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2021

Liberty University

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Articles 1 - 30 of 279

Full-Text Articles in Social and Behavioral Sciences

Sons Of Disobedience And Their Machines: How Sin And Anthropology Can Inform Evangelical Thought About Ai, Gregory S. Mckenzie Dec 2021

Sons Of Disobedience And Their Machines: How Sin And Anthropology Can Inform Evangelical Thought About Ai, Gregory S. Mckenzie

Eleutheria: John W. Rawlings School of Divinity Academic Journal

The purpose of this paper is to further discussion about artificial intelligence by examining AI from the perspective of the doctrine of sin. As such, philosophy of mind and theological anthropology, specifically, what it means to be human, the effects of sin, and the consequent social ramifications of AI drive the analysis of this paper. Accordingly, the conclusions of the analysis are that the depravity of fallen humanity is cause for concern in the very programming of AI and serves as a corrupted foundation for artificial machine cognition. Given the fallen nature of human thought, and therefore, fallen AI thought, …


Ranking Objections To Christian Theism: A Survey Of Subjective Declarations And Their Correlations With Expert Opinions, David Ochabski, Ronnie P. Campbell, Kelly Budd, Jaelyn Morgan, Hope N. Lassiter, Hunter W. Brown, Madison S. Schmidt, Kristen G. Brown Dec 2021

Ranking Objections To Christian Theism: A Survey Of Subjective Declarations And Their Correlations With Expert Opinions, David Ochabski, Ronnie P. Campbell, Kelly Budd, Jaelyn Morgan, Hope N. Lassiter, Hunter W. Brown, Madison S. Schmidt, Kristen G. Brown

Eleutheria: John W. Rawlings School of Divinity Academic Journal

There have been numerous books written on the top objections to Christianity—sometimes stated as “common,” “major,” “frequent,” “every day,” “cultural,” “tough,” “difficult” objections. However, there is a dearth of behavioral studies in the literature that show how and given population ranks objections to Christianity. As such, the apologist has had to rely on expert opinions from the books that have been authored. These expert opinions are based on familiarity with the literature in the field and contact with laity from university, church, and other speaking engagements. The purpose of this study is to document trends in how people report the …


Barriers To Belief: Why Do The Resistant Resist God?, Jana S. Harmon Dec 2021

Barriers To Belief: Why Do The Resistant Resist God?, Jana S. Harmon

Eleutheria: John W. Rawlings School of Divinity Academic Journal

Barriers to belief in God and Christianity in an increasingly antagonistic culture are considerable. Reasons for resisting belief were studied in an intellectually-driven population of educated atheists in Western culture (N = 50) through survey and interview analysis. This mixed-method research study evaluated a broad range of functional (socio-cultural, psycho-emotional, existential, experiential, moral, volitional) and substantive (intellectual and spiritual) variables influencing disbelief. Based upon extensive data collection, these findings advance the case for viewing obstacles to belief as diverse, interactive, and complex in nature. These barriers should not be easily reduced to broad brushed presumptions, but should be engaged thoughtfully, …


The Creative Arts Personal Growth Group (Capg): Transforming Fear And Shame, Lisa S. Sosin, Sandra Noble, John Jonathan Suroshan Harrichand, Lynn Bohecker Dec 2021

The Creative Arts Personal Growth Group (Capg): Transforming Fear And Shame, Lisa S. Sosin, Sandra Noble, John Jonathan Suroshan Harrichand, Lynn Bohecker

Faculty Publications and Presentations

Literature highlights the long-term effects of bullying and interpersonal cruelty, including symptoms of trauma and shame. Although scholars have encouraged the development of trauma-informed group interventions for adults with a history of bullying, they have yet to be developed. This article introduces The Creative Arts Personal Growth Group: Transforming Fear and Shame with Compassion, Courage, and Community (CAPG) and presents findings from a phenomenlogocial pilot study exploring participants’ experiences. Themes of containment, creativity, and community promoted regulation of symptoms and selfidentity within the context of a safe, inclusive, and affirming group experience. Implications and recommendations are provided.


All God's Children: An Exploratory Study Of Factors To Promote Inclusion Of Autistic Children Within Local Church Congregations, David John Scott Quel Dec 2021

All God's Children: An Exploratory Study Of Factors To Promote Inclusion Of Autistic Children Within Local Church Congregations, David John Scott Quel

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to understand the gap that exists within the literature concerning the parent’s perspective for incorporating Autistic individuals into the life of the church. The theory guiding this study is Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. In Maslow’s hierarchy, there are five level of needs. These areas are physical needs, security needs, love and belonging, esteem needs and self-actualization. These are the most basic needs whether someone is disabled, has special needs, or has no problems at all. The problem remains, far too often, those individuals who are on the Autistic spectrum are looked at as …


The Effectiveness Of Faith-Based Group Life Coaching On Stress And Anxiety Levels In Spouses Of Veterans With Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Esperanza Pilar Guerra Lugo Dec 2021

The Effectiveness Of Faith-Based Group Life Coaching On Stress And Anxiety Levels In Spouses Of Veterans With Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Esperanza Pilar Guerra Lugo

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Veterans who courageously served in the military are often diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder and their spouses are at high risk of suffering in silence from stress and anxiety. Many spouses are also their Veteran’s caregiver which leaves little time for their own self-care needs. Being a Veteran’s 24-hour caregiver can lead to poor physical and mental health, aggravating spouses stress and anxiety levels which is often only treated with medication or goes untreated due to lack of mental health care access and the stigma that comes with it. The literature review explores the research gap of how online faith-based …


Students' Evaluations Of Black Faculty At Historically White Institutions: A Causal- Comparative Study, Kathleen Carter Gentry Dec 2021

Students' Evaluations Of Black Faculty At Historically White Institutions: A Causal- Comparative Study, Kathleen Carter Gentry

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

With a call for greater accountability, institutions of higher education have focused upon student evaluations to measure teacher effectiveness to ensure that students are learning. Education researchers have revealed that Black faculty reported negative experiences within academe such as microaggressions, insults, and not being regarded as credible scholars by students and other faculty. Very little research examines the role that race plays in students’ evaluations of Black faculty from the viewpoints of students. This quantitative, nonexperimental, causal-comparative dissertation investigates 210 students’ evaluation scores of actual university faculty as measured by academic competence, sensitivity to students, instructional effectiveness, and their viewpoints …


Vicarious Trauma In Spouses/Intimate Partners Of Law Enforcement Officers And The Relationship Between Trauma And Relationship Functioning, Dortheen Richardson Dec 2021

Vicarious Trauma In Spouses/Intimate Partners Of Law Enforcement Officers And The Relationship Between Trauma And Relationship Functioning, Dortheen Richardson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The phenomenological study is to understand better the impact of vicarious trauma (VT) on the spouses/intimate partners of law enforcement officers (LEO)s in Alabama and allow researchers to attain a meaningful understanding of real-life events and the complexity of the social phenomenon. The goal is to highlight the inequity in the treatment of spouses/intimate partners of LEOs and develop protocols for mandatory reporting trauma. The theories guiding this study are constructivist self-development theory (CSDT), secondary trauma theory (STT), and family stress theory (FST). The participants were former/current spouses/intimate partners of LEOs who experienced trauma while in the line of duty. …


Premarital Counseling As Foundational To Discipleship, David J. Hollifield Dec 2021

Premarital Counseling As Foundational To Discipleship, David J. Hollifield

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This paper will examine the lasting impact of biblical, pastoral premarital counseling. Couples who have completed this type of program before marriage will be studied. This work will attempt to measure the impact of premarital counseling based on whether couples have used tools explored in their original counseling program in areas such as effective communication, conflict resolution, stewardship of money, and spiritual disciplines. If the tools and resources provided in counseling have never been utilized, this survey will seek to discover reasons the material was never used. The purpose of this study is to determine which areas are most helpful …


The Shared Experiences Of Black Women Faculty In Counselor Education Programs At Predominately White Institutions: A Thematic Analysis, Caitlyn Ybarra Dec 2021

The Shared Experiences Of Black Women Faculty In Counselor Education Programs At Predominately White Institutions: A Thematic Analysis, Caitlyn Ybarra

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Black women faculty (BWF) are underrepresented in university settings when compared to national representation in the population. This underrepresentation of Black women is also seen in counselor education; however, there is a lack of research regarding the factors that influence BWF to pursue and secure tenured positions at predominantly White institutions (PWIs). Given the current underrepresentation of BWF at PWIs, there is a need to examine the factors that would increase the recruitment and retention of a diverse faculty. Prior research has mainly focused on factors that supported the recruitment and retention of Black women doctoral students, but little research …


The Strong Black Woman And Marital Satisfaction: A Mediation Moderation Analysis Of Mental Health And Religiosity, Jessica Christine Wright Dec 2021

The Strong Black Woman And Marital Satisfaction: A Mediation Moderation Analysis Of Mental Health And Religiosity, Jessica Christine Wright

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between endorsement of the Strong Black Woman (SBW) schema (stoicism and independence subscales), mental health (depression and anxiety), marital satisfaction, and the potential moderating effects of religiosity (negative and positive religious coping) on the strength and direction of this relationship. Participants consisted of four-hundred and thirty-nine married women who were recruited via Qualtrics. The women completed inventories to assess for SBW endorsement, marital satisfaction, depression, anxiety, and both negative and positive religious coping. The results indicated embracing characteristics of SBW-stoicism predicted decreased marital satisfaction and increased anxiety and depression. In …


Status Quota: The Representational Efficacy Of Legislative Gender Quotas Upon Public Policy, Daniel Partin Dec 2021

Status Quota: The Representational Efficacy Of Legislative Gender Quotas Upon Public Policy, Daniel Partin

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Legislative gender quota policies are political rules which are designed and implemented with the goal of increasing the representational presence and influence of women in government. Fundamentally, representation operates along two separate dimensions and can be considered as either descriptive or substantive. Descriptive representation is the numerical proportion of a group within a deliberative assembly while substantive representation concerns the ability of a group to shape influence policy outcomes in accordance with their preferences. Past research into legislative gender quotas has been prolific but has also been largely focused upon the tendency of quotas to shape the descriptive dimension of …


An Exploration Of Military Spouse Mental Health: Religion/Spirituality, Resilience, Social Support, Deployment, And Rank, Sharita Gwen Knobloch Dec 2021

An Exploration Of Military Spouse Mental Health: Religion/Spirituality, Resilience, Social Support, Deployment, And Rank, Sharita Gwen Knobloch

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Military spouses (MLSPs) are a vital component of military readiness and resilience, yet they are highly understudied, particularly within the realm of mental health. This study was grounded in resilience theory, investigating relationship interactions between religion/spirituality (R/S) on mental health through resilience (mediator) conditioned at levels of social support, deployment, and rank (moderators). An online survey was distributed via social media, open to MLSPs of all branches and all components (N = 1079). This quantitative, descriptive, cross-sectional correlational research design utilized PROCESS Model 58, which found that two R/S subscales, Daily Spiritual Experiences and Religious Coping, exerted indirect effects on …


Police Perceptions And Parenting Styles Among Black Parents Of Miami-Dade County, Amber E. Roach Dec 2021

Police Perceptions And Parenting Styles Among Black Parents Of Miami-Dade County, Amber E. Roach

Masters Theses

A person’s perception of something or someone does not develop without external factors affecting the individual. Experiences and lessons people have learned from a young age have molded their perception of the world. One of those lessons is what is considered correct and what is not. In the Black American community, this is accompanied by the “talk”. This “talk” is shaped by past experiences with the police towards minority groups, specifically, Black Americans. This paper discusses how parenting styles, race, and authority intersect. The purpose of this paper is to examine the beginnings of one’s life, the lessons they are …


The Stages Of Environmentalism And How The Movement Can Be Maintained Through Generation Z, Emma Jean Vanden Brink Dec 2021

The Stages Of Environmentalism And How The Movement Can Be Maintained Through Generation Z, Emma Jean Vanden Brink

Masters Theses

The state of a social movement is characterized by the stages through which it progresses. The environmentalism movement began hundreds of years ago when humans first noticed how significantly their actions influenced the nature around them. The movement advanced with the arrival of the industrial era and modern society. According to Stewart et al. (2012), there are five main stages through which a social movement proceeds: genesis, social unrest, enthusiastic mobilization, maintenance, and termination. Today, environmentalism is in the maintenance stage, as determined by the current organizational structure of the movement. The objective of this study was to determine how …


The Emotional, Mental, And Spiritual Well-Being Of Gen Z: Perceived Social Media Messages, Abigail Marie Hayes Dec 2021

The Emotional, Mental, And Spiritual Well-Being Of Gen Z: Perceived Social Media Messages, Abigail Marie Hayes

Masters Theses

Technology has rapidly interwoven itself into the life of an individual. Social media makes up a large part of technology, an ever-changing system of mediums that portray messages depending on the current events. The messages communicated on various social media platforms fundamentally alter Generation Z’s (Gen Z’s) emotional, mental, and spiritual well-being. As technology progresses, the necessity of studying the impacts of mediums on Gen Z, digital natives, increases. A study was conducted on 46 Gen Z participants specifically on how they utilize the most popular social media platform for Gen Z–Instagram, to determine their perceived emotional, mental, and spiritual …


The Moderating Effect Of Shame Proneness On Avoidant God Attachment And On Anxious God Attachment, Tamika Andrews Sirmons Dec 2021

The Moderating Effect Of Shame Proneness On Avoidant God Attachment And On Anxious God Attachment, Tamika Andrews Sirmons

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study’s focus was on examining both anxious and avoidant God attachment and the correlation of each to both positive and negative religious coping as moderated by shame proneness. Participants were 158 individuals ages 18 to 70 years across the United States who proclaim Christianity. They were assessed on their attachment relationship with God, religious coping strategies, and proneness to shame. Correlation analysis already established the relationship between God attachment and religious coping. Regression analysis revealed shame proneness as a moderator of the relationship between the two attachment styles and both positive and negative religious coping. This study had limitations …


The Effectiveness Of Christian Accommodative Mindfulness To Reduce Burnout Of Parents And Educators Of Disabled Children, Donna M. Weston Dec 2021

The Effectiveness Of Christian Accommodative Mindfulness To Reduce Burnout Of Parents And Educators Of Disabled Children, Donna M. Weston

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This research project utilized a four-week Christian accommodated mindfulness protocol with parents and educators of disabled children as a dissertation in completion of the author’s doctoral studies. Chapter one provides an introduction to the need for the study, both in terms of the gap in research and the needs of the population to be studied, as well as the problem, purpose, and significance of the study, research questions and definitions. Chapter two discusses the relevant literature regarding the stressors and mental health challenges facing parents and educators of disabled children, especially in light of the increased risks and challenges posed …


China Containment In East Asia: Preventative Or Provocative?, Rachel Solsman Dec 2021

China Containment In East Asia: Preventative Or Provocative?, Rachel Solsman

Senior Honors Theses

Since the end of World War II, the United States has developed and maintained its strategic alliances with Japan, South Korea, the Philippines, and Taiwan, and has worked to contain China through bolstering its deterrence strategy. However, after a century of humiliation, China is modernizing its military capabilities, improving in trade, and increasing political cohesion to become a regional hegemon. In light of these changes to the international order, the United States must re-evaluate its East Asian alliances and its current military and economic deterrence strategy against China. This paper will discuss the history of these alliances, the rise of …


Keeping Culture: An Evaluation Of Organizational Culture In The Multisite Church, Michael John Grayston Nov 2021

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 …


Perceptions Of The Impact Of Cultural Awareness Training On Southern Municipalities And Their Communities, Charles Robert Love Ii Nov 2021

Perceptions Of The Impact Of Cultural Awareness Training On Southern Municipalities And Their Communities, Charles Robert Love Ii

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The overall purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study is to explore the perception of the impact of Cultural Awareness Training toward improving the negative relationship that exists between southern municipalities and their communities, especially those individuals who are culturally different from the given officer(s). In many cases, these relationships involve abuse of power which leads to mutual disrespect and a subsequently diminished relationship. A review of the literature on community-oriented policing provided vivid descriptions with clear examples regarding what is identified as relationship-based policing. Relationship-based policing seeks to get not only the community’s input, but also community involvement in establishing …


The Journey Towards Equilibrium: A Phenomenological Study Of The Master Of Social Work (Msw) Student Experience And Interrole Conflict, Nikol Downing Nov 2021

The Journey Towards Equilibrium: A Phenomenological Study Of The Master Of Social Work (Msw) Student Experience And Interrole Conflict, Nikol Downing

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore the phenomenon of interrole conflict for master level social work (MSW) students in the United States. The two theories guiding this study are role theory and theory of self-care. Role theory allowed a framework for what interrole conflict is and how it impacts individuals who experience it. Understanding role conflict aided in understanding the experience of MSW students during their academic journey. Theory of self- care allowed a framework for understanding how self-care can combat some of the negative results of interrole conflict such as burnout or secondary traumatic stress. This …


Teachers' Perceptions, Awareness, And Responses To Students With Childhood Trauma, Jonathan James Tomlin Nov 2021

Teachers' Perceptions, Awareness, And Responses To Students With Childhood Trauma, Jonathan James Tomlin

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The role of trauma-informed education is becoming a topic of discussion for many school leaders and administrators during the COVID-19 pandemic. The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between trauma training, education, experience, and teacher self-efficacy, and teachers’ self-reported perceptions of student behavior, teaching, and managing behaviors of students with trauma history. Previous research highlighted a lack of teacher input when developing trauma-informed education within school settings. This correlational study investigated factors associated with educator trauma training, education, experience, and self-efficacy. Data were collected from a city school system in a large, urban district in the northeast …


The Effect Of Forgiveness Training In The Attitude Of Forgiveness In Married Couples, Calo Gobea Yarelie Nov 2021

The Effect Of Forgiveness Training In The Attitude Of Forgiveness In Married Couples, Calo Gobea Yarelie

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study evaluated the impact on the attitude of forgiveness in married couples participating in a 3-hour forgiveness group that incorporates Everett Worthington’s Forgiveness Model: REACH (Worthington, 2008). The study measured the impact of the REACH-based curriculum from Become a More Forgiving Person in Less Than Two Hours (Worthington, 2020) in 32 couples attending the forgiveness class. The study used a quantitative approach/correlational design exploring the relationship between participation in a forgiveness class and attitude towards forgiveness. The focus was on measuring whether program participation increases an attitude of forgiveness and if the couple’s reported satisfaction influenced the attitude of …


The Effects Of Deployments On Alcohol Use, Stress, Mental Health, And Help-Seeking Behaviors In Military Spouses, Joanne Lorraine Coddington Nov 2021

The Effects Of Deployments On Alcohol Use, Stress, Mental Health, And Help-Seeking Behaviors In Military Spouses, Joanne Lorraine Coddington

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom have kept the United States military engaged in one of the longest wars in the nation’s history. Due to the high operations tempo during that time, both service members and their spouses have endured enormous difficulties as they learned to navigate the challenges brought forth by frequent deployments. The purpose of this research study was to study the alcohol consumption, mental health, stress, and help seeking behaviors of military spouses who have endured deployments, with the hypothesis that alcohol use will not increase during deployment, military spouses will report poorer mental health and …


What Long-Term Effects Occur From Combat Deployment In Effecting Later Adaptation To Civilian Life?, Corey E. Waites Nov 2021

What Long-Term Effects Occur From Combat Deployment In Effecting Later Adaptation To Civilian Life?, Corey E. Waites

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study shows the effects that combat exposure can have on an individual by compiling information gained from surveys and collecting data from Facebook interactions. Members of the study who were deployed to the Southern area of Baghdad, Iraq, between 2003-2005 were included in this research after they voluntarily responded to an initial group message on Facebook to members of the 703rd medical company members. This research sets out to determine how a review of the veterans of the US Army 3rd Infantry Division 703rd medical unit between the years 2003-2005 in Iraq can tell us about the long-term effects …


The Effect Of Corporate Social Responsibility Strategy On The Growth Of Multinational Food And Beverage Companies In China, Alison Kimberly Flood Nov 2021

The Effect Of Corporate Social Responsibility Strategy On The Growth Of Multinational Food And Beverage Companies In China, Alison Kimberly Flood

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

As multinational food and beverage companies experience an increased demand to act mindfully in a changing globalized world, many are improving their corporate social responsibility (CSR) techniques. The specific problem to be addressed is the socio-economic barriers that have resulted in the failure of multinational food and beverage companies to implement effective corporate social responsibility techniques in China. Multinational food and beverage companies have used CSR strategies for years to address environmental and social concerns while always pursuing their corporate objectives. These efforts often include philanthropy, labor rights, environmental preservation, conservation of resources, and consumer safety. In this context, CSR …


A Room With A View: Experiences Of Moms Off Meth Using Heuristic Inquiry, Joey Leigh Gude Nov 2021

A Room With A View: Experiences Of Moms Off Meth Using Heuristic Inquiry, Joey Leigh Gude

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Methamphetamine related consequences continue to darken many families and communities. Multiple service provider types are often overburdened in dealing with the reality of methamphetamine misuse (Brownstein et al., 2012). This research explored the impact of the methamphetamine epidemic with a specific focus on mothers with methamphetamine addiction. Mothers present with a myriad of challenges, and inadequate contextual information exists to address these challenges (Alexander et al., 2018; Bathish et al., 2017; Cunningham & Finlay, 2013). This qualitative heuristic inquiry sought to illuminate experiences of methamphetamine addiction in mothers. The qualitative research questions sought to give a voice to the lived …


Understanding Blended Family Stability: A Phenomenological Study, Marion F. Travers Nov 2021

Understanding Blended Family Stability: A Phenomenological Study, Marion F. Travers

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Most remarriages and blended families dissolve within 1-5 years, and last an average of 3.05 years. The factors that contribute to their dissolution have been defined well in the literature; however, specific protective factors that lead to blended family stability have not. In this study, ‘blended family stability’ refers to individual participants who have remained in their blended family for more than five years and reported more positive than negative factors. This study sought to define the nuclear family and the blended family, and highlight the vast differences across blended families by (1) examining the challenges experienced in remarriage and …


Overcoming Trauma: A Phenomenological Study Of Adults Who Overcame Childhood Trauma, Mary Ann P. Crowder Nov 2021

Overcoming Trauma: A Phenomenological Study Of Adults Who Overcame Childhood Trauma, Mary Ann P. Crowder

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This transcendental phenomenological study examined the lived experiences of individuals who overcame childhood trauma to become resilient adults. For this study, a resilient adult was defined by successful academic and career outcomes. Successful academic outcomes were operationalized as post-secondary educational attainment and successful career outcomes were demonstrated by steady employment of a professional career pathway. Terr’s (1991) theory of childhood trauma and Garmezy and Rutter’s (1983) resilience theory guided the study designed to answer the following central research question: What are the lived experiences of individuals who have overcome adverse childhood experiences to become resilient adults? The study involved thirteen …