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Empirical Study of China’s Foreign Direct Investment in Sub-Saharan Africa
No full textIn recent years, China\u27s presence in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) has increased. The purpose of this quantitative study is to determine what explains the variation in China’s foreign direct investment (FDI) levels across SSA countries. This research examined how political stability, the Corruption Perceptions Index, natural resources, market size, and trade openness influence Chinese FDI inflows into Africa. The sample comprised 48 SSA countries, and a panel data set covering the period from 2003 to 2022 was used for analysis. The study adopted the international political economy (IPE) theory, which holds that international investment flows depend primarily on the quality of institutions, economic interdependence, domestic policy preferences, and the predictability of the investment environment. Descriptive statistics, including mean, standard deviation, maximum, and minimum, were used in conjunction with inferential statistics, such as regression analysis. Using a random-effects regression model based on the Hausman test, results generally showed that only market size had a significant positive effect on Chinese FDI inflows into Africa. Regionally, trade openness, political stability, natural resources, and corruption perception did not significantly influence Chinese FDI. Separate analyses at the subregional and country levels also indicated that market size does not significantly predict Chinese FDI. The study concludes with policy and research implications. It suggests that SSA countries can attract more Chinese FDI by streamlining bureaucratic procedures for business permits, ensuring economic stability, establishing a clear legal framework for investors, and promoting investment in local markets. For global powers like the US, which have strategic interests in SSA countries, countering Chinese dominance in Africa through FDI is crucial. This is especially important given China\u27s pursuit of global leadership, which could overshadow other critical issues such as political stability, corruption, and environmental concerns. The US should aim to increase private-sector investment by shifting its focus from primarily government-funded infrastructure projects to creating conditions that attract more U.S. private-sector investments, with an emphasis on long-term development. The US should also involve SSA countries in key policy issues such as security, terrorism, and geopolitical interests, so that SSA countries align more closely with the United States rather than with China and consider Russia\u27s recent presence in Africa
Perspectives on Healthy Romantic Relationships in the Black Youth Community
No full textThe perceptions of what constitutes a healthy romantic relationship impact relationship choice that, when unhealthy, has long term effects on mental and emotional wellbeing. This qualitative study explored how African American/Black adolescents ages 18–19 define, perceive, and experience healthy romantic relationships. Using focus group methodology, the study addressed four research questions concerning (1) definitions and perceptions of healthy romantic relationships, (2) influences on relationship beliefs, (3) essential components for maintaining relationship health, and (4) lived experiences with healthy romantic relationships. We conducted two focus groups in which data saturation was reached when no new codes, conceptual insights, or themes emerged after the second group. Findings were analyzed using thematic analysis. Participants identified communication, trust, emotional safety, respect, and individuality as foundational elements of healthy relationships. Their beliefs were influenced by family modeling, peer norms, social media representations, and personal values such as faith. Adolescents emphasized boundaries, emotional regulation, shared goals, and mutual effort as essential for sustaining healthy relationships. Lived experiences revealed challenges such as communication difficulties, long-distance strain, and navigating generational patterns, while also highlighting resilience and a desire to break unhealthy relationship cycles. This study contributes to a deeper understanding of Black adolescents’ relationship development and offers implications for culturally responsive relationship education, family and community-based prevention and interventions, and media literacy initiative
More Than Mere Semantics: Why Virginia Cannot Force Preferred- Pronoun Mandates on Public School Teachers Under Virginia’s Religious Freedom Restoration Act
No full textRight now, school administrators and jurists across the nation are wondering how to address the legal implications of the transgender movement in public schools. In response, many public schools have adopted policies requiring teachers to identify transgender students by their preferred pronouns. These preferred-pronoun mandates have created face-offs between the personal preferences of transgender students and the religious tenets of teachers. As a result, school officials and courts around the United States find themselves wedged between this clash.
Unfortunately, the tension is often resolved at the teachers’ expense. But what are the consequences? Homogenization of thought and belief among public school educators will slowly spread, diverse perspectives will be stripped from our children, and qualified educators will be banished from the classroom.
Thus, the million-dollar question is whether public school teachers must comply with preferred-pronoun mandates when they violate teachers’ religious beliefs and practices. Thankfully, the Virginia legislature resolved this issue with the Virginia Religious Freedom Restoration Act (VRFRA). The VRFRA is a statute that codifies strict scrutiny analysis for state action that substantially burdens the free exercise of religion. The Virginia legislature enacted the VRFRA in the wake of Employment Division, Department of Human Resources of Oregon v. Smith as a strong message that Virginia protects the religious beliefs and practices of its citizens.
This Note uses Vlaming v. West Point School Board as a launchpad for analyzing the VRFRA because Vlaming presents the typical scenario that many public school officials find themselves in. Without reaching the merits, the Supreme Court of Virginia held that the VRFRA challenge to the preferred-pronoun mandate in Vlaming was a legally cognizable claim. In other words, a VRFRA challenge to a preferred-pronoun mandate is legally legitimate enough for judicial consideration.
This Note picks up where the Supreme Court of Virginia left off by analyzing the merits of Mr. Vlaming’s VRFRA claim through Justice Antonin Scalia’s textualist perspective. As a result, this Note proves that the VRFRA prevents public schools from forcing preferred-pronoun mandates on public school teachers when they substantially burden the teachers’ freedom to exercise religion. We must not strike the very hands that educate our students
Treasures in the Telling: Reimagining the Stories of Anna, Hagar, Tamar, and Naomi
No full textThis thesis explores the spiritual, theological, and narrative significance of marginalized women in Scripture through a hybrid work of biblical fiction and literary analysis. Through creative re- imagining and scholarly engagement, this project centers on four biblical women—Anna, Hagar, Tamar, and Naomi—whose lives reflect faithful endurance, divine recognition, courageous agency, and redemptive suffering. Using third-person limited narration, historical realism, and spiritual imagination, the creative manuscript gives voice to women whose stories are often reduced to brief biblical mentions, revealing their interior lives, emotional depth, and theological weight. The accompanying critical analysis examines how biblical fiction can function as a form of theological storytelling, drawing upon narrative criticism, feminist biblical scholarship, and literary theory. Writers and scholars such as Phyllis Trible, Tikva Frymer-Kensky, Carol Meyers, Robert Alter, and Craig S. Keener inform the project’s interpretive framework. Each fictional portrait remains anchored in historical-biblical context while expanding the emotional and spiritual dimensions of the text through faithful imagination. Anna represents the theology of waiting and recognition, Hagar embodies divine sight toward the oppressed, Tamar reveals justice through courageous disruption, and Naomi illustrates grief transformed into generational redemption. Together, these women trace a unified narrative of God’s faithfulness to those living at the margins of power and history. The creative work culminates in devotional reflections that connect ancient experiences of suffering, hope, and restoration to contemporary faith formation
Black Girl Magic is Real
No full textThis thesis began with an inquiry into the state of representation of Black women authors within the fantasy fiction genre. The artist statement delves into the development of a fantasy story with a Black young woman protagonist written by a Black woman. The story serves as a vehicle for the author to continue the authorial legacy begun by Black women authors decades before. The critical research paper operates as a literature review of five books within the fantasy fiction genre, written by Black women. It discusses the themes of: the connection between race and the narrative, race and the magic system, and common personality traits seen among the protagonists. Finally, an example of Black women characters being written by a Black woman author can be seen in the creative manuscript, The Sharpness of Grass
Examining the Intergenerational and Transgenerational Impact of Military-Related Posttraumatic Stress Disorder on Academic Success in College Students in the United States
No full textMilitary families and caregivers have unique experiences with their service member which can both enhance and challenge their daily lives. The purpose of this dissertation was to examine the transgenerational and intergenerational impact of military-related posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) on academic success in college students in the United States. This non-experimental, quantitative research design utilized both descriptive and correlational data analysis. Self-report measures and grade point average (GPA) provided the data from a total of 67 participants, as determined by an a priori analysis, for the results and subsequent discussion sections. Participants were recruited through a variety of sources using snowballing and purposive sampling methods. The literature review highlights some of the considerations between people with a close relationship with a service member with PTSD. As of the writing of this dissertation, the targeted population was innovative because there was no known research that examined the collegiate academic success of caregivers with respect to their relationship with their service member with military-related PTSD. The college students of interest for this study included spouses, adult children, parents, friends, siblings, or other significant people who identify as caregivers to a service member with military-related PTSD. The implications of this study were intended to enhance the lives of this population by acknowledging the impact of this relationship on their academic success and offering a way forward to implement supports that may be beneficial to future college students from this population
Evaluating Theories on End-of-Life Dreams and Visions with Similar Phenomena in Trauma-Related Populations
No full textA grounded theory approach was used to conduct a study on participants (N=24) who were veterans with trauma-related dreams or who had a near-death experience. Research questions were designed to qualitatively examine the lived experiences of dreams and visions in a non-end-of-life setting. This allowed the data to give greater insight into the end-of-life phenomenon and deepen the body of knowledge on dreams and visions in general. A survey consisting of the PTGI-SF, LuCiD, NExS, and the Greyson NDE, along with open-ended survey questions designed to record dream narratives for a thematic analysis, was used. The dream narratives were coded using the Zurich dream process coding system, following the grounded theory model. The codes revealed themes, and these were compared to existing end of life and biblical dream themes. In the analysis of ELDV themes, there were 25 of the 36 themes represented and 13 of 16 of the Biblical dream themes. Themes were found to concentrate as well as saturate at different PTGI-SF scores, supporting that themes within a dream may relate to post traumatic growth. The sample size as well as limitations in the range of PTGI-SF scores, limit the findings and ability to read across to larger populations
Cattle Drives to Coal Cars: Norfolk & Western and the New South Industrialization of Tazewell County, Virginia, 1880-1930
No full textAddressing the impact of the New South gospel of industrialization on Tazewell County, Virginia, this research seeks to examine the county’s shift from a primarily agricultural, barter economy prior to 1880 to one of both industry and agriculture by 1930. It traces Virginia’s early railroads and coal mines, following the creation and collapse of the Atlantic, Mississippi & Ohio Railroad and subsequent birth of the Norfolk & Western Railroad, and details early geographic studies indicating the presence of coal in Southwest Virginia’s mountains. Tazewell County became the gateway to the rich Pocahontas coal fields of West Virginia with the boom town of Pocahontas, and the construction of the Norfolk & Western’s Clinch Valley Division connected the line with western markets while also opening Tazewell County’s possibilities for growth and industry. Towns such as Pocahontas, Bluefield, Graham, and Richlands were birthed out of this growth, while the county seat of Tazewell – originally called Jeffersonville – benefitted from the presence of the railroad as well. By the end of industrialization, however, Tazewell County still retained its agricultural roots while also featuring successful coal mines
Understanding the Mindset of Jamaican Teachers Regarding the Integration of Technology in the Pedagogical Process: A Qualitative Transcendental Phenomenological Study
No full textThe purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to understand the mindset of teachers regarding embracing technology in selected rural elementary schools in Jamaica. The theories guiding this study were Dweck’s growth mindset theory and Davis’s technology acceptance model (TAM) as they both speak directly to the two main concepts in the study: mindset and embracing technology. The study sought to respond to the following central research question: What are rural Jamaican teachers\u27 experiences with technology integration at the primary school level? To gather quality and credible information, three main data collection tools were utilized to execute this study. These were interviews, surveys, and letter writing. After the study, the data were analyzed using thematic analysis through open and axial coding. Critical processes were followed to include member checking and thorough analysis of recurring themes. There were no outlier themes that were discovered during the analysis phase. The results of the study revealed that technology is beneficial to the pedagogical process, but there needs to be proper implementation and professional development training to engender appropriate use
The Role of Social Media Criticism in Shaping the Self-Perception and Professional Identity of Female Sports Journalists
No full textThis research explored the types of criticisms female sports journalists receive on social media and the impacts these criticisms have on self-perception and professional identity through an emergent, qualitative research design. This research used the communication theory of identity as the theoretical framework. This dissertation aimed to explore the lived experiences of female sports journalists. The study included 23 semi-structured interviews with female sports journalists who covered football, baseball, or basketball and had an active X account. The experiences of the women were used to conduct a thematic analysis that discovered primary themes related to types of criticisms (gender, appearance, knowledge, team-related, performance), impact of self-perception (hurtful, indifferent, motivation for change), and impact on professional identity (second-guessing work, motivation to work harder, moving away from X, unconcerned). The findings of this study created a more holistic understanding of the criticisms female sports journalists receive and provided preliminary research into the impact of these criticisms