Digital Commons Network^™

Fire, Covenant, Redemption: Biblical Fire Imagery And Covenant In The Bible, Tony O'Neal Hinton

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Understanding biblical signs and symbolism is essential for recognizing how God communicated and interacted with both the original people of the Bible and the modern church. A lack of this knowledge can often lead to misinterpretation of Scripture or the adoption of a false perception when the original context is neglected. From Genesis to Revelation, signs and symbols typically convey either literal or metaphorical meanings. Numerous passages throughout the Bible demonstrate that God used fire as a tool for various purposes. In fact, the King James Version records the term “fire” over 500 times, underscoring its prominence throughout Scripture. Fire …

Exploring Student Perceptions Of Higher-Education Social Media Presence: A Qualitative Descriptive Study Through The Lens Of The Theory Of Interactive Media Effects, Bobby Mikel

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

As higher-education institutions (HEIs) compete for prospective students in an increasingly saturated digital environment, effective communication on social media has become both essential and challenging. Guided by the cybernetic communication tradition and the theory of interactive media effects (TIME), this qualitative descriptive study explored how students perceived and engaged with social media content produced by HEIs. The study utilized a qualitative survey to explore students’ perceptions of social media content produced by an HEI in the southeastern United States. Additionally, a content analysis of social media posts was conducted to examine how the HEI engages with students. Findings revealed that …

Analyzing Discipline Rates For Students In Grades 6-12 With Emotional Disturbances: A Comparative Study Of Four Years Before And After The Covid-19 Pandemic., Maegan N. Ramsey

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This dissertation investigated the trends in discipline rates for students in grades 6-12 with emotional disturbances. It compared data from the four years prior to the COVID-19 pandemic (2016-2019) to the four years following its onset (2021-2024). Emotional disturbances can significantly affect students' behavior, often leading to higher rates of disciplinary actions within school settings. However, the impact of COVID-19 on these students, particularly in terms of remote learning, school closures, and shifts in behavioral norms, has yet to be fully explored. Using archival data from multiple middle and high schools, this study examined variations in suspensions and other disciplinary …

Mental Illness And The Role Of The Church, Shelle Mathis

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Mental illness remains a growing concern in society, prompting increased focus on the church’s role in offering support. The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to explore the beliefs, attitudes, and perceptions of pastors and congregants regarding mental illness and the stigmas associated with it. Sixteen adult participants, ages 31 to 65, from churches in Elyria and Lorain, Ohio, were interviewed through semi-structured questions. Thematic analysis revealed five key themes: stigma, overspiritualization, education and training, collaboration with mental health professionals, and resource accessibility and advocacy needs. Pastors with lived experience of mental illness expressed greater empathy and recognized the …

Evaluating Perceived Ease Of Use Of Augmented Reality In Aviation Maintenance: A Technology Acceptance Model Approach, Russell Quenten Gardner Jr.

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This quantitative study examines the perceived ease of use (PEU) of augmented reality (AR) technology among two key groups: aviation maintenance students, representing workforce readiness, and professional aircraft maintenance technicians, representing field expertise. This approach offers a comprehensive understanding of AR’s role in maintenance training by accounting for varying levels of participant experience. Addressing the need for innovative methods to improve task accuracy, efficiency, and knowledge retention, this study emphasizes user acceptance as a critical factor for AR adoption. Guided by the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), this research investigates how technician experience influences perceptions of AR’s usability and whether PEU …

The Impact Of Follower Conscientiousness On Leader-Member Exchange Quality: Exploring The Moderating Role Of Work Environment, H. A. Eliason

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Effective leadership is a vital component of an organization’s viability and competitive edge in today’s complex and dynamic environments. Leadership is not a one-directional act but instead a reciprocal process that shapes both individual experiences and organizational outcomes. Despite recognition of this reciprocal nature, a gap remains in understanding how specific contextual factors, such as individual personality traits or work environment, affect the quality of leader-member exchanges. At the same time, workplace relationships are undergoing momentous change and transformation as organizations shift between traditional, hybrid, and remote models in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. This study investigated the influence …

Enhancing Spiritual Care In Medical Missions Through A Contextual Apologetic Workshop, Jacob G. Caraotta

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

There is a lack of resources and a gap in the literature for training prayer teams for medical mission endeavors. The Contextual Apologetic Workshop, an intervention project, was designed to fill the gap in the literature by training participants in prayer, evangelism, and apologetics. It utilized the Contextual Apologetic System, a framework built around the Contextual Triad, which includes the cultural context, setting, and endemic religions that inform outreach dynamics and preparation. The cultural context identifies if the population is high- or low-context, and includes the subcultures. The setting refers to outreach types, such as medical missions or construction projects. …

Teacher Burnout In Education: A Phenomenological Study On The Mediating Role Of Psychological Safety Through Organizational Leadership, Darin G. Palmer

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to describe the lack of psychological safety that increases burnout for secondary education teachers at schools in the Southeastern United States. Ryan and Deci’s self-determination theory guided this study, aiming to provide valuable insights into how secondary education teachers’ sense of autonomy, competence, and relatedness within their work environment influences their experiences of burnout. The central research question of this study was: What are the burnout experiences of secondary education teachers in a low psychological safety environment? The methodology for this study included a transcendental study design utilized to sample 10 participants …

Male Post-Secondary Students’ Experiences With Social Isolation Enrolled In Online Classes: A Hermeneutic Phenomenological Study, Patrick Ide

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenological study was to describe the lived experiences of male post-secondary students enrolled in a large university in the western part of the United States who have felt socially isolated while participating in an online learning environment. At this stage of the research, social isolation was defined as the state of being distant or disconnected from others with limited or no in-person connections. The central research question is: What are the lived experiences of male post-secondary students enrolled in online academic programs who have experienced social isolation? Sub-questions addressed the level of connectedness and how …

The Influence Of Leadership Development On Organizational Citizenship Behavior: Moderated By Leader-Member Exchange, Christopher Houston

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This research study addressed the problem of lacking leadership development in the higher education industry and the reduction of organizational citizenship behavior (OCB). Increasing demands on higher education resulted in a need for improved leadership acumen across the industry, but inefficient and lacking development persists. This study evaluated a regional higher education institution of higher education in the Southwest to better understand how specific leadership development opportunities relate to organizational behavior. The research utilized the 24-item OCB survey and the LMX-7 survey to capture participant responses in combination with different leadership development participation responses. The findings indicated that while leadership …

A Case Study Exploring Lecanemab Antibody Infusion And Reminiscence Therapy For Early Alzheimer’S Disease, Martina Masry

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This case study examined whether a 12-month combined therapy (RT-L), which includes reminiscence therapy and lecanemab monoclonal antibody infusion therapy, will clear beta amyloid accumulation in the brain, slow cognitive decline, decrease depression, reduce anxiety, and increase the quality of life in a participant with mild cognitive impairment due to early Alzheimer’s dementia. The sample included one White female (age = 68) with mild cognitive impairment due to early Alzheimer’s disease who is currently being treated by a geriatrician at a facility in the Midwest. The outpatient treatment included a lecanemab antibody infusion of 10mg/kg every two weeks for 12 …

Factors Shaping Policy For Cybersecurity Resilience In Critical Infrastructure (Ci) Organizations: Proposing An Adaptive Cyber Resilience Policy Model (Acrpm), Raymond Pythias Friedman

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study examines the factors that influence cybersecurity resilience in private critical infrastructure (CI) organizations, with a focus on governance structures, internal controls, employee attitudes, and cybersecurity capabilities. Although the empirical focus is on private-sector entities, the findings bear significant implications for public policy, given the societal reliance on CI sectors such as energy, telecommunications, and water. Employing a convergent mixed-methods design, the study synthesizes quantitative survey data from cybersecurity professionals with qualitative case studies of CI organizations.

The analysis reveals that internal controls and employee attitudes are the most salient predictors of organizational resilience. Governance exerts an indirect influence …

Exploring The Fusion Of Technological Innovation And Education Among Higher Education Faculty Leaders In Distance Learning Programs: A Phenomenological Study, Jimmy Alexander Gomez

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenological study was to understand the influence of using emerging technologies on student learning outcomes for emergent faculty leaders at the College of Excellence in the Southwestern United States. The technological pedagogical content knowledge theory guided this study. The Central Research Question guiding this study was: What are the lived experiences of higher education faculty leaders influencing the use of emerging technologies to support student learning in distance learning programs? The integration of emerging technologies on student learning outcomes was generally defined as how new technologies can change student outcomes. The study included 10 emergent …

The Positive Influence Of Minority Male Educators: A Phenomenological Study On Their Role And Necessity In Education, Mark V. Sanders

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This phenomenological study examined the perceptions and experiences of minority male students in their educational journeys, focusing on the influence of teacher familiarity and cultural awareness. Teacher familiarity referred to shared cultural backgrounds, lived experiences, and relational accessibility that fostered meaningful connections between students and educators. Cultural awareness was examined in relation to minority male educators, who comprised less than 3% of the national educator workforce. Guided by Tinto’s Student Retention Theory, the study explored how academic and social integration influenced student retention and success. The central research question was: What were the experiences of minority male college students regarding …

Culturally Relevant Project-Based Learning: A Quasi-Experimental Study Of The Effect Of Playwriting Instruction On Student Perceptions Of School Racial Climate, Gerald W. Aungst

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this quantitative, quasi-experimental posttest-only nonequivalent control group study with matched comparison groups was to determine if any differences exist in perceptions of school racial climate in four areas—quality of interaction, promotion of cultural competence, cultural socialization, and critical consciousness socialization—among middle-school students receiving culturally relevant project-based writing instruction, standard project-based writing instruction, and traditional writing instruction when controlling for prior English language arts achievement. A convenience sample of at 83 middle school students in two urban schools in Pennsylvania were given project-based playwriting instruction by a nonprofit arts organization. One similar school served as a control. Student …

Exploring The Perceptions Of Community College Leaders: Active Learning Strategies For Enhancing Student Engagement And Learning Outcomes, Bradley Robbins

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this case study is to understand the perceptions of community college leaders about active learning strategies and their role in implementing these strategies on the campus of a rural community college in the east-central region of a southern state in the United States. The theory guiding this study is the self determination theory by Deci and Ryan as it frames the exploration within the fundamental psychological needs of autonomy, competence, and relatedness. The central research question of this study is: What do community college leaders perceive about active learning strategies and their impact on student learning outcomes? …

Training Timothy: An Analysis Of Discipleship And Leadership Development In Multicultural Churches, Philip Thomas

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

As America’s social and cultural landscape continues to diversify, churches face the challenge of fostering contextually relevant, biblically grounded communities characterized by unity in Christ. Church leaders play a crucial role in this process by articulating a shared mission that transcends humanistic cultural differences and working towards a unifying biblical culture, based on a common understanding and vocabulary. The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to examine how church leaders were selected, developed, and mobilized in Protestant multicultural churches in America to create a unifying biblical culture through biblical discipleship in a multicultural context. For this study, discipleship was …

Left Of The Boom: Addressing Burnout Before It Occurs, William S.D. Vernon

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study examined healthcare burnout, focusing on both organizational and individual factors that contribute to it, as well as mitigation strategies. Healthcare burnout increases the risk of harm to healthcare workers as well as their patients. Participants of the study included healthcare workers with direct experience in burnout. The aim was to understand their personal experiences, the actions, both individual and organizational, that contribute to burnout, and the methods that have been used with varying success to address it. The study also explored the connection between self-determination theory and the areas-of-work-life model, along with participants’ insights into contributing actions and …

Ancient Astronaut Theory And Christian Belief Among Evangelical Millennials: A Quantitative Exploratory Cross-Sectional Study, Richard Barry Bazzell

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this quantitative, exploratory, non-experimental, cross-sectional study was to explore the possible influence of the Ancient Astronaut Theory upon Evangelical Christian millennials in the aspects of their biblical worldview, belief in the triune God, and Christian praxis. The researcher structured the study upon four pillars: (a) Evangelical millennials, (b) Evangelical theology, (c) Lev Vygotsky’s social constructivism, and (d) Eric Von Däniken’s Ancient Astronaut Theory. The study population was Evangelical millennials in the state of Texas. The study’s instrumentation was a researcher-designed 5-point Likert scale survey titled Ancient Astronaut Theory–Evangelical Christian Millennials (AAT–ECM). Because the respondents were fewer in …

Exploring The Relationship Between Becoming A Parent, Goal Orientation, And Productivity, Among Self-Employed Entrepreneurs, Andrew Dean East

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This quantitative study explored the relationship between parenting status and goal orientation and productivity among self-employed entrepreneurs. Using a sample of 471 participants, the study compared entrepreneurs with and without children under five years of age living at home to examine group differences, relational patterns, and potential moderation effects. No statistically significant differences were found in goal orientation or productivity between parents and non-parents, indicating that early-stage parenting does not inherently hinder these traits. However, a small but statistically significant positive correlation was observed between goal orientation and productivity, suggesting that individuals with higher internal motivation reported slightly greater productivity, …

Practice Research Collaboratives: Promising Communities Of Research?, Sidsel Natland, Bowen Mcbeath, Heidi Muurinen, Marianne Wyder, Mike Austin

School of Social Work Faculty Publications and Presentations

Purpose: This article reflects an analysis of the establishment and development of the Practice Research Collaborative on Organizational Supports (PRC-OS) within the International Community of Practice Research. The basic thesis concerns the importance of building intersecting special interest groups to form communities of research practice.

Methods: The study is a qualitative case study, consisting of diverse data as written documents, field notes, and participative observation. A thematic and abductive analysis was conducted.

Results: Sharing of practices and knowledge, values and ethos are important factors to develop the PRC-OS, as is also negotiations on participation and organization. These themes are intertwined …

Target Consumers For Bottled Tart Cherry Juice, Kynda R. Curtis, Makaylie Langford, Karin E. Allen, Ruby Ward

All Current Publications

A study was conducted by Utah State University (USU) in the fall of 2024 to determine western U.S. consumer preferences and willingness to pay for regionally sourced processed food products. Researchers examined consumer preferences, purchasing habits, and pricing for three processed food products, one of which was bottled tart cherry juice (32-ounce bottle). This fact sheet describes the target market (consumer group) for bottled tart cherry juice. Target consumers were identified as those who consume tart cherry juice at least several times weekly.

Collaborative Co-Design For Local Blue Food System Transformation:: The Practicalities And Challenges Of The Uk's (Foodsequal) 'Plymouth Fish Finger' Pilot Study, Louise Hunt, Clare Pettinger, Roussa Tsikritzi, Carol Wagstaff

School of Health Professions

Purpose: UK food system transformation is urgently needed but blue foods (fish) have been only minimally part of this discourse. Informed by community action research in a UK southwest coastal city, fish was identified as a food commodity for food system innovation, leading to local collaborative ‘co-design’ of an iconic British food. The ‘Plymouth Fish Finger’ pilot assessed the practicalities and challenges of this social innovation and its provision into the school meal system. Design: Exploratory creative mixed methods mapped the journey of the Fish Finger as a social innovation. Methods drew on ‘co-production’ approaches, involving Community Food Researchers (CFR), …

Development Of Artificial Intelligence-Based Learning Media Using Powtoon Animation With A Joyful Learning Approach To Support Ppl Activities For Pre-Service Ppg Students, Zihan Novita Sari, Evania Yafie, Muhammad Alfan, Qorry Armen Gemael, Paundra Wangsa Fajar Kusuma

Jurnal Pendidikan: Teori, Penelitian, dan Pengembangan

Although Artificial Intelligence (AI) has the potential to create adaptive and engaging instructional media, its application in the teaching practicum of pre-service teacher education students remains suboptimal. During field teaching practice, most pre-service teachers still rely on conventional methods and non-interactive media, resulting in learning that is teacher-centered, less engaging, and unable to accommodate diverse student needs. This condition leads to limited student participation, low classroom interaction, and ineffective delivery of material. Therefore, the development of AI-based learning media is necessary to support more interactive, personalized, and meaningful teaching practices aligned with 21st-century learning demands. This study aims to develop …

Collaborative Learning In Occupational Therapy Graduate Education: Student And Faculty Perspectives, Erin Simpson, Caren Schranz

Journal of Applied Disciplines

Collaborative learning is noted as an effective strategy for learning and engagement in graduate school. Collaborative learning specific to occupational therapy (OT) graduate learning supports opportunities to work with peers and prepare for professional practice by expanding critical thinking, interpersonal and teamwork skills. This study explored the benefits and challenges of collaborative learning in occupational therapy graduate programs from the perspective of both students and faculty. A cross-sectional descriptive design gathered student and faculty perspectives through closed and open-ended questions. Data analyzation used descriptive statistics of close-ended questions and content analysis of open-ended questions using frequency of the words or …

Leadership Development Of Primary School Teachers Graduated From The “Program Pendidikan Guru Penggerak” In Sleman Regency, Abdulloh Bustomi, Dwi Esti Andriani

Jurnal Pendidikan: Teori, Penelitian, dan Pengembangan

The main focus of this research aims to find out: 1) principals' views on teacher leadership; 2) principals' views on the urgency of teacher leadership development; and 3) the extent of teacher leadership development that has been carried out by principals. This study used a qualitative method with a phenomenological approach. Qualitative data were obtained from 8 principals at the primary school level in Sleman Regency whose schools have teachers who are graduates and non-graduates of the teacher leadership education program. The method used was semi-structured interviews. Qualitative data analysis used a thematic analysis model to analyze the principals' views. …

Forhan Bin Emdad, Forhan Emdad

Faculty Research Mixer

No abstract provided.

Book Review: "Take Your Own Advice" By Jeffrey Marsh, Kristy Carlisle

Journal of Human Services Scholarship and Interprofessional Collaboration

This review examines Take Your Own Advice by Jeffrey Marsh as a teaching tool for cultivating ethical presence, mindfulness, and professional identity in human services and counseling education. Grounded in compassion-based, trauma-informed principles, Marsh’s eight guiding rules invite readers to shift from control and perfectionism toward authenticity, acceptance, and values-based living. These concepts directly reflect mindfulness and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) practices and expound upon self-compassion, boundary awareness, and cultural humility. Through workbook activities, students find ways to practice emotional regulation and ethical reflection. Drawing connections to the Council for Standards in Human Service Education (CSHSE) and Council for …

Predator Exclusion Grids Protect Common Terns From Avian Nest Predators At Presqu’Ile Provincial Park, Lake Ontario, Jennifer M. Arnold, Stephen A. Oswald, Donald J. Tyerman, Michael J. Barker

Ontario Birds

Common Tern (Sterna hirundo) breeding populations in inland areas of North America have experienced significant declines, particularly in the Canadian waters of the lower Great Lakes. Once home to two-thirds of the Great Lakes population, Presqu’ile Provincial Park maintained only a small breeding colony of Common Terns from the 1970s to the early 2010s. In 2008, a research program was started to understand the population status of this colony. This involved close collaboration between faculty at Penn State University and Ontario Parks staff, and identified poor reproductive success at this site. Although many factors contributed to this poor reproductive success …

Loafing And Sleeping Behaviour Of Trumpeter Swans, Harry G. Lumsden, Gerry Markhoff, Gary Lane, Allan Scott

Ontario Birds

An observational study of loafing and sleeping behaviour of Trumpeter Swans was conducted in southern Ontario throughout the year in 2018 and 2019. Like other birds, these swans have the ability to close down one brain hemisphere at a time during rest, which is indicated by eye closure. We quantified rates of closure of eyes during sleeping bouts for both breeding and non-breeding swans. Single eye closure varied in frequency, duration and in terms of which hemisphere was shut down. Increasing duration of eye closure over time indicated an increased sense of security with surrounding in one mated pair. Proportion …