Digital Commons Network^™

Is Assurance Of Salvation Of The Essence Of Saving Faith In The Gospel Of John?, Robert Vacendak

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Catholics, Calvinists, and Arminians deny absolute assurance of salvation. Instead, they imagine only “degrees of,” “a measure of,” “a kind of,” or “some level of” assurance before final judgment. Scholarly analyses of assurance often prioritize earlier studies, not Scripture. Therefore, few question whether partial assurance even meets the Biblical threshold. This dissertation seeks a fresh inductive analysis of John’s Gospel, a book challenging the scholarly consensus. Numerically, John’s divine truth-claims regarding eternal life/assurance far exceed other Biblical books. Careful exegesis of John vindicates absolute assurance and refutes partial assurance. Regeneration occurs the moment one believes Christ has irrevocably saved him …

School Leader Beliefs Regarding School-Wide Grading Practices: A Phenomenological Study, Matthew David Czaplicki

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to understand the beliefs regarding school-wide grading practices held by school leaders employed by Central Pennsylvania schools. The theory guiding this study was Bandura’s social cognitive theory (SCT) as it explains how behaviors (and subsequent beliefs) are shaped from past experiences, environment, and social interactions. This qualitative study utilized a transcendental phenomenological approach to understand common or shared beliefs held by school leaders regarding grading practices. Ten school leaders from Central Pennsylvania were selected for the study. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews, focus group interviews and vignette responses. The data gathered from …

A Qualitative Study Comparing The Teaching Philosophies And Practices Of Children's Choir Artistic Directors In South-Central Ontario, Rebecca Hope Strutt

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Despite the number of studies related to community music in North America, very little research is available regarding children's choir artistic directors, specifically those in Ontario. This research project examined the philosophical and pedagogical teaching practices of children's choir artistic directors of south-central Ontario for a comparative study through a phenomenological qualitative approach. Guided by the research of notable conductors such as Doreen Rao, Helen Kemp, and Jean Ashworth Bartle, this study identified perspectives not yet explored and documented concerning teaching philosophies and practices of children's choir artistic directors in south-central Ontario. Emerging themes from the literature review included building …

Strategies For Creating And Building College Band Programs Within Institutions Under A 5000-Student Population, Joshua Benjamin Buckrucker

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Higher education institutions regularly cultivate recruitment and retention plans to attract potential students to their programs. Small college band programs are identified as institutions under a 5,000-student enrollment and often develop recruiting strategies that employ a smaller applicant pool. This qualitative study observes small college recruitment practices and justifies successful and non-successful techniques within small college band programs. The research within this project examined insights into college admissions practices, administration roles in student recruitment and retention, and the role of the music faculty in recruiting and retaining current students. Furthermore, this study evaluates the effects of college exposure, marketing, communication, …

Efficacy Of A Christian Intervention To Promote Posttraumatic Growth In Women Recovering From Intimate Partner Violence, Jerra L. Dooley

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This quantitative pretest-posttest design evaluated a biblically based personal development program (PDP) for promoting PTG in Christian women who have experienced intimate partner violence (IPV). A convenience sample (N = 7) of volunteers included women within a large county in the Southeastern United States. Participants were recruited through numerous large and small Southern Baptist churches. Qualifications included being female, at least 19 years old, and having experienced IPV but not within the last 12 months, to reduce the possibility of reinjury by rumination. Participants completed pretest assessments, attended the 3-hour personal development program, and completed a posttest assessment. Data was …

Exploring Teachers' Strategies That Motivate Achievement Among African American Students: A Single-Case Study, Charlie Howell Iii

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Throughout the United States, the academic achievement gap between African American and White students has been a growing concern. The purpose of this single-case study was to explore upper-elementary African American students’ perceptions of effective motivational and instructional strategies in an eastern North Carolina private school. The self-determination theory of Ryan and Deci guided this study in exploring the central question: What instructional strategies have teachers used at the Center of Excellence to improve the motivation of African American students within the classroom? In addition, three sub-questions were considered: What instructional strategies have teachers used to foster autonomy among African …

Understanding The Resurrection Of Jesus Christ And Its Soteriological Significance, Zach Maldonado

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this DMIN action research project was to develop and implement a study on the resurrection of Jesus at Life Church. The problem was that people at Life Church did not adequately understand the resurrection of Christ for their belief in salvation. The study sought to help members of Life Church understand what Scripture teaches about salvation. The goal for this action research project was for members of Life Church to understand, defend, and articulate the resurrection of Jesus and its soteriological implications. There were seven total participants that took part in the study. Every participant was given …

What Was The Real Trouble With The Troubles? The Lived Experience Of Attending A Maintained School In Northern Ireland During The Troubles, Lisabeth Daniels Sweeney

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Immigrant parents from Northern Ireland (NI) interact with American schools differently than most other immigrant cultures. The current generation of NI immigrant parents grew up amidst a sectarian conflict known as the Troubles. This cohort also attended Catholic maintained schools in NI, where corporal punishment was a daily experience. These life experiences can potentially shape an individual’s worldview and view of education. This qualitative study aimed to understand the lived experience of attending maintained schools in NI during the Troubles and how this phenomenon may have shaped NI parents’ view of education. A phenomenological approach using a qualitative survey and …

A Quantitative Examination Of The Relationship Between Workplace Environment, Religion, And The Stigma Of Mental Health On Openness To Mental Health Services, Cooper Ann Hove

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Individuals within the workplace experience stressors that can negatively impact their health long term if not effectively managed. The level of stress within the workplace environment, religious beliefs, and mental health stigma may affect employees differently in their openness to receive mental health services. Research lacks data to understand the gap between employees struggling with mental health and unused, available resources in organizations. Most current research focuses on implementing mental health interventions, with the highest number of studies focusing on police officers' and nurses' experiences. This study was a quantitative, correlational study to gather participants with prior work experience of …

An Investigation Into The Relationship Between Perfectionism And Adverse Childhood Experiences In African American Adults, Natasha Maria Beckum

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Decades of research have confirmed an association between family dysfunction, adverse parentchild relationships, and perfectionism. However, to date, only one study has confirmed a link between perfectionism and specific types of ACEs. There are no studies that have examined the relationship between ACEs and perfectionism in predominately racial/ethnic populations. The purpose of this non-experimental quantitative survey research was to investigate the relationship between conventional and expanded ACES and perfectionistic traits and behaviors. Additionally, this study aimed to determine if the experience of ACEs is associated with higher levels of perfectionism in African Americans. Data was collected using the Hewitt Multidimensional …

Influence Of Childhood Social Media Use On Parental Attachment And Individual Self-Regulation As An Adult, Pamela Jean Corbin

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The utilization of social media continues to rise as technology becomes more refined. Social media has become a topic for extensive research due to this continuing upward trend of use among its diverse set of users. Evidence indicates that there are positive and negative outcomes that originate from the use of social media, including the inability to self-regulate. Several research articles also indicate that the lack of parental attachment, results in the inability to self-regulate. Research shows that social media has a negative effect on self-regulation, but there is limited data on how this association affects all ages, including adults. …

American Church Leaders’ Responses To Mental Illness, Erica Elaine Harris

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This phenomenological study enlightens the experience between the development of mental illness and the help-seeking of Christian church leaders. Eleven church leaders in Dallas, Texas, were asked to describe their experiences with a mental disorder as church leaders. The theory guiding this study was Heidegger’s phenomenological theory. Heidegger’s phenomenological approach was the best for exploring the lived experiences of pastors as this theory supports that a person’s experience cannot be examined separately from their world system. Three research questions focused on the occasion of a mental health episode while in the role of a pastor in the Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas, …

Equipping Covenant Baptist Church To Defend The Bible In A Skeptical World, Harlan Grant Mclain

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The thesis of this research project is “If Covenant Baptist Church members are taught the reliability of the Bible, they will be equipped to defend their faith to a skeptical world.” The goals of this doctoral thesis are two-fold: to train adequate believers regarding the Bible’s reliability in a skeptical world, and honor God in the process through the equipping ministry of the church in accordance with Ephesians 4:11-16. Seven lessons were researched, formulated, and presented to a small group of believers in Covenant Baptist Church who desired to become more confident in defending the Bible to a skeptic. Entrance …

The Lived Experiences Of School Counselors Related To Natural Disaster Trauma, Jennifer Baxley Bellinger

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenological study was to understand and describe the lived experiences of school counselors in South Carolina regarding natural disaster trauma and their perceptions regarding their ability to work effectively with students during and after disasters. The experiences of school counselors regarding their perceptions of effectiveness when working with students both during and after natural disasters prior to this study were unknown. The American School Counselor Association (ASCA) Model provided the framework for this study as it outlines the necessary preparation for and execution of a school counselor’s work with students, while Herman’s trauma theory and …

The Impact Of Albuquerque’S Bus Rapid Transit System On Pedestrian Safety, Martina Mercure

Civil Engineering ETDs

This project will explore the impacts of several traffic safety countermeasures and roadway design changes on pedestrian safety along the Central Avenue corridor of Albuquerque, New Mexico. The motivation behind this research is the communities concern for the increase in pedestrian fatalities in the US and specifically New Mexico. The research will have a specific focus on pedestrian safety, but we will also address traffic safety outcomes for motor vehicle users and bicyclists. The City of Albuquerque has taken note of the traffic safety issues on Central Avenue and has implemented or is in the process of implementing several countermeasures …

Analysis Of Adsorbed Polyphosphate Changes On Milled Titanium Dioxide, Using Low-Field Relaxation Nmr And Photoelectron Spectroscopy, Laura N Elliott, David Austin, Richard A Bourne, Ali Hassanpour, John Robb, John L Edwards, Stephen Sutcliffe, Timothy N Hunter

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

In this study, changes in the adsorbed amount and surface structure of sodium hexametaphosphate (SHMP) were investigated for aluminum-doped TiO2 pigment undergoing milling. Relaxation NMR was utilized as a potential at-line technique to monitor the effect of milling on surface area and surface chemistry, while XPS was used primarily to consider the dispersant structure. Results showed that considerable amounts of weakly adsorbed SHMP could be removed with washing, and the level of dispersant removal increased with time, highlighting destructive effects of sustained high-energy milling. Nonetheless, there were no significant chemical changes to the dispersant, although increases to the bridging oxygen …

Amicus Curiae, Stephanie Barclay, Nicole Garnett, Diane Desierto, Richard Garnett, John Meiser, Jorge Barrera-Rojas

Court Briefs

No. T9117732
Sandoval v. Universidad Nacional de Colombia

This Amicus Brief is presented to this Honorable Constitutional Court by the undersigned so that the considerations and arguments contained therein are helpful in the just resolution of the conflict submitted to your knowledge and that, for purposes of clarity, are structured as follows:
(These statements are followed by the Table of Contents)

From the Argument

Non-discrimination on religious grounds in education is expressly prohibited in international human rights treaties, whether regional or universal. Moreover, many of them are ratified by Colombia and therefore impose international obligations of direct and immediate effect, …

Parental Help-Seeking Behaviour For, And Care Of, A Sick Or Injured Child During The Covid-19 Pandemic: A European Online Survey, Chantal D. Tan, Silvia Bressan, Rachel Carter, Mia Hylén, Inger Kristensson, Monica Lakhanpaul, Santiago Mintegi, Henriette A. Moll, Sarah Neill

School of Nursing and Midwifery

Background Globally, the COVID-19 pandemic had a huge impact on patients and healthcare systems. A decline in paediatric visits to healthcare settings was observed, which might have been due to lower incidence of injury and infectious illness, changes in healthcare services and parental concern. The aim of our study was to examine parental experiences of help-seeking for, and care of, a sick or injured child during COVID-19 lockdown periods in five European countries with different healthcare systems in place. Methods An online survey for parents with a child with any kind or illness of injury during COVID-19 lockdowns was circulated …

Transcriptomic Atlas And Interaction Networks Of Brain Cells In Mouse Cns Demyelination And Remyelination, Jinchao Hou, Yingyue Zhou, Zhangying Cai, Marina Terekhova, Amanda Swain, Prabhakar S Andhey, Rafaela M Guimaraes, Alina Ulezko Antonova, Tian Qiu, Sanja Sviben, Gregory Strout, James A J Fitzpatrick, Yun Chen, Susan Gilfillan, Do-Hyun Kim, Steven J Van Dyken, Maxim N Artyomov, Marco Colonna

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Demyelination is a hallmark of multiple sclerosis, leukoencephalopathies, cerebral vasculopathies, and several neurodegenerative diseases. The cuprizone mouse model is widely used to simulate demyelination and remyelination occurring in these diseases. Here, we present a high-resolution single-nucleus RNA sequencing (snRNA-seq) analysis of gene expression changes across all brain cells in this model. We define demyelination-associated oligodendrocytes (DOLs) and remyelination-associated MAFB

Valoctocogene Roxaparvovec Gene Transfer In Participants With Hiv, Margaret V Ragni, Elaine Majerus, Sylvia Fong, Bridget Yates, Stephen Scheeler, Lisa Razon, Hua Yu, Divya B Reddy, Tara M Robinson

2020-Current year OA Pubs

No abstract provided.

Improving Nocturnal Event Monitoring In People With Intellectual Disability In Community Using An Artificial Intelligence Camera, Sarah Lennard, Rachel Newman, Brendan Mclean, Caryn Jory, David Cox, Charlotte Young, Eve Corson, Rohit Shankar

Peninsula Medical School

There is higher prevalence of epilepsy and SUDEP in people with intellectual disability (PwID) compared to general population. Accurate seizure recording particularly at night can be challenging in PwID. Neuro Event Labs seizure monitoring (Nelli) uses high-quality video based artificial intelligence to detect and record possible nocturnal seizures. This study looks to evaluate the clinical utility and acceptability of Nelli in PwID and epilepsy. Family/carers of PwID and drug resistant epilepsy with suspicions of nocturnal seizures who had not tolerated routine or ambulatory EEGs were invited to evaluate Nelli. Relevant demographics and clinical characteristics were collected. Nelli's impact, it's facilitators, …

Mental Health Outcomes From Adverse Childhood Experiences And The Role Of Natural And Service-Based Community Involvement, Sydney Elizabeth Wooten Quinones

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Despite the literature that exists on adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) related to relationships and mental health outcomes, there is a gap that exists in how community involvement can be a moderating factor. Studies do not address how extended family and community influence childhood development as it relates to mental health outcomes. This study is a mixed-method research design. Participants included 61 individuals with at least 1 ACE score and who were at least 18 years of age. They were recruited through social media sharing. Phase 1 assessed demographics, ACE scores, depression and anxiety severity, involvement with a service-based community, and …

Examining The Role Of Authentic Leadership In Job Embeddedness And Turnover Intent, Abigail J. Jamison

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Hospital turnover has increased at alarming rates, particularly since the onset and in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. While traditional theories of turnover look at why employees leave, job embeddedness is both a theory and a framework that examines why people stay. Authentic leadership is a relational leadership style comprised of components of self-awareness, internalized moral perspective, relational transparency, balanced processing, and caring. This quantitative correlational research investigated the relationship of authentic leadership as mediator between job embeddedness and turnover intent, as well as the relationships between the five constructs of authentic leadership, to determine which, if any, caused …

A Phenomenological Study Of The Lived Experiences Of Educators Who Seek To Recognize And Address Academic Stress In Secondary Students, Lisa M. Konieczna

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to understand the lived experience of educators who sought to recognize and address academic stress in secondary students. The theory guiding this study was Lazarus and Folkman’s transactional model of stress as it relates to the ways educators experience the appraisal, stress, and coping of students facing academic stress. Dweck’s growth mindset theory was applied to frame educators’ perspectives of student growth potential. The study participants consisted of 10 middle and high school educators from a suburban school district in Massachusetts. Participants were selected based on their years of experience in education and …

The Experiences Of Dentists And Dental Hygienists As They Transition To Teaching As Clinical Instructors: A Transcendental Phenomenology, Jennifer Elizabeth Fehrenbacher

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenology was to explore the experiences of dentists and dental hygienists who transitioned from clinical practice to the role of clinical instructor at Southern University. The theory of andragogy was used to guide this study because it provided a framework for training clinical instructors as adult learners. This study focused on the central research question, "What are the experiences of dentists and dental hygienists who have transitioned from clinical practice to the role of clinical instructors?" A transcendental phenomenological study approach was used to provide a deeper understanding of participants' experiences and their thought processes …

Woke Religion: Effects Of Secularism And Progressive Politics On 21st Century Mainline Churches As Demonstrated Through The Worship And Witness Of College-Age Students, Brenda L. Widger

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study examines the impact of Woke messages on young adults when delivered in church worship services and at youth events. A mixed methods research approach is employed, with quantitative data collected through an anonymous online survey and qualitative data gathered in a live focus group. The online survey responses and focus group discussion are coded and analyzed, providing a thorough presentation of the perceptions of all participants. Young adults are the future leaders of the Christian church. With so many churches moving toward welcoming or affirming stances on Woke ideology, the sermons delivered from the pulpit and the topics …

Law Enforcement Officers And The Domestic Violence Advocacy Referral Process, Aaron Allen Cubbage

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Domestic violence incidents impact the daily activities of the law enforcement agencies responsible for responding to these calls for service. Legislators and law enforcement leaders have expended countless hours, staffing, and finances to adequately protect the victims of domestic violence. In Virginia, an essential component of protecting victims of domestic violence involves the referral process, used by law enforcement officers to connect victims of domestic violence to domestic violence advocacy groups. The Code of Virginia and law enforcement agencies receiving accreditation through the Virginia Law Enforcement Professional Standards Commission (VLEPSC) require these referrals. There is available research regarding the referral …

Analyzing The Relationship Between Pastoral Leadership And Church Attendance In Baptist Congregations In Eastman, Georgia, Michael Carruthers

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The reality of the decline of the church is evident in many churches today. What is causing the decline in worship attendance? This research study examined 14 of the 42 Baptist churches in Eastman, Georgia, from the Dodge County Baptist Association, where the average weekly reporting worship attendance during 2018 to 2021 was 50 to 150 in attendance. This research used the survey method, where participants anonymously answered questions regarding their church and pastor. The research study's results objectively prove that pastoral leadership can affect church attendance. Further research can be completed to investigate this connection between pastoral leadership and …

A Hermeneutical Phenomenological Study Exploring The Experiences Of College Algebra Among English Majors, Kelli Marie Thomas

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this hermeneutical phenomenological study was to explore the experiences of college algebra among English majors at Thomas University. Experiences were defined as the interactions that have occurred between an individual and other objects and people. The theories guiding this study were Bandura’s social cognitive theory and Atkinson’s expectancy-value theory as they helped to explain why English majors may not have had positive experiences in mathematics. This was a hermeneutical phenomenological study utilizing purposeful convenience sampling of students at Thomas University in the southeastern United States. Data was collected from students majoring in English that had taken college …

Efficacy Of Education On Police Misconduct, Roel Rosalez

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to understand and discover the efficacy of education on police misconduct for the citizens of Port Isabel, Texas through the services received from the Port Isabel, Texas, police department, and the trust in the relationship between the citizens and the police officers of Port Isabel, Texas. The theory guiding this study is Moral Development Theory initiated by Lawrence Kohlberg, which explains that children and adolescents progress through six stages of moral development organized in three levels (Carmichael et al., 2019). While this theory is directed at children and adolescents, the same theory can …