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Heroines Of Their Own Stories: Lower Socio-Economic Black And Hispanic Giftedness, Dace Ashcraft

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenological study was to describe the lived experiences of racially, ethnically, and economically diverse (REED) learners in developing gifted traits and behaviors for female students who have taken part in an extracurricular online course from the northeastern United States. Gifted traits and behaviors, or giftedness, was generally defined as what might be perceived as advanced ability or the potential for advanced ability in one or more specific areas. The theories guiding this study are Vygotsky’s sociocultural theory, which aids in understanding the influence of a student’s culture on higher-order mental functions originating in the social …

The Effect Of Moral Bible Stories On Cheating Behavior In Young Children, Angela C. Smith

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The current study sought to evaluate how different versions of a Bible story affected children’s subsequent cheating and lying behavior in a temptation task. The first condition (relational) heard a story about Jacob cheating his brother and lying to his father, but he later told the truth and reunited with his brother. The second story (punitive) was the same up until Jacob had been running away from his brother for years, but in this version he did not tell the truth and never reunited with his family. The relational story emphasized the value of telling the truth while the punitive …

Principal-Agent Theory: An Examination Of Success Variations In Government-Funded Highway Infrastructure Projects In The United States, Felicia Mcintyre

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This quantitative, nonexperimental, analytical, and cross-sectional study examined the extent to which procurement models, financial risk allocation, and principal-agent communication complexities influenced the success of government-funded highway infrastructure projects in the United States (US). Data were collected from 84 completed highway infrastructure projects (N = 84) between 2001 and 2024 from the US Major Projects Database. Regression analysis and bootstrapped standard errors showed that the procurement model selected significantly affected project success. Public-private partnerships (PPPs) were shown to effectively reduce time overruns with a strong relationship potential for controlling project time growth. There were no statistically significant indirect effects of …

Biblical Integration In High School Academics, Perry Rudolph Cunningham

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This abstract presents an overview of the dissertation-in-praxis proposal. It highlights its core elements: the problem under investigation, the study's purpose, and the methodologies employed to achieve its expected outcomes. The research took place at Temple Christian School, the high school division dedicated to becoming the premier Christian educational institution in The Bahamas. Committed to academic excellence, its mission is to deliver an innovative, faith-based curriculum that integrates advanced technology, equipping students to become lifelong learners and effective problem solvers within their communities. Despite its powerful vision and mission, a significant gap remains between its stated purpose and the current …

Comprehending The Influence Of Harassment And Stalking Laws On The Safety And Well-Being Of Victims In The Us, Khazayma Khan

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this dissertation is to explore the problem of unresponsive law enforcement faced by legitimate victims of harassment and stalking in the United States and to ultimately develop recommendations to address the problem. A mixed method was used in which qualitative and quantitative data was gathered and analyzed. For this dissertation, a mixed method was applied using interviews, focus group discussions, and surveys to gather data among victims of harassment and stalking. The participants were recruited using convenience sampling in which victims of harassment and stalking were selected from relevant organizations, such as support services. A total of …

Intergenerational Toxic Stress In Preschool Children, Cynthia R. Rovnaghi

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Worldwide there is an outcry for understanding, integrating, preventing, coordinating, and collaboratively treating the neuropsychosocial components of intergenerational transmission of trauma-induced toxic stress (ITTS). The purpose of this quasi-experimental, cross-sectional, secondary analysis of the Hair Biomarkers Study Phase I (HBS-I) was to obtain empirical evidence supporting the introduction of the Theory of Neurogenesis Abruption (ToNA) and to standardize the use of hair biomarkers and child developmental scales for early detection of central nervous system (CNS) dysregulation. Birth and developmental outcomes of children born to parents with a diagnosed serious mental health condition (DSMHC) and/or substance (ab)use (SA/SU) disorder (children, n …

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 Causal-Comparative Study Between The Aeronautical Decision-Making Skills Of Collegiately And Non-Collegiately Trained Private Pilots, Karl P. Winters

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this quantitative causal-comparative design study was to examine the relationship between private pilots’ flight training background (collegiate or non-collegiate) and aeronautical decision-making (ADM) skills among recently certificated private pilots enrolled in a commercial pilot flight training course at a Part 141 flight training program in a large, private, mid-Atlantic university. The problem is that although deficient ADM is a known major contributor to fatal general aviation (GA) accidents, it is unknown if there is a difference in the ADM skills of collegiately and non-collegiately trained private pilots. This study, built on the framework of dual-process theory and …

The Benefits Of Trail Running: A Quantitative Inquiry Into The Cognitive Domain, Jack Edward Lemaire

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This crossover study aimed to investigate the impact on human cognition of an acute bout of trail running at 5 kilometers in distance as measured by a unique cognitive testing battery. It is well documented that aerobic exercise such as trail running provides enormous neuroprotective benefits through various physiological processes, including vascular adaptations and neurotrophin production. To date, no investigation into how a shorter duration trail run specifically impacts cognition has been conducted. For this crossover study, 22 participants were recruited using convenience sampling methods from adults fitting the necessary inclusion criteria from within the greater Nashville area. Participants were …

The Effects Of Seesaw On "John Kanaka" Singing Assessment Tracking And Teacher-To-Student Feedback In The Third Grade Elementary Music Classroom, Sarah Elizabeth Gonzalez

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Assessments play a vital role for teachers to measure individual student progress and motivate instruction that meets students' needs. Traditional assessments provide a substantive way for teachers to collect data, which they will analyze long after they administer the assessment. Creating substantial evidence for individual performance-based standards poses a challenge. Seesaw serves as an online platform for student engagement, allowing students to share their knowledge while parents can safely monitor it through photos, videos, drawings, text, audio, PDFs, and links. The researchers conducted the study over four weeks in March 2025 in the third-grade music classes at Ray Roberts Elementary. …

The Role Of Moral Distress On Burnout And Spiritual Well-Being Among Clinical Healthcare Professionals, Stephanie R. Russell

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Clinical healthcare professionals often encounter situations in the workplace that create moral distress, influence spiritual well-being, and lead to the development of burnout. Much of the current research focuses on healthcare employees’ experiences with burnout and morality at work during the COVID-19 pandemic, specifically among Asian and Middle Eastern populations. Gaps that exist in the current research include an examination of moral distress among clinical healthcare professionals in the United States in the post-COVID-19 era and an examination of the relationships between moral distress, burnout, and spiritual well-being. The current study aims to fill the gaps in the research by …

Living Art: The Arabian Horse Industry Boom And Bust, 1970-1990, Jill R. Wright

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The Arabian horse world in the 1980’s was characterized by high prices followed by an unprecedented fall of the market. The Arabian horse industry was a boom and bust cycle, much like the Dutch Tulipmania of the 1630’s. Many breeders reveled in the status of owning an Arabian and prospered in this inflated market. They could make a quick profit buying a horse and reselling it a short time later, as the prices quickly rose. High prices, which were the boom, turned out to be the issue. The horses, referred to by many as living art, were not a good …

Hope As A Source To Strengthen Chaplain Resiliency In The Christian And Missionary Alliance, Javier M. Torres-Chinea

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This research project intends not only to assess the levels of hope of the population of chaplains of the Christian and Missionary Alliance, but also to educate on how hope can strengthen resilience. Using Snyder's Theory of Hope (2000) provides a theoretical framework that allows a positive vision of the social and employment situation of millions of people. Snyder's Adult Hope Scale measures the hope trait in the chaplains, both male and female, between the ages of 25-65. For the participants, a questionnaire called the Hope Questionnaire was used. The SurveyPlanet website, to be distributed, answered, and collected data through …

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 …

Faith, Hope For The Culture, And Love: Exploring The Influence Of Faith And Culture On Marital Resiliency Amongst African American Christians, Alena M. Crawley

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study is to describe African American Christian couples’ experiences with the influence of their faith and culture on their marital relationship. The theory guiding this study is the strengths-based perspective which was developed in the mid-1980s by Professor Charles Rapp and students from the University of Kansas as it provides context for the examination of strengths unique to a specific population and how these strengths can be utilized as a tool for improved success. Relative to this study, the researcher sought to explore the contributions of faith and culture in strengthening the marital experience for …

How Do The Conflicts In The Middle East And The Crisis At The Southwestern Land Border Increase The Risk Of Terrorism In The United States?, Bradly Perkins

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This qualitative dissertation provides an in-depth analysis of the intricate relationship between the persistent geopolitical instability in the Middle East, the complex crisis at the United States' Southwestern Border, and the associated terrorist threats facing the United States. Despite the pressing nature of these interconnected challenges, there is a notable scarcity of scholarly literature that effectively establishes links between the issues at the Southwestern Border, the conflicts occurring in the Middle East, and the risks of terrorism. This gap in research highlights the need for a comprehensive examination of these global security concerns, emphasizing how they interact and influence one …

The Effects Of Modern Band Performance On Enhancing Confidence And Emotional Maturation In Fifth-Grade Students, Julia M. Wetherhold

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Current research notes that participation in modern band general music instruction elicits improvements in students’ sense of inclusion in school; however, it is yet to be determined if additional benefits of modern band implementation occur. This applied study aims to investigate the potential for a causal comparison between fifth-grade students’ confidence levels and emotional maturity after exposure to modern band instructional techniques and performance compared to fifth-grade students engaged in music education with an emphasis on vocal instruction. Both qualitative and quantitative approaches were implemented. Data were collected and analyzed by surveying thirty-seven fifth-grade students reporting their confidence levels and …

The Effects Of Counseling On Patient Usage And Satisfaction With Wearing Hearing Aids, David Frazier

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Hearing aids are a vital intervention for managing hearing loss, yet their adoption remains disproportionately low across age groups. Only 30% of adults aged 70 and older and a mere 16% of adults aged 20 to 69 who could benefit from hearing aids report ever using them. This study explored whether counseling and education, within the framework of aural rehabilitation therapy (ART), could improve hearing aid satisfaction and usage rates. Participants with mild-to-profound sensorineural hearing loss were evaluated using the Satisfaction with Amplification in Daily Life (SADL) questionnaire, which was administered during hearing aid fittings to gauge the effectiveness of …

Remote Teacher Retention: A Phenomenological Study Applying The Jobs Demands-Resource, Jasser Jacob Khalifeh

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to describe the lived experiences of current and former United States (U.S.) K-12 remote instructors. The problem is that educator retention is at a crisis point in the U.S. To help combat the severe and persistent teacher shortages plaguing America, leaders must capture the genuine perceptions of the virtual teaching experience. The guiding theory for this investigation is the Jobs-Demand Resource (JD-R) Model and the influence of job characteristics on teacher well-being, motivation, and retention. The central research question driving this study is, “What are the lived experiences of remote instructors?” A qualitative …

Educators' Perceptions Of The Redesign Of The Virginia Alternative Assessment Program For Students With Significant Cognitive Disabilities: A Qualitative Case Study, Nicola Leonie Larmond

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this collective case study was to explore educators’ perceptions of the redesign of the Virginia Alternative Assessment Program (VAAP) for students with significant cognitive disabilities (SWSCD) at three schools in Virginia. A purposeful sampling criterion was employed to recruit ten special education teachers and support staff who either implemented or had relevant experience with the portfolio-based and multiple-choice online formats of the VAAP. The study was conducted across three schools in a local school district in Virginia. The setting and participants were kept confidential by replacing names with pseudonyms. The theory guiding this study was Vygotsky’s zone …

Seeing Resilience Through Experience: Teachers' Resilience Experiences Post Covid-19 Pandemic, Yashica Dudley

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological was to describe the post-COVID-19 resilience experiences of 6th to 12th grade schoolteachers at Hope County Public School (HCPS). The theory that guided this study is the differing pathways to resiliency theory, as it was used to describe teachers’ resilience experiences regarding the outlook on work, self-efficacy, and coping responses. The central research question was, “What are the post-COVID-19 resilience experiences of 6th to 12th grade schoolteachers at the HCPS in the classroom?” Participants included 10-15 6th to 12th grade schoolteachers who taught before, during, and post the COVID-19 pandemic. The data was collected through …

From Laity To Leadership: A Training Program For Christians New To Leadership, Arlene J. Hopkins

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Christian leadership development is vital to fulfill the mission of the church, to build up and equip the saints to live in abundant spiritual closeness to God and others. As congregants look to church leaders for guidance, instruction, and a godly leadership model, educating, training, and nurturing these leaders as they impact the congregation is imperative. This is especially true for individuals new to leadership roles within the church. Therefore, this project aims to provide foundational biblical, spiritual, and leadership training to new lay leaders at the New Life Worship Center Church. The new leadership training program, a mandatory and …

Comparing The Association Between Eastern Vs. Western Cultures And Secure Father-Son Attachments, Thomas David Ngugi

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This research sought to examine the particular elements of Eastern and Western cultures that either promote or hinder the development of secure father-son relationships through research and Biblical context, and suggest approaches to mitigate the factors that impede it. Participants (n=12) were at least 18 years of age, identified as fathers, had a son currently attending high school, and had a predominant cultural background from either the Eastern or Western regions. A purposive and snowball sampling method, face-to-face interactions, social media platforms, and other digital communication were employed to specifically target the needed participants in this phenomenological qualitative cross-sectional study. …

The Nation’S Cold Becomes The Black Community’S Flu: A Phenomenological Study Of Vicarious Traumatization Amongst Black Clergy Affected By Community Violence, Robyn C. Hill

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Clergy are often the frontline community workers when it comes to mental health crises and trauma, especially those working within the Black communities. Black clergy frequently serve in environments with high community violence exposure and are usually subject to vicarious traumatization due to repetitive exposure to trauma narratives during their ministry work. However, studies on vicarious trauma have been geared more towards clinical mental health workers, while studies on clergy have focused more on professional burnout. The purpose of this phenomenological study is to understand the experience of vicarious traumatization of Black clergy who serve congregations that are exposed to …

California Community College Chief Executive Officer Turnover: A Transcendental Phenomenological Study, Ryan Bent

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to understand the turnover causes of chief executive officers (CEOs) within the California community college system. The central research question was, “What are the lived experiences California community college CEOs experience that led to CEO departure?” The theory guiding this study is Ryan and Deci’s (2017) self-determination theory, which helps to explain the relationships between intrinsic and extrinsic factors of basic psychological needs. The research design was a transcendental phenomenology study, which is a form of qualitative design. Three methods of data collection were used. This study focused on participants who are …

Investigating Law Enforcement Retirement Resilience Through Narrative Inquiry: A Social Constructivism Analysis Of An Activist Artwork Anthology, Lisa Ann Burton

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this dissertation is to understand the transition from a traumatic career in law enforcement to resilient retirement. The investigation examines an African American Chicago police officer who served as a detective, bomb squad respondent, and hostage negotiator. Data collection and analysis are conducted according to Connelly and Clandinin narrative inquiry procedures (1990). Investigation was made regarding the familial, educational, professional, and personal experiences of Doctor Detective Melvin Hargrett. Data collection completed through guided interview transcripts was supported by photographs of his social justice artwork. The subject’s trauma processing is evidenced in his activist artwork themes since retirement. …

Collateral Damage From A Legacy Of Silence: Redefining Sexual Violence In The American Civil War, 1861-1865, Chandra K. Waller

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This dissertation examines the often-overlooked issue of sexual violence during the American Civil War, challenging the myth of Victorian restraint and the romanticized notion of the "gentleman soldier." While traditional Civil War historiography has focused on military strategy, politics, and elite actors, this study foregrounds the experiences of civilian women, particularly enslaved and marginalized women, who were subjected to sexual violence at the hands of soldiers. Drawing on court-martial records, personal letters and diaries, newspaper accounts, and military documents, the paper argues that sexual violence was not an aberration but a systemic and strategic aspect of wartime conduct.

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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 …

Exploring Teacher Perception Of Student Engagement Within The Online Learning Environment: A Transcendental Phenomenology Study, Donia Frances Rinaldi

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to understand the shared experiences of elementary teachers who foster engagement through social presence in virtual classrooms. The theory guiding this study is Whiteside’s social presence model as it relates to engaging students in their online studies. The central research question is, “What are the shared experiences of elementary teachers who use social presence to foster engagement in their virtual classrooms?” In this qualitative study, data was collected through individual interviews, focus groups, and letter-writing with 10 online teachers chosen from a purposeful sample in an online program. The analysis of data …

A Phenomenological Study Of Women Raised In A Single-Mother Household And How They Describe Success As Adults, Nicole L. Nagy

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to understand how women in northeastern Ohio raised in single-mother households described a successful adult life. The theory guiding this study was the family systems theory developed by Murray Bowen between 1954 and 1959, as it defines support from family and social relationships for children raised in single-mother homes.Ten women who were raised in a single mother led household and who were identified as being successful as defined by the terms of this study participated. A qualitative phenomenological approach was utilized which allowed participants to provide detailed descriptions of their lived experiences through …