Digital Commons Network^™

The Single Father In The Christian Church And Their Struggles, Kennedy Abbott

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This thesis project is about a severe but unseen problem in the church. The single fathers in the Christian church have been quietly struggling because many do not seek help. Caretakers of this single-father ministry identify and are aware of the struggle affiliated with single fathers, summarized from personal experience in Chapter One. In Chapter Two, this research elucidates the severity of the problem related to children separated from either parent, possibly leading to behavioral concerns in school, the community, and the home. The fundamental principles of this research derives from gathering data relevant to this research to support this …

The Effects Of Communicative Language Teaching Methods (Clt) Of Teaching Ancient Greek On Student Motivation, Language Learning Experience, Self-Efficacy, Facilitating Anxiety, And Debilitating Anxiety Compared To The Grammar Translation Method (Gtm), Dustin J. Humphreys

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this quantitative, causal-comparative study was to determine if ancient Greek language programs that use communicative language teaching methods (CLT) produce different student motivation, language learning experience, self-efficacy, facilitating anxiety and debilitating anxiety scores than programs that primarily use the grammar-translation method (GTM) of teaching ancient Greek. This study is critical because the comprehensive teaching of the ancient Greek language has been on the decline in recent decades. This research aims to inform colleges, seminaries, and other language learning schools that teach classical languages, such as ancient Greek, about the potential positive effects of CLT on student motivation, …

An Analysis Of Physical Wellness During Pregnancy, Mary Elizabeth Reynolds-Licciardello

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

There is a lack of proper physical wellness increasing in society. This qualitative phenomenological study explored physical wellness during pregnancy using the theoretic framework of Social Cognitive Theory to show perceptions and lived experiences of women who are pregnant or who have been pregnant in the past three years. Three research questions were the focus of this qualitative study. RQ1: what aspects of physical wellness are important to women who are pregnant? RQ2: what are women’s physical wellness experiences during pregnancy? RQ3: how are women who are pregnant educated about physical wellness? Ten women in central Florida who are pregnant …

The Thrill Is Here: An Instrumental Case Study Of The Pinetop Perkins Foundation Workshop Experience, Spencer Lewis Byrd

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This instrumental case study aimed to discover blues music education's pedagogy, content, and teaching strategies. This was accomplished by examining authentic blues teaching through the lenses of music learning theory, the Danielson framework for teaching, and the spiral curriculum. The study built on literature relating to the historical, musical, and extra-musical contexts of the blues, popular music, community music, and workshop settings. The Pinetop Perkins Foundation’s Workshop Experience served as the single case for investigating authentic blues music education. Nine instructors, two students, two interns, and two board members participated. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews, live observations, and video …

Improving Teacher Retention Within Archdiocese Of Washington Schools, Denise M. Ball

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this applied study was to solve the problem of teacher retention for the Archdiocese of Washington Schools and to design training to address the problem. Specifically, this study solicited input from teachers to help define and or identify (1) the need for teacher retention, (2) what type of school environment they work in, and (3) how a school environment affects teacher retention. Individual teacher and focus group interviews were conducted, and a survey was utilized for data collection and analysis. The measurement instruments captured data on target teachers regarding school environment/climate and job retention, specifically, years in …

Exploring The Relationship Between Self-Esteem, Financial Egocentrism, And Fraud Susceptibility In Cyber-Enabled Fraud Schemes Involving Crypto Assets, James Mcdowell

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The propensity to exploit others for one’s own benefit is continuously exhibited by bad actors. Unfortunately, this sentiment holds true in emerging asset classes, such as crypto assets. As a result, it is surprising that current research on fraud susceptibility is approached in a binary way. Researchers examine either what makes an individual predisposed to victimization by bad actors or what factors influence one’s propensity to perpetrate fraudulent schemes. This study bridged this substantial gap in current research by investigating if specific psychological factors influence when, or if, an individual shifts between these two outcomes. The psychological factors incorporated into …

Third-Grade Students’ Poor Performance On The Math Section Of The Stanford Achievement Test At Chapel Hill Elementary School: An Instrumental Exploratory Qualitative Single-Case Study, Giovanny Guillermo Gaviria

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this instrumental exploratory qualitative single-case study was to explore the understanding of the principal, teachers, and parents related to the poor performance on the math section of the Stanford Achievement Test and the related factors of self-determination and self-efficacy of third-grade students in a private Christian elementary school in a city (pseudonym, Chapel Hill) in the Western United States. The theory guiding this study was Bandura's social cognitive theory, which is the foundation of self-determination theory, academic self-efficacy, and school-related parental monitoring. This case study contained a purposeful sample of ten participants (one principal, four teachers, and …

A Phenomenological Study In Attitudes And Belief About The Northern California Homeless Population, Ethel Diane Mckay

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Homelessness is a problem in the United States. By observing and collecting data regarding the views of multiple stakeholders, this researcher offers a study regarding attitudes and opinions about homelessness in two rural, northern California cities (Barmann, 2018, para. 2). By using a phenomenological approach for gathering and analyzing data, the researcher offers the essence of experiences of those who are helping the homeless population. By interviewing local government officials, pastors, and homeless advocates, where they are, in their offices, churches, or at local coffee shops, this researcher went to where the phenomenon occurs. The purpose of this phenomenological study …

A Cosmic Conflict In Covenantal Literature, Lisa Marie Martinez-Leeper

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This dissertation examines the cosmic conflict that God declared in Genesis 3:15 in the Garden of Eden, and that will not come to fruition until the final judgment articulated in Revelation 20. This raging spiritual warfare can be seen through the lens of the covenants God made with Israel and the administration of God’s purposes through His people. Through God’s sovereign hand over Israel, His providence and grace can be seen throughout the whole of Holy Scriptures. The unfolding spiritual conflict to prevent the “seed of the woman” can be clandestinely observed in the outworking of God’s relationship with His …

Men’S Experience Of Miscarriage: Coping With The Loss Of A Life And Future, Ginny M. Anderson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Miscarriage is often viewed as a medical issue associated with women. When going through a miscarriage, healthcare professionals, family, friends, and others in the community tend to turn all their attention to women and leave men feeling left out, isolated, and unsupported. This qualitative research study is being conducted to gain an understanding of what men experience during and after miscarriage, how they cope with the loss, and what can be done to better assist with the loss. Through this research, we will gain a better understanding of the experience surrounding miscarriage for men in an online setting who are …

The Effect Of Stroboscopic Vision On The Y-Balance Test, Alex Habegger

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this study was to determine if stroboscopic vision significantly effects performance on the YBT-LQ in athletes 12-18 years old, as well as investigating if age or sex effect performance. Previous research has demonstrated the clinical use of stroboscopic vision for athletic performance and rehabilitation, but no study had yet established the effect of stroboscopic vision on dynamic balance. Subjects performed the Y-Balance Lower Quarter (YBT-LQ) and then repeated the YBT-LQ with stroboscopic vision at a rate of 4 hertz (Hz). A repeated measures factorial ANOVAs were used identify significant differences in performance on the YBT-LQ with and …

Exploring 21st Century Learning In Virginia Secondary School Technology And Engineering Classrooms: A Hermeneutic Phenomenological Study, George Nicholas Cornwell

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to examine how integrative STEM teachers utilize the Standards for Technological and Engineering Literacy (STEL) to foster and assess 21st-century learning in technology and engineering classes at multiple Virginia public secondary schools. The theory guiding this study was Kolb’s experiential learning theory, which integrates nine learning theories into an innovative cyclical learning process that is like the engineering design loop. This hermeneutic phenomenology included 15 Virginia technology and engineering schoolteachers (Grades 6-12) who purposefully taught multiple academic disciplines and utilized the eight practices of the STEL in the context of their curriculum to …

Veteran Identity And Academic Accommodations: Another Conflict, Valerie Groll

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Colleges and universities have seen an increase in student veteran enrollment to include student veterans with disabilities. Inconsistencies and inaccurate reporting systems have created conflicting data about veterans’ success in higher education making it difficult to find accurate data-driven research related to student veterans creating challenges when institutions of higher learning are assessing the needs of student populations and the programming needed to support them. Reporting inconsistencies identifying student veterans is not the only problem. There is also limited research regarding the use of academic accommodations among student veterans with disabilities. The purpose of this quantitative causal comparative study is …

African American Women's Posttraumatic Growth After Infidelity, Thelma J. Carpenter-Ellis

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This transcendental phenomenological study aims to examine African American women’s posttraumatic growth experience after infidelity without compromising health-related issues. This phenomenon of PTG after cheating needs to be thoroughly analyzed and added to the literature. The research questions are: (1) How do African American women describe their personal growth experiences after marital infidelity? (2) How do African American women describe characteristics that were [e.g., personality, character, fortitude, sense of identity] vital for their resiliency post-infidelity? and (3) How do African American women describe the changes in their assumptive worldview [e.g., trust, safety, attachment, religious faith] because of marital betrayal? Some …

The Perceived Racial Discrimination Of Incarcerated African American Juveniles By Correctional Officers, Jervaughn Fabian Reid

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

There is an overrepresentation of African American youths at every stage of the juvenile justice system in America, from initial interaction with criminal justice to sentencing and imprisonment. This quantitative correlational study aimed to study the perceived racial discrimination of incarcerated African American juveniles by correctional officers. Statistics indicate that African Americans have a higher probability of offending and incarceration than their White counterparts. Some juveniles are serving long-term sentences, which may go well into adulthood. This study offers general knowledge on what experiences juvenile offenders go through, what promotes such experiences, and how these experiences can affect the population …

Exploring The Biblical And Theological Foundations Of Security Decisions By Church Leaders, John M. Tuohy

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This qualitative phenomenological multi-case study explored the practical, ethical, theological, and biblical foundations of decisions regarding an active security strategy at church gatherings by a cross-section of mainline and nondenominational churches. For the purposes of this study, an active security strategy was defined as a formal plan for site security based on the use of security personnel. This definition included any combination of volunteer personnel, contracted private security personnel, or sworn police officers acting in an official or off-duty capacity while providing security for the gathered congregation. The theory of shepherd leadership, as defined by Laniak (2006), and which related …

A Qualitative Research Study Exploring The Lived Experiences Of K-12 School Teachers Who Serve African American Students Who Speak African American Vernacular English, Kayla K. Davies

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of the proposed transcendental phenomenological study will be to explore the perceptions and lived experiences of k-12 schoolteachers working with African American students and their usage of AAVE in the State of Maryland. The theories guiding this study are critical race theory and Krashen’s second language acquisition theory. This qualitative transcendental phenomenological study will collect data from 12 participants in the state of Maryland using individual interviews, focus groups, and letters. The data will then be analyzed using Braun and Clarke's qualitative descriptive research data analysis plan. The data showed that k-12 schoolteachers mainly perceived AAVE as a …

Attitudes Of Secondary Students Toward Online And Face-To-Face Learning In Mathematics: A Quantitative Causal-Comparative Study, Rebecca J. Martin Philyaw

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this quantitative, causal-comparative study is to investigate the current differences between online and face-to-face student attitudes toward mathematics and computer-based learning at the high school level. Because instruction and technology use have been influenced by the Covid-19 pandemic, it is important to assess student attitudes toward mathematics and computer-based learning in both traditional face-to-face and online settings. This study was conducted with 70 face-to-face students and 67 online high school students in a single school district in North Carolina. The Galbraith-Haines Mathematics-Computer Attitude Scales were used as the data collection instrument measuring student confidence toward mathematics, mathematics …

Redesigning An Effective Pathway To Consumer Loyalty For Sustainable Competitive Advantage, Stephen P. Panczak

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The qualitative case study aimed to study the impact of leadership behaviors on delivering hospitality frontline employee services to customers to sustain consumer loyalty and gain a sustainable competitive advantage in the South Florida hospitality and tourism industry. The flexible design allowed the researcher to develop specific research questions while focusing on the problem statement, which addressed the potential inability of U.S. business leaders in service-related industries to gain customer loyalty, resulting in the possible loss of competitive advantage for the organizations. The researcher selected a highly successful South Florida luxury hotel resort, and twenty-nine professionally diversified participants were interviewed …

Exploring Educator Experiences Of Instructing Students With Disabilities During A Crisis: A Phenomenological Study, Laqueta Marie Wilson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to describe teacher experiences in educating students with disabilities during a pandemic for K-5 teachers at John James K-8 school in the southeastern United States. The theory guiding this study was Bandura’s (1986) social cognitive learning theory, as it related to the importance of social learning on learners' cognition. Also, Universal Design for Learning was highlighted to suggest that all students should be taught in an inclusive setting. The central research question driving this study was, what are the lived post-pandemic experiences of general K-5 educators who instruct students with disabilities who return …

Qualitative Case Study Regarding Experiences Of Freedom Of Speech On College And University Campuses In The United States, Jeffrey Dana Ward

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this study was to examine how suppression of free speech on college and university campuses in Southtown, USA affects student self-efficacy. The theory guiding my study is Bandura’s social cognitive theory as it will evaluate the interplay between the system and environment sources of influence at Secular university Christian university in Southtown, USA. How has freedom of speech on college and university campuses affected the self-efficacy of college students in faith-based organizations? Interviews and focus groups were utilized to collect data for this central research question. Thematic analysis and coding was utilized to analyze the data collected. …

Development Of Computational And Experimental Approaches For Rna Virus Serology, Brittany Kaye Smith

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

Neutralization assays like the plaque reduction neutralization test (PRNT) and focus reduction neutralization test (FRNT) are the most specific ways to measure neutralizing antibodies, which provide a good estimate of protection for RNA viruses. However, these assays are time-consuming, labor-intensive, and low-throughput. Alternative methods that are faster and convenient are necessary to quantify antibody responses in large-scale studies. In this dissertation, I develop a mix of computational and experimental methods to quantify antibody responses to dengue viruses (DENV) and SARS-CoV-2. DENV is the most significant mosquito-borne viral infection in humans. Four serotypes of DENV exist. Traditionally, infection with one serotype …

Defendant St. Isidore Of Seville Catholic Virtual School's Reply Brief In Support Of Motion To Dismiss, Michael H. Mcginley, Steven A. Engel, M. Scott Proctor, John A. Meiser, Michael R. Perri, Socorro Adams Dooley

Court Briefs

No. CV-2023-1857
OKPLAC, Inc. v. Statewide Virtual Charter School Board

From the Introduction

Plaintiffs' opposition to the motions to dismiss distills their challenge to the State's approval of St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual School ("St. Isidore") to its essence: Plaintiffs believe that the State of Oklahoma may never allow a religious organization to operate a charter school because (they contend) any faith-based school would violate the Charter Schools Act and the Oklahoma Constitution. They purport to raise other, purely technical errors in the Board's decision to partner with St. Isidore; they baselessly speculate about ways in which they predict …

Exigency, Laurie Snellen

B.F.A. Practicum Exhibition (ART 498)

Birds are very sensitive to environmental changes and indicators to issues surrounding the biodiversity crisis. Exigency, by highlighting common beloved songbirds, allows for a link to the crisis that is so much closer than what many are used to seeing in the news. It also encourages users to explore solutions they can apply in their everyday lives like window stickers for bird strikes or bird boxes for bluebirds.

The relationship between the complexity of nature and the part people play in it has always been of interest. These current works act as a bridge between the environment and the people. …

The Prediction Of Grade Point Average From The Linear Combination Of Persistence Factors For Hispanic College Students, Laurel Lucy Mo

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this quantitative predictive correlation study was to address the lack of research regarding the impacts of persistence factors on the educational outcomes of Hispanic college students. The study was a predictive correlation design with a criterion variable of grade point average (GPA). Predictor variables were the persistence factors of institutional commitment, degree commitment, academic integration, social integration, advising effectiveness, collegiate stress, financial strain, scholastic consciousness, academic efficacy, career integration, and academic motivation. The study setting was a two-year public community college serving a county with a population of 218,000 in Northern Arizona. A college persistence and academic …

A Phenomenological Exploration Of The Leadership Experiences Of School Leaders During Covid-19 Changes, Margaret H. Johnson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative, transcendental phenomenological study was to explore the leadership experiences of school leaders during the COVID-19 pandemic. The theory guiding this study was Hersey and Blanchard’s situational leadership theory as it focuses on the idea that leadership is contingent and can be adjusted based upon the factors of a situation. The situational leadership theory can help to explain the adjustments in leadership practices that could be made when the employee’s task changes, or their relationship needs change. The relationship between the situational leadership theory and this study was the change in faculty task and setting situations …

A Grounded Theory Study Of Digital Discipleship Methods For Effectiveness In The Phygital Church, Daniel L. Tebo Jr.

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this grounded theory study was to investigate digital discipleship methods and their effectiveness in the phygital (physical + digital) church within various US- based evangelical networks. Throughout this research, a grounded theory study was generally defined as one “in which a researcher derives a general, abstract theory of a process, action, or interaction grounded in the views of participants” (Creswell & Creswell, 2017, p.13). Furthermore, the phygital church was defined as a group of 10-100 people who “utilize the strengths of physical church and the strengths of digital church” (Stadia Church Planting, 2020, p. 4) to gather …

Twelfth-Grade English Teachers' Lived Experiences Of Engaging Struggling Adolescent Readers: A Phenomenological Study, Ruth Ugonna Ebinama

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenological study was to explore 12th-grade English teachers' lived experiences of engaging struggling adolescent readers at a large public school district in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area of the United States. The theory that guided this study was Vygotsky’s social constructivism theory as it relates to engaging struggling adolescent readers. The central research question was the following: How do 12th-grade English teachers describe their lived experiences engaging struggling adolescent readers? Criterion purposive sampling was used to recruit 12th-grade English teachers with struggling adolescent readers in their English classes. Data collection methods consisted of open-response questionnaires, …

The Power Of The “Like”: A Quantitative Study On The Facebook Emoji As Social Support, Lina Rawlings

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This quantitative study aimed to evaluate how receiving a Facebook “like” correlates to the perception of social support and how much this correlation is moderated by the age and gender of the users. The social information processing theory guided the study, providing a framework to explain how communicators adapt to the restriction of nonverbal cues by creating surrogates to maintain interpersonal relationships in computer-mediated communication circumstances. For the central research question, findings revealed that receiving a Facebook “like” positively correlates with perceptions of social support from Facebook friends and family. While no significant correlation was found between the gender of …

Self-Care Practices, Mental Well-Being, And Motivation Among Mothers: A Cross-Sectional Assessment And Self-Care Intervention Pilot Study, Jennifer Lynn Plum

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Women with children have poorer mental health than their peers who do not have children due to the additional stressors brought on by their roles as parents. Previous research has shown that when the amount of time a person practices self-care increases, their mental well-being and satisfaction with life also increase. What research had not answered is whether increased amounts of time spent practicing self-care increases a mother’s motivation to complete her daily tasks. There is also a gap in research for specific self-care interventions that result in improvement in well-being and motivation. I sought to identify the correlation between …