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Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons

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Walden University

2016

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Articles 1 - 30 of 414

Full-Text Articles in Social and Behavioral Sciences

A Qualitative Study Of Gender Issues Associated With Academic Mentoring In A Nigerian University., Oghoadena Clementina Osezua Dr Dec 2016

A Qualitative Study Of Gender Issues Associated With Academic Mentoring In A Nigerian University., Oghoadena Clementina Osezua Dr

Journal of Educational Research and Practice

There is an upsurge in the establishment of private and public universities in Nigeria. The development has opened up the need for quality and seasoned academics, but minimal opportunities exist for mentoring of young academics. This article explores the mentoring opportunities and challenges of young female academics faced in a male dominant university system. From an exploratory qualitative design, this article generates empirical evidence through structured a face-to-face interview with purposively selected 36 female academics. The participants were recruited from the Obafemi Awolowo University, a first-generation, public-owned university in Nigeria. A thematic analysis of the data revealed common challenges in …


Correlates Of Satisfaction With Life For People Who Identify As Transgender And Sexual Minority, Christopher C. Bober, Kristen L. Suing, Dustin K. Shepler Nov 2016

Correlates Of Satisfaction With Life For People Who Identify As Transgender And Sexual Minority, Christopher C. Bober, Kristen L. Suing, Dustin K. Shepler

Journal of Social, Behavioral, and Health Sciences

Researchers have focused on understanding factors such as resiliency, medical concerns, and coping skills in the lives of transgender and gender-nonconforming people. However, little research has examined how transgender and gender-nonconforming people cognitively evaluate their own lives. Furthermore, many people who identify as transgender or gender-nonconforming also report a sexual minority identity status. In this study, we sought to understand how aspects of sexual self-concept (i.e., sexual esteem and sexual anxiety), internalized homonegativity, and level of outness about sexual identity correlated to self-appraisals of satisfaction with life (SWL) in a sample of transgender and gender-nonconforming people who identified as sexual …


Diminished Quality Of Life Among Women Affected By Ebola, Jessi Hanson, Alexis Decosimo, Megan Quinn Nov 2016

Diminished Quality Of Life Among Women Affected By Ebola, Jessi Hanson, Alexis Decosimo, Megan Quinn

Journal of Social, Behavioral, and Health Sciences

This article analyzes data collected from Liberian women afflicted by the Ebola virus disease, survivors of the virus and noninfected persons living in Ebola-affected homes. This research is one of the first statistical analyses examining factors diminishing quality of life: negative experiences, stigma, and psychosocial symptoms among females affected by the virus after the outbreak. The research presents a thorough literature review, including research related to other infectious diseases like HIV/AIDS, to inform the gap in studies on Ebola’s effects on quality of life. Women who are Ebola virus disease survivors demonstrate significant differences in stigma and psychosocial stress when …


"That's Not Fair!" Children's Judgments Of Maternal Fairness And Good/Bad Intentions, Marla Johnston, Herbert D. Saltzstein Nov 2016

"That's Not Fair!" Children's Judgments Of Maternal Fairness And Good/Bad Intentions, Marla Johnston, Herbert D. Saltzstein

Journal of Social, Behavioral, and Health Sciences

Do children use their own moral judgments as a template against which to judge a parent’s fairness, and does that depend on the child’s age? Piaget’s concept of objective-to-subjective responsibility (a focus on outcome to a focus on intentions) was the template for the current study. The research question was how do children of different ages evaluate the fairness of mothers’ praise/blame for acts featuring different combinations of good/bad intentions and outcome. Forty-eight children (ages 3–11 years) heard two stories in which the outcome did not match the intentions. There were two versions of each story type: In one, the …


A Comparative Analysis Of Mississippi Rural Schools’ Abstinence-Only And Abstinence-Plus Programs, Alonzo Jeffrey Williams, Brian Zamboni, Rachel Piferi Nov 2016

A Comparative Analysis Of Mississippi Rural Schools’ Abstinence-Only And Abstinence-Plus Programs, Alonzo Jeffrey Williams, Brian Zamboni, Rachel Piferi

Journal of Social, Behavioral, and Health Sciences

Mississippi responded to high teenage pregnancy rates by enacting a law requiring school districts to choose between an abstinence-only or abstinence-plus program. However, there is limited research on Mississippi’s sex education policies, creating a research gap that inhibits developing successful programs. There is a need to compare the two programs with a focus on rural areas. This study compared programs by examining students’ abstinent sexual attitudes, social norms, self-efficacy, sexual abstinence behaviors, and perceived effectiveness of sexual education and decision making to address whether those variables differed by programs and if there was an interaction between programs and students’ …


Lgbtq Topics And Christianity In Social Work: Tackling The Tough Questions, Laura E. Kaplan, Jeanna Jacobsen, David Mccarty-Caplan Nov 2016

Lgbtq Topics And Christianity In Social Work: Tackling The Tough Questions, Laura E. Kaplan, Jeanna Jacobsen, David Mccarty-Caplan

Walden Faculty and Staff Publications

In 2014 the North American Association of Christians in Social Work (NACSW) convention offered a workshop whose abstract stated coverage of controversies, ethics, governmental policies, and faith related to reparative therapy. In this workshop, presenters expressed support for using reparative therapy at clients’ requests. In response to this, a member of the Caucus of LGBT Faculty and Doctoral Students in Social Work (LGBT Caucus) organized a letter with over 120 social work faculty and practitioner signatures and submitted it to NACSW expressing concern that reparative/conversion therapy was offered as a viable mental health treatment at a professional social work conference, …


Death Anxiety, Depression, And Coping In Family Caregivers, Veronica Semenova, Leann Stadtlander Oct 2016

Death Anxiety, Depression, And Coping In Family Caregivers, Veronica Semenova, Leann Stadtlander

Journal of Social, Behavioral, and Health Sciences

Along with the increase in elderly patients with chronic and disabling conditions, the number of family caregivers continues to rise. Caregiving has been associated with negative physical and psychological impact on the caregivers’ health, as well as, with higher prevalence rates of depression, anxiety, and a higher risk of mortality. The purpose of this study was to examine if death anxiety would be a significant predictor of depression and coping in the sample of adult family caregivers of adult patients. Participants were 46 family caregivers recruited through caregiver websites. Participants completed the Revised Collett–Lester Fear of Death and Dying Scale, …


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 …


Examining Nigerian Banking Governance, Leadership Style, And Performance During The Financial Crisis, Adeola O. Agbato Dr, Kevin J. Davies Dr Oct 2016

Examining Nigerian Banking Governance, Leadership Style, And Performance During The Financial Crisis, Adeola O. Agbato Dr, Kevin J. Davies Dr

Walden Faculty and Staff Publications

The 2008–2009 global financial crisis of financial systems negatively affected about 30% of Nigerian banks, leading to profitability issues. The profitability issues led to operational challenges, downsizing, and liquidation of some banks. The purpose of this correlational study was to examine the relationship between corporate governance structure, perception of leadership style, and bank performance. This study was grounded in agency theory and used survey and archival data. Survey data were collected from 11 participants employed by commercial banks located in Nigeria, using the Multifaceted Leadership Questionnaire. Corporate governance and bank performance data were collected from annual bank reports. The model …


Career Transitions In Sport, T. Brandt, N. Harmsen, W. Walsh, Kimberlee Bethany Bonura, N. Galli May 2016

Career Transitions In Sport, T. Brandt, N. Harmsen, W. Walsh, Kimberlee Bethany Bonura, N. Galli

School of Psychology Publications

The transition out of sport prompts an identity change for the athlete. When putting an end to their sporting career, an athlete loses an important part of themselves, particularly if they have been training and competing in their sport for much of their life. This may apply to the youth athlete who will not compete in college, the collegiate athlete who will not compete professionally, and the professional athlete who is retiring. Because athletes spend a great deal of time training and devoting themselves to their sport, they may not have time for exploration of activities or careers outside of …


Career Transitions In Sport, T. Brandt, N. Harmsen, W. Walsh, Kimberlee Bethany Bonura, N. Galli May 2016

Career Transitions In Sport, T. Brandt, N. Harmsen, W. Walsh, Kimberlee Bethany Bonura, N. Galli

Walden Faculty and Staff Publications

The transition out of sport prompts an identity change for the athlete. When putting an end to their sporting career, an athlete loses an important part of themselves, particularly if they have been training and competing in their sport for much of their life. This may apply to the youth athlete who will not compete in college, the collegiate athlete who will not compete professionally, and the professional athlete who is retiring. Because athletes spend a great deal of time training and devoting themselves to their sport, they may not have time for exploration of activities or careers outside of …


Beyond Competency: An Innovative Approach To Teaching Ethic, Laura E. Kaplan, Val Bryan, Scott Sanders Mar 2016

Beyond Competency: An Innovative Approach To Teaching Ethic, Laura E. Kaplan, Val Bryan, Scott Sanders

Barbara Solomon School of Social Work Publications

No abstract provided.


Beyond Competency: An Innovative Approach To Teaching Ethic, Laura E. Kaplan, Val Bryan, Scott Sanders Mar 2016

Beyond Competency: An Innovative Approach To Teaching Ethic, Laura E. Kaplan, Val Bryan, Scott Sanders

Walden Faculty and Staff Publications

No abstract provided.


Life Events, Initial Sexual Behaviors, And Teenage Pregnancy Among African American Females, Yonzetta Brook Tillman Jan 2016

Life Events, Initial Sexual Behaviors, And Teenage Pregnancy Among African American Females, Yonzetta Brook Tillman

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Teenage pregnancy is disproportionate between African American and Caucasian females. This disproportion is notable because African American teenagers are 3 times more likely to become pregnant than their Caucasian counterparts are. The purpose of this study was to determine whether a relationship exists among major life events, sexual behaviors, and resultant teenage pregnancy among African American females in the United States. The theoretical framework for this study was social learning theory. Three key research questions focused on relationships among (a) major life events and initial sexual behavior, (b) ethnicity, and (c) teenage pregnancy. Independent variables were life event and ethnicity, …


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 …


Life, Liberty, And The Pursuit Of Happiness: Measuring What Matters, Laura Musikanski, Carl Polley Jan 2016

Life, Liberty, And The Pursuit Of Happiness: Measuring What Matters, Laura Musikanski, Carl Polley

Journal of Sustainable Social Change

This essay focuses on ways in which the governments of Bhutan and the United Kingdom are measuring subjective well-being as well as on how other governments including Norway, Spain, China, Canada, and New Zealand, are exploring the development of subjective well-being indicators. It concludes with recommended actions to aid in the formation of a consistent and comparable subjective well-being indicator for use by governments globally. The third in a series for which the purpose is to provide information to grassroots activists to foster the happiness movement for a new economic paradigm, this essay builds on the previous essays, Happiness in …


A Study Of Collaborative Leadership In South Carolina Alcohol Enforcement Teams, Michael Dale George Jan 2016

A Study Of Collaborative Leadership In South Carolina Alcohol Enforcement Teams, Michael Dale George

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In 2007 South Carolina funded 15 regional coordinators to work with local law enforcement agencies and alcohol and drug commissions to create 16 community alcohol enforcement teams to improve enforcement of underage drinking laws. Previous researchers have suggested that collaborative leadership is needed for effective teams, yet little is known about the factors that serve as barriers to and facilitators of, collaborative leadership in alcohol enforcement teams. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore the lived experiences of coordinators involved in leading the alcohol enforcement teams in South Carolina. The theoretical framework used was Cameron, Quinn, DeGraff, and …


A Study Of Satisfaction With Online Learning In Workplace Training, M. Anita Jones Jan 2016

A Study Of Satisfaction With Online Learning In Workplace Training, M. Anita Jones

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The American workplace and American culture have rapidly transitioned to online learning and are now more dependent on technology. Yet, in spite of a multitude of studies that explored online learning, it has not been established whether managers are satisfied with application of technology to training. The purpose of this study was to examine receptiveness as expressed by satisfaction with effectiveness of online training among managers to determine if a relationship exists for age, position, and length of service. The research was based on theoretical foundations of Herzberg's theory of motivation and Herzberg's theory of job satisfaction. The goal of …


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 …


An Interpretive Phenomenological Investigation Of The Meaning Of Job Satisfaction Among Veteran Special Educators, Raeann Barnes Jan 2016

An Interpretive Phenomenological Investigation Of The Meaning Of Job Satisfaction Among Veteran Special Educators, Raeann Barnes

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The attrition rate among special education teachers is ranked among the highest in the education profession. Retaining teachers early in their careers continues to be a concern due to increased job responsibilities, larger caseloads, challenging student behaviors, minimal support from colleagues, increased paperwork, and diminishing resources. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to examine the meaning of satisfaction special education teachers made of their careers. The transactional model developed by Lazarus and Folkman (1984) can help to explain how the occurrence of stressful events can impact an individual. A purposive sample of 9 tenured, certified special education teachers currently …


Terrorist Experts’ Perceptions Of How The Internet Has Shaped International Terrorism, Samuel F. Wilson Ii, Teresa M. Lao Ph.D., Ernesto Escobedo Dr. Jan 2016

Terrorist Experts’ Perceptions Of How The Internet Has Shaped International Terrorism, Samuel F. Wilson Ii, Teresa M. Lao Ph.D., Ernesto Escobedo Dr.

School of Public Policy and Administration Publications

The use of the Internet by terrorists has greatly contributed to international terrorism. The Internet is a main strategic communication asset for terrorists who use online message boards and chat rooms to share information, coordinate attacks, spread propaganda, raise money, and recruit. The Internet gives terrorists a medium to legitimize, propagate, and intimidate citizens to their cause. Their strategies are based on careful analysis of human communications; thus, messages are adapted and carefully delivered to appeal to people who may need something to believe in. This study bridged the gap in knowledge by exploring, understanding, and explaining the perceptions of …


Parents And Teachers’ Perceptions And Clinical Diagnosis Of Autism Among White And Non-White Groups, Margaret Gopaul Jan 2016

Parents And Teachers’ Perceptions And Clinical Diagnosis Of Autism Among White And Non-White Groups, Margaret Gopaul

School of Psychology Publications

The pervasiveness of autism has significantly increased over the past 2 decades with the 2014 Center for Disease Control and Prevention report indicating 1 in 68 children are diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Early intervention is recommended as the most effective treatment approach. Nevertheless, previous research has indicated that White children are diagnosed with ASD about 1.5 years earlier than are Non-White children. A current gap remains in literature regarding ASD and different racial groups, and evidence has been inconclusive regarding disparities in identifying and diagnosing ASD. To fill this gap, this study investigated the relationship between child race, …


Citizen Wellbeing And Gdp: Towards More Appropriate Measures Of Namibia's Success And Progress, Justine Braby Dr, Jessica-Jane Lavelle, Johannes Mulunga, Newman Nekwaya, Fikameni Mathias, Angula Angula Jan 2016

Citizen Wellbeing And Gdp: Towards More Appropriate Measures Of Namibia's Success And Progress, Justine Braby Dr, Jessica-Jane Lavelle, Johannes Mulunga, Newman Nekwaya, Fikameni Mathias, Angula Angula

Journal of Sustainable Social Change

Developing nations like Namibia are aiming to industrialize much like developed nations and use the gross domestic product to measure their progress. However, this development path has been largely unsustainable. For Namibia to develop into a sustainable society, a different approach is needed. This study aimed to find entry points toward such an approach. Surveys were conducted in Windhoek, Namibia's capital, to measure human well-being. Generally, as is expected in a developing country, well-being correlated positively along the income line. However, the indicators did illustrate that a more holistic measure would go a long way toward more effective development planning …


Food Policy: Urban Farming As A Supplemental Food Source, Bessie Didomenica, Mark Gordon Jan 2016

Food Policy: Urban Farming As A Supplemental Food Source, Bessie Didomenica, Mark Gordon

Journal of Sustainable Social Change

Food policy has a unique role for public, nonprofit, private, and academic stakeholders. Growing food in the city is a challenge worldwide. Food systems can be destroyed by external (weather extremes) and internal (zoning regulations) forces. This study explores urban farms as a secondary food source and their common themes across four sectors. A Northeastern U.S. city was the case study to examine how it implemented its formal urban agriculture program. The positive social change implications of urban farms include greater food visibility and food access in low-income areas and more consumer awareness about growing fresh food. This study contributes …


The Experience Of Being Unsheltered In Atlantaikeranda, Ikeranda Smith Jan 2016

The Experience Of Being Unsheltered In Atlantaikeranda, Ikeranda Smith

2010-2016 Archived Posters

This study was an examination of the experiences of unsheltered homeless men with social services providers, and faith as a resource for coping. The themes that emerged were difficulties and complexities of being unsheltered, barriers to becoming sheltered, specific needs of unsheltered men, and how faith sustains and encouraged the unsheltered.


Using Multi-Theory Model For Physical Activity Behavior Change, Manoj Sharma Jan 2016

Using Multi-Theory Model For Physical Activity Behavior Change, Manoj Sharma

2010-2016 Archived Posters

Physical inactivity is a major public health problem. College students are a vulnerable group. This study was aimed at using multi-theory model (MTM) of health behavior change to predict physical activity behavior change in college students. Regression revealed that 26% of the variance in the initiation of physical activity was explained by advantages outweighing disadvantages, behavioral confidence, work status, and changes in physical environment. About 30% of the variance in sustenance of physical activity was explained by emotional transformation, practice for change, and changes in social environment.


Lived Experiences Of Women Over 50 Who Have Experienced Involuntary Job Loss, Roxine D. Phillips Jan 2016

Lived Experiences Of Women Over 50 Who Have Experienced Involuntary Job Loss, Roxine D. Phillips

2010-2016 Archived Posters

This study explored the lived experiences of women over 50 following job loss. Findings indicate women experienced financial, emotional and psychosocial experiences. Age discrimination, organizational practices, technological challenges, and stereotypical beliefs emerged as barriers to reemployment. Organizational leaders and policy makers can use the findings to gain a greater understanding of the experiences of women over 50 following job loss.


Tribal Gaming Leader Strategies Toward A Sustainable Future, Janie A. Hall Jan 2016

Tribal Gaming Leader Strategies Toward A Sustainable Future, Janie A. Hall

2010-2016 Archived Posters

One aspect of leadership strategy is the need to account for the core values of the organization. The purpose of this case study was to explore the perceptions of tribal gaming leader strategies toward sustainability, an action that leads to tribal economic development and stability. This research explored the strategies necessary for tribal gaming leader choices that could have a significant influence on social progress, environmental protection, and economic growth.


Examining The Credibility And Influence Of Agile Leadership Blogs On Transformation, Gail Ferreira Jan 2016

Examining The Credibility And Influence Of Agile Leadership Blogs On Transformation, Gail Ferreira

2010-2016 Archived Posters

The use of online sources for decision information continues to grow among consumers. One of these sources is the blog, a venue for user-generated content that simulates word-of-mouth communication. The growth and influence of blogs create opportunities for marketers to use them as part of strategy development. To facilitate an understanding of blogs and their potential influence on consumers‘ decisions, this study was an examination of the influence of the credibility of blogs on blog readers‘ behavioral intentions (e.g., agile transformation), as mediated by trust and moderated by involvement. The appraisal of blog credibility was characterized as tri-dimensional – assessed …