Digital Commons Network^™

The Relationship Between Resiliency Scores And Nurse Educators Intent To Stay In Academia: A Predictive Correlational Study, Michele Lee Blash

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

A shortage of both clinical nurses and nursing educators exists. These shortages have a multitude of impacts on the field of nursing, both at the bedside and in academia. The shortage of clinical nurses impacts the number of nurses available to provide quality patient care. The shortage of nursing educators can impact the number of students accepted into nursing programs and, in turn, the number of new nurses available to provide direct care to patients. The purpose of this quantitative non-experimental predictive correlational design study was to examine how the resiliency of nursing educators impacts their intent to stay in …

Tongues In 1 Corinthians 12–14: Their Role In Gospel Proclamation And Unity, Adam Rimmer

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The gifts of the Holy Spirit have been controversial throughout the ages. Many theologians, apologists, and church fathers have tried to clarify glossolalia. This dissertation is an exposition of 1 Corinthians 12–14 that argues that glossolalia is an actual human language that supports the gift of prophecy for proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ, but was being misused within the church at Corinth as ecstatic speech, which was not the valid biblical gift of glossolalia. It will demonstrate that this gift served as a divine means to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ to those who spoke different languages before …

A Quantitative Content Analysis Of Major United States-Based Religious Organizations' Framing Of Mask-Wearing On X (Formerly Twitter) During Covid-19, Michael J. Farzinpour

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this quantitative content analysis was to examine how major U.S.-based religious organizations framed mask-wearing on X (formerly Twitter) during the COVID-19 pandemic and whether identifiable framing cues were associated with observable audience engagement. Grounded in framing theory and prospect theory, the study analyzed publicly available tweets posted by 14 nationally prominent U.S. megachurches and affiliated public-facing organizational representatives between March 2020 and December 2022. The final sample consisted of 1,288 tweets. Tweets were coded for gain- and loss-framed valence-framing cues, compliance- and resistance-oriented frame-orientation cues, and engagement outcomes measured through publicly visible likes, comments, and retweets. Because …

Resilient Ethical Governance By Design: Building Resilience For Future-Ready Smart Cities Against Emerging Technology Disruptions In Public Sector – A Case Study Of Dallas Smart City, Emmanuel Asamoah Asare

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This dissertation examines how Dallas’s smart city strategic policies foster resilience against disruptions associated with emerging technologies, particularly artificial intelligence and Internet of Things systems. Using a convergent mixed-methods comparative case study, Dallas serves as the primary case, Austin serves as a U.S. municipal comparator, and Barcelona serves as a qualitative benchmark for ethical and trust-centered smart city governance. The study integrates document analysis, broadband and digital equity indicators, stakeholder engagement evidence, and exploratory quantitative comparisons to assess how governance adaptability, preparedness, functionality, equity, and stakeholder trust shape resilience outcomes.

The findings provide partial support for the study’s hypotheses. Dallas …

“We’Ve Always Done It That Way”: A Qualitative Multiple Case Study Of Rural Texas School District Stakeholders’ Understanding Of Instructional Change, Lindy S. Welborn

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative multiple-case study was to explore how stakeholders in rural Texas public school districts experienced and interpreted organizational systems and leadership processes related to instructional change. The theory that guided this study was transformational leadership theory, which provided a framework for understanding how leaders inspired and empowered others to achieve higher levels of performance in pursuit of collective goals. The central research question that guided this study was: How do stakeholders in rural Texas public school districts experience and interpret organizational systems and leadership processes associated with instructional change initiatives that challenge longstanding traditional practices within …

A Qualitative Exploration Of The Emotional And Psychological Impact Of Pornography Consumption Among Young Christian Hispanic Adult Males In Las Vegas, Zeferino Solis

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This qualitative phenomenological study explored the lived experiences of young adult Christian Hispanic men residing in Las Vegas, Nevada, who struggle with pornography use. Chapter One introduced the problem, purpose, significance, and research questions that guided the study. Chapter Two reviewed the relevant empirical, theoretical, and biblical literature related to pornography addiction, behavioral addiction, cognitive dissonance, spiritual conflict, and Hispanic Christian identity. Chapter Three described the qualitative phenomenological methodology, participant recruitment, data collection procedures, and thematic analysis process used to examine the participants’ experiences. Chapter Four presented the findings that emerged from participant interviews. Major themes included early exposure to …

The Impact Of Direct Democracy On Policy Formation, Tricia Smith

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

As political polarization and distrust in elected representatives increases in American politics, voters are turning to direct democracy as a mechanism to drive policy making. Proponents of both legislative mechanisms and the use of direct democracy argue that their means of policy making is the most democratic. The Founding Fathers chose a representative system to limit the influence of faction and try and prevent Tocqueville’s tyranny of the majority. This study examines both direct democracy and legislative outcomes at the state level through the lens of adult use cannabis sales policy. Adult use cannabis sales were first legalized in the …

Exploring Lived Experiences Of Undergraduate College Students As They Develop Life Skills While At School: A Phenomenological Study, John Makemo

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to explore the lived experiences related to life skills development among undergraduate students enrolled in bachelor’s degree programs at AUX University in Tanzania, East Africa. The central research question for the study asked: What lived experiences do undergraduate college students enrolled in bachelor’s degree programs at AUX University in Tanzania go through as they develop life skills? A purposive sampling methodology was used to select participants who met the study's criteria. Data were collected using individual interviews, journal prompts, and focus groups. Multiple techniques were used to reduce errors and enable triangulation. …

Underrepresentation Of Women In C-Suite Positions In North American Technology Companies, Joy Lynn Obey

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Women remain underrepresented in C-suite leadership within North American technology firms despite continued organizational attention to diversity and inclusion. The purpose of this flexible-design qualitative multiple case study was to explore how organizational cultures, structures, leadership-development practices, and succession-planning systems influenced women’s advancement toward executive leadership. Guided by a constructivist paradigm, Transformational Leadership Theory, and Social Role Theory, the study examined the experiences of 26 women who currently held, previously held, or occupied near-C-suite roles in North American technology firms. Data were collected through 26 semi-structured individual interviews and six focus groups. Member checking was completed by 25 participants, and …

Engage In The New Age: Understanding Why Emerging Adults Stay Or Stray In The Church, Michael D. Douglas

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This qualitative phenomenological study explores the lived experiences of emerging adults (ages 18–25) who were raised in small to midsize Black Baptist churches in Norfolk, Virginia, to examine the factors influencing their continued engagement or disengagement from the church. Against the backdrop of declining participation among young adults in African American congregations, the study investigates how preaching, discipleship practices, church-sponsored activities, and resource allocation shape patterns of belonging and retention. Through semi-structured interviews with emerging adults ages 18-25, the research uncovers the spiritual, relational, and organizational dynamics that either foster sustained involvement or contribute to disengagement. Findings highlight the critical …

A Phenomenological Study On Childcare Teachers’ Experience Teaching Children With Developmental Delays And Disabilities, Joan Morris Fraser

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to describe the lived experiences of childcare center teachers who taught students with developmental delays and disabilities (DDDs) in three childcare centers located in New York State. Grounded in Vygotsky’s social constructivist theory, the study explored how teachers foster inclusive classroom environments that support children’s learning through social interaction and cultural context. The central research question asked: What are the shared experiences of childcare teachers who taught students with DDDs in New York State? Twelve teachers from three inner-city childcare centers serving children ages two through five participated in the study. Data …

The Influence Of Embodied Cognition On Self-Efficacy, Self-Accountability, And Resilience In Women Affected By Social Expectations, Trudy D. Tabler

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Research has explored cognitive-based interventions to enhance psychological constructs; however, emerging evidence regarding embodied cognition principles, which examine how bodily experiences shape our thoughts and behaviors, may provide a more integrative approach. Self-efficacy, self-accountability, and resilience are essential psychological constructs that empower women to navigate challenges, pursue goals, and maintain agency in their lives. The research explored whether embodied cognition interventions (N=9) can disrupt automatic, conformity-driven behaviors and promote increased self-efficacy, self-accountability, and resilience in women compared to techniques that rely solely on cognitive reflection (N=8), or a control group (N=8). Findings from this randomized controlled pilot study did not …

Differentiated Instruction For Gifted Students In A North Carolina Title I School System: A Case Study, Kristal Land

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this case study was to explore the differentiation of instructional methods used for cluster-grouped gifted students in third through eighth-grade regular education classes at TCSS, a Title I school in North Carolina. For the research, differentiation for cluster-grouped gifted students was defined as students who have been identified as gifted and are grouped together, typically in clusters of three to more than 10 students in a regular education setting. In this environment, teachers differentiate instruction to meet the advanced learning needs of their students. The theory guiding this study is Gardner’s theory of multiple intelligences. Multiple intelligences …

A Quantitative, Causal-Comparative Study Of Black And White First-Year, First-Generation Students’ Adaptation To College, Shaunell Carter Mcgee

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this non-experimental, quantitative, causal-comparative study was to determine to what extent adaptation to college differs between Black and White first-year first-generation college students. The significance of this study lies in addressing limited literature examining the differences between Black and White first-year, first-generation students’ adaptation to college and offering insights that could be used as a basis to inform strategies for ensuring successful transition to and retention of these students in higher education. The sample included 149 participants aged 18-25 enrolled in an undergraduate four-year degree program at University A, located in South Georgia in the United States. …

Recommendations For Improving Undergraduate Music Education Student Teaching Opportunities At A Faith-Based College In The Southeastern United States, Molly E. Stephens

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Student teaching opportunities are the most valuable and foundational experiences in a music educator’s pre-service training. Foundational skills are often refined during student teaching experiences. These skills include critical thinking, pedagogical strategies, classroom management, and effective communication—all key elements of successful teaching. Student teaching opportunities serve as the bridge between course content and real-world application for young educators. The purpose of this study was to provide recommendations for strategies to improve student-teaching opportunities in the undergraduate music education program at a faith-based college in the southeastern United States. The problem was the limited scope and frequency of student teaching opportunities …

An Applied Study Of Mentorship Structures For Early-Career Secondary Choral Directors In A Texas School District, Kasie D. Kline

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Despite established preservice choral music education curricula in higher education, many early-career choral directors report feeling underprepared for the practical demands of professional teaching. Research in music education has documented challenges related to classroom management, administrative responsibilities, budgeting, and professional support during the transition from university training to classroom practice. While these concerns are well-documented, less attention has been paid to district-level structural factors that may either diminish or intensify early-career challenges. This applied study examines mentorship structures for early-career secondary choral directors within Liberty Hill Independent School District, with particular attention to differences between choral and band program staffing …

Leadership Technology Acceptance In Nonprofit Organizations, Nathan Ogle

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The lack of technology acceptance in substance use and recovery nonprofit organizations creates operational barriers and limits leaders’ ability to align mission, governance, service delivery, and sustainability with digital change. This qualitative, flexible design multiple case organization study examined leadership technology acceptance in California nonprofit substance use and recovery organizations and the effects on operational performance. Grounded in pragmatism and framed by adaptive leadership theory and the technology acceptance model, the study linked technology innovation, financial stability, governance, leadership barriers, and organizational life to technology acceptance, operational barriers, strategy, and leadership behaviors. Data came from interviews, surveys, field notes, and …

Mandated Reporting Experiences And Professional Quality Of Life Among Missouri K-12 Mandated Reporters, Kristina L. Gregory

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Child maltreatment is associated with significant developmental, psychological, and behavioral consequences for children. Educators often serve as frontline identifiers of suspected abuse and neglect and are legally required to report concerns to the state’s child welfare agency. The purpose of this quantitative, cross-sectional, correlational study was to examine relationships among mandated reporting exposure, perceived reporting ambiguity, trust in Missouri’s Children’s Division, and professional quality of life among Missouri K–12 school-based mandated reporters. Professional quality of life was measured through compassion satisfaction, burnout, and secondary traumatic stress. This study brings these factors together to better understand how educators’ reporting experiences and …

September 17, 2026, The Daily Mississippian

Daily Mississippian (all digitized issues)

No abstract provided.

"The Frontier Years In Florence", William Lindsey Mcdonald

Research Articles

The article presents a brief depiction of the frontier period of Florence, Alabama, including the infrastructure and early impactful figures.

"The Grave Of A Patriot's Widow", William Lindsey Mcdonald

Research Articles

The widow of Revolutionary War veteran, Brigadier General Levi Casey, Elizabeth Duckett Casey is buried in a Lauderdale County cemetery. The article offers a brief overview of her and her husband's lives, as well as information on the degradation of the cemetery she rests in.

"Interesting Facts About Florence", William Lindsey Mcdonald

Research Articles

A quick fact sheet about Florence, Alabama, including its infrastructure, notable figures, history, and natural features

"It Was Big News When The Whistles Blew", William Lindsey Mcdonald

Research Articles

The article presents a brief history of the rise of factories and industries in East Florence, Alabama in the late 19th Century through the lens of the experience of locals Charlie "C.D." and Melvin Brown.

"Lauderdale County Named For War Of 1812 Hero", William Lindsey Mcdonald

Research Articles

As the article's title suggests, Lauderdale County, Alabama was named after a veteran of the War of 1812 named Lieutenant Colonel James Lauderdale. The article offers a brief historical overview of the colonel.

"Man Buried Underneath Tennessee Street", William Lindsey Mcdonald

Research Articles

The article relates the brief narrative of local outlaw, "Mountain" Tom Clark, who is buried beneath Tennessee Street in Florence, Alabama.

"Green Hill", William Lindsey Mcdonald

Research Articles

The community of Greenhill in Lauderdale County, Alabama was named after Captain Green Berry Hill. The article relates a brief history of the community and its industries. In celebration of Green Hill's heritage, a historical marker honoring the industry of the Kennedy Gun Factory was unveiled with McDonald's delivery of the information. Information on the historical marker can be accessed here.

"The Forks Of Cypress", William Lindsey Mcdonald

Research Articles

The article is organized by headings and is concerned with the Forks of Cypress, James Jackson family, and thoroughbred horses. The headings are as follows:

• The Forks of Cypress, pg. 1
• The Plantation and Manor House, pg. 1
• James and Sarah Moore Jackson, pg. 1
• The Thoroughbred Farm, pg. 3
• James Jackson's Training Watch, pg. 4
• The Currier & Ives Prints and the Copy of the Historic Painting of the World Famous Glencoe, pg. 4

"History Of Wildwood Park", William Lindsey Mcdonald

Research Articles

A brief overview of the history of one of Florence, Alabama's oldest parks, Wildwood.

"The Merchant Prince", William Lindsey Mcdonald

Research Articles

The article gives an overview of the life of Richard Rapier, who McDonald refers to as "the merchant prince," one of the most prominent businessmen in 19th Century Florence, Alabama and his descendants. Rapier's exploitation of Suson, an enslaved woman, resulted in several children. Rapier's grandson, by way of his son John, James Rapier was elected to the US House of Representatives during Reconstruction.

"The Historic Indians Of Alabama And The Muscle Shoals", William Lindsey Mcdonald

Research Articles

The article presents a brief overview of the indigenous people who dwelt in Alabama and the Muscle Shoals region of the Tennessee River Valley. The article's content is organized by headings as follows:

• The Early Indians in Alabama, pg. 1
• The Alabamas, pg. 1
• Choctaws, pg. 2
• The Creek Nation, pg. 2
• Cherokees, pg. 3
• Chickasaw, pg. 4