Leadership Studies Commons^™

Christian Leadership In The Information Age: Has Unlimited Access To Information Influenced Truth, Robert J. Houk

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study is to understand and explore what influences and effects, if any, may be identified as church leaders interact with congregants that have been exposed to a wide array of information in pursuit of truth obtained from various sources. At this stage in the research, the Information Age is being examined to determine if it has had any influence on the pursuit of truth as people seek answers to life's fundamental questions. Previous research had identified growing changes within young people’s beliefs as they sought higher education thus leading to a decline in enrollment …

Play, Instruct, Lead: Investigating The Influence Observing Same-Gender Role Models Has On Leadership Development Of Collegiate Women Student-Athletes Coaching At Youth Sports Camps: A Phenomenological Study, Mercy-Nora Osei

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study is to describe how observing same-gender role models influenced the leadership development of collegiate women student-athletes (CWSA) when coaching at youth sports camps (YSC) at NCAA institution campuses in the United States. The theory that guided this study was Albert Bandura’s theory on social learning, as it explained the relationship between observational learning and the influence role modeling had on leadership development. The central question was: How does observing same-gender role models influence the leadership development of collegiate women student-athletes when coaching at youth sports camps? This study used a transcendental phenomenological design to …

A Collaborative Leadership Development Model For Classical Christian School Consortiums, Lisa Diane Smith

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Over 55% of young adults in the United States have experienced some form of leadership development; however, their leadership skills are not being used within the church. Nearly 60% of those who regularly attended church during their youth are distancing themselves from it (Barna, 2023). Nonetheless, the same report suggested a link between youth who were well-integrated into a youth ministry and those who stayed active in the church. This Praxis program partnered with Redeemer Classical Academy to implement a Christ-centered leadership development initiative for its high school students. The argument supporting the Praxis program indicates that grounding students' leadership …

Corrections Ministry: Leading By Serving County Level Incarcerated Women’S Practical Needs Through The High School Equivalency Test, Jeri Lea O'Neill

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The research study explored one possible way that corrections ministry leaders and teams may impactfully serve incarcerated women exemplifying Jesus’s servant leadership and earthly ministry model. In this regard, the purpose of this quantitative correlational study was to evaluate if a relationship exists between High School Equivalency Test (HiSET) attainment and reentry success of women incarcerated at a large southeastern United States county corrections complex.

The study covered an eight-year timeframe from January 1, 2017, to December 31, 2024. The total population entailed 6,599 incarcerated women of which the sample was 2,901. The study assessed the reentry success of incarcerated …

A Study Of The Relationship Between Emotional Intelligence And Affective Organizational Commitment And Their Effect On Turnover Intentions, David Dix Tomblison

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study examined the relationships among emotional intelligence, affective organizational commitment, and turnover intentions among millennial employees in Washington State’s technology sector. A fixed, cross-sectional quantitative design was used with data from 459 participants collected through the Wong and Law Emotional Intelligence Scale, the Meyer and Allen Affective Commitment Scale, and the Cohen Turnover Intention Scale. Statistical analyses were conducted with IBM SPSS Statistics (Version 30; IBM Corp, 2023) for simple regression analysis and the PROCESS Macro (Version 5.0, Model 1) for moderation analysis. Findings showed that emotional intelligence was positively associated with affective organizational commitment and negatively associated with …

Developing Healthy Leaders For Multiplication At The Bridge Church, Joshua D. Robinson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The problem addressed in this DMIN action research project is the lack of a clearly defined biblical framework for the ongoing leadership development at TBC in Venice, Florida, amid rapid growth and increasing attendance. This gap has hindered the equipping of leaders to disciple and lead others and fulfill the Great Commission through church multiplication. The purpose of this project was to design and implement a biblically grounded leadership pathway, including The Bridge Institute (TBI), to equip current and future servant leaders for maturity, relational authenticity, and missional impact. The goals included developing improved assimilation, increasing volunteer engagement, and creating …

A Causal-Comparative Study Of The Gender And Generational Differences In Emotional Intelligence Of Leaders Within Asset Management Firms, Vanessa Gower

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study aimed to address the challenge some leaders face in managing their emotional intelligence across gender and generational differences. Emotional intelligence is a predictor of effective leadership; therefore, differences in emotional intelligence may result in poor leadership behavior. This study employed a fixed, quantitative, and causal-comparative research design to measure the differences in emotional intelligence among leaders of asset management firms based on gender male and female) and generational groups Baby Boomer, Generation X, and Millennial). Emotional intelligence was measured using the Wong and Law Emotional Intelligence Scale (WLEIS). Leaders of asset management firms within the financial services industry …

Internal Coherence Factors Of Instructional Leadership Teams And Their Impact On Student Academic Growth: A Quantitative Predictive Correlational Study, Jennifer E. Clark

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this quantitative, predictive correlational study is to examine the relationship that the Internal Coherence Framework factors of leadership, teacher collaboration, and collective teacher efficacy have on student academic growth measured through teacher VAM scores. This study has significance, in that, it demonstrates how Instructional Leadership Teams (ILTs) based on the Internal Coherence Framework, through intentional focus on strengthening pedagogy and collective teacher efficacy, impact student achievement at the secondary school level. Junior high and high school teachers who receive VAM scores from thirteen junior high schools and eight suburban high schools in southeast Louisiana responded to the …

The Relationship Between Leadership, Quality Outcomes, And Turnover In Healthcare, Megan L. Rhoades

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This quantitative, causal-comparative study examined the relationship between leadership effectiveness, employee engagement, quality outcomes, and turnover in non-profit acute care hospitals in Texas. Guided by a pragmatic paradigm, the research utilized archived data to analyze correlations among leader effectiveness scores, employee engagement levels, patient quality metrics, and employee turnover rates. Grounded in Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, the Motivation-Hygiene Theory, Job Demands-Resources Theory, Path-Goal Theory, and Relational Leadership Theory, the study explored how leadership behaviors and engagement strategies influence organizational outcomes. Results revealed a strong positive correlation between effective leadership and employee engagement, indicating that leaders who provide support, recognition, and …

The Lived Experiences Of Black Women Who Pastor Men In The Christian Methodist Episcopal Church, Karen En Bailey Garrison

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This qualitative phenomenological research project will explore the lived experiences of Black women pastoring at least three (3) who are not genetically related, weekly attending male congregants in the historically patriarchal culture of the Christian Methodist Episcopal (CME) Church with a minimum of at least one hundred (100) weekly attendees or more, and actively ordained. The CME Church has traditionally believed that the Bible prohibits women from serving as pastors or in any position of control over men. In four previous studies, Harden (2023), Morgan (2024), Tribble (2005), and Williams (2024) found that female pastors encountered obstacles throughout their journey …

Overcoming Fragmented Implementation: Leadership Insights Toward A Standardized Framework For Generative Ai Adoption In Enterprises, Chelle M. Meadows

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This convergent-parallel mixed-methods study examined how the absence of a standardized framework for integrating generative artificial intelligence (AI) affected leadership alignment, organizational consistency, and ethical governance within enterprises. Grounded in the pragmatic research paradigm, the study combined quantitative and qualitative data to evaluate factors that shaped AI framework effectiveness and to identify insights that could guide future framework development. Quantitative data were collected from 137 full-time professionals representing executive, technology, employee, and regulatory roles across industries. Using validated constructs derived from the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) and Adaptive Structuration Theory (AST), statistical analyses including ANOVA, chi-square, and regression were conducted …

The Emotional And Personality Intelligence Cohort (Epic) For Steadiness Personality Trait Pastors, Christopher W. Ortego

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Church revitalization is a complex process. The stress it brings can challenge even the most experienced pastor’s spiritual and emotional resilience. Revitalization experts note that revitalization anxiety is especially true for pastors with certain personality traits. One such trait is the DISC personality category of steadiness. Leadership specialists argue that relief from this stress is found through gaining emotional intelligence. The purpose of this DMIN action research project was to teach emotional intelligence to eight to ten pastors with the steadiness personality. The training was delivered in a six-session, two-day retreat format. It introduced the participants to the concept of …

The Impact Of Follower Conscientiousness On Leader-Member Exchange Quality: Exploring The Moderating Role Of Work Environment, H. A. Eliason

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Effective leadership is a vital component of an organization’s viability and competitive edge in today’s complex and dynamic environments. Leadership is not a one-directional act but instead a reciprocal process that shapes both individual experiences and organizational outcomes. Despite recognition of this reciprocal nature, a gap remains in understanding how specific contextual factors, such as individual personality traits or work environment, affect the quality of leader-member exchanges. At the same time, workplace relationships are undergoing momentous change and transformation as organizations shift between traditional, hybrid, and remote models in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. This study investigated the influence …

The Influence Of Leadership Development On Organizational Citizenship Behavior: Moderated By Leader-Member Exchange, Christopher Houston

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This research study addressed the problem of lacking leadership development in the higher education industry and the reduction of organizational citizenship behavior (OCB). Increasing demands on higher education resulted in a need for improved leadership acumen across the industry, but inefficient and lacking development persists. This study evaluated a regional higher education institution of higher education in the Southwest to better understand how specific leadership development opportunities relate to organizational behavior. The research utilized the 24-item OCB survey and the LMX-7 survey to capture participant responses in combination with different leadership development participation responses. The findings indicated that while leadership …

Ancient Astronaut Theory And Christian Belief Among Evangelical Millennials: A Quantitative Exploratory Cross-Sectional Study, Richard Barry Bazzell

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this quantitative, exploratory, non-experimental, cross-sectional study was to explore the possible influence of the Ancient Astronaut Theory upon Evangelical Christian millennials in the aspects of their biblical worldview, belief in the triune God, and Christian praxis. The researcher structured the study upon four pillars: (a) Evangelical millennials, (b) Evangelical theology, (c) Lev Vygotsky’s social constructivism, and (d) Eric Von Däniken’s Ancient Astronaut Theory. The study population was Evangelical millennials in the state of Texas. The study’s instrumentation was a researcher-designed 5-point Likert scale survey titled Ancient Astronaut Theory–Evangelical Christian Millennials (AAT–ECM). Because the respondents were fewer in …

Promoting Leadership To Enhance Safety In Aircraft Maintenance: A Phenomenological Study Of Aviation Technical Operations, Komi Tete

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to explore how leadership styles affect the safety practices and overall performance of aircraft maintenance technicians (AMTs) in aviation Technical Operations (TechOps) environments. The study built on previous research indicating that safe and efficient aircraft operations depend on numerous technical and social processes. It focused on the comprehensive lived experiences of AMTs as they related to leadership influence on safety. The transformational leadership theory and safety culture theory guided the study, aligning with the inquiry by explaining how leaders could influence the behavior, motivation, and safety practices of AMTs. Ensuring the safety …

Staying Connected To The Vine As A Means Of Leading Worship In A Christ-Like Manner, Paul Edward Bryant

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

With a society focused on performance-driven worship, most worship leaders today have difficulty maintaining a God-focused, Christ-centered, and Spirit-filled worship experience during worship services. Worship leaders are having difficulty leading worship because they do not follow Christ daily to produce fruit that will help the leader effectively lead worship that honors God. This qualitative research explores the Bible, explicitly using John 15:1-11, Galatians 5:22-23, and 1 Corinthians 2:14-15 as the foundation for the worship leader to remain in Christ to produce the fruit of the Spirit and lead with Godly wisdom and understanding. Worship and leadership textbooks and dissertations covering …

Police Officers’ Perception Of The Anti-Police Movement And How That Affects Officer Retention In Minnesota, Kimberly Wood

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The research aims to investigate the perceived mass exodus of police officer departures alongside police officer retention rates throughout Minnesota. The study investigates whether high-profile police officer prosecutions together with national news incidents directly cause police officers to leave their jobs along with the Ferguson Effect taking place. The profession of policing has become more challenging and dangerous for its practitioners. The combination of recruitment challenges and increased assaults on police officers without punishment for perpetrators and elevated arrest resistance from suspects has led to the perceived mass exodus of police officers. The number of officer shootings and assaults combined …

Building Stability Through Compassion: A Study Of City Gates Ministries’ Impact On Homelessness And Resource Distribution, Bryan Christopher Pruitt

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This Dissertation-in-Praxis focused on how City Gates Ministries, a nonprofit organization in Thurston County, Washington, improved its support for individuals and families facing homelessness and poverty by refining its operational systems. The initiative aimed to strengthen donation intake, inventory management, and furniture delivery, which had previously strained resources and hindered organizational consistency. Guided by biblical leadership principles, the project introduced cost-effective solutions like a barcode-based digital inventory system, color-coded signage, and modular volunteer training sessions. Outcomes included a 30% reduction in inventory duplication errors, a nearly 45% decrease in retrieval times for high-demand items, and a decrease in misplaced inventory …

Women In Leadership: A Case Study In Kern County, Lovetta A. Sebbern

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This instrumental case study explored the experiences of female leaders within the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation’s Division of Adult Institutions (CDCR’s DAI), a traditionally male-dominated environment. The purpose of the study was to understand how these women navigated career-related challenges and contributed to organizational effectiveness. Albert Bandura’s self-efficacy theory guided the study, James Maddux’s concept of imaginal experiences, and the framework of instrumental rationality. The central research question focused on how female leaders overcame career obstacles, supported by three subquestions addressing interview responses, observational insights, and document analysis. The study was conducted in Kern County, California, and included …

Reclaiming Eve: The Importance And Benefits Of Women In Leadership, Takesha S. Jones

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Despite considerable progress in women's career representation, global barriers remain rooted in gender discrimination through the lens of historical, cultural, and theological traditions. Imposing invisible obstacles such as the glass ceiling and sticky floors are entrenched biases that obstruct upward career advancement. Amid these challenges, the diverse talents and unique perspectives of women often remain overshadowed by their male counterparts in perceptions of quality leadership. This study aimed to explore the connection of the sins in the Garden of Eden narrative to the origins of and ongoing disqualification of women as unfit to lead. The study aimed to reaffirm gender …

Fire Officer Leadership: Understanding The Lived Experience Of New Firefighters, Tyler Ames

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This qualitative phenomenological study looked into how newer firefighters experienced working under fire officer leaders who utilized laissez-faire leadership tendencies. The goal of the study was to better understand what this kind of leadership looks like in the fire service and how it affects newer members in their day-to-day lives as well as emergency scenarios. Twelve firefighters from different departments across Utah were interviewed, and all participants had less than three years of experience. The interviews focused on the participants’ experiences, challenges, and feelings when working under this particular leadership style. Each transcript was reviewed and coded using an inductive …

Critical Volunteer Stewardship: A New Model Of Volunteer Management For Churches, Kelly Lynne Reed Shaw

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

In an effort to advance the kingdom without breaking the bank, today’s churches rely heavily upon volunteers to staff and operate a multitude of ministries. With biblical beginnings reaching well into the Old Testament, volunteerism and the call to serve remain an essential part of being Christian. Drawn from a unique blend of emergency management and human resource tactics, Critical Volunteer Stewardship (CVS) is a proposed model of volunteer administration that quickly identifies, assigns, and retains volunteer capital while building authentic interpersonal relationships. This researcher has implemented her CVS model at Captivate Community Church to mitigate the organization’s current inability …

Empowering The Next Generation Of Female Leaders In Restoration Church Rhode Island, Elizabeth Faroul Arah

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this praxis-in-dissertation was to enhance the leadership skills of current Christian female members within the Fervent Women’s ministry at Restoration Church (REZ Church) in Rhode Island. The plan was to enable them to engage and connect with young and new females who would be interested in joining the ministry. By using the situational leadership model as a tool to support the selected female participants from one stage to the next, the ministry Director gained valuable insights into their own leadership effectiveness and how they were able to best support each female through the process. The results of …

Integrated Growth: Developing A Sustainable Continuum Of Whole-Person Discipleship For Cultivating Healthy Leaders, Joyce A. Smith

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Leadership, particularly within ministry contexts, involves complex responsibilities that often lead to chronic stress, burnout, and diminished well-being. These challenges underscore the need for a holistic, sustainable framework that supports leaders in every dimension of life. This Dissertation in Praxis explored a biblically grounded, multidimensional wellness initiative designed to foster integrated health among ministry leaders at The Harvest Church, a nondenominational congregation in North Houston, Texas. Framed by biblical principles of stewardship, wholeness, and relational unity, this study implemented and assessed a structured wellness program addressing four critical domains of a leader’s well-being: emotional resilience, financial stability, physical/nutritional health, and …

Insufficient Leadership Training For Ministers At Morning Star Missionary Baptist Church That Enables Them To Serve The Congregation In The Absence Of The Senior Pastor, Shirley J. Gamble

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this DMIN action research project is to create an operation and coaching module on every aspect of church ministry to train ministers. This project aims to establish a process following Ephesians 4:11-12, which states, “And He gave some, apostles; and some prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors, and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ” (King James Version). The Christian leadership training for ministers at MSMBC will enable them to serve the congregation in the absence of the senior pastor. The desired …

Understanding How The Spiritual Formation Process Has Been Affected In A Post-Covid 19 World, Matthew E. Hunter

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The need for community is essential in the life of the believer. Without a solid community, a believer may fall into isolation and even driven away from God instead of closer to Him. Psychologists have stated that community impacts human cognitive and moral development. James Fowler takes this a step further, outlined a believer’s stages of faith compared to human development. These levels of development directly impact the spiritual formation process in the life of a believer and demonstrate the vital role it plays in the believer’s life. Discipleship remains an important tool for helping a believer move through these …

A Strategic Study Seeking To Increase Tithe And Offering At The Ephesus Seventh-Day Adventist Church, Harlem, New York, Silburn I. Reid

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This doctoral thesis explores the complex relationship between church members and financial giving at the Ephesus Seventh-day Adventist Church. The study aims to understand why members refrain from contributing to tithes and offerings by examining their trust in local church leadership and the denomination at large. The study identifies several underlying reasons for the reluctance to give by using qualitative and quantitative research methods, including surveys, teaching seminars, and participant group observations. These are grouped into three primary themes: transparency, education, and dissatisfaction with church governance. One of the key findings was that the lack of trust in church leadership …

Lead Like Jesus For Healthcare - Improving The Culture Of Healing Through Biblical Leadership Training, James Michael Jones

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Lead Like Jesus is a 501(c)(3) ministry founded in 1999 that aims to reshape leadership through the teachings and example of Jesus Christ. The organization promotes leadership development that integrates servant leadership principles into a transformational leadership model, applying these ideas in secular settings where success is often linked to authority, control, and power. The principles behind the Lead Like Jesus movement are rooted in the Scriptural accounts of Jesus' life and teachings, emphasizing a leadership style characterized by humility, empathy, and genuine care for others. A review of offerings from professional associations, consulting firms, and other sources of leadership …

Biblical Servant Leadership And Physical Therapists' Clinical Decision Making For Breast Cancer Patients After Breast Cancer Surgery: A Correlational Study, Cleve Carter Iii

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this quantitative, correlational study was to determine whether a relationship exists between physical therapists’ (PTs’) perceptions of their manager’s or director’s application of BSL and the clinical decision-making of the PT when treating patients of varying socioeconomic status (SES) and race after breast cancer surgery (e.g., mastectomy, lumpectomy) in the United States (U.S.). This study utilized case-based vignettes for a patient population seeking skilled physical therapy services after breast cancer surgery within the U.S. healthcare system context. The sample population consisted of PTs from across the U.S. who actively evaluate and treat patients following breast cancer (BC) …