Digital Commons Network^™

Teachers' Lived Experiences Using Reading Strategies To Prepare For High-Stakes Exams In The Elementary, Middle, And High School Science Classroom: A Phenomenological Approach, Lishon Michelle Bryan

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of the transcendental phenomenological study was to describe science teachers' lived experiences using reading strategies to improve literacy skills and prepare elementary, middle, and high school students for high-stakes science exams in the Southeast Region of the United States. At this stage in the research, literacy skills are students' abilities to gain and create knowledge through reading, listening, speaking, and writing. The theory that guided this study was Bandura's social cognitive theory regarding self-efficacy, as it examined how teachers perceived their ability to implement reading strategies in the science classroom. This research study's central question asks, "What reading …

Exploring Misinformation Campaigns And How To Defend Against Them, Michelle S. Kuralt

Theses and Dissertations

Misinformation campaigns can have very real and lasting effects. Misinformation has been known to impact elections, create vaccine hesitancy, and increase polarization within societies. This paper reviewed existing literature regarding misinformation research, collected information from research participants to discern factors which may contribute to an increased susceptibility to misinformation, and examined Rule Based Training and a training program which utilized both rules and mindfulness to ascertain if these training programs might be effective in reducing participant susceptibility to misinformation.

The Prayer Life Of The African American Christian Men At New Life Gospel Center Cleveland, Ohio, Sherilyn Ann Howard

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The researcher will address the problem of African American Men at New Life Gospel Center failing to lead their family’s spiritual journey at home. Fourteen men covering three generations came together through Zoom classes, a series of interviews, eight weekly classes, focus groups, and surveys. The men were encouraged, educated, and trained to lead prayer in their homes with their families. The men challenged each other and made themselves accountable to study the Bible and prayer. The thesis was for the average Christian man who is simply a churchgoer but wants to transform into a Kingdom Man. A Kingdom Man …

The Keynesian Stimulus Model: Stimulating Economic Activities With Stimulus Payments, Christopher Osuoha

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Governments use cash transfers as a fiscal measure to stimulate economic activities during shocks. As COVID-19 continues to ravage economies globally, governments worldwide have responded with fiscal and monetary policies to manage its economic impact. In addition, the U.S government has intervened with direct transfers to provide liquidity to prevent a prolonged shock. However, opinions are divided on the efficacy of the Keynesian stimulus policy to generate enough of a multiplier to stimulate economic activities compared to the monetarist approach. This study analyzes the classical Keynesian model and compares it with the monetarist model to provide insight for policymakers into …

A Phenomenology Of Teachers’ Experiences With School Leaders On Workplace Motivation, Samantha Berger Hill

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This transcendental qualitative phenomenological study examined how 10 teachers experienced workplace motivation from school leaders at one kindergarten – eighth-grade school in northern Virginia. The theory guiding this study was Herzberg’s motivation-hygiene theory, as it explains the relationship between the extrinsic and intrinsic factors that influence workplace motivation. The motivation-hygiene theory provided the theoretical framework for this study to answer the central research question and sub-questions: (a) How do teachers who interact with school leaders experience workplace motivation; (b) What experiences, if any, with school leaders have promoted workplace motivation; (c) What experiences, if any, with school leaders have decreased …

The Overlooked Care Plan- Nursing Mindset Related To Self-Care: An Integrative Review, Marie Mulford

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

COVID-19 brought to light many things worldwide. One of the pressing issues was the increased rates of burnout, depression, and suicidal risk among nurses. This called for examining nurses’ work experiences and overall well-being during the Coronavirus pandemic. Furthermore, it was revealed that the nursing mindset regarding self-care was overlooked. This integrative review will inform stakeholders about the “overlooked care plan.” This review will be a call to action built on existing knowledge and facilitate policy for the nursing profession. Building upon nursing science, informative research, and facilitating policy initiatives, this review will serve as a call to action for …

Nursing Instructors Preparing Nursing Students To Cope With Distractions When Administering Medications: A Phenomenological Qualitative Study, Michael Thurman Frazier

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this hermeneutic qualitative study was to discover and describe how nursing instructors teach nursing students to cope with interruptions and distractions while administering medication. The hermeneutic phenomenology approach is appropriate for discovering what nursing instructors teach their students about distraction in the classroom, simulation laboratory, and clinical setting. The study’s guiding theory was Kolb’s experiential learning theory. Nursing instructors from associate and bachelor’s degree programs from across the United States were recruited to participate in this study. The participants completed questionnaires about medication administration instruction, expanding on their answers in semi-structured, one-on-one interviews. All participants had the …

The Hidden Cost Of A Smartphone: The Effects Of Smartphone Notifications On Cognitive Control From A Behavioral And Electrophysiological Perspective, Joshua D. Upshaw, Carl E. Stevens, Giorgio Ganis, Darya L. Zabelina

School of Psychology

Since their release in 2007, smartphones and their use have seemingly become a fundamental aspect of life in western society. Prior literature has suggested a link between mobile technology use and lower levels of cognitive control when people engage in a cognitively demanding task. This effect is more evident for people who report higher levels of smartphone use. The current study examined the effects of smartphones notifications on cognitive control and attention. Participants completed the Navon Letter paradigm which paired visual (frequent and rare target letters) and auditory (smartphone and control sounds) stimuli. We found that overall, participants responded slower …

Editorial: The Role Of Emotional Granularity In Emotional Regulation, Mental Disorders, And Well-Being, Yasemin Erbas, Maria Gendron, Jennifer M.B. Fugate

Faculty and Staff Publications

No abstract provided.

Faculty Senate Agenda, Georgia Southern University, Faculty Senate

Faculty Senate Agendas

No abstract provided.

Faculty Senate Minutes, Georgia Southern University, Faculty Senate

Faculty Senate Minutes

No abstract provided.

The Minority In The Minority, Black Women In Computer Science Fields: A Phenomenological Study, Blanche' D. Anderson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to describe the lived experiences of Black women with a bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree in computer science, currently employed in the United States. The theory guiding this study was Krumboltz’s social learning theory of career decision-making, as it provides a foundation for understanding how a combination of factors leads to an individual’s educational and occupational preferences and skills. This qualitative study answered the following central research question: What are the lived experiences of Black women with a bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree in computer science, currently employed in the United States? …

Vicarious Healing: Integration Of Faith And Practice, Yolanda R. Montgomery

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Several studies have evaluated the emotional burden added to therapists who are treating traumatized individuals. However, little research has been done to determine how to mitigate the secondary trauma in clinicians within the therapeutic environment during counseling sessions. An exploration of change theory can be applied to understand why secular therapists experience resilience and growth at different times or not at all. However, this intersection lacks a spiritual component that is present for Christian therapists to heal from this trauma during in-person sessions. The present study aims to explore this intersection of change theory with posttraumatic growth and vicarious resilience. …

Workplace Spirituality And Job Satisfaction Of Christian College And University Faculty As Moderated By Positive Psychology, Naran Alvin Jallim

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this study is to understand how the positive psychology elements of subjective well-being and positive character strength moderate the relationship between workplace spirituality and job satisfaction of faculty at Christian colleges and universities. The study utilizes a quantitative non-experimental predictive correlational study. This work presents a gap in the literature as it relates to the study of job satisfaction, specifically, workplace spirituality as a job resource. Research has largely looked at elements of the work environment and working conditions that impact faculty job satisfaction, which leaves the personal job resource element of workplace spirituality and the positive …

Intervening On Impostor Phenomenon: Prospective Evaluation Of A Workshop For Health Science Students Using A Mixed-Method Design, Shine Chang, Hwa Young Lee, Cheryl Anderson, Kava Lewis, Devasmita Chakraverty, Melinda Yates

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

BACKGROUND: Unaddressed impostor feelings that impede developing interest in science and self-efficacy in conducting research have a dispiriting effect that perpetuates unsatisfactory diversity in the health science workforce when such feelings are experienced more by those historically underrepresented in the workforce. This warrants effective interventions to reduce the impact of impostor feelings and related factors that diminish career resilience. We examined the effects of a 90-minute workshop on impostor perceptions and growth mindset to raise awareness of impostor phenomenon (IP) and develop skills to manage IP successfully for students attending a 10-week summer research experience program.

METHODS: Using a convergent …

A Phenomenological Study Of Secondary Teachers’ Experiences With A Mandated Transition To And From Synchronous Online Instruction, Susan P. Lyman

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to understand secondary teachers’ experiences with an unexpected transition between in-person teaching and virtual modalities for secondary educators in New York public schools. The theory that guided this study was Schlossberg’s transition theory which provided a lens through which to understand the shared experiences of making an unplanned transition from face-to-face teaching to online platforms. The study was qualitative and followed a phenomenological research design. The setting for this study was multiple public school districts in Nassau and Suffolk Counties on Long Island, New York. The sample was 10 secondary public school teachers …

A Comparative Study Of Self-Efficacy Between Teachers In Traditional Or Alternative Certification Pathways, Nicholas Manuel Griffin

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this study was to determine if a significant difference of self-efficacy exists between teachers with traditional or alternative certification pathways. Traditional and alternative pathways differ in curriculum and design toward teacher licensure. The methodology of this study was a quantitative, causal comparative study with 90 sample participants located in a school district in rural central west Georgia. The school district includes 20 schools, which consist of eleven elementary schools, three middle schools, three high schools, one college and career academy, one college and career center, and one alternative learning center. The study was conducted with the 12 …

Core Values: A Phenomenological Study Of Spiritual Formation Through The Longevity Of Values Gained From Women's Ministry, Belinda Copeland

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

While many churches today have moved away from the practice of church-based women’s ministries, other churches still see their value and continue their dedication to providing specifically tailored programs to address the spiritual formation in women. The Bible reminds us in Hebrews 10:25 that we are not to forsake “the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some…” (King James Bible, 1769/2017, Heb. 10:25). However, some churches desire to assemble specific ministries separately, women from men. This study attempted to identify values in the spiritual formation of women and explored whether those values are still helpful in the spiritual …

Early Childhood Education: A Hermeneutic Phenomenology Study Of Male Staff Retention, Justine Louise Flint

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative hermeneutic phenomenology study was to describe the lived experiences of male early childhood teachers in the northeast region of the United States (US). The theory guiding this study was Victor Vroom’s expectancy theory of motivation. Vroom’s theory explains the behavioral process of why individuals choose one behavior over another or one career over another. The central research question in this study addressed the male early childhood teachers’ experiences working in the early childhood education (ECE) career field and motivation to remain in the ECE career field. This study highlighted ECE challenges and goals from the …

Organizational Change In The Workplace During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Takeisha Shante Miles

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Failed change initiatives continuously plagued organizations throughout time, mainly because of the complexities involving the response to change. Researchers studied to understand the cause and effect of failed change efforts. The type of change often notes as a precursor to the kind of response, while the resistance to change was a catalyst to the 70% rate of failed change initiatives (Burnes & Jackson, 2011; Maheshwari & Vohra, 2015). Organizational change initiatives become further complicated, involving a crisis. This qualitative multiple case study included the phenomenon of unsuccessful change proposals during a crisis, its implications on job satisfaction and employee resistance, …

Crossing Over To Assistant Principal: A Phenomenological Study, Makeisha Latoya Melony Hinds

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to gain a deeper understanding of the lived experiences of individuals who transition into the assistant principal (AP) position for APs in Xander County Public Schools (XCPS). This study aimed to answer: what were the perceptions of individuals as they transitioned to assistant principal? The theory guiding this study was Schlossberg’s transition theory which provided a conceptual framework for creating generalized themes of the participants’ experiences. Studies of building level leadership typically focused on the principal. This study sought to fill the void in the research literature around the assistant principal transition. Schlossberg’s …

Bidirectional Leader-Member Exchange And The Impact On Middle Manager Job Satisfaction, Brian A. Collera

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Leader-member exchange (LMX) theory focuses on the quality of the relationship between a leader and member. LMX is associated with a number of positive member outcomes, but LMX research has largely neglected what, if any, positive benefits leaders attain from high quality relationships beyond better team performance. The purpose of this study was to apply the LMX theory to middle managers in organizations. Middle managers inherently balance the competing interests of multidirectional relationships, acting as both a leader and a member in the organizational hierarchy. This study explored how middle manager’s self-rating of LMX (relationship with their subordinates), leader-leader exchange …

An Exploration Of Twice-Exceptional Educators' Experiences: A Hermeneutic Study, Courtney Mcknight

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This qualitative hermeneutic phenomenological study explored the lived experiences of educators supporting and instructing twice-exceptional (2e) students. This study was guided by the central research question: What are the lived experiences of teachers working with 2e students? The sub-questions explore the participants' experience regarding twice-exceptional students and how this knowledge affects student performance, the role a lack of teacher preparation has on an educator’s self-efficacy, and their attitudes about the abilities of twice- exceptional students. Using a hermeneutic phenomenological approach, this topic was explored via snowball sampling within three school districts in the state of Georgia. The data collection methods …

Building Resiliency And Effective Self-Care Among Emory Saint Joseph’S Hospital Chaplains, Shelly Marie Neal

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Emory Saint Joseph’s Hospital chaplains have been tasked with an intricate role in providing spiritual care in the most critical and emotionally intense situations to others, however, they lacked providing that same level of care to themselves. Through the six-week research study chaplains were educated on implementing proper self-care practices and resiliency techniques, thus enabling the chaplains to be emotionally, spiritually, and physically healthy. Each week, the participants were asked to continue implementing the prescribed week’s practice and technique in addition to the previous week’s practice and technique. The participants who implemented Parker’s five self-care practices (faith, work-life harmony, meditation …

Barriers In Motivation To Pursue A Stem Career Among Students From Low Socioeconomic Backgrounds: A Transcendental Phenomenological Study, Daniel Khanh Lieu

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to describe the lived experiences of students from low socioeconomic backgrounds that chose to pursue a career in STEM at STEM High School. For the purposes of this study, students from low socioeconomic backgrounds were generally defined as students that qualify for the free and reduced lunch program and STEM careers would be generally defined as any careers in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics. The theory that guided this study was Vroom’s expectancy-value theory, which discusses how the individual perceived the outcome to occur (expectancy) and the worth of the outcome on …

Using Artificial Intelligence To Circumvent The Teacher Shortage In Special Education: A Phenomenological Investigation, Kirt Elliot Hale

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenological research study was to understand district technology leaders’ receptivity to employing artificial co-teachers, based on their lived experiences with Artificial Intelligence (AI). Facing a problematic teacher shortage in special education, the Jade County School District was not readily employing available AI technologies such as IBM’s WATSON and MIT Media Lab’s TEGA, to aide in filling the instructional voids caused by special education teacher attrition. Veblen’s theory of technological determinism provided the necessary framework for this study, which focused on how district technology leaders described their willingness or apprehension to employ autonomous machines to independently …

Childhood Adversities And The Impact On Development, Karey Womack Dulaney

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Experiences in life are crucial in determining how one’s development will progress throughout their lifespan, with many of the factors occurring in early childhood. The factors include but are not limited to adversities experienced at an early age, toxic stress, and childhood trauma. Childhood adversities can impact a child’s cognitive development and biological systems. Children living in adverse situations are at a greater risk of not reaching their full developmental potential in life. Although previous research and literature discuss and demonstrate the cruciality of early childhood interventions to mitigate adverse childhood experiences, gaps in the research exist for individual interventions, …

Teachers’ Experiences On Adaptations To Instructional Practices On The Transition To The Common Core State Standards: A Phenomenological Study, Elsie Fabiola Riveiro Torres

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenology study was to discover the experiences that elementary teachers have had regarding changes or adaptations to their instructional practices in the transition to the implementation to the Common Core State Standards (CCSS). The central research question that guided the study was based on the purpose of the study: What are the experiences that elementary teachers have had regarding changes or adaptations to their instructional practices in the transition to the implementation to the CCSS? Transcendental phenomenology was the methodological approach in this investigation because the goal was to describe the meanings of the experiences …

Employment Branding For University Graduates In Jamaica, Caroline Harvey

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Employee turnover has remained a problematic and most argumentative topic throughout history. Unfortunately, after having an abundance of resources, technology and, viability employee turnover is increasing. The same problem is found in Jamaica as well. This research is about evaluating the Employment Branding for University Graduates in Jamaica. The research method considered and, used for the same study was qualitative with which semi-structured interviews and a Focused Group Study were utilized. This study comprised three essential populations Human Resource Managers affiliated with the Jamaican Business Development Corporation followed by, tertiary educated Jamaicans seeking employment and, third the tertiary educated Jamaicans …

A Phenomenological Study Of Online Undergraduate Student Veterans And The Academic Interactions Affecting Their Success In Higher Education, Amanda Jo Verlander

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenology was to explore the academic interactions of online undergraduate veterans as they completed their degrees. The objective of this study was to answer the question, “What influences the success of online student veterans in completing their undergraduate degrees?” The theory guiding this study was Astin’s I-E-O model as it framed my research with the inputs of military training, environmental factors as academic interactions, and the outcome of graduating with their degree. My study also contained Vacchi’s Conceptual Model of Student Veteran Support as a focused lens to examine the academic interactions experiences of student …