Digital Commons Network^™

The Lack Of Awareness And Effects Of Peripheral Artery Disease And Systematic Barriers Of Black Americans: The Need To Increase Clinical Trial Recruitment And Retention Of Black Americans 40 Years Of Age And Over, Cheron Jackson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative narrative study was to understand Black American men and women 40 years old and over perceptions of participating in clinical trials and evaluating the extent of awareness about Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD). Normative and explanatory theoretical framework was used to set the norms that understand most Black American behavior and explain causes of behaviors. This in turn helped sponsors, investigators, and researchers improve recruitment plans, outreach programs, and increase marketing to attract this population. Using MAXQDA software this research gathered qualitative data from 20 Black American men and women participants 40 years old and over, …

Self-Care As An Indicator Of Success For The Undergraduate Music Education Major, Sonya Lynn Comer

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Despite rising awareness of stress and mental health issues, many undergraduate music education majors struggle to connect self-care to resilience in personal and professional areas of their lives. Students may perceive self-care as an extra luxury, if they have time after their work is completed, but they fail to recognize self-care as a potential source of energy, creativity, and joy for their work. The missing self-care component creates an internal deficit hindering students’ ability to bring their best self to the classroom, their student teaching placements, and interpersonal relationships. Omitting self-care compounds issues caused by their multi-faceted workload leaving students …

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 …

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 …

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 …

Balance And Blend: Quality Of Life And Work-Life Balance In Military Reservist Band Directors, Jeremy Ryan White

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Despite the research on work-life balance and stress management in various fields and stages of life, the perspectives of music educators serving in the military as part-time reservist musicians have yet to be explored. Teachers with a desire to serve in the military may find the part-time status appealing, as most duties are performed on weekends or during the summer. While there are many benefits to serving one’s country as a reservist, this second career may place added stress on the service members and their families. This qualitative hermeneutic phenomenological study will gather data via qualitative surveys collected from Military …

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 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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

The Relationship Between Health Status, Physical Activity, And Employment On Life Satisfaction In Adults, Lau Hung Yin

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Life satisfaction is influenced by various factors such as health, physical activity, and employment status, emphasizing the multidimensional nature of well-being. The purpose of this quantitative cross-sectional study is to examine the relationship between health status, physical activity level, and employment status on life satisfaction among adults in the U.S. The importance of this study focused on understanding how these factors influence life satisfaction. The research question focused on assessing the interconnectedness of these variables. The participants of the study are non-institutionalized civilian adults residing in the fifty states and the District of Columbia. The study involved a total sample …

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. …

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.

It also …

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 …

Pedagogy In Selected Violin Works Of Frank Bridge And Amy Beach: A Narrative Study, Kristin M. Van Cleve

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Frank Bridge and Amy Beach were well-regarded composers during their lifetimes, which spanned the era of transition from Romanticism to the dawn of twentieth-century modernity. However, their violin works are primarily absent from standard repertoire lists and rarely used as teaching tools. The purpose of this study was to explore the backgrounds and influences of both composers, who share a rich and expressive melodic and harmonic language despite being active on opposite sides of the Atlantic (Bridge in England and Beach in New England), and to examine the viewpoints of educators regarding the efficacy of using the violin repertoire of …

Managing Self-Care Among Black Male Licensed Professional Counselors: A Phenomenological Study Using Photovoice, Sharon H. Beatty

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The African Americans (Blacks) in the 1500s to 1600s represented beauty, resilience, and nobility, but history led to slavery, oppression, and trauma. Because of this history, Black male mental health counselors are experiencing systemic racism, stigmas, and underrepresentation in the counseling profession. However, there is limited research regarding Black male counselors’ self-care and wellness. Because self-care is becoming increasingly important to maintain optimal health and wellness, this transcendental phenomenological study explored African American male counselors' lived experiences and how they manage self-care personally and professionally. Data were collected from 10 African American (Black) male professional counselors in a semistructured interview, …

The Impact Of The Mental Health Epidemic On Recruitment And Retention Of High School Male Singers, Trish Gladstone

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This qualitative methods study examines the impact of the mental health pandemic on the recruitment and retention of male choral members in Pennsylvania high school music choral programs since the end of the COVID-19 pandemic. Enrollment in many choral programs increased since the end of the COVID-19 pandemic, but the number of male enrollment is rising slower than ever. This thesis explores existing literature, personal interviews, and student focus group results to understand how mental health affects male singers quitting or remaining in the choral program. Research and investigations into the impact of the mental health pandemic in choral classrooms …

A Hermeneutic Phenomenological Study Of The Lived Experiences Of Elementary Educators’ Implementation Of Grade Level Expectations To Students With Disabilities, Clinetta Monique Pierre

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This hermeneutic phenomenological study describes elementary educators' experiences and self-efficacy in implementing grade-level expectations for students with disabilities significantly below grade level in Georgia public schools' inclusive classroom environment. Albert Bandura's self-efficacy theory guides this study which is grounded in the social cognitive theory. According to the self-efficacy theory, people are the masters of their own objectives, choices, and fate. The participants included 10 elementary public school general education or content area teachers who are one half of a co-teaching partnership. Individual interviews, focus groups, and blogs were used to collect data in order to investigate the nature of general …

Exploring The Gender Pay Gap And Impacts On Retention Of C-Suite Women Executives, Organizational Performance And Profitability, Shelbie Webster

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Gender pay inequity and the lack of representation of women in senior C-suite level roles remain pervasive issues. This behavior results in workers receiving unequal wages and being underrepresented in senior-level C-suite positions, ultimately affecting the organization's bottom line. The purpose of this qualitative, flexible design, single case study was to explore the failure of some organizations to pay senior-level C-suite women comparable to males holding the same title and experience. The location is from the southeast region of the U.S., where employees work for organizations with 1,000 plus employees, resulting in a potential decrease in organizational performance and profitability. …

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 …

The Role Of Citizen Feedback In Improving Public Services: A Case Study In San Diego, David M. Burton

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The United States of America has many vibrant metropolitan areas known for their diverse populations and active civic engagement. Due to its melting pot of cultural diversity and robust public service infrastructure, these metropolitan areas offer an ideal environment for investigating citizen feedback and its influence on public service delivery. This case study, based in San Diego, California, examined the significance of citizen feedback in enhancing the quality and efficiency of public services in multicultural urban environments. The study employed a multimethod design and data collection, which involved both qualitative and quantitative methods. Semi-structured interviews were conducted to gain deeper …

Extended Reality Technology & The Integration Of The Paramedic Academic Learning Disability Student Into Inclusive Learning Platforms: A Hermeneutic Phenomenological Study, Kathleen A. Limber

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological hermeneutic study was to discover the learning experience of augmented reality or virtual reality and extended reality technology for current and former paramedic academic students with learning disabilities in a regional Mid-Atlantic paramedic program located in the rural, mountainous Appalachian region. The theories guiding this study were Sweller’s cognitive load and Bandura’s social cognitive theory. The central research question was: What are the lived experiences of paramedic academic students with learning disabilities (LDs) using XR (AR/VR) technology as a pedagogical learning tool? The sample of 12 research participants consisted of LD students who identified as …

Exploring The Impact Of Combat Trauma And Ptsd On Student Veterans In Postsecondary Education And The Mediating Roles Of Positive Spiritual/Religious Coping And Social Support, Mirjana Jovicic

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Student veterans with combat trauma (CT) and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) face significant challenges in postsecondary education, impacting their retention and degree completion. Despite efforts by institutions to accommodate student veterans, gaps remain in understanding the factors that influence their educational success. This study was grounded in constructivist self-development theory, examining the relationship between student veterans with CT/PTSD (X) and postsecondary satisfaction (Y) through two mediators: positive spiritual/religious coping (PSRC; M1) and social support (SS; M2). Using a quantitative, cross-sectional, descriptive correlational design, this study employed Hayes's PROCESS Model 6 to analyze both X's direct and indirect effects on Y. …

A Transcendental Phenomenological Study Of The Challenges Unique To Black Male Teachers Working In Title I Low-Income Schools In South Carolina, Tamika Levitt Lewis

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Our entire educational process begins with K-12 as the teachers tasked with providing knowledge and guidance aid students to succeed academically and personally. Teaching in low-income, underserved communities often requires teachers to assume roles and responsibilities in addition to teaching to tend to the basic needs of students. There is a dearth of literature on counseling teachers, and even less on teachers working in this environment and specific populations. The responsibility of depicting positive male representation for students in high-poverty schools and communities can pose unique challenges for Black male teachers. Understanding the lived experiences of Black male teachers has …

A Phenomenological Study: The Effects Of Mental Toughness On Female Athletes And Return To Competition Following Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries, Heidi R. Field

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Anterior cruciate ligament injuries (ACL) are the most common severe season ending or career ending injury (Petushek et al. 2019). One ACL injury costs the individual and healthcare system $38,000 which includes surgery and rehabilitative costs (Petushek et al., 2019). However, this amount does not account for the psychological effect of ACL injuries on the athletes. For all athletes, a major determinant in the decision to undergo ACL reconstruction surgery is the goal of returning to sport, but only 50% of athletes return to sport following ACL surgical intervention (Ardern et al., 2011). As females are up to three times …