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Full-Text Articles in Social and Behavioral Sciences
Using Media Equation Theory To Assess The Effectiveness Of Virtual Reality Technology In Organizational Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, And Belonging (Deib) Training, Michael L. Oetken
Using Media Equation Theory To Assess The Effectiveness Of Virtual Reality Technology In Organizational Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, And Belonging (Deib) Training, Michael L. Oetken
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
The emergence of immersive virtual reality media technology is providing human beings with a new communication platform to engage beyond the traditional frameworks of video media, audio media, and static webpages on the Internet. These communication media technologies offer users an immersive environment in which they are able to communicate and interact with fellow human beings and non-human entities in life-like mannerisms. Most importantly, this technology also has the potential to bridge gaps and solve problems within the context of certain cultural and societal issues. The issue of communication deficiencies surrounding the area of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) …
Proactive Pastoral Counseling: A Christlike Integrative Therapeutic For Creating Christian Intrapersonal Formation In Believers At First Baptist Church Of Harmony, Me, Yaron I. Kohen
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
This action research project introduces Proactive Pastoral Counseling (PPC) as a Christian Integrative Therapeutic (CIT). PPC, combined with its counterpart, Christian Intrapersonal Formation (CIF), offers a proactive pastoral counseling approach to assist others in coping with intrapersonal conflict while guiding them toward Christian intrapersonal formation. The impetus behind the study addresses the need for pastoral counseling with members of First Baptist Church (FBC) in Harmony, ME. Chapter One lays out the history, background, and beliefs of FBC and the Maine culture dating back to the late 1700s. Chapter Two addresses the nature of pastoral counseling, its tenets, and applications described …
Changing The Narrative: Developing Evidence-Based, Communication Strategies To Address Health Disparities Of Black Women In The United States, Emmerline Francesca Nelson-Rogers
Changing The Narrative: Developing Evidence-Based, Communication Strategies To Address Health Disparities Of Black Women In The United States, Emmerline Francesca Nelson-Rogers
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
Black women experience health issues at disparate rates when compared to their racial counterparts. Although these health disparities can be linked to health behaviors, they are deeply rooted in historic, racial systems that govern our lives today. More often than not, changes in health behaviors are at the forefront of addressing these health disparities rather than historical health trends of Black women in the U.S. This study aims to discuss why the change needed is a change in the narrative for why these health disparities exist and persist as well as a change in narrative about the role Black women …
Salvation May Just Be A Click Away: A Case Study In The Impact Of New Media Communications In The Evangelical Church In The Bible Belt, Robert Montgomery Peerson
Salvation May Just Be A Click Away: A Case Study In The Impact Of New Media Communications In The Evangelical Church In The Bible Belt, Robert Montgomery Peerson
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
This was an exploratory qualitative case study into the usage of new media in the evangelical church within the context of the Bible Belt region of the United States. The problem with the current status of new media communications within the evangelical church is that some churches seem to struggle with using these mediums successfully. The purpose of this study was to gather information on how churches are using new media communications in their environment and equip churches with greater knowledge and tools on how to leverage new media communications to grow the Kingdom. This study features three main research …
A Study Of Leadership's Role In Building Relationships Among Virtual Team Members, Danna V. Smith
A Study Of Leadership's Role In Building Relationships Among Virtual Team Members, Danna V. Smith
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
This research study focused on leadership's role in building relationships among virtual team members. A qualitative case study, the research focused on organizations in the medical device industry within the Charlotte Metropolitan region of North Carolina. The research was formed using 15 open ended questions in an interview of 20 leaders of virtual teams. Each leader was interviewed individually and allowed to elaborate on their answers to help the researcher to thoroughly understand the approach used to help the relationships form among their virtual team members. During the interview, the discussion between the researcher and the leader being interviewed covered …
The Formation Of Tiktok’S Influencer-Led Mental Health Community: A Content Analysis Of Social Penetration Theory, Kellie Ford Stillwell
The Formation Of Tiktok’S Influencer-Led Mental Health Community: A Content Analysis Of Social Penetration Theory, Kellie Ford Stillwell
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
The following research used a qualitative content analysis to explore the communicative and communal characteristics of online communities that form around the topic of positive mental health communication on the social media platform TikTok. These characteristics were analyzed in the context of social penetration theory in consideration of how TikTok influencers use thematic messaging and acts of self-disclosure to build and enhance their online communities centered on positive mental health communication. In total, 135 TikTok videos and their accompanying comment feeds were analyzed to identify emergent themes, patterns, and concepts relative to the communicative and communal characteristics that define online …
Fake News: Finding Truth In Strategic Communication, Anne Damisa
Fake News: Finding Truth In Strategic Communication, Anne Damisa
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
Fake news is an old phenomenon that has become a new obsession and a menace to society due to technological advancement and the proliferation of social media, which has changed traditional journalism norms. As the spread of false information has increased these past few years, it has become increasingly difficult for information consumers to distinguish between facts and fakes. A comprehensive systematic literature review to extract themes revealed the major factors responsible for spreading fake news. This qualitative interpretative meta-synthesis (QIMS) aims to better understand and offer solutions to combat fake news. This Ph.D. dissertation will serve as a guide …
With Or Without The Table, We Gather: Reinforcing Innate Resiliencies In The African American Family, Jessica L. Stevens-Eddy
With Or Without The Table, We Gather: Reinforcing Innate Resiliencies In The African American Family, Jessica L. Stevens-Eddy
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
This quantitative study aims to determine whether food-sharing (gathering to eat) can be considered a suitable medium to facilitate increased cohesion within African American families. This study focuses on informal food-sharing as an extension of formal meal-sharing. Previous research links consistent formal meal-sharing to positive and secure identity development, better familial attachment, and improved family cohesion. These practices leave a lasting, detrimental impact on the African American family model. Additional barriers to some African American family meal-sharing practices include working extended and atypical work hours, food insecurity, and poor familial communication. There is a lack of research concerning the impact …
Church Leadership Personalities: A Comparative Study Of The Personality Components Of Senior And Executive Pastors, Christopher Sean Conrad
Church Leadership Personalities: A Comparative Study Of The Personality Components Of Senior And Executive Pastors, Christopher Sean Conrad
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
The purpose of this quantitative correlational research was to understand the relationship between the personality components of Senior and Executive Pastors. This study collected data in a quantitative form using a personality assessment called The Birkman Method. The data was then analyzed to understand the relationship between the personality types of Senior and Executive Pastors. Research was needed to understand the relationship of personality types of Senior and Executive Pastors. Research questions derived from the problem statement and research purpose are presented as they provide the structure for the dissertation. These questions led to the gathering of information related to …
The Long-Term Effects Of Child Abuse And Neglect On Communication And Conflict Management Within The Military Marriage, Gennifer L. Van Pelt
The Long-Term Effects Of Child Abuse And Neglect On Communication And Conflict Management Within The Military Marriage, Gennifer L. Van Pelt
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
This study utilized a qualitative, phenomenological approach to examine the lived experiences of five active-duty military-affiliated couples within which at least one partner reported a history of moderate to severe childhood maltreatment. The goal was to identify thematic constructs that revealed themselves over the course of five interviews conducted with both individuals as well as with the couple in tandem that identify long-term effects of childhood maltreatment on relational functioning with a specific focus on communication and conflict management within the relationship. Interview data combined with the completion of an attachment questionnaire identified three primary themes and one subtheme including …
Developing Interpersonal Relationships Between Deaf And Hearing People Using Instagram, Kimberly Ann Erskine
Developing Interpersonal Relationships Between Deaf And Hearing People Using Instagram, Kimberly Ann Erskine
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
The purpose of this ethnographic study was to understand how deaf and hard of hearing individuals use Instagram to interact with and develop interpersonal relationships with hearing individuals. The researcher used her personal experience as a member of the deaf and hard of hearing community to connect with members of the researched population on a personal level. The theories guiding this study were Elihu Katz’s uses and gratifications theory, Joseph B. Walther’s social information processing theory (SIPT), and Sandra Ball-Rokeach and Melvin DeFleur’s media dependency theory. These theories were applied to help the researcher gain a better understanding of the …
Communicating Indirect Feelings: American Stories Of Indirect Experiences, Susan Hess Lawson
Communicating Indirect Feelings: American Stories Of Indirect Experiences, Susan Hess Lawson
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
The words people use to describe indirect human experiences and how narratives play a role are examined within qualitative research. The problem is that some people have difficulty communicating indirect experiences, and few studies have examined the issue. The purpose of this qualitative narrative research study was to examine how people who encountered indirect communication in their lived experiences can communicate the indirect experiences and messages they received. The theory guiding this study is the indirect communication theory as it relates to Communicating Indirect Feelings (CIF). The definition of CIF is how people attempt to communicate indirect feelings for shared …
The Communication Culture Of Flourishing Churches, Ronald Drake Jenkins
The Communication Culture Of Flourishing Churches, Ronald Drake Jenkins
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
This study provides qualitative phenomenological observations that analyze and describe communication styles in ten flourishing churches. Practicing Christians contribute significantly to our society and culture. The primary goal of this study was to investigate the communication cultural themes within healthy and flourishing churches. The parameters of this study were limited to ten churches found on the Outreach Magazine Top-100 largest and fastest growing churches in America. Each of these churches was visited one time during a Sunday morning service. During this process, this researcher was a participant observer, examining and flourishing themes in real-time while observing the ten churches. People …
Technology Acceptance Model (Tam) And Use And Adoption Of Technology By Small Business Owners In Queens, Ny, Gavin Singh
Technology Acceptance Model (Tam) And Use And Adoption Of Technology By Small Business Owners In Queens, Ny, Gavin Singh
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
Many small businesses today experience apprehension or anxiety when adopting new and emerging technologies in their place of business. Though we live in a time of unparalleled access to technology, many businesses still avoid adopting technology or upgrading to the latest version. Despite knowing the advantages of using technology to conduct business (in-person or on the Internet), some businesses purposely choose to not use technology. The purpose of this phenomenological qualitative case study was to understand why these businesses choose to do so, and to learn what can be done to help them overcome these barriers to technological adoption. The …
A Quantitative Study Examining Individual Employee Experiences Of Change Initiatives And The Impact On Employee Perceptions Of Change And Attitudes, Adrienne Marie Read
A Quantitative Study Examining Individual Employee Experiences Of Change Initiatives And The Impact On Employee Perceptions Of Change And Attitudes, Adrienne Marie Read
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
Current organizational change management models focus on information sharing as the primary mechanism for involving employees in change initiatives, but most change initiatives fail due to limited attention given to organizational members impacted by change. The current study provides empirical evidence for more tangible methods of employee involvement by examining individual experiences of organizational change and the influence of involvement factors (leadership communication and work contribution) on employee perception of change and job attitudes (organizational commitment and turnover intentions). A causal-comparative design was implemented using a 39-item survey administered to 344 participants who have experienced an organizational change. The nonparametric …
Exploration Of How Unified Theory Of Acceptance And Use Of Technology Enhances Trust In Communication, Samantha M. Ricciardi
Exploration Of How Unified Theory Of Acceptance And Use Of Technology Enhances Trust In Communication, Samantha M. Ricciardi
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
The qualitative study aims to understand the central phenomenon of how trust enhances communication with online grocery shopping for participants who are 25 years and older and are active online grocery shoppers. Venkatesh, Morris, and Davis created a technology acceptance model called Unified created Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology, which explains the acceptance and use of information systems and communication technology innovations with consumers (Kim et al., 2008; Phillippi et al., 2021). The Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology is an alternative theoretical model that ties into eight existing user acceptance models: (a) Technology Acceptance Model …
Four Meta-Literacies Model In Digital Multimodal Communication: A Brick-By-Brick Construction Using Qualitative Interpretative Meta-Synthesis, Jane Elizabeth Keil Strong
Four Meta-Literacies Model In Digital Multimodal Communication: A Brick-By-Brick Construction Using Qualitative Interpretative Meta-Synthesis, Jane Elizabeth Keil Strong
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
A digital skills gap has been noted in the literature as college students are joining the workforce lacking the communication competencies needed and expected by employers. Workplace communication is characterized by multimodal expression. The multimodal communication environment is complex and ever-changing requiring workers to possess multiple literacies, but what are these multiple literacies? The purpose of this study was to conduct a qualitative interpretative meta-synthesis (QIMS) of multimodality and multiliteracies to theorize a meta-literacy model in digital multimodal communication. The four meta-literacies may serve as future building blocks to inform pedagogies that may help close the digital workplace gap. The …
Emotional Disconnection Between Parents And Adolescents: Communication Obstacles Among Immigrant Chinese American Christian Families, Agnes Yinshan Man
Emotional Disconnection Between Parents And Adolescents: Communication Obstacles Among Immigrant Chinese American Christian Families, Agnes Yinshan Man
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to understand and describe the lived experiences of communication that lead to emotional connection issues between Chinese immigrant parents and their American-born adolescent children, particularly in families attending Chinese American Christian churches in Massachusetts. The theory guiding this study was social constructivism, which posits that family members may interpret and experience the same interactions differently from one another. The research questions of the study include: (1) How do first-generation Chinese American Christian parents and second-generation Chinese American Christian adolescent children experience their interaction with each other? (2) How do American-born Chinese Christian …
Enhancing Success Through Leadership, Wendy T. Jewell
Enhancing Success Through Leadership, Wendy T. Jewell
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
This study sought to obtain a better understanding of how leaders influence the culture of the organization to enhance performance. A post-positive qualitative research case study was conducted at a state agency in the Commonwealth of Virginia. During this study, 13 semi-structured interviews were conducted with agency employees who participated on a project to implement a smart phone fuel application. This fuel application automated specific manual processes related to their fuel management program. While the fuel application project implementation was finishing, the interviews were conducted. During these interviews, participants provided their perspectives on leadership, communication, empowerment, project outcomes, lessons learned, …
Keeping Culture: An Evaluation Of Organizational Culture In The Multisite Church, Michael John Grayston
Keeping Culture: An Evaluation Of Organizational Culture In The Multisite Church, Michael John Grayston
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
The purpose of this descriptive qualitative study was to explore the attendee perception of organizational culture, including the communication pathways, vision, and mission in the three common multisite church models: the local franchise model, the national franchise model, and the live teaching model. The study evaluated the attendee perception of the methods and strategies used by the multisite church to create and keep one unique culture in spite of their method, proximity, or demographics. The researcher attempted to evaluate these methods through a survey and face-to-face interviews with multisite church leaders from six different churches representing three different models. The …
A Quantative Study Of Heol Students' Perceptions Of Communication Within The Lms, Holly Walker
A Quantative Study Of Heol Students' Perceptions Of Communication Within The Lms, Holly Walker
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
The purpose of this applied study was to provide knowledge and information concerning students’ perceptions of communication within the LMS platforms for higher education institutions, using a quantitative study surrounding communication, sense of community, and LMS tools to address the problem. The quantitative design used a survey that consisted of various closed-ended questions, including Likert, multiple choice, and outcome measures of True/False and Yes/No questions. Various social media platforms were leveraged to provide a convenience sampling method to attract potential participants, and a total of 986 qualified respondents completed the survey. Data was analyzed through a series of descriptive statistics, …
A Qualitative Case Study Examining Leader-To-Employee Engagement Techniques Within Selected Nonprofits, Isaiah Scott Stanford
A Qualitative Case Study Examining Leader-To-Employee Engagement Techniques Within Selected Nonprofits, Isaiah Scott Stanford
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
This study sought to obtain a more in-depth understanding of leader-to-employee engagement. To obtain this deeper understanding, a qualitative case study was conducted utilizing a semi-structured interview process. Interviews were carried out with leaders working for selected nonprofit organizations. Throughout the interview process, information was gathered to contribute to the current body of knowledge regarding leader-to-employee engagement. Leaders in the study felt strong commitment, open communication, employee empowerment, and honesty were techniques needed to develop leader-to-employee engagement. Participants noted they were more successful when engaging with their employees if they integrated these techniques. Leaders also identified the major challenges they …
Latino Pastors And Their Spouses' Marital Satisfaction And Its Predicting Factors, Tanya Paniagua
Latino Pastors And Their Spouses' Marital Satisfaction And Its Predicting Factors, Tanya Paniagua
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
The Latino population in the United States has been the primary driver of demographic growth in the country (Flores, 2017). With this increasing shift in America, it is important to investigate the unique strains on clergy families among Latino pastors as evidence suggests stress is a threat to marital satisfaction and its longevity (Randall & Bodenmann, 2009). Very little literature on marital dynamics has focused on Latino pastors; thus, a need exists for more research in examining how cultural values and acculturation impact marital satisfaction while considering the relationship between marital satisfaction and selected variables: affection, sexual satisfaction, communication, burnout, …
Students’ Experiences Of College Professor Communication In Online Instruction: A Transcendental Phenomenological Study, William E. Carpenter
Students’ Experiences Of College Professor Communication In Online Instruction: A Transcendental Phenomenological Study, William E. Carpenter
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to describe 13 students’ experiences of college professor communication in asynchronous online courses at a large urban community college in central North Carolina. The focus was to answer the central research question of how online students describe communication experiences in an online college learning environment. The theories guiding this study were Knowles’ (1980) theory of adult learning- andragogy, and Short, Williams, and Christie’s (1976) social presence theory, as they correlated the need for professor communication with adult learning and social presence since communication can impact academic success for adult learners. To collect …
Parental Communication Patterns And The Impact On Young Children, Janice Ringstaff
Parental Communication Patterns And The Impact On Young Children, Janice Ringstaff
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
Communication is the process of sending and receiving messages. Such messages may impact an individual’s overall functioning across the lifespan. Parents are usually the first source of information exchange for children. The Systematic Training for Effective Parenting (STEP), originally published in 1976, is an education program that teaches positive parenting and effective communication strategies. STEP encourages parents to embrace concepts of mutual respect and equality while creating opportunities for parents to meet the demands of raising children. There is limited data assessing parental change in communication patterns among parents of young school-aged children following systematic training. Twelve parents with children …