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T E C H R E V O L U T I O N - Navigating The Digital Classroom: Challenges And Opportunities Of Online Learning, Wes Poole

Masters Theses

Research indicators confirm that that online learning is complex, with both challenges and opportunities to be found. There are several benefits to online learning, including flexibility, accessibility, personalized learning, and collaboration, but there are also many challenges associated with it. While equity and assessment are still major challenges, technology barriers are still present, engagement is limited, and communication is limited.

There is no doubt that self-directed learning, also referred to as online learning, provides innovative pedagogical approaches and also connects learners all over the world through self-directed learning. As a result, it is imperative that existing challenges be addressed, effective …

Examining The Relationship Between Biblical Characters And Mental Health: Identifying A Christian's Well-Being, Shanetia Sharie Chapman

Masters Theses

This thesis aims to examine the intersection between biblical texts and mental health within the framework of Christian belief systems. Through a critical analysis of key biblical narratives involving figures who exhibit experiences analogous to contemporary psychological struggles, this study investigates the influence of scriptural interpretation on believers’ perceptions of mental health and their coping mechanisms. By employing textual analysis, the research seeks to evaluate the potential of biblical teachings as therapeutic resources. Ultimately, this thesis aims to contribute to developing culturally and theologically informed approaches to mental health awareness and support within Christian communities.

Out-Of-Body Experiences: Plausibility Of A Separate Soul And Body, Jeffrey D. Boyles

Masters Theses

Near-death experiences (NDEs) and out-of-body experiences (OBEs), as reported by experiencers, contradict beliefs that when a person dies, they cease to exist. This view is opposite to the teachings of Jesus who taught that there is a separation between body and soul and the Apostle Paul who taught there is life after death. NDEs, and especially OBEs, support biblical teachings and the belief that the soul can be separate from the body. Case reports from the literature demonstrate veridical OBEs and encounters with deceased loved ones. Experiencers state that NDEs and OBEs are real in contrast to the arguments of …

A Qualitative Study Of Registered Nurses’ Perceptions Of The Impact Communication Modalities Have On Patient Care Outcomes In Primary Care, Eleanor M. Chapital

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Communication plays a vital role in the provision of patient care and directly impacts patient care outcomes across the care continuum. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore and determine registered nurses’ perceptions of the communication modalities that facilitate optimum patient care outcomes in the primary care setting. Registered nurses play a critical role in the provision and coordination of patient care. Therefore, it is imperative to study their experiences and perceptions to facilitate communication within primary care teams. The central research question for this study was the following: How do registered nurses describe their use of communication …

The Perceived Effectivenss Of Nurses' Suicide Management Training In Correctional Facilities: A Phenomenological Study, Phillis Hopson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore the perceived effectiveness of nurses' suicide management training in correctional facilities in the United States. The central research question was: What suicidal educational training do nurses receive, and what is their lived experience of managing suicidal inmates at correctional facilities? The type of research design for this study was hermeneutic phenomenology. This study's geographic setting was two correctional facilities in rural areas in the United States. The settings include the Federal Mental Correctional Facility (FMCF) and the Villian Mental Correctional Facility (VMCF). The Federal Mental Correctional Facility is situated in the …

A Jus Ad Bellum Analysis Of The American Revolution, Lindsey Allen

Senior Honors Theses

America is a rose among the thorns of history, owing her existence to her remarkable victory in the Revolutionary War. However, America's end cannot necessarily justify the means of her creation. This qualitative thesis will determine whether the American Revolution was just by examining the jus ad bellum perspective of Just War Theory. This philosophical purview will focus on the justness of the colonists’ initiation of the American Revolution, with its criteria being last resort, legitimate authority, just cause, probability of success, right intention, and proportionality. This thesis will synthesize the contributing elements and arguments for the defense of the …

Exploring Job Demands And Resources Of Special Education Teacher Retention: A Phenomenological Study, Laquinta Nicole Minor

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore the lived experiences of special education teachers regarding job demands and resources for special education teachers in the Greater Simpson Public School District. The theory guiding this study was the Job Demands-Resources (JD-R) model, which explains how teachers manage job demands and utilize available resources, influencing retention and burnout. The central research question explored: What are the lived experiences of secondary special education teachers with job demands and resources that they perceive may influence the high turnover rate and retention? This study used semi-structured interviews, a virtual focus group, and an …

The Epidemic Of Fatherlessness: Implications For Ethical Development And Mental Health, James Elbert Ellis Jr.

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore the negative effects of fatherlessness on childhood development and the long-term impact on adult mental health. According to Bhugra, Watson, and Wijesuriya (2021), significant racial demographic differences existed in the prevalence of fatherless households. Harris (2019) noted that mental illness affected individuals across various racial groups, including Whites, Blacks, Hispanics, Asians, and Native Americans. Research by Bhugra et al. (2021) indicated that children raised in homes without fathers were more likely to experience mental health challenges. This study sought to determine whether a fatherless environment predisposed children to the development of …

Experiences Of Culturally Responsive Pedagogy In Low Income High Schools: Case Study, Tony B. Alexander

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This case study will aim to understand the experiences of implementing culturally responsive pedagogy of teachers at a low-income high school. The setting of this school is critical to the research, because it is one of the most poverty-stricken cities in rural Southern Georgia. The theory guiding this study is Crenshaw’s theory of Intersectionality, due to the prominent levels of inequality occurring in the educational sector. The overlying question of the case study is centrally focused on the lived experiences of culturally responsive teaching in low-income schools. The research design is a case study centered on experienced teachers, since teachers …

University Clinicians’ Experiences Of Supporting Student-Athletes In Seeking Support For Mental Health Needs, Megan Laurel Collins

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to discover and understand the experiences of clinicians at Division I universities supporting university student-athletes. The theory that guided this study was Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems theory as it relates to the various systems in which people are connected and impacted knowingly or unknowingly. The data was collected from the participants who have experienced the phenomenon via virtual semi-structured interviews. Data analysis strategies were a textural description of the clinicians’ experiences, a structural description of clinicians’ experiences, and a combination of the textural and structural descriptions to convey the overall essence of the experience …

In The 21st Century, Poor Communication Within Culturally Diverse And Integrated Ethnic Group Workforce Can Lead To Low Productivity, Resulting In Loss Of Revenue, Ihedi Adugba

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Today, business is conducted on a global scale, and consequently, culturally diverse workforces are becoming increasingly common. The continual increase in global economic integration within the workforce has given rise to a deeper knowledge of the essence of better communication with people of differing cultures and languages. Multiculturalism is made up of diverse cultural value systems. A culturally diverse workforce enhances cultural identity with individuals of different backgrounds expressing diverse points of view. Organizations tend to reach their maximum potential when the strategy of managing a culturally diverse workforce is strictly followed. Based on socio-cultural diversity, organizations can accommodate individuals …

Living The Text: A Phenomenological And Metacognitive Analysis Of Nehemiah 9 As The Embodiment Of Scripture In The Processing Of Stored Trauma, Dimitrije Stanojevic

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study defends the thesis that Nehemiah 9:5–37 is a sermon with psychotherapeutic qualities, aimed at processing unaddressed and cross-generationally stored trauma. It does so through two modes of interpretation: מְפֹרָשׁ “informing” andשֹׂום שֶׂכֶל “forming.” The sermon is delivered on the Day of Atonement, in the aftermath of a communal Scripture reading in Jerusalem, sometime after the return from the Babylonian Exile. Phenomenological and metacognitive frameworks inform the analysis of the passage as transformative and identity-shaping, grounded in repentance and self-reflection.

This textually rich passage weaves together quotations, allusions, echoes, reinterpretations, and summaries—likely the result of multiple editorial hands. Yet, …

Pastoral Resilience Of The Igbo Clergy In The United States, Anthony Eboh

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The research provided a description of the pastoral resilience of the Igbo clergy in the United States. It began with an exploration of pastoral stresses and coping strategies employed in mitigating the impacts associated with the exercise of their priestly ministries in the States. The study was theoretically grounded in the framework of Job Resources (JD-R), which integrated positive psychology to guide the research process. The JD-R framework is a model for work that shows how stress in ministry happens when the demands on clergy are greater than the resources they have, including positive psychology, to handle those demands. The …

The War Powers Resolution: A Failed Check On Executive Power And A Contributor To U.S. Military Expansion, Melissa A. Cavaliere

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Governmental policies, such as the War Powers Resolution (WPR) of 1973, are comprehensive legislative measures designed to address recurring issues through thorough analysis rather than hasty responses. The WPR emerged from a need to balance power between the executive and legislative branches, particularly in the wake of the Vietnam War. Passed over President Nixon's veto, the WPR mandates that the president consults Congress before deploying U.S. armed forces into situations involving imminent hostilities, requiring this consultation within 48 hours of military action. If troops are deployed, their involvement can last 60 days, extendable to 90 days, unless Congress either approves …

Territorial Scars: The Legacy Of The Eugenics Movement In Puerto Rico, Audra Desiree Edwards

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The United States-Puerto Rico relationship was strongly impacted by the eugenics movement of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. The groundwork for the paternalistic relationship that the United States imposed on the island was set by the Spanish colonization. Once the United States gained the territory in 1898, many assumed that it would progress to statehood through the same process as former U.S. territories. However, the impact of the eugenics concerns over race, population density, and undesirable genetics had affected U.S. imperialism. The lack of white migration to the island, in combination with the perceived undesirable and overly dense …

Illuminating The Communication Analysis Of Investigative Interviews And Interrogations: An Interdisciplinary Qualitative Interpretive Meta-Synthesis, Erica N. Heller

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This dissertation explores communication in investigative interviews and interrogations through a qualitative interpretive meta-synthesis (QIMS) across the three disciplines of communication, psychology, and criminal justice. This investigation was guided by two research questions: identifying communication themes in investigative contexts and examining the variations in how the disciplines approach investigative interviews and interrogations. Through the utilization of the QIMS method, this study investigated and analyzed interdisciplinary artifacts from academic and professional (gray) literature. This resulted in the discovery of two key themes, confession-focused goals and inconsistent terminology, and three sub-themes: interviewee focus, siloed mindset, and individualized methodological focus. The findings of …

The Virtual Workforce: A Phenomenological Study Of Perceived Factors That Influence Employee Engagement, Sharon A. Palmer

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This qualitative study aimed to examine the lived experiences of employees working in the virtual workforce who have previously worked at an onsite location to better understand the tools needed to keep them engaged. This study aimed to fill the gap in research by gaining insight into the aspects unique to the virtual workplace that promote employee autonomy, competence, and connectedness. Semi-structured interviews were used to collect relevant informational data from 13 participants recruited from the professional social media platform LinkedIn. Participants were individuals aged 21 or older who had worked in a traditional and remote working environment, were currently …

Creation's Jubilee: The Reconciliation Of All Things Through The Work Of Christ, Darrell Wayne Murphy

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Many have taken it upon themselves to discover the meaning of the biblical teaching of reconciliation and deduced various theories. The topic has reached an impasse for many years. This dissertation will show that God is always the subject, and that man is the object of reconciliation. Through Jesus Christ’s work, God intends to reconcile all things to himself. This assertion claims that Christ’s redemptive work extends to all categories of intelligent beings but does not propose a universal salvation for all. Instead, God has supplied the provision whereby all categories of creatures are offered the work of redemption procured …

Membership To Contemplative Discipleship: Using Contemplative Praxis To Enhance Spiritual Growth, Charlene N. Boone

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This thesis explores the role of contemplative spirituality, particularly through practices such as meditation, Lectio Divina, and silence, in fostering spiritual growth within the context of Visitors Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church. In an era marked by rapid change and increasing distractions, the need for deeper spiritual engagement has become paramount. This study employs a qualitative approach, utilizing interviews, teaching modules, participant observations, and reflective journaling to investigate how these contemplative practices can enhance individual and communal spiritual development.

The findings suggest that meditation serves as a vital tool for cultivating inner peace and awareness, allowing individuals to connect profoundly …

Exploring Higher Education Shared Governance Constitutional Documents As Potential Culture Building Contributors To Friction Between Faculty And Administration Through A Qualitative Analysis Of Foundational Institution Documents, Lanna Monday Emmett

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This qualitative research project investigates the role shared governance documents in higher education institutions play in communicating the guiding principles and expectations used to create, sustain, and challenge culture through a content analysis of foundational institutional documents. Colleges and universities face challenges driven by technology, globalization, the capitalization of education, and shifting expectations regarding diversity, equity, and sustainability. These changes require institutions to adapt their organizational models for more competitive decision-making while navigating evolving governance issues. In some instances, these changes have been cited as one cause for friction between institutional stakeholders, particularly faculty and administration. Previous studies have more …

Seed Of The Woman, Son Of David, Son Of Abraham: Exploring The Progression Of God’S Redemptive Plan For All Nations And Rethinking Gentile Integration In Messianic Hope, Dieufort Dieujuste

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This dissertation examines and reconstructs the progression of God’s redemptive plan for humanity, exploring its inception from an oracular promise in Genesis and investigating how it unfolds through various promises, covenants, and prophecies culminating in Jesus, the Messiah, identified as the seed of the Woman (Gen. 3:15b), Son of David, Son Abraham (Matt. 1:1). Central to this exploration is the theological significance of key biblical figures and historical events while tracing the development of the promise of redemption from Genesis to the New Testament. One can suitably underscore the universal scope of God’s covenant to extend blessings to all nations …

Judicial Deference In Immigration Cases: A Qualitative Inquiry Into How Judicial Decision Making Shapes Immigration Policy, Jurgen R. Soekhoe

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

In the United States, the inherent right of a sovereign nation to regulate immigration and naturalization has been a privilege long recognized. The judicially established plenary power doctrine affirmed that right in 1889, only to be forgotten to history through shifting judicial focus. This study analyzed the connection between the political branch’s constitutional and statutory authority on immigration regulation and the influence of the federal judiciary on that power by reviewing immigration law, executive action, and judicial decisions. Increased judicial review into immigration-related matters has affected immigration policy. Soliciting firsthand insight from 17 federal judges provided unparalleled insight when investigating …

From Pledges To Partnership: Exploring The Lived Experiences Of Women Navigating Barriers To Intimacy, Jerah Ashley York

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This qualitative phenomenological study explores the lived experiences of married women who pledged purity before marriage, seeking to understand the barriers they encountered within their marriage. The study explores how internalized messages from purity culture have shaped participants' experiences in marriage and what challenges they faced. The main themes identified in this study include sexual intimacy challenges, communication in marriage, marital expectations versus reality, and identifying harmful beliefs and creating new positive narratives of intimacy. This study highlights the enduring problematic impact of purity culture on marital intimacy and emphasizes the importance of education, emotional support, and communication in overcoming …

Breaking Point: Examining Secondary Traumatic Stress, Toxic Leadership, Coping Mechanisms, And Well-Being In Non-Uniformed Federal Law Enforcement Personnel, Karen F. Stapleton

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This quantitative correlational study examined the extent to which secondary traumatic stress and toxic leadership were experienced and these variables’ relationships with well-being among non-uniformed federal employees in law enforcement organizations. The research aimed to identify coping strategies beneficial to employee well-being. A sample of 73 federal employees from a U.S. government law enforcement organization was recruited using purposive sampling, excluding uniformed personnel. Measurement instruments included the Secondary Traumatic Stress Scale, Toxic Leadership Scale, Brief COPE, and World Health Organization 5-Item Well-being Index. Statistical analyses using SPSS version 29 revealed a significant, moderate negative correlation between secondary traumatic stress and …

The Effect Of Celecoxib And Mumab911 On Strain Adaptive Bone Remodeling And Fracture Repair In Female Mice: Implications For Rapidly Progressive Osteoarthritis, Nicholas Ruggiero, Alexandra Ciuciu, Ashkan Sedigh, Ibtesam Rajpar, David Shelton, Patrice Belanger, Kathryn Gropp, John A. Collins, Theresa A. Freeman, Ryan E. Tomlinson

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery Faculty Papers

Debilitating pain is the primary clinical feature of osteoarthritis (OA) that drives the enormous healthcare costs. Osteoarthritis-related pain is often treated with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), which effectively relieve pain and inflammation by inhibition of prostaglandin synthesis. Antibodies directed against nerve growth factor (NGF) were tested some time ago as an alternative potential analgesic for musculoskeletal pain, including osteoarthritis-related pain. Unfortunately, clinical development of these drugs was put on hold due to adverse outcomes - primarily rapidly progressive osteoarthritis. Both prostaglandin synthesis and NGF have been implicated as critical mediators of strain adaptive bone remodeling, which may play a role …

Elementary School Teacher Perceptions And Attitudes Toward Inclusive Education In Liberia: A Phenomenological Qualitative Research Approach, Jimah Derrick Bello

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to understand Liberian elementary school teachers' attitudes and their perceptions toward inclusive education for children with disabilities in mainstream classrooms in Monrovia City, Liberia. The participants were ten elementary school teachers. The theory that guided this study was Albert Bandura's social learning theory, which relates to social interactions and learning. The social learning theory surmises that learning and socialization occur in four phases. These stages are attention, retention, reproduction, and motivation. The central research question is: What are the perceptions and attitudes of Liberian elementary school educators implementing inclusive education for students with …

Ricketts V. Holloway

All Decisions

In this no-grounds holdover proceeding, the court granted the tenant's motion to dismiss because the petition contained an incorrect description of the premises. The tenant provided conclusive evidence, including prior court records and physical apartment labels, that he resides on the third floor, Apartment 3, not the second floor, Apartment 2, as alleged by the landlord. The court rejected the landlord's argument that a 2012 lease with the incorrect address should control, citing established caselaw requiring an accurate description for marshal identification, and noting the landlord provided no personal knowledge to refute the tenant's claims.

A Hermeneutic Phenomenological Study Of Understanding Charter School Teachers’ Experiences With Increasing Expectations Of Students’ Learning Outcomes And Attrition Rate, Pamella Pauline Pindling

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This hermeneutic phenomenological study focuses on understanding charter school teachers’ experiences with increasing expectations of the students’ learning outcomes. This hermeneutic phenomenological study addressed the influence of these factors on organizational and student learning outcomes. The investigation provides valuable insights by thoroughly examining the connection between these factors and the education system. A comprehensive review of pertinent literature and empirical evidence was undertaken to achieve these goals. The study focused on a hermeneutic phenomenological design, using semi-structured interviews, focus group discussions, and journal prompts as primary data collection methods. The gathered data undergo thematic analysis to discern prevailing patterns and …

Voices Of Change: Narratives Of African Americans And Their Recommendations For Reforming Law Enforcement Practices, Tanisha N. Hines-Johnson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The focus of this study was to explore real-life experiences African Americans have with law enforcement to suggest changes that can be put into action to improve interactions, fairness, and accountability. This study, which makes use of a case study technique, examined perceptions of police interactions and engagement from the viewpoints of community members. The study specifically responded to the following two research questions: 1) What is the narrative of individuals in the African American community regarding law enforcement? 2) What changes do participants suggest are needed to improve interactions and establish a better relationship between the African American community …

The Fidelity Of Iep Implementation In The Secondary Choral Classroom, Kristen Ellison Passmore

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Despite efforts to support teachers in successfully implementing Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) in the secondary music classroom, music educators still face challenges in differentiating instruction for each student with an IEP during secondary choral rehearsals. Legally, teachers must follow all accommodations outlined in a student’s IEP, and every student served by an IEP deserves equity in the classroom. This study examines the opinions of secondary choral educators in the State of Georgia regarding IEP implementation. This qualitative phenomenological transcendental study investigates the difficulties associated with implementing IEP goals and explores secondary choral educators’ perceptions of their implementation. Themes such as …