ERIC Number: ED619705
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 2021
Pages: 442
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: 979-8-7906-6457-1
ISSN: EISSN-
EISSN: N/A
Online Students' Perceptions of Personal Spiritual Growth and Effectiveness of Institution Provided Spiritual Formation Enablers
Hoopes, Bradley L.
ProQuest LLC, D.Phil. Dissertation, Columbia International University
This study sought to answer the following two questions: 1) How do online only students at postsecondary Christian schools evaluate their own spiritual growth, and2) What are the perceptions of these students regarding their institution's effectiveness with provided spiritual formation enablers? Spiritual formation (SF) remains a subject of discussion for Christian educational institutions even after centuries of practice and decades of renewed interest; however, there remains a lack of information regarding SF among those connecting to schools from a distance. Students studying entirely online at schools accredited by the Association for Biblical Higher Education (ABHE) and by the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities (CCCU) completed a survey regarding their own spiritual beliefs and practices and provided feedback on their educational institution's efforts to assist them with the same. The survey made use of a six-point Likert-like scale ranging from "very untrue" to "very true" for Questions 3 through 8 and Question 11 to determine student perceptions of their own spiritual maturity and growth. Question 9 used a scale from "once a month or less" to "more than once per day" and asked about how often certain spiritual activities are engaged. Questions 10 and 12 also used a six-point Likert-like scale this time ranging from "no impact" to "very strong impact" to gain feedback on those institutional practices influential in a student's spiritual growth. Seven open-ended questions followed asking for feedback on who, and what, most influenced the student's spiritual growth and what their school did (or did not do) well to assist this growth. Basic demographic data was also collected. Research gathered in this study should have significance for those invested in biblical postsecondary education as well as the students they serve--specifically those connecting with each other from a distance. Once held notions that SF is not possible from a distance are fading, and biblical paradigms appear to indicate that SF is possible even when teacher and student are not proximally present. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://bibliotheek.ehb.be:2222/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]
Descriptors: Online Courses, Spiritual Development, Christianity, Likert Scales, Student Attitudes, School Effectiveness, Educational Practices, Distance Education, Religious Education, Religious Colleges, Feedback (Response), Undergraduate Students, Religious Factors
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Publication Type: Dissertations/Theses - Doctoral Dissertations
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A