Digital Commons Network^™

Packard And Hope's "Church Refugees: Sociologists Reveal Why People Are Done With Church But Not Their Faith" (Critical Review), Craighton Hippenhammer

The Christian Librarian

No abstract provided.

Impact Of An Innovative Classroom On Bsn Students' Self-Efficacy And Academic Performance, Laurie Jo Singel

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The critical shortage of registered nurses (RNs) in the United States has led to increased enrollment in nursing schools, but the number of graduates is still decreasing, as nursing students struggle and fail in upper division courses. There is a significant gap in knowledge concerning students' self-efficacy (SE) as a factor directly influencing students' academic performance. The problem examined in this correlational study was the impact of collaborative learning in an innovative classroom setting on Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) students' SE and academic performance. Framed by Bandura's theory of SE, the research questions examined the relationship between students' …

Religious Accommodations For Sabbatarian Observance Among Library Staff, Paul A. Hartog

The Christian Librarian

Over the last twenty-five years, litigation related to religious discrimination in the workplace has been on the rise. One of the tension points has been the religious practice of Sabbath keeping, leading to employment scheduling conflicts. Title VII and its subsequent amendments require that employers seek “reasonable accommodations” for Sabbatarian observance. Such adjustments should not cause “undue hardship” to the employer, who is required to make a “good faith effort” at accommodation. This article discusses creative alternatives that managers of public libraries and nonsectarian academic libraries may implement when accommodating Seventh-Day Adventist and similar Sabbatarian staff members.

Cook's "Crucifixion In The Mediterranean World" (Book Review), Jill Botticelli

The Christian Librarian

A review of Cook, J.G. (2014). Crucifixion in the Mediterranean world. Mohr Siebeck. 522 pp. $76.60. ISBN 9783161537646

Anglim's "Encyclopedia Of Religion And The Law In America, 2nd Ed." (Book Review), John D. Laing

The Christian Librarian

A review of Anglim, C.T. (2009). Encyclopedia of religion and the law in America, 2nd ed. Amenia, NY: Grey House Publishing. 847 pp. $165.00. ISBN 9781592372980

Emden's "For White Folks Who Teach In The Hood ... And The Rest Of Ya’Ll Too: Reality Pedagogy And Urban Education" (Book Review), Rebecca A. Givens

The Christian Librarian

A review of Emdin, C. (2016). For white folks who teach in the hood ... and the rest of ya’ll too: Reality pedagogy and urban education. Boston: Beacon Press. 248 pp. $24.99. ISBN 9780807006405

Social Disorganization Theory: The Role Of Diversity In New Jersey's Hate Crimes, Dana Maria Ciobanu

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The reported number of hate crimes in New Jersey continues to remain high despite the enforcement of laws against perpetrators. The purpose of this correlational panel study was to test Shaw & McKay's theory of social disorganization by examining the relationship between demographic diversity and hate crime rates. This study focused on analyzing the relationship between the level of diversity, residential mobility, unemployment, family disruption, proximity to urban areas, and population density in all 21 New Jersey counties and hate crime rates. The existing data of Federal Bureau of Investigations' hate crime rates and the U.S. Census Bureau's demographic diversity, …

The First 4 Years: A Small Business Sustainability Study, Iris Ann Cooper

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Small businesses create most of the new jobs in the world, yet more than half fail before the 5th year. Small businesses contribute to the economy by originating new products and services, yet they often lack the strategies to overcome the challenges of the beginning years. When businesses fail, the community wanes from unemployment, poverty, crime, and other social dilemmas. The purpose of this single case study was to explore small business strategies for sustainability beyond Year 4, specifically in a single independent operating Ohio restaurant owner with less than 500 employees. The conceptual framework was Schumpeter's theory of the …

Joustra And Wilkinson's "How To Survive The Apocalypse; Zombies, Cylons, Faith And Politics At The End Of The World" (Book Review), Cynthia Hammell

The Christian Librarian

A review of Joustra, R., & Wilkinson, A. (2016). How to survive the Apocalypse; Zombies, cylons, faith and politics at the end of the world. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans Publishing Company. 198 pp. $16.00 ISBN 9780802872715.

Dean And Hearlson's "How Youth Ministry Can Change Theological Education – If We Let It" (Book Review), Terry L. Christian

The Christian Librarian

A review of Dean, K.C., & Hearlson, C.L. (Eds.). (2016). How youth ministry can change theological education – If we let it. Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans Publishing. 331 pp. $30.00. ISBN 9780802871930

Gordon And Kacandes's "Let’S Talk About Death: Asking Questions That Profoundly Change The Way We Live And Die" (Book Review), Paul A. Roberts

The Christian Librarian

A review of Gordon, S., & Kacandes, I. (2015). Let’s talk about death: Asking questions that profoundly change the way we live and die. Amherst, NY: Prometheus Books. $17.00. 252 pp. ISBN 9781633881129

Given's "Parenting Is Easy: You’Re Probably Just Doing It Wrong" (Book Review), Cynorra Jackson

The Christian Librarian

A review of Given, S. (2015). Parenting is easy: You’re probably just doing it wrong. New York: Workman Publishing Company. 176 pp. ISBN 978-0761185659

Effects Of Ceo Changes On Senior Management Leadership Teams Of U.S. Airports, Gale Larine Laroche

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Changes in the top leadership position in U.S. airports occur frequently. The purpose of the present phenomenological study was to understand the shared, lived experiences of senior managers who work in a U.S. airport and who have undergone a change in the top leadership position. Airports are of critical importance to their local regions and communities and are economic engines for their respective regions. The results of the study may provide positive social change for airport staff and the surrounding community by drawing attention to the complexity in leadership transition. The study was grounded in organizational stress, uncertainty theory of …

Factors Involved In The Retention Of American Red Cross Disaster And Emergency Services Volunteers, Suzanne Marie Moravick

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

According to the Corporation for National and Community Service (2007), 33% of workers who volunteer in one year do not volunteer the next year. Retention of disaster and emergency services volunteers is a problem because permanent disaster volunteers save governments and society millions of dollars each year. The purpose of this quantitative, cross-sectional study was to address the problem of retention of American Red Cross disaster and emergency services volunteers. The primary research question for this study examined the predictive strength of positive emotions, resiliency, coping, and post-traumatic growth, in the retention of disaster and emergency services volunteers. The broaden-and-build …

Seven Reasons To Invest In Well-Being, Kathryn H. Howell, John K. Coffey, Gregory M. Fosco, Kristen Kracke, Katherine S. Nelson, Emily F. Rothman, John H. Grych

Psychology Faculty Research and Publications

Objective: This commentary reviews current conceptualizations of well-being, examines explanations for the lack of attention to well-being research, and provides justification for investing research time and funding into well-being studies. Opportunities for integrating factors related to well-being into prevention and intervention programs are also outlined. Key Points: Well-being may motivate people toward success, improve health and longevity, strengthen relationships, and boost the economy. Well-being can be enhanced in easy and inexpensive ways by incorporating facets of well-being into already-existing individual and systems-level intervention or prevention programs. Implications: Future research into this important construct should focus on objective means to assess …

Reflector Magazine, Georgia Southern University, Student Media

Reflector Magazine

• Clothes with a soul
• Back at it again
• Student make-up artist shows the evolution of make-up
• Traveling in college
• Hidden food gems
• Give me some sugar
• Fundamentals of feminism
• Like a boss
• The evolution of recreational drug use
• Tattoo Taboo
• The remark-ability of jam bands enduring presence in music
• Deante Hitchcock

Does Racism Exist In The Hiring And Promotion Of K-12 School Administrators?, Phillip Smith

GSE Faculty Publications

There is an absence of any extensive examination of the ways in which agency, White conferred dominance, and racial stratification perpetuate inequalities in access to educational leadership positions by Black Americans. Through an integrative review, and analysis of national data sets, this paper explores the extent to which differing levels of racism - individual, institutional or cultural, exist in the hiring and promotion of K-12 school administrators. Utilizing a critical race theory (CRT) epistemological approach, as well as a historicizing of knowledge analytical approach, the paper illustrates that despite significant gains through the Civil Rights movement, African Americans continue to …

Developing A Challenging Online Doctoral Course Using Backward And Three-Phase Design Models, Jan G. Neal, Steven Hampton

Journal of Aviation/Aerospace Education & Research

Current Practices and Future Trends in Aviation (DAV 735)—one of 19 online courses in the Ph.D. in Aviation program at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University—has run five times since 2011. A team of one instructional designer and one professor were responsible for its initial design, development, and ongoing improvement. This continuity provided the opportunity for a longitudinal, descriptive case study reporting on three wicked instructional design challenges: (a) doctoral student body comprised largely of multidisciplinary aviation professionals, (b) no seminal textbook on the course topics, and (c) unforeseen usability problems with Internet technologies. This case analysis has significance because of the lack …

The Relationship Between Juvenile Sex Offender Registration And Depression In Adulthood, Sharon E. Denniston

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Accounts of sexual abuse appear daily in the media. Rightfully, this issue demands attention. Juveniles may be victims; they may also be offenders who are subject to sex offender registration and notification (SORN) policies. Growing research finds that SORN policies fail to achieve intended public policy outcomes. Little is known, however, about the unintended consequences of SORN for juvenile offenders. This study contributed to a more comprehensive understanding of the effects of these policies on this population. Merton's concept of manifest and latent functions of purposive social action and an alternate non-criminogenic form of Lemert's secondary deviance proposition provided the …

Association Between Biopsychosocial Factors And Physical Activity Among U.S. Stroke Survivors, Claire Johnson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Stroke causes substantial morbidity and mortality, and physical activity can reduce the risk of stroke occurrence. The purpose of this study was to test the association between biopsychosocial factors and levels of physical activity and to develop a model to predict inactivity for US stroke survivors. A quantitative, cross-sectional analysis was performed of the 2013 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS), which is a representative sample of US households. Association for 1,077 stroke survivors was tested with chi-square between physical activity and independent variables: biological factors (age, sex, race, body mass index, musculoskeletal conditions, and cardiovascular diseases), psychological factors (mental distress, …

Teachers Perceptions Of Barriers To Universal Design For Learning, Mary Elizabeth Jordan Anstead

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Universal Design for Learning (UDL) has been identified as a contemporary instructional model for promoting inclusion and equitable opportunities for diverse and struggling learners. However, research regarding teachers' perceptions of UDL and its effective implementation is limited, making planning, implementing, and providing professional development difficult for administrators. Guided by the constructivist views of Vygotsky and Piaget, this qualitative case study was designed to understand teachers' knowledge and perceptions of how UDL can be used to promote equitable inclusive instruction, implementation barriers, educational applications for UDL, and perceived needs to implement UDL. Participants were teachers who had implemented UDL from a …

Human Trafficking: The Health Of Men Forced Into Labor Trafficking In The United States, Christina Omole

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Human trafficking is a criminal act that occurs globally. It affects both women and men, but most studies have focused on female victims; few have explored trafficked men or their related health issues. Though there are many forms of trafficking, it is believed that most male victims are trafficked as forced labor. Using gender schema theory as a framework, this quantitative study examined archival data to identify the types of trafficking men are subjected to, their health ailments, and how these differ from the health ailments of trafficked women. Archival data from 124 individuals subjected to human trafficking in Florida …

The Impact Of Social Determinants On Tuberculosis Incidence Trends In New Jersey, Thomas Larry Brown

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Social determinants have impacted disease states. The purpose of this study was to determine the influence of social determinants on the incidence of tuberculosis over a 20-year period for the state of New Jersey to determine interventions that can be developed for the state. The epidemiological triad (host-agent-environment) served as the theoretical foundation for this study. A quantitative series of cross sectional analyses were performed using secondary data from a New Jersey Department of Health database on population tuberculosis incidence for the state. Categorical data analyses were used to describe the data. According to study results, certain social determinants; such …

Leadership Competency, Service Time, And Gender Orientation: A Comparative Study Of Cpa Leaders, Delores Cauthorne King

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Working in environments that could be described as task-oriented, certified public accountants (CPAs) are generally considered to be leaders. In 2015, within the United States, fewer than 30% of CPAs were women. Based on the theoretical framework of Eagly and Karau's role congruity theory and Bandura's social learning theory, this survey study sought to understand the relationship between self-rated leadership competency, service time, and gender orientation of female CPAs in leadership positions for 5 years or more, compared to men working in similar positions. A sample of 92 CPAs (46 women, 46 men) completed 2 online surveys, the LPI-Self Leadership …

The Effect Of State Financial Aid Policies On College Completion, Sheri E. Ragland

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In 2008, state legislatures provided $6 billion in financial aid to 2 million low-income young adults. When low-income young adults receive state financial aid and do not complete college, states lose their investment because fewer people with degrees will contribute to the state's economy. Declining states' budgets have led to (a) the rising cost of higher education, (b) state merit-based aid that has targeted nonminority students from affluent backgrounds, and (c) state need-based aid that has targeted students further along in their college career. State need- and merit-based aid may contribute to the lack of college completion among low-income freshman …

The Pharmaceutical Industry's Effect On Rheumatologists' Patterns Of Care, Frank Bailey

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Drug makers have developed numerous techniques to influence treatment choices. Almost no information exists regarding the pharmaceutical industry's influence on rheumatologists and how these pressures could affect patient care. This phenomenological research, conducted within the framework of social exchange theory, explored the lived experiences of rheumatologists regarding their interactions with agents of the pharmaceutical industry. A researcher-designed interview protocol was used to gather feedback from 10 rheumatologists regarding how interactions with agents of the pharmaceutical industry made them feel. Using horizonalization, meaningful statements made by rheumatologists were condensed into specific themes and patterns, which provided a composite summary of their …

A Quantitative Study Of The Effectiveness Of Regulatory Policy In The Maryland Food Industry, Alphonsus C. Korie

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Foodborne illness is a persistent problem in the food service industry. Restaurant inspections reveal that only 60-70% of restaurants are in compliance with health code requirements, which vary from state to state and county to county. In Maryland, 5 of the state's 24 counties have a requirement that restaurants classified as medium- or high-priority food establishments must employ certified food managers (CFMs). It is unknown how this requirement has influenced the operation of the affected restaurants and the extent to which the requirement has resulted in improved food handling safety. The purpose of this quantitative study was to determine the …

Adopting The Lifelong Communities Initiative In The Atlanta Metropolitan Area, Corneil Montgomery

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The older adult population has been growing since 1950. The quality of life of older Atlanta citizens may be reduced if adopted Lifelong Communities (LLC) initiative principles are executed poorly or not at all. The purpose of this case study was to describe and explore the experiences of local government officials in Atlanta, Georgia who have adopted LLC initiatives. Research questions focused on local government officials' experiences adopting the LLC initiative, their use of the LLC principles, as well as the benefits and challenges encountered when integrating principles within organizations and communities to ensure quality of life for persons served. …

Strategies For Managing A Multigenerational Workforce, Ronald Lee Iden

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The multigenerational workforce presents a critical challenge for business managers, and each generation has different expectations. A human resource management study of organizations with more than 500 employees reported 58% of the managers experiencing conflict between younger and older workers. The purpose of this single case study was to explore the multigenerational strategies used by 3 managers from a Franklin County, Ohio manufacturing facility with a population size of 6 participants. The conceptual framework for this study was built upon generational theory and cohort group theory. The data were collected through face-to-face semistructured interviews, company documents, and a reflexive journal. …

Development Of A Practice Guideline For Dnp Prepared Nurse Practitoners Working In Long-Term Care Facilities, Ashley M. Marshall

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Clinical evidence-based practice guidelines providing recommendations for health care decision making have become vital components of long-term health care practice in the United States. Frequently changing guidelines have complicated nurse practitioners' (NPs) efforts to implement evidence-based practice into the daily care that they provide to patients. The purpose of this project was to develop an evidence-based practice guideline for doctoral-prepared NPs working in long-term care facilities. This project is important because practitioners use practice guidelines to provide patients with the most appropriate, evidence-based care. Kolcaba's comfort theory was used to guide this project. Kolcaba's theory holds that comfort exists in …