Digital Commons Network^™

The Relationship Between Classroom Management, Cultural Responsiveness, Teacher Self-Efficacy, And Students' Perceptions Of Effective Teaching And Learning In The 21st Century Secondary Classroom: A Quantitative Correlational Study, Angela Herring Donaldson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Effective classroom management plays a vital role in helping to create an environment that is conducive to effective teaching and learning. It is a catalyst for the effective implementation of teaching and learning strategies that result in better behavioral and academic outcomes. Ineffective classroom management strategies have resulted in teacher burnout, student disengagement, disruptive behavior, and negative academic outcomes for students. The purpose of this non-experimental quantitative predictive correlational study is to examine the relationship between the criterion variable (students’ perceptions of teaching and learning) and the predictor variables (cultural responsiveness, classroom management, and self-efficacy of each student’s teacher). The …

Mental Health Of Western Tennessee Police Officers, Jasmin Marie Powell

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this grounded theory study is to understand the group think regarding mental health and wellness of police officers in the western Tennessee region. The theory guiding this study is group think, a theory first defined in 1972 by Irvin Janis. Irvin Janis, a psychologist introduced the phenomenon of groupthink and described it as a group of people, in this research case police officers, where loyalty was required from members and that this can cause both positive and negative side effects. The research population for this research will consist of 92 participants, including males and females, of different …

Developing An Evangelistic Training Class For Revitalization Of Outward Evangelism At Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church In Ringgold, Virginia, Anthony R. Pass

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This thesis research project asserts that evangelizing the unchurched is essential to being an effective disciple of the Lord’s kingdom. Mt. Zion’s participants must have a heart for sharing the gospel with people outside of their church environment, and evangelizing those in their local community is a great start. Mt. Zion’s evangelism focus has slipped into the background of everything else, and the researcher created an evangelistic training class (ETC) to teach willing participants at Mt. Zion electric shock evangelism to shock their hearts into the rhythm of sharing the gospel. This spiritually healthy regiment will benefit those who witness …

Employee Retention In Elderly Care: The Impact Of Coworkers On Newly Hired Caregivers, Lewis Mccoy

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Retention of newly hired staff is a critical issue for organizations, specifically those in the long-term care profession. Post-pandemic staffing shortages in this sector of the healthcare continuum have significantly increased the importance of retaining new employees. Previous research on socialization tactics on turnover intentions has demonstrated the importance of employee relationships within the workplace but has failed to address the critical onboarding phase of a newly hired employee. In this qualitative phenomenological research study, the impact of peer socialization during the first 90-days of employment on caregiver turnover intention within the long-term care profession is examined. Research questions are …

The Nature Of Self-Evident Equality In The Declaration Of Independence And Its Implications For Jeffersonian Federalism, Thomas T. Cook

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The foundation for human equality is central to the question of political discourse, and the basis for self-government, consent, and consensus. On what basis can two people enter into contract or agree to be governed if they are not equal? The Declaration of Independence with its appeal to Nature’s God and its establishment of “rights” as coming from that God firmly establishes human equality in a metaphysical reality outside of human decision to change that reality. The lack of human acknowledgement of that reality, historically, does not change that reality. Philosophers and political theorists might reason that it is based …

A Comprehensive Analysis Of Challenges And Strategies In Enhancing Cyber Security For The Defense Industry, Taehyun Lee

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This dissertation presents a comprehensive analysis of the challenges and strategies involved in enhancing cybersecurity within the defense industry. Given the increasing sophistication of cyber threats and the critical importance of safeguarding national security, this research addresses the unique vulnerabilities faced by the defense industry. Utilizing a phenomenological approach based on routine activity theory, the study gathers insights from cybersecurity professionals through semi-structured interviews, providing a deep understanding of the evolving threat landscape. The research identifies key themes such as the growing complexity of cyber threats, the importance of proactive threat-hunting, and the need for collaboration across public and private …

Discovering Their Purpose For Praise: Revitalizing Corporate Worship In An Ethnic Japanese Church In Hawaii, Marc Chikara Imamura

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The problem at Honolulu Christian Church Japanese Department is that ontologies skewed by traditionalism and Japanese culture prevented full participation in congregational worship, resulting in unawareness and deprived spiritual growth. The purpose of this project was to revitalize HCCJD’s corporate worship through research and pedagogy that empowered congregants with a purpose for their praise. It was hypothesized that if HCCJD discovered the purpose for their praise, then they would be more inclined to participate in corporate worship, increasing the likelihood of spiritual growth. Recruiting efforts yielded thirteen consenting adult HCCJD members, ten of whom were able to contribute to the …

Analysis Of Forensic Crime Gun Data As A Predictive Tool For Crime Gun Intelligence And The Disruption Of The Shooting Cycle, Michael P. Garvey

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Gun violence is a national issue; however, major cities account for most recovered crime guns and shootings. Various efforts to address gun violence by identifying shooters and sources of crime guns, enhancing intervention efforts, improving social services, and prosecuting prolific offenders have been offered over the last twenty years. However, large urban cities continue to observe high homicides and non-fatal shooting rates. Forensic techniques have been used to generate leads to solve crimes. In addition, group violence intervention programs, such as Operation Ceasefire, are used to identify potential groups associated with gun violence to provide social alternatives or enhanced prosecution. …

An Exploration Of Internal Control System Of Ethiopian Banks, Fekade Adera Tesfaye

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Adequate internal controls enhance an organization's likelihood of achieving objectives in a changing business environment, contribute to organizational growth and competitiveness, support compliance with regulatory requirements, and help in preventing and identifying fraud, embezzlement, and waste. This qualitative case study explored the potential lack of adequate internal control systems in Ethiopian banks that impact their operational and financial performances. The study sought to understand how these banks design and implement internal controls and to identify factors contributing to the potential lack of adequate internal controls. The study was guided by the COSO internal control framework, which is widely accepted for …

Rejuvenating Ministry Engagement: Developing Small Spiritual Formation Groups For Young People At Salem Seventh-Day Adventist Church, Speker Antoine

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This doctoral research project addresses the need for enhanced youth engagement within the Salem Seventh-day Adventist Church. The study aims to identify and implement strategies to foster participation and commitment among youth members. Key goals include assessing current engagement levels, identifying barriers to participation, exploring preferred formats for involvement, and evaluating church leadership's role in youth engagement.

A multi-method approach was used, combining quantitative and qualitative research methods. Data collection involved a Likert Questionnaire to gauge youth engagement levels, pilot testing to refine the questionnaire, and focus group discussions for in-depth insights. Quantitative data identified trends and patterns, while thematic …

The Cold War Never Ended, Paul Mitura

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The two countries that played the largest role in defeating Nazi Germany were allies at one moment and enemies the next without any form of an attack or hostile military action. The unusual phenomenon of two world superpowers opposing each other for several decades without firing a shot in a worldwide ideological war was unique and confined only to this period of world history. This was a polarizing global event that was believed to have been titled such by Prime Minister Winston Churchill, and it remains unknown who coined the phrase "There have been three world wars; two hot, and …

A Proposal For A Biblical School Of Thought On The Value Of Aggressive Disordered Behavior And Why It Exists, James Samuel Doyle

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Disordered behavior, within this research, is defined as rigid or inflexible behavior deemed destructive toward self and/or others. Examined further, predatorial disordered behavior describes and is defined as behavior benefiting the actor at the expense of others, even when the benefit is small and may only serve to enhance the ego of the predator. Nonetheless, the cost to the recipient of this behavior is generally severe manifesting itself in many maladaptive ways including without limitation a lack of self-worth, a need to control, and the presence of chronic anger or strong emotional reaction to perceived injustices. Due to a mask …

Equipping Leaders For Spiritual Growth At Christ The King Church, Grace Akpofure Nkanga

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Spiritual Growth is foundational for a thriving church and knowledgeable leadership is the key to a spiritually sound church. Thus, this project was planned to meet the Christ the King Church (CTKC) needs of equipping the leaders for spiritual growth. This praxis project sought to fuel spiritual growth among the key leaders of CTKC. Using the Servant Leadership theory of Greenleaf (1970), specialized training was offered to address the participants’ need for greater spiritual growth and awareness. Due to the recognized need for greater awareness and growth among the leaders of CTKC, this qualitative praxis project sought to introduce the …

The Relationship Between Moral Courage And Professional Confidence And Academic Achievement Among Precertification Radiologic Sciences Students In The United States: A Cross-Sectional Quantitative Study, Kristin M. Beinschroth

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Moral courage and professional confidence are traits that benefit healthcare professionals and students in practice but have yet to be explored in the radiologic science population. This study aimed to discern if relationships exist among moral courage, professional confidence, and academic achievement factors in pre-certification radiologic sciences students in the United States. This cross-sectional, nonexperimental quantitative study employed correlation and regression analyses using abridged versions of the Nurses’ Moral Courage Scale (NMCS) (Numminen et al., 2019) and the Confidence in Managing Challenging Situations Scale (CMCS) (Walsh et al., 2021). Participants exhibited high moral courage and high professional confidence, and both …

Cultural Competence And Cultural Humility Among Healthcare Students Related To Community Engagement And Service Learning: A Multiple Regression And Confirmatory Factor Analysis Study, Maryanne Koech Gathambo

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this quantitative, hierarchical multiple regression and confirmatory factor analysis study was to investigate the cultural humility and cultural competence (competemility) of healthcare students and examine the strongest predictor of cultural competemility based on demographic and experiential learning factors. Hierarchical multiple regression was used to investigate the degree to which the predictor variables age, gender, and community engagement/service hours (i.e., CEL/SL) could be forecasted by their competemility score (criterion variable) as measured by The Inventory for Assessing The Process Of Cultural Competemility Among Healthcare Professionals (IAPCC-HCP). Data were obtained from a criterion-based purposive sample of 70 survey participants …

Expository Based Discipleship Plan For Freed Youth Ministry Of Riverdale Baptist Church, Kshitiz Sharma Ghimire

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this DMIN action research project was to develop an expository-based discipleship plan that implements expository preaching and uses it to empower the discipleship of youths through small groups and parental involvement. The objective was to see spiritual maturity in the teenager through expository preaching and discipleship as proposed by the expository-based discipleship plan. The expository preaching plan sought cooperation from the youth, leaders, and parents to see how expository preaching and effective discipleship can help students grow spiritually so that they stay at church after they graduate from youth group. All the middle schoolers and high schoolers …

Racial And Ethnic Disparities In Autism Spectrum Disorder Diagnoses Within Bipoc Communities, Angela M. Houghton

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

With a pressing need to examine racial and ethnic differences in ASD detection to discern potential inaccuracies in diagnosis within groups, this study used a transcendental phenomenological design to explore the explanations for misdiagnosis within Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) households, comparing their encounters with Whites. The research involved six parents and one family member of children who were originally wrongfully identified, only to in the future confirm ASD. Through semi-structured conversations, the study delved into the distinctive trials of BIPOC households. Data analysis respected the Stevick-Colaizzi-Keen technique, with thematic exploration used to recognize repetitions, highlighted differences in …

Effectiveness Of Clinical Reasoning Reflection Prompts To Develop Clinical Judgment In Prelicensure Nursing Students: A Quasi-Experimental Study, Tiffany Condren

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The development of clinical judgment is an important topic in nursing education, and various teaching strategies have been proposed to improve this skill among nursing students and new graduate nurses. However, the effectiveness of these strategies is not well-researched. One promising approach is using higher-order questions to guide and develop the thought patterns of clinical reasoning. One suggested teaching strategy is using clinical reasoning reflection prompts based on Tanner’s Clinical Judgment Model. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of using clinical reasoning reflection prompts in the patient care setting to develop clinical judgment among 35 pre-licensure nursing students within …

The Relationship Between Mindset And Motivation Among U.S. Army Soldiers, Fernando Llamoca

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study explored the relationship between mindset and motivation among U.S. Army active-duty soldiers. Implicit theories research was used to assess mindset, while the three psychological needs of self-determination theory (autonomy, competence, and relatedness) were used to assess motivation. Previous studies regarding these theories discovered that individuals with high levels of mindset and motivation experienced high job satisfaction, goal orientation, and organizational commitment. These theories were chosen due to the lack of research on each theory within the military context, specifically the U.S. Army. Over the past few decades, the U.S. Army has aimed to develop its soldiers holistically through …

Unveiling The Black Mavericks: Black Musical Pioneers And Their Enduring Cultural Impact, Jamie C. Mardis

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study explores the profound cultural impact of Black musical innovators, examining their contributions across various musical genres and their enduring influence on American culture. The purpose of this qualitative historical interpretive study is to understand the cultural impact of Black musical innovators on broader American society. This research involves Black musical pioneers from diverse genres and historical periods in the United States. Guided by Cultural Theory, as articulated by scholars like Stuart Hall and Jean Piaget, the study investigates how cultural identities are produced through representation and social interaction. Piaget’s concepts of cognitive development help understand how Black musical …

A Case Study Of The Perceived Pedagogical Strategies Used To Increase Student Motivation And Effective Technology Use In The Secondary Classroom, Adam Herring

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this single-instrument case study is to understand the strategies that educators perceive to be effective in successfully increasing student motivation when using personal technology in the high school classroom at River Valley High School in the Southeast United States. The theory guiding this study is Ryan and Deci’s theory on self-determination as it examines the relationship between motivation and academic achievement. The central research question in this study, that is, how can relatedness, competency, and autonomy support the use of personal technology in the secondary education classroom, explores how personal technology could influence the perceived motivation of …

Home Educators’ Experiences Teaching Beginning Readers: A Phenomenological Study, Meghan K. Allred

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to investigate how home educators describe their experiences teaching literacy to beginning readers in the United States. The theory guiding this study was Gagné’s conditions of learning theory as it relates to the literacy teaching experiences of presenting literacy content, eliciting performance of literacy skills, assessing literacy performance, and enhancing literacy retention and transfer in homeschool settings. The central research question was: How do home educators describe their literacy teaching experiences for beginning readers? A transcendental phenomenological approach was used to explore the shared homeschool experience of teaching beginning readers. Participants were selected …

Scenario - Based Training In Law Enforcement, Troy Michael Bankert

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The discovery of the value and obstacles of scenario-based training for law enforcement from a phenomenological perspective was pursued from a grounded theory. The lack of empirical data and research guided the use of the grounded theory methodology, which attempts through individual professional interviews to discover the values and obstacles of scenario-based training for law enforcement. Clarifications and comprehensive definitions of the constituent elements characterizing a scenario-based training methodology are presented while concurrently identifying the intricate interdependencies between its qualitative measurement and associated cost factors. The exploration of implementing scenario-based training was conducted through personal interviews of criminal justice practitioners …

Obedience, Courage, And Loyalty: The 81st “Wildcat” Division During World War I, Harold Allen Skinner Jr

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

When the United States entered the First World War in April 1917, the United States Army was rated on par with the armies of Portugal and Belgium. Yet by November 1918, the United States had organized and deployed a two million-man-strong American Expeditionary Force (AEF) to Europe. The speed at which the US Army deployed twenty-nine divisions into the Western Front upended European strategic calculations and hastened the collapse of the Central Powers coalition in late 1918. Yet, the story of the AEF has been marginalized in American historiography, a historical vacuum filled instead by Euro-centric historians who minimized the …

Early Childhood Educators' Training And Support For Addressing Challenging Behaviors Of Students: A Phenomenological Study, Sonia Monica Sumner

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to explore the training and support early childhood educators receive when addressing challenging behaviors. The theory guiding this study is Mezirow’s transformative learning theory. Many early childhood educators response to repeated challenging behaviors is to suspend or expel. This can be an ineffective strategy with many negative developmental trajectories for the future. This study explored the central research question: How do early childhood educators address repeated challenging behaviors from their students? The participants were early childhood educators from the state of North Carolina and were recruited using snowball and purposeful sampling. Data …

A Phenomenological Study Of Teachers' Experiences With Vocabulary Instruction For Middle School Students Who Are Economically Disadvantaged, Kerri Johnson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to describe teacher experiences regarding vocabulary instruction for economically disadvantaged middle school students at rural Title 1 schools in East Tennessee. Considering vocabulary acquisition and knowledge, economically disadvantaged students face more significant challenges than their more affluent peers. The challenges economically disadvantaged students face may have profound implications for teachers. It is necessary to examine the experiences of 10 teachers to provide insight into best practices and vocabulary instruction for middle school students with a low socio-economic status (SES). To understand teachers’ instructional practices, an evaluation of teacher perceptions and experiences regarding …

A Qualitative Approach Exploring Interoperation Communications By Law Enforcement Officers During Active Shootings, Amy Schissler

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this exploratory-descriptive qualitative study was to investigate how law enforcement officers communicate during active shooting incidents. The study used Ferrell’s Human Factors theory (1997) and the Human Factors Analysis and Classification System (HFACS) as the theoretical and conceptual framework. Data collection methods included 11 oral narratives, 11 individual semi-structured interviews, and 12 open-ended questionnaires, involving a total of 12 participants. The study followed the Exploratory-Descriptive Qualitative design proposed by Hunter et al. (2018). The interview and questionnaire data were analyzed using Braun and Clarke’s thematic analysis and the HFACS to identify major themes, while the narrative data …

Understanding The Lived Experiences Of Culturally And Linguistically Diverse Families: A Phenomenological Study Of Transition Planning And Post-Graduation Outcomes, Tamara Martinez-Fernandez

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to understand the lived experience of transition planning for culturally and linguistically diverse (CLD) families in a parent advocacy group located in southeastern Pennsylvania. The theory guiding this study was Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems theory as it placed an emphasis on the interaction between the environments in which individuals developed throughout the lifespan and stressed that all environments are interdependent and play a significant role in human development. The Central Research Question was: What are the lived experiences of CLD parents and guardians as their students’ transition from high school to adulthood? Data were …

Investigating For A Relationship Between Race/Ethnicity And The Presence Of A Mental Health Crisis Among Individuals Involved In A Fatal Police Encounter In Texas, Unaleshia O. Jackson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Mental illness is emerging in the United States as a public concern. In 2021, an estimated 60 million adults in the United States were affected by mental illness (National Institute of Mental Health, 2023). Mental illness is increasingly becoming a topic of conversation among households, churches, schools, and workplaces due to the diminishing of societal stigmas. Ongoing discussions among researchers underline the different manifestations and demographic disparities in the effects of mental illness. A 12-month study revealed a higher prevalence of mood, anxiety, and substance abuse disorders among non-Latino whites. In reference to Asians, African Americans, and Latinos, mood disorders …

The Affects Of Compassion Fatigue On Inner-City High School Educators: A Qualitative Study, Darren Jordan

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study is to discover the lived experiences of inner-city high school teachers who suffer from the condition of compassion fatigue. The theory guiding this study is Figley’s Theory of Compassion Fatigue, as it explains how individuals who attempt to assist individuals in stressful situations develop traumatic feelings. The study’s sample consists of 10 participants, all educators with a minimum of 3 years of experience teaching. The study occurs at Big Sky-High School, an inner-city school in Ohio. Data was collected through individual interviews, focus groups, and journal prompts. Data findings discovered the following themes: …