Arts and Humanities Commons^™

Minority Women Leaders' Experiences Of Shattering The Glass Ceiling In Public Administration, Trina N. George

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Little research explores the experiences of women who have successfully attained careers in the highest echelons of federal service. Using Gregory-Mina's conceptualization of the great man theory as the foundation, the purpose of this general qualitative study was to understand the experiences and achievements of 7 women who advanced in the federal leadership hierarchy. This study used secondary data that is part of the Public Administration Genome Project holdings and these data were analyzed using inductive coding followed by a thematic analysis procedure. Data analysis revealed common experiences including that all of the women experienced a lack of mentors and …

The Effectiveness Of African American Male Faith-Based Juvenile Delinquency, Dewaun C. Martin

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The Southeast region of the United States is experiencing an increase in the amount of crime in the African American community particularly among juveniles. Furthermore, the rate of African American juveniles being arrested is higher than arrest rates among other races. This problem reveals the need for reformation and rehabilitation programs to reduce recidivism in the juvenile justice system. Research indicates that juveniles who have attachments to a conventional institution commit fewer delinquent acts. Although attachments to sports and other programs are positively associated with the social bond theory, it was unclear what aspects of the church program might influence …

Clinicians’ Perspectives On Distinguishing Between Religious/Spiritual And Psychotic Phenomena, Jessica K. Parker

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Psychosis is a central concept in mental health, yet the concept is unclear. Clinicians are challenged with the task to be able to distinguish psychotic phenomena; however, little is known about how clinicians are able to distinguish religious/spiritual phenomena from psychotic phenomena, as both may be similar in presentation. The focus of this dissertation was on understanding the perspectives and distinguishing processes of mental health professionals when distinguishing between religious/spiritual and psychotic phenomena. Taking a generic qualitative framework approach, the study included face-to-face and telephone interviews with 10 licensed mental health professionals recruited through social media and snowball sampling. Interviews …

Restructuring Old-Path Dependence In Inland Container Depots In The Nigerian Maritime Industry, Abiodun John Akinade

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The neglect of Inland Container Depots (ICDs) in the Nigerian maritime industry has been a protracted problem even though the facilities are potential sources of revenue in boosting the nation’s economy. The specific problem was the full potential of coordinated governance initiatives, such as the Maritime Anti-Corruption Network (MACN) aimed at addressing the challenge, has not been realized because of the failure of port actors to break away from old-path dependence in managing the port facilities. The purpose of this qualitative classical Delphi study was to determine how a panel of maritime industry experts views the desirability, feasibility, and importance …

Recidivism In The U.S. Criminal And Military Justice Systems, Dameian Cooper

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Recidivism in the U.S. Criminal and Military Justice Systems

by

Dameian J. Cooper

MA, American Military University, 2015

BS, Columbia Southern University, 2012

Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment

of the Requirements for the Degree of

Doctor of Philosophy

Criminal Justice

Walden University

August 2020

The purpose of the U.S. criminal and military justice systems is to deliver justice for all and protect public safety. However, “tough on crime” legislation has contributed to mass incarceration and high rates of recidivism. The purpose of this qualitative study was to understand which justice system (criminal or military) is more effective in reducing recidivism. …

Single Mothers’ Perceptions Of Police Encounters And Effectiveness Related To Youth Gun Violence, Janay M. Gasparini

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Single mothers and their children residing in high-crime communities (HCCs) in the United States are disproportionately exposed to crime, and therefore, the criminal justice system. Specific challenges of single motherhood in HCCs compound the link between juvenile offending and single-female-headed households. Little is known, however, about how single mothers in HCCs perceive and use the police as a resource to help prevent juvenile offending, specifically gun violence. The purpose of this study was to explore the lived experiences of single mothers with police as they related to the arrest of their children for a gun crime. The research questions focused …

Correlations To Financial Performance In The Pharmaceutical Industry, Fred Mcclellan

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

There exist conflicting priorities for leaders when considering ethical leadership behaviors and organizational financial performance. The purpose of this quantitative study was to examine correlations between top manager ethical leadership levels and organizational financial performance, within the pharmaceutical industry. The Ethical leadership theory was used to frame the study. Relationships between top managers’ perceived ethics levels and organizational financial performance were studied, as well as, whether top managers’ practices, purposes, and virtues acted as mediators. A goal of 184 participants were recruited from 338 pharmaceutical companies. Five top managers and 17 of their direct report team members took part in …

Youth Overcoming Barriers Through Multiple Adult Mentoring Relationships, Faraji Martin

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

African American youth may face several problems that may hinder their positive growth into adulthood. These individuals may not have adults in their lives who aid in overcoming difficulties that halt positive youth development. Mentoring may provide a young person with an adult or several people that can assist youth with problems and help them find the appropriate solutions to overcome them. Numerous studies have provided research on negative influences on youth development, but authors noted that further research on positive youth development among disadvantaged African American youth is necessary. The current study provides information about informal mentoring and the …

Exploring Juvenile Delinquency Recidivism In Fulton County, Georgia, Adekoya Olateru-Olagbegi

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The high juvenile delinquency recidivism rate is a problem in Fulton County Georgia, that continues to be of significant concern. The juvenile justice system has gained acceptance as a means of addressing and reducing the high recidivism rates of juvenile offenders. However, there is a lack of research regarding African American male adults and juvenile justice probationers’ perceptions of the factors affecting recidivism. This qualitative study explored and examined the phenomenon and factors that contribute to juvenile recidivism through the perceptions of African American male adults who were previously juvenile delinquents, and current juvenile probation officers. Ecological systems theory was …

The Executive Director Experiences Of African American Women In Mainstream Nonprofit Performing Arts Organizations, Davida S. Gobin

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

African American women are presently underrepresented in mainstream nonprofit performing arts organizations (PAOs) throughout the United States. Despite this inequality, a small number of African American women have overcome the odds and have productively earned senior leadership roles as executive directors in mainstream nonprofit PAOs. Using the conceptual frameworks of intersectionality and critical race feminism, the purpose of this study was to explore the shared lived experiences of African American women in executive director positions and the impact of race and gender on their leadership development and training for advancement in a mainstream nonprofit PAO. Four research questions explored the …

Suicidal Ideation, Suicidality, And Hiv/Aids Infection Or Diagnosis Among Asian American Sexual Minorities, Francis Azih Ngene

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Asian American men who have sex with men (MSM) are an understudied minority. They are particularly affected by HIV/AIDS and are also impacted by psychosocial and mental health factors of depression, substance use, drug use, and alcohol use/abuse, any of which may lead to suicidal ideation and suicidality. These associations have not been widely studied in this population. The purpose of this quantitative study was to use the 2015 National Survey on Drug Use and Health data to examine these psychosocial and mental health issues and their association with suicidal ideation, suicidality, and HIV/AIDS infection or diagnosis among Asian American …

Young African American Men's Conception Of Fatherhood Among Survivors Of Childhood Abuse, Ohan Patricia Carter

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Male survivors of abuse who become fathers themselves face challenges different from female survivors, such as conceptualizing their roles as providers and heads of households after the traumatic and often belittling experiences of abuse. However, very few researchers have studied the connection between child abuse and fatherhood, and none specific to young African American fathers. An interpretative phenomenological approach enabled exploration of how African American fathers who were abused as children, conceptualized and perceived their own experiences with fatherhood. The theoretical framework for this study was identity theory, which indicates that how people conceptualize a social role influences their actions …

Postpartum Depression Education And Screening In A Hospital Setting, Amanda Snyder

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

It is estimated that 24.3% of women in Florida who have recently given birth experience postpartum depression (PPD), which approximates the national percentage. Perinatal nurses are often not provided specific education relating to PPD nor provided reliable methods to screen patients in the hospital setting. The focus of this project was to increase the number of mothers identified as needing follow-up for PPD by formally educating perinatal staff members on the signs and symptoms of depression, while including validated methods of screening patients compared to the current practice of general assessment and verbal interviewing. The approach was supportive of the …

Perspectives Of African Americans Diagnosed With End Stage Renal Disease And Their Perceptions Regarding Accessibility Of Care, Toya Williams

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

End stage renal disease (ESRD) is the final phase of kidney disease. African Americans make up 35% of all ESRD cases, which is rising. They lead all other racial groups and are 3 times more likely to be diagnosed with ESRD. Researchers have reported quantitative results involving this population, but none have focused on their experiences. The researcher sought to capture the experiences of these patients and their perceptions regarding access to healthcare to determine the role that access to care played in their condition. Interviews were conducted to gain an understanding of their experiences related to their use of …

African American Women’S Perceptions About Double Jeopardy And Mentoring In The Federal Government, Fatimah Pierce

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Research shows that women’s leadership development can be fostered through gender-based mentoring. However, even when involved in gender-based mentoring relationships, African American women face additional challenges due to the intersectionality of their race and gender, often known as “double jeopardy.” The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore how this intersectionality shapes African American women leaders’ perceptions about their gender-based mentoring experiences from the perspectives of both mentors and protégés. The theoretical framework for this study was Black feminist thought. One research question and two subquestions addressed the role of intersectionality, the benefits and challenges of gender-based mentoring, and …

Impact Of Race-Related Stress And Intraracial Microaggressions On Self-Efficacy Of African Descendants, Samina Long

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Race-related stress such as ancestral trauma and experiences of out- and in-group microaggressions can be intergenerationally transmitted from parent to child. The current study was conducted to address the need for research on race-related trauma and out- and in-group discrimination by providing evidence-based research on whether African descendants experiencing and witnessing race-related stress and intraracial microaggressions results in low self-efficacy. The purpose of this quantitative, multiple regression design was to explore the relationships among race-related stress, intraracial microaggressions, and self-efficacy, which may provide clarity on the psychological impact of these stressors. This study addressed the question of whether race-related stress …

African American High School Graduates’ Perceptions Of Their African American Principal’S Leadership, Patricia Mitchell Marzett

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

There is a need to increase high school graduation rates for African American students, decrease dropout rates, and narrow or close the achievement gap between African American students and White students. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to determine the perceptions of African American students who graduated from high school regarding the leadership of their African American principal. Delgado and Stefancic’s critical race theory and Bass’s transformational leadership constitute the conceptual framework for this study. Nine participants who graduated from high schools led by an African American principal were interviewed, and transcripts were analyzed using in vivo coding. …

Help-Seeking Behaviors Among Filipino Americans: Understanding Enculturation, Depression, And Anxiety, Kristoffer John Almazan Rouse

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Filipino Americans have some of the highest levels of psychological distress among all Asian Americans. However, underrepresentation in psychological studies and a unique set of cultural values and norms contribute to the lack of literature on the sources of this distress among Filipino Americans. The purpose of this quantitative study was to examine how aspects of cultural assimilation and norms of Filipino culture affect willingness of Filipino Americans to seek mental health services. Several factors, enculturation, anxiety, and depression, among Filipino Americans were examined to predict influence on help-seeking behaviors. A sample of 120 Filipino Americans living in the Pacific …

Maternal Discrimination Stress And Negative Birth Outcomes Among Black Women, Quantrilla Y. Ard

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Black women are more than twice as likely as White women to experience losing their infants in the first year of life. The purpose of this quantitative study was to examine relationships between maternal discriminatory stress and negative birth outcomes such as preterm delivery, low birth weight, very low birth weight, and infant death among Black women with varying levels of education. This study was grounded in critical race theory and Black feminist theory, positing that Black women are the sum of intersecting identities that shape their world view. A sample of 107 Black women were recruited by convenience and …

African American Women Bloggers’ Lived Experiences With Digital Entrepreneurship: A Transcendental Phenomenological Study, Melissa Mcdowell

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The professionalization of blogs has elevated blogging to an organizational field whereby bloggers develop a legitimate career path. For many minority women bloggers, the transition from being traditionally employed to managing a one-person digital enterprise is often met with racial and gender imbalances created by nontraditional modes of work. The purpose of this qualitative transcendental phenomenological study was to gain a deeper understanding of how African American women bloggers described their lived experiences with managing a one-person digital enterprise and the implications of their racial and gender identity within this nontraditional mode of work. To address this gap, a transcendental …

Portrait Narratives Of Caring Teachers For African American High School Students, Larissa T. Mccormick

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

For African American high school students, caring relationships extend beyond peer

interaction to include supporting adults, most particularly teachers, who are pivotal to

their educational experience and success or lack of success. The research problem

centered on the lack of diversity and authentic voice when discussing caring teacher-student relationships. Markedly, the voices of African American high school students

were lacking from the current body of research literature. The purpose of this narrative

qualitative study was threefold: (a) to capture the voices of African American high school

students’ as they shared their experience(s) about a caring teacher; (b) to capture the …

African American Men's Perceptions Of Colorism, Naeemah A. Young-Jones

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Colorism bias related to skin complexion is a persistent phenomenon within the African American community and often shapes the family dynamics and results in noteworthy adverse psychosocial impacts for African Americans. Researchers have examined colorism or the preference for lighter skin over darker skin primarily as it pertained to women, but little research existed regarding men. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore the lived experiences of African American men with respect to their attitudes toward skin complexion and how those attitudes inform their dating habits and self-esteem. Understanding how this group of men managed living this phenomenon …

Relationships Between Characterizations Of Military Service: Bad Discharge And Veteran Homelessness, Ronnie Fairley

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Given the current global war on terror, there was concern that the influx of servicemen and women returning from the war with less than honorable discharge would increase veteran homelessness in the United States. Using Castro and Kintzle's military transition theory, the purpose of this nonexperimental correlational design was to determine relationships between military characterizations of service and veteran homelessness. The correlational research design was used to determine the relationship between military discharge and veteran homelessness. Data were acquired from archival data regarding separated American servicemen and women who served in the military from the Defense Manpower Data Center and …

Perceptions Of K-12 School Principals Regarding Instructional Leadership To Support Music Teachers, Erick Cuthbert Willie

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

K-12 school principals, as instructional leaders, are critical to supporting music teachers. The problem addressed in this project study was that principals have been inconsistently applying instructional leadership to support music teachers to remain in the teaching profession. The purpose of this basic qualitative research design study was to understand how principals applied instructional leadership practices to support music teachers in order to retain them. The conceptual framework was the instructional leadership model of Hallinger and Murphy, which defines three main dimensions of instructional leadership: (a) the school mission, (b) the instructional program, and (c) the school climate. The research …

Area-Level Factors Linked To Obesity In African American And Caucasian Women In Michigan, Marjorie Arrey

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Obesity is a major public health crisis, affecting every segment of the U.S. population. African American women have higher prevalence of obesity than all other subpopulations and are disproportionately burdened by the disease and its comorbidities. Despite this disparity, African American women are often underrepresented in obesity research. This research examined obesity-related risk factors specific to African American women compared to those for Caucasian women. The design was based on the socioecological model and social cognitive theory, both emphasizing the impact of social factors on health outcomes. The data set included only adult Michigan women from the NHANES study. Multiple …

Precursors To Human Trafficking, Aleta J. Eldridge

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractThe problem addressed in this phenomenological study was the lack of documentation of the supported lived experiences of the precursors that children exhibit prior to being groomed by a sex trafficker into human sex trafficking. The purpose of this study was to explore the lived experiences of adults, whom as a child, were groomed into sex trafficking due to being bullied, experienced familial abuse and had used illegal drugs, concurrent. Using Ostrom's institutional analysis theory (IAT) and Shaw and McKay's social disorganization theory (SDT), this study examined the three precursors of human trafficking that occurred, concurrently, prior and during the …

Conceptualising, Implementing, And Teaching Ethical Leadership For Nigerian Public Officials, Stella Benaiah Georgeson-Agege

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Unethical behavior of some Nigerian public officials has resulted in poverty of citizens and a lack of infrastructure such as shelter, electricity, and roads in the country. Researchers have noted that ethical leadership frameworks could address these issues. In Nigeria, there are no such frameworks. The aim of this study was to explore the views of experts on conceptualizing, implementing, and teaching ethical leadership for Nigerian Public officials. Using the Brown et al. ethical leadership theory as a conceptual framework, and the Delphi method, 3 rounds of questionnaires and interviews were administered to 20 experts. The research question included curriculum …

Clinician Experiences With Religious, Spiritual, And Nonreligious Beliefs In Psychotherapeutic Interactions, Carolyn Rochelle Cowl-Witherspoon

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Psychologists are ethically bound to respect the belief systems of their clients while practicing within appropriate boundaries of competence regardless of whether they hold different beliefs than their clients. Further, though there may be a disparity between clinicians’ and clients’ beliefs, most clients expect meaningful integrations of religious and spiritual beliefs, values, and traditions into psychotherapeutic interactions. To meet the needs and expectations of a religiously or spiritually oriented client base, psychologists must maintain appropriate levels of competency within this complex domain. But clinicians are hindered by inaccurate, incomplete, or inconsistent levels of education and training specific to the ethically …

Nurses’ Aesthetic Responses And Emotional Judgements To Senior Leaders’ Symbolism, Lucinda A. Easler

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Stress can be heightened during a merger; understanding how acute care nurses who work in a hospital undergoing a merger, experience senior leaders’ use of symbolism may help to promote hospital and leader sustainability. Executive symbolism unfolds into aesthetic experience, normally considered a response to art, with few studies of its existence and benefit to organizational life. The purpose of this phenomenological-hermeneutic study guided by Parker’s aesthetic theory was to examine acute care nurses’ emotional responses and experiences with senior leaders’ use of executive symbolism in the midst of the organizational change. Interviews with 11 acute care registered nurses were …

Gender And Millennial Support For Women Political Leaders, Delaina Lea Sawyers

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Despite comprising more than 50% of the population and voting in greater numbers than men, women are underrepresented in U.S. political leadership. Although research exists on the correlation between gender and politics, little literature addresses the influence of generation and gender on voting behavior. Using Jaggar's liberal feminist theory as a framework, the purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between female generational cohorts and their policy preferences and candidate support. Two research questions assessed the differences between female millennials and baby boomers regarding policy preferences in the areas of income equality, opportunity, representation, and candidate support. A …