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The Impact of Digital Communications and Social Media on Government Officials and the Political Sphere: A Case Study of the Arab Spring Revolutions
Get PDFThis study investigates the dual role of social media as both a tool for political mobilization and a mechanism for government surveillance during the Arab Spring. Through in-depth qualitative interviews with 22 government officials from various Middle Eastern and North African countries, the research explores how social media influenced internal decision-making processes and external governmental responses during the uprisings. Employing the theory of structuration and the sociocultural tradition as its theoretical frameworks, the study uncovers the profound impact of social media on state power and public activism. Thematic analysis reveals several key themes, including the rapid adaptation of governmental strategies, the role of social media in crisis management, and the challenges of combating misinformation. While social media empowered citizens to mobilize, it also forced governments to adjust traditional governance structures, leading to greater transparency, surveillance, and real-time public engagement. The findings highlight the complexities of governance in the digital era, offering critical insights for scholars, policymakers, and activists engaged in political communication and digital governance
Motivating Remote Working Employees
Get PDFThe purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to explore how remote employees who have previously worked in-person describe their lived and perceived experience with motivation in remote working environments. Participants completed the Work Extrinsic and Intrinsic Motivation Scale (WEIMS), which measures degrees of work-related motivation among employees focusing on traits that signify each worker’s intrinsically or extrinsically motivated nature. Through in-depth interviews with 30 participants, this research examined how remote workers are motivated in remote work settings, which factors increase or decrease motivation, and how leaders can influence the motivation levels of their employees. The interviews were conducted online, recorded (audio and video), and transcribed within the Zoom video conferencing application. Data was analyzed, codes were established, and themes were identified. The in-depth analysis of interview data revealed five major themes of remote working employees: autonomy, connection, productivity, well-being, and structure. Further analysis uncovered that intrinsically motivated individuals thrive on self-discipline, flexibility, and agency as they set clear goals, while extrinsically motivated employees rely on structured oversight, external recognition, and performance-based incentives. Implications reveal that organizations must adapt their management practices to effectively support both intrinsically and extrinsically motivated remote workers, if they want to induce higher levels of engagement productivity by their remote workforce. While there may not exist a silver bullet or a one-size-fits-all option, leaders can adapt to identify their remote worker characteristics to establish the specific working ecosystems to maximize business success. Future research should address current limitations while exploring emerging questions about remote work motivation, especially during a period in which remote work has fully normalized and spread throughout relevant industries, sectors, and geographies
A Causal-Comparative Study: Teacher Efficacy with Students with Autism
Get PDFThe purpose of this quantitative causal-comparative study is to compare teacher self-efficacy among elementary, middle, and high school teachers of students with autism. Self-efficacy in teaching is the unwavering belief that a teacher can deliver highly effective instruction to foster positive learning outcomes in students with autism. Teachers confident in their abilities to accommodate the needs of students with autism can provide the necessary support, adjust their teaching methods, and create learning opportunities that promote the development of essential skills. The sample size included elementary, middle, and high school teachers from public schools across the northwest region of the United States. The study utilized the Autism Self-Efficacy Scale for Teachers (ASSET) to assess the effectiveness of teachers in educating students with autism. The data was collected via a questionnaire on Survey Monkey. The One-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) was used to statistically analyze the differences among elementary, middle, and high school teachers who educate students with autism. The medium effect size of the ANOVA revealed a significant difference in teacher efficacy scores among elementary, middle, and high school educators; p=0.04 suggesting a rejected null hypothesis. With the rejected null hypothesis, a Tukey test was conducted to compare all possible group mean pairs across the three grade levels. Future studies may include incorporating paraeducators among teachers to see if paraeducator efficacy scores differ from teachers\u27, with the addition of a mixed-methods research design to hinder possible Type I and Type II errors
Examining the Effects of Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorder Pain on Healthcare and Allied Health Professionals\u27 Quality of Life
Get PDFThe purpose of this phenomenological study is to understand the effects work-related musculoskeletal disorder pain has on the quality of life of high body mass indexed healthcare and allied health professional women. This qualitative research incorporated virtual semi-structured interviews, via zoom, of 10 clinically obese female healthcare and allied health workers employed at a hospital, clinic, or private health practice; and have been diagnosed by a medical doctor with a case of chronic work-related musculoskeletal disorder pain within the past six months. The study utilized a virtual setting of participants who reside and work within the United States. Data collection was performed via questionnaires, virtual one on one interviews, note taking, and video-audio recording. The researcher used Clark Moustakas (1994) transcendental phenomenological approach, combined with NVivo 15 Qualitative Data Analysis Software, to assist with achieving data triangulation and qualitative content and thematic analysis that includes: an investigation of the practical implications of data findings, allowance of an explicit discussion and careful observation of the adverse impact experienced by the participants, and the extraction of compelling statements from participants to identify themes. Moreover, the contents and themes of this study strived towards improving musculoskeletal rehabilitation by highlighting participant’s perspective of pain, and articulating suggestions of potential motivational strategies discovered to encourage patients’ consistent participation in a structured exercise regimen
Responding to Leadership Change: A Qualitative Multi-Case Study of Female Pastors and Their Congregations
Get PDFThe purpose of this qualitative multi-case study was to explore the lived experiences of female senior pastors and their congregants who have embraced leadership change from male to female. Although many denominations openly accept and ordain female pastors, and the number of women in pastoral leadership roles has risen, many women in ministry still face obstacles. Guided by the theory of change, in conjunction with liberation theology, this study addressed a gap in research related to the experience of female pastors in ministerial leadership, as minimal similar studies exist, and no other studies within the Congregational Christian Church were found. Data were collected from female senior pastors utilizing open-ended semi-structured interviews, focus groups comprising male and female congregants of the sampled pastors, and the documentation analysis related to the pastoral job description from the selected participating churches. The data were triangulated, and several noteworthy themes emerged relating to the leadership and qualities of the female senior pastors as perceived by their congregations. In addition, the analyzed document data complemented the emerging themes. The findings suggest that the study’s three heterogeneous Congregational Christian Churches have embraced and adapted to the leadership change from male to female. The findings also indicate that although the female senior pastors encountered some resistance, their overall experience proved positive, suggesting that they acted as agents of change
Resilience and Empowerment: The Impact of Gullah and Maroon Cultural Preservation on Pan-Africanism and Civil Rights Movements
Get PDFThis dissertation investigates the history of the cultural resilience and advocacy of the Gullah people of South Carolina and the Maroons of Jamaica, with a particular emphasis on their function as role models for the empowerment of descendants of the formerly enslaved (DOFE). This investigation examines how enslaved communities preserved cultural identity, resisted systemic injustice and influenced Pan-Africanism and Civil Rights movements in the 20th and 21st centuries. This research emphasizes the experiences of the Gullah people who maintained cultural identity through acculturation, and the enslaved populations from South Carolina’s interior regions and other Southern states, who faced assimilation. Additionally, it compares the Jamaican Maroons, who retained sovereignty, with the enslaved people on Jamaican sugar plantations who experienced both cultural acculturation and administrative assimilation. Regardless of the pressures of economic exploitation, colonial rule, and discriminatory legislation, the Gullahs and Maroons preserved their unique spiritual practices, languages, and traditions. The dissertation demonstrates how cultural preservation promotes socioeconomic resilience and community solidarity, which are key for upward mobility, by emphasizing the preservation of the Gullah’s heritage through institutions such as the Penn Center and the Maroons’ successful negotiation of autonomy through treaties in 1738 and 1739. Additionally, this study explores the effects of acculturation versus acclimation on the socioeconomic and mental health outcomes of DOFE communities. It examines contemporary challenges, including land issues, and disputes over heirs’ property rights, and connects them to historical inequities that the Gullah and Maroons have encountered. The enduring struggle for autonomy of the Maroons was magnified by their persistent resistance to the Jamaican government’s attempts to reclaim their property. This dissertation also explores the relationship between gender and leadership focusing on the contributions of individuals such as Queen Nanny, Septima Clark, and Queen Quet. In conclusion, this dissertation argues that the historical legacies of the Gullah and Maroon communities serve as a model for contemporary DOFE empowerment. It provides actionable recommendations for policy reforms, grassroots advocacy, and cultural preservation to promote community resilience, address systemic challenges, and encourage unity within the African diaspora
The Role of Timing of Developmental Trauma and Impacts on Attachment in African-Caribbean American Women: A Holistic Perspective
Get PDFPrior studies have shown that developmental trauma exposure in childhood negatively impacts attachment neurocircuitry, increasing risk for insecure attachments in adulthood, and deemed more prevalent among females and minorities, such as African American women. However, studies that specifically focus on ethnocultural contexts, initial developmental trauma exposure during specific developmental ages, and impacts on attachment, including attachment to God in African-Caribbean American women are limited. This study fulfilled those gaps in the literature by examining age of initial developmental trauma exposure and impacts on attachment with self and God in African-Caribbean American adult women with developmental trauma histories. Bioecological systems theory, psychosocial theory, attachment theory, and reformational worldview were the supporting theoretical and biblical frameworks for this study. A quantitative cross-sectional study utilizing correlational analyses with four online, anonymous questionnaires was conducted. Total participants were N = 131 African-Caribbean American women from various African-Caribbean backgrounds, aged 20-70. Of this total, n = 88 reported developmental trauma histories and n = 43 reported no developmental trauma history. Participants were recruited from Facebook, email, and flyers. Results showed early childhood developmental trauma exposure was significantly associated with disorganized, anxious, and avoidant attachments in trauma-exposed women. Emotional, physical, and child sexual abuse and physical neglect were significantly associated with all insecure attachment types in trauma-exposed women. Trauma-exposed women had higher insecure attachments than non-trauma-exposed women and both groups showed higher anxious about abandonment attachment to God. Implications of these findings for public policies, trauma-informed care, and psychospiritual considerations for the church are discussed
Investigating Christian Counselors\u27 Emphasis on Marriage Vows as a Sacred Covenant in Premarital Counseling
Get PDFProverbs 11:14 says, “Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counselors there is safety” (King James Bible, 2017; Proverbs 11:14). This proverb suggests that counsel can provide a level of security. Premarital counsel is a type of provisional assistance and guidance sought by couples seeking to shelter and strengthen their union. Within the church pastors and elders often provide Christian counseling to congregants for various reasons, including premarital counseling. The purpose of this phenomenological study is to discover pastors and elders that operate as Christian counselors’ emphasis on marriage vows as a sacred covenant within premarital counseling. The theory guiding this study is Albert Bandura’s social learning theory, which describes environmental learning. The construct is used as a framework to explore Christian counselors’ emphasis on marriage vows as covenant in Christian premarital counseling. Without comprehension of marriage vows as a sacred covenant, there cannot be application of them. The review of current literature related to Christian premarital counseling revealed a research gap and presented the need for this study. This phenomenological qualitative study of Christian counselors’ instruction determined the prevalence of marriage vows as a sacred covenant direction in Christian premarital counseling. This investigation identified underlying probabilities and additional influences vital to analyzing the phenomenon
The Army Cadet Experience Related To Confidence and Their Training: A Phenomenological Study
Get PDFThe purpose of this phenomenological study was to describe the experiences of ROTC cadets related to their preparation for Cadet Summer Training (CST). The theory guiding this study was John Sweller’s cognitive load theory. The current problem is that cadets have minimal opportunities to become proficient in certain hands-on skills taught within the ROTC curriculum prior to their assessment at CST. Because of this, some cadets seem to lack confidence in their abilities prior to CST adding onto their cognitive load. Through the utilization of transcendental phenomenology to understand the firsthand accounts of the cadets after they underwent CST, the goal was to understand how cadets perceive their instruction and to isolate best practices from their viewpoint. Data was collected through individual interviews, document analysis and focus groups and analyzed through coding common themes and triangulating the data. The results of the study uncovered three themes, six sub-themes, and one piece of outlier data that largely supported previous research in similar fields
Factors Influencing the Success of Modern Wind Band Transcriptions Re(new)al by Viet Cuong, Bells for Stokowski by Michael Daugherty, and Masks and Machines by Paul Dooley
Get PDFTranscriptions have played a significant role in wind band literature since the end of the Renaissance period. Due to a desire for more significant original band works in the1900s and the existence of many low-quality transcriptions, conductors often view orchestral transcription as a lesser part of the wind band canon. Contemporary wind band transcriptions like Re(new)al by Viet Cuong, Bells for Stokowski by Michael Daugherty, and Masks and Machines by Paul Dooley are significant works in both the orchestral and band repertoire. This study investigates how instrumentation, sonic variety, acceptance of new music by wind band conductors, composition prizes, and conferences play a role in the success of these pieces in the band world. The research underpinning this study includes a literature review and composer/conductor interviews. Existing literature focuses on the quality, history, and place in the repertoire of transcriptions. This qualitative study identified factors contributing to the success of contemporary works recomposed/transcribed by their original creator. In highlighting the musical and non-musical influences on composers and conductors, this study establishes the importance and need for more recomposed transcriptions. As the literature canon of wind bands evolves and solidifies, it is essential to reevaluate options and perspectives related to transcriptions. There is added value to breaking down mindsets that define and limit compositions as being restricted to one type of musical medium. As wind bands look to new recomposed music, opportunities will open for composers, conductors, performers, and educators