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Known as His : A study of self-image development in high school students at Mount Bethel Church following participation in a curriculum centered on discovering one’s God-given identity.
No full textThis project examined the impact that the internalization of one’s God-given identity could have on an adolescent’s image of self. Over the course of an eight-week period, eight middle- and high-school students were led through a class designed to explore various aspects of identity formation and the impact one’s identity can have on an individual’s perception of value and worth. The Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES) was administered pre-intervention to determine a baseline for students’ initial image of self. The same scale was administered post-intervention to gauge the impact of the class on the students’ individual and collective image(s) of self. A short answer, self-introductory question was also administered to the project’s participants both pre- and post-intervention to allow a more personal enhancement of the RSES’s numerical responses. The purpose of this project was to allow God’s voice, particularly as it relates to personal identity, to impact students’ understanding of who they are, and subsequently allow them to experience improvement in their overall sense of self
BEARdocs : a primer.
Get PDFWhat differentiates BEARdocs from the libraries' other digital platforms and collections? Who uses it? Why? Get answers to the questions you didn't know you had about Baylor's institutional repository, BEARdocs
The ethics and grief of death and dying : an exploration of words in art.
No full textThis thesis explores grief and death through the integration of visual art and literary reflection. Developed over two years, the project investigates how different types of death—sudden, prolonged, voluntary, and natural at life’s end—shape the grieving process. Each visual work is composed of hand-inscribed text drawn from theology, philosophy, poetry, and medical writing, forming human figures and landscapes through layered language. The method emphasizes repetition and density as a means of embodying grief, offering viewers a space for contemplation rather than resolution. Rather than illustrating answers, the work evokes questions about autonomy, memory, suffering, and the possibility of meaning in loss. Grounded in personal experience, this thesis reflects a sustained effort to confront the ethical, emotional, and spiritual dimensions of death. The result is a deeply vulnerable invitation into the artist’s own grief and the feelings he wishes to evoke with his artwork
Flourishing in healthcare : a three-dimensional model of formation for healthcare leaders and their teams.
No full textHealthcare professionals are experiencing high levels of stress, burnout, and overwhelm. Research shows that enhancing workplace spirituality can improve workers’ well-being. The project introduced Flourishing in Healthcare as an intentional formation intervention designed to specifically address the spiritual, emotional, and social well-being of healthcare professionals while they are at work. The intervention integrates a three-dimensional model into the healthcare team’s daily life over a twelve-week period. The three dimensions of relationship to self, spirituality, and community are infused into four key elements of Flourishing in Healthcare: reflections, pastoral presence, retreats, and service.
The three-dimensional model was created after researching biblical and theological teachings and themes, current Christian formation practices, and seeking the guidance of the Spirit. The intervention’s goal was to promote growth and transformation in each dimension, resulting in flourishing not only of individual persons but also of whole teams. Three healthcare units received the intervention for a period of twelve weeks, facilitated by the spiritual leaders of the organization. Following the twelve-week
testing period, the study assessed the impact of the formation model through surveys and interviews. Participants’ responses generated significant data, both quantitative and qualitative, that confirm the prevalence of stress and burnout in healthcare professionals and the model’s positive impact on flourishing. Flourishing was measured through impact on spiritual and emotional well-being, sense of calling, and fulfillment in work. Additionally, the study measured the impact of the intervention upon each dimension of self, spirituality, and community.
Overall, the study yielded high mean scores throughout all categories, indicating a positive correlation between the intervention and positive levels of flourishing. Moreover, the study demonstrated that cultivating flourishing in healthcare professionals can have a positive impact on the overall culture of the organization. The study revealed a positive correlation between the intervention and healthcare professionals’ connection to the organization’s mission and values, while also highlighting the effectiveness of retreats and service opportunities as a means of formation. Finally, the study demonstrated the value of embedding spiritual caregivers into healthcare units as a proactive approach to worker well-being
Cultivating inter-cultural unity and collaborative ministry among diverse congregations at Prairie Creek Baptist Church in Plano, Texas.
No full textThis Doctor of Ministry project examines how a biblically grounded and practically tested model can cultivate intercultural unity and collaborative ministry among the five culturally distinct congregations of Prairie Creek Baptist Church in Plano, Texas. Drawing from Genesis 1:26-27, John 17, Acts 15, Romans 14, 1 Corinthians 12, and Ephesians 2, the project articulates a theological framework for unity in diversity rooted in the doctrine of the imago Dei, the reconciling mission of God, and the shared identity of believers in Christ. The intervention consisted of six weekly sessions involving seventeen participants from English, Spanish, Kinyarwanda, Brazilian, and African American congregations. Each session combined biblical teaching with guided intercultural dialogue. A mixed-methods research design was employed, using pre- and post-surveys to measure quantitative growth and open-ended descriptive questions to gather qualitative insights. Results demonstrated significant gains in participants’ theological understanding, cultural awareness, and ability to apply biblical principles to their congregational contexts. Thematic analysis revealed increased appreciation for diverse cultural perspectives, recognition of relational and systemic barriers to unity, and a renewed commitment to Spirit-led collaboration in ministry. This study concludes that intentional theological instruction, paired with relational engagement, can meaningfully strengthen unity and cooperation among diverse congregations. The model developed through this project offers a replicable resource for churches seeking to embody the gospel’s reconciling power in an increasingly multicultural society
Assessing surface and groundwater interactions between the middle Brazos River Alluvium Aquifer and the Brazos River.
No full textThe Brazos River Alluvium Aquifer (BRAA) is a vital source of water in Central Texas, primarily used for irrigation. The BRAA and the overlying Brazos River are connected; however, their interaction is not well understood and often overgeneralized. This study seeks to clarify aspects of surface water groundwater (SW/GW) interactions in the middle segment of the BRAA. Regional modeling of the BRAA has been guided by the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB); however, current models have not accounted for the aquifer heterogeneity and/or included the variability of SW/GW interactions. This study uses original data in the context of historical data to better define hydrogeologic gradients, chemical composition, and flow variation in the middle segment of the BRAA. Results show a generalized hydrogeologic gradient from the BRAA to the Brazos River with temporary reversals, near the river, during periods of increased river discharge and higher channel water levels
Fixing cracks in the US health system : addressing inefficiency and inequality with technology and transparency.
No full textThe United States (U.S.) healthcare system is the most expensive among developed countries, yet it faces persistent challenges. Primary issues include rising costs, inefficiencies, limited access to care, and pockets of poor-quality outcomes. This dissertation examines some critical cracks in the system and specifically evaluates the misuse of emergency room (ER) services for nonemergency matters, substantial pricing disparities among healthcare insurance companies and healthcare providers, and primary care shortages.
The first chapter leverages a dataset of approximately 60 million ER outpatient visits in Texas from 2017 to 2022 to explore how many visits to the ER appear to be non-emergencies. A conservative definition of a nonemergency visit is taken by only considering patient visits to the ER for which the only procedure recorded for the visit is a consultation with a clinician. The COVID-19 pandemic is used as a natural experiment to analyze behavior shifts.
The second chapter studies the lack of standardized pricing in healthcare, focusing on the variation in payments both across different providers for the same procedure and across different insurers for the same provider and procedure. Approximately 147 trillion data records of price information are collected to perform this analysis finding that larger healthcare provider practice sizes are associated with higher prices; providers in areas with poor population health tend to receive lower prices; higher quality services leads to higher prices; and prices are lower for healthcare providers where health insurance companies have strong market share.
The third chapter addresses the shortage of primary care providers in the nation and investigates how technology can help tighten the gap between high demand and insufficient supply of primary care. Technologies such as telehealth and AI-powered virtual assistants appear to expand the supply of primary care without having to add more physicians.
This dissertation offers a comprehensive view of some systemic weaknesses in U.S. healthcare and suggests solutions. It draws on significant data sets including some complete populations rather than samples and includes a large variety of tests combined to logically reach evidence-based conclusions aimed at improving efficiency, financial sustainability, and healthcare equity across the nation
How executives describe empowering employees during corporate change : a multiple case study.
No full textThis study explored how corporate leaders who led companies through change described the strategies they believed successfully empowered employees through the transition. While corporate change must occur for organizations to remain viable, employee disengagement as a result of change can hamper or counteract any positive effects of that change. If employee anxiety goes unmitigated, employees may become disengaged and decide to depart the company, which can cause gaps in business continuity. I conducted a qualitative multiple case study to identify how corporate leaders who led companies through change described the strategies they believed successfully empowered employees through the transition. I selected empowerment theory (Zimmerman, 1995) as the theoretical framework for the study. Data sources included questionnaires, interviews, and resumes. I collected questionnaires from corporate leaders who led change in their organizations within the last 10 years. From the respondents, I purposefully selected five participants who led change at a company for which they no longer worked, and who considered the change successful. I then conducted a semi-structured interview with each participant and collected their resume. I uncovered six themes, which became the study's findings. The first theme is that corporate leader participants communicated transparently with a clear future vision to empower employees. Second, corporate leader participants enacted a variety of employee engagement activities to empower employees. Third, corporate leader participants supported the company's top leaders to enact change and empower employees. Fourth, after implementing processes to empower employees, corporate leader participants perceived success of the business change. Fifth, after implementing processes to empower employees, corporate leader participants observed what they described as strong leadership in the face of change. Sixth, after implementing processes to empower employees, corporate leader participants observed what they described as anecdotal and measurable improvements in employee engagement. This research adds to the literature in the change management field related to empowering employees during change. The study has implications for chief executive officers, communications leaders, and human resources leaders who are preparing for or managing company change
Special education teachers’ perspectives on compassion fatigue : a qualitative single case study of its impact on career decisions.
No full textThe need for highly qualified teachers with specialized training, such as special education, continues to increase in the United States. An alarming number of special education teachers consider leaving the profession due to their experience with compassion fatigue, a form of emotional stress, and overwhelming work demands (Hoffman et al., 2007). To address the concern of special education teachers’ attrition, Hoffman et al. (2007) recommended further study of the effects of compassion fatigue on special education teachers.
The purpose of this qualitative single case study of four special education teachers with experiences of compassion fatigue from teaching students with special needs and trauma was to determine if their experiences played a role in their career decisions. This study, guided by the compassion fatigue theoretical framework (Figley, 1995), used data from semi-structured interviews and open-ended questionnaires to gather descriptions of special educators’ lived experiences of teaching and supporting students with special needs and trauma that may have contributed to their experiences of compassion fatigue.
The study identified three key findings regarding special education teachers’ experiences of compassion fatigue and its impact on their career decisions. First, chronic exposure to students’ trauma manifestations, such as behavioral outbursts and learning difficulties, significantly contributes to teachers’ compassion fatigue. Second, despite their compassion fatigue experiences, teachers consistently demonstrate deep empathy by creating emotionally safe spaces and fostering trusting relationships with their students. Third, the emotional demands of supporting traumatized students lead to residual compassion stress, negatively affecting teachers’ well-being and social lives, which often causes them to question whether to stay in or leave the special education profession.
The data and findings from this study benefit relevant actors, such as special education students and teachers, school district leaders, and school site administrators, by shaping better special education teacher experiences, which may help lower special education teacher attrition
Investigating the collateral outcomes of incentive-based contingency management within a juvenile justice population : a multimethod approach.
No full textJustice-involved youth have high rates of substance use problems but face significant barriers to accessing treatment. One of these barriers is the chronically low rates of caregiver involvement in programming and treatment delivered by juvenile probation departments. As such, there is a need to equip juvenile probation officers with effective interventions to address familial behaviors that may impact substance use and engagement in substance use treatment. Contingency management (CM) is an evidence-based treatment for treating substance use, and iterations that are family-driven show promise for use in juvenile justice settings. However, CM research has a narrowed focus on specific behavioral changes. Due to this, there is a lack of understanding of what changes outside the target behavior or collateral outcomes. Collateral outcomes are well-known in other evidence-based treatments and support their use and value. This mixed-methods study explored how caregivers who received a family-driven incentive-based CM intervention from juvenile probation officers experienced the intervention, including engagement in the target behavioral change, collateral outcomes, and general perceptions of the intervention. Results of qualitative interviews and quantitative surveys suggest that caregivers perceived themselves to engage in the target behavioral outcome of increasing their involvement in their adolescent’s life. There is also a suggestion that these caregivers experienced a range of positive and negative collateral outcomes, or extra changes, in their interpersonal relationships, perceptions of self, acquired skills, emotions, and satisfaction with treatment as a result of the intervention. The collateral outcomes have implications for disseminating incentive-based CM in juvenile justice settings