Digital Commons Network^™

A Metaphysical Analysis Of Theological Language: Can We Talk About God?, Kenneth R. Marple

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The possibility of meaningful theological language presents a longstanding problem in philosophy of religion and Christian theology. Because human language is finite and creaturely while God is infinite and transcendent, questions arise concerning how human beings can make meaningful and truthful claims about God. Traditional accounts of univocal, equivocal, and analogical predication address aspects of this problem but often leave a more fundamental metaphysical question unresolved: what must language be for it to meaningfully signify reality? This dissertation provides a metaphysical analysis of theological language by examining the ontological foundations of language and its relationship to reality. Through qualitative, interdisciplinary …

Welcoming The Recovering To Worship At Westwood Baptist Church, Eric "Shawn" Stricklin

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This Doctor of Ministry project addressed the relational disconnect between participants in the Reformers Unanimous addiction recovery ministry and their integration into Sunday corporate worship at Westwood Baptist Church in Poplar Bluff, Missouri. Although many individuals regularly attended the recovery ministry, they did not consistently engage in the broader life of the church. The purpose of this project was to develop, implement, and evaluate a Welcome Team Training Program designed to equip volunteers with theological understanding, relational skills, and ministry confidence to foster greater congregational integration. Ten participants completed the eight-week intervention, which included biblical instruction, addiction education, guided discussion, …

Closing The Gap Between Pastoral Responsibility And Mental Health Preparedness, Robert Lee Lytle Jr

Masters Theses

Faith communities increasingly encounter significant mental health needs among congregants, yet many pastors and ministry leaders remain underprepared to respond effectively within their pastoral scope. This Dissertation-in-Praxis addressed the persistent gap between the growing prevalence of mental health challenges in faith-based contexts and the limited leadership preparedness required to provide informed, ethical, and integrated pastoral care. This researcher defined the theological, organizational, and contextual dimensions of the problem, identifying stigma, insufficient pastoral training, and fragmented referral practices as primary contributors to the divide between responsibility and preparedness. Grounded in interdisciplinary scholarship at the intersection of spirituality, leadership, and mental health, …

A Multiple Case Study: Servant Leadership And Ethical Practices In Ethically Complex Organizational Environments, Gregory Antoine Davis

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to explore how organizational leaders applied servant leadership to inform ethical practices within ethically complex organizational environments. Guided by a constructivist paradigm and Greenleaf’s servant leadership theory, the study examined leaders’ experiences navigating ethical challenges while balancing organizational demands with ethical responsibility. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with organizational participants and document analysis across three organizational cases. Methodological triangulation, member checking, reflexive journaling, and an audit trail enhanced the credibility, dependability, confirmability, and transferability of the findings. Analysis revealed six interconnected themes: servant leadership, ethical leadership, organizational culture, leader development, …

Examining How The Frequency Of Artificial Intelligence Use In The Workplace Relates To Employee Self-Efficacy And Job Satisfaction, Dalton R. Vail

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Artificial intelligence is a prominent topic in society. Its adoption in the healthcare sector has occurred rapidly. Nonetheless, much existing research focuses on clinical healthcare professionals, thereby overlooking those in non-clinical roles. Non-clinical roles make up a small portion of the healthcare industry, but they account for a large share of burnout in the field. This quantitative study aimed to explore the relationships among artificial intelligence, job satisfaction, and self-efficacy. It posited that these variables are interconnected concerning artificial intelligence in a non-clinical context. Furthermore, the study sought to determine whether job satisfaction and self-efficacy are influenced by how often …

A Causal-Comparative Study Of Self-Efficacy In Certificate And Degree Programs At The Community College Level Upon Graduation, Stephen Wakefield Phelps

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This quantitative causal-comparative study investigated whether student-perceived occupational self-efficacy differs between graduates of community college certificate programs and those completing Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degrees. The research also addresses a gap in the literature regarding how award type influences occupational self-efficacy among students in automotive, diesel, manufacturing, and welding programs. The study employed a causal-comparative research design, examining the relationship between the categorical independent variable of award type (certificate or AAS degree) and the quantitative dependent variable of occupational self-efficacy. Participants (N=209) were students in their graduating term from community colleges in a Northwestern state who were completing one …

A Self-Efficacy Study Of Sibshop Programs On Family Systems: A Qualitative Phenomenological Study, Milisa R. Fowler

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study is to investigate how sibling support workshops SIBSHOPs influence families, with special attention to self-efficacy of participating families. SIBSHOPs were developed to support siblings of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) by providing a platform to exchange and share their thoughts, learn new things, and develop coping strategies. This study examines the experiences of participants and their families in SIBSHOPs to understand how the workshops affect family dynamics, sibling relationships, and individual self-efficacy. Through interviews and thematic analysis, the study examines the perceived effectiveness of SIBSHOPs in enhancing participants’ self-efficacy within the context …

Understanding The Lived Experiences Of Gun Violence On Psychological Functioning And Perceived Psychosocial Supports In St. Louis’S Marginalized And Underserved Communities, Desirae Mecole Martinez

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) identifies gun violence as a leading public health concern in the United States. Marginalized and underserved communities are disproportionately impacted by poverty and crime, including firearm violence. Gun violence exposure has been linked to complex trauma, anxiety, substance use disorders, and depression. St. Louis, Missouri, has one of the highest rates of gun violence and mortality in the nation; however, research lacks an understanding of the psychological toll. Limited phenomenological research has examined how adults residing in marginalized and underserved communities experience gun violence exposure psychologically and perceive psychosocial supports. This study …

Inclusive Or Self-Contained: A Hermeneutic Phenomenological Study Of Parents’ Lived Experiences With Classroom Placements For Students With Disabilities In The Mid-Atlantic United States, Nicole M. Johnson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenological study was to understand the lived experiences of students with disabilities in self-contained and inclusive classrooms for families at K-12 schools in the mid-Atlantic region of the United States. The theory that guided this study was person-environment fit theory. The central research question that guided this study was: What are the lived experiences of families who have students with disabilities placed in self-contained and inclusive classrooms in the mid-Atlantic region of the United States? This study employed a structured qualitative data collection approach incorporating document analysis, individual interviews, and letter writing. Findings from all …

Interpreting Visibility: Leadership And Employee Perspectives On Performance, Trust, And Commitment In Hierarchical Organizations, Joshua A. Hart

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative multiple-case study was to examine how leaders and employees interpreted workplace visibility and presence within hierarchical organizations. The researcher conducted semistructured interviews with 30 participants, including 15 leaders and 15 employees, across nongovernmental, civilian government, and military cases. The researcher organized 43 codes into seven themes. Participants described workplace visibility as selective access to employee activity rather than complete evidence of performance, commitment, reliability, motivation, or engagement. They described attendance, responsiveness, communication, and visible output as more perceptible aspects of work, while preparation, technical reasoning, informal coordination, and internal experience were less apparent. Participants depicted …

Exploring New Managerialism In Human Resource Membership Organizations, Pamela J. Green

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Nonprofit membership organizations increasingly adopt new managerialism and for-profit-style business practices to strengthen sustainability, improve performance, and respond to changing revenue conditions. However, these practices may create tension when they appear to conflict with member-focused mission, collaborative decision-making, knowledge sharing, volunteer capacity, and leadership loyalty. The purpose of this flexible, multiple-case study was to explore the challenges nonprofit human resource membership organizations faced when adopting new managerialism and to investigate how this business model influenced organizational mission, leadership values and practices, knowledge sharing, organizational conflict, and leadership loyalty to the nonprofit mission. Guided by a constructivist paradigm, the study explored …

The Experiences Of African American Married Couples In Blended Families: A Descriptive Case Study, Tia Jones Medine

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative descriptive case study was to describe the perceived influence of emotional regulation and marriage quality regarding custody conflicts for 13 married African American husbands and wives navigating co-parenting dynamics. The theory guiding this study was Family Systems Theory by Dr. Murray Bowen, which explains how external relational stress and internal emotional boundaries directly impact marital stability and family systems. Data collection methods comprised separate semi-structured interviews, three reflective journal prompts, and a focus group. Data analysis was conducted using Reflexive Thematic Analysis to identify primary codes and recurring themes. The findings revealed that participants experienced …

A Qualitative Case Study Of Law Enforcement Supervisors’ Perspectives On Agency Efforts To Identify And Prevent Extremism Among Active-Duty Officers, Enoch D. Irvine

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The presence of political extremism among active-duty law enforcement represents a very real threat to the safety of citizens and the integrity of the policing profession. The purpose of this study was to have law enforcement supervisors describe what their agencies are doing to identify and prevent political extremism among active-duty officers in Utah. Law enforcement supervisors from three specifically chosen case-study agencies were invited to participate via a combination of semi-structured in-person interviews and an online survey. The findings of this study demonstrate the challenges law enforcement supervisors face in addressing extremism among officers while thoroughly highlighting the lack …

Burnout And Job Performance Among Working Mothers: The Moderating Roles Of Servant Leadership And Perceived Organizational Support, Claudia Anderson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Working mothers frequently navigate competing work and family demands that increase vulnerability to burnout and may affect job performance. Despite these challenges, working mothers remain underrepresented in organizational research examining burnout and performance outcomes. Limited studies have explored how perceived organizational support (POS) and servant leadership influence the burnout-performance relationship across the individual dimensions of burnout. This quantitative correlational study examined the relationships between burnout and job performance among working mothers in the United States and tested whether POS and servant leadership moderated these relationships individually and jointly. The sample included 86 full-time working mothers recruited through convenience and snowball …

Haptic Technology In Networked Digital Applications: A Literature Review, Tharanitharan Chandran, Ngu War Hlaing, Athirah Mohd Ramly

Journal of Informatics and Web Engineering

Haptic-enhanced network applications provide a breakthrough merger of haptic technology with digital environments, allowing for immersive and responsive interactions. In contrast to traditional interfaces that rely primarily on visual and auditory feedback, these applications add tactile sensations, boosting user engagement in domains such as telemedicine, Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR), gaming, and remote collaboration. This study adopts a systematic literature review methodology to identify, filter, and analyse relevant academic sources published between 1998 to 2024, to examine accomplishments, challenges, and future directions of haptic technology in network applications. The study investigates actuator technology, tiny haptic devices, and adaptive algorithms …

A Web-Based Multi-Modal Ai Framework For Intelligent Content Moderation With Constructive Feedback, Marwah Zaid Mohammed Al-Helali, Naveen Palanichamy, Su-Cheng Haw, Subhashini Gopal

Journal of Informatics and Web Engineering

Traditional content moderation systems primarily rely on strict measures that focus on removing offending or inappropriate content without offering users any form of educational feedback or guidance. This lack of constructive interaction often leads to a poor user experience, leaving users frustrated and uninformed regarding the reasons behind content removal. Moreover, such a system fails to encourage long-term positive behavioural changes within online communities, as users do not gain insights on how to improve their conduct. This paper proposes a new constructive Artificial Intelligence (AI) intervention system that integrates a number of AI models in order to conceptualize content moderation …

Calibrated Probabilistic Predictions For Phishing Email Detection Using Sentence-Bert With Machine Learning Models, Oluwasegun Abiodun Abioye, Abraham Evwiekpaefe, Philip Odion

Journal of Informatics and Web Engineering

The growing sophistication of phishing attacks requires better detection than classic conventional filters. Previous work has focused on the accuracy, precision and recall of classifiers but there is a lack in testing well-calibrated probability predictions, which are crucial for reliable decision-making using cybersecurity systems. To fill this gap, we present in this work a phishing email detection framework that combines semantically rich Sentence-BERT all-mpnet-base-v2 model embeddings with a wide variety of machine learning classifiers. A total of nine model configurations were tested, including Sentence-BERT combined with GRU, SVM, Random Forest, Logistic Regression, k-Nearest Neighbours, Gaussian Naïve Bayes, Multi-Layer Perceptron, LightGBM …

Intelligent Telemedicine Systems: Machine Learning For Remote Diagnosis And Patient Management, Oras Baker, Kasthuri Subaramaniam, Asiah Lokman

Journal of Informatics and Web Engineering

Telemedicine has experienced significant evolution in the past 10 years from a communication-driven health service to an intelligent, data-driven environment driven by AI (artificial intelligence), ML (machine learning), IoMT (Internet of Medical Things) and cloud–edge computing. This development has been further advanced through ongoing global health challenges that have seen an ageing population, rising burden of chronic, multi-morbid conditions, healthcare specialist shortage, soaring cost of healthcare and major disruptions like the COVID-19 pandemic. Modern telehealth services are now integrating more machine learning algorithms for remote diagnosis, real-time monitoring the patient, predictive risk stratification and proactive treatment. This paper offers a …

Investigating The Relationship Between Locale, Transportation, And Chronic Absenteeism In Rural Schools, Dawn T. Cook

College of Education

Chronic absenteeism poses a severe threat to public education, directly eroding student achievement by compounding instructional time loss. This correlational study, grounded in bioecological systems theory, examined the relationship between student transportation access, regional isolation, and chronic absenteeism within public elementary and middle schools (grades 3–8) in Alabama. The study used primary self-reported data from a standardized parent survey administered across five public schools and secondary archival records covering every rural public school in Alabama. I analyzed the data using binary logistic regression models and a one-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA). The results showed that primary transportation modality (bus versus …

Cmsi Note 25: Precluding The Powerful Enemy: A New Pla Concept For A Taiwan Conflict, Ryan D. Martinson

CMSI Notes

Key Takeaways:

• In recent years, the PLA has employed a new concept—“preclusion” (shezu)—that captures the two related missions of deterring and denying U.S. military intervention in a Taiwan conflict.
• While the precise origin of the term is unknown, as early as 2019 it appeared in an internal PLA article written by a PLA Navy admiral with direct responsibility for commanding forces in a Taiwan campaign. This early use of the concept suggested that “deterrence” (慑) and “denial” (阻) were two steps in a three-step graduated PLA response to U.S. military intervention.
• Since the intensification of PLA operations around Taiwan that …

Evidence Synthesis Of The Ethical And Legal Challenges Of Generative Artificial Intelligence In The Provision Of Patient Health Information, Krithika Anil, Inocencio Maramba, David Cook, Daniel Cyrus, Zhamayne Fakharuzi, Amir Hossein Namdar, Timothy West, Sandeep Shirgill

Peninsula Medical School

Large language model (LLM)-based generative AI offers the promise of responsive health information for patients and carers but presents ethical and legal challenges when used outside clinical oversight. This review maps these considerations for patients accessing information on long-term conditions in non-clinical settings. Following PRISMA guidelines, we searched databases (MEDLINE, CINAHL, EMBASE, and Web of Science) between April and May 2025. The review synthesises 24 cross-sectional studies regarding patient-facing LLMs, excluding clinician-support tools. Results indicate that LLMs perform well on general topics but struggle with specialised information, often generating complex responses with unreliable citations. Ethical concerns highlight inaccuracy, insufficient empathy, …

Barriers To Mental Health Treatment In A Rural County: Perceptions From Local Service Providers, Jennifer Cantu

Journal for Social Work Scholar-Practitioners

Though the prevalence of mental health issues is similar in rural and urban areas, it has been found that those living in rural areas experience significant disparities related to mental health treatment. This qualitative study examined how professionals’ perceptions of barriers to mental health is a rural county in Texas. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with service providers across health, social service, and community settings. A thematic analysis of the data found that the county experienced a shortage of mental health providers, limited transportation, high out-of-pocket costs, gaps in insurance, and inconsistent broadband access, which could limit the effectiveness of telehealth. …

Adult Sexual Grooming Needs Its Own Model: A Critical Conceptual Analysis, Christin M. Aletky

Journal for Social Work Scholar-Practitioners

Adult sexual grooming (ASG) is understudied, conceptually ambiguous, and often conflated with child sexual grooming (CSG). Existing models rely heavily on child-centered frameworks, limiting the field’s ability to recognize the adult-specific dynamics of manipulation, coercive control, and institutional vulnerability. This paper examines the limitations of current definitions and argues that ASG requires its own conceptual foundation. Drawing on the literature, the paper highlights three core distinctions between ASG and CSG: the erosion of meaningful consent in adult contexts, the relational ambiguity inherent in roles such as mentor, pastor, supervisor, or professor, and the influence of rigid power structures that legitimize …

1824: Honors Academic Journal, Fall 2026

1824: Honors Academic Journal

Table of Contents:

1 - Meet The Team

2 - About The Journal

3 - Editor's Foreword

4 - Assistant Editor's Foreword

5 - Advisor's Foreword

6 - “Trust, Bias, and Gender Disparities in Pain Perception, Diagnosis and Treatment” by Alina Karayiannis

10 - “The Global Burden of Infertility on Women’s Mental Health: Cultural Contexts and Call for Personalized Intervention” by Subika Rajendiran

18 - “Medical Mistrust and Iatrophobia in Racial and Gender Minorities” by Hannah Magdziak

22 - “HIV/AIDS Conspiracy Theories: The Silent Killer in a Trust-Starved World” by Kavi Shahnawaz

28 - “Islands Under Authoritarian Rule: Youth-Led Political …

Beyond Screening In Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: A Domain-Standardized, Measure-Flexible Framework For Comprehensive Neuropsychological Assessment, Etiane Navarro

Archives of Assessment Psychology

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a multisystem neurodegenerative disorder in which cognitive, behavioral, language, and social-cognitive changes may occur across clinical phenotypes, including the ALS-frontotemporal spectrum. Neuropsychological assessment is important for characterizing nonmotor manifestations and identifying changes relevant to autonomy, everyday functioning, and clinical management. This systematic review examined literature identified through APA PsycINFO, PubMed, Google Scholar, and supplementary searching to characterize neuropsychological domains, measures, phenotype-related findings, and disease-specific limitations relevant to comprehensive assessment. Two hundred records underwent title and abstract screening, 150 reports were reviewed in full text, and 61 resources were retained for synthesis. ALS-specific screening instruments, including …

Building Resilience: The Role Of Extension In Enhancing Mental Health And Well-Being Through Preventive Approaches, Lakshmi Mahadevan

Journal of Extension

In 2023, 58.7 million U.S. adults experienced a mental illness, yet nearly half did not receive treatment (SAMHSA, 2023). Building Resilience is a single-session, evidence-informed program delivered through Cooperative Extension to address mental well-being using practical, nonclinical strategies. Grounded in Antonovsky's (1979) Sense of Coherence framework, the program centers on self-awareness, emotional regulation, and stress management within each participant's lived experience. Evaluation data from 347 participants showed high satisfaction, with 88% planning to apply strategies and 77% anticipating improved well-being. A 2-hour facilitator training supports national scalability, positioning Extension as a key partner in resilience-based mental health promotion.

Latino Perceptions Of Nature, Recreation, And Community Engagement In Wasatch And Summit Counties, Utah, Elsa Perez, Jessica Ulrich-Schad, Lewis Kogan, Isaac Helton

All Current Publications

This fact sheet presents results from a Utah State University study on Latino perceptions of nature, recreation, and community engagement in Utah's Wasatch and Summit counties and barriers to accessing programming. It also includes tips for increasing Latino participation in nature programs.

Clinic White Paper: Usd Tele-Mental Health Training Clinic, Nicholas Boyd, Lauren Bruaski

Community Engagement

California is home to over 1.8 million veterans and 18,000 National Guard members, representing one of the largest military-connected populations in the United States. Despite substantial demand, over 50% of veterans experiencing mental health symptoms do not seek treatment, while those seeking care within federal systems frequently face significant wait times. This academic white paper evaluates the operational framework, clinical effectiveness, and workforce expansion model of the University of San Diego (USD) Tele-Mental Health Training Clinic – Veterans Initiative. Utilizing a secure, HIPAA-compliant telehealth model paired with a tiered supervision structure, the clinic provides evidence-based psychotherapies (EBPs) at no cost …

Comparing The Working Conditions Of Principals And Assistant Principals In South Carolina, Brian Cartiff, Angela Starrett, Svetlana Dmitrieva

Reports

School administrators’ working conditions are closely linked to important professional outcomes, including their well-being, job satisfaction, and future career plans (Collie et al., 2020; Marsh et al., 2023; Mitani, 2018; Starrett et al., 2026; Steiner et al., 2022). Yet research on administrators' working conditions has focused primarily on principals, with comparatively little attention to assistant principals despite their central role in school leadership and daily operations (Barnett et al., 2012; Goldring et al., 2021). As a result, it remains unclear whether the working conditions associated with principals’ job satisfaction and intent to remain in their school leadership roles operate similarly …

Ucc Minutes 10-13-26, Angela Brock

UCC Agendas/Minutes

No abstract provided.