Social and Behavioral Sciences | Open Access Articles

Why So Many Dashboards? Unlocking The Power Of Data Dashboards, Jeff Armitage

CPAR Presents: A Data and Research Series for Community Impact

What is Nebraska Public Health Atlas Our Journey • Why data dashboards • Determining what to report in dashboards • Our lessons learned

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Bon Voyage … Again: Cedarville Study Abroad Students Return To The Uk, Mark D. Weinstein

News Releases

Four months in Oxford, England, just wasn’t enough for four 2023 Cedarville University graduates, all of whom will be returning to the United Kingdom this fall to begin graduate education at St. Andrews, Glasgow and Oxford Universities.

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Spartan Daily, August 24, 2023, San Jose State University, School Of Journalism And Mass Communications

Spartan Daily, 2023

Volume 161, Issue 03

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A Phenomenological Study Of Central Texas Caregivers’ Experiences In Relation To Stress And Coping Mechanisms, Becky D'Ann Olson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Long-term, publicly funded caregiver services in Texas have always focused on institution-based care, although informal caregiving makes up 8% of the country’s long-term care. Informal caregivers provide care to their loved ones who demand support due to illness, disability, or frailty. Taking care of one’s loved ones or family members is rewarding and demanding. Consequently, informal caregivers are known to encounter negative and positive psychological health effects and, therefore, should be provided with appropriate support. This is contributed by the fact many times, informal caregiving is unpaid, mentally and physically demanding, and often performed by individuals who are balancing their …

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Exploring Unknown Patterns Of Criminality In Homicide: A Quantitative Exploratory Analysis Of Crime In Macon-Bibb County, Santel Dion Smith

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The phenomenon of violent crime and homicide has largely been of interest to criminologists and sociologists for years, with correlating implications on the socioeconomic, sociocultural, and political landscape. Over the past two years in the United States, there has been a significant surge in both violent crime and homicide in the country, prompting calls for policy action to mitigate the impacts on vulnerable populations. In Macon, a similar upward trend in violent crime and homicide has emerged, even exceeding the average violent crime rate recorded nationwide (Stebbins, 2021). Despite the rising crime rates, there is a scarcity of literature on …

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A Stewardship Curriculum To Promote Financial Independence: Congregants Of Sbc Depend On The Church For Financial Support, Davon Simpson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This thesis project investigates the congregation of Second Baptist Church of Selma, Alabama, and their dependency upon the church for financial support. The thesis presupposes biblical illiteracy on stewardship as the hinderance for congregants of Second Baptist Church in obtaining financial independence. This project will launch a research study of the congregants of Second Baptist Church using a triangulated approach evaluating the knowledge of participants from the congregation in comparison to the stewardship curriculum. The research method includes surveys, one-on-one interviews, and small focus groups as tools to investigate the problem. This design proposes that when the curriculum is implemented …

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A Case Study On How Hbcus Use Social Media To Reduce Uncertainty Of Covid-19, Kelsey Anne-Gabrielle Armstrong

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This case study aims to understand how HBCUs use social media to deliver crisis communication messages to students about COVID-19 and how the HBCU culture impacts student perspectives. The theory guiding this study is uncertainty reduction theory (Berger & Calabrese, 1974), as it explains the communication strategies used to reduce uncertainty during a crisis. Data collection was conducted using semi-structured interviews and content analysis. Data analysis strategies included deductive and inductive coding and directed content analysis. The study results provide insight into how the HBCU culture impacts the perspective of an HBCUs response to COVID-19 and overall crisis communication messaging …

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Male Domestic Violence Offenders' Experiences In A Batterer Intervention Program: A Case Study Of One Batterer Intervention Program In Central Indiana, Katrina A. Thomas

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Domestic violence is a significant concern in the United States. Twenty people per minute are physically abused by an intimate partner (National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, 2020b). In Indiana, 42.5% of women experience intimate partner physical or sexual violence or intimate partner stalking in their lifetimes (National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, 2020a). Perpetrators of domestic violence are often mandated to attend batterer intervention classes. Effective batterer intervention programs are essential to victim safety and decrease the likelihood that the perpetrator will engage in domestic violence behaviors in the future. However, the effectiveness of existing batterer intervention programs may not be …

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Software Testing: How To Design A Software Testing Process For Everyone, Wilhelmina Randtke

Library Faculty Presentations

Software testing is about making sure software does what it's supposed to do, and doesn't do anything extra or different. Most academic presentations about software testing are done by people with large complicated projects. Those are the leaders. Many libraries use "shelf ready" software, including open source, to accomplish important work, and do not contribute code or do extensive customization to the software platforms they use. In fact, the ability to grab a piece of software and implement it without spending a lot of time, is part of what makes great software. Great software can be reused and shared without …

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Recentering Psych Stats, Lynette Bikos

Faculty Open Access Books

To center a variable in regression means to set its value at zero and interpret all other values in relation to this reference point. Regarding race and gender, researchers often center male and White at zero. Further, it is typical that research vignettes in statistics textbooks are similarly seated in a White, Western (frequently U.S.), heteronormative, framework. ReCentering Psych Stats seeks to provide statistics training for psychology students (undergraduate, graduate, and post-doctoral) in a socially and culturally responsive way. All lessons use the open-source statistics program, R (and its associated packages). Each chapter includes a screencast lesson, features a workflow …

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Somatic Experience Treatment Techniques For Trauma Symptoms: A Qualitative Case Study, Ashley Marie Schlief

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative case study is to provide insight into somatic Experience techniques used while treating clients who suffer from trauma symptoms. Somatic therapeutic techniques improve trauma victims’ negative body and mind symptoms. The use of somatic theory to treat psychological and physical trauma is a relatively new concept within the field of clinical mental health counseling. Somatic therapies are a body-oriented approach that releases restricted trauma emotions by addressing the response communication that continually runs between the mind and the body. For example, bodily therapists use mind-body techniques to release the suppressed tension that negatively influences an …

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Perceived Differences Between Religious And Corporate Leaders In Terms Of Modes Of Power, Self-Efficacy, And Self-Leadership, Martin Wesley Kaufmann

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

According to Martin Luther’s doctrine of vocation, although the church is not a business, leaders require spiritual wisdom that is likened to Jesus’ parable about counting the cost before building a tower (Button, 2016). This strongly implies that church leaders can improve the vocational efficacy of the institution by utilizing sustainable organizational models that are embodied in the constructs of self-leadership, modes of power, and self-efficacy. The purpose of this quantitative comparative study was to examine the difference between religious leaders and corporate leaders in terms of modes of power, self-efficacy, and self-leadership, as perceived by members of Northwest protestant …

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Restrictive Practices: The Impact Of Seclusion And Restraint Events On Inpatient Staff In Psychiatric Facilities, Anne C. Lotierzo

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative descriptive phenomenological study was to explore how staff cope with the experience of SR events at designated receiving facilities within Florida. By examining the experience of staff, the researcher aimed to understand the impact of those experiences on their attitudes toward SR, their use and knowledge of alternatives, and the factors that contribute to the decision to implement SR in the inpatient psychiatric environment. The research question explored how psychiatric staff describe their lived experiences in SR events within a designated Baker Act receiving facility. Participants were staff employed at Baker Act receiving facilities in …

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Preparing Church Counselors For Obsessive Morbid Jealousy, David M. Reinhardt

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This research addressed the problem of the lack of training in pastoral counselors in the Iglesia Bíblica Bautista de Iquique, Chile, to help wives and their families suffering suspicious jealousy due to childhood traumas. This DMIN action research project trained pastoral counselors to connect childhood trauma to wives suffering suspicious jealousy. There are two stages of this action research; the first is to establish the connection of obsessive morbid jealousy (OMJ) to adverse childhood experiences (ACEs). The second is to prepare pastors and counselors to recognize the symptoms and causes of obsessive morbid jealousy and to have a clear strategy …

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Knowing Me, Knowing Them: Using Penned Illustrations With Known Participants, Lewis Barrett-Rodger, Sally Goldspink, Hilary Engward

The Qualitative Report

In practice-based studies, participants are often known to the researcher as part of their professional realm. This can result in the researcher bringing preconceptions of the participants to the study, which may influence the findings. In this paper, we demonstrate how researchers can utilise reflexivity and imaginative curiosity to expose often unconsidered presuppositions about such participants using penned illustrations. We suggest that penned illustrations of known participants should be undertaken to unpack preconceptions of the known participants creatively and imaginatively. This paper provides an applied demonstration of how penned illustrations can be used in a hermeneutic phenomenological study, along with …

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The Relationships Among Number Of Service Member Deployments And Spousal Depression And Parental Attachment, Julia A. Priftis

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This research examined the relationship between the number of deployments and depression in military spouses, focusing on the correlations among service members' deployments, spousal mental health, and parenting attachment. A quantitative correlational study was conducted using 78 participants, of whom only 19 were veterans and 59 were spouses with no military background. The Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and the Protective Factors Survey (PFS) were used. It was found that military deployments do not negatively associate with parental attachment and spousal depression. It was found that military spouses who experience multiple deployments have less chance of experiencing depression and that deployment …

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Black Teacher Recruitment And Retention In Rural Areas Of Southeastern North Carolina, Angelina Latrice Cobb

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore teacher recruitment and retention practices for Black educators in rural counties in Southeastern North Carolina. The theories that guided this study are John Ogbu’s cultural-ecological theory of minority school performance, and Richard Valencia’s deficit thinking theory. The research question that supported this study was: What are the lived experiences of recruitment and retention initiatives for Black teachers in rural Southeastern North Carolina? The study design was a descriptive study that utilized the sample of Black educators in rural Southeastern North Carolina. There was a total of 10 teacher participants in this …

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Sticks And Stones May Break My Bones But Words Will Never Hurt Me...Until I See Them: A Qualitative Content Analysis Of Trolls In Relation To The Gricean Maxims And (Im)Polite Virtual Speech Acts, Angelika C. Smith-Jones

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The troll is one of the most obtrusive and disruptive bad actors on the internet. Unlike other bad actors, the troll interacts on a more personal and intimate level with other internet users. Social media platforms, online communities, comment boards, and chatroom forums provide them with this opportunity. What distinguishes these social provocateurs from other bad actors are their virtual speech acts and online behaviors. These acts aim to incite anger, shame, or frustration in others through the weaponization of words, phrases, and other rhetoric. Online trolls come in all forms and use various speech tactics to insult and demean …

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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 …

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Understanding Recidivism: A Phenomenological Study Of Repeat Offenders' Lived Experiences Under Placer County, California Probation Supervision, Andrew Stephenson Beasley

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This transcendental phenomenological study aimed to explore the lived experiences of repeat offenders under probation supervision within Placer County, California. The hierarchy of needs theory provided the theoretical framework for the study. The central research question was: What are the lived experiences of the repeat offenders under Placer County, California probation supervision? The three guiding questions asked the following: 1) How do offenders describe their lived experiences as a repeat offender? 2) How do offenders describe the support or lack of support from correctional intervention? 3) How do participants perceive the challenges experienced after being released back to the community? …

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Exploring Factors For Employee Attrition And Retention By Life Stage, Robert Joshua Whitton

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The objective of this study was to evaluate if a relationship exists between factors for push (attrition) and pull (retention) and employee life stage. With job attrition rates increasing almost 10% in the last 10 years and employers paying $2.4 trillion in 2021 because of employee turnover, the need to understand what drives retention and attrition remains very real. A survey, containing a demographics section and items rated on a Thurstone-like scale, was administered to full-time employees in the United States. Four hundred and eighty participants responded to the survey, but after removing responses that were incomplete or were completed …

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Ink Therapy: The Use Of Tattoos By Male Survivors Of Sexual Trauma, Lisa M. Johnson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

With the advancement of the feminist movement, our society typically views the experience of sexual trauma as a female issue. The male perpetrator–female victim dyad is the most academically researched and socially recognized experience of sexual trauma. The continued focus on that dyad leaves the male experience of sexual trauma underrepresented in scholarly literature and socially misunderstood. When seeking post-trauma clinical treatment & social support, the shame and stigma associated with male rape myths may represent significant barriers. These barriers leave male survivors to exercise autonomy in finding effective means of identity reformation and coping. The purpose of this phenomenological …

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The Role Of Father Involvement In The Perceived Psychological Well-Being Of Young Adult Daughters With A Focus On Women Of Color, Diamond Sciequan

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The study of father involvement from the perspective of the daughter is a field rarely explored, especially from the perspective of young adult women of color. Fathers being more present in the lives of their children has changed the culture of society as more mothers are working outside of the home full-time. With fathers more involved in the rearing of children the questions of what impact do fathers if any have on their children compared to mothers. More importantly what do these children believe regarding their father’s impact on their lives as they reach adulthood The research field is saturated …

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The Paradoxical Effect Of National Diversity And Inclusion Management On Organizational Commitment, Clara Iyabo Stephens

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The United States demographic and workforce are increasingly becoming more diverse. However, the question remains of how the leaders within diverse organizations can consistently manage workforce interaction to attain employee commitment. This quantitative study examines the relational effect of diversity and inclusion management on organizational commitment. Data for this study was collected using the SurveyMonkey online identity anonymity survey weblink. Voluntary participants entered the online survey through an invitation link to the consent page, explained the study's purpose focus on Nigerian American Immigrants and relevant inclusion and exclusion criteria. Initial one hundred thirty-five responses, whereas one hundred and twenty met …

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Combat-Related Moral Injury And Religiosity, James A. Capobianco

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between combat-related moral injury and religiosity. This quantitative study relied on a convenience sample recruited from a 6,000-person database of veterans in upstate South Carolina. The participants were recruited via email invitation and screened for combat exposure and the presence of moral injury. Instrumentation consisted of the 45-item Moral Injury Symptom Scale-Miliary version (MISS-M) and the 15-item Centrality of Religiosity Scale. All participants were anonymous, and responses were given through self-report. Multiple linear regression was conducted on a sample of 119 combat veterans exploring the relationship between the MISS-M’s 10 …

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A Perfect Storm: Exploring The Impact Of The 2020 Sociopolitical Climate And Covid-19 On Police Attrition, Cullen Marshall Duncan

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The spring and summer of 2020 created new challenges, related to strain, for the law enforcement profession. These challenges were precipitated by the COVID-19 pandemic and the “defund the police movement.” The purpose of this study was three-fold: 1) to understand if the events of 2020 were responsible for increased police turnover, 2) to analyze retiree data pre- and post-spring of 2020, and 3) explore ways in which strain and turnover can be mitigated following critical events. The research design utilized in this study was a mixed method design. Bayesian modeling revealed support for the null hypotheses pertaining to the …

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The Word Made Digital: Leveraging Artificial Intelligence To Increase Bible Engagement, Henry Lee Jackson Iii

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this descriptive study was to understand whether a relationship exists between an individual's behavioral intention to use a Bible-based chatbot that leverages AI to create human-like engagement with Scripture and the constructs of performance expectancy, effort expectancy, perceived enjoyment, and perceived risk, controlling for gender, age, and experience among registered users of the Inductive Bible Study App. Data was collected through an online survey and analyzed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM), multi-group analysis (MGA), and homogeneity-of-slopes analysis of covariance (ANCOVA). While this quantitative descriptive study validated the correlation between each of the four reflective …

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Influence Of Athletic Participation On At-Risk Students: A Phenomenological Study, Jonathan Michael Lee

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this hermeneutic, phenomenological study was to understand the lived experiences of secondary athletic coaches concerning the influence of sports participation as part of an intervention strategy for at-risk students in a suburban school district in the southwest United States. The central research question was, what is the perceived influence participation in secondary sports programs has on at-risk students? The theories guiding this study are Bandura’s social cognitive theory and Vygotsky’s zone of proximal development theory, which explain changes in individuals resulting from environmental and mentor influences. This study used a questionnaire, individual interview, and a letter-writing prompt …

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Agents Of Redemptive Hope: Churches And Communities Addressing The Problem Of Anger And The African American Adolescent Male, Reginald M. Robbins

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Many African American adolescent males struggle with controlling their anger leading to abusive and addictive behaviors. The question is, should the Churches respond, and if so, how can they help? This paper argues that the Church must reach out with the compassion and healing message of the gospel to the at-risk young Black males who are having difficulty dealing with anger issues to ensure a positive future for the next generation of strong and stable Black men.

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Biblical Leadership: Combatting Authoritarianism, Katherine M. Inman

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The radio station in Oil City, Pa became a non-existent entity when the owner sold the organization. This caused dissatisfaction among many members of the community, as well as resentment among former employees. Understanding the leadership's impact provides insight into the radio station's potential sustainability or inevitable failure. This phenomenological study allows for a focus on the events surrounding the radio station's sale, which sheds light on the leadership style used by the radio station's most recent owner. Each interviewee offers a unique perspective, including information about the events that led up to the radio station's sale. The study of …

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Full-Text Articles in Social and Behavioral Sciences

Why So Many Dashboards? Unlocking The Power Of Data Dashboards, Jeff Armitage

CPAR Presents: A Data and Research Series for Community Impact

Bon Voyage … Again: Cedarville Study Abroad Students Return To The Uk, Mark D. Weinstein

News Releases

Spartan Daily, August 24, 2023, San Jose State University, School Of Journalism And Mass Communications

Spartan Daily, 2023

A Phenomenological Study Of Central Texas Caregivers’ Experiences In Relation To Stress And Coping Mechanisms, Becky D'Ann Olson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Exploring Unknown Patterns Of Criminality In Homicide: A Quantitative Exploratory Analysis Of Crime In Macon-Bibb County, Santel Dion Smith

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

A Stewardship Curriculum To Promote Financial Independence: Congregants Of Sbc Depend On The Church For Financial Support, Davon Simpson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

A Case Study On How Hbcus Use Social Media To Reduce Uncertainty Of Covid-19, Kelsey Anne-Gabrielle Armstrong

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Male Domestic Violence Offenders' Experiences In A Batterer Intervention Program: A Case Study Of One Batterer Intervention Program In Central Indiana, Katrina A. Thomas

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Software Testing: How To Design A Software Testing Process For Everyone, Wilhelmina Randtke

Library Faculty Presentations

Recentering Psych Stats, Lynette Bikos

Faculty Open Access Books

Somatic Experience Treatment Techniques For Trauma Symptoms: A Qualitative Case Study, Ashley Marie Schlief

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Perceived Differences Between Religious And Corporate Leaders In Terms Of Modes Of Power, Self-Efficacy, And Self-Leadership, Martin Wesley Kaufmann

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Restrictive Practices: The Impact Of Seclusion And Restraint Events On Inpatient Staff In Psychiatric Facilities, Anne C. Lotierzo

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Preparing Church Counselors For Obsessive Morbid Jealousy, David M. Reinhardt

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Knowing Me, Knowing Them: Using Penned Illustrations With Known Participants, Lewis Barrett-Rodger, Sally Goldspink, Hilary Engward

The Qualitative Report

The Relationships Among Number Of Service Member Deployments And Spousal Depression And Parental Attachment, Julia A. Priftis

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Black Teacher Recruitment And Retention In Rural Areas Of Southeastern North Carolina, Angelina Latrice Cobb

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Sticks And Stones May Break My Bones But Words Will Never Hurt Me...Until I See Them: A Qualitative Content Analysis Of Trolls In Relation To The Gricean Maxims And (Im)Polite Virtual Speech Acts, Angelika C. Smith-Jones

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

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

Understanding Recidivism: A Phenomenological Study Of Repeat Offenders' Lived Experiences Under Placer County, California Probation Supervision, Andrew Stephenson Beasley

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Exploring Factors For Employee Attrition And Retention By Life Stage, Robert Joshua Whitton

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Ink Therapy: The Use Of Tattoos By Male Survivors Of Sexual Trauma, Lisa M. Johnson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The Role Of Father Involvement In The Perceived Psychological Well-Being Of Young Adult Daughters With A Focus On Women Of Color, Diamond Sciequan

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The Paradoxical Effect Of National Diversity And Inclusion Management On Organizational Commitment, Clara Iyabo Stephens

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Combat-Related Moral Injury And Religiosity, James A. Capobianco

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

A Perfect Storm: Exploring The Impact Of The 2020 Sociopolitical Climate And Covid-19 On Police Attrition, Cullen Marshall Duncan

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The Word Made Digital: Leveraging Artificial Intelligence To Increase Bible Engagement, Henry Lee Jackson Iii

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Influence Of Athletic Participation On At-Risk Students: A Phenomenological Study, Jonathan Michael Lee

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Agents Of Redemptive Hope: Churches And Communities Addressing The Problem Of Anger And The African American Adolescent Male, Reginald M. Robbins

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Biblical Leadership: Combatting Authoritarianism, Katherine M. Inman

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects