Digital Commons Network^™

Experiences Of Resilient Military Veterans Transitioned To Education: A Hermeneutic Phenomenological Study, Troy Denward Busby

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenological study was to understand the lived experiences leading to high resilience in military veteran teachers employed in education roles in an international setting. The central research question of this study is: What are the resilience-building experiences of military veteran teachers? Deci and Ryan’s self-determination theory guided the study of veteran resilience, exploring the roles of competence, choice, and connection related to authentic learning, performance, and resilience. This study makes use of rich data collected from in-depth and multiple individual and focus-group interviews as well as a letter-writing prompt to generate themes, develop textural and …

Exploring Job Demands That Increase Burnout Rates Among Secondary, Public, Interrelated Special Education Teachers: A Hermeneutic Phenomenology, Wendy M. Turner

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenology is to understand the experiences of secondary, interrelated, public-school teachers in Georgia and their job demands and job resources that affect the development of burnout syndrome. There are two theories guiding this study: the burnout theory and the job demands-resources theory. These theories work together to frame understanding and guide the research questions for this phenomenological study. The burnout theory lays the foundation for identifying the characteristics of burnout syndrome while the job demands-resources theory allows us to identify specific characteristics of the job that can increase or decrease the likelihood of special education …

Cognitive Learning Strategies And Candidates In Teacher Education Programs: A Phenomenology, Nicole Kircher

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenological study was to explore the lived experiences of graduates from teacher education programs in the Western United States and their exposure to cognitive learning strategy instruction. The theory that guided this research is cognitive learning theory, which focuses on the internal processes surrounding memory and information. The research questions explored the experiences of teacher education program graduates with cognitive learning strategy instruction, how these programs incorporated cognitive learning strategies into their curriculum, and how graduates applied their knowledge of these strategies to their own teaching post-graduation. The chosen design was hermeneutic phenomenology, which is …

The Relationship Between Perceived Leadership Communication And Feedback On Job Satisfaction, Organizational Commitment, And Professional Isolation Of Remote Workers, Simone I. Orlowski

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting lockdown have significantly contributed to the fact that teleworking has established itself in all branches of industry. With remote working, communication mainly occurs via digital channels such as emails, chat platforms, or video conferencing, and leaders need to ensure that communication is clear, regular, and effective to avoid misunderstandings and promote collaboration. The purpose of this quantitative correlational study was to examine the relationship between effective communication and feedback from leadership with job satisfaction, organizational commitment, and professional isolation of remote employees. In a quantitative correlational study, participants were recruited from different branches in …

Wildlife Factors And Zoonotic Spillover In Sub-Saharan Africa, Bernard Mgba

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Zoonotic spillover, the transmission of infectious pathogens from animals to humans, is a critical public health concern in Sub-Saharan Africa. This study examines the role of wildlife factors in zoonotic spillover within this region, highlighting the complex interplay between human-wildlife interactions, environmental changes, and emerging zoonotic diseases. The research underscores that Sub-Saharan Africa is particularly vulnerable due to its rich biodiversity, cultural practices involving wildlife, and socioeconomic challenges. Factors such as habitat encroachment, wildlife consumption, and inadequate health infrastructure contribute to the heightened risk of zoonotic spillover. The study employs an online survey followed with a contextual analysis, and socioeconomic …

Family Communication Patterns Theory: A Mixed Methods Examination Of Single Mothers’ Communication Styles, Susan Renee Mattson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The mixed methods approach was used to research single mothers’ communication patterns. Fitzpatrick and Ritchie’s family communication patterns theory (FCPT) was used to guide the research. Online surveys and semi structured interviews were used to gather data that were analyzed through MAXQDA and SPSS software. The research examined factors such as age, culture, and the number of children a mother has in correlation to variables such as conformity and conversation orientation on the FCPT scale. The quantitative portion of the research revealed significant findings about culture and conformity orientation in single mothers from collectivist cultures. The qualitative section mirrored similar …

A Phenomenological Study Exploring The Experiences Of University Faculty Navigating The Diverse Environments Of Remote, Office-Based, Or Hybrid Work, Justen Gross

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

In this phenomenological qualitative analysis, the experiences of university faculty in diverse environments of remote, office-based, or hybrid work were explored. COVID-19 significantly impacted businesses and organizations' ability to function in the traditional office-based environment based on government restrictions and directives. Office-based work and remote work have been in place for some time. Hybrid work was a relatively new phenomenon that required additional exploration as little was known about hybrid working models. This study explored how diverse work environments, personal factors, social factors, and organizational factors influenced job stress and job satisfaction post-COVID-19 with staff and faculty at a large …

God The Protector: An Exposition Of Psalm 68’S Thematic Coherence On The Warrior God’S Care For The Oppressed, Michal Lynn Lee

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

From the beginning of the Creation saga, the Warrior God can be visualized taming the chaotic waters of the deep with the authoritative command of “Let there be light.” This theme catapults through the pages of Scripture and climaxes in the iconic scene of the end of the age as described in the book of Revelation where God as a warrior is meting out judgment against those whose faces have turned against him. Inherent in warrior character are aspects of strength, courage, righteousness, and sometimes even divine brutality. Within these warrior-istic characteristics of God is the trait of protector or …

The Psychological And Spiritual Experiences Of Christian Caregivers Of Physically Or Mentally Disabled Family Members, Doneshia Burns

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study aimed to understand the lived experiences of Christian caregivers caring for mentally or physically ill family members. This qualitative phenomenological study described the psychological and spiritual influence of caring for mentally or physically ill family members. The first question that the researcher attempted to answer was: What lived experiences do family caregivers experience when caring for loved ones with physical or mental disabilities? The second question that was explored was: How does caring for loved ones influence Christian family caretakers' spiritual well-being. The third question explored how caring for loved ones influences Christian family caretakers' psychological or mental …

Examining Educational Experiences Of Healthcare Providers Who Transitioned Into A Different Healthcare Role: A Phenomenological Study, Dustin P. Carnell

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to examine the educational experiences of healthcare practitioners seeking to transition into a different healthcare role. The theory guiding this study is adult learning theory, as this closely aligns with the learning experienced by advanced healthcare practitioners. This study answers the central research question, what are the experiences of healthcare professionals who seek additional education to transition into a different healthcare role? This study consists of an individual interview, focus group, and journal prompts to achieve triangulation and was distributed to healthcare workers across the United States who have transitioned roles in …

Special Education Teachers' Perspective On Burnout When Legal Counsel Is Part Of The Iep Team: A Phenomenological Study, Erin M. Squibb

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to understand teacher perceptions of special education teacher burnout rates when legal counsel or parent advocates are Individualized Education Program (IEP) team members in public schools in Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Virginia. The two theories guiding this study are the social cognitive theory and the job demands-resources model. Special education teachers are leaving the field at an alarming rate. It is essential to understand burnout specifically related to special education teachers. This study determined how fourteen special educators with varying years of teaching experience described their experience when an advocate or legal counsel was …

Gatekeeping The Choral Classroom: The Existence Of Caste System Levels In High School Choral Singing, Amber J. Klein

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The high school choral music sector has become increasingly competitive in education, leading to selectively allowing certain students into the choral classroom and fostering exclusionary practices within choral music instruction. The term "gatekeeping" may evoke a sense of unease and concern, although it refers to a long-standing system that has existed for centuries. Gatekeeping, which excludes pupils who do not meet the standards set by the competitive choral world, is a growing concern in music education. The all-ability choir movement has experienced gradual growth in urban areas following years of challenges that originated from implementing the No Child Left Behind …

The Experiences And Perceptions Of Open Educational Resources Creators And Adopters: A Phenomenological Study, Renee J. Lindsey

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this hermeneutical phenomenological study is to describe the experiences and perceptions of open educational resource creators and adopters at southeastern United States community colleges. The theory guiding this study is the connectivism learning theory developed by Siemens and Downes as it addresses how learning occurs through digital resources and tools. The central research question for this study is what are the lived experiences of community college educators who adopted and created open educational resources? The research design method for this qualitative study is a hermeneutical phenomenology to focus on the lived experiences of the study participants. The …

The Lived Experiences Of Male Nurses In Nursing Education: A Hermeneutic Phenomenological Study, James Robert Nolin

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenological study was to discover the lived experiences of male nurses currently in nursing academia to determine what attributes draw them and keep them in academic roles. The phenomenon was viewed through the lens of interpersonal relations theory, social learning theory, and hermeneutic phenomenology, looking for similarities and differences to discover the population’s views, beliefs, and experiences. The sample included 21 male nurses currently teaching in nursing programs. Semi-structured interviews, focus groups, and observations collected through field notes allowed for an in-depth understanding of the lived experiences of male nursing faculty. The data were analyzed …

The Correlation Between The Degree To Which Teachers Perceive Their Administrators As Exhibiting Collaborative Leadership Style Traits And Teacher Leader Job Satisfaction Levels, Megan M. Moffa

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this quantitative, predictive correlational study was to determine the predictive relationship between administrators’ use of collaborative leadership factors as perceived by teacher leaders and teacher leaders’ job satisfaction levels. The study was framed by collaborative leadership theory and job satisfaction theory and adds to the empirical evidence by examining the connection between administrators’ use of collaborative leadership and teacher leader needs. The research question explored how accurately teacher leader job satisfaction levels can be predicted from perceived administrator use of collaborative leadership traits. The study consisted of 112 pre-kindergarten through 12th grade teacher leaders in rural, suburban, …

Higher Education And Women In Leadership: Gender-Based Training For African American Women In Transformational Leadership, Chavon Anette Freeman

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Christian African American women in leadership have unique lived experiences. Although God calls women to lead, they often meet challenges in ministry and the marketplace. Developing into a great woman in leadership requires intentionality and preparation. This study explored the perceptions and perspectives of Christian African American women in senior leadership roles in ministry and wider corporate America. The qualitative research revealed the need to address gender and racial issues in higher education, develop gender-based training, and further transformational leadership development. The research design utilized interviews with ten open-ended questions to collect data. The study focused on Christian African American …

Mentorship Among Early Career Senior Pastors: Examining Whether Mentored Leaders Are Better Equipped To Lead, Shayla Lenai Hilton

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Early career senior pastors are often expected to confidently step into senior leadership positions with minimal support, direction, guidance and/or training. The support of an experienced mentor could potentially lessen the challenges for early career leaders. The purpose of this mixed-methods phenomenological study was to explore the effectiveness of mentorships for early career senior pastors who hold senior leadership positions in Christian churches in the United States. For the purposes of this study, a early career senior pastor is defined as an individual with 0-10 years of experience in a senior leadership position. The phenomenological study explored three questions: (1) …

The Development Of A Men’S Ministry At Remnant Church To Foster The Spiritual Leadership Development Of Men To Provide Leadership For Family, Church, And Community, Anthony L. Herron

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The problem this student seeks to address is that the Remnant Church in Midwest City, Oklahoma, does not have a men's ministry to develop men as spiritual leaders. The Remnant Church is a non-denominational church focused on growing and developing people to become more like Jesus Christ. The men of the Remnant Church do not meet regularly for discipleship or fellowship.

The men of Remnant Church are not organized to provide a network of support for men. Men need a support network within the church to develop spiritually. Men need a forum for discussing men's issues, such as leading in …

Chiropractic Patient Safety Education Experiences: A Phenomenological Study, Michael P. Moore

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study is to describe and interpret chiropractic educators’ experiences teaching patient safety competencies within the didactic portion of a Doctor of Chiropractic program in the Southern United States. The theory guiding the study is the information processing model. The study’s central research question is, what are the lived experiences of chiropractic educators teaching didactic patient safety courses? The study utilizes a hermeneutic phenomenological qualitative methodology. Data was collected via individual interviews, a focus group, and a protocol writing prompt. The data was collected from 12 chiropractic educators teaching patient safety competencies within the didactic portion …

Injury Prevalence Among Females Playing American Football, Anthea Warren-Williams

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

While extensive research has examined injuries in men's football, there is a significant lack of studies systematically investigating the types, patterns, and long-term effects of injuries among female football players. This study aimed to address this gap by investigating the types and frequencies of injuries sustained by female American football players. A recruitment letter was sent via email, and following approval, an anonymous online survey was distributed to collect data from participants about their injuries during the 2023 season. The study included 13 teams from the WFA Pro division, with a total of 647 players, recruiting 245 participants aged 19 …

The Impact Of 21st-Century Technology Teaching On Socio-Economically Challenged Students In Public High Schools: A Phenomenological Study, Duncan Kenneth Guishard

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative, transcendental phenomenological study was to understand the lived experiences of 10 teachers who have used 21st-century technology teaching methods in three U.S. public high schools (PHS), North, South, and West in the Mid-Eastern United States. Schlossberg’s transition theory guided this study and was used to address the central research question: What essential elements of 21st-century technology teaching practices do you believe can improve students’ performance and academic success in U.S. public high schools? The three sub-questions helped uncover the teachers’ lived experiences and perspectives using 21st-century technology teaching methods in public high schools. Purposeful sampling …

Divorce: A Phenomenological Study On Estrangement In Fathers In Older Adulthood, Janet H. Shaffer

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This proposed study will be to look at the phenomenon of estrangement framed in the family system theory through a Biblical lens. The qualitative interpretive approach will look at a minimum of ten individuals who have been or are currently experiencing the outcomes of familial estrangement that occurred between fathers and their adult children. This destructive phenomenon has been found to increase the risk of negative mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, chronic stress, feelings of grief, and loss for those within the family unit. The growing number of parent-adult-child estrangements highlights the need to study the lived experiences …

Identifying Higher Education Employee Experiences Using A Diffusion Of Innovations Checklist Planning For Knowledge Management Implementation: A Phenomenological Study, Eric Christopher Viets

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenology study was to understand the experiences of higher education employees planning to implement knowledge management through utilizing a diffusion of innovations checklist. Knowledge management is generally defined as the process of creating, sharing, using, and managing the knowledge and information of an organization. The theory guiding this study was the diffusion of innovations by Everett M. Rogers, as it provided a clear and comprehensive model of the stages of change and knowledge management implementation. The research questions sought to understand the experiences of ten higher education employees utilizing the diffusion of innovations checklist within …

Examining Parenting Styles And Dimensions As Predictors For Adolescents’ Perceived Life Satisfaction As Adults, Katelin Waddell

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Literature supports the idea that parenting practices have a lasting impact on an individual's life and development. The purpose of this quantitative study was to examine parental parenting styles, parental parenting dimensions, and independent adult child life satisfaction to determine what aspects of parental parenting styles are more likely to increase the chances of greater life satisfaction among males and female adults A sample of 94 adult participants were surveyed through Prolific to gather information on their perceived parental parenting styles, parental parenting dimensions experienced in childhood by their mother and their current level of perceived life satisfaction. Results indicated …

A Predictive Correlational Study Of The Relationship Between Two-Year College Faculty Participation In Professional Development And Career Commitment, Faculty Leadership, And Professional Service Activities, Deborah Josey Burks

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this predictive correlational non-experimental study was to examine the relationships between faculty participation in professional development, and career commitment, faculty leadership, and engagement in professional service activities. The predictor variable was faculty professional development and criterion variables were career commitment, faculty leadership, and engagement in professional service by faculty employed within two-year colleges in the southeastern United States. This study contained a convenience sample of 76 faculty employed at two-year colleges within a system of colleges. Data was gathered utilizing the combined self-reported Career Growth Opportunity Measure (Adams, 1999), the Teacher Leadership Inventory [TLI] (Angelle & DeHart, …

Attachment Security In Adult Offspring Of Parents With Narcissistic And Borderline Personality Disorder, Habiba Jessica Zaman

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Available research in understanding the correlation of insecure attachment in the offspring of caregivers with traits of personality disorders and how the two presents in adulthood includes the experiences from childhood to adolescence, though thus far, no other studies have been done to understand these variables into adulthood. This mixed methods study of 172 participants for the quantitative portion and 12 participants for the qualitative portion explored the impact of having an early childhood caregiver with Narcissistic or Borderline Personality Disorder characteristics on attachment styles and interpersonal relationships in adulthood. Online self-reports utilizing The Personality Inventory (PCL-5 Brief Form) to …

Evaluating The Relationship Between Retrieval Practice, Spacing And Interleaving, And Feedback-Driven Metacognition Tools For Learning And The Academic Achievement Of Students Living In Poverty, Angie Leigh Sholar Dutton

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study evaluated the relationship between learning tools such as retrieval practice, spacing and interleaving, and feedback-driven metacognition tools for learning and the academic achievement of students living in poverty as measured by reading pre and post -assessments. This study utilized a quantitative approach using a between-subjects design to determine if the learning tools have an impact on student reading achievement. Additionally, this study explored if a positive interaction between learning tool conditions and the reading achievement of third grade students pre and post reading assessments would be evident. At the conclusion of this study, a factorial analysis of variance …

Task Force 57: The British Struggle Of Implementing A Pacific Fleet, J Robert John Streit

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

By the Fall of 1941, the British were struggling to fight the German and the Axis powers in the European theater. The Royal Navy was occupied in the home, Atlantic, and Mediterranean waters and did not have the available ships to send to the Pacific. In December of 1941, the Japanese had not only attacked the Americans at Pearl Harbor, but also attacked Singapore and other British possessions, to include a small naval task force sent by the British as a deterrent to the Japanese. From December 1941 on, the British struggled to have enough forces to fight against the …

A Transcendental Phenomenological Study Of Faculty Perceptions Of A Humanistic Classical Education, Nils Ivan Borquist

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to understand the descriptions of experiences for faculty members at classical education curriculum academic institutions at the PreK-12 school level. The descriptions of experiences were defined as phenomenal experiences of faculty through the subjective lens. The theory guiding this study was the humanistic learning theory of education as it focuses on self-directed and self-evaluative classwork as well as the common use of canonical works to cultivate a desire for students to learn and study great texts for their entire lives. The Central Research Question asked “How do faculty at classical education institutions …

Exploring How Religiously Affiliated Schools’ Ecological Systems Influence Policies On Students With Disabilities, Michelle Lyon Bizeau

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this exploratory multiple-case study was to gain an understanding of the ecological systems that are most influential in how religiously affiliated schools establish their policies that ultimately include or exclude students with disabilities in California. The theory guiding this study was Urie Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems theory as it emphasizes that an individual’s development is influenced by dynamic interplay between individual characteristics and the broader social, cultural, and environmental contexts in which they live. The participants in this study were school leaders who were purposely selected as representatives of their primary and/or secondary religiously affiliated school located in …