Digital Commons Network^™

Attachment And Betrayal: Post-Infidelity Attachment Issues With A Focus On Gender, Taylor Forsythe

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Infidelity represents a significant relational trauma that may disturb attachment processes such as trust, emotional intimacy, and closeness. There is a gap in the literature on how different infidelity exposures may relate to these attachment responses; more so, there is a dearth of information on the gender differences for attachment issues following any kind of infidelity. The purpose of this study aimed to examine differences in avoidant and anxious attachment across infidelity groups (no infidelity, non-sexual infidelity, sexual infidelity), and a further comparison of gender differences in those groups. Participants (N = 151) completed online surveys in a larger study …

Media Portrayal Of High-Profile Female Victims Of Sexual Harassment, Chinenye Nwaneri

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This rhetorical study investigated how the Nigerian media portray high-profile female victims of sexual harassment. The research was undertaken in response to concerns that media narratives often reinforce gender stereotypes and influence public perceptions of victims. Focusing on the sexual harassment allegations made by senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan against Senate president Godswill Akpabio, the study analyzed newspaper coverage from Daily Trust and Vanguard between February and December 2025. Using Critical Discourse Analysis within the framework of Feminist Media Theory, the research examined how language and framing shaped the representation of the female accuser. The findings reveal that media coverage constructed the …

Parent Engagement And Advocacy In Individualized Education Programs In Rural Appalachian School Districts, Mollie Rutledge

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore parent engagement and parent advocacy in the Individualized Education Program (IEP) development and implementation in rural Appalachian school districts. Parent engagement and parent advocacy in Individualized Education Program (IEP) development and implementation are persistent challenges in special education. By intentionally grounding this research in rural Appalachia, the researcher responded to calls for education research that is attentive to the complexity and diversity of rural communities. Parents in rural areas face unique challenges related to poverty, isolation, and limited resources that can influence their engagement and advocacy in the IEP process. The …

Navigating Social Belonging: Live Experiences Of Young Adults With Intellectual Disabilities In Inclusive Postsecondary Education Programs, Brian Keys

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Inclusive postsecondary education (IPSE) programs have expanded access to higher education for students with intellectual disabilities (ID), yet access alone does not ensure meaningful inclusion or a sense of belonging. This study examined how students with ID experience and make meaning of social belonging within inclusive college environments. Grounded in disability studies and belongingness theory, the study focused on how students perceive belonging, navigate social relationships, and experience campus spaces in relation to inclusion and exclusion.

An interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) design was employed to explore the lived experiences of four young adults enrolled in a university-based IPSE program. Participants …

Lost In Thought: An Exploration Of Musical Perception And An Original Piece For Orchestra, Matthew Moix

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This thesis presents an original two-movement musical composition orchestrated for full orchestra titled Lost in Thought, based on Alice Oseman’s graphic novel series Heartstopper (2018-2023). The work explores the relationship between two different characters from the series, Nick and Charlie. It emphasizes the different perspectives of these characters and explores the concept of how two different points of view can tell the same story in different ways. An accompanying analysis of the work explains how the two movements illustrate the characters' individual mindsets throughout their version of the story, as well as showing their personal character development and how their …

Implementing Hypertension Guidelines Into Clinical Practice, Misti Michele Mays

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Hypertension is a complex chronic disease process, and it is essential to educate the patient on the disease process, as well as on all aspects of self-management. It is essential that providers choose an evidence-based guideline by which they will manage their hypertensive patients. In addition, providers must schedule regular follow-up appointments with their patients, along with a wide variety of other multifactorial components in regard to the management of patients diagnosed with hypertension. In addition, providers have a responsibility to stay informed on new approaches to blood pressure management by reviewing the professional literature on a regular basis. Much …

Staying Power: A Case Study Of Teacher Retention In A Rural District, Amanda F. Mclellan, Amanda F. Mclellan

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Teacher attrition continues to be a significant challenge in K-12 education, particularly in rural school districts where limited resources and geographic isolation can intensify staffing instability. While much research has focused on teacher attrition, little research examines why tenured teachers choose to remain in rural districts. The purpose of this qualitative, single-case study was to examine the experiences and insights of tenured teachers regarding their decision to continue teaching in a small, rural Texas school district. Guided by Mason and Matas’s fourcapital framework for teacher retention, this study examined how human, social, structural, and positive psychological capital influenced teachers’ decisions …

Leading The Charge: A Qualitative Descriptive Study Exploring How Public Middle School Principals Perceive And Enact Their Role As Advocates For School-Based Mental Health, Tanya Irby Tucker

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Adolescent mental health concerns have increased significantly during the middle school years, requiring school leaders to expand their role in supporting students’ social, emotional, and psychological well-being. Although schools are uniquely positioned to deliver comprehensive mental health services, how public middle school principals perceive and enact their role as advocates for school-based mental health services remains underexplored. The purpose of this qualitative descriptive study was to explore how public middle school principals perceive and enact their role as advocates for school-based mental health services. Guided by social cognitive theory (SCT), this study examined how personal beliefs, behavioral practices, and environmental …

The Implications Of The Midyear Departure Of Residence Directors In Housing And Residential Life, Chelsea Titus

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

High attrition rates among entry-level student affairs professionals have been documented for decades, yet little research has examined the implications of midyear departures within housing and residential life. Residence directors serve as live-in professionals responsible for crisis response, student conduct, staff supervision, and community development. When a midyear departure occurs, the disruption extends beyond the vacancy and affects supervisors, colleagues, and residential communities. The problem addressed in this study was the organizational and supervisory impact of midyear residence director departures. The purpose of this qualitative narrative inquiry was to examine the factors contributing to midyear departures and to explore how …

Reducing Humpty Dumpty Syndrome In Pediatric Inpatients, Jeanene Burns

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The Doctor of Nursing Practice project examined pediatric inpatient falls. The healthcare agency involved in the project identified concerns regarding pediatric inpatient falls. Data were collected on pediatric inpatient falls that occurred on two nursing units at this agency based on the Generalized Risk Assessment for Pediatric Inpatient Falls and the Humpty Dumpty Falls Prevention Scale. Results from the project indicated marginal statistical significance, with approximately a 60% reduction in falls after the implementation of the Humpty Dumpty Falls Prevention Scale. A recommendation for future research is a comparison of the two pediatric fall risk assessment tools after the Humpty …

African American Male Dual Enrollment Graduates Perceptions Of The Transition To The 4-Year University, Kendra L. Harrison

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative exploratory case study was to explore how African American men who earned an associate degree from dual enrollment programs in Texas perceive the transition to a 4-year university to pursue a bachelor’s degree. The 4S model of Schlossberg’s transition theory was the conceptual framework that undergirded the study. Purposive sampling was used to recruit 20 participants. The researcher collected and triangulated data using a questionnaire and semistructured interviews and analyzed it using six-step thematic analysis. Results revealed competence and confidence from dual enrollment program resulted in a smooth transition to college, participants’ African American male …

Bridging The Divide: Exploring Stigma And Enhancing Belonging For Online Faculty In Higher Education, Stephanie L. Wanamaker

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Online faculty in higher education experience stigma and negative perceptions regarding online education in academia. Despite the rapid growth and success of online education, negative perceptions and stigma have not evolved at the same pace as the success of online institutions. Many online faculty members frequently experience skepticism, criticism, and marginalization from their residential counterparts within their academic communities. As a result of these experiences, online faculty are experiencing a reduced level of belonging, contributing to increased levels of burnout, poor satisfaction, and struggles with professional identity. Despite these experiences, little is known about the problem or how online faculty …

Exploring The Way Up: Career Paths, Challenges, And Resilience Among Women Leaders In Higher Education, Angela M. Brown

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Women represent the majority of students and faculty in higher education students in higher education in the United States, yet they remain underrepresented in executive leadership positions. Women pursuing these roles encounter unique challenges, and institutions have increasingly recognized the value of mentoring and sponsoring women who aspire to leadership. Guided by Kumar’s CR8 resilience theory, this qualitative descriptive study explored how women leaders in higher education in the United States describe their career pathways to leadership, the challenges they encounter, and the impact of mentoring/sponsoring in developing their resilience for career progression. Semistructured interviews were conducted with 11 women …

The Perceived Barriers Of A One-To-One Technology Implementation: A Post-Covid Case Study, Adam Howard Creasy

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative dominant, exploratory sequential case study aimed to identify stakeholder perceptions of technology within a one-to-one technology initiative and outline any possible barriers. The study examined the perceptions of teachers, parents, and administrators within a rural K-12 public school district in Pennsylvania. The study provided school district stakeholders with data they can use to improve existing and future initiatives by early intervention within areas of concern identified by the study. Data were collected using a two round approach which includes focus groups and targeted surveys utilizing research-backed electronic survey tools. The research questions addressed in the study were the …

Influence Of Restorative Justice Practices On Student Behavior, Shawn N. Clemons

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative exploratory case study was to explore how teachers in culturally diverse suburban U.S. elementary schools perceive the implementation of restorative justice practices as an influence on student behavior. The researcher collected data through questionnaires and semistructured interviews of 14 elementary teachers currently employed in a suburban elementary school who actively use restorative justice with students. Findings from the study indicated the restorative justice practices contribute positively to school culture by prioritizing relationship building, structured conflict resolution, and inclusive practices. The findings from this study can be used with teachers, administrators, district support, and school board …

How Can Learning Management Systems Positively Impact Student Engagement In Online Courses?, Jerald P. Wilson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The topic of this dissertation is learning management systems, specifically Canvas. Research has proven that student engagement is a strong factor in student achievement in both online and inperson courses. The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted a deficit in instructors’ ability to acquire and maintain student engagement in online courses. This study details why this problem exists and how instructors have successfully addressed it in higher-level online courses. The primary purpose of this qualitative descriptive study was to examine how learning management systems, specifically Canvas, can increase student engagement in online courses in higher education. Qualitative research was the chosen paradigm for …

Retreat, Renew, Reflect: Exploring Digital Marketing Strategies For Faith-Based Retreat Centers, Rebecca A. Mickler

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In today’s fast-paced world, retreat centers offer a vital opportunity for rest, reflection, and spiritual renewal. Despite growing societal awareness of mental health and wellness, many religiously affiliated retreat centers face stagnant participation, aging leadership, and operational challenges that threaten their long-term sustainability. This qualitative-dominant mixed methods study uses bright spots analysis to examine how Villa Maria Education and Spirituality Center (VMESC), a Catholic retreat center, can strengthen its digital marketing strategies to attract new audiences while maintaining mission alignment.

Bright spots analysis examines positive outliers, organizations that achieve notable success despite operating within similar constraints, to identify practices that …

Transformative Leadership In Action: A Narrative Study Of Principals’ Influence On Students’ Achievement, Staci Taylor Fullmighter

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This narrative inquiry examined how principals in low-performing high-minority urban schools use transformational leadership to improve academic outcomes. The purpose of this research was to describe principals’ leadership behaviors that are perceived to positively influence academic achievement among students who identify as minority and low socioeconomic status and are attending or have attended urban school districts with high concentrations of the identified population. Data were collected through semistructured interviews with principals, and narratives were studied to identify trends across their experiences. Four themes emerged: (a) trust and shared accountability, (b) encouraging creativity and risk-taking, (c) communicating shared goals, and (d) …

Architecture As Frozen Music: An Original Wind Ensemble Work Exploring Architectural Metaphors In Contemporary Music, Leighannah J. Turner

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Architecture has long served as a source of inspiration for Western art music composers from the Early Renaissance through the Neoclassical period. While the relationship between music and architecture has been widely studied, much of the existing research focuses on traditional mediums such as the symphony orchestra. This project explores the concept of music as “frozen architecture” – introduced by Friedrich Schelling – and the metaphorical correlations as described by Vitruvius and Lupishko, applying these concepts to the contemporary medium of the wind ensemble through my original composition. My work integrates the architectural principles proposed by Vitruvius and Lupishko while …

Critical Roles And Critical Rolls: A Frame-Analytical Perspective Of Self-Making, Safe Spaces, And Worldbuilding In Tabletop Role-Playing Games, Cal Quayle

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Many gamers prefer to play tabletop roleplaying games, or TTRPGs, in order to a) join a community, and b) tell a story collaboratively with friends and acquaintances. This thesis discusses selfhood-making, safe spaces, and allegory in imaginary worlds from the perspective of Erving Goff man’s frame analysis. It relies on a theoretical framework of imagined communities, the magic circle, and subcreation. This research culminated in the understanding that people play TTRPGs for a variety of reasons - collaborative storytelling and exercising critical thinking skills, but respondents overwhelmingly reported that they enjoyed the ability to socialize with friends and strangers, and …

Bridging Professional Development Gaps In Pacrao Through Gamification, Chad Everett Saunders

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study examined the extent to which a gamified professional development platform can foster skill development, knowledge application, and engagement among members of the Pacific Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (PACRAO). Grounded in the principles of humanism (Rogers, 1969) and andragogy (Knowles, 1990), and operationalized through gamification (Kapp, 2012), this study evaluated whether game-based mechanics aligned with adult learners’ professional development needs within a geographically dispersed regional association. To address these constraints, a prototype gamified platform, PACRAO University, was developed to provide a flexible, self-paced, and contextually relevant learning environment. Using a quantitative, within-subjects repeated measures design, …

Problematizing The Critical Dimensions Of Whiteness With Educational Leaders, Lerita Yvette Cavness

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This action research examines whether and how whiteness is “weaponized” by a P-12 educational leader, the impact whiteness has on their identities, and whether engagement with Critical Whiteness Studies (CWS) will increase pro-equity behaviors. The research employs a layered mixed-methods approach, and a deductive analysis triangulation plan framed by the Critical Dimensions of Whiteness Model (CDWM). This N-of-1 case study included a four-phase intervention workshop series and one post interview. The findings identify how one educational leader engaged in the selfweaponization of whiteness. The findings identify that CWS supported by the CDWM is a disruptive but healing path to awareness …

Work Environments Matter: The Impacts Of Interpersonal Relationships On Student Affairs Professionals, Lawrence R. Daniel

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative study examined how everyday workplace relationships influence engagement, professional identity, and retention among student affairs professionals in higher education. Guided by relational leadership theory, the study explored how leadership is experienced not only through formal position or authority, but also through relational presence, psychological safety, and advocacy. Seventeen student affairs professionals representing diverse institutional types, geographic regions, and career stages participated in in-depth semistructured interviews. Data were analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis and incorporated both in vivo and line-by-line coding to ensure that findings remained grounded in participants’ voices and lived experiences. Nine themes emerged from the analysis. …

Exploring The Lived Experiences Of Black Women In Undergraduate Stem Core Expansion Pathways, Lizzie L. Evans Martinez Alvarez

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The use of social incongruence in the film Hidden Figures, which juxtaposed with STEM education as the most powerful in contrast with Black women as the least powerful, supported the argument for the specific problem of practice to examine the unmet need for socially and ethnically diverse student populations in U.S. STEM higher education and careers. The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenological research study was to identify and analyze the lived experiences of Black women regarding barriers they perceive in the STEM educational and career decision-making processes, while exploring transformational pathways to STEM academic success. The study specifically analyzed …

Exploring The Personal Management Interview Program As A Burnout Prevention Strategy In Policing: A Qualitative Case Study, Lance C. Arnold

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Police officers in the United States experience severe burnout at rates exceeding other service professions, with approximately 75% experiencing burnout symptoms. Current interventions predominantly focus on individual coping mechanisms rather than addressing organizational and leadership factors contributing to burnout. This qualitative single-case study explored the perceptions and experiences of police leaders and officers concerning the utility of a personal management interview program to foster positive leadership behaviors as a resource-oriented preventive strategy against burnout in a midsize municipal police department in Texas. The study employed semistructured virtual interviews with eight participants: four police leaders and four police officers who had …

Texas Secondary Spanish Teachers’ Perceptions Of Factors Influencing Instructional Self- Efficacy, Satisfaction, And Effectiveness, Tana Verlane Palafox

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Ongoing shortages of certified world language teachers and declining enrollment in secondary language programs have intensified concerns about teacher burnout, professional isolation, and instructional quality. Research has indicated that collaboration, targeted professional development, and supportive leadership influence teachers’ instructional self-efficacy, job satisfaction, and instructional effectiveness. However, limited research has examined how secondary Spanish teachers in Texas experience these issues. This qualitative collective case study explored how Texas secondary school Spanish teachers perceive the impact of their professional experiences on instructional self-efficacy, job satisfaction, and instructional effectiveness. Grounded in Bandura’s social cognitive theory and Vygotsky’s social constructivism, the study examined how …

A Narrative Study On The Resilience Of Women In Technology Careers, Gina J. Baldridge

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In spite of the promotion of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education and careers, there is a lack of women entering the STEM workforce and majoring in STEM subjects. Women can experience gender bias and workplace marginalization in STEM careers, but have learned coping strategies that have contributed to their technology career resilience. The purpose of this narrative qualitative study was to explore how women working as individual performers and leaders in technology companies told their career stories of resilience through the perspective of change acceptance, confidence, and communication, three factors in Kumar’s CR8 model of resilience. The model …

Women Working Well: The Experiences Of Black Women Nonprofit Leaders In The Tristate Area, Erika K. Stanley Wesley

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative narrative inquiry study examined the lived experiences, challenges, and leadership practices of Black women nonprofit leaders in the northeastern United States. Guided by Black feminist thought and positive leadership theory, the study explored how participants’ identities informed leadership enactment and how positive leadership practices influenced organizational impact and change. Data were collected through semistructured interviews with 11 Black women nonprofit leaders and analyzed using thematic analysis to identify patterns across participant narratives. Findings aligned with four research questions. Participants described unique experiences characterized by identity as power, cultural bridge-building, and the weight of representation. Key challenges included funding …

Building Beyond The Classroom: A Qualitative Case Study On Enduring School-Community Partnerships In Deep East Texas, Christa Lacey

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Schools across the United States face increasing challenges related to student achievement, equity, and engagement that extend beyond the classroom. School–community partnerships are frequently used to expand support systems for students; however, many collaborations remain short-lived or fragmented. The purpose of this qualitative collective case study was to explore the characteristics and conditions that contribute to successful and enduring school–community partnerships between public schools and the Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA) in the Educational Service Center Region 7 of Texas. Guided by Social Capital Theory, Epstein’s Overlapping Spheres of Influence, and Distributed Leadership, this study examined how campus …

Managing The Mood: How Managerial Communication Shapes The Experience Of Emotional Labor Among Restaurant Employees, Brynn Olverson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Restaurant work is emotionally demanding work for servers and bartenders. Organizational Support Theory (Eisenberger et al., 1986) suggests that employees’ perceptions of their organizations’ support can bolster the negative side effects of such work. However, past instruments used to measure these perceptions do not distinguish between types of emotional experience, nor separate perceptions of emotional support from other forms of support. Likewise, OST notes that supervisors play a key role in influencing perceptions of organizational support, but more work is needed to determine specific communicative behaviors that can increase perceptions of organizational support. The study at hand proposes that managers' …