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The Experiences Of Teachers Using Early Literacy Instruction Supporting Ell Students In A Low-Income School In Southern New Jersey: A Qualitative Study, Gia Sparacio Scarani

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to understand the experiences of early childhood education teachers at a rural, low-income, elementary school in southern New Jersey instructing literacy to ELL and low-income students at the Bridgeton Public School District. The theory guiding this study is Vygotsky’s theories on social-cultural interaction, the Zone of Proximal Development, and scaffolding. The methodology of the phenomenology study was to gain information from the teachers through interviews, journal keeping, and observations. The study will examine the experiences of literacy instruction methods by 12-15 teachers for low-income and ELL students in early childhood education. Focusing on …

The World Of Dungeons And Dragons As A Therapeutic Approach To Complex Trauma, Dava R. Wilson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This qualitative dissertation delves into the therapeutic potential of Dungeons and Dragons (D&D) as an intervention for individuals coping with trauma and related mental health challenges. Drawing from a diverse sample of participants with varying gender identities, age groups, and D&D experience levels, this study employs a grounded theory approach to unravel the intricate interplay between D&D engagement and mental health outcomes. The study identifies several key implications, including the importance of creating inclusive therapeutic spaces, the lifespan relevance of D&D interventions, the potential for tailored interventions addressing relationship dynamics, and the accessibility of D&D as a therapeutic tool. Delimitations …

Reducing Sexually Transmitted Infection In African American Teenage Adolescents: Developing A Culturally Competent Health Program For Underserved Communities, Brandolyn I. Burks

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Proper education and programming can help reduce Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) among adolescents. This research aimed to help lay the framework for determining ways to ensure African American young adult adolescents aged 18–19 years have the necessary information and resources to make healthy decisions regarding their sex lives and experiences. The purpose of this grounded theory study was to understand what lived experiences and gaps of knowledge contribute to the contracting of STIs to develop a culturally competent health program to reduce the high rate of infections among African American 18–19-year-old adolescents living in underserved communities. The theory guiding this …

A Mixed-Method Approach Identifying Antecedents Of Employee Engagement In A Nondenominational Church: Perspective From Volunteers And Employees, Gregory A. Rodriguez

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Employee engagement is a crucial factor that affects organizational success, productivity, and overall well-being. Extensive research has been conducted on factors contributing to employee engagement in secular organizations. However, additional study on the volunteer workforce is needed, particularly on the factors influencing engagement within the Christian community. This study explored the antecedents of employee engagement from a comparative perspective, examining volunteers and employees to shed light on the factors that drive engagement across different work commitments. Drawing upon a mixed-methods research approach, data was collected from a diverse sample of Christian church volunteers and employees. The research used an adapted …

Burnout Prevention In Christian Public And Private Middle School Leaders: A Qualitative Study, Rhonda Grider Purchase

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

There is a momentous problem in academic settings today regarding stress and burnout among academic school leaders (Francis et al., 2017). The focus of this study was to examine the prevention of professional stress in the lives of middle school academic leaders. The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to explore the lived experiences of what the selected participants believed was the prevention of stress and burnout in middle school leaders in Newton County, Georgia. For this study, school leaders were defined as certified principals who hold a bachelor’s level or above degree and contribute to the academic environment …

An Exegetical And Theological Exploration Of Paul’S Self-Identity In Consideration Of Modern Social Sciences, Chala Baker

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The Apostle Paul possessed a multifaceted background unusual for the period in which he lived. It is now well-known by scholars and laypeople alike that Paul was a Hebrew, Pharisee, Roman citizen, persecutor of the church, Christian, and Jew who hailed from Tarsus (Acts 21:29). Paul utilized each distinct portion of his background to advance the gospel. Throughout the New Testament, the apostle sets the example of using everything at his disposal for the cause of Christ. Paul himself writes that he became “all things to all people” with a direct purpose in mind that he “might save some” (1 …

The Lived Experiences Of Student Nurses During Simulation Of Perinatal Loss, Paloma Alejandra Peña

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to understand the experiences and perceptions of undergraduate nursing students in providing care following a perinatal loss simulation. The theories that guided this study included Malcolm Knowles’ Theory of Andragogy and the National League for Nursing Jeffries Simulation. The selected theories provide structure for adult learners’ need to experience situational learning activities that are relevant to their job while building upon the foundation of students’ knowledge. Incorporation of Knowles’ and Jeffries’ theories guides the qualitative study of the simulation of a perinatal loss and the experiences of nursing students in providing care during …

We Clear The Way: United States Army Combat Engineers In The Second World War's Southwest Pacific Theater, 1942-1945, Marc C. Jeter

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The immense scope and scale of World War II required its combatants to conduct operations in every conceivable climatic condition and topographical setting. This fact has continued to represent a double-edged sword for the historiography of this conflict. The researcher may pursue any number of elements of this war to pursue and have done so. That said, aspects remain not yet mined from the cavernous topographical lode eight decades after this war. One such angle of this war not yet fully researched and analyzed by historians is that of General Douglas MacArthur and the US Army’s operational record and experiences …

Primary General Music: Trauma-Informed Instruction In Title I Schools In Post-Pandemic Georgia, Sarah-Ann Higgins

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Despite growing evidence of the need for trauma-informed teaching practices in schools, most music educators have limited training or knowledge of trauma-informed teaching strategies. The need for trauma-informed teaching has grown due to many students and teachers having lived through the collective trauma experience of social isolation due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Inherently social in nature, music classes are an ideal setting to address the unique needs of students who have experienced trauma. Children living in low socio-economic settings are especially vulnerable due to the already increased likelihood of experiencing adverse events that may cause trauma such as child abuse, …

A Phenomenology Study- Vicarious Trauma Among School Counselors And Teachers Working With Students From The Northern Triangle In Elementary Title I Schools, Janeth B. Santiesteban

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The present phenomenological study aimed to describe the lived experiences of school counselors and teachers working at elementary Title I schools in Maryland with students from the Northern Triangle (a region of Central America comprising El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras). The assumption was that these education professionals may undergo struggles and demands that may put them at risk of vicarious trauma due to the trauma those students and their families have endured. The theory guiding this study was the transactional theory of stress and coping (Lazarus,1966; Lazarus & Folkman, 1984) and the stress theory (Cohen et al., 1997), which converge …

Forgiving Childhood Hurt Biblically, Latisha Shearer

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The profound impact of childhood experiences on an individual's mindset, emotional well-being, and transition into adulthood is a compelling problem addressed in this thesis paper titled “Forgiving Childhood Hurt Biblically.” This DMIN action research project is to implement biblical forgiveness as a transformative tool to address the physical, mental, and emotional wounds inflicted by childhood trauma. Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), marked by early-life toxic stress, establish a foundation for the intergenerational transmission of trauma, significantly affecting the health and lives of adults. Given the vulnerability of childhood, addressing and forgiving the sources of trauma is crucial for effectively reprogramming and …

Applying Cultivation Theory In Determining The Relationship Between Sns Use And Optimism/Pessimism Of Adults In The United States And The Moderating/Mediating Effects Of Platform, Content, And Connections On This Relationship, Joshua A. Senne

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between degree of social networking site (SNS) use and optimism/pessimism means scores from the optimism/pessimism instrument (OPI) for SNS users who are age 18+ and live in the United States. The purpose of the study was also to determine how the main type of platform used, main type of content viewed, and number of connections mediated and/or moderated this relationship. The research problem was that SNSs are becoming a prominent form of media and little research has examined how the degree of exposure to SNSs cultivate psychological states, especially in …

Students’ Traumas Impact On Academic Achievement, Taylor L. Lincoln

Masters Projects

The purpose of this project is to provide a curriculum on trauma informed teaching that can be used within all classrooms. With the trauma increase teachers have seen in students; it is important for schools to understand what trauma is and how to handle it in the classroom settings. The research will help determine the most common reasons that students have trauma and find beneficial ideas and solutions to help students and teachers dealing with trauma in the classroom. The data collected will then be used to create a professional development that will be used to help educate all school …

Mitigating Turnover In Healthcare: Exploring Servant Leadership And Psychological Capital, Lindsay Tsang

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

In the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, understanding factors that influence the turnover intentions of healthcare workers is critical. This quantitative correlational study explored how psychological capital mediates the relationship between perceived supervisor servant leadership and turnover intentions among Canadian healthcare workers. This study uses the Hayes PROCESS Model 4 for mediation and Pearson’s correlation analysis with participants recruited via social media. Out of 773 respondents, 648 valid responses were received (83.8%), of which the majority were aged between 24-34 years old (74.7%), were nurses (80.2%), and had tenure between six to ten years (75%). In agreement with prior literature, …

Predicting Loneliness From Academic Performance Of Public And Private High School Students: A Linear Regression Analysis, Jeffrey Scott Wolford

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this quantitative correlational study was to examine the relationship between academic indicators (grade point average, Scholastic Assessment Test score, and type of school) and student reported loneliness. Weiss’ theory of loneliness was used as the foundation for this quantitative, correlational study. This study was conducted to create a framework for teachers, mentors, or other educational leaders to be able to locate and address student loneliness in a timely manner by understanding the educational indicators that are related to student loneliness. Loneliness is correlated to a variety of negative mental and physical health problems, along with increasing risky …

Exploring The Health Care Professionals' Attitudes And Beliefs Of Patient-Centered Care On The Progression Of Dementia, Brittany L. Holmes

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore the attitudes and beliefs of patient-centered care on the progression of dementia for healthcare professionals at a long-term patient-centered care residential site. The theory guiding this study was Ajzen’s theory of planned behavior in 1985 as it will provide the basis for the attitudes and beliefs of various health care professionals. Attitudes and beliefs influence behavior. Therefore, the implementation of patient-centered care is based on the attitudes and beliefs of healthcare professionals and may impact the progression of dementia. Data was collected through in-person and/or virtual meetings to gather consent forms, …

Alumni Perceptions Of Formative Feedback During The Dissertation Process While Pursuing A Doctoral Degree In Biomedical Science At A Historically Black College And University: A Phenomenological Study, Shontell M.N. Stanford

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study is to discover through the perceptions and lived experiences of biomedical research Ph.D. alums who earned their terminal degree at a southern regional Historically Black College and University (HBCU) if the formative feedback they received impacted their dissertation process. Guided by Bandura’s social learning theory and it’s suggestions of how behavior cultivated by a mentor’s actions and feedback changes the mentee’s behavior and can mature into self-efficacy. This study sheds valuable insight through the lenses of this phenomenological qualitative research methodological strategy of one-on-one interviews, questionnaires, and document reviews. The findings not only uncovered …

Emotional Shared Experiences: A Phenomenological Qualitative Transcendental Study On The Shared Experiences Of Ten Pastors In Rural Central Virginia Due To The Covid 19 Mandate That Closed Their Houses Of Worship, Earnest L. Shannon

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative transcendental phenomenological research study was to describe the shared emotional experiences of 10 senior pastors of Christian churches located in rural central Virginia due to the national COVID 19 mandate that forced them to close their houses of worship. Moreover, in the United States of America, a COVID 19 mandate was implemented that closed places of worship, which altered the American pastor’s routine schedule. Therefore, the central research question explicated in this research study was, “What are the personal emotions experienced by 10 senior pastors in rural Virginia during a phenomenon, the national COVID 19 …

Foster Parents’ Perspectives On Factors Influencing The Development Of And The Impact Associated With Secondary Traumatic Stress, Latronia Smith

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to understand secondary traumatic stress (STS) for foster parents who care for children who have experienced trauma. The three research questions that guided this study were: how do foster caregivers describe their experience with STS, what factors do foster parents perceive as contributors to the development of STS, and how do foster parents cope with symptoms of distress associated with STS? The theoretical framework for the study was based on the stress process theory by Pearlin (1981) which focuses on sources of stress, manifestations of stress, and coping strategies. Data was collected …

Investigating Experiences During Times Of Uncertainty: A Phenomenological Study Of High School Educators, Selinna Creasy

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to understand the motivation to educate during times of uncertainty for high school educators at an urban Virginian public high school. This study examined the influence of different factors on job satisfaction relating to recognition, growth, relationships, and remuneration. The theory of motivation-hygiene served as the guiding principle, emphasizing the importance of internal and external factors in enhancing job satisfaction. In terms of methodology, a phenomenological transcendental approach was employed. The sample consisted of high school educators teaching students in urban Virginian schools in Grades 9 through 12. The study included 14 participants …

The Impact Of Christian Education On Undergraduate Nursing Students’ Levels Of Spirituality And Resiliency, Lynette Rae Fair

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Nursing education must focus on preparing nursing students to be adaptable and resilient in the face of changing circumstances. The problem is there is a lack of research studies focused on evaluating the effect of a Christian college/education setting on nursing students’ level of spirituality and resilience. The purpose of this quantitative comparative study was to examine the differences between Christian and non-faith-based pre-licensure baccalaureate nursing education programs for spirituality and resiliency. This descriptive, non-experimental, cross-sectional comparative study utilized two key self-report instruments: the Assessment of Spirituality and Religious Sentiments (ASPIRES) and the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC). Data collection occurred …

A Phenomenological Study Of Faith Community Culture Contributing To Domestic And Intimate Partner Violence, Tara D. Wallace

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Acceptance of domestic and intimate partner violence is recognized as occurring in the lives of survivors of domestic and intimate partner violence when they are counseled to return to the environment where their abuse occurred. Acceptance is also recognized as occurring in the lives of perpetrators of domestic and intimate partner violence when their behavior is made known to anyone outside of their environment and the perpetrator’s behavior towards their victims is sheltered, protected, excused, or enabled. In both instances, no efforts are made to change, correct, or stop abusive behavior. Research indicates interaction with the faith community in response …

Enhancing Productive Vocabulary Of Esl Learners: A Qualitative Case Study, Hala Bastawros

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative embedded case study is to examine how applying multimedia theories in online courses can enhance vocabulary acquisition, retention, and production among adult English as a Second Language (ESL) learners at a non-profit organization in Ontario, Canada. Guided by Mayer’s Cognitive Theory of Multimedia Learning (CTML), the study probes how ESL learners effectively transfer, retain, and produce new vocabulary. Data collection involves criterion sampling and analysis through MaxQDA, encompassing physical artifacts, personal interviews, and online questionnaires. The findings underscore the efficacy of integrating multimedia elements to facilitate new vocabulary retention and production, emphasizing the importance of …

Access To Mental Health Services Following A Use-Of-Force Encounter With Police, Justine Olivia Wells Blue

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

African American males are more likely to be involved in a use-of-force encounter with police yet less likely than their non-Black counterparts to seek mental health services afterwards. Little is known about the perceptions this population has about the ease/difficulty they encounter when attempting to access care following the event. The purpose of this qualitative study was to examine the perceptions of 11 African American males in north Saint Louis County, Missouri, about the facilitators of and/or barriers to accessing mental health care services after experiencing a use-of-force encounter with police. Participants were chosen using a purposeful sampling strategy. Data …

Exploring The Experience Of Healthcare-Related Epistemic Injustice Among People With Myalgic Encephalomyelitis / Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Joanne Hunt, Jessica Runacres, Daniel Herron, David Sheffield

The Qualitative Report

Myalgic encephalomyelitis / chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) is a chronic, disabling yet clinically “contested” condition, previously theorised through a lens of epistemic injustice. Phenomena conceptually close to epistemic injustice, including stigma, are known to have deleterious consequences on a person’s health and life-world. Yet, no known primary studies have explored how people with ME/CFS experience healthcare through a lens of epistemic injustice, whilst a dearth of research explicitly exploring healthcare-related injustice from a patient perspective has been noted. This qualitative study seeks to address this gap. Semi-structured interviews and interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) were used to explore the experiences of …

"There Is Power In Being Out": A Three Article Approach Celebrating The Experiences Of Queer University Leaders, Andrew R. E. Lorenzana

Dissertations

Institutions of higher education were historically built to serve a wealthy, White, straight male student population and the leaders of these institutions still largely reflect these demographics. This project specifically aims to celebrate and amplify the life and career of university administrators who identify within the LGBTQ community. Mainly through the use of a portraiture methodology, this three-article study attempts to examine the ways in which LGBTQ identity and career influence one another.

Worldmaking and narrative will be used as a theoretical frame to help analyze the ways in which the telling of a queer individual’s story makes the world …

Spectrum, Volume 52, Issue 10, Sacred Heart University

Newspapers (Obelisk & Spectrum)

Highlights include: Connecticut Sec. of the State Debuts College Voter Initiatives -- Spring Concert Returns, For Real this Time -- SHU Closing St. Vincent’s College and Relaunching Associate Program -- Spring Has Sprung for the English Department -- Camous Life -- Women’s Golf Looks For Three-Peat -- Tennis Coach Mike Guastelle Celebrates 30 years

Winonan, Winona State University

The Winonan - 2020s

This issue of the Winonan, the Winona State University student newspaper, was published on April 17, 2024.

The Influence Of Religious Affiliation On The Political Views Of Lgbt Americans, G. Tyler Lefevor, Sydney A. Sorrell, Kelsy Burke, Andrew R. Flores

Psychology Faculty Publications

With a nationally representative, repeated cross-sectional sample of over 250,000 Americans from 2016-2019, we investigate the role that religious and LGBT identities play in influencing Americans’ political attitudes, centering the narratives of religious LGBT Americans. We find that nearly half of LGBT Americans affiliate religiously. Logistic regressions show that identifying as religious is related to more conservative views on LGBT rights and abortion while identifying as LGBT is related to more liberal views on both of these issues. We failed to observe interaction effects, suggesting that religious affiliation influences LGBT individuals’ political views in a manner similar to the way …

Unraveling The Black Superwoman: Identifying Successful Higher Educational Leadership Pathways For Black Women Navigating Barriers In Southern Medical Colleges, Latoya R. Windom

Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

This research is necessitated as Black women continue to face unique and significant challenges in educational leadership. Supported by Black Feminist Theory, this study explores the successful leadership pathways of Black women in medical higher education while navigating barriers. The goal is to promote the inclusion of Black women in medical education and leadership positions by utilizing three core tenets of Black feminism – intersectionality, lived experiences/storytelling, and Black women as agents of knowledge (Black feminist epistemology). This groundbreaking study challenges the dominant narrative and discourse surrounding Black women's experiences in medical higher education. The personal stories shared by Black …