Digital Commons Network^™

Teachers’ And Parents’ Perception Of The Impacts Of Social Skills Education Among Learners With Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Phenomenological Qualitative Study, Marian Baffoe Bonnie

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to understand the perceptions of the impacts of social skills learning for teachers and parents at a preschool in a central African country. The theory that guided this study was Premack and Woodruff’s theory of mind as it provides a scholarly underpinning for understanding the social and communication deficits experienced by individuals with autism. The central research question that guided the study was: How do teachers and parents perceive the impacts of social skills education among children with autism spectrum disorders? A qualitative methodology using a phenomenological design was used. Purposive sampling was …

Exploration Of The Impact Of Social Isolation And Intimate Partner Violence On Combat-Wounded Veteran Caregivers, Kassandra Lyn Orrick

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of the study was to help bridge the gap in understanding the relationship between caregivers and the impact that caring for a combat-wounded veteran has on their relationship with society, and whether social isolation gives way to an increase in domestic violence. In addition, this study explored the biblical implications of caring for combat-wounded individuals and how to better serve those who care for society's wounded. The population comprised 49 combat-wounded veteran caregivers who were assigned anonymous surveys and contacted via various military caregiver sites or organizations. Participants completed a survey that will track their demographic information, along …

Flexible Concurrent Training In Remote Settings, Christopher Bonilla

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of a trainee-driven flexible concurrent training program to a traditional fixed concurrent training program over 16 weeks of remote training in recreationally trained individuals. Participants were randomized into a flexible group that selected workouts based on daily perceived readiness or a control group that followed a fixed training schedule. The primary outcome was a total fitness score derived from a three-repetition maximum deadlift, a two-minute push-up test, and a two-mile run, assessed every four weeks. A secondary analysis used multilevel modeling to examine whether self-reported sleep duration predicted perceived readiness …

Exploring The Practice Of Mindfulness In Ministry Among Kansas Assemblies Of God Clergy, Angela K. Sartain

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Interest in integrating mindfulness into Christian counseling and pastoral practice increased; however, very little research has documented its experience among Assemblies of God clergy. This phenomenological study explored the lived experiences of Kansas Assemblies of God clergy who have engaged mindfulness within a ministry context. Based on acceptance and commitment therapy and mindfulness-based cognitive therapy, viewed through a Christian lens; the research examined understanding, adaptation, and practice regarding worship, leadership, and pastoral care. Data from in-depth interviews with Kansas Assemblies of God clergy were analyzed thematically and patterns of meaning and practice were discovered. The results revealed how Kansas Assemblies …

Forgiveness And Marital Restoration After Infidelity Among Mid-Atlantic Christian Couples: A Hermaneutic Interpretation, Denise Crable Crarey

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Infidelity can inflict substantial damage to a marital relationship, specifically emotional trauma, broken trust, instability, and possibly divorce. However, some choose to extend forgiveness and work towards restoration of the marital relationship. The problem addressed by this study is the absence of known factors contributing to marital restoration from the perspective of wounded partners among Christians in the Mid-Atlantic United States. The purpose of this study is to understand which factors promote marital restoration from the perspective of the injured spouse in the Christian community from the Mid-Atlantic United States. The theoretical perspectives for this study are the Enright Process …

Designing Micro-Creativity Interventions In Undergraduate Entrepreneurship Education: A Phase 2 Pedagogical Study, Shawn E. Schooley

Journal of Business & Entrepreneurship

The purpose of this study is to examine the design and implementation of micro-creativity interventions as a pedagogical approach for helping undergraduate entrepreneurship students translate abstract creative concepts into actionable entrepreneurial practice. Drawing on data from a Fall 2025 undergraduate Creativity and Innovation course, this Phase 2 pedagogical study focuses on instructional design, scaffolding, and implementation rather than causal effectiveness claims. Micro-creativity interventions, short, repeated instructional activities embedded throughout the course, were integrated into routine coursework and examined using aggregate assignment performance, student self-evaluations, structured reflections, and course-level evaluation data. Findings suggest that repeated, low-stakes creative activities supported sustained engagement …

A Hermeneutic Phenomenological Study Exploring Veteran Mentor Teachers’ Role In Shaping Novice And Uncertified Special Educators At Joy High School In Texas, Venyke C. Medley

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenological study was to understand the lived experiences mentoring novice or uncertified special education teachers for veteran special education teachers at Joy High School in Texas. The theory guiding this study was Bandura’s social learning theory, which emphasizes the importance of observational learning, modeling, and mentorship in shaping professionals. The central research question was: How do veteran special education teachers in Title I secondary schools describe the mentorship and training needs of novice and uncertified special education teachers related to implementing special education policies and individualized instructional practices? Using purposive sampling, 10 veteran special education …

Exploring The Leadership Experiences Of Black Males At Four-Year Public Universities: A Hermeneutic Phenomenological Study, Demario Levon Preston

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenological study was to understand the school leadership experiences for Black male students at four-year public universities. At this stage in the research, leadership experiences were defined as the lived experiences of Black male students in universities' leadership roles, including the barriers they encountered and the strategies they employed to navigate these challenges. The theory guiding this study was Astin's (1984) theory of involvement, which posits that student engagement influences academic success and leadership development. The central research question asked: What are the lived experiences of Black males in four-year public universities who engage in …

Lived Experiences Of Faculty Working In Recently Consolidated Public Secondary Schools In Rural Southeastern United States Of America: A Phenomenological Study, Mary Elizabeth Baker Vick

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to describe the lived experiences of faculty members of a consolidated secondary public school within a rural district in the southeastern United States. The theory guiding this study was Lewin’s theory on institutional change as it explains how individuals experience the unfreezing, changing, and refreezing phases during organizational transitions. The Central Research Question was, what are the lived experiences of secondary public school faculty during and following the consolidation of their secondary public school in rural Southeastern United States of America? This qualitative research study utilized a transcendental phenomenological approach to investigate …

How Christian Beliefs Shape Long-Term Recovery In A 12-Step Program, Decarol L. Gulliford

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to describe how individual Christian beliefs play a role in long-term recovery in a 12-step program. The findings from this study, focusing on this purpose, addressed the problem recognized as having a lack of research related to the Christian spiritual beliefs associated with the 12-step program and its successes or failures. Logotherapy provided the lens for the theoretical framework with data collected from a sample of seven individuals who had been sober for at least 10 years. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews and analyzed for themes using Braun and Clarke’s six phases …

Moral Injury And Spiritual Healing Among Missouri Male Combat Veterans Of Operation Iraqi Freedom: A Transcendental Phenomenological Study, Rebekah Mills

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to describe the lived experiences of moral injury and spiritual well-being among male Operation Iraqi Freedom combat veterans ages 35 to 55 in Missouri. The theory guiding this study was Park’s Meaning-Making Model, with moral injury theory providing conceptual context for understanding morally injurious experiences. The questions guiding the study are: How do male combat veterans between the ages of 35 to 55 of Operation Iraqi Freedom describe their lived experiences of moral injury and spiritual well being? How do the veterans understand the relationship between morally injurious experiences and their spiritual well-being? …

Experiences Of Cholesterol Management Among Obese Individuals: A Qualitative Exploration Of Statin Use, Diet, And Physical Activity, Ke'andra S. Foggie

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The prevalence of hypercholesterolemia has increased over the past decade, with obesity identified as a major contributing factor. This study examined how individuals with obesity and hypercholesterolemia managed cholesterol and experienced related challenges within their daily lives. Guided by the Chronic Care Model, the research explored participant-reported experiences of statin therapy and lifestyle practices, including dietary behaviors and physical activity, as components of cholesterol management. Qualitative data were collected through semi-structured interviews, observations, and document analysis to analyze participant-reported barriers, supports, and contextual factors that shape how these practices are incorporated into daily routines. Although extensive research has examined statin …

Elementary Music Educators And The Mcclosky Technique, Shannon Day

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Despite years of private vocal instruction and coursework on the singing voice, many music educators have not continued their vocal study beyond their former institutional requirements, nor have they received training in the proper use and care of the speaking voice, which has led to the development of vocal disorders and complaints of poor vocal health. This study examines the varying levels of vocal health among elementary music educators as they undergo vocal health exercises using the McClosky Technique. The McClosky Technique offers a distinctive approach to vocal health that emphasizes the release of muscular tension within the voice. The …

Bivariate Current Status Data With Competing Risks Using Frailty Models, Biswadeep Ghosh

Doctoral Theses

Bivariate current status data with competing risks arises in many application areas, for example, carcinogenicity studies, epidemiological studies, reliability studies, etc..As par of our knowledge, bivariate current status data with competing risks has not received much attention in literature. We initiate this research focusing on modeling and estimation of quantities of interest in absence of any covariate. We model bivariate current status data with competing risks through different frailty structures in order to describe different kinds of association. We consider multiplicative frailty effect on different cause-specific baseline hazard functions. One important part of our analysis is to investigate the identifiability …

Intra-Individual Cognitive Variability As A Predictor Of Mild Cognitive Impairment In Older Adults: Longitudinal Patterns, Clinical Classification, And Sex Differences, Joshua Conniff

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2020 - Present

Some older adults score differently on the same cognitive test from one visit to the next, and that inconsistency has been proposed as an early warning sign of decline. This dissertation tested whether within-person variability actually tells us anything useful about who has, or will develop, mild cognitive impairment (MCI). A total of 334 older adults completed quarterly neuropsychological testing over three years as part of a larger longitudinal study. Visit-to-visit variability was measured as the mean absolute successive difference on the MoCA, the MMSE, and a battery of memory, executive, language, and visuospatial tasks, and MCI was classified from …

Understanding The Experience Of Separation On The Substance-Exposed Mother-Infant Dyad, Tamara Lee Depascale

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2020 - Present

Maternal-infant separation following birth is a profoundly distressing experience that may have significant emotional, relational, and health implications for mothers with substance use disorders (SUD). Guided by Caring Science and Swanson’s Theory of Caring, the purpose of this qualitative descriptive study was to explore the dimensions of the health challenge associated with maternal-infant separation among mothers with SUD following birth and the approaches mothers used to navigate and respond to that experience. Data were collected through semi structured interviews with mothers who had experienced separation from their infants following birth and analyzed using deductive and inductive thematic analysis. Findings revealed …

Leadership Role In The Formation Of Leadership Qualities, Culture Of Business Communication, And Emotional Intelligence Of Future Higher Education Professionals, Larysa Hren, Arseniy Khaziyev, Kostiantyn Kachailo, Ivan Kirsanov, Mykola Chebotarev

Higher Learning Research Communications

Introduction/Aims: The study was conducted among 2nd- and 3rd-year undergraduate students and 1st-year master’s students majoring in three specialties: psychology, social security, and medicine. The research examined the influence of leadership qualities on professional training, emotion management, and business communication skills of students in higher education institutions. It explored how these competencies collectively enhance adaptability and preparedness for professional activities in fields such as psychology, social work, and medicine, addressing gaps in educational methodologies.

Methods: We employed a comprehensive, four-stage methodology with content analysis as the primary data collection method. The study involved 63 participants from the National …

Organising, Sustaining, Experiencing And Integrating Mental Health Crisis Care For Children And Young People: Qualitative Findings From Eight Contrasting Case Studies In England And Wales [Version 1; Peer Review: Awaiting Peer Review], Clare Bennett, Leanne Sawle, Claire Fraser, Rachael Vaughan, Steven Pryjmachuk, Iain Mcmillan, Aled Jones, Euan Hails, Nicola Bennett, Martin Elliott, Mair Elliott, Ben Hannigan, Williams Jessy

School of Nursing and Midwifery

BackgroundCrisis services are an important part of the system of mental health care for children and young people (CYP), but little is known about them or the experiences of CYP and families. This article reports findings from a normalisation process theory (NPT)-informed sequential mixed methods study, comprising three work packages (WPs), which set out to generate new knowledge in this area.MethodsApproaches to CYP crisis care across England and Wales were mapped in WP1 using survey design. Previously reported findings from this WP point to heterogeneity in service types and interventions. In WP2 eight contrasting services (five in England, three in …

Instructional Slides From Molten Salt Electrochemistry Symposium (Moses) 2026, Devin Rappleye, Carlos Mejia, Alex Peroff

Faculty Publications

This instructional slide set was developed for the 2026 Molten Salt Electrochemistry Symposium (MoSES) as an introduction and review of fundamental electrochemical concepts and methods used in molten salt systems. The material is intended for students, researchers, and practitioners seeking to better understand and interpret electrochemical measurements in high-temperature molten salts.

Topics include electrochemical thermodynamics, kinetics, mass transfer, electrode potentials, cyclic voltammetry, chronopotentiometry, chronoamperometry, square-wave voltammetry, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), and common approaches for analyzing electrochemical data. Emphasis is placed on building physical intuition, understanding underlying assumptions, recognizing common experimental artifacts, and connecting electrochemical signals to real chemical and transport …

Using Mask-Making To Foster Growth Mindset And Address Implicit Bias, Nazeh Saad, Rima Charara, Jennifer Mendez, Dena Nazer

Internal Medicine Faculty Publications

Introduction: Implicit biases, defined as unconscious attitudes influencing clinical decisions, can negatively affect patient care and contribute to health care disparities. Growth mindset—the belief that abilities can be developed through effort—encourages learners to view biases as modifiable rather than fixed. The mask expression project is an educational activity designed to foster growth mindset in first-year medical students and promote patient-centered care.

Methods: Three hundred five (305) first-year medical students completed the project during a service-learning course. Students wrote or drew on a paper mask template divided into two halves: one side challenged identified implicit biases; the other depicted actions …

A Phenomenological Study On Secondary School Leadership Perceptions Of Self Efficacy Based On Student Vaping Infractions, Tara N. Carter

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The intent of this qualitative phenomenological study is to explore how secondary school leadership perceive their self-efficacy in regard to overseeing student vaping infractions. Youth vaping has grown in the past few years, leading to an increased presence in school communities. Adolescents are faced with electronic vaping through a variety of interactions during the school day, expanding on opportunities to vape. In response o the uptick in “at-school” vaping, secondary school leaders are now tasked with responding to this growing influx in addition to other duties and demands within their job role. In addition to overseeing disciplinary measures for students …

A Transcendental Phenomenological Study Of College Student Motivations For Learning While Overcoming Addiction: Building University Recovery Capital, Jason James Gemme

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to understand how addiction recovery shapes college students' motivation to learn at Haven University, an institution in the South Atlantic region of the United States. The central phenomenon of motivation was generally defined as the internal drive that propels an individual towards achieving a goal or fulfilling a desire, such as overcoming addiction or pursuing academic learning. The theory guiding this study was Maslow's hierarchy of human motivation. This theory was instrumental in understanding the psychological factors that influenced college students' motivations for addiction recovery or learning and elucidated ways to integrate …

Exploring Nursing Students' Experiences Of Simulation-Based Learning In Developing Critical Thinking, Clinical Reasoning And Clinical Judgment In The Management Of Mental Health Patients: A Qualitative Case Study, Irene Bellew

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this case study was to explore how simulation-based learning experiences shape the development of critical thinking, clinical reasoning, and clinical judgment for associate degree nursing students when caring for patients with mental health needs. It addressed the need to narrow the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical application in clinical settings, enhancing the preparedness of novice nurses. By positioning nurse educators as facilitators of innovative strategies, this study advocates for the integration of simulation-based learning within nursing curricula. Roy’s adaptation model guided the study, and data were collected through observation of simulation sessions, semi-structured interviews, and reflective …

A Cross To Bear: Examining Nonadaptive Manifestations Of Secondary Trauma In Professional School Counselors, Byron Ronaldo Kellam

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This interpretative phenomenological study was to understand the lived experiences of vicarious trauma among Professional School Counselors working in urban and rural school districts in the southeastern United States. Professional School Counselors are routinely subjected to children’s traumatic histories, positioning them at elevated danger for secondary psychological distress, burnout, and emotional exhaustion. Although increased awareness of vicarious trauma in helping professions is prevalent, inadequate research has examined how Professional School Counselors translate and reconcile the significance of these experiences within school-oriented contexts. The primary theory guiding the study was Constructivist Self-Development Theory. This theoretical framework synchronizes with the research’s attending …

A Connection A Day Keeps The Patient Away: How Remote Patient Monitoring Connected To The Internet Of Things Will Change Us Healthcare Into The Us Healthcare System, Ethan Sinn

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The importance of this study was due to the market inefficiencies hindering US healthcare. The three market inefficiencies of excessive cost, access challenges, and low outcome yields have puzzled industry stakeholders for years. These inefficiencies continue gobbling up resources now accounting for around 20% of American GDP. The inefficiencies are symptomatic results of two surface level problems in the US healthcare market: financial misalignments and informational fragmentation. The financial mismatches and informational gaps have caused havoc to the natural market’s daily flow since making their way to the surface and remain firmly connected to the root cause of US healthcare’s …

Implementation Of The Clinician’S Guide To Spiritual Recovery From Fetal Loss, Donald K. Eckhardt Jr.

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Obstetricians and midwives care for a surprising number of patients experiencing perinatal loss each year, yet they lack formal training in grief support. Lack of training heightens their stress, anxiety, and burnout, especially when chaplain support is unavailable. Miscarriage, stillbirth, and neonatal death profoundly affect families, and healthcare providers share in their pain as they deliver the deceased baby and offer comfort, counseling, and hope. This project’s creator hypothesized that enhancing providers’ knowledge of grief support and biblical Scripture as well as highlighting how God’s grace and love can ease guilt, grief, anxiety, and depression would reduce provider burnout while …

Leadership Team Responses To Sudden Newcomer Enrollment: A Multi-Site Case Study, Nicole D. Burrell

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative multi-site case study was to explore how leadership team members in public schools supported educators during a sudden mid-year influx of newcomer students. The theory guiding this study was transformational leadership theory, which provided a framework for how leaders influence, motivate, and support those they lead, particularly during times of challenge and organizational change. The central research question guiding this study was: How did leadership team members support educators during a sudden mid-year influx of newcomer students across multiple public school sites? Ten participants were recruited through the researcher’s professional networks and snowball sampling and …

The Protective Factors Of Alcohol Use And Problem Drinking By Emerging Adults During The 2020s And The Era Of Covid-19, Aubrey A. Coplon

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This research investigated the protective factors that shape alcohol use and problem drinking among emerging adults during the 2020s, with a spotlight on the COVID-19 pandemic. As this age group grapples with the complexities of self-discovery and independence, the pandemic introduced a new set of challenges and shifts. Through qualitative interviews, this study worked to uncover the resilience strategies and support systems that have emerged as crucial in mitigating alcohol misuse. It examined the role of social connections, mental health resources, coping mechanisms, and evolving social norms in buffering against problem drinking. While the pandemic intensified some risks, it also …

Understanding The Perceptions Of Racial Socialization As A Protective Factor Influencing Resiliency Adaptation Among Black Males Who Matriculated To College In Northeastern Florida When They Were Aged 18 – 24 And Who Had A History Of Criminogenic Risk Factors Or Criminal Justice System Contact, C. Darnell Stroble

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study aimed to explore the perceptions of racial socialization (“RS”) as a protective factor that leads to resiliency adaptations among Black males who matriculated to college in Northeastern Florida when they were aged 18 – 24 and who had a history of criminogenic risk factors or criminal justice system contact. Grounded in Unnever and Gabbidon’s (2011) Theory of African American Offending (“TAAO”), the study used a qualitative phenomenological case study research design to explore participants’ understanding of RS messages from their parents and their resiliency adaptations in response to those messages. Two research questions guided the study: (1) How …

A Virtual Coach Model For Christian Leaders: Addressing Burnout And Other Mental Health Challenges, Hillary Arlene Hinds

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The demands placed on pastoral leaders have increased immensely, and according to Eser (2025), this has caused emotional exhaustion, declining mental health, and feelings of isolation that threaten their well-being and ministry. Data on pastoral leadership burnout and the extent to which a coaching approach is used to assist them in addressing mental health challenges in Canada are limited. This research reported on the use of Whitmore’s (1980) GROW model contextualized within a biblical worldview to mitigate burnout with a group of pastoral leaders (N = 5) in Saskatchewan, Canada. Findings from this research, though from a small population, were …