Digital Commons Network^™

E-Training: A Model To Reach Next Generations - A Training Program, Alice L. Jeter-Mays

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The aim of this dissertation-in-praxis was to assist ONE Church, Atl: (OCA) in creating a strategy (program) which would focus on church growth, spiritual growth, community involvement and reaching lost generations. The program developed drew upon the Authentic Leadership Theory (George, 2003), which speaks on the authenticity of the leader showing genuine love, empathy and concern for followers. The Transformational Leadership Theory was included, which motivates the leader to engage the followers positively (Burns, 1978). The program also addressed the servant leader as introduced by Greenleaf (1977), emphasizing putting others ahead of themselves and always looking to the welfare of …

Exploring Mathematics Faculty Perceptions Of Instructional Design In Ai-Integrated Tools: A Phenomenological Study, Taylor Victoria Moreau

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to explore the lived experiences of higher education mathematics faculty implementing artificial intelligence tools in their classrooms. The theory that guided this study was Piaget’s cognitive learning theory, which emphasizes that learners absorb knowledge by building upon previous understandings and experiences. The central research question guiding this study is: What are the lived experiences of mathematics faculty in higher education who utilize AI tools to support instructional design in their classrooms? Purposeful sampling was used to recruit full-time or visiting mathematics faculty members from four-year colleges and universities in the eastern United …

The Correlation Between Leadership Performance And Personality In Virtual Technology Workers, Henry C. Mullins

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This quantitative correlational study examined the relationship between leadership performance and personality traits among leaders in the technology sector, who work across the spectrum of virtuality. Personality traits were measured using the Big Five model: extraversion, openness, agreeableness, conscientiousness, and neuroticism, using the IPIP-NEO-60 instrument. Leadership performance was measured using the Leadership Practices Inventory (LPI) and interpreted through both the Leader-Member Exchange (LMX) and Transformational Leadership theories. Holistically this is viewed through a Transformational Christian worldview. This study also examined the role of virtuality, defined as the extent to which an individual works from an office or remotely. Participants were …

Childhood Sexual Abuse, Cultural Secrecy, And The Management Of Social Relationships Among Single African American Mothers, Najah Briana Blassingame

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to describe the experiences of African American female survivors’ residing in the state of South Carolina. This study explored how the cultural norms of secrecy within the AA community discouraged the open disclosure of personal or familial trauma to maintain a family’s reputation, protect the community’s image, and display family loyalty (Brazelton, 2015). The normalization of secrecy within the AA community contributes to the continuation of generational trauma which can break the family apart or mend it back together (Petion et al., 2022). The theories that guided this study were identified as the …

A Multiple Case Study: Communicating Uncertainty In Intelligence Community Analytic Judgments, Donald S. Terry Jr.

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

U.S. Intelligence Community (IC) analysts face incessant challenges in expressing and explaining uncertainty (dependent variable) when communicating analytic judgments to their clients. IC analysts theorize and apply estimative language and levels of confidence in their analysis, and then it is received by decision-makers, ultimately having an impact on policy making. Historic case studies of the pre-war intelligence assessment of Iraqi WMD, the operational and diplomatic outcome of the 2011 raid on UBL, and the intelligence surprise of COVD-19 reflect the impact that uncertainty has on strategic analysis. Data is collected from primary sources, coded, and interpreted to survey ideas and …

Engaging Spiritual Growth Across The Generational Divides Using Cross-Generational Co-Mentorship, David F. Smith

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This thesis examined the problem of the tendency for older adults to slow down in spiritual growth. The project instituted relationships between older and younger individuals in a Cross-Generational Co-Mentorship system, which allowed two individuals from different generations to engage in spiritual disciplines in a one-on-one format in a small church context. The purpose of this study was to foster spiritual growth and wellness through individual interactions and to enhance their engagement in various ministry opportunities. The study created intergenerational relationships that fostered spiritual growth in both the older and younger participants. The study engaged various types of literature on …

A Qualitative Study – The Effect Of Technology Through Social Media On Christian Young Adult’S Self-Image And Moral Development, Claudia Sosa

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

With technology usage growing among adolescents and much research conducted around the impact social media has on their development and mental wellbeing, there is little research that has been conducted to explore the lived experiences of social media on Christian young adult’s self-image and moral development and what role their faith plays in it. Through a qualitative study via a phenomenological approach and using semi structured interviews, this study sought to understand how Christian young adults ages 18-25 years old experience and describe a shared phenomenon and how they create common meaning on how they believe social media has impacted …

That Of God In Everyone: The Importance Of Indiana And Ohio Quakers In The Abolition Of Slavery In America, 1787-1865, Ryan P. Dreibelbis

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Traditional conceptions of the abolition of slavery in America revolve around notions of the Underground Railroad thriving as a Northern operation, significantly in states such as Indiana and Ohio. While it operated extensively in Northern states, albeit not exclusively, due to the criticality of those states, it is important to understand why it existed in the manner it did in those states. Understanding this requires an analysis of the major proponents of the antislavery movement, the activities abolitionists organized and participated in, the beliefs on which they founded their efforts, the lengths they were willing to go to ensure African …

Redefining Aesthetics: The Communicative Construction Of Body Image And Self-Esteem Among Young Female Adults In Fiditi And Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria, Christopher Omamuromu Amojo

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study examines the communicative construction of body image and self-esteem among young female adults in Fiditi and Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria, within the context of contemporary social media use. Although a substantial body of scholarship has explored social media’s relationship with body image, much of this research is situated in Western contexts and framed predominantly through psychological or effects-based paradigms. Addressing this gap, the present study adopts a qualitative interpretive approach grounded in social construction theory and the sociocultural communication tradition to investigate how meanings surrounding beauty, self-worth, and identity are produced and negotiated through mediated interaction in a …

Green Synthesis And Characterization Of Silver Nanoparticles Using Dadap Serep (Erythrina Lithosperma) Leaves Extract As A Bioreductor, Fairuz Hammad Albahi, Suyatno Sutoyo, Tukiran Tukiran

Chimica et Natura Acta

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) had been widely applied in various fields such as health, food, environment, catalysts, optics, and electronics. The synthesis of silver nanoparticles can be carried using a bottom-up method using by bioreductants derived from natural extracts (green synthesis). This study aims to describe the green synthesis of silver nanoparticles using a bioreductants from dadap serep (E. lithosperma) leaves extract and to determine its characteristics. The synthesis was carried out by varying the volume ratio of dadap serep leaves extract to silver nitrate solution at ratios of 1: 1, 1: 2, 1: 3, and 1: 4, followed by optimization …

Development And Feasibility Testing Of A Video-Based Virtual Reality Bullying Safety Skills Intervention For School-Aged Children With Disabilities, Trevor C. Maxfield

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Virtual reality (VR) technology has emerged as a promising instructional tool for children with disabilities; however, research on using VR to improve safety skills in this population remains limited. The present study employed a 2-phase approach to develop and evaluate a video-based VR bullying safety skills intervention for children with disabilities. In Phase 1, bullying and applied behavior analysis experts reviewed and validated the intervention content, including the response to bullying steps, school-based scenario storyboards, and embedded behavioral procedures, rating the content as valid and technically adequate. Expert feedback informed refinements to the intervention content and the decision to transition …

A Prolonged Nightly Fasting Plus Telehealth Coaching Intervention (Pnf+) For Men On Androgen Deprivation Therapy For Pca: A Pilot Feasibility Randomized Controlled Trial, Kuang-Yi Wen, Julianne Freedman, Kevin K. Zarrabi, Rachel Slamon, Rita Smith, Jessica Liang, Patrick Mille, William J. Tester, William Kevin Kelly

Department of Medical Oncology Faculty Papers

Background/Objectives: This study aimed to assess the feasibility and acceptability of a 3-month health coaching intervention to promote PNF and healthy diet for men on ADT for PCa.

Methods: The study was carried out via a two-armed randomized controlled trial including 40 patients with PCa at a medical center in Philadelphia. During the 3-month period, the intervention group (PNF+) received health coaching utilizing an interactive text message system, and the control group received healthy eating text messages for the same duration. The outcome variables were feasibility and acceptability.

Results: The PNF+ group (n = 27) had high …

A Qualitative Phenomenological Study Of African American Millennial Couples' Perceptions Of Dual Trauma And The Impact On Marital Satisfaction, Christopher Ray Merrell

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study is to describe African American millennial married couples’ experiences with unresolved trauma in the North Texas Region, Texas. The theory guiding this study is John Bowlby’s Attachment Theory. Multiple traumatic experiences and relationship fractures that inhibit marital satisfaction among African American millennials are also examined. Trauma, viewed from a generalized perspective and conceptual form, is defined as an uncontrollable and sudden event with highly adverse outcomes that may persist. Among African Americans, trauma from interpersonal distress, historical events, racial barriers, and socioeconomic stressors often hinders the pursuit of healthy marriages. This study examines millennial …

A Phenomenological Study Of Thai Adult Christians’ Experiences Of A Secure Attachment To God, Sujirat Sirichai

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to describe Thai adult Christians’ experiences of developing a secure attachment to God. Many Thai children experience insecure attachments with their primary caregivers and attachment trauma. This study was guided by attachment theory to examine how attachment to primary caregivers, life crises, and relational and spiritual factors influenced the development of a secure attachment to God. This research used a transcendental phenomenological approach with a snowball sample of eight Thai adult Christians who demonstrate a secure attachment to God. Data collected through semi-structured interviews were analyzed through coding. Data analysis revealed six themes …

Exploring The Lived Experiences Of Operating Room Nurse Interns Transitioning To Practice: A Qualitative Study, Christina C. Baker

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to describe the essence of the lived experiences of new graduate nurse interns transitioning to the operating room (OR) specialty at a southeastern U.S. university hospital system. Many hospitals have nurse residency programs designed to support and facilitate new nursing graduates’ transition to practice areas. The OR is a highly specialized nursing area requiring training in addition to what is offered in nurse residency programs. The central research question was, what is the lived experience of new graduate OR nurses as they complete their transition to practice programs? The theory guiding this …

‘Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam’: The Religious And Political Missions Of The American-Catholic Military Chaplaincy During The Mexican-American War, Daniel Thomas Louis Moore

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The historical community has neglected to deeply analyze the American-Catholic military chaplaincy in the Mexican-American War, 1846-1848. With exceptions, most historians, who have discussed this chaplaincy, have run the spectrum of dedicating an entire chapter to a few sentences on it. “‘Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam’” offers a first, in-depth monograph of this chaplaincy. “‘Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam’” argues that the political mission from President James K. Polk to the chaplaincy, which was to help reconcile Americans and Mexicans, did not truly suffer the failure or the mediocrity that certain historians have portrayed it to be. Instead of analyzing the chaplaincy’s …

A Qualitative Interpretive Study Of How A Trucking Company Coordinates The Management Of Meanings Of Its Communications In The United States Of America, Travis J. Koch

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study examines how communication between truck drivers and their managers can support meaningful behavioral change by co-constructing shared interpretations, as described by coordinated management of meaning theory. It focuses on how meanings are negotiated in everyday conversations and how specific conversational mechanisms shape drivers' performances. The central claim is that certain conversational mechanisms can reduce uncertainty, ease friction between co-workers, and improve safety and operational efficiency. When supervisors and drivers successfully develop shared meanings, greater clarity, stronger working relationships are more likely. Those outcomes matter in a high stake, complex industry. This research extends scholarship on organizational meaning-making and …

The Development And Leadership Implementation Of Strategies Promoting Church Health In The Presbytery Of The Central West, New South Wales, Australia, Mark S. Armstrong

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Many Churches in the Presbyterian rural landscape have plateaued or are in decline. Little research has been done to address the causes and provide strategies for remediation. This study examines this problem in the Presbytery of the Central West, New South Wales, Australia. The purpose of the project is to identify factors causing church decline in rural areas and develop revitalization strategies for ministers and elders across the Presbytery. The research consists of two layered responses. The first layer identifies factors causing church decline and develops five strategies suitable for implementation. The second layer utilizes Mezirow’s transformative learning framework to …

A Phenomenological Approach To Exploring Emotional Dysregulation And Lack Of Empathy In Preschoolers From Low Income Christian And Non-Christian Families, Christine Mendez

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Children often apply the adaptive skills they learn at home to the classroom in preschool, marking their first experience in structured environments. Two constructs, emotional regulation and empathy, are behaviors necessary for a preschooler’s development. However, the absence of socially desirable contexts can lead to preschoolers developing academic and behavioral deficits. Existing literature does not explore the spiritual, social and cultural practices of the familial and academic environments of preschoolers from disadvantaged groups. Earlier studies from higher socioeconomic levels suggest that poor attachment during infancy, parenting skills, trauma or lack of age-appropriate learning opportunities are conditions that deteriorate regulation and …

The Successful Transition Of Military Veterans To Higher Education: A Phenomenological Study, Kenneth Hollis

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenological study was to explore the lived experiences of student veterans as they transition into 4-year universities in the southern region of the United States. The problem guiding this work is that student veterans often face significant challenges in achieving academic and personal success during the transition from military service to civilian campus life. The theory guiding this study was Schlossberg's transition theory, as it provides a framework for understanding the factors that influence individuals' experiences during change and transition how veterans navigate the academic, social, and psychological dimensions of this pivotal life change. The …

A Phenomenological Study Of The Utilization Of Coping Strategies Among Pastors: Religious Strategies Vs. Secular/Traditional Strategies, Arbedella Denise Moore

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to understand how Christian pastors serving congregations throughout the United States utilize religious and secular coping strategies to address occupational stress and achieve work-life balance. The theory guiding this study was Lazarus and Folkman’s (1984) transactional model of stress and coping, as it provided a framework for understanding how pastors cognitively and emotionally respond to ministry-related challenges, and how their coping choices, whether spiritual or secular, reflect an ongoing process of adaptation, meaning-making, and resilience within complex realities of pastoral life. The study was guided by three research questions that explored how pastors …

Economic Independence And Professional Legitimacy: Colorado Businesswomen Of The 19th Century, Tyler Brinn Hobbs Freytag

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This dissertation examines the tension between legal reform and lived reality for women in Colorado during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Although Colorado became the second state to grant women suffrage in 1893 and was widely celebrated as a national leader in women’s rights, the experiences of three influential women—Augusta Louise Tabor, Mary Elitch Long, and Mary Florence Lathrop—demonstrate how legal progress often failed to translate into genuine social, economic, or professional equality. Using a multidisciplinary analysis of primary sources, including court records, newspapers, diaries, and legislative documents, this study explores the disconnect between written law, its application, …

Victory In Spite Of Themselves: The Continental Congress, The Continental Army, And The Politics Of Failure In The American Revolution, Stuart D. Hatfield

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This dissertation examines the civil–military relationship between the Continental Congress and the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War, arguing that the American victory occurred despite persistent structural, ideological, and administrative deficiencies within the revolutionary government. The study addresses six central research questions concerning the composition and authority of the Continental Congress, the formation and operational parameters of the Continental Army, the influence of congressional decision‑making on military strategy, the development of conflict between Congress and the officer corps, the effects of Congress’s logistical and financial failures on the Army’s ability to sustain operations, and the role of George Washington …

Examining The Differences Between Newly Married Women And Women In Long-Term Marriages. How They Experience Jealousy And Respond To Romantic Jealousy-Evoking Situations., Ernie Francis-Baptiste

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This quantitative correlational study, grounded on evolutionary, social role, and social-cognitive theories, and incorporating a biblical perspective, examined the differences in the experience of jealousy and responses to romantic jealousy among women within a marital context. A total of 170 participants, with 85 in each group, were recruited through convenience sampling and completed the Self-Report Jealousy Scale–Revised and the Multidimensional Jealousy Scale. The results revealed no statistically significant differences in romantic, emotional or professional experience of jealousy between the groups. Findings also revealed no statistical difference in emotional response; however, significant statistical differences were found in cognitive and behavioral responses …

Teacher Perception Of Attention Deficit- Hyperactivity Disorder And Acceptability Of Interventions For Students With Attention Deficit- Hyperactivity Disorder, Andrea S. Thompson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a prevalent neurocognitive disorder, highly diagnosed in students. Teachers play a crucial role in the detection of ADHD and in implementing interventions. However, their perceptions, confidence, and barriers influence how interventions are applied in the classroom. The purpose of this study was to examine teachers’ perceptions and knowledge of ADHD and their perceptions of the evidence-based interventions for students with ADHD. The study also explored the role of student-teacher relationships on academic outcomes, perceived barriers to implementation, and factors influencing teachers’ willingness to implement interventions. Participants included 25 certified teachers, teaching core subjects in grades …

A Transcendental Phenomenological Study Of The Lived Experiences Of Christians Who Have Experienced Divine Healing And The Role Of Relational Spirituality, Dora Hicks

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Divine healing has been described as miraculous and supernatural, attributed to a divine entity, and other methods. Pathways have varied from fasting, praying, worshiping, the Holy Spirit, Scripture, faith, hope, trusting, surrendering, and having a relationship with God. Perceptions and understandings of God, as influenced by religious and spiritual beliefs, are referred to as relational spirituality grounded in attachment theory, which may lead to viewing God as an attachment figure, influencing perceptions of self and others. This qualitative transcendental phenomenological study explores the lived experiences of Christians who have experienced divine healing and the role of relational spirituality. Delimitations are …

Exploring Lived Experiences Faced By Latina Breast Cancer Survivors, Deborah Fortino

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of the hermeneutic phenomenological study was to explore and understand lived experiences of Latina breast cancer survivors through semi-structured interviews on the Zoom Video Conferencing platform. The theory that guided the study was the Health Belief Model (HBM), a health behavior framework that explored Latina breast cancer survivors' behaviors concerning health (Rosenstock et al., 1988). Furthermore, Fleming et al.’s (2003) five steps of gathering qualitative data and Ajjai and Higgs’s (2007) six stages of data analysis were utilized to acquire the information to explore the phenomenon of Latina breast cancer survivors’ lived experiences. The sample population included nine …

Empath: A Novel Treatment Modality To Improve Patient Outcomes, Barry Thomas Peade Jr.

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

In recent years, increasing patient volumes in emergency departments, rising cases of overdoses, and strained resources have heightened the attention paid to behavioral health care in the emergency department setting. Currently, various models of care attempt to streamline the provision of care for behavioral health patients in the emergency department. EmPATH, developed by Dr. Scott Zeller, offers rapid stabilization for psychiatric crises. While preliminary studies show promise, further research is needed. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of EmPATH implementation on patient outcomes, including boarding times, readmission rates, and inpatient admissions. Data was collected before and after implementation of …

Trauma Bonding In Sex-Trafficked Women: A Single-Subject Multiple-Baseline Mixed Methods Study, Kathysue Dorey

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Trauma bonding was studied in a convergent mixed methods single-subject multiple-baseline experiment research design that captured the lived experiences of female sex-trafficked victims. The relationship between the transtheoretical treatment program as the independent variable and the dependent variables of trauma bonding, the ESI framework of EQ, creative problem-solving, Christian doctrine, and the creative environment were investigated. While the moderated mediation Hayes Model 89 statistical program initially was proposed to analyze quantitative data, the study design was revised to reflect the N = 2 subject pool. The TBRP–A, EQi® 2.0, SAI, and PEFSC were used as quantitative instruments, along with their …

Music Teachers’ Perceptions And Actual Effects Of Youth Orchestra Participation On Students’ Playing Ability, Erika J. Pierce

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Despite research demonstrating a significant correlation between social and academic development with participation in a youth orchestra, few studies have examined whether participation directly affects students’ note-reading skills, the accuracy of pitch production, and musical expression. This information matters because students often join a youth orchestra to develop these and other playing skills beyond what school programs and private lessons teach. This applied research study examined youth orchestra participation by comparing teachers’ perceptions with demonstrated performance outcomes on middle school students’ development in note-reading, pitch production accuracy, and musical expression. This study analyzed rubric-scored student performance recordings alongside teacher survey …