The purpose of this grounded theory study was to build a theory about the process and function teachers construct around the effect Vipassana meditation has on stress, teaching, and decision-making. This study addressed the problem of how teachers respond to daily tasks and demands that can negatively impact their longevity in the profession. The starting point was the conceptual framework, including resolving cognitive dissonance, choice theory, mindfulness, and the perspective of Vipassana meditation. The research questions addressed how Vipassana meditation influences a teacher's daily routine, decision-making, classroom management, general procedures, and stressful situations. The data collection was done in 2 stages and included triangulation through 2 interviews, journals, and a questionnaire for all 9 participants. The analysis used pre, open, axial, and selective coding with both inductive and deductive processes which connected the conceptual framework to emerging concepts including equanimity, awareness, observation, context, detachment, nonjudgment, flexibility, being present in the moment, and engagement. Using these concepts, a possible theory involving the anicca perspective (one of non-permanence) on the decision-making process and as a stress management tool was generated. Implications for positive social change include a demonstrable positive effect on relationships in the classroom, pedagogy, and classroom management. This process can be considered in teacher training and professional development programs to decrease stress in order to help prolong teachers' careers.

While many studies showed evidence of the use of learning organization theory in a variety of venues, these theories have been studied in a limited capacity in church settings. This research attempted to substantiate the presence of learning organization principles in churches experiencing growth, and to refine a tool to measure these characteristics in churches. Relationships and strengths of association between and among 3 learning organization principles of leadership, job structure and systems, and performance and development, and degrees of growth defined as negative, plateau, and positive growth were examined in a sample of Nazarene churches via a revised survey completed by senior pastors. Pre and post survey analyses were employed, resulting in stronger reliability and validity outcomes for the instrument and contributing to a significant gap in the literature. Correlation, multiple regression, and ANOVA methods were used to assess relationships between the 3 learning organization principles and 3 levels of church growth. Outcomes did not show significant substantiation of these relationships, except for slightly higher evidence of leadership in the positive growth group. This study adds to the scientific knowledge of church growth via the creation of a new survey instrument for church use. The promotion of social responsibility and professional application of knowledge to church venues is an important tenet of this study, and lends valuable insight and knowledge for church leadership to engage in strategies that lead to social change.

No description available.

This qualitative study investigated the experiences of executive women and their choices in balancing work with marriage and children. Research on women in the workplace tends to conflate categories of hourly workers, part-time employees, and middle- and upper-management careers. Yet, the literature on balancing career and family life does not adequately portray the experiences of executive women. The purpose of the study was to discover executive women's perceptions about their career, how they chose their path, and how their career choices affected their decisions about marriage and children. The research questions for this study examined: (a) The effect of executive women's career choices on their balance of marriage and children, (b) reflection on career choices as an opportunity (enhancement) or loss (conflict) regarding marriage and children, and (c) the sacrifices made or regrets felt, if any, by executive women in pursuing a career. The research questions reflect the study's grounding in role theory, role conflict theory, and spillover theory. Data were collected via personal interviews with 10 participants, which were recorded, transcribed, and coded for themes. Results showed that although participants were conscious of making some sacrifices, such as feeling guilt missing their children's events and not making time for self or women friends and feeling some guilt about those sacrifices, they expressed no regrets for the decisions they made. The study has the potential to effect social change by providing insight about how an important subset of the professional work force attempts to balance career and family life. The study may also help women pursuing business careers make more informed choices about their personal and professional goals.

No description available.

Domestic violence is a national concern that affects women of all ages and ethnicities, as well as women with disabilities. Although there is literature focusing on attitudes about domestic violence toward women, the literature review provided no studies that investigated attitudes about domestic violence toward women in relation to domestic violence knowledge, counselor competency, and counselor comfort level. Statistics reveal the increasing number of women who are in abusive relationships and the mental and health effects of domestic violence abuse. This study explored Rehabilitation Counseling master's students' attitudes and beliefs about domestic violence toward women. The participants were 113 Rehabilitation Counseling master's students enrolled in Rehabilitation Counseling master's programs in 30 universities in different geographical regions of the United States. The study consisted of a demographic questionnaire and five research instruments: the Attitudes Toward Women Scale, the Domestic Violence Blame Scale, the Perceived Counselor Comfort Scale, the Domestic Violence Knowledge Test, and the Marlowe-Crowne Social Desirability Scale. The results of the three hierarchical regression analyses are provided. First, there was significance based on domestic violence knowledge and race/ethnicity, and domestic violence and age: (a) Participants who identified as African American scored lower in domestic violence knowledge, and (b) participants in the age group 25 to 30 years scored lower in domestic violence knowledge. Second, there was no significant relationship between the criterion variables and perceived comfort. Third, there was a significant relationship between the criterion variables (domestic violence training and previous history of domestic violence) and competency level. Participants who indicated having training in domestic violence had a higher the level of competency than participants who indicated having no training in domestic violence. Participants who indicated having a previous history of domestic violence had a higher level of competency than participants who indicated not having a previous history of domestic violence. Implications for counselors, educators, and future research are discussed.

The purpose of this study was to explore the ethics of social media use in rehabilitation counselor education programs. Program coordinators from 81 U.S. education programs accredited by the Council on Rehabilitation Education (CORE) were solicited to complete a survey regarding the ethical dilemmas or problems they encountered with respect to social media used by graduate students, faculty, and administrative staff. Of the 81 program coordinators, 28(34.56%) completed the survey. The survey asked program coordinators to report whether their program, department, or university had a social media policy, as well as whether they had encountered any social media-related ethical dilemmas. Finally, the survey asked program coordinators about their ethical beliefs regarding the use of social media in rehabilitation counselor education. The results found that 13 (46.43%) of the program coordinators had encountered at least one ethical dilemma related to graduate students' misuse of social media in the past year. The most frequently cited dilemma was students' "befriending" of faculty members on social networking sites such as Facebook. An examination of the data revealed no association between the type of social media policy employed and the probability of reporting an ethical dilemma. Program coordinators reported that the ethical use of social media will continue to be a challenge in the future, and the results of the present study could thus be used by rehabilitation counseling educators to develop policies and practices to better promote and regulate the appropriate use of social media in rehabilitation education programs.

This study is a descriptive qualitative analysis of the values and traits of rehabilitation counselor life care planners. Using the theoretical foundation of the Person-Environment fit theory, it reviews the available literature on rehabilitation counselor life care planners and fills in a missing sub-category of research on Person-Group fit within the private rehabilitation field and life care planning. It contains a review of rehabilitation counselor identity in order to provide context to how rehabilitation counselor life care planners view themselves as practitioners, particularly the role of income in career fit given ethical concerns surrounding money in the practice of life care planning. The primary traits resulting from this study are emotional differentiation, counselor as educator/performer, desiring intellectual excellence, detail oriented, and financial awareness. The primary values resulting from this study are recognition of humanity, integrity, objectivity, freedom in work, and social and financial responsibility. These results are discussed within the social culture of rehabilitation counseling to better understand their development.

No description available.

No description available.