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Students' Evangelical Worldview in Public High

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Students' Evangelical Worldview in Public High STUDENTS’ EVANGELICAL WORLDVIEW IN PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOL CONTENT AREAS: A PHENOMENOLOGICAL ANALYSIS by Russell Joseph Allen Liberty University A Dissertation Presented in Partial Fulfillment Of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Education Liberty University 2021 2 STUDENTS’ EVANGELICAL WORLDVIEW IN PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOL CONTENT AREAS: A PHENOMENOLOGICAL ANALYSIS by Russell Joseph Allen A Dissertation Presented in Partial Fulfillment Of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Education Liberty University, Lynchburg, VA 2021 APPROVED BY: L. Thomas Crites, Ed.D, Committee Chair Justin Necessary, Ed.D, Committee Member 3 ABSTRACT Although much research has been conducted regarding Christian worldview in private high schools and Christian colleges, very little information exists regarding Christian worldview at public high schools. The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study is to describe how 10 evangelical students in public high schools interpret content areas through their worldview. The study answered the following critical question: How do evangelical students in public high schools interpret content areas through their worldviews? Participants were found using criterion sampling in central Pennsylvania and document analysis, interviews, and focus groups were used to collect data. Moustakas’s (1994) approach was used for data analysis, which includes epoché, horizonalization, textural and structural descriptions, and a composite description. Member checks, audits, and codebooks were used in order to ensure the trustworthiness of the study. The results of this transcendental phenomenological study showed that the participants experienced content interpretation through the themes of parallel, truth, presentation, and interpersonal relatability. While these interpretations of content were largely thoughtful and deep, students remained reluctant to express these understandings in the public school classroom. Fowler’s (1981) stages of faith framework was used to reveal the theoretical implications of the study, which showed that the participants remained mostly in the synthetic- conventional and individuative-reflective stages. The study suggested that students may benefit from more worldview conversations in the classroom and that churches and parents should emphasize the presentation of content, in addition to the truth of content, as an important aspect of worldview interpretation. Further research using different demographics would be beneficial as a way to highlight potential transferability of results. 4 Keywords: worldview, evangelical, public high school, Christian, biblical worldview, Christian worldview, adolescent, teenager, religion, phenomenological, transcendental 5 Dedication This dissertation is dedicated to my parents. Thank you for always believing in me and pushing me to be my very best. You have loved me so well for so many years. I am proud to be your son. 6 Acknowledgments This project has been many years in the making and there are so many people to thank. I first want to thank my students in the church youth group. You are the inspiration for this topic. My prayer is that you would grow deep in the knowledge of your faith so that you can withstand the lies of the Enemy, proclaiming the gospel boldly wherever you go. I also want to thank the staff at my church who has encouraged me in the completion of this project every step of the way. The professors at Liberty University, especially Dr. Crites, Dr. Necessary, and Dr. Swezey, provided numerous insights that were invaluable to the completion of the project – thank you. My parents and other family members were always a source of motivation and encouragement. To my wife, Lauren – thank you for loving me through the ups and downs as I completed this journey. You completed this with me and the accomplishment is ours to share. I love you, forever. And finally, my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, who gives me purpose and meaning – my life and my work would be nothing without Him. 7 Table of Contents ABSTRACT .....................................................................................................................................3 Dedication ........................................................................................................................................5 Acknowledgments............................................................................................................................6 List of Tables .................................................................................................................................12 CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................13 Overview ............................................................................................................................13 Background ........................................................................................................................13 Historical Context ..................................................................................................14 Social Context ........................................................................................................15 Theoretical Context ................................................................................................16 Gap in the Literature ..............................................................................................17 Situation to Self..................................................................................................................17 Problem Statement .............................................................................................................18 Purpose Statement ..............................................................................................................20 Significance of the Study ...................................................................................................20 Research Questions ............................................................................................................21 Definitions..........................................................................................................................22 Summary ............................................................................................................................23 CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW ................................................................................24 Overview ............................................................................................................................24 Theoretical Framework ......................................................................................................24 Related Literature...............................................................................................................29 8 Christian Worldview ..............................................................................................30 Christian High School Students .............................................................................45 Religion in Public School ......................................................................................48 Summary and Gap in the Literature ...................................................................................55 CHAPTER THREE: METHODS ..................................................................................................56 Overview ............................................................................................................................56 Design ................................................................................................................................56 Research Questions ............................................................................................................58 Setting ................................................................................................................................59 Participants .........................................................................................................................59 Procedures ..........................................................................................................................60 The Researcher's Role ........................................................................................................61 Data Collection ..................................................................................................................62 Document Analysis ................................................................................................63 Interviews ...............................................................................................................64 Focus Group ...........................................................................................................67 Data Analysis .....................................................................................................................70 Document Analysis ................................................................................................71 Interview Analysis .................................................................................................71 Focus Group Analysis ............................................................................................72 Instrument Synthesis Analysis ...............................................................................72 Trustworthiness ..................................................................................................................73
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