Digital Commons Network^™

Songs Of Sorrow, Hope, And Praise: Toward A Historical Analysis Of Negro Spirituals, Hope Victoria Dornfeld

Masters Theses

Traditional Negro spirituals play a key role in America’s music history. Spirituals were initially perpetuated by enslaved Africans in the American South through the oral tradition but today are available in a wide variety of choral, vocal, and instrumental arrangements. The lecture recital that accompanies this document will present seven traditional spirituals of varying themes: “Hold On,” “Witness,” “Deep River,” “Sweet Little Jesus Boy,” “Balm in Gilead,” “Steal Away,” and “Ride On, King Jesus.” Spirituals can be described by three closely interrelated textual categories or descriptors which correspond with their original use and historical context. Songs of sorrow are those …

An Analysis Of Nonverbal Communication Behaviors Enacted By Christian Worshipers Of Various Denominations, Holly Alexandria Vasiliki Smith

Masters Theses

This study seeks to determine how members of different denominations use nonverbal communication in their worship practices within the Christian faith. Previous studies have looked at specific elements related to music, classified the common behaviors and beliefs of denominations, and provided descriptions of nonverbal communication cues. However, no study has looked at the intersection of these factors. In order to determine how members of different denominations use nonverbal communication in their worship practices, a qualitative data gathering method in the form of an open-ended survey was distributed to 40 participants of a preliminary screening survey, providing 26 responses. Participants were …

Torn Between The “Creeds Of The Devil”: The German-Finnish Co-Belligerency In World War Ii, Stephanie Megan Wright

Masters Theses

In an article for the Sunday Chronicle in June 1937, Winston Churchill described Nazism and Communism as “the creeds of the devil.” Caught between these two ideologies that “are at each other’s throats,” Finland attempted to remain a sovereign nation. This would prove to be virtually impossible after the November 1939 Soviet invasion of Finland. While Joseph Stalin and his advisors “expected [a] triumphal parade,” the dogged resistance of the Finnish Army and people “turned [that parade] into a bloody three-month war.” Furnished in the crucible of conflict, battling for their very existence as a nation, the Winter War united …

Community Role Models And Their Influence On At-Risk-Youth, Eliab Charles Caudio

Masters Theses

The youth in our communities are easily influenced. For this reason, they should not be left to govern themselves. More often than not, they have a few peers steering them in the wrong directions, enabling poor decisions, mostly to fit in, stand out, or some form of protection. Also, there are those who simply have no direction, wanting to live fast, grow up before their time and engage in high risk behaviors they consider having fun. The focus of my research aims to drive home the point that “consistent mentorship from successful adults” is an often overlooked solution in helping …

God In The Dock: From Theory To Experience, The Odyssey Of The Theodicy Of C.S. Lewis, Anthony Vance Halford

Masters Theses

Problems, for us as humans, can be seen to as a moving target. There are two concerns that immediately come to the forefront. Those concerns are as follows: who defines the problem and how do they define the problem. Answering these two questions provides the direction for answering the next concern. And that concern then turns to how does one solve the problem? For solving a problem involves defining if there is a problem and can it be solved. Quite possibly the most confounding and complex problem to face humanity as a whole and Christianity specifically is the problem of …

A Phenomenological Examination Of Church Leaders' Perceived Impact Of Executive Coaching On Organizational Culture, Jerrell Stokley

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The trajectory of the seminary training curriculum has evolved pedagogically at projecting adequate church leadership education and hands-on development. However, empirical research reveals that the seminary struggles with preparing generations of church leaders for modern church responsibilities including executive leadership, tactical performance, administration, and church organizational culture (Crowson, 2021; Costin, 2008). Hicks (2012), as cited by Smith (2017) states, “Recent studies have begun to explore the need for management training for pastors” (p. 2). Graduates as well as current church leaders report feeling ill-equipped for the increasing duties for today’s church culture. This qualitative, phenomenological study evaluated mid-to-senior level Christian …

The Impact Of A Stem Education Program On Female And Racial Minorities' Knowledge And Attitude, Amira S. Flores

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of a STEM education program, specifically STARBASE, on the STEM knowledge and attitudes of fifth grade students, as well as its effect on their pursuit of STEM careers, with a focus on female and racial minority students. Based on a sample of 197 fifth graders from a school district in Southern California, the intervention took place at STARBASE, while the control group remained at their respective schools. A quasi-experimental design was used in the study, with four experimental and four control groups. A STEM knowledge assessment and S-STEM attitude survey …

Performance Psychology For The Church Musician, Elizabeth Sturm

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Despite the plethora of information on performance psychology and performance anxiety for music and sports, not much valuable information to the Christ-follower is available that is especially significant for ensembles, teams, or collaboration. There is a more substantial gap in the spiritual application of the exact science, especially concerning worship studies. The knowledge of performance psychology is essential to communicate the message of Christ in the best way possible to the most people possible. The study, done through qualitative methods and the method’s results, is analyzed in the light of Scriptural principles. The facets considered are corporate worship performance psychology, …

A Jus In Bello Comparison Of Lee’S Gettysburg Campaign And Sheridan’S Valley Campaign, Jonathan Scott Thomas

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Just War Theory distinguishes between two levels of war, including jus ad bellum, or the just reasons for which the war is waged, and jus in bello, or just actions within the conduct of the war. This research paper focuses on jus in bello aspects of war, including non-combatant immunity, military necessity, and proportionality, in application to an understanding of history, that of the American Civil War. A significant question in this regard is how did commanders and their armies lead and conduct themselves in concern and adherence to the rules of warfare during campaigns in enemy territory? While the …

Curbing Plagiarism: Strategies Adopted By Librarians In Universities In The Age Of Ict In Nigeria, Vincent Chima Opara, Anthonia Chimamanda Eneh

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

This study investigated the strategies for curbing plagiarism by librarians in universities in the age of Information and Communication Technology in Nigeria. . The population comprised librarians in Universities in Nigeria. However, a total number of 15 Universities took part in the study and a random sampling technique was used to select 89 respondents. A self-constructed online questionnaire was designed and distributed to collect the data from the respondents. Nevertheless, 75 online questionnaires were valid and used for analysis. The data was analysed using frequency of the simple percentages and mean scores. The result shows that librarians were aware …

Celebrity Affect, Social Media Fandom, And Parasocial Interactions: A Thematic Analysis Of Fan Reactions To Kris Wu’S Sexual Scandals In China, Yan Zhao

Communication ETDs

In this thesis, the rise and fall of a popular Chinese celebrity, Kris Wu, provided the context to examine fans’ negotiation of parasocial and affective relationships in online interactions with the celebrity and other fans. On the basis of a thematic analysis of Chinese fans’ comments on social media before and after Wu’s arrest and conviction for rape and other sexual crimes in 2022, I highlight the fluidity of fans’ positive and negative parasocial interactions and emotional attachments to a celebrity. The analysis suggests how fans can prioritize their continued support and admiration for a celebrity above matters of morality …

Multi-Omic Assessment Shows Dysregulation Of Pulmonary And Systemic Immunity To E-Cigarette Exposure, David P. Scieszka, Devon Garland, Russell Hunter, Guy Herbert, Selita Lucas, Yan Jin, Haiwei Gu, Matthew J. Campen, Judy L. Cannon

Pathology Research and Scholarship

Electronic cigarette (Ecig) use has become more common, gaining increasing acceptance as a safer alternative to tobacco smoking. However, the 2019 outbreak of Ecig and Vaping-Associated Lung Injury (EVALI) alerted the community to the potential for incorporation of deleterious ingredients such as vitamin E acetate into products without adequate safety testing. Understanding Ecig induced molecular changes in the lung and systemically can provide a path to safety assessment and protect consumers from unsafe formulations. While vitamin E acetate has been largely removed from commercial and illicit products, many Ecig products contain additives that remain largely uncharacterized. In this study, we …

Brief Of Professor Derek T. Muller As Amicus Curiae In Support Of Petition For Certiorari, Michael Francisco, Michael Brody, Derek T. Muller

Court Briefs

No. 22-1033
Eugene Mazo v. New Jersey Secretary of State

On Petition for Writ of Certiorari to the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit

From the Summary of Argument

This Court has expressly held that the Anderson-Burdick balancing test for evaluating certain kinds of election laws does not extend to cases of pure political speech. McIntyre v. Ohio Elections Commission, 514 U.S. 334, 344 (1995). Laws restricting political speech are subject to strict scrutiny. Nevertheless, lower courts—including the Third Circuit in this case— continue to defy this Court’s guidance.

This case presents an important opportunity to …

The Intellectual And Diplomatic Discourse Of American Progressives And The Late Ottomans, 1830–1930, Brigitte Maricich Powell

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The American intellectual and diplomatic discourse with the late Ottoman Empire is an understudied field of history. Major works to date are primarily focused on the US relations with the Turkish Republic starting in 1924, which at best may highlight the Barbary Wars and the Treaties of 1830 and 1862 as a precursor. Few works offer, if any, a comprehensive insight into the diplomatic relationship that evolved between the US and the Near East from 1830 to 1930. This research is meant to fill the absence by probing into the service of key American diplomats and intellectuals who visited and …

The Lived Experiences Of Black Fathers And How They Can Help To Narrow The Academic Achievement Gap: A Phenomenological Study, Reginald Leon Wright Jr.

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative hermeneutic phenomenological study was to examine the lived experiences of Black fathers raising sons and how their experiences and relationships with their sons aid in preventing the fourth-grade failure syndrome and reducing the academic achievement gap for Black boys. The theory guiding this study was Heider’s attribution theory which helps to explain the reasons behind the academic achievement gap and sheds light on ways to close the gap. This study was conducted using the method of qualitative hermeneutic phenomenology. The stories of Black fathers were collected to examine how they have experienced the world, specifically …

An Intrinsic Case Study Of An Inclusive Special Needs Ministry In A Large Nondenominational Faith Community In Central Virginia, Kenneth Gene Warren

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this intrinsic case study was to explore the special needs ministry of “Quality Church,” a large nondenominational ministry in Central Virginia. The theory that guided this study was Tajfel’s (1969) social identity theory, which provided a framework for understanding how attachment develops when there is a common social group connection. The central research question guiding this study was, “What ministries does Quality Church provide for children with special needs and their families?” Subquestions were as follows: “What is Quality Church’s vision for ministering to children with special needs and their families?” “What are the experiences of families …

The Historical And Modern Significance Of The Choctaw Hymnody, Angela M. Boatner

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Working with the Native Choctaw populations of early America, missionaries did much in the way of music and composition. One result was a compilation of original hymns written by English missionaries in the native Choctaw tongue, but there were also Choctaw composers and contributions. Singing these hymns in church services, gatherings, and social situations remains an activity where the Oklahoma and Mississippi tribal members participate today. The recorded history of the known hymns and composers is scarce and is disappearing daily in favor of teaching the ancient cultures rather than the religion of the white colonists. The research chose a …

Examining The Research To Practice Gap In Targeted Violence Threat Assessment In School Psychology Practice: A Phenomenological Study, Zachary Zilinski

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Preventing acts of targeted violence in schools is a necessary good because of institutional and social harms. Acts of targeted violence in school are low probability, though high-impact events have often garnered a high degree of media attention and thus attention from society at large. In lieu of attempts at perpetrator profiling, current best practice approaches emphasize prevention and intervention measures that consider the environmental factors such as school climate that can serve to incubate school violence. School psychology as a field straddles education and applied psychology. For this reason, school psychologists are often called upon to participate in threat …

A Phenomenological Study: Black Female Resilient Dropouts And How They Perceive Parental Influence In Their Pursuit Of Completing A High School Diploma At A Midwestern Credit Recovery Institution, Tennille A. Love

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to explore the lived experiences of Black female resilient high school dropouts, and whether parental involvement impacted their enrollment and completion of a diploma from a midwestern credit recovery school. The guiding theories of this study were ecological systems and critical race feminism as it relates to the participants of a specific race and gender, and how the microsystemic relationship between them and their parents may have influenced their decision. The research questions of the study were: (a) what are the lived experiences of Black females who dropped out of their traditional …

Jena And Auerstadt: Reorganization Of The German Military From 1807-1945, Blake Cole Lucy

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The twin battles of Jena and Auerstadt in 1806 and the defeat of the Prussian army by Napoleon I set in motion a series of reforms that transitioned Prussia into a modern state both economically and militarily. From these reforms and key reformers, the Prussian state established itself amongst other European powers of the time helping defeat Napoleon in 1815 ending the Napoleonic period. After the Napoleonic age, the Prussian state again faced a dire situation during the 1848 revolutions and whether it would continue the reforms through a conservative or liberal approach. The military reforms of the 1850s during …

Sel And Community Engagement Strategies For The Recruitment And Retention Of Suburban Middle School Band Students, Gina Marie Vingara

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Research has not yet found a correlation between community engagement and social-emotional learning (SEL) in a manner that benefits the recruitment and retention of suburban middle school band students. Teachers who create community engagement initiatives can boost the number of student recruits as the program becomes more widely recognized as a valuable asset of the school. This explanatory sequential mixed methods design study examined strategies regarding community engagement and SEL for recruiting and retaining middle school instrumental music education students. Perspectives on community engagement and SEL benefiting recruitment and retention of middle school band students emerged. Research revealed a connection …

Slava Propahandi (Glory To Propaganda): A Content Analysis Of Propaganda In The 2022 Russian Invasion Of Ukraine, Melanie Gardner

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This qualitative study conducted a content analysis to examine the media framing and agenda setting that online news media outlets underpinned to portray President Zelensky and the Ukrainian military as heroes in their battle against the Russian military invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The media framing and agenda-setting of the news media coverage of the Russian invasion, as well as the utilization of multiple social media platforms by the Ukrainian military and President Volodymyr Zelensky, signifies a shift in the utilization of popular media for propaganda purposes. There is research on the broader topic of the successful use of propaganda …

Exploring The Lived Experiences Of Black Males Who Have Participated In A Black Male Initiative Program At A Historically Black College Or University, Jenard Darrell Moore

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological was to identify and understand how Black Male Initiative programs contributed to the completion of an undergraduate degree for Black males at HBCUs. The study's central research question was: What role does the Black Male Initiative (BMI) play in Black male undergraduate degree completion at HBCUs in the U.S.? Shaun Harper’s anti-deficit achievement framework (ADAF) served as the conceptual framework for this study. Albert Bandura’s social cognitive theory (SCT) served as the guiding theoretical framework for this study. The design of this study was a transcendental phenomenological design with multiple units of analysis. The sample …

A Multiple Case Study Examining Collaborative Nature Of Bahamian Pastoral Teams Considering Contextual And Biblical Transformational Leadership, Kevin Andrew Hall

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to examine the nature of pastoral leadership teams in Bahamian churches. Three Bahamian pastoral leadership teams served as the sample frame for this research, with four research questions narrowing its scope to identifying collaborative and transformational behaviors and attributes. The study collected qualitative data regarding leaders’ character formation and the role of the Christian doctrine in shaping (pastoral) team dynamics, along with data regarding pastoral (team) leadership development and the usage of spiritual gifts. The data was then analyzed to determine if the leaders’ behaviors aligned with Cooper’s (2005) contextual and …

Worship Leadership From The Beginning: A Comparative Study Of Exodus 15:1-21 And Judges 5, Vivian Ann Petties

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Although many excellent books, commentaries, and journal articles have been written on worship leadership, no framework for worship leadership has been developed based upon Exodus 15:1-21 or Judges 5. The purpose of previous research has not been to discover principles of leadership, praise, and worship, or composition of music for use in ministry nor to develop a consensus about the roles played by the males and females in these texts. To develop a proposal for filling this lacuna, the present thesis will study Exodus 15:1-21 and (comparatively) Judges 5. This qualitative study will employ the exegetical methods of socio-rhetorical analysis …

A Case Study Of Racial Reconciliation In An Antebellum Multiracial Christian Church, Ossie X. Mckinney

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

It has been fifty-eight years since the Civil Rights Act of 1964 outlawed segregation in public places in the United States of America. Yet, in the twenty-first century, a racial divide still exists in the American church. The American church has not been able to mend the rift that occurred within the antebellum biracial church after the end of slavery. This study examines the actions of a biracial antebellum church that was inspired by its antislavery leaders and the Second Great Awakening to join social activism with worship to foster Christian unity and racial reconciliation. An examination of autobiographies, journals, …

The Perception Of K-12 Instrumental Directors In Low-Income Areas On Virtual Learning With Skill Development And Retention, Anthony Lewis Hunt

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Due to the extreme measures taken to protect students from COVID-19 during the pandemic, schools closed their doors, and educators struggled to continue teaching through virtual learning platforms. Performance-based classrooms were encouraged to discover new methods and strategies to motivate students to thrive even though face-to-face rehearsals were restricted. This study examined the experiences secondary music education instrumentalists faced while attempting to utilize synchronous and asynchronous instruction in a 100 percent virtual performance-based environment. This study aimed to understand the negative and positive effects placed on secondary instrumentalists’ performance abilities, fundamental development, and participation/retention since the introduction of virtual learning …

Methodist Pastoral Retention: A Quantitative Analysis Of The Relationship Between Clergy Burnout And Self-Perceived Leadership Attributes., Joseph Francis O'Donnell

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study targeted pastoral burnout symptomology and its relationship to self-perceived leadership attributes. Pastors experience a professional environment that call for ministering to their congregation's spiritual needs; however, additional social and business responsibilities often exist for which the pastor is poorly trained or improperly supported. These situations may cause high levels of stress and anxiety, challenging a pastor's self-perception of their leadership attributes. Eventually, this condition could promote the onset of burnout, which might compel the pastor to leave the ministry. As such, this research sought to establish whether a relationship exists between self-perceived leadership attributes and ministerial burnout for …

Pastors With Mission And Purpose Perceptions Of Strategic Leadership For The Church--A Multi-Case Study, Nancy Brown Smith

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This qualitative multiple-case study aimed to explore pastors’ perceptions of strategic leadership at churches in Virginia. This researcher sought to understand the strategic leadership of pastors with mission and purpose ways of growing thriving churches. This research defined strategic leadership as “the capacity to learn, change, and have managerial wisdom” (Boal & Hooijberg, 2001, p. 515) based on the Strategic Leadership Theory (Finkelstein & Hambrick, 1996). Declining church membership, attendance at services, or even closures is alarming (Felicetti, 2021), and this research may help churches facing such problems. A rationale for this study was to explore pastors’ viable avenues that …

Neuropsychiatric Sequelae Of Traumatic Brain Injury: The Impact Of Aggression And Self-Perception On The Quality Of Life Of The Traumatic Brain Injury Survivors, Aida Bazarganpour

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The occurrence of neuropsychiatric sequelae is frequently observed among survivors of traumatic brain injury (TBI). These neuropsychiatric sequelae can characterize the quality of life of TBI survivors. Among these neuropsychiatric conditions, aggression and self-perception are significant because of their potential to impair survivors’ well-being. Long-term social isolation, common among TBI survivors, has also been linked with an increased likelihood of aggressive behavior. However, research investigating the effects of aggression and self-perception on quality of life of TBI survivors is limited. Thus, the purpose of this study was to explore the relationships connecting aggression and self-perception with quality of life of …