Digital Commons Network^™

Filial Therapy With Adolescent Parents: The Effect On Parental Empathy, Acceptance And Stress, Cathy Ford Sparks

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship of filial therapy training on adolescent parents' parental empathy, acceptance, and stress, and attainment of educational goals. It used a quasi-experimental, non-randomized sample drawn from three different high schools, pretest/posttest design, to measure the effectiveness of filial therapy. Each parent completed a ten week training period using either a filial therapy model or a typical parenting education model. Data included pretest and posttest questionnaires and videotaped sessions of play with their child. Statistical analyses showed a significant difference in seven of the thirteen areas. Parents in the filial therapy group …

An Examination Of The Significant Factors Motivating Early Liberty University Ministerial Graduates To Envision And Pursue Ambitious Ministry Opportunities, David Wesley Hirschman

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

From its inception, Liberty University has produced ministerial graduates that have envisioned and pursued ambitious ministry opportunities. Whether planting new churches, establishing new mission agencies in foreign nations, or launching a worldwide network of Christian schools, the manner in which early Liberty University ministerial graduates envisioned and pursued ministry opportunities is the direct result of the influences present during the early years of the school. This process of influence included factors that combined to create a climate of confidence and expectation among ministerial graduates, prompting many to envision and pursue ambitious ministry opportunities that endured to become thriving and lasting …

School Achievement For Students With Behavioral Disorders, Steven Wayne Burnett

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of the descriptive qualitative study was to examine the successful strategies, accommodations, and interventions utilized for students with emotional behavior disorder (EBD) and the influences they have on the students' academic achievement (GPA, passage rates of courses, passage rates of state mandated assessments, student satisfaction, attendance rates, and disciplinary infractions) and glean greater understanding of instructional strategies and environmental differences alternative schools offer to students with EBD. In addition to a parent and a student with EBD, an alternative school staff was analyzed in rich detail to glean understanding of environmental influences. Data were collected using document analysis, …

Reading Comprehension, Learning Styles, And Seventh Grade Students, Judy Lynne Williams

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Reading is a basic life skill. Unfortunately, in 2007, only 29% of all eighth graders were able to comprehend at or above a proficient reading comprehension level. Sensory learning styles (kinesthetic, tactile, auditory, and visual) affect the way that students prefer to learn and the areas in which they will have difficulty learning. This study examined sensory learning styles as one possible factor effecting seventh grade students' reading comprehension level. The purpose of this study was to see if a relationship exists between any sensory learning style and reading comprehension levels. The subjects for this study were seventh graders from …

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 Fitness Model For Pastors, Kevin Lynn Elders

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Pastors struggle with weight and fitness to a greater extent than the average person. The results are a lack of credibility, a decrease in ability, and a shorter life span, all of which reduce service to God. This project will serve as a fitness model for pastors to improve health, fitness, and effectiveness in the ministry of the Gospel of Jesus Christ by giving simple diet, lifestyle, and exercise instructions and changes.

The Effect Of Athletic Participation On Academic Achievement For High School Seniors In Eastern Tennessee, David Andrew Gorman

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This causal-comparative study with a narrative component investigated the effect athletic participation on the academic achievement of senior student-athletes and non-athletes who attended three public high schools in Eastern Tennessee. The impetus for the study was the conflicting research as it relates to the impact athletics participation had on academic success at the college and high school levels. Through student athlete and non-athlete comparisons of ACT scores and GPAs, the researcher found athletic participation did not affect academic achievement for high school seniors who graduated in 2009 from the three target high schools when compared to non-athletes. However, statistically significant …

Preschool Education In Virginia And The Resulting Academic Effects For Third- And Fifth-Grade At-Risk Students, Pamela Perry Randall

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

While there remains little doubt that the "founding" preschool programs in America--the High/Scope Perry Program, the Chicago Child-Parent Centers, and the Abecedarian Project--had a positive academic and social impact on the students they served, such claims are difficult to substantiate for students being served in the Virginia Preschool Initiative Program. This study was designed to investigate the educational impact of the state-funded preschool program on the academic achievement of at-risk students who attended school from 1999-2002. These students' third- and fifth-grade Standards of Learning tests, in the subject areas of mathematics and reading, were compared using T-tests and ANOVA calculations …

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 …

The Relationship Between Stress, Work Hours And Depressive Symptoms Among Migrant Factory Workers In China, Anthony Ping-Kam So

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study sought to identify the relationship between work hours, stress, and depressive symptoms among migrant factory workers in China (N = 911). Using correlational analyses, the researcher arrived at results that indicated there was a weak but significant positive correlation between working hours and stress levels; a significant moderate relationship between working hours and depression levels, and a significant association between stress levels and depressive symptoms among migrant factory workers in China. Additionally, multiple regression analysis found a significant correlation between depressive symptoms and dorm-living (environmental factor) in the participants. Data indicated social support and gender difference were found …

Brain-Based Learning Theory: The Incorporation Of Movement To Increase Learning, Eva Patrice Pennington

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study investigated the use of kinesthetic movement as a vehicle by which to teach grammar to high school students. Brain-based theorists believe that, since the anatomical parts of the brain that coordinate basic physical movement are also the physical components used to coordinate the movement of thought, movement is necessary for optimal learning to occur. While purposeful incorporation of movement in the classroom is a popular and increasingly important aspect of brain-based theory, little empirical evidence exists to support the experiences, conjectures, and evidence across multiple disciplines and neurological findings when applied to the high school student. The study …

Innovation Matters: The Use Of Innovation In Ministry Strategies For The Local Church, Travis Paul Drake

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

There are a tremendous amount of people that are either unchurched or de-churched when compared to statistics from earlier years in America. The purpose of this thesis is to discover how the application of innovation in the local church makes an impact on ministry strategies today. One of the commandments given to the Church today is the Great Commission, and it is to be determined by each local church how that mandate will be fulfilled. In essence, when a church chooses to use innovation in reaching out to the community, innovation in itself becomes an outreach strategy.

Quantity Of Parental Involvement: The Influence Of The Level Of Education Attainment Of Elementary Private School Parents, Deborah Kay Secord

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this research was to determine the influence of the custodial parents' level of educational attainment on the quantity of parental involvement in the areas of assistance with homework, time spent in home activities with the child, communication with teachers, participation in school events, educational discussions with the child, and time volunteered in school. Questionnaires were sent out to the parents of elementary students at two private faith-based institutions. The combined number of participants was 151. The researcher determined that there was no significant influence among these private school parents of the level of educational attainment on the …

Music Instruction And The Reading Achievement Of Middle School Students, Juanita Huber

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Comparative analysis examined responses on a descriptive questionnaire from 267 students in grades 6, 7, and 8. The study compared duration of and participation in music instruction, types of musical instruments learned, and experience in musical ensembles to scores from the state English language arts assessment. Analysis of results included descriptive statistics and the use of the Pearson r correlation coefficient. Overall findings yielded a significant positive relationship between the study of music and reading development in middle school students. A comparison of test scores to music instruction lasting longer than two years, performance on a brass or woodwind instrument, …

Influence Of Technology On Adolescent Development And Spiritual Formation, Kevin Daniel Monahan

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Adolescence is the time when a person develops perceptions about religious thoughts and with proper guidance, can be a stronger follower of Christ. The purpose of this project is to analyze the effects of technology on young people and to show a direct correlation between the influence of technology and spiritual growth of adolescents. I will argue that both the positive and negative influences of technology have made our students more informative yet less personally intimate. This shift of personal interaction presents a challenge to the cognitive development and spiritual formation of all students.

Stress And Anxiety Among Korean International Students At Liberty University Analyzed With The State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (Form Y), Jae Duk Kim

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

International students face unique issues, including anxiety while adjusting to cultural unfamiliar and academic challenges. This research study examined characteristics and anxiety levels as Korean international seminary students (n = 61) living in the U.S. and compared them with Korean domestic seminary students (n = 120) living in Korea using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (Form Y) (Spielberger, 1983). The results: the Pearson correlation indicated that the state anxiety scores and trait anxiety scores were significantly related. Korean international seminary students had statistically significantly higher mean scores on state and trait anxiety than Korean domestic seminary students. The 2×2×2 ANOVA revealed …

The Effects Of Georgia's Choice Curricular Reform Model On Third Grade Science Scores On The Georgia Criterion Referenced Competency Test, Art W. Phemister

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the Georgia's Choice reading curriculum on third grade science scores on the Georgia Criterion Referenced Competency Test from 2002 to 2008. In assessing the effectiveness of the Georgia's Choice curriculum model this causal comparative study examined the 105 elementary schools that implemented Georgia's Choice and 105 randomly selected elementary schools that did not elect to use Georgia's Choice. The Georgia's Choice reading program used intensified instruction in an effort to increase reading levels for all students. The study used a non-equivalent control group with a pretest and posttest design …

God’S Shield: The Relationship Between God Attachment, Relationship Satisfaction, And Adult Child Of An Alcoholic (Acoa) Status In A Sample Of Evangelical Graduate Counseling Students, Karin Mcpeak Dumont

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The conceptual framework for this study focused on adult attachments and adult relationship satisfaction being defined and supported by initial attachment style. The literature review consistently revealed that individuals with a secure attachment style report higher relationship satisfaction than individuals with an insecure style. The purpose of this study was to explore the effect of attachment to God and a history of an alcoholic parent on adult relationship satisfaction while controlling for romantic attachment. A total of 267 participants from an evangelical graduate program in counseling were administered the Children of Alcoholics Screening Test (CAST), Attachment to God Inventory (AGI), …

A Study Of Physical Fitness And Academic Performance Levels Of Sixth And Seventh Grade Students, James Woodward

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this study was to examine the difference in academic performance levels between physically fit and physically unfit sixth and seventh grade students. Fitness levels were determined by assessing participants on the Fitnessgram® battery of physical fitness tests, which measures body composition, aerobic capacity, muscular strength, muscular endurance, and flexibility. Academic levels were assessed using the school district's academic benchmark tests as well as Grade Point Average (GPA). The researcher used a series of nine independent t-tests to determine if there was a significant difference between the academic performance levels of physically fit and physically unfit students according …

Addressing The Lack Of Male Elementary School Teachers: Factors That Influence Grade-Level Preference, Michael David Patrick

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this study was to determine which, if any, specific factors are deterring male teachers from pursuing elementary education. The number of male elementary teachers in America's public school systems had continued to decline, and this survey sought to discover what specific factors had contributed to this. This study surveyed 231 male public school teachers from six different school districts in Tennessee, Georgia, and Missouri. Male participants recorded their viewpoints regarding male elementary teachers while at the same time they provided personal information concerning factors which contributed to their own personal grade level selection. Participants were surveyed to …

Computer/Video Games As A Play Therapy Tool In Reducing Emotional Disturbances In Children, Kevin Boyd Hull

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this study is to examine the effectiveness of computer/video games as a play therapy tool for children suffering from an emotional disturbance of sadness (pervasive feelings of irritability, loss of enjoyment in activities previously enjoyed, withdrawal from friends or family, decline in school performance, and hopelessness). Children who suffer from emotional disturbances have problems functioning in school, in social and family settings, as well as transitioning into adulthood. Play therapy is an effective and creative way to work with children with emotional disturbances. Play becomes a way for the child to communicate and heal. Computer/video games are …

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 …

The Effectiveness Of A Proactive School-Wide Discipline Plan On Office Discipline Referrals At The Elementary School Level, Elizabeth Anne Anderson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this study was to examine the effectiveness of a proactive school-wide discipline plan on office discipline referrals, and as a predictor of incidents of chronic disciplinary referrals. The study examined two consecutive school years, 2007-2008 and 2008-2009, with 2007-2008 being the control group without a school-wide discipline plan, and 2008-2009 the treatment group with a school-wide discipline plan in place for a full academic year. The purpose was to determine if there would be a statistically significant decrease in the number of office discipline referrals and the number of office discipline referrals which resulted in In-School or …

The Effectiveness Of Mathematics And Science Partnership (Msp) Grants On Student Achievement, Michael R. Schlabra

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this study was to examine whether a Title II Mathematics and Partnership grant positively affected student achievement levels for 3rd grade students in a public school system. The primary participant populations for this study were third grade students enrolled in 4 elementary schools in north Georgia from 2005-2008. Over 4,500 student assessments were used to conduct the statistical research and variables such as gender, race, and socio-economic levels were not disaggregated in the data collection. The data sources included the first quarter, second quarter, and third quarter post formative assessments which were administered every nine-week grading period …

The Impact Of Hurricane Katrina On Adolescent Psychological Adjustment And Adaptation In Southeast Louisiana, William Stephen Kelly

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Hurricane Katrina ripped through Louisiana and the Gulf Coast in late August 2005. This devastating storm left thousands of people homeless and forever changed the lives of those who lived in these areas. Adolescents in the storm-impacted areas continue to be affected by life events brought about by this natural catastrophe. Many adolescents moved to another parish or state and started a new school, and many students reported attending multiple schools. Adolescents lost possessions and friends, and many continue to experience grief and loss issues related to Hurricane Katrina. Family job loss and associated financial hardship added to the already …

Analyzing The Effects Of Two Response To Intervention Tools, Oral Reading Fluency And Maze Assessments, In The Language Arts Classrooms Of Middle School Students, Donna Lyerly Jones

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This quantitative study analyzed data to find a valid and reliable assessment for progress monitoring also having predictive power of a student's future reading performance on a state-mandated standardized reading achievement evaluation. The Response to Intervention (RTI) model was implemented in the language arts classrooms of a rural middle school in northeast Georgia to study the effectiveness of instruction for all students, the at-risk, general, and advanced population. This study used Oral Reading Fluency (ORF) and Maze fluency assessments to monitor student progress and to analyze data to drive instruction. The data were gathered weekly over a 23 week period, …

Evaluation Of Pastoral Peer Learning Groups And The Application Of Principles In A South Florida Context, Dale R. Faircloth

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The choice of peer learning groups by the Florida Baptist Convention as the primary leadership development approach for pastors is documented and examined. Surveys, Delphi Panels, and questionnaires were utilized to examine the perspectives of peer learning group participants and leaders regarding the effectiveness of the peer learning group method. Additionally, highly effective pastors in South Florida were surveyed to formulate their perspective of what characteristics are needed for a pastor to be effective in South Florida. Results were compared and evaluated to determine the effectiveness of the peer learning groups. Practical suggestions are then offered for improvement.

Spelling Achievement Of Third Culture Children Compared To United States Norms, Lauren Jayne Berry Cuidon

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Spelling is a critical component to literacy development. Teachers of American children living overseas as well as adult "Third Culture Kids" (TCKs) have reported that spelling is especially challenging for the TCK population. This study investigated whether a difference existed in TCK spelling achievement compared to U.S. norms, as well as the effects of gender and schooling choice on TCK spelling achievement. Participants included children who were enrolled in fourth through seventh grades in an English-speaking instructional program, who held an American passport, who have lived internationally more than two years in a non-English speaking country, and who scored in …

Discipleship: Stepping Stones To Developing Your Church’S Strategy, John G. Johnston

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this project is to guide a church to develop a biblically based discipleship strategy that is intentional and ongoing. This will be done by focusing on current and future plans of developing a discipleship strategy of a local church. This project is influenced by my experiences in a disciplemaking process , observations and visits I conducted with hundreds of church leaders over the past twenty years, and my work to develop a church's disciplemaking ministry. This project proposes five steps toward developing a discipleship strategy that will encourage a lifelong journey of obedience that spiritually transforms values …

The Effectiveness Of Computer-Assisted Instruction In Developmental Mathematics, Kathy Dye Spradlin

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Colleges and universities are trying alternative instructional approaches to improve the teaching of developmental mathematics with the goal of increasing the number of students who have the skills and knowledge required for college-level math courses and for the twenty-first century workforce. Computers and the internet make possible new methods of delivering instruction so students will have choices of when, where, and how they learn math. The purpose of this study was to compare academic performance of students enrolled in a developmental mathematics course using traditional instruction, traditional instruction supplemented with computer-assisted instruction, and online distance learning. In addition, gender differences …