Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Quality Of Life Disparities For The Rural Economically Disadvantaged, April Westerfield-Jackson

Ed.D. Dissertations

Families who reside in rural communities and live in poverty often experience a lack of quality of life supports, which impacts their mental health and exasperates any special needs they may have. Research in regards to these concerns, has historically focused on southern states and or the impacts of poverty in urban settings. This phenomenological qualitative research study reveals quality of life supports that impoverished families living in rural communities in central Illinois often do without. This study further examines the families’ perceived barriers to those supports. The following research questions guided this study: (1) What quality-of-life supports (employment, food …

Student-Athletes’ Religious Beliefs, Religious Behaviors, And Religious Identity At A Christian University, Daniel M. Allen, Sean Strehlow, Audrey M. Chisum, Kevin D. Dougherty, Perry L. Glazner, Sarah A. Schnitker

Faculty Scholarship – Sociology

Athletics occupies an ambiguous place within the greater university mission, particularly at religious institutions. Intercollegiate sports programs may purport to reinforce the university’s aim to develop the whole person, but the nature of athletics can compromise student-athlete religiosity and well-being. Little research has focused on the religiosity of student-athletes and the potential implications for religious institutions. Our analysis features data from 884 senior students at a private, religiously affiliated, NCAA Division I university. Comparing student-athletes to non-athletes, we found that student-athletes scored higher than non-athletes on religious beliefs, religious behaviors, and sense of religious identity.

Social Enterprise: A Social Entrepreneur Leadership Model Used To Enhance Nonprofit Organizational Performance, Darlene Pierre-Louis

Ed.D. Dissertations

Nonprofit leaders are competing for limited resources; Boards of Directors who achieve their financial goals and social missions are standing in the winners’ circle. However, small-to-midsize nonprofits struggle to profit from the social enterprise activity which promises to be a solution for dwindling budgets and program sustainability. Even more important, small-to-midsize nonprofits with annual revenue between $25,000 and $250,000, and that do not have a paid staff dedicated to earned income opportunities must retool to reap financial rewards. The study examined the impact that entrepreneurial behaviors had on operating successful nonprofit social enterprises to attract financial resources. The objective of …

Correlational Study Exploring The Relationship Between The Teaching Of Ethics In Business Schools And The Ethical Behavior Of College Students In Those Schools, Jeffrey P. Horwitz

Ed.D. Dissertations

The purpose of this quantitative, correlational study was to discover how colleges and universities impact the moral development of their undergraduate school of business students through the method by which they teach ethics in their curricula. To address the stated problem of understanding the impact of ethics and its effect on the moral development of students, the research question that drove this study involved discovering if there was a relationship between the ethical decisions undergraduate college business students make (like deciding whether to cheat on exams and/or assignments) and the way ethics content was delivered. In answering the research question, …

Witches, Wizards And Potions: The Christian Nature Of The Harry Potter Best Selling Novels, Craighton T. Hippenhammer, Debra Mattingly, Laura Ladwig

Faculty Scholarship – Library Science

The magic in Harry Potter is not “sorcery” or invocational magic; it is incantational magic. Most of the objections of the Harry Potter novels are from people who have not read the books. The author, J. K. Rowling is more interested in alchemy than magic and uses Christian symbols and careful naming throughout the books, thereby delivering difficult truths to a postmodern audience in a way that they accept as givens, ideas they would otherwise laugh at. Harry's devotion to the truth and to what is right leads him to disregard the pain he may encounter in pursuing these great …

The Relationship Between Leadership Behaviors, Trust In Leadership And Teacher Organizational Citizenship Behavior, Tonia Y. Havard-Dew

Ed.D. Dissertations

As greater accountability is placed on school districts, in response to the increased demands of federal and state policies and mandates, teacher workloads and responsibilities have been increased to meet those demands. School districts rely on teachers’ commitment to students’ educational pursuits and their willingness to demonstrate behaviors that exceed their formal role expectations to facilitate student success. These behaviors, known as organizational citizenship behaviors (OCB), cannot be required, but play a critical role in ensuring a district’s success. The purpose of this quantitative study was to examine the relationship between teachers’ trust in their administrator and teachers’ OCB through …

The Effects Of Parent Training And Information Centers On Parent Empowerment, Hayden A. O. Lewis

Ed.D. Dissertations

Parents of children who receive special education services from the public school are considered equal partners in their child’s education with school professionals on the Individual Education Program team. Each state has a Parent Training and Information Center (PTIC) that seeks to empower parents to fulfill their right as an equal partner. The current study compared the advocacy, knowledge, competence, self-efficacy, and empowerment of two groups of parents of children with disabilities who received special education services in Tennessee. The experimental group of parents (n=36) had attended a workshop provided by a PTIC and the control group (n=21) had not …

Impact Of Organizational Fairness On Ethical Policing In The Community, David P. Cepiel

Ed.D. Dissertations

Since 2015, policing has suffered from negative publicity due to unfortunate and often deadly interactions between police officers and people of color. As a result of these sad events, various programs have been incorporated into many police departments to increase professionalism among officers. One such program focuses on increasing legitimacy by teaching procedural justice concepts to officers. This study examined the impacts of organizational fairness on officers from the perspective of procedural justice. Building on previous research, this study focused on the officers and sergeants employed in two small municipal police departments in the Midwestern United States. Ninety-eight participants from …

Augustine Of Hippo: A Historical Theology Critique, Zachary Monte

Honors Program Projects

This study evaluates how current historical theology survey texts understand and present the theology of Augustine. The texts are examined to assess the following: accuracy of presentation on discussed topics, specific theological topics Augustine addressed excluded in the surveys, and theological bias on the part of the authors. The historical theology surveys include Gregg Allison’s Historical Theology: An Introduction to Christian Doctrine, Justo González’s A History of Christian Thought, and Alister McGrath’s Historical Theology: An Introduction to the History of Christian Thought. The three major topics treated include Augustine’s Trinitarian thought, the Donatist Controversy, and the Pelagian Controversy. The findings …

Religiosity And Relational Anxiety: A Cross-Denominational Study, Timothy Steininger

Honors Program Projects

Prior research has provided evidence for a correlation between religiosity and anxiety, quantifiable differences between denominations, and a somewhat equivocal link between religiosity and social trust. This present study seeks to extend the existing body of knowledge by assessing the relationship between intrinsic religiosity and both trait and relational anxiety across denominational groups, and by measuring the relationship between relational anxiety and social trust. Participants (N = 1,905) were asked to provide their religious and denominational affiliations. Analysis revealed a modest negative relationship between intrinsic religiosity and trait anxiety. Overall, a weak, positive relationship between intrinsic religiosity and relational …

The Reliability And Validity Of The Open Enneagram Of Personality Scales, Kayleigh Kastelein

Honors Program Projects

The purpose of this study is to assess the reliability and validity of the 36-item Open Enneagram of Personality Scales (OEPS). Our general hypothesis was that the OEPS would show adequate reliability evidence but not validity evidence. Participants were acquired through a small denominationally affiliated Midwest university, Amazon Mechanical Turk, and social media. Test-retest reliability was done with 249 participants while internal consistency reliability, factor analysis, and correlations with the Big Five Inventory (BFI; John, Donahue, & Kentle) were done using 1039 participants. An average Pearson’s correlation of .68 (range: 0.54 - 0.75) showed inadequate test-retest reliability for the OEPS …

Assessment Of Strengths-Based Interventions On First-Year Medical Students, Linnette C. G. White

Ed.D. Dissertations

In the quest for a doctoral degree many candidates fail to meet their milestone accomplishment. It is estimated that approximately 30% of individuals who pursue a doctoral degree will not finish. Medical school has been found to be a very intensive program to pursue for many who begin the journey. Despite its difficulty, 81.6% to 84.1% of medical students achieve the status of medical practitioner, within a three-to-four year program. Despite the seemingly high completion rate, the achievement gap has further implications on physician shortages. The researcher conducted a quantitative study to determine the impact training first-year medical students using …

Time To Stop Worrying: A Correlational Study On Individualist Versus Collectivist Time Perspectives And Anxiety, Anna Waldron

Honors Program Projects

Purpose

Research has indicated a significant relationship between anxiety and time perspective (TP), which is the way one views life in terms of the past, present or future. TP is broken down into five facets based on the Zimbardo Time Perspective Inventory (ZTPI), including past negative (PN), past positive (PP), present fatalistic (PF), present hedonistic (PH), and future (F) time perspectives (Zimbardo & Boyd, 1999). These are seen to be impacted by one’s culture as well, although there is a lack of representation in studies on TP cross-culturally which makes it difficult to generalize. In order to add to the …

Impact Of Organizational Fairness On Ethical Policing In The Community, David Cepiel

Scholar Week 2016 - present

Since 2015, policing has suffered from negative publicity due to unfortunate and often deadly interactions between police officers and people of color. As a result of these sad events, various programs have been incorporated into many police departments to increase professionalism among officers. One such program focuses on increasing legitimacy by teaching procedural justice concepts to officers. This study examined the impacts of organizational fairness on officers from the perspective of procedural justice. Building on previous research, this study focused on the officers and sergeants employed in two small municipal police departments in the Midwestern United States. Ninety-eight participants from …

The Effects Of Work-Family Conflict On The Career Of Police Officers, Melvina Calvin-Edwards

Scholar Week 2016 - present

Work-family conflict can cause conflict for police officers due to stress and danger on the job. Stress from home can make work difficult and work-place stress can affect life at home. Three forms of work-family conflict (time-based, strain based, and behavior-based conflict) were examined. This quantitative study examined how work-family conflict affects job satisfaction, intention to stay employed in the field of law enforcement, and whether there was a difference in work-family conflict between male and female police officers. Data were collected from 178 (n=178) full- time, sworn police officers in the law enforcement field. Data analysis included Pearson Correlation …

Time To Stop Worrying: A Correlational Study On Individualist Versus Collectivist Time Perspectives And Anxiety, Anna Waldron

Scholar Week 2016 - present

Presentation Location: Weber Center, Room 101

Abstract

Purpose

Research has indicated a significant relationship between anxiety and time perspective (TP), which is the way one views life in terms of the past, present or future. TP is broken down into five facets based on the Zimbardo Time Perspective Inventory (ZTPI), including past negative (PN), past positive (PP), present fatalistic (PF), present hedonistic (PH), and future (F) time perspectives (Zimbardo & Boyd, 1999). Time perspective is thought to be impacted by one’s culture, although there is a lack of representation in studies on TP cross-culturally which makes it difficult to generalize. …

The Reliability And Validity Of The Open Enneagram Of Personality Scales, Kayleigh Kastelein

Scholar Week 2016 - present

Presentation Location: Weber Center, Room 101

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to assess the reliability and validity of the 36-item Open Enneagram of Personality Scales (OEPS). Our general hypothesis was that the OEPS would show adequate reliability evidence but not validity evidence. Participants were acquired through a small denominationally affiliated Midwest university, Amazon Mechanical Turk, and social media. Test-retest reliability was done with 249 participants while internal consistency reliability, factor analysis, and correlations with the Big Five Inventory (BFI; John, Donahue, & Kentle) were done using 1039 participants. An average Pearson’s correlation of .68 (range: 0.54 - …

Attitudes Toward Persons With Intellectual Disabilities In The Public Workplace., Brooklyn Shaw

Scholar Week 2016 - present

Presentation Location: Weber Center, Room 101

Abstract

Disability advocacy agencies have been pushing for more community integrated employment opportunities for individuals with intellectual disabilities (ID). This study’s aim was to investigate attitudes toward individuals with ID working in the public workplace. A sample of 131 undergraduate students at Olivet Nazarene University were randomly assigned to read one of two different scenarios. One scenario depicted an individual as the co-worker of someone with ID. The other scenario depicted an individual as a customer being helped by someone with ID. Participants then completed the Multidimensional Attitudes Scale Toward Persons With Disabilities …

A Self-Study Of Frn Olivet: A Student-Led Food Recovery Model On A University Campus, Madeira Sherwood

Scholar Week 2016 - present

Presentation Location: Weber Center, Room 101

Abstract

An alarming amount of unserved food is thrown away daily on university campuses, which emits carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. In those same college communities, there is likely a large food insecure population that is going to bed hungry every night. The Food Recovery Network (FRN) is a network of colleges/universities across the United States that seeks to bridge this gap. The FRN chapter at Olivet Nazarene University, established in October 2017, encountered challenges in its first couple years of operation because there were not yet many resources that laid out best practices …

What’S Your Natural Next Question? The Inquiry Approach To Learning Economics, Paul R. Koch, Rachel Carlassare

Scholar Week 2016 - present

During the current academic year, both introductory and upper-division economics courses at Olivet have used an app in Canvas, developed by Beagle Learning, for the purpose of engaging students in critical thinking using an inquiry learning process. Students iteratively cycle through: 1) posing a goal question, 2) finding a resource which provides an answer to that question, at least in part, which then 3) prompts an additional question whose answer increases the degree of certainty regarding the original goal question.

This presentation will concentrate on how this process has been incorporated into the Principles of Economics class, which is a …

An Exploratory Study Of Emotional Intelligence Characteristics Between Disciplines In Higher Education And Suggested Curriculum Adjustments, Brad Thomas

Scholar Week 2016 - present

Emotional Intelligence (EI) may be more important to the success of college students than cognitive intelligence and technical skills combined. Recent research has primarily focused on EI in the workplace. However, implications for improving EI skills of college undergraduate students before they enter the workforce appears to be lacking. This quantitative research examined the Emotional Intelligence levels of five different majors to identify differences based on area of study, gender, or other demographic factors. Subsequently, the study aimed to provide suggestions for curriculum development with a goal to better expose students to EI themes. An online survey was offered to …

Intersecting Social Work Practice, Education, And Spirituality: A Conceptual Model, Hillary Cole

Scholar Week 2016 - present

The relationship between spirituality, social work, and social work education is complicated and often difficult to teach. Though social work has significant religious roots, it distanced itself at the turn of the 20^th century in pursuit of professionalism and scientific respectability. Today the National Association of Social Work (NASW) and the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) recognize spirituality and religion as aspects of client diversity; however, few strategies exist for integrating this content into social work curriculum. This presentation offers a conceptual framework for understanding the spirituality-social work relationship based on the Ecological Model and the concept of …

Gentrification: An Analysis Of Socio-Economic Disparities And Racial Residential Segregation, Gabrielle Murphy

Scholar Week 2016 - present

In recent years, major metropolitan areas in the United States have experienced waves of gentrification, often referred to as community revitalization. Disguised as infrastructural improvement, minority individuals in urban areas continually face relocation as a result of these “improvements.” This paper is focused primarily on the disparities caused by racial residential segregation in major metropolitan areas across the United States. Socio-economic factors such as race, income level, physical health, and educational opportunities are discussed. The tangible effects of segregated housing on gross domestic product (GDP), crime, and food security are explored. In addition, this study evaluates the historic legislation pertaining …

Investigating Relationships Between Perceived Social Support, Neuroticism, Flexibility, And Covid-19 Related Stress., Patricia Purnell

Scholar Week 2016 - present

Presentation Location: Warming House, Olivet Nazarene University

Abstract

Research suggests that the COVID-19 outbreak has significantly strained mental health and intensified preexisting mental health struggles. Amid the pandemic and the mental strain associated with it, many are concerned with which individuals seem to be struggling with stress related to COVID-19 the most. Specifically, there has been a call for research to incorporate several risk factors and contemplate the significance of flexibility. Therefore, this project will examine if the personality and environmental variables of psychological flexibility, neuroticism, and perceived social support are related to COVID-19 related stress. Olivet Nazarene University …

Situational Versus Characterological Factors In Relation To Loneliness, Lukas Dale

Scholar Week 2016 - present

Presentation Location: Warming House, Olivet Nazarene University

Abstract

Loneliness levels were evaluated based on various characterological and situational factors in 146 college-aged students, the majority of which (75.5%) were Caucasian. Using a quasi-experimental/correlational design, participants completed measures assessing personality (neuroticism and extroversion), perceived social support (PSS), fatherlessness, and resident assistant (RA) status. Multiple regression analyses indicated that each of the characterological factors and PSS were significantly correlated with loneliness (all p’s < .005), while fatherlessness and RA status were not significantly correlated with loneliness. Characterological factors accounted for more variance (R² = .56) than did situational factors (R² = .25).

Impact Of Mindfulness Training On Test Anxiety In College Students, Lindsay Alcock

Scholar Week 2016 - present

Presentation Location: Warming House, Olivet Nazarene University

Abstract

A considerable number of studies have investigated the relationship between mindfulness techniques and the reduction of anxiety; a smaller number of these studies have looked at test anxiety. Previous studies have used multiple mindfulness techniques to measure the impacts on test anxiety, but few have isolated mindfulness trainings to compare the relative impact of each type on anxiety. The present study isolated two different types of mindfulness trainings to analyze their impact on test anxiety compared to each other and a control group. Three sections of biblical scripture classes were used. …

Embodying Integration: A Sociological Study Of Graduate Student Religiosity In Christian Higher Education, Daniel Allen

Faculty Scholarship – Sociology

Social science research has historically posited an inverse relationship between higher education levels and spirituality, but recent research has nuanced this assumption. Faith formation is a celebrated part of Christian higher education in particular, and graduate programs have grown among Protestant Christian institutions in recent years. However, little research addresses graduate student perceptions of the spiritual quality of their experience. This study asks what program-level features correlate with a high-quality spiritual experience for graduate students studying in a Protestant Christian context. Using data collected between 2014-2020 from 3,274 graduate students at a private, not-for-profit Christian university, we find that students …