Digital Commons Network^™

The Integration Of Multicultural Music And Defining Successful Integration Of Multicultural Music In Three Predominantly White Churches In Baltimore, Maryland: A Case Study, Homeretta Ayala

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

It is important to acknowledge the words in Scripture honoring people of all ethnic groups as cities and therefore churches become more diverse. Baltimore, Maryland is a diverse city, with numerous ethnic communities including those of Italian, Greek, African American, African, Hispanic, and Jewish descent; many churches, however, remain predominantly White. Music is an essential element in worship, and some churches are limited to the ethnic hymns of their congregational hymnals, thus ignoring the wide body of multicultural music that is available. There are numerous challenges when integrating multicultural music, especially if the congregation is not ethnically diverse. At first …

Investigating The Impact Of Childhood Trauma On Marital Satisfaction: A Moderated Multiple Regression Analysis, Clarence Duff

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Childhood trauma and its negative impact on adult life is well documented as a growing global concern and has been a focus of research for many years. A growing body of literature has demonstrated its impact on psychological and physical health, as well as emotional and social well-being. However, research on how it affects marital satisfaction and variables that moderate this relationship is unexplored. Using the Adverse Childhood Experience questionnaire (ACE) and Pearson correlation, the study examined the relationship between childhood trauma and marital satisfaction. Furthermore, a linear multiple linear regression was used to examine whether Experience in Close Relationship …

Measuring Depression, Anxiety, Stress And Burnout In Paramedics, Dispatchers, And Call Takers Of Western Canada, Nahum Chi Heng Ip

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The following dissertation examines depression, anxiety, stress, and burnout in dispatchers and paramedics of Western Canada. This study is meant to bridge a research gap in mental health among emergency health workers in British Columbia, Canada. The samples were collected through two self-reporting surveys, the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-21) and the Maslach Burnout Index (MBI), both of which are strongly validated and widely used in similar research. Of the 948 dispatchers and paramedics who participated, 771 (81.3%) responses qualified to be included. The data was entered into the Intellectus software where a variety of tools were utilized to …

The De-Westernization Of Music Education Through World Music, Alec Williams

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study reviews the variety of qualitative research studies that examine the effects of world music in the classroom across different classroom settings. Other studies explore the reactions of the students when presented with music from various cultures and diverse musical identities from around the world. These research studies reveal the importance of exposing students to different cultures, spark a new interest in cultural music, and provide information on the overall effects of artistic exposure. The results of the studies have shown positive influences on students exposed to a World Music class. The importance of cultural inclusion lies in its …

Organizational Crisis Management: Addressing Professional Misconduct In Modern Workplaces, Christina Nizamidou, Martin Sposato

All Works

Since the 1970s, governments and organizations across the globe have achieved tremendous progress against sexual harassment (SH), especially in the workplace. However, the number of organizations suffering from this crisis has increased significantly over the past few years. Based on an overview of SH crises -that have received extra media coverage since 2014- this paper explores whether organizations managed to learn from these crises. Compared to other crises, SH scandals produce a higher magnitude of provocation within society. An individual's act, based on their perception that the influence of power can be exchanged for sexual favors, destroys a business's global …

The Relationship Between Emotional Intelligence And Decision-Making, Nelson Fernandes

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This qualitative phenomenological study explores how leaders with high emotional intelligence (EI) experience and describe decision-making in personal, organizational, and leadership contexts. Guided by Rational Choice Theory (RCT), Behavioral Decision Theory (BDT), and Moon’s (2021) emotional intelligence framework, the study integrates psychological perspectives with biblical principles to examine how self-awareness, emotional regulation, and interpersonal awareness contribute to ethical and effective decision-making. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with ten to fifteen purposively selected participants identified as possessing high levels of emotional intelligence. The findings indicate that leaders with high EI view emotions as informational resources rather than obstacles and intentionally integrate emotional …

Navigating Labor Challenges In The Hotel Industry: A Managerial Approach, Alen Sardarian

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The hotel industry faces a critical shortage of qualified service workers. This HR problem poses an operational and strategic challenge that undermines delivering quality customer service. In relation, this study investigated the HR managerial struggle to recruit and retain an adequate number of service workers to meet the labor demands of the luxury hotel sector. Based on social exchange theory, this research explored how motivational features such as flexible scheduling, career advancement opportunities, training, and employee rewards function as reciprocal exchange mechanisms between the HR management and service workers, thereby influencing recruitment and retention outcomes. The study incorporated a flexible …

The Implementation Of The Collaborative And Proactive Solutions Model To Influence A Decrease In Students’ Maladaptive Behaviors In K-12 School Settings In The United States: A Phenomenological Qualitative Study, Amy Rachel Wilhite-Stauffer

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this study was to understand the experiences of implementing the CPS model to reduce students’ maladaptive behaviors for teachers and providers in K-12 school settings in the United States. Bandura’s social learning theory (SLT) was the theoretical framework on which this study has been based. The central research question was: What are teachers' and providers' experiences implementing the CPS model, and what is the perceived influence on decreasing students’ maladaptive behaviors? A transcendental phenomenological study was conducted, comprising a sample size of 10 teachers and providers from the Northeast Region of the United States who have utilized …

Understanding K-12 Public High School Teachers’ Perceptions Of Artificial Intelligence In Education: A Phenomenological Study, Jackie Samantha Mcallister

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to understand high school teachers' perceptions of artificial intelligence in education (AIEd) in a K-12 public school district in the northeastern U.S. The theory guiding this study was Bandura’s self-efficacy theory, which provided insights into how teachers’ beliefs about their technology capabilities likely influence their motivation and decisions to integrate AI into the educational process to enhance teaching and learning. The central research question was, “How do K-12 public high school teachers perceive the integration of artificial intelligence in education”? The problem was studied using the qualitative research methodology, transcendental phenomenology. The study …

Perceptions Of Ischaemic Heart Disease Risk Among Indian Migrants In Australia: A Qualitative Study, Kunwar Kaur, Ma'en Zaid Abu-Qamar, Amineh Rashidi, Nilufeur Mckay, Rosemary Saunders

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background: Ischaemic heart disease (IHD) is a global health issue, with people of Indian origin facing earlier onset and more severe cases, leading to higher mortality at younger ages compared to Western countries. Indian migrants maintain similar risks post-migration. Managing modifiable risk factors and improving risk knowledge and health-seeking behaviours are essential, but research on IHD risk perceptions among Indian migrants is limited. Aim: This study explores how first-generation Indian migrants perceive their IHD risk and the factors influencing these perceptions. Methods: As a component of a mixed- method study, a qualitative descriptive study design was employed to examine study …

2026 Furman University Scholarship Reception Program, Micah Wingard, Kathie Sloan

Libraries Institutional Records

On February 13, 2026, the Libraries and the Office of the Provost hosted the Furman University Scholarship Reception. The reception showcased scholarly publications, creative works, and professional accomplishments of Furman faculty or staff from the 2024 calendar year. It highlighted Furman faculty and staff who completed a degree, received a grant from an external funding source totaling more than $1,000, and/or published books, book chapters, journal articles, exhibits, recordings, performances, films, or other works. The following Furman presenters provided four-minute speeches about their scholarly or creative works:

• Diane Boyd, Associate Dean and Executive Director, Faculty Development Center
• Kathleen Casey, Professor …

Punishment And Regret, Michelle Madden Dempsey

Faculty Publications

This essay is a contribution to a symposium on Adam Kolber’s Punishment for the Greater Good. As the title suggests, the essay focuses on the issues of punishment and regret. Its main thrust is a critique of Kolber’s failure to acknowledge the salience of retrospective normativity. This failure divorces Kolber’s attempt to justify punishment from our actual current carceral practices, which are fundamentally backward-looking responses to past (actual or supposed) wronging. It also limits Kolber’s ability to account for the normative reasons we have to regret these practices: mistaking regret as solely a matter of feeling and human psychology, while …

Navigating Risk Factor Disclosures: A New, Outlier Ninth Circuit Approach Remains After The Supreme Court Declines To Resolve A Circuit Split In In Re Facebook Securities Litigation, Jessica K. Kocinski

San Diego Law Review

This Casenote examines the implications of the Supreme Court’s recent decision in Amalgamated Bank to dismiss Facebook’s writ of certiorari as improvidently granted, thereby allowing the shareholders’ securities fraud class action lawsuit to proceed in the lower courts.  Specifically, it focuses on whether Facebook shareholders adequately alleged securities fraud under Section 10(b) and Rule 10b-5 as to challenged risk factor disclosures in Facebook’s 2016 Form 10-K under the PSLRA’s heightened pleading standard.  Part II of this Casenote provides background on the Cambridge Analytica data breach, which Facebook allegedly failed to disclose in its 2016 Form 10-K risk factor disclosures.  Part …

What Is Happening In The World Today And Why: Humanity’S Evolving Consciousness And The Role Of Archetypal Energies As Guides During An Unfolding, Carroy U. Ferguson

Journal of Conscious Evolution

What is happening in the world today and why? Humanity is evolving its consciousness at individual and collective levels. Given these seemingly tumultuous times, as of this writing (January 2026), to make such a statement may sound like a strange thing to say. However, I suggest that if you are alive today and if you are reading these words, these are the very times for which you were born—to assist Humanity as it evolves its consciousness with your unique gifts, whatever they may be. That is, this period of our individual and collective human being-ness may be characterized as an …

Burnout, Perceived Organizational Support, And Spirituality: In Msd Special Educators, Bianca Grider Fisher

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This quantitative correlational research study explored whether burnout (BO) is correlated with perceived organizational support (POS) in special education teachers (SETs) working with moderate to severe disabilities (MSDs) students during distress, and whether spirituality moderates the correlation. SETs working with MSD students face a heightened risk of BO, yet there is little literature exploring how organizational or spiritual resources help. Exploring these factors is necessary to strengthen SETs’ well-being. Guided by the Organizational Support Theory, theoretical frameworks on BO, Maslow's Theory on Spirituality and Hierarchy of Needs, the Cognitive Appraisal Approach, and biblical truths, this study explored how internal and …

Examining The Influence Of High School Work-Based Learning Experiences On Post-Secondary Employment For Adults With Disabilities: A Case Study, Sarah Denhartog

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this case study was to discover how work-based learning during high school was utilized to support successful post-secondary employment outcomes for young adults with high-incidence disabilities in a suburban area of a southeastern state. The theory guiding this study was Albert Bandura's social cognitive theory as it explains how observational learning, self-efficacy, self-regulation, and reciprocal determination affect the learning process. The central research question for this study was: How was work-based learning utilized to support successful post-secondary employment for young adults with high-incidence disabilities in a suburban area of a southeastern state. To answer the research questions, …

Human Trafficking: A Phenomenological Analysis Of Indiana Law Enforcement Human Trafficking Training Effectiveness, Keeley Chelise Keasler Adams

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Human trafficking is a rapidly growing, pervasive issue that threatens the fundamental human rights of every man, woman, and child across the globe. Human trafficking is one of the most lucrative illicit organized crime businesses in the world, and as the fueled demand for cheap labor, services, and commercial sex continues to reach stifling rates, law enforcement organizations are desperately seeking to identify ways to effectively combat this critical issue. Today’s advanced technology and transport systems have enabled human traffickers to expand operations to every country, including the United States. Although every state in the United States is affected, reliable …

Institutional Factors Contributing To Child Sexual Abuse In Independent Baptist Churches: A Phenomenological Study, Adam Stephen Pearlstein

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study is to describe childhood sexual abuse survivor’s within Independent Baptist Churches experiences reporting and engaging with church leaders about their abuse in the United States. While there is great variety within these churches, they typically share a similar style of church leadership and accountability structures for that leadership. Tragically, child sexual abuse within these churches is far too common, as is demonstrated both by scientific research and by stories reported by journalists. This study will seek to look into both the ecclesiology of the church structures of these Independent Baptist churches and into teachings …

School Social Workers In Practice: A Transcendental Phenomenological Study On Understanding Role Navigation And Providing Mental Health Support In Educational Settings, Jennifer J. Bowers

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This transcendental phenomenological study examined the lived experiences of school social workers as they navigated their professional roles in supporting student mental health within educational settings. Grounded in Organizational Role Theory and Ecological Systems Theory, the study explored the meanings participants assigned to their roles, the challenges they encountered, and factors that supported or hindered their work. Purposeful sampling was used to recruit 11 licensed and unlicensed school social workers employed in the South Florida Tri-County area. Data were collected through in-depth, semi-structured interviews and analyzed using epoché, horizontalization, and thematic clustering. Findings revealed four interrelated themes: navigating roles and …

The Impact Of Communication On Generational Trauma, Claudia Abalo

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Trauma has occurred since God made man, and it has been passed down through generations. Now, even though generational trauma may not end until our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ returns (Revelations 21:4), in the meantime, the Scriptures encourage us to love one another as God loves us (John 13:34-35), to care for each other, and to share our burdens with one another (Galatians 6:2). However, there is limited research as to whether sharing our burdens such as discussing traumatic experiences within the home impacts generational trauma. Therefore, this qualitative, interpretative phenomenological study aimed to answer how the children of …

Autistic Mothers And Intimate Partner Violence (Ipv): An Intersectional Analysis Of Vulnerability And Systemic Barriers, Rachel D. Bailey

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to explore how autistic mothers raising children with autism describe the support they received and the barriers they faced when leaving an IPV environment. The guiding theory for this study was Ecological Systems Theory, which was utilized to explore vulnerability to exploitation through aggressive abuse histories, normalization of violence, and the inability to see red flags in potential relationship partners. Intersectionality was utilized to examine how the interplay of abuse, autistic traits, race, socioeconomic states, and gender created a complex and challenging situation for autistic mothers affected by intimate partner violence. Eight …

Leading In The Unexpected: Adaptive Leadership And Time Management, A Phenomenological Study Of The Small Church Pastor, Simorrah J. Majors

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

One of the most challenging obstacles small church pastors face today may be managing their time. This qualitative phenomenological study explored the lived experiences of the use of time management within the scope of church leadership and administration, as perceived through the lens of pastors ages 35 to 80 who are either the senior or sole pastor or elder at small trinitarian Protestant churches in the United States Northeast Region. Time management is generally defined as organizing and planning how to divide time between different activities and functions. The theory guiding this study is Ronald Heifetz's (2009) Adaptive Leadership theory …

The Security And Defense Of This Province: General Frederick Haldimand’S Intelligence Operations In North America, 1754-1783, Ryan L. Wagner

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Sir Frederick Haldimand, the unintentional father of Canada, was a pioneering strategist whose sophisticated use of intelligence secured British North America during the American Revolution and shaped the continent’s permanent geopolitical division. Moving beyond traditional American-centric historical narratives, this study argues that Haldimand’s success stemmed from a superior “all-source fusion” methodology, which systematically integrated Human Intelligence (HUMINT) from a remarkably diverse network of Loyalists, Indigenous allies, and French Canadians, with Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT), and administrative data. His network excelled at statecraft and non-kinetic warfare, differentiating his efforts from his contemporaries and establishing him as a foundational figure in modern intelligence …

The Lived Experiences Of Nontraditional Students And The Innovative Strategies Higher Education Leaders Can Implement To Support Their Success: A Phenomenological Study, Fernando Jose De Oliveira Castro

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenological study was to understand the experiences and strategies employed by nontraditional college students to achieve academic success at public universities in Massachusetts. Nontraditional student experiences were generally defined as the ways in which adult learners, part-time students, and those balancing work and family responsibilities navigated challenges, used support systems, and developed strategies to persist in higher education. The central research questions this study was: How do innovative strategies and support systems contribute to the lived experiences of nontraditional students’ success in Massachusetts’s higher education institutions? I employed Ryan and Deci’s (2017) self-determination theory to …

The Development And Maturity Of Borderline Personality Disorder In Modern Times, Kevin M. Reynolds

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is a dynamic condition that significantly varies between afflicted individuals, with a diverse variety of contributing factors in terms of symptom manifestation. Better comprehending BPD is essential in generalizing the contributing, etiological factors of the condition to broad demographics. Unfortunately, the existing research has failed to accomplish this goal, usually only studying how the condition and its symptoms manifest in Caucasian females. This study focused on closing this gap by discovering links between broader demographics within the context of etiology, comorbidities, and spiritual affiliation. This quantitative study involved collecting etiology, symptom, comorbidity, and spirituality data from …

Post-Pandemic Social Distance: A Qualitative Study Of Communication Barriers In Post-Pandemic Education, Stephen Everett Ford

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This qualitative study investigates communication barriers in post-pandemic rural K-12 education, emphasizing how the shift from traditional classrooms to COVID-19 virtual environments altered interactions among teachers, students, parents, and administrators. The literature review draws on transactional distance theory and computer-mediated communication, supported by related theories addressing digital inequality, communicative noise, and classroom norm breakdowns. Research questions focus on (1) differences between pre- and post-pandemic education, (2) comparative quality of virtual versus face-to-face learning, and (3) whether teachers feel supported by administration and the board of education. Methods include a qualitative case study of five rural Oklahoma districts (C, 2A, 3A, …

Coordinated Management Of Meaning In U.S.-Russia Relations: How Meanings Shaped Communication Surrounding The Potential Invasion Of Ukraine, Russell James Hampsey

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This qualitative discourse analysis applies the coordinated management of meaning theory to examine the diplomatic interactions between the United States and Russia from November 2021 to February 2022, the critical negotiation period preceding the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Systematically applying the theory’s hierarchy of meanings model to the official discourse resulted in the segmentation of 1,428 official texts for analysis. Comparative coding of the data exposes how worldviews and recursive feedback patterns shape adversarial postures, perpetuate negotiation impasses, and prevent the emergence of co-constructed meaning. This research illuminates how national meanings are actively constructed and maintained through discursive interaction, reinforcing …

Analyzing The Effects Of Supervisors’ Conduct On The Persistent Stress Experienced By Nevada Law Enforcement Officers, Kendra D. Still

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This quantitative study aimed to identify the specific actions of supervisors that contribute to chronic stress among law enforcement officers in Nevada. Chronic stress is a common issue in law enforcement and can have detrimental effects on officers’ mental and physical well-being. Despite the acknowledgement of supervisors' actions as a significant stressor for officers, there is a lack of research specifically addressing the actions that officers perceive as most stress-inducing, particularly in Nevada. This research gap hinders efforts to address and alleviate these stressors, allowing them to persist and impact officers' well-being. To address this gap, a Likert-scale survey was …

From Military Service To Civilian Life: Nature Intervention In Vha Psychiatric Care, Austin T.B. Corbett

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of implementing nature- based interventions in locked psychiatric units of the Veterans Health Administration to support veterans during military- to- civilian transition who experience severe mental health crises. The transition from military service to civilian life represents one of the most significant psychological adjustments and individuals can experience, involving fundamental changes in identity, social structure, purpose, and daily routine. This transition creates vulnerability for developing mental health conditions including PTSD, anxiety, and depression. Veterans experiencing severe health mental crises during transition often require intensive inpatient psychiatric care, yet current VHA …

Attitudes Of Postpartum Women Accessing Women, Hayley Logan

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

There is an increase in substance use and mental health concerns among postpartum women. Although primary care, behavioral health, and integrative care services are available to postpartum women to increase wellness, these services are not being accessed. While there have been many barriers and challenges identified with postpartum women accessing services, stigma around services has been identified as the most common barrier. This led to looking at the attitudes that postpartum women have regarding accessing these services to improve wellness. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore postpartum women’s attitudes toward accessing behavioral health services, primary care services, …