Leadership Studies Commons^™

A Modular Graduate Course In Christian Leadership With An Emphasis On Servant Leadership For The Inter-American Adventist Theological Seminary (Iats), Raquel Yridamia Rodriguez

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Problem

An issue of major concern in Adventist universities in the territory of the Inter- American Division is the lack of training in the subject of leadership at the undergraduate level. The curriculum focuses more on the biblical and spiritual areas, while it neglects to offer those classes that develop leadership skills. Since pastors are the model leaders for their congregations, this course on Christian leadership, with an emphasis on the "servant-model," will help to train pastors in this area, hopefully coping with the current leadership training deficiency.

Method

A theoretical foundation was established for suggesting and developing a servant …

An Examination Of Self-Esteem's Impact On The Leadership Behaviors Of Female Undergraduate Student Leaders, Allison J. Moran

Masters Theses

Self-esteem and leadership behaviors vary from individual to individual. Previous research indicates that multiple external factors influence self-esteem. Results of this study indicate that levels of self-esteem have the potential to influence leadership behaviors. This study utilized qualitative research practices to explore levels of self-esteem and leadership behaviors among female college student leaders. Six female undergraduate students at a public, four-year, midsized institution located in the Midwest were interviewed for this study. Participants included two sorority presidents, two registered student organization presidents, and two athletic captains. Results of this study indicate that self-esteem can be categorized into three areas: high, …

Perceptions Of Historically Black Greek Letter Organizations Impact On Leadership Development, Sherry Gunn

Masters Theses

Historically Black Greek - Lettered Organizations (HBGLO) have an impact on Black students at a Predominantly White Institution. As student affairs professionals, it is important to understand how these organizations affect our students and their development. This study aimed to learn how these Historically Black Greek - Lettered Organizations assisted with members gaining leadership skills, members experiences versus non - members, and members connection/ retention to the institution. The researcher conducted interviews with members of Historically Black Greek Lettered Organizations to examine the perceptions of seven participants. These participants represented four of the six Historically Black Greek Lettered Organization at …

Heuristics And Consumer Uncertainty: Sorting Through Online Reviews, Cory Catalano

Communication & Leadership Dissertations and Theses

As shopping online continues to grow in popularity and convenience, so does the way consumers communicate information about products they have purchased. Most online retailers utilize some form of product review system (PRS) and customers are often encouraged to leave feedback about the product and their online shopping experience. Often a product can have radically polarizing reviews making it confusing for consumers. Using Berger’s and Calabrese’s Uncertainty Reduction Theory (URT) as well as Chaiken’s Heuristic-Systematic Model of Information Processing (HSM), this study looks to deduce what heuristic methods are the best for consumers who are looking to make informed decisions …

Organizational Uses Of Social Media For Internal Communication, Melanie Brooke Pannell Steel

Communication & Leadership Dissertations and Theses

The current study aims to investigate the use of social media by organizations for internal communications. Theoretical basis for the study is found in the organizational social capital, communities of learning, and social learning theory. Additional areas of research were consulted including current uses of social media for both personal and organizational use. Three research questions were presented: (1) To what extent are organizations utilizing social media tools to replace other internal communication channels, (2) Do employees prefer the utilization of specific social media tools in place of other internal communication channels, and (3) What is the impact on an …

Blended Family Dynamics And Its Impact On Behavioral Communication And Overall Success, Megan Salazar

Communication & Leadership Dissertations and Theses

With an average divorce rate of approximately 50 percent (Carter & McGoldrick, 2005), it is estimated that 20 percent of U.S. adolescents have at least one stepparent. Because family structure plays a large role in shaping both individual self-identity and the identity of the family unit as a whole, blended families differ from traditional families in terms of communication styles, behavioral outcomes, and several other factors. For the purposes of this paper, a blended family refers to one in which the household contains at least one stepparent, and a traditional family refers to one in which both biological parents are …

Assertiveness In Professional Women, Barbara Louise Kelley

Communication & Leadership Dissertations and Theses

This thesis is grounded in the Expectancy Violations Theory, developed over several years by Burgoon and Hale (1988). This study explores the ways in which professional women communicate and behave assertively in their organizations – sometimes in violation of social expectations that women should be meek and compliant rather than assertive. This study was devised to answer the following questions: In the continuum of assertive traits, which traits and practices do professional, self-described assertive women particularly value and strive for? What reasons do they provide? What moments in their lives do these women see as turning points when they began …

Gatekeeping Social Media In Today's Newsrooms, Matthew A. Clark

Communication & Leadership Dissertations and Theses

Social media has changed the face and function of today’s traditional newsrooms. But, more than that, social media has changed how editors and reporters report the news and, perhaps more importantly, control the flow of information via social media channels. Because social media has sped up the news gathering process, the way news and information in controlled from newsrooms to the general public and vice versa has changed. This study examined seven news professionals ranging in title and duty and asked how big of a part social media played in their day-to-day professional lives and how their respective news outlets …

Veterans And Reintegration Issues Looking Specifically At Society, Employment, Schooling, Ptsd And Veterans’ Organizations, Kerri Zelenak

Communication & Leadership Dissertations and Theses

If the veteran is lucky enough to ask for help, or help somehow finds them, then transitioning back into civilian life can be much smoother and tolerable; however, if a veteran is not so lucky, transitioning back into civilian life can be rough, confl1sing, and isolating. Trust issues between the veteran and the civilian is low making it hard for a veteran to seek the help they need in order to exist in civilian life. While serving every soldier is taken care of-everything they need is provided. Once entering civilian life, the soldier is left to fend for himself or …

Ethical Considerations For Digital Manipulation Of Sports Photography, Jeffrey A. Garrison

Communication & Leadership Dissertations and Theses

The idea that photos can be manipulated has been around nearly as long as the art itself. In the days of the darkroom photos were burned, dodged, cropped and even spliced together to create a desired image. Today photos are taken digitally and easily manipulated through the use of computer software programs like Adobe Photoshop. This ease of manipulation brings ethical considerations into question more than ever as photographers and photo editors can now manipulated an image in ways that not only change the message of the photo, but can also alter the reality the photo once represented at the …

Internet Slang And High School Students: A Teacher’S Perspective, Thomas W. Fish

Communication & Leadership Dissertations and Theses

This study analyzed the perceptions of secondary education teachers on the use of Internet Slang by their high school students. The researcher analyzed educators’ perceptions in order to answer what teachers’ thoughts were on the use of Internet Slang being introduced into secondary education academic assignments. Additionally, were there negative or positive effects from the use of Internet Slang via texting, social media, and messaging on the writing skills of students? A literature review and a qualitative applied research approach with the use of document analysis via an open-ended survey were the methods for this study. This assisted the researcher …

Relationship Management On Facebook: Male College Students, Kathleen M. Aikin

Communication & Leadership Dissertations and Theses

Facebook as a social media technology is prominent in a variety of scenarios, including interpersonal relationship management. There have been numerous studies on how social dynamics are informed by social media, especially in regards to young adults. Within this group, female social dynamics have garnered much attention; however, there is a dearth of research, which explicitly examines how males utilize the technology. Thus, this study collected data via an online survey of college students that examined various aspects of online interpersonal relationship dynamics. The theoretical framework of this study was based on Petronio’s (1991) communication privacy management theory, Baxter and …

The Use Of Social Media By Student Activists In Immigration Reform, Adrian Reyes

Communication & Leadership Dissertations and Theses

This thesis examined the use of social media by student activists wanting to enact change in our society and specifically around the topic of immigration reform. Coordinated Management of Meaning Theory (CMM) was utilized to interpret the results of online interactions with those that are considered activists in the immigration reform movement. Research has shown that collectively we create our reality based on events and objects of our social world (Pearce & Cronen, 2006). Further, we also can see that humans create reality through interaction (Allen, 2005). The research conducted consisted of seven one-on-one interviews with current under-grad and graduate …

Promoting Transformation In Listeners Through The Utilization Of Strategic Public Speaking, Shawn Vanover

Communication & Leadership Dissertations and Theses

This thesis identifies how transformational speakers, through the art of public speaking, are able to communicate in a way that enables transformation within the listener. Public speaking is essential for influencing an audience; therefore it is imperative to explore and identify the most effective communication strategies and techniques for delivering transformational speeches to empower and deeply impact listeners. The thesis analyzes Steve Jobs’s 2005 Stanford Commencement speech to understand how transformational leaders deliver transformational speeches to a given audience, and to further study how speakers utilize the social penetration theory to build a connection with the audience to create a …

The Silent Dimension Of A Healthcare Narrative: How Patients Perceive Practitioners’ Nonverbal Cues, Sarah Steele

Communication & Leadership Dissertations and Theses

This study examines patient perceptions of medical practitioners’ nonverbal behavior. The philosophical framework is based on Buber’s (1923/1958) work on “dialogic ethics,” and grounded in Giles’ (1987) communication accommodation theory. Both quantitative and qualitative data were gathered by means of survey research, and examined through correlational and content analysis. Results show a significant positive correlation between patient perceptions of practitioner nonverbal immediacy and subsequent satisfaction. Analysis of survey comments revealed listening as the nonverbal behavior most valued and noted by patients. These findings serve to inform medical professionals on how to maximize patient satisfaction and care through effective use of …

Ua3/8/1 President's Office-Meredith Correspondence / Subject File, Wku Archives

WKU Archives Collection Inventories

Correspondence and subject files created by the President's Office during Thomas Meredith's tenure as president of WKU.

Military Millennials As Next Generation Leaders: Do Leadership Traits Matter?, Phillip Michael Green

Dissertations

Employers are constantly evaluating individuals to fill leadership roles within their organizations to extract the highest return from their resources and investments. Millennials, born between 1982 and 2000 (Howe and Strauss, 2000), represent the youngest and newest generation entering the workforce. A sub-population of this generation consists of military veterans returning to the United States after the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. This quantitative study examines the leadership traits of the military Millennials that have transitioned to civilian life and compares this population segment with Millennials without a military background. To compare the two groups of the generational cohort, a …

Examining The Relationship Between Student Engagement And Stem Persistence At An Hbcu, Saundra Yates Evans

Dissertations

A growing imbalance in the demand for a science and technology workforce and the declining availability of a science and technology talent pool is challenging America’s world dominance in research and innovation, economic performance, and quality of life. Contributing to this imbalance is flatness in the trend of students selecting science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) majors coupled with decreasing rates of retention in STEM disciplines. Many research studies and reports emphasize that incorporating the untapped talents of Americans who are underrepresented in STEM disciplines--African-Americans, Hispanics, and women--is necessary to increase the pipeline of STEM graduates. A synthesis of college …

Architechture: Rebuilding The Traditional University For The 21st Century, Sarah E. Shearer

CMC Senior Theses

This senior thesis is an examination of the major complexities and considerations encountered in developing an e-learning program. In light of the changing landscape of higher education resulting from technological advancement, combined with changing pedagogies and financial pressures, traditional institutions are under heightened scrutiny and most in need of innovation. Online learning as been proposed as a solution to many of these issues, but creating a successful program is no small feat. Furthermore, experimental research on specific course designs and delivery often fails upon real-world implementation. Looking through the lens of Design-Base-Implementation Research (DBIR), an emerging research model that seeks …

The Influence Of Power Dynamics On The Israeli-Palestinian Ethos Of Conflict, Bryan Turkel 9842267

CMC Senior Theses

The study of intractable conflicts has risen in recent years particularly with the work of Daniel Bar-Tal’s work on the ethos of conflict. The ethos of conflict is an original psychological concept that captures the collective societal mindset of cultures locked in intractable conflicts and examines the various factors that keep groups in conflict or help them towards peace. The Israeli-Palestinian conflict is arguably the most researched, publicized, and discussed intractable conflict in history. The purpose of this paper is to first examine the foundation of that intractable conflict through the lens of Bar-Tal’s theory and apply it once more …