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Post-Secondary Education Experiences Of Military-Connected Students: A Phenomenological Study, Craig J. Alia

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to understand the influence that lifelong stressors had on the lived experiences of adult military-connected students in U.S. post-secondary educational institutions. Military-connected students were defined as the adult children or step-children of military members who attended a minimum of four years in primary school while their parent was on active duty and attended both high school and post-secondary school while their parent(s) were either active duty or retired. The theory guiding this was Pearlin’s stress process, which explains the interaction among and between military-connected students’ (MCS’) stressors, stress mediators, and the resultant …

Exploring The Lived Experience Of Women Seeking Treatment For Genito-Pelvic Pain And Penetration Disorder: A Phenomenological Study, Emily M. Lacy

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study explored the lived experiences of women seeking treatment for genito-pelvic pain, aiming to identify how each person experiences barriers and facilitators toward obtaining treatment as well as their outlook on the future regarding treatment. The research sought to provide an understanding of their experiences, with implications for minimizing current barriers and building accessibility and awareness. A qualitative phenomenological design was utilized to obtain the data from participants through semi-structured individual interviews. Nine individual interviews were completed with women between the ages of 27 and 44-years-old who have experienced symptoms of genito-pelvic pain for at least 1 year and …

Comparing The School Engagement Of Middle And High School Special Education Students Enrolled In School-Based Mental Health Services, Elizabeth Anne Mcphearson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this quantitative causal-comparative study was to determine if there is a difference in student engagement scores amongst middle and high school special education students who are or are not utilizing school-based mental health services (SBMHS). To continue improvements in the effectiveness of school-based mental health services and to assist students in personal behavior management and school engagement, the impact of mental health services must be understood. The study participants were drawn from a convenience sample of middle and high school special education students participating in school-based mental health services located in Minnesota during the 2023-2024 school year. …

The Role Of Resilience And Coping Strategies Among African American College Athletes, Angela R. Brown

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This quantitative correlational study examined the relationship between resilience-type coping strategies, stress, and positive well-being among 110 NCAA Division I African American college athletes. This study utilized seven validated scales: Minority Stress Scale (MSS-37), Brief-Coping Orientation to Problems Experience (COPE-28), Athletic Coping Skills Inventory (ACSI-28), Perceived Stress Scale (PSS=10), Coping Schemas Inventory-Revised (CSI-R), WHO Positive Well-Being (WHO-5), and Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy (FACIT-Sp-12). These scales measured levels of social support (emotional and informational support), hopefulness/optimism (freedom from worry), active/coping/flexibility/resourcefulness (goal setting, peaking under pressure, coachability, and confidence), good emotional-regulation and self-awareness (coping with adversity and concentration), finding meaning …

The Relationship Between Workplace Bullying And Organizational Commitment: Virtual V. Traditional Working Environment, Christa Lynn Bartholomew

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this quantitative correlational study was to examine the relationship between workplace bullying and organizational commitment in a virtual workplace compared to a traditional workplace. The importance of conducting this study was due to workplace bullying having serious implications on physical health, psychological health, family conflict, burnout, and intentional turnover which can have an effect on organizational commitment. A survey utilizing the Negative Acts Questionnaire (Einarsen et al., 1991) and the Organizational Commitment Scale (Balfour and Wechsler, 1996) was distributed to a total sample size of 83 participants. Participants in this study were between the ages of 22-65 …

Military Members Mental Health And Adverse Childhood Experiences: The Mediating Role Of Mental Toughness, Maureen Kenyon James

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Military members’ mental health has been in the spotlight for many years. Although Australia and the United States have strong, robust forces, exposure to this high-stress environments can take its toll. This study is important to keep our armed forces in top mental and physical health and look after them post-service. We need to know what can protect mental health and how to minimize the risks to health and well-being. The purpose of this study is to ask the question, “To what extent are Adverse childhood experiences related to military members' mental health status, and is this relationship mediated by …

Experiences Of Black Parents Of Children With An Autism Spectrum Disorder In Obtaining A Timely Diagnosis And Accessing Services: A Phenomenological Study, Bridgette Carolyn Sellers

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to understand the lived experiences and perceptions of Black parents of children with autism spectrum disorder in obtaining a timely diagnosis and accessing services in Texas. Dr. Murray Bowen’s family systems theory was the guiding theory used to provide relevant details to the internal stigma in the Black community which is directly correlated to the disparities surrounding a timely diagnosis and accessing services. The central research question for this study was: what are the reported experiences of Black parents of children with an autism spectrum disorder in obtaining a timely diagnosis and …

A Phenomenology Of Post-Adoption Experiences Of Adoptive Parents, Omowunmi Omotade Ehikhametalor

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This transcendental phenomenological study aimed to describe the post-adoption experiences of adoptive parents in Jamaica. Studies carried out in other jurisdictions are valuable but do not capture the unique experiences of adoptive parents in Jamaica; therefore, this current study sought to fill the research gap. This study's theoretical framework comprises Schlossberg’s transition theory, attachment theory, and parent effectiveness training (PET). Data were collected from a stratified purposive sample of twelve participants using a brief demographic survey, in-depth interviews, and participant journaling. The data were analyzed using Moustakas’ model, and four themes emerged, namely: the inception of adoptive parenthood, the journey …

A Phenomenological Study Of The Experience Of Institutional Betrayal And Help-Seeking Behaviors Of Military Sexual Trauma, Victoria Sheree Tolbert

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to describe military sexual trauma survivors' experiences of military institutional betrayal and help-seeking behaviors. The study was grounded in Jennifer Freyd’s institutional betrayal theory. Using institutional betrayal as a framework was useful in illuminating the effects of institutional betrayal on survivors' perceptions of trust, safety, and decision-making regarding seeking support. The study aimed to understand the complex dynamics between institutional responses, perceived betrayal, and subsequent support-seeking actions among MST survivors within military contexts. Data collection included in-depth interviews, journaling, and cognitive representations with purposively sampled MST survivors. The study used thematic analysis to …

Planning In Advance (Pia): Teaching London Seventh-Day-Adventist Church Leaders In Providing Spiritual Care For Dying And Mourning Parishioners, Walace Saint Louis

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The London Seventh-Day Adventist Church (LSDAC), Maybee, Michigan, grapples with the lack of trained leaders in EoL to provide pastoral care for dying and mourning African American parishioners. The purpose of this DMIN action research project is to educate LSDAC leaders in providing spiritual care for their congregants as lay chaplains. The city of Maybee contains 612 people, with 95 % Caucasians and 5% other racial groups. The LSDAC membership is 99% African Americans and 1% Caucasians. It has around 30 members.

The philosophical concept of this research lies in the presuppositions that African Americans prefer spiritual EoL care from …

Mental Illness In African American Women: A Transcendental Phenomenology On Self-Efficacy And The Treatment-Seeking Behavior Of Secondary And Post-Secondary Educators, Sasha N. Gordon

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This transcendental phenomenological research shows the influence of mental health treatment on the self-efficacy of African American women who are secondary or post-secondary educators in Northern Illinois. For African American women educators, taking care of their mental well-being and being aware of mental health conditions are crucial. Sharing personal stories and experiences can help reduce the stigma surrounding mental health. Promoting awareness and understanding of mental health issues are vital in our communities, and access to resources and support are necessary. Using self-identity theory can aid in comprehending motivations and behaviors, leading to greater satisfaction and fulfillment and the prioritization …

The Role Of Camaraderie In The Moods Of African American U.S. Military Veterans With Ptsd: A Qualitative Phenomenological Study, Virginia K. Thompson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to understand the essence of the collective lived experiences of United States military veterans of African American ethnicity who were diagnosed with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and the role that camaraderie plays in their moods. Veterans are a marginalized group who often feel they are rejected by society, but as Christians, we should be interested in human beings, promoting their well-being, and practicing psychology as an act of love. Guided by social identity theory and social justice theory, this study was aimed to gain understanding of how group memberships and social categorization …

Solution-Focused Pastoral Counseling For Bereavement, Wayne A. Benner

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The topic of this action research is Solution-Focused Pastoral Counseling for grief and bereavement. The need for the research completed is for hospice chaplains to have a workable tool to use for grief and bereavement. The problem is that many hospice chaplains do not have a framework to use for counseling in grief. The action researcher worked on the thesis of if chaplains use Solution-Focused Pastoral Counseling for grief they will be more effective. The research was completed using Solution-Focused Pastoral Counseling to counsel six participants in grief. Each participant completed a pre-counseling questionnaire and a post-counseling questionnaire to assess …

Accessing Cancer Care Through A Community Diagnostic Clinic, Joy Lynn Bartholomew

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Access to diagnostic centers, innovative cancer research and best clinical practices is limited outside metropolitan areas and academic institutions. Cancer patients in rural communities are a marginalized population faced with unique barriers to high quality care from early detection through screening, streamlined diagnostics, and participation in clinical trials. One-stop clinics (OSC) in the community setting may lessen the diagnostic interval (DI), reduce the economic burden of unnecessary imagining or procedures, minimize sociodemographic discrepancies, and positively affect time to treatment and clinical trial participation. The first step is to better understand the community cancer population and their diagnostic journey. Next, an …

Butte Priority Soils Operable Unit (Bpsou) Unreclaimed Sites And Insufficiently Reclaimed Areas – Racetrack Borrow Material Usage, Mike Mcanulty

Silver Bow Creek/Butte Area Superfund Site

No abstract provided.

Looking Back To Old New York City In Herman Melville’S “Bartleby”, Shawn Thomson

Literatures and Cultural Studies Faculty Publications

Though “Bartleby, the Scrivener” takes place in the three-block area in and around the lawyer’s Wall Street offices, the uptown attitudes toward city life of the suburbs inform the lawyer’s relationships to his urban or downtown space. Wall Street stands as a central feature of the island city’s history, taking its name from a physical wall built to protect the Dutch from the British and the Indians. As a result, Wall Street served to differentiate the suburban from the urban confines of the city. Through the position of the lawyer in the Master Chancery office on Wall Street and his …

Parental Phubbing And Adolescent Social Anxiety, Julie Ann Bowman

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to explore how parents experience social anxiety in their children, of ages six to fourteen, in the presence of parental phubbing. The modified version of Moustakas’ modified version of Stevick-Colaizzi-Keen’s analysis method was used to gather and analyze data. Participant requirements included being at least 21 years of age, having a child between the ages of 6-14, own a cell phone with texting and internet capabilities, and speak English fluently. Fifteen participants were used, however, data saturation was found by the ninth participant. This study explored two research questions: How do parents …

Finding A Correlation Between Emotional Intelligence And Burnout In Music Teachers In Southeastern Pennsylvania, Richard Raymond Freda

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Despite studies showing that individuals with higher levels of emotional intelligence report higher job satisfaction and happiness, relatively few studies have looked at the relationship between higher levels of emotional intelligence and lower levels of teacher burnout, especially among music teachers. With so many music teaching positions going unfilled and many music teachers leaving the profession, it was imperative to find a way to keep music teachers in the classroom. By making teachers aware of their emotional intelligence and how to understand their emotions, it is possible that more music teachers can be retained. In this quantitative study, music teachers …

Addressing A Lack Of Counseling Programs To Diminish The Psychological, Emotional, And Mental Impacts Of Church Closure Grief, Marcel Berrios

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Besides spiritual activities, the social activities that happen in church buildings are vital to the functioning of most communities; therefore, churches play a central role in the social fabric and social infrastructure of communities in ways not necessarily thought about until they are no longer around. The looming absence of this role or function of the church becomes the overarching focus to address when an announcement is made that a church is permanently closing. Lost in navigating the business and community aspects of a church closure is the congregation's metamorphic spiritual, emotional, and psychological journey. Subsequently, many church members are …

The Necessity Of Weaknesses In Experiencing The Grace Of God: An Examination Of Paul’S Use Of Grace, Culminating In 2 Corinthians 12:7–10, Jason Scott Shawa

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Paul’s understanding of weakness, grace, and the power of the risen Christ are all important theological truths. This dissertation’s goal is to show that within the Pauline corpus, Paul’s use of “grace” (specifically χάρις) is often inseparable from the experience of weaknesses. This necessitates the inclusion of weaknesses (e.g., distress, persecution, difficulty, pain, and suffering) for the believer to experience the “grace” God offers in and through the power of the crucified and resurrected Christ.

Paul’s understanding of grace is a subject that has far-reaching implications. Understanding his use of χάρις within his corpus is essential to theological studies and …

A Phenomenological Study Examining The Methods Of Elementary Special Education And General Education Co-Teachers Who Foster The Use Of Behavioral Management Strategies For Students With Emotional Behavioral Disorders, Tanekal White

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study is to explore the methods and strategies that special education and general education co-teachers use to foster behavioral management for students with emotional behavior disorders (EBD) in the interrelated resource, inclusive co-taught, and EBD self-contained settings. The theories guiding this study are Bandura’s self-efficacy theory (SET) and Vygotsky’s sociocultural theory (SCT). Bandura’s theory of self-efficacy helped explore teachers’ effectiveness in instilling behavioral and instructional strategies, that induce success for students with EBD. Vygotsky’s sociocultural theory was used to examine the importance of students with EBD being educated alternative ways that ensures compensation for unwanted …

Perceived Career Barriers Among Women Working In Public Transportation Based On Leadership Development Training And Race: A Causal-Comparative Study, Tamika Gunn White

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This quantitative, causal-comparative study investigated differences in perceived career barriers among women engaged in leadership development training programs and those who were not, with a specific focus on their racial backgrounds. The research targets women within the public transportation workforce, utilizing a convenience sample comprising individuals willing and able to provide insights into the issue of perceived career barriers among women in this sector. Purposive inclusion criteria encompass self-identifying as a woman, reporting ages between 25 and 65, and current employment in the public transportation sector. The Perception of Barriers Scale assessed career- and education-related barriers. The data collection procedure …

The Power And Purpose Of Intercessory Prayer: Equipping And Educating The Leaders Of Divine Providence Ministries Through An Intercessory Prayer Course, Tammanica S. Muse

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Intercessory prayer is a selfless act where believers pray to God on behalf of others, asking for His intervention. This type of prayer is a vital part of Christian life rooted in the example of Jesus, who intercedes between God and humanity. Jesus models the role of intercessor, reconciling mankind to God through His sacrifice. Believers are called to follow this example and pray for others regularly. This DMin research project examines the issue of leaders lacking a comprehensive understanding of prayer's purpose, power, and connection to intimacy with God. It also investigates why some leaders abandon prayer when faced …

"In But Not Of": John's Theology Of Separation From The World, David E. Forbes

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

John’s theology of separation from the world is an underdeveloped aspect of the perennial question of the believer’s relationship to the world. John’s view of separation leads believers to prioritize living a holy life that is influenced by an inherent distrust in the world. This perspective argues against a common assumed neutrality of the culture of the world. While the root idea of the κόσμος is “order,” John expresses that idea of order by describing the world as the kingdom of Satan. This kingdom is composed of people and their values as a unified entity that is in opposition to …

A Phenomenological Study Of Middle School Teachers Implementing Social-Emotional Learning, Post Covid-19 At A Predominantly Hispanic School, Kutana Nichol Parrish

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study is to understand the lived experiences of the ten middle school teachers implementing social and emotional learning, post COVID in a predominately Hispanic suburban school in Gwinnett County School District in Georgia. The theory guided by this study is emotional intelligence by psychologist Daniel Goldman but was first used by Peter Salovey and John Mayer in 1990. Daniel Goldman defines emotional intelligence as having the ability to identify nonverbal cues, using emotion to guide one’s thinking, understanding information that is communicated, and actions of emotions, and the capability to self-regulate emotions. Collaborative for …

The Impact Of Policing On Female Police Officer’S Parenting Styles, Debbie Michelle Chambers

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This qualitative transcendental phenomenological study was to explore the lived experiences of female police officers with children in rural Georgia. For years, women have been proving themselves in this profession only to face gender inequality, discrimination, harassment including physical, emotional, and sexual, and skepticism from the community. Despite these barriers, females have achieved high-ranking positions in local and state agencies and federal law enforcement. This achievement has come with a price that could impact how the female officer parents her children. Several studies have been conducted on a variety of factors impacting the female police officer, such as rank, position, …

Harmonizing Faith Across Generations: The Spiritual Resonance Of Modernizing Traditional Worship Lyrics, Hyoeun Eunice Jeon

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The quest to create an inclusive worship environment that honors diversity without sacrificing the sacred essence of traditional hymns is challenging. This study is anchored in the understanding that music, as a profound expression of faith, has the power to transform individuals and communities, and therefore modernizing traditional hymn lyrics could be vital in bridging the generational divide. This would then enhance the sense of togetherness in communal worship. By employing a qualitative research approach, this study analyzes the impact of lyrical modernization on intergenerational engagement within worship settings. Data was collected through interviews and participatory observation, tapping into the …

Easy As 1, 2, 3: An Analysis Of Rhythm-Counting Systems And Their Affect On Performance Accuracy In Beginner Band Students, Brendan Beiersdorfer

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Music educators implement rhythm-counting and syllable systems globally to guide students in rhythm interpretation and performance. These systems are often associated with music disciplines and cultural regions; however, the influence of these systems on students’ rhythmic performance accuracy is not well-documented. This quantitative, quasi-experimental study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of the Traditional, Kodály, and Takadimi rhythm-counting systems on the rhythmic performance of beginner band students. The sample included students from three educational settings (n = 146), each providing instruction in one of the three rhythm-counting systems. Pre- and post-instruction assessments were administered to measure rhythmic accuracy and compare each …

2024 December 19 - From My Notepads Newsletter, Office Of The President, East Tennessee State University, Brian Noland

From My Notepads: A Newsletter from President Brian Noland

No abstract provided.

Love And Contractual Agreements: Clemons V. Diable And The Requirements Of A Valid Contract Of Marriage In Lousiana, Alexis Hoffpauir

Journal of Civil Law Studies

No abstract provided.