Digital Commons Network^™

A Multidimensional Model Of Attitudes Toward Sponsorship, Zachary C. T. Evans, Terry Eddy

Global Sport Business Journal

Sport sponsorship is an important marketing tool, with many of its elements having received previous research attention. Although researchers have examined attitudes toward sport sponsorship, the theoretical grounding of attitudes is often incomplete, and theoretically distinct terms are frequently used interchangeably (e.g., attitudes and beliefs). The purpose of this study was to critically examine the literature regarding attitudes toward, and beliefs about, sponsorship to review the common frameworks utilized in examining the constructs, and analyze their theoretical appropriateness. A systematized review methodology was undertaken, through which a definition for attitude toward sponsorship was developed using the tripartite framework for attitude …

Mental Health Literacy In Middle School Classrooms: Be Resilient, Yolanda Michelle Travis

Masters Theses

When I first encountered the question, “Why is this important to me?” in our defense preparation assignment instructions, I felt overwhelmed. How could I answer such a loaded question? Here is my inspiration.

I have been clinically diagnosed with Generalized Anxiety Disorder. My younger brother, who passed away in 2019, was the first person in California to die from a fentanyl overdose. He suffered from childhood trauma that severely impacted his mental health as an adult, and he was only 36 years old at the time of his death. Additionally, my mother struggles with panic attacks and depression, and my …

Recess: Utilizing Gamification To Encourage Lifelong Creativity In Emerging Adults, Julia Schneider

Masters Theses

While creative outlets are prioritized in childhood, adults in the United States are increasingly less likely to engage their creativity during leisure time, which ultimately impacts overall well-being. This project aims to explore: (1) What is creativity, and why is it beneficial? (2) What factors contribute to the decline of creative engagement? (3) How does engaging with creative outlets impact overall well-being? (4) How can play be used as a catalyst to foster creativity? Through a literature review, case studies, and visual analyses, this thesis examined and integrated existing research on creativity and play in order to effectively create a …

First-Year Experience Peer Mentors And Theory Of Generativity; A Generic Qualitative Study, Marie Haughton Flocco

Theses and Dissertations

Student retention is an intricate dilemma for all institutions of higher education. While college enrollment continues to increase, degree completion rates are not keeping pace. Research shows that most students who drop out of college do so during the first year of enrollment. In an effort to address student retention during the first year and ultimately increase completion rates, colleges and universities invest significant resources in what has become known as First-Year Experience (FYE). Peer mentoring programs, in particular, are often an essential aspect of FYE programming because of the successful outcomes reported by mentees. This generic qualitative study diverges …

Dismissing Human Trafficking: Forced Arbitration Of Survivors’ Civil Suits, Annie Smith, Daniel Werner

Villanova Law Review (1956 - )

No abstract provided.

Neuroinclusion In The Workplace: Leveraging The Power Of Cognitive Diversity As A Competitive Advantage, Mirudhuneka Varadarajan Senthiil

ETD Collection

No abstract provided.

The “Ins” And “Outs” Of Cognitive Warfare: What’S The Next Move?, Elise Annett, James Giordano

Strategic Insights

This commentary examines the evolving landscape of cognitive warfare and argues that strategic competition is increasingly centered on influence in the cognitive domain. China is integrating advances in science and technology, including artificial intelligence, neurotechnology, and information operations into a comprehensive strategy aimed at achieving cognitive dominance over the United States and its allies. The authors describe cognitive engagement as operating “inside-out,” “outside-in,” and through combined effects that shape perceptions, decision-making, and behavior across biological, psychological, and socio-economic dimensions. The article recommends investment in AI-enabled command and control, neuroadaptive human-machine systems, cognitive readiness training, and coordinated multinational narrative dominance.

Police Officer Recruitment And Retention: How Can The Problem Be Solved, Paul R. Eagleston

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This grounded theory study aimed to understand the issues with police officer recruitment and retention for police administrators nationwide. The theory guiding this study was the grounded theory approach by Glaser and Strauss (1967) as it relates to the reasons for the loss of interest in law enforcement, including an increase in officers resigning before retiring. Data collection will explore if the police administrator being interviewed has experienced increased difficulties in recruiting potential candidates to fill vacancies and an increase in police officers in their department resigning before retirement. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews with law enforcement administrators. Recruitment …

Teacher Preparation: A Multiple Case Study, Faith Mary Oluwatobi Peter

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this case study was to explore the effects of teacher preparation programs for elementary teachers in the northeastern United States. At this stage in the research, the effects of teacher preparedness were generally defined as educators’ understanding of pedagogy in relation to their perceptions of student achievement. The theory that guided this study was self-efficacy theory (Bandura, 1977). The central research was: how prepared are teachers to enter the classroom after completing a teacher preparation program? This qualitative study used multiple case studies as the research design with a sample size of 10 – 15 participants. The …

Le Discours Éducatif « Expert » Dans L’Enseignement Supérieur À L’Épreuve Du Néolibéralisme, Youssef Aboudi

Al-Kīmiyā

This article aims to examine the main linguistic mechanisms employed by the “expert” educational discourse in higher education to reinforce its legitimacy and authority. The central hypothesis of this study posits that the “expert” educational discourse uses pseudo-technical/scientific rhetorical strategies to create an illusion of rationality and performance, with the aim of neutralizing critical and reflective thinking (Denault, 2016; Gobin, 2011). Theoretically, the study adopts a critical multidisciplinary approach that integrates socio-pragmatics, linguistic anthropology, political philosophy, and critical sociology of organizations. Methodologically, the study is based on a “hermeneutic” approach (Charaudeau, 2018) that seeks to explore the various discursive mechanisms …

Bridges And Mirrors: An Examination Of How Empathy Is Illustrated Through The Elements Of Quest Stories, Faith A. Rendles

Masters Theses

Stories are a gift. From generation to generation, in different cultures, through wars, festivals, pandemics, across dinner tables, and over a vast expanse of other connection points, stories have been a way for human beings to connect and empathize with each other and themselves. Quest stories specifically have been a mirror and bridge of life through the call to step out of the ordinary into courage, facing trials with bravery, and being challenged to practice empathy through the path that we walk. Through quest stories, readers learn to be aware of the moments on their journey that they are not …

Understanding The Challenges And Needs Of Postpartum Soldiers In Fitness Training, Sarah Elizabeth Eaton

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Postpartum females are consistently faced with unique challenges within the military setting. Prior studies have illustrated increased risks of musculoskeletal injury and psychological distress in military postpartum females due to insufficient recovery time and inconsistent unit support (Acton, 2021; Armitage et al. 2014; Darroch et al., 2023). The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore the lived experiences of Army postpartum females, aged 18-45, who have delivered over 36 weeks, either vaginal or cesarean, who have given birth within the last two years, as they navigate the physical and psychological challenges of preparing for the Army Combat Fitness Test …

Culture Wars In The Icu: When Medicine And Religion Collide, Ami Darby

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The overarching aim of this dissertation is to contribute to the research gap by investigating the experiences of Christian SDMs by asking two core questions: (1) Do covariates (Gender, Age, Education) and Religion predict satisfaction with care? and (2) Do covariates (Gender, Age, Education) and Religion predict satisfaction with decision making? This study contributes to the academic literature by addressing the gap in literature regarding the ICU experiences of Christian SDMs, and it extends John Kingdon’s Multiple Streams Theory (MST) to include its limitations in its failure to capture the political landscape within healthcare systems and the effect of institutional …

The U.S. And Japan: Containing A Rising China?, Kaitlyn Elizabeth Early

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This research involved investigating the impact that the coherence between international relations (IR) theories and national strategies and policy practice through effective implementation (independent variables) have on China’s perceived vulnerabilities (CPV; dependent variable) using the Cold War, the United States, and Japan case studies. The research focused on how the coherence between these variables could shape CPV and strategic calculations, particularly concerning Taiwan and the South China Sea. Additionally, the research involved analyzing how the modern strategies of conventional deterrence (i.e., the strategy of denial and integrated deterrence) influence CPV. This study was guided by the hypothesis that the degree …

A Hermeneutic Phenomenology Study Interpreting The Lived Experience Of K-12 Teachers: The Role Of Technology Integration In Shaping Academic Performance, Kathy S. Vaughan

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenology study was to interpret the lived experience of K-12 teachers and the role of technology integration in shaping academic performance. The theory guiding this study was Bronfenbrenner's theory, which described how important the environments surrounding the individual were in affecting development. The central research question guiding this study was, "How do K-12 teachers interpret their lived experiences with technology integration and its role in shaping academic performance?" Participants in the study included K-12 teachers from the southeastern United States with at least three years of experience integrating technology. The participants were selected using purposive …

A Phenomenological Exploration Of The Church In The Healing Process For African American Women In The Washington, D.C., Area Suffering From Self-Diagnosed Depression In Recovery From Intimate Partner Violence, Kimberly D. Brooks

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this descriptive phenomenological study is to describe the lived experiences of African American women who have utilized the church after intimate partner violence (IPV) suffering self-diagnosed depression in the Washington, D.C. area. The approach guiding the methodology of this study is Clark Moustakas’ (1994) phenomenological approach. There is a need to explore what type of support the church offers as a source of healing for those who need assistance and will not seek professional counseling for various reasons. While there has been much research on depression resulting from IPV, there is a gap in the literature regarding …

Therapists’ Inclusion Of Forgiveness During Cognitive Processing Therapy For Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Marybeth Goodman

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study investigated whether the inclusion of an evidence-based forgiveness therapy during a course of Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) improved the efficacy of the treatment. This quasi-experimental, quantitative study examined 201 completed episodes of care from CPT-trained and rostered clinicians. Participants were divided into two groups. Group one contained clinicians who used no less than 46 minutes of an evidence-based forgiveness therapy intervention (n = 102), and group two (n = 99) contained clinicians who did not utilize an evidence-based forgiveness intervention. Pre- and post-treatment PTSD symptom severity was measured using the PTSD Checklist for …

Improving New Graduate Nurse Clinical Judgment By Training Preceptors On The Use Of The Tanner Model, Denise E. Carr

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

New graduate nurses (NGNs) often enter the workforce with deficits in clinical judgment, which has been further exacerbated by pandemic-related limitations in clinical education. This project aimed to improve NGN clinical judgment by training preceptors to use the Tanner Clinical Judgment Model (TCJM) and Lasater Clinical Judgment Rubric (LCJR). A quasi-experimental evaluation design was used to compare outcomes between two groups of preceptor–preceptee pairs. Half of the preceptor participants received training on the TCJM and LCJR, while the other half did not. Clinical judgment development was measured using the LCJR pre- and post-orientation. Additional preceptor feedback regarding the implementation and …

Do Perceived Social Support And Positive Religious Coping Moderate Any Relationship Between Post-Intensive Care Syndrome–Family Symptoms And Quality Of Life In Informal Caregivers Of Intensive Care Unit Survivors?, Carol R. Hirschkorn

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Family members and close friends often act as informal caregivers (CGs) for survivors of critical illness, assisting with activities of daily living, ongoing care needs, and adjustment to life after critical illness. These CGs simultaneously cope with their own mental, physical, and social sequelae, including significant changes (to roles and responsibilities) in everyday life. Qualitative researchers have examined this constellation of CG symptoms, which constitute post-intensive care syndrome–family (PICS-F), to understand the experiences, needs, and coping of CGs of intensive care unit (ICU) survivors. None have looked at the impact of religious coping and perceived social support on PICS-F and …

The Foundational Self-Determination Skills Experiences Leading To Causal Agency For High School Graduates Who Are Deaf And Hard Of Hearing: A Phenomenological Study, Erin M. Wright

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to understand the foundational development of self-determination skills experiences leading to causal agency for high school graduates who are deaf and hard of hearing. The theory guiding this study was causal agency theory, as introduced by Wehmeyer and Mithaug. The central research question was: What are the foundational development of self-determination skills experiences leading to causal agency for high school graduates who are deaf and hard of hearing? This qualitative study followed a hermeneutical phenomenological approach. The participants included 11 deaf and hard of hearing individuals who graduated high school between 2018–2024. Data …

Emdr Future Template Study, Helen Jimenez

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a psychotherapeutic modality designed to reduce the emotional impact of distressing experiences using bilateral stimulation (Shapiro, 1999). Social anxiety remains a widespread mental health concern with social and personal consequences (Asakura et al., 2023). This study examined whether three EMDR Future Template sessions could reduce mild to moderate social anxiety. Seventeen adults, ages 18 to 65, who either self-reported or were clinically diagnosed with social anxiety completed three weekly telehealth sessions lasting 20 to 30 minutes each. In each session, the seventeen participants focused on anticipated future social scenarios and visualized adaptive responses …

Motivational Peer Influence On Behavior Change In Undergraduates: A Phenomenological Study, Heather A. Mina

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore how peer testimonies from former students who successfully completed a Behavior Change Project (BCP) influenced motivation and anxiety in 148 undergraduate health and exercise science students preparing to begin their own BCP. The study was guided by the Transtheoretical Model (Prochaska & Velicer, 1997) and Bandura’s Social Cognitive Theory (1986), both of which emphasize self-efficacy, observational learning, and readiness for behavior change. Research was conducted at a public university in western North Carolina with students enrolled in a required health and wellness course. Data collection included pre-BCP surveys, four weeks of …

Burnout Among Adjunct Faculty: A Quantitative Study, Christopher D. Sclafani

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Adjunct faculty, who are employed on a contractual, as-needed basis, comprise nearly 70% of the higher education workforce in the United States. Despite their essential role, they often face challenges that may impact their well-being and organizational commitment. This quantitative, non-experimental study examined the relationships between workload, course format, compensation, institutional support, and burnout among adjunct faculty. Data was collected from 85 adjunct faculty members across the United States using an online survey. Guided by the Job Demands-Resources (JD-R) Theory and Social Exchange Theory (SET), multiple regression analyses were conducted to explore the predictive effects of workload, compensation, and institutional …

The Lived Experiences Of Young Adult Children Of Veterans Attachment In Responses To Unique Lifestyle Challenges, Amanda M. Fife

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study is to describe young adult children of veterans’ experiences with frequent relocations. Military-connected youth experience unique stressors that their civilian peers do not encounter and may experience frequent disruptions in attachment relationships. The theories guiding this study are John Bowlby and Mary Ainsworth’s attachment theory, Norman Garmezy’s resiliency theory, and Lazarus and Folkman’s transactional theory of stress and coping. These theories provide the structural framework for understanding the meaning of attachment, factors that promote resiliency, and structures for coping with stress. Individual interviews were conducted with each of the 10 selected participants that meet …

Systemizing Church Hospitality: Converting Attendees To Committed Members, Dallas J. Blacklock

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The American church continues to lack a theoretical framework to guide newcomers through the process of becoming members. The problem is that First Mt. Carmel MBC lacks an onboarding system to guide visitors and guests through the process from attendees to members. The purpose of this DMIN action research project is to design, teach, and implement a 12-week onboarding system to integrate visitors into the congregation. To connect visitors to the congregation in the process of becoming a new creation in Christ, strategic steps are predetermined to assimilate them into the congregation. This problem was addressed by developing and implementing …

The Call (And Aftermath) Of The Void: Understanding Suicide Loss And Bereavement Processes Amongst Student Populaces, Saraha K. Brawner

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Each year, over 800,000 people die via lethal self-harm, leaving behind millions of survivors to navigate qualitatively unique manifestations of grief. Despite the profound psychosocial and psychopathological effects associated with suicide loss, research addressing these experiences remains extremely limited. This quantitative survey study examined the relationship between suicide loss and grief-related distress among students, focusing on sociodemographic, psychosocial, and psychopathological factors influencing bereavement over time. It also explored how the individual learned about the suicide and expanded upon 1st, 2nd, and 3rd-degree relationships. Forty-one participants recruited from universities and mental health organizations across the United States completed a loss summary/death …

A Hermeneutic Phenomenological Study Exploring Transition Planning For High School Seniors With An Individualized Education Program. Are We Doing Enough?, Chrystal A P Morgan

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenological study was to discover the views of high school seniors with an Individualized Education Program (IEP) and their experiences with transition planning. This study identified that there is more work to do in inclusive education in understanding how to implement transition planning goals and utilizing collaborative efforts from all educators, the students, and their parents. Most of the available research discussed building awareness towards implementing transition planning, which aimed at building self-awareness in the educator. The theory guiding this study is Bandura’s social cognitive theory. Bandura’s social cognitive theory is based on the belief …

Family Poison: A Phenomenological Study Of The Role Of Toxic Parental Influence On Romantic Relationships, Kimberly Eichelberger-Searcy

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This phenomenological study sought to describe the lived experiences of adult survivors of toxic parents across the United States. The assumption was that toxic parental influence impacts romantic relationships. The following research questions framed this study: “How do adult survivors of toxic parents describe their experiences growing up with a toxic parent in the United States? How do adult survivors describe the effects of growing up with a toxic parent?” and “How do adult survivors of toxic parents describe the impact of their childhood experiences on their intimate/romantic relationships?”. The two theoretical frameworks guiding this study were Bowlby’s attachment theory, …

Impacts Of Early Childhood Trauma On Later Emotional, Behavioral, Educational, And Social Abilities, Stacey Merrill

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Early childhood trauma has a long-lasting impact on individuals’ social interactions, mental health, academic skills, behaviors, and parenting skills for the future generations. Understanding how early interpersonal developmental trauma impacts an individual during adolescence can help providers and caregivers know how to help them become successful students and later adults. Helping individuals early in their development can prevent the cycle of abuse from continuing. Trauma informed care can help bridge the gap between those with and without known traumas. This study consisted of an interpretive phenomenological qualitative design using semi-structured interviews to understand the impact of early trauma on adolescence …

The Procrastinating Perfectionist: Examining Task Self-Efficacy & Procrastination Types On Life Task Performance, Michelle Lynn Capozzi

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Perfectionism is a personality trait that can manifest either adaptively or maladaptively, typically developing during childhood and adolescence. Less research has examined perfectionistic adjustment issues in adulthood compared to childhood and adolescence. Research indicates that adult perfectionists tend to procrastinate on tasks related to academia and job settings. However, little is known about passive and active procrastination types among adult perfectionists when completing life tasks. Since self-efficacy can produce motivation, adult perfectionists may be more or less likely to procrastinate based on how they perceive their capabilities. This study examined how perfectionism types (maladaptive, adaptive, non-perfectionist) impacted life task performance …