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Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

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A Phenomenological Study Of Novice Teachers' First-Year Experiences In Curriculum Development In International Schools, Rachel Morgan Pedigo Apr 2019

A Phenomenological Study Of Novice Teachers' First-Year Experiences In Curriculum Development In International Schools, Rachel Morgan Pedigo

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study is to describe the experiences of teachers in Christian international schools during the process of developing curriculum for their classes during their first-year of teaching at the school. In light of the purpose of the study, the following research questions framed this investigation: How do first-year teachers describe their experiences developing curriculum during their first year of teaching at an international Christian school? What challenges do first-year teachers encounter when beginning to develop curriculum for their classes? What are first-year teachers’ expectations of support during curriculum development? How do first-year teachers describe their experiences …


A Correlational Study On Components Of Hybrid Course Delivery And Student Success In Introductory Statistics, Gail Moore Mcgowan Apr 2019

A Correlational Study On Components Of Hybrid Course Delivery And Student Success In Introductory Statistics, Gail Moore Mcgowan

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Hybrid course delivery has become a popular course design in general education large enrollment courses. While the benefits of hybrid course design are detailed in many studies, little research has been conducted on the contribution specific components make toward student success. In this quantitative research study, a correlational design with a multiple regression technique was used to examine the relationship between average weekly quiz grade, number of weekly quiz attempts, weekly lab attendance, weekly time spent in class with the professor and student conceptual understanding in the introductory statistics course. This research study was conducted at a private university located …


A Case Study Examing Student-Athletes Returning To The Classroom After Suffering A Concussion/Mild Traumatic Brain Injury, Sheila Jackson Benton Apr 2019

A Case Study Examing Student-Athletes Returning To The Classroom After Suffering A Concussion/Mild Traumatic Brain Injury, Sheila Jackson Benton

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative case study was to explore how a student-athlete suffering a concussion/mild traumatic brain injury copes academically in a high school environment. This case study sought to answer the question of how these student-athletes cope with their return to the classroom and are affected academically, physically, socially, and emotionally from multiple perspectives. Guiding this instrumental case study was an analytic generalization of the theory of planned behavior, social norm theory, Bandura’s social learning cognition theory, and the theory of mind. This bounded case study included one participant who had suffered a concussion and was returning to …


A Correlational Study Of The Demographic And Job Factors Related To Job Satisfaction And Burnout Among School Psychologists, Carla Donahue Apr 2019

A Correlational Study Of The Demographic And Job Factors Related To Job Satisfaction And Burnout Among School Psychologists, Carla Donahue

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

School psychologists are uniquely trained to provide a variety of services within a school setting. Because of the diversity in job responsibilities and the growing expectations of school psychologists across different settings, low rates of job satisfaction and high rates of burnout are contributing to school psychologists leaving the profession, and fewer students enrolling in school psychology programs. The shortage of school psychologists exacerbates the problems, with low job satisfaction and high rates of burnout as practicing school psychologists often serve more students and schools than is recommended by the National Association of School Psychologists. Studies of job satisfaction and …


Student Engagement And Retention Of Minority Students In A Faith-Based Institution, Stephanie Ann Smith Apr 2019

Student Engagement And Retention Of Minority Students In A Faith-Based Institution, Stephanie Ann Smith

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Although there is research in student engagement and retention in higher education institutions, there is little predictive research that study minority students attending faith-based institutions. Due to the established relationship between student engagement and retention, it was important to understand what aspects of student engagement may predict the retention of minority students in order to establish programming and possibly raise the retention rates of these populations. Using the theoretical framework of student involvement and persistence, this predictive, correlational study used archival data to determine if any of the National Survey of Student Engagement’s (NSSE) engagement indicators predicted the retention of …


Describing The Experiences Of Peer Tutors: A Phenomenological Study Of Undergraduate Students At Federal Service Academies, Drew John Van Dam Jr Apr 2019

Describing The Experiences Of Peer Tutors: A Phenomenological Study Of Undergraduate Students At Federal Service Academies, Drew John Van Dam Jr

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to describe the experiences of undergraduate students who served as peer tutors (PT) at federal service academies. The following research question provided the framework for this study: How do undergraduate students describe their peer tutoring experiences in federal service academies? Further, I used subquestions in order for participants to fully describe the phenomenon. These included: What were participants’ expectations for being a PT prior to the start of this experience? In what ways were participant expectations met or not met during the peer tutoring experience? What expected and unexpected outcomes were realized …


How Christian School Leadership Practices Impact The Creation Of A School Environment Where Spiritual Nurture Can Occur In Students: A Phenomenological Investigation, Deborah Hollis Apr 2019

How Christian School Leadership Practices Impact The Creation Of A School Environment Where Spiritual Nurture Can Occur In Students: A Phenomenological Investigation, Deborah Hollis

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to understand how Christian school leader practices impact the creation of a school environment where spiritual nurture can occur in students. Through criteria sampling from an open web search of ACSI Christian schools in Pennsylvania, selected participants were elementary and upper school principals, an assistant administrator, heads of school, and an assistant head of school. As one of the largest Christian education associations rooted in a biblical worldview, ACSI has developed the Christian School Leadership Framework (CSLF) which describes important competencies and behaviors for administrators and/or leaders of Christian schools. The theoretical framework …


The Utilization Of Music To Teach Phonics In Kindergarten: A Multiple Case Study, Cherie D. Hocanson Apr 2019

The Utilization Of Music To Teach Phonics In Kindergarten: A Multiple Case Study, Cherie D. Hocanson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative, multiple case study was to explore the utilization of music to teach phonics in kindergarten at four elementary schools in northwest Ohio. The theory guiding this study was the schema theory as it explains how individuals are able to recognize patterns previously learned, organize those patterns, and then use those patterns to perceive new information (Green, 2010). This research sought to answer the central research question, “How do kindergarten teachers utilize music to teach phonics within the classroom?” The study included 10 cases within four different school districts. The participants were kindergarten teachers in Northwest …


A Causal-Comparative Analysis Of Mathematics Self-Efficacy Based On Gender And Math Acceleration, Jacqueline Renee Probst Apr 2019

A Causal-Comparative Analysis Of Mathematics Self-Efficacy Based On Gender And Math Acceleration, Jacqueline Renee Probst

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study tested the theories of self-efficacy and cognitive-stage that compare gender and degree of mathematics acceleration to mathematics self-efficacy for math students. The participants for this study were 158 Algebra 2 and Precalculus students enrolled at three different private, metropolitan, secondary schools in the same northwestern state during the 2018-2019 school year. A causal-comparative group comparison design was utilized to determine mathematics self-efficacy differences among math students in relation to gender and degree of mathematics acceleration. Student mathematics self-efficacy scores from the Mathematics Self-Efficacy Scale (MSES) were analyzed using a two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) to compare means and …


The Transformational Leadership Practices Of A College President: A Case Study Of Dr. James L. Doti, Adejoke Katherine Kassim Apr 2019

The Transformational Leadership Practices Of A College President: A Case Study Of Dr. James L. Doti, Adejoke Katherine Kassim

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this single instrumental case study was to explore the transformational leadership practices of Dr. James L. Doti, the president emeritus of Chapman University, Orange County, California. The theory that guided this study was the transformational leadership theory by James McGregor Burns and Bernard M. Bass. The central question for the study was, “How did Dr. Doti lead the transformation of Chapman University between 1991–2016?” This study investigated the president’s demonstration of the four components of transformational leadership as identified by Bass: Idealized Influence, Inspirational Motivation, Intellectual Stimulation, and Individual Consideration. The setting was at Chapman University, Orange …


The Voice Of School-Based Volunteer Mentors: A Transcendental Phenomenological Study, Michael David Choby Apr 2019

The Voice Of School-Based Volunteer Mentors: A Transcendental Phenomenological Study, Michael David Choby

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to describe the experience of mentoring at-risk high school students for school-based mentors in Oakridge County, Pennsylvania. The theory guiding this study is Jack Mezirow’s transformative learning theory as it provided context to understand the internal developments of the mentors. The study answered the following research questions: (a) How do SAP core team members who volunteer to mentor at-risk students in a public high school in Oakridge County, Pennsylvania, describe their experiences? (b) To what extent, if at all, do SAP core team members who volunteer to mentor at-risk students in a public …


Gifted Education: A Multi-Case Study On The Identification Process Of Historically Underrepresented Students In Gifted Programs In North Carolina, Michael David Acosta Apr 2019

Gifted Education: A Multi-Case Study On The Identification Process Of Historically Underrepresented Students In Gifted Programs In North Carolina, Michael David Acosta

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this multiple case study was to explore how Newland, Big Hills, and Edison Elementary, which are public elementary schools in North Carolina, identify gifted students who are historically underrepresented for placement in academically gifted classes. Based on statistical data from the Department of Education and the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction, there is a disparity between the identification of Whites, Blacks, and Hispanics, especially in impoverished communities. The study sought to understand the process of identification of gifted students and how it contributes to under-representation of Black, Hispanic, and impoverished students. The study revealed what social …


Academic Remediation: A Qualitative Case Study Of High School Tier 2 Programs, Tamantha Champion Hurt Apr 2019

Academic Remediation: A Qualitative Case Study Of High School Tier 2 Programs, Tamantha Champion Hurt

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this single case study was to examine the implementation of remediation programs in a rural public high school in Virginia. The theories that guided this study were Bandura’s (1997) social cognitive theory and self-efficacy theory as well as Dweck’s mindset theory as both theorists helped in identifying teachers’ beliefs in their ability to successfully implement remediation programs at the high school level. Surveys were used to identify individual participants based on their current implementation of remediation and their willingness to participate in this case study. Classroom observations were conducted in order to examine the current remediation practices …


The Influence Of Ethical Leadership And Ethical Culture On Faculty Engagement, Douglas J. Lange Apr 2019

The Influence Of Ethical Leadership And Ethical Culture On Faculty Engagement, Douglas J. Lange

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

In this non-experimental correlational study, the researcher examined the combined influence of ethic leadership behavior and organizational ethical culture on employee engagement, where ethical behaviors acts as a mediating variable. The investigator extended the applicability of prior studies by examining a well-educated, professional working population, the faculty of colleges and universities in North and South Carolina. The study employed a survey methodology utilizing reliable and valid instruments developed by others in previous research. The findings demonstrate that ethical leadership behavior in managers acts to mediate the influence of organizational culture within the study population without regard to age, gender, or …


Military Veterans And Their Motivation To Persist In Distance Education Doctoral Programs, Paula Ann Ross Apr 2019

Military Veterans And Their Motivation To Persist In Distance Education Doctoral Programs, Paula Ann Ross

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This transcendental phenomenological study examined military veterans’ motivational experiences who persisted to complete distance education (DE) doctoral programs in the United States. The theory guiding the research was self-determination theory (SDT), a theory of human motivation, development, and wellness that frames how motivation influences behavior, in this case, persistence. Various data sources (demographics questionnaire, timeline, advice letter, and semi-structured interview) triangulated a snowball sample of nine participants’ (six males and three females) motivational experiences. The SDT framework guided the answer to and informed the analysis of the central research question providing three theoretical constructs: (a) autonomy, (b) competence, and c) …


Partner Pornography Use And Effects On Female Partners: The Moderating Effects Of Religious Coping And The Sbw Stereotypy On Women's Mental Health And Relationship Satisfaction, Aretha Raquel Guidry Apr 2019

Partner Pornography Use And Effects On Female Partners: The Moderating Effects Of Religious Coping And The Sbw Stereotypy On Women's Mental Health And Relationship Satisfaction, Aretha Raquel Guidry

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Pornography use is wide-spread, and its detrimental effects are clearly outlined in the literature. In contrast to the abundance of literature related to male use and its influence on the user, female partners, and relationships, there is a dearth of empirical findings addressing racial differences and various coping mechanisms potentially moderating the link between pornography use, mental health outcomes, and relationship satisfaction. To this end, the present study examined the mental health outcomes of female partners, as moderated by religious coping and the strong Black woman (SBW) stereotypy, and the subsequent effect on relationship satisfaction. Participants in the study completed …


An Alcohol Questionnaire And Referral Tool For Baptist Churches, Rita D. Moore Apr 2019

An Alcohol Questionnaire And Referral Tool For Baptist Churches, Rita D. Moore

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Alcohol addiction is a pervasive ill within our society with detrimental bio-psycho-social outcomes. Unfortunately, the Baptist churches or more specifically those churches who are members of the Baptist General Association of Virginia (BGVA) are not immune to seeing the devastation of this disease, including the spiritual impact. Pastors may find themselves in the role of “first responder” unprepared to fully address this issue. This study explored, through a web-based questionnaire, how those churches associated with the BGVA are currently addressing alcoholism and if pastors would find a referral tool helpful to connect members with professional therapists. It is widely accepted …


Family Achievement Guilt As Experienced By First-Generation College Students: A Phenomenology, Melissa C. Cloyd Apr 2019

Family Achievement Guilt As Experienced By First-Generation College Students: A Phenomenology, Melissa C. Cloyd

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative, phenomenological study is to describe how family achievement guilt is experienced by first-generation college students (FGCS) at a less selective, public, mid-Atlantic university. Festinger’s theory of cognitive dissonance was used to guide this study that explored the central research question: How do FGCS at a less selective, public, mid-Atlantic university describe their experiences with family achievement guilt? Sub-questions included (a) What factors do participants describe as contributors to their family achievement guilt?, (b) How do participants describe the impacts of family achievement guilt to both their home and college lives?, and (c) How do participants …


The Effect Of Expressive Therapies On Refugee Children And Adolescents: Meta-Analytic Findings, Brian Kristopher Cambra Apr 2019

The Effect Of Expressive Therapies On Refugee Children And Adolescents: Meta-Analytic Findings, Brian Kristopher Cambra

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Millions of displaced families are seeking refuge in countries that are not their own due to war, violence, persecution, political unrest, and natural disasters. This global crisis is forcing researchers and practitioners to consider how refugees are coping with trauma associated with their migration process. Effective therapeutic approaches are needed in a global effort to address the traumatic impact of forced migration. This meta-analytical study investigates the effectiveness of expressive therapeutic modalities, including play, art, music, sandplay, theatre, and writing therapies, in helping children and adolescents cope with refugee trauma. A theoretical understanding of the neurobiological and human ecosystemic frameworks …


The Black Church And The Current Generation: A Program To Address The Decline Of African-American Church Attendance In Johnston County Of North Carolina, Robert Allen O'Neal Jr Apr 2019

The Black Church And The Current Generation: A Program To Address The Decline Of African-American Church Attendance In Johnston County Of North Carolina, Robert Allen O'Neal Jr

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study concentrates on issues dealing with the decline of attendance in African American churches. Although long-standing statistics since the Civil Rights Era have always shown the African American Church keeping higher audience percentage than European American churches, the tide has changed, and now African American churches are uncharacteristically declining at a faster rate than usual. Unchurched young adults, particularly African American males, are disproportionately missing in the African American church. The fundamental purpose of this study is to focus specifically on evangelical denomination African American churches in Johnston County, North Carolina by employing quantitative and qualitative research. The survey …


A Correlational Study Of Preadmission And Early Program Predictors Of Physician Assistant Certification Exam Scores, Jennifer Pack Apr 2019

A Correlational Study Of Preadmission And Early Program Predictors Of Physician Assistant Certification Exam Scores, Jennifer Pack

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

As the physician assistant profession continues to grow, the number of physician assistant programs and the number of applicants to these programs are increasing dramatically. Programs should be diligent to choose students who are likely to be successful in the program and on passing the Physician Assistant National Certification Exam. In addition to selection processes that consider preadmission criteria, programs should also have processes in place to identify students at risk of failure to allow time to implement remediation plans. This study employed a correlational research design, attempting to demonstrate a predictive relationship between the predictor variables, undergraduate science GPA, …


A Content Analysis Of Disability Due Process Cases In Missouri From 2008-2018, Monica Erica Barnes Apr 2019

A Content Analysis Of Disability Due Process Cases In Missouri From 2008-2018, Monica Erica Barnes

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Students with disabilities are significant members of the American population; consequently, provisions for their inclusion in the learning community as outlined in the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) are relevant. The purpose of the study was to track disability trends in due process cases from 2008-2018 in Missouri for students in public schools from grades K-12. The researcher undertook a descriptive content analysis of archived data from the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. Descriptive data collected for each case included the date of the case, the district case number, the age, gender, grade level, disability, and brief …


A Transcendental Phenomenological Study On The Experiences Of Christian School Teachers Educating Students With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Gale Dionne Hall Apr 2019

A Transcendental Phenomenological Study On The Experiences Of Christian School Teachers Educating Students With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Gale Dionne Hall

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative transcendental phenomenological study is to describe the experiences of 13 Christian school teachers, who for at least six months, educated students with ASD in three Christian Schools in Hampton Roads Virginia. While information is available for the experiences of public school educators, the experiences of Christian school teachers who educate students with ASD has yet to be examined. Thus, the central research question addressed how Christian school teachers describe their experiences with students with ASD and was guided by the theoretical framework of Milton Rokeach’s theory of organization and change within value systems. I obtained …


A Phenomenological Study Of Graduated Nursing Student Athletes' Experiences Balancing Academics And Athletics, Robert E. Steed Apr 2019

A Phenomenological Study Of Graduated Nursing Student Athletes' Experiences Balancing Academics And Athletics, Robert E. Steed

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study is to describe the lived experiences of eleven graduated nursing student athletes who completed traditional, four-year nursing programs while concurrently finishing four years of athletic eligibility in their respective sport at three private, Christian, Midwest universities and across three different competitive collegiate athletic divisions. The theories guiding this study are Tinto’s Theory of Individual Departure from Institutions of Higher Learning, Astin’s Theory of Student Involvement, and Lazarus and Folkman’s Transactional Model of Stress Response, as they relate to student athletes’ persistence to graduation and to nursing students who reportedly experience higher levels of …


Profiles Of A Non-Profit Statewide College Women's Leadership Training Program's Effectiveness, Wendy Grey Huckabee Broyles Apr 2019

Profiles Of A Non-Profit Statewide College Women's Leadership Training Program's Effectiveness, Wendy Grey Huckabee Broyles

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this intrinsic, multiple case study has been to describe the effectiveness of the non-profit statewide college women's leadership training program, Leading Edge Institute, through profiles of the program’s key stakeholders. The study participants included key stakeholders: members of the organization’s faculty, staff, and alumnae. The theory guiding this study was the transformational theory of leadership (Burns, 2010; Bass & Riggio, 2006; Caldwell, McConkie, & Licona, 2014; Kendrick, 2011), as it appreciates the individualization of diversity that informs different perceptions of reality (ontological philosophical assumption) and considers how social context helps those individuals develop personal values (social constructivism …


Join The Band: Benefits Of Engaging Intergenerational Volunteers In The Local Church Worship Ministry, Jamie R. Coates Apr 2019

Join The Band: Benefits Of Engaging Intergenerational Volunteers In The Local Church Worship Ministry, Jamie R. Coates

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Throughout the Bible and much of church history, intergenerational ministry was the common practice. However, in recent decades many local evangelical churches have abandoned the practice of intergenerational ministry and have instead embraced age-segregated ministry models. Reflecting this shift, age-segregated worship ministries within the local evangelical church have become the norm. This qualitative study examined biblical examples and teachings regarding worship and ministry and examined worship and ministry practices from throughout church history. Analysis of the research findings addressed the characteristics of an effective intergenerational worship ministry. Although facilitating an intergenerational worship ministry is a complicated endeavor, this study revealed …


Moral Incongruence And Perceived Addiction: A Contemporary Dilemma With Pornography Use, David Lewis Shelton Apr 2019

Moral Incongruence And Perceived Addiction: A Contemporary Dilemma With Pornography Use, David Lewis Shelton

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Exposure to pornography has become more widespread due to the Internet, with the age of exposure as early as 13 years of age. With the shift of the moral narrative that pornography use is harmful personally and relationally, many who advocate against pornography use do so primarily on the basis of its maladaptive effects on the user and the user’s relationships. Within the context of the moral disapproval of pornography use, this study assesses the relationship that age, church attendance, and spirituality have with perceived addiction to pornography. This study hypothesized that age, church attendance, and spirituality will have a …


A Phenomenology Of Elementary Teachers' Perceptions Of Alternative Classroom And Behavior Management Strategies To Support Students Impacted By Parental Substance Abuse, Heidi M. Hickman Mar 2019

A Phenomenology Of Elementary Teachers' Perceptions Of Alternative Classroom And Behavior Management Strategies To Support Students Impacted By Parental Substance Abuse, Heidi M. Hickman

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to understand how elementary (PreK-3) teachers in rural southern Ohio alter their classroom management strategies to offer behavioral support to students impacted by parental substance abuse. The theories that guided this study were: (a) Operant Conditioning (Skinner, 1938), (b) Family Stress Theory (Hill, 1958), (c) Social Learning Theory (Bandura, 1977), and (d) Social Development Theory (Vygotsky, 1978). The central question for this study was what are elementary teachers’ perceptions of how they alter their classroom management strategies to offer behavior support to students impacted by parental substance abuse? A purposeful sampling of …


A Case Study Exploring The Role Of Faculty In Providing Academic Support To First- And Second-Year Medical Students, Deborah Fawn West Mar 2019

A Case Study Exploring The Role Of Faculty In Providing Academic Support To First- And Second-Year Medical Students, Deborah Fawn West

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this instrumental case study is to understand what role faculty play in providing academic support to first- and second-year medical students at an osteopathic medical college in the United States. Academic support is defined as instructional methods or educational services provided to students in an effort to help them meet learning standards, The theory guiding this study is andragogy, developed by Malcolm Knowles (1913- 1997), as faculty’s beliefs about the needs of adult learners may affect how they provide academic support to students demonstrating poor academic performance. One central question and three sub-questions guided this study. The …


How Virtual Administrator Behaviors Impact Instruction: A Case Study, Tamra Lanning Mar 2019

How Virtual Administrator Behaviors Impact Instruction: A Case Study, Tamra Lanning

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this case study is to present an in-depth understanding of virtual teachers’ perceptions of how virtual school administrators’ instructional leadership behaviors impact instruction. The theory guiding this study is Haim Ginott’s theory of congruent communication (Ginott, 1965, 1972). Ginott (1972) described congruent communication as harmonious and authentic, where words match the feelings. Virtual school administrators and teachers must rely heavily on communication to accomplish goals. How virtual school administrators relay expectations, criticism, and praise will impact teacher instruction. The experiences associated with teachers and administrators in brick and mortar schools will serve as a framework for discussion …