Date of Award
Spring 4-12-2019
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctorate of Education, Ed.D.
College
College of Education
Department
Education
First Advisor
Nicholas Markette, Ed.D.
Second Advisor
Jillian Skelton, Ed.D.
Third Advisor
John D'Aguanno, Ed.D.
Abstract
Ethan was the main participant in this narrative inquiry to gain insight into a single story of how spiritual appraisal and search for significance influenced an individual through divorce adjustment. The study used a narrative inquiry methodology, collecting data via interviews of five individuals, Ethan’s journal, observation field notes, and a reflexive journal kept by the researcher to corroborate Ethan’s story for trustworthiness. The interviews were recorded, transcribed, member checked, and coded verbatim. The emergent themes that evolved were hidden sin, despair, confession and repentance, forgiveness, reconciliation, and responding the altruistic pull factor. The six themes followed the chronological timeline in Ethan’s story and resolved the two questions posed in the narrative inquiry research: How does a non-initiator of gray divorce working as a single expatriate in China describe the influence of spiritual appraisal on his divorce adjustment? How does a non-initiator of gray divorce working as a single expatriate in China describe the influence of search for significance on his divorce adjustment? Although the study was informative and revealing, it was limited by participant size, ethnicity, denominational scope, and geographical location. Research would benefit from the collection of more narratives expanding on the limitations.