning And Attention Differences, Julie Mcnair

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This multiple-case study examined the practices of academic support providers who offered supplemental services for students with learning or attention differences at postsecondary institutions. Students with learning or attention differences transitioning to postsecondary institutions may need assistance developing self-advocacy through practice. The study employed self-determination theory and positive psychology (Deci & Ryan, 2002; Seligman, 2011), asking the central research question, "How do academic support providers at postsecondary institutions offer shared-advocacy, promoting intrinsic motivation through accommodative intervention strategies for students with learning disabilities and/or ADHD?" Previously unheard perspectives of academic support providers at five postsecondary institutions presented these insights. Analysis occurred …


Undocumented Hispanic Students In Higher Education: A Phenomenology Of Students Struggling To Obtain Educational And Career Goals, Marvin Rondon May 2018

Undocumented Hispanic Students In Higher Education: A Phenomenology Of Students Struggling To Obtain Educational And Career Goals, Marvin Rondon

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative transcendental phenomenological study is to describe the experiences of undocumented Hispanic students paying out-of-state tuition while enrolled at selected community colleges in Eastern North Carolina. This study is guided by Arnett’s emerging adulthood theory, a stage of life linking adolescence and young adulthood marked by self-identity issues, exploration, planning for the future, instability, crisis, commitment, family expectations, new relationships, and new roles. The central research question focuses on the educational experiences of undocumented Hispanic students paying out-of-state tuition enrolled in rural North Carolina community colleges with restrictive in-state tuition laws. A purposeful sample of 12 …


The Relationship Between College Student Attitudes Towards Online Learning Based On Reading Self-Efficacy, Ethnicity, And Age, Felecia Edwards May 2018

The Relationship Between College Student Attitudes Towards Online Learning Based On Reading Self-Efficacy, Ethnicity, And Age, Felecia Edwards

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The convenience of online programs has revolutionized education to make it available for more people interested in seeking to further their education. Students enrolling into various online, higher education programs have different aptitudes and factors that play a role in their experiences and successful completion of the program. The study aims to determine relationships between factors that may influence the students’ attitudes towards online programs. The factors include reading self-efficacy, ethnicity, and the age of the college students. The present study examines these relationships between self-reported self-efficacy, ethnicity, and age, as related to attitudes toward online learning. The participants consisted …


A Transcendental Phenomenological Study In How School Principals Prioritize Their Personal Lives In Relation To Their Professional Lives, Ryan Ashley May 2018

A Transcendental Phenomenological Study In How School Principals Prioritize Their Personal Lives In Relation To Their Professional Lives, Ryan Ashley

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The divorce rate in the United States is climbing among professionals. One of the highest of these rates is among educational leaders; it is commonly the perception that a tremendous amount of time and energy must be spent in the school in order for the school to be successful. This means educational leaders must spend large amounts of time away from their significant others as well as their children in order to maintain this status quo. The purpose of this phenomenological study is to discover common characteristics that contribute to school principals having and maintaining a relationship with a significant …


Academic Integrity: A Correlational Study Of Private Christian College Students' Religiosity And The Propensity To Cheat, Linda Williams May 2018

Academic Integrity: A Correlational Study Of Private Christian College Students' Religiosity And The Propensity To Cheat, Linda Williams

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Creating a campus culture of academic integrity is a target aimed for by colleges across the nation. A religiosity level and academic dishonesty survey was administered for a predictive correlational study investigating religiosity levels and the propensity to cheat as they relate to students on the campuses of large, medium, and small private Christian college campuses in the southeastern United States. These factors were further tested to determine if they align with the determinants of behavior identified with the theory of planned behavior and self-efficacy. A volunteer response sample was utilized from the answers received by way of the online …


Integrating Worship Pedagogy Into New Membership Curriculum For The Local Church, Janicka Newbill May 2018

Integrating Worship Pedagogy Into New Membership Curriculum For The Local Church, Janicka Newbill

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

A review of current research reveals there is a deficit in several models for new membership classes among Christian churches. In reviewing the current model examples the introduction and explanation of worship to new members as part of the new membership curriculum is missing. This deficit has implications toward churches that are having challenges with church membership. One of the challenges includes members grasping the importance of worship and its impact on members assimilating into the local church body. To address the gap in literature and the challenges with understanding worship, research examining local church curricula and performing class observations …


Developing A Strategic Model For Deacons As Servant Leaders Within New Church Plants, Christopher Webb May 2018

Developing A Strategic Model For Deacons As Servant Leaders Within New Church Plants, Christopher Webb

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The office of deacon is vital within the local church and often varies from one congregation to another. There are many misconceptions concerning the role and responsibilities of deacons. The Bible clearly defines deacons as those who function as servant leaders. The purpose of this project is to address the biblical, theoretical, practical and personal observations that will assist new church plants in equipping potential candidates for the office of deacon, as servant leaders. The project will address vital areas of deacon ministry that will include; discovering the history of deacon ministry, the biblical qualifications for a deacon, the relationship …


A Phenomenological Study Examining The Journey Of Identity Development For Internationally Adopted Adolescents In The United States, Susan Schrank May 2018

A Phenomenological Study Examining The Journey Of Identity Development For Internationally Adopted Adolescents In The United States, Susan Schrank

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to understand the perspectives of young adults who were internationally adopted to the United States during their adolescent years and to describe the experiences that contributed to their identity development. Erikson’s psychosocial development theory guided this study as it examined the relationships, roles, and values that humans commit to during the critical period of adolescence. Social identity theory furthered insight as to how individuals have defined themselves and their social categorization within groups, while the multiple dimensions of identity model helped define the key categories, themes, and contextual influences that have contributed …


Participation In A Traditional Mentorship Program: A Multiple Case Study Of Alternatively Certified Teachers, Kimberly Thompson May 2018

Participation In A Traditional Mentorship Program: A Multiple Case Study Of Alternatively Certified Teachers, Kimberly Thompson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this multiple case study was to understand the impact of a traditional mentorship program on 13 alternatively certified teachers in a suburban school district in the southeastern part of the state of Virginia. This research utilized a qualitative multiple case study design. Guiding this qualitative study were Knowles’ adult and Mezirow’s transformative learning theories. Knowles’ (1970) theory projects the idea of using experiential learning to construct one’s own meanings, while Mezirow’s (1995) theory advances the idea of humans constructing new ideas and meanings based on new perspectives. The central research question guiding this study was: How did …


A Phenomenological Study On Motivational Factors Toward The Longevity Of Christian School Teachers, Rochelle Achuff May 2018

A Phenomenological Study On Motivational Factors Toward The Longevity Of Christian School Teachers, Rochelle Achuff

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to describe factors that influenced the motivation of teachers toward longevity in Christian schools located in the Southeast region of the United States. This study attempted to answer the following research question: What do Christian school teachers perceive as motivational factors toward longevity in a Christian school? The theory that guided this study was London’s (1983) career motivation theory as it relates to what motivated teachers to teach long-term in a Christian school. Findings from this study provided a description of what Christian school teachers perceive as motivating factors toward longevity in …


The Impact Of Traditional And Departmentalized Classroom Instructional Settings On Fifth Grade Students' Reading Achievement, Shakera Chennis May 2018

The Impact Of Traditional And Departmentalized Classroom Instructional Settings On Fifth Grade Students' Reading Achievement, Shakera Chennis

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this quantitative casual-comparative research was to provide educators data pertaining to reading and the influence of classroom instructional setting on reading test scores. This study investigated if learning in a departmentalized instructional setting had a subsequent positive effect on fifth grade students’ reading achievement as measured by the 2015 Virginia Standards of Learning Assessment, as opposed to fifth grade students who were exposed to a traditional instructional setting. Data was collected from the accountability office of the selected school district. Fifth grade students in a departmentalized or traditional regular education classroom participated in this study. The convenience …


Experiences Of Teaching Controversial And Emotive Issues In Terrorism Studies Courses In The Politically-Charged Classroom: A Transcendental Phenomenological Study, Blake Devolld May 2018

Experiences Of Teaching Controversial And Emotive Issues In Terrorism Studies Courses In The Politically-Charged Classroom: A Transcendental Phenomenological Study, Blake Devolld

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to understand the phenomenon experienced by faculty members in higher education who teach courses in terrorism studies with curriculum containing controversial and emotive issues in a politically-charged classroom. The study included 12 college faculty members who taught courses in terrorism studies from several institutions of higher learning throughout the United States. Data were collected using semi-structured interviews, participant questionnaires and the collection of course materials. The data collected through these methods were analyzed using the process suggested by Moustakas (1994) to write a composite description of the phenomenon using textural and structural …


Experiencing Success: A Hermeneutic Phenomenology Of Successful Remedial Mathematics Students, Kyle Ireland May 2018

Experiencing Success: A Hermeneutic Phenomenology Of Successful Remedial Mathematics Students, Kyle Ireland

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenological study was to describe how students experience success in mathematics remediation at a four-year private institution in the central United States. Success in a remedial mathematics course was defined as one’s completion of a required remedial mathematics course having earned an overall grade of 90% or higher. The theories guiding this study were achievement goal theory and expectancy-value theory grounded in Bandura’s social cognitive theory. This theoretical framework provided a motivational framework for student success in a post-secondary, remedial mathematics course based on individual goals for completing the task, student self-efficacy beliefs, and the …