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Walden University

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2016

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Treatment Adherence Among Women Infected With Human Immunodeficiency Virus With A History Of Gender-Based Violence, Olivia Mcgregor Nov 2016

Treatment Adherence Among Women Infected With Human Immunodeficiency Virus With A History Of Gender-Based Violence, Olivia Mcgregor

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Women infected with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) are at high risk of myriad conditions, especially gender-based violence (GBV). GBV can be a hindrance to treatment adherence, which is pertinent to improving the health of people living with HIV. The purpose of this longitudinal research study was to assess the effects of GBV on treatment adherence among HIV infected women, with specific focus on when the violence occurred (recent or lifetime) and the stratifying type of GBV (sexual, physical, and psychological). The health belief model (HBM) served as a theoretical groundwork. Participants were selected from secondary data, collected by the Women’s …


The Effect Of Confirmation Bias In Criminal Investigative Decision Making, Wayne A. Wallace Oct 2016

The Effect Of Confirmation Bias In Criminal Investigative Decision Making, Wayne A. Wallace

Harold L. Hodgkinson Award for Outstanding Dissertation

Confirmation bias occurs when a person believes in or searches for evidence to support his or her favored theory while ignoring or excusing disconfirmatory evidence and is disinclined to change his or her belief once he or she arrives at a conclusion. The purpose of this quantitative study was to examine whether emotionally charged evidence and evidence presentation order could influence an investigator's belief in a suspect's guilt. The study included 166 sworn police officers (basic training recruits, patrol officers, and criminal investigators) who completed online surveys in response to criminal vignettes across different scenarios to record their measure of …


Physical Activity Improves Depressive Symptoms In Older Adults, Karen Lee Fahey Jun 2016

Physical Activity Improves Depressive Symptoms In Older Adults, Karen Lee Fahey

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Engaging in physical activity can help older adults to take part in community activities, maintain relationships, and initiate new friendships, thus preventing loneliness and depression. The purpose of this quality improvement (QI) project was to evaluate whether participation in physical activity improved depressive symptoms in 15 older adults at a local senior center. Pender’s health promotion model was used to determine nursing and behavioral science views on components that affect health behavior. The Exercise Benefit/Barrier Scale (EBBS) survey was evaluated before implementation of the walking program to measure the benefits of and barriers to exercise. The EBBS results showed that …


Health Literacy Among Elderly Hispanics And Medication Usage, Wilda Parker May 2016

Health Literacy Among Elderly Hispanics And Medication Usage, Wilda Parker

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Health literacy among the elderly Hispanics is a problem for 44% who read at the lowest level due to issues with recognition, cognition, or vision. The purpose of this study was to determine the extent that elderly Hispanics have problems with medication adherence due to health literacy. The social cognitive theory was the framework for this study. Inclusion criteria consisted of being 65-75 years of age, and speaking and/or reading English and/or Spanish. Questionnaires from 156 individuals were completed in Cobb County/Atlanta GA and analyzed using multiple regression to determine the relationship between health literacy and medication usage. Medication adherence …


Health Care Clinicians' Compliance With Conducting Spiritual Assessments And Providing Spiritual Care To Infertile Women, Lesa Miller Feb 2016

Health Care Clinicians' Compliance With Conducting Spiritual Assessments And Providing Spiritual Care To Infertile Women, Lesa Miller

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Infertility is a disease that can cause psychological impairments in women, and the inability to achieve motherhood brings about cultural and social stigma. Spirituality is a protective element that may provide consolation to women experiencing infertility, yet the literature has shown that few clinicians conduct spirituality assessments or provide spiritual care to patients. The objectives of this scholarly project were to conduct an assessment to determine the needs of health care clinicians in regard to spirituality and spiritual patient care and to develop an educational module based on identified knowledge deficits. Guided by the knowledge-to-action cycle, a needs assessment was …


Analyzing Interrelationships Between Food Safety Practices And Inspections Among Food Staff In Manitoba, Kirandeep Kaur Brar Jan 2016

Analyzing Interrelationships Between Food Safety Practices And Inspections Among Food Staff In Manitoba, Kirandeep Kaur Brar

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The incidence and prevalence of food safety practices among food staff working in food establishments in Manitoba is underrepresented and has not been adequately reviewed and researched. Uncertified food staff are at higher risk of not following food safety practices that can cause contamination of food and result in foodborne illness. The purpose of this quantitative study was to determine the prevalence of food safety practices among food staff in Manitoba and to determine the relationship between food safety certification and routine health inspections. Pender's health promotion model and Bandura's social cognitive theory were used to explain the relationships and …


Relationship Building And Unethical Behavior In The Hospitality Industry, Sharron Lee Koch Jan 2016

Relationship Building And Unethical Behavior In The Hospitality Industry, Sharron Lee Koch

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Relationship building is a fundamental component to develop successful businesses, although corrupt purchasing executives pay bribes in excess of $1.5 trillion dollars annually. The participants for this case study consisted of 10 national sales managers who have successfully implemented strategies to train suppliers in relationship building in a hotel in Greensville, South Carolina. The resource dependence theory grounded the study. The purpose of this single case study was to explore strategies a hotel owner in Greenville, South Carolina used to train managers on relationship building. Collection of data included 8 semi-structured telephone interviews and 2 video interviews that were audio …


Public Sector Leaders' Strategies To Improve Employee Retention, Michael D. Izard-Carroll Jan 2016

Public Sector Leaders' Strategies To Improve Employee Retention, Michael D. Izard-Carroll

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The U.S. Department of Labor and Statistics consistently reports significant employee turnover in the public sector, including the federal, state, and local levels. High turnover results in compromised public goods and services provided to a community. The widespread nature of the problem and the scarcity of literature focusing on employee retention strategies in the public sector merited this case study. Public sector leaders from Western New York who had implemented employee retention strategies in a public organization comprised the population for the study. Cost-benefit theory, human capital theory, and social capital theory provided the conceptual context for developing and executing …


Intercultural And Career Experiences Of African American Women Midlevel Leaders At Predominately White Institutions, Rabekah Stewart Jan 2016

Intercultural And Career Experiences Of African American Women Midlevel Leaders At Predominately White Institutions, Rabekah Stewart

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

African American women leaders positively influence the college experiences of students at predominately White institutions (PWI), but the retention of those women leaders remains an issue. At the time of this study, limited research informed race and gender issues that intersect the career advancement of African American women serving in midlevel leadership positions at PWIs. The purpose of this qualitative study was to understand the intercultural and career advancement experiences of these women. Critical race theory, critical race feminist theory, and intercultural communications theory were used as a framework to understand the participants' intercultural and career advancement experiences, perceived influences, …


Principals' Perspectives On The Effect Of Standardized Testing On Teaching And Learning, Jacqueline Bruton Wray Jan 2016

Principals' Perspectives On The Effect Of Standardized Testing On Teaching And Learning, Jacqueline Bruton Wray

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Standardized tests are designed to show what students have learned and retained in a classroom setting. The study examined principals' perspectives related to the impact standardized testing has on teaching and learning in Grades K-12. In addition, the correlation between principals' perceived effects of standardized tests on students' performances and principals' characteristics was investigated. Vygotsky's theory was used as theoretical framework of the study, as the theory suggested nonstandardized assessment approaches are more effective. Research questions focused on principals' perspectives on the effect of standardized testing on teaching and learning within the school district in North Carolina and the extent …


A Delphi Study Of Effective Practices For Developing Competency-Based Learning Models In Higher Education, Lisa Monica Mcintyre-Hite Jan 2016

A Delphi Study Of Effective Practices For Developing Competency-Based Learning Models In Higher Education, Lisa Monica Mcintyre-Hite

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Currently, there is an increase in competency-based education programs in higher education institutions in response to student and employer needs. However, research is lacking on effective practices for developing competencies, assessments, and learning resources for these programs. The purpose of this qualitative Delphi study was to gather expert opinions about effective practices for developing competencies, assessments, and learning resources in competency-based programs in higher education. The conceptual framework was based on principles of andragogy, critical subjectivity, and social constructivism. Ten long-term specialists in developing competency-based programs in higher education served as participants. Data from 3 rounds of interviews were coded …


Relationship Between Destructive Leadership Behaviors And Employee Turnover, Craig Michael Hyson Jan 2016

Relationship Between Destructive Leadership Behaviors And Employee Turnover, Craig Michael Hyson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The loss of 6 million U.S. manufacturing jobs since 2000 has severely affected communities that have lost a vital source of employment. Voluntary employee turnover has compounded the problem. The purpose of this correlational study was to examine the relationship between employee turnover and destructive leadership behaviors of managers in small and medium enterprise (SME) manufacturing businesses in Warren County, New Jersey. The constructive-destructive leadership model formed the theoretical framework for the study. A random sample of 96 SME manufacturing firm employees completed the destructive leadership scale (DLS), multifactor leadership questionnaire (MLQ), and the turnover intention scale (TIS-6) via an …


Effects Of An Integrated Electronic Health Record On An Academic Medical Center, Kenneth E. Koppenhaver Ii Jan 2016

Effects Of An Integrated Electronic Health Record On An Academic Medical Center, Kenneth E. Koppenhaver Ii

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The debate about healthcare reform revolves around a triple aim of improving the health of populations, improving the patient experience, and reducing the cost of care. A major tool discussed in this debate has been the adoption of electronic health record (EHR) systems to record and guide care delivery. Due to low adoption rates and limited examples of success, the problem was a lack of understanding by healthcare organizations of how the EHR fundamentally changes an organization through the interactions of people, processes, and technology over time. The purpose of this case study was to explore the people, processes, and …


Middle School Teachers' Professional Development Needs For Ict Literacy Integration, Melanie Lynn Park Jan 2016

Middle School Teachers' Professional Development Needs For Ict Literacy Integration, Melanie Lynn Park

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This qualitative case study explored U.S. middle school teachers' professional development needs in Information, Communication, and Technology (ICT) literacy integration. Past literature has suggested that teachers should improve classroom practices that promote ICT literacy, but few studies have addressed educators' specific training needs. This study was designed to identify the unique professional development needs of academic teachers in a Midwestern middle school using focus groups and interviews to explore teacher perceptions of current technology usage as well as the barriers and/or facilitators of ICT literacy integration. The conceptual framework was based on Knowles's theory of adult learning, which suggested that …


Knowledge Management And Innovation On Firm Performance Of United States Ship Repair, Cynthia Jane Young Jan 2016

Knowledge Management And Innovation On Firm Performance Of United States Ship Repair, Cynthia Jane Young

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

With the decreasing labor forces throughout the United States, if leadership of the ship repair industry does not incorporate knowledge sharing and innovation into their daily business practices, knowledge will be lost during employee departures and turnover of teams from project-to-project, resulting in decreasing firm performance within their organizations. This was a correlation study to determine if there was a correlation between knowledge management, innovation, and firm performance. Data were collected from 69 CEO/Presidents, Human Resource personnel, or members in leadership positions of the Virginia Ship Repair Association in the mid-Atlantic region of the United States. The theoretical framework for …


Teen Dating Violence: Co-Occurrence With Bullying Among African American Teens In South Florida, Rosemarie Hemmings Jan 2016

Teen Dating Violence: Co-Occurrence With Bullying Among African American Teens In South Florida, Rosemarie Hemmings

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Teen dating violence and bullying are major public health concerns but are preventable. Both dating violence and bullying occur within similar social context and the prevalence of teen dating violence was highest for African American teens as reported on the 2011 Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS). Social learning theory provides a foundation for understanding and changing behavior related to dating violence victimization and bully victimization. The research questions focused on relationships between bully and teen dating violence victimization when controlling for race/ethnicity, gender, substance abuse, age, and age of first sexual intercourse. Additionally, the potential mediating variable of spending time …


Managing Acute Pain In Postoperative Surgical Patients, Sabrina Gregory Jan 2016

Managing Acute Pain In Postoperative Surgical Patients, Sabrina Gregory

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Every year, millions of Americans suffer from either chronic or acute pain that results in tremendous healthcare cost, rehabilitation, and loss of work productivity. Pain is an unpleasant sensation associated with sensory and emotional experiences that can cause potential or actual tissue damage. One plausible solution to managing pain is the use of nonpharmacological modalities such as guided imagery. The purpose of this project was to determine if there was a difference in pain scores following pharmacological interventions and the use of guided imagery among postoperative same day surgical patients. Guided imagery is a nonpharmacological modality that uses pictures, music, …


Crafting A System Of Profound Knowledge Management In Long-Term Care, Charlotte Johnston Jan 2016

Crafting A System Of Profound Knowledge Management In Long-Term Care, Charlotte Johnston

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The paradigm shift to a knowledge economy, predicted by Drucker, is currently reflected in a knowing-to-doing gap in healthcare, potentially threatening the lives of long-term care (LTC) residents and sustainability of LTC organizations. The purpose of this grounded theory study was to seek a substantive conceptual theory to explain how LTC uses knowledge management (KM) to improve performance by probing the a priori views and lived experiences of 11 LTC knowledge creators, managers, and users. Data were collected via semi structured interviews that were transcribed and coded. The research questions guided by the conceptual concentrated on how KM is used …


Algebraic Content And Pedagogical Knowledge Of Sixth Grade Mathematics Teachers, Mariyam Shahuneeza Naseer Jan 2016

Algebraic Content And Pedagogical Knowledge Of Sixth Grade Mathematics Teachers, Mariyam Shahuneeza Naseer

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Algebra test scores of the Maldivian students from grade 6 through 12 are the lowest compared to any other area of mathematics. Algebra is a fundamental topic in mathematics and lays the foundation for mathematical reasoning and complex problem-solving. Research shows that strengthening algebra instruction could improve student achievement. This concurrent mixed methods study examined the algebraic content and pedagogical knowledge of 5 sixth grade mathematics teachers who teach in 5 different schools across the Maldives. Shulman's major categories of teacher knowledge and Ball, Thames, and Phelps' domains of mathematical knowledge for teaching guided this study. The research questions examined …


Secondary Preservice Teachers' Perceptions Of Preparation To Teach In Urban Schools, Jacquinne Reynolds Jan 2016

Secondary Preservice Teachers' Perceptions Of Preparation To Teach In Urban Schools, Jacquinne Reynolds

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

University officials have identified a problem among secondary preservice teachers (SPTs) who have expressed reluctance to teach in local urban schools. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to explore the perceptions of SPTs regarding their preparation for and experiences with teaching in urban school settings. Vygotsky's zone of proximal development and Bruner's concept of scaffolding served as the conceptual frameworks that guided this study. Data were collected from 11 SPTs who completed the requirements of their field service experiences in urban schools. Data collection consisted of individual interviews, one focus group interview, and field observations. Findings showed that …


Association Between Haart And Metabolic Syndrome Components Among Hiv-Positive Adults In Southeastern Nigeria, Bridget Okiemute Amechi Jan 2016

Association Between Haart And Metabolic Syndrome Components Among Hiv-Positive Adults In Southeastern Nigeria, Bridget Okiemute Amechi

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) contributes to metabolic disorders and the growing prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients. Hypertension, obesity, and hyperglycemia (components of MetS) are risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Studies have shown that HIV patients on HAART have a 2-fold risk of dying from MetS. There are no such studies in Umuahia; hence the need for this study to fill this gap. Using a sample size of 192 medical records of HIV-infected patients in Federal Medical Centre, Umuahia, and applying metabolic syndrome theory, this study examined the relationships among types of HAART regimen, …


Single Mothers Of Young Children And Continuing Education, Jackiethsha Lynette Fluellen Jan 2016

Single Mothers Of Young Children And Continuing Education, Jackiethsha Lynette Fluellen

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The number of households headed by single mothers living in poverty exceeds that of all other categories of poverty-stricken households, and poverty impacts the children negatively in various ways. When single mothers choose not to continue their education, they lessen their chances of finding higher paying jobs and raising their families out of poverty. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to better understand why some single mothers decided to continue into higher education. The study considered the decisions of 6 single mothers of young children in Montgomery County, Texas, and the obstacles they overcame while completing their education. The …


Understanding Strategic Planning: Why Nonprofit Organizations Struggle In The Current Era Of Privatization, Trunnis Goggins Jan 2016

Understanding Strategic Planning: Why Nonprofit Organizations Struggle In The Current Era Of Privatization, Trunnis Goggins

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Several studies suggest that nonprofit organizations that compete with for-profit organizations to deliver public services struggle to obtain mission clarity and face resistance by staff and volunteers when implementing traditional for-profit business planning procedures. The purpose of this study was to extend the Austrian theory of entrepreneurism and Bourdieu's social practice theory to identify particular procedural functions during the strategic planning process that played a role in the struggle of nonprofit organizations to obtain mission clarity. This study focused on nonprofit organizations that delivered residential services to disabled individuals in the state of Indiana. Data collected included 15 face-to-face interviews …


Exploring Organizations' Software Quality Assurance Strategies, Scott Underwood Jan 2016

Exploring Organizations' Software Quality Assurance Strategies, Scott Underwood

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Poor software quality leads to lost profits and even loss of life. U.S. organizations lose billions of dollars annually because of poor software quality. The purpose of this multiple case study was to explore the strategies that quality assurance (QA) leaders in small software development organizations used for successful software quality assurance (SQA) processes. A case study provided the best research design to allow for the exploration of organizational and managerial processes. The target population group was the QA leaders of 3 small software development organizations who successfully implemented SQA processes, located in Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada. The conceptual …


Factors Affecting Involvement Of Urban School District Parents In Their Child's Education, Megan Stewart Jan 2016

Factors Affecting Involvement Of Urban School District Parents In Their Child's Education, Megan Stewart

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Parental involvement in children's education has been found to have a positive impact on academic achievement. Because the state has mandated that academic achievement in the study district needs to increase, identifying means of increasing parental involvement is important. Guided by the work of Epstein, this quantitative study was conducted to explore demographic factors related to parents' involvement in the education of their children. Specifically, research questions examined differences in parental involvement by socioeconomic status (SES), barriers to involvement for parents, and school strategies to improve parental involvement. Parents of all 5th grade students (n = 935) from a large …


Comparison Of Classroom Settings On Seventh Grade English Language Arts Tennessee Comprehensive Assessment Program Achievement (Tcap), Deangela Anita Graham Jan 2016

Comparison Of Classroom Settings On Seventh Grade English Language Arts Tennessee Comprehensive Assessment Program Achievement (Tcap), Deangela Anita Graham

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The purpose of this study was to identify an effective strategy to increase English Language Arts (ELA) proficiency in middle schools. This study assessed the outcome of classroom looping in an urban middle school. Vygotsky's theory of social development was the theoretical framework of this study. Two research questions explored statistical differences between scale and number correct scores on the standardized ELA Tennessee Comprehensive Assessment Program (TCAP). Classroom settings (looping and traditional) served as independent variables, and ELA TCAP assessments were used as the dependent variable. This study included a random sample of 188 students (94 looping and 94 traditional) …


Mutuality, Inter Organizational Cultural Understanding, And The Efficacy Of Humanitarian Response, Elizabeth Anne Yeomans Jan 2016

Mutuality, Inter Organizational Cultural Understanding, And The Efficacy Of Humanitarian Response, Elizabeth Anne Yeomans

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Organizations responding to humanitarian crises often have different organizational cultures and observational lenses, presenting barriers to collaborative efforts at the outset of a crisis. The inherently chaotic nature of these crises exacerbates this problem, slowing the speed of response and the degree of efficacy of the response effort. Researchers have examined these organizational differences but have not defined barriers to mutuality and possible ways to overcome those barriers presenting a gap in knowledge. The purpose of this study was to fill this gap by offering areas to focus on to improve cultural awareness between disparate organizations. The central research question …


Educator Perceptions Of Visual Support Systems And Social Skills For Young Adults With Autism Spectrum Disorders, David James Miller Jan 2016

Educator Perceptions Of Visual Support Systems And Social Skills For Young Adults With Autism Spectrum Disorders, David James Miller

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Young adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) face unique social skills challenges as they transition into independent living environments and seek fulfilling relationships within their communities. Research has focused on social education and interventions for children with autism, while transitioning young adults with ASD have received insufficient attention. The purpose of this multisite case study was to explore perceptions of school personnel related to the use of visual support system (VSS) technology and enhancement of social skillsets for young adults with ASD. Information processing theory and social learning theory provided the research framework. Research questions addressed perceptions related to the …


Relationships Between Business Planning And Reaching Forecasted Sales Objectives For New England Farmers, Kenny Roberts Jan 2016

Relationships Between Business Planning And Reaching Forecasted Sales Objectives For New England Farmers, Kenny Roberts

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Over the last 100 years, more than 3 million small farming operations have been replaced by large factory farms in America. This shift toward food production by conglomerations has led to severe environmental issues, food security hazards, and economic hardship in farming communities nationwide. This study investigated the extent to which a written business plan could help small farming operations meet their sales objectives and ultimately continue to operate; this study also examined the perceptions of farm owners regarding the ability of a business plan to affect sales objectives. The sample consisted of 71 Maine Farms for Future (FFF) recipients …


Effectiveness Of Early Childhood Programs On The Literacy Achievement Of Kindergarten Children, Lashia Cox Jan 2016

Effectiveness Of Early Childhood Programs On The Literacy Achievement Of Kindergarten Children, Lashia Cox

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Early childhood development programs enhance children's development of knowledge, skills, and processes. Despite efforts to improve early childhood education in the United States, poor student performance in early literacy and kindergarten achievement is still occurring, and questions remain unanswered about the utility of early childhood education programs. Drawing from the theory of constructivism, the purpose of this quantitative, quasi-experimental, retrospective study was to determine the effectiveness of early childhood programs on the literacy achievement of kindergarten children. The research question addressed the differences in literacy achievement of kindergarten children based on the early childhood programs they attended. Using repeated measures …