A CAUSAL COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF BIBLICAL WORLDVIEW AMONG GRADUATE STUDENTS BASED ON CHRISTIAN SCHOOL ATTENDANCE by David E. Baniszewski Liberty University A Dissertation Presented in Partial Fulfillment Of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Education Liberty University 2016 2 A CAUSAL COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF BIBLICAL WORLDVIEW AMONG GRADUATE STUDENTS BASED ON CHRISTIAN SCHOOL ATTENDANCE By David E. Baniszewski A Dissertation Presented in Partial Fulfillment Of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Education Liberty University, Lynchburg, VA 2016 APPROVED BY: Ellen Lowrie Black, Ed.D., Committee Chair Andrew T. Alexson, Ed.D., Committee Member Melissa R. Tucker, Ed.D., Committee Member Scott Watson, Ph.D., Associate Dean, Advanced Programs 3 ABSTRACT One of the primary objectives of the Christian school (K-12) is the development of a biblical worldview in its students. This study examined the impact that these Christian schools had on their students’ biblical worldview development by administering a biblical worldview assessment to graduate students at a private, Christian university (Liberty University). Christian, graduate students in the School of Education at Liberty completed a demographic survey and a biblical worldview assessment. The survey collected information on age, gender, type of K-12 schools attended, profession to the Christian faith, and denominational background. The results of the survey and assessment were analyzed to determine if there was a significant difference in the biblical worldviews of Christian students who had a substantial Christian school background when compared to Christian students who had a minimal Christian school background and to those who had no Christian school experience. This causal comparative (ex post facto) study employed one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and a post-hoc Tukey test to determine if there were any significant differences between the means of the pre-determined groups and if the null hypotheses should be accepted or rejected. An informational survey was created to capture selected demographic data and the Three Dimensional Worldview Survey – Form C (3DWS- Form C) was used to assess biblical worldview. Participation by the graduate students was both voluntary and anonymous. Results of the study showed that there was no statistically significant difference in participants’ biblical worldview scores based on their attendance in Christian school. Portions of the study did indicate that there might be a disposition to a stronger propositional biblical worldview for individuals with a significant Christian school background. Further research should explore this disposition with recently graduated participants. Keywords: biblical worldview development, faith-learning integration, Christian School. 4 Acknowledgements The many steps of this thousand-mile, decades-long, journey have been challenging, but eminently rewarding. I could not have managed a single one of those steps without the grace, strength, and assurance that God accorded to me both when I was aware and unaware of His gracious supply. Lord Jesus, I am grateful for your provision and pray that this work of my hands will bring you glory and honor. You are my Savior, my Lord, and the solid rock of my life. I would also like to thank and acknowledge the sacrifice of time, energy, and self that my wife, Heidi, willingly and happily made so that I could pursue and complete this work. Heidi, your love, patience, and encouragement were exactly what I needed and not once in this long journey did that waiver. I could not have done this without you. I would also like to thank the following members of my committee for their advice and encouragement throughout this process: Dr. Ellen Lowrie Black, Dr. Andrew T. Alexson, and Dr. Melissa Tucker. Special thanks, however, goes to the chair of my committee, Dr. Ellen Lowrie Black. Ellen, your encouragement and your belief in me made this happen. I think there were times when you wanted this more than I did, and for that I am grateful. Finally, I would like to thank the many family and friends who encouraged, helped, and supported me along the way. The love you showed kept me motivated and the acts of support allowed me to keep going. Special thanks goes to my daughter, Carrie, who was the inspiration for the topic of this study. Thanks, Boo. 5 Table of Contents ABSTRACT .................................................................................................................................... 3 Acknowledgements ............................................................................................................. 4 List of Tables ...................................................................................................................... 8 List of Figures ..................................................................................................................... 9 List of Abbreviations ........................................................................................................ 10 CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................... 11 Background ....................................................................................................................... 11 Problem Statement ............................................................................................................ 15 Purpose Statement ............................................................................................................. 16 Significance of the Study .................................................................................................. 16 Research Questions ........................................................................................................... 18 Null Hypotheses ................................................................................................................ 19 Definitions......................................................................................................................... 20 CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW ............................................................................... 23 Introduction ....................................................................................................................... 23 Theoretical Foundations.................................................................................................... 24 Conceptual Framework ..................................................................................................... 35 Core Literature .................................................................................................................. 37 State of Current Research ................................................................................................. 50 Summary ........................................................................................................................... 62 CHAPTER THREE: METHODS ................................................................................................. 64 Design ............................................................................................................................... 64 6 Research Questions ........................................................................................................... 66 Null Hypotheses ................................................................................................................ 67 Participants and Setting..................................................................................................... 67 Instrumentation ................................................................................................................. 68 Procedures ......................................................................................................................... 70 Data Analysis .................................................................................................................... 71 CHAPTER FOUR: FINDINGS .................................................................................................... 74 Research Questions ........................................................................................................... 74 Hypotheses ........................................................................................................................ 75 Descriptive Statistics ......................................................................................................... 76 Results ............................................................................................................................... 80 Null Hypothesis One ............................................................................................. 82 Null Hypothesis Two ............................................................................................ 85 Null Hypothesis Three .......................................................................................... 86 Additional Analysis .............................................................................................. 88 Summary ........................................................................................................................... 92 CHAPTER FIVE: DISCUSSION, CONCLUSIONS, AND RECOMMENDATIONS .............. 93 Discussion ......................................................................................................................... 93 Null Hypothesis One ............................................................................................