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The Effects Of Female Genital Mutilation On Women Of Sierra Leone, Nenneh Kalokoh Kalokoh Jan 2017

The Effects Of Female Genital Mutilation On Women Of Sierra Leone, Nenneh Kalokoh Kalokoh

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Female genital mutilation or cutting (FGM/C), a common practice among Sierra Leonean women, carries significant psychological and physical risks. Prior to this study, a substantial need existed for inquiry of the experiences and belief systems within this cultural group to better understand the effects of FGM/C on women and girls. Guided by feminist theory and the theory of cultural relativism, the goal of this phenomenological study was to review the cultural perspectives and experiences of Sierra Leonean women who underwent FGM/C to investigate their concerns about safety and their perceptions of the practices. In addition, this study explored concerns among …

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The Effect Of Health Literacy In Low Estimated Glomerular Filtration And Diabetes, Nicklett Johnston Johnston Jan 2017

The Effect Of Health Literacy In Low Estimated Glomerular Filtration And Diabetes, Nicklett Johnston Johnston

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Health literacy is widespread, but its potential is not recognized. By not recognizing health literacy, patients have the burden of coping with diabetes with renal complications without full knowledge of their responsibility to their health. The focus of the project was to assess participants with diabetes with low health literacy and low mean glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). The project goal was achieved by the assessment of the participants' health literacy and eGFR before and after education for their diabetes, then assessed to determine if teaching the participants would improve their health literacy, lab values, and overall health. Participants were recruited …

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Improving Nurse Mentor Retention Through The Use Of Nurse Residency Programs, Morgan Newman Jan 2017

Improving Nurse Mentor Retention Through The Use Of Nurse Residency Programs, Morgan Newman

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Graduate nurses beginning their nursing career require a collaborative relationship with an expert nurse mentor to make this transition successful. However, high turnover among these experienced nurse mentors is causing a problematic gap in knowledge transfer, experience, and expertise in the nursing workforce. This project investigated whether nurse mentors who mentored in a Nurse Residency Program (NRP) remained with the organization longer and were more satisfied with their mentoring experience than nurse mentors who mentored outside of a NRP. The diffusion of innovations theory was used to support the project and process of dispersing information on the outcome of the …

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Sustainment Strategies Small Business Owners Use For More Than 5 Years, Son Thanh Nguyen Jan 2017

Sustainment Strategies Small Business Owners Use For More Than 5 Years, Son Thanh Nguyen

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

U.S. Small Business Administration reports that small businesses are one of the pillars of the U.S. economy, providing employment, innovation, and productivity. However, these businesses are constantly faced with challenges resulting from limited resources and continuous technological advances. This qualitative multiple-case study was performed to explore the strategies that small business owners (SBOs) in Maryland use to acquire capital to sustain their businesses financially for more than 5 years. The study's framework, the strategic management theory, was applied to determine the most effective approaches for the small businesses. Face-to-face interviews with 6 recruited SBOs were performed. A qualitative thematic analysis …

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Driving Strategies In Performance Excellence, Nathan Lawrence Jan 2017

Driving Strategies In Performance Excellence, Nathan Lawrence

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Only a small number of U.S. businesses have implemented the Baldrige Criteria for Performance Excellence to improve their performance. The purpose of this multiple case study was to explore strategies that executive business leaders use to implement the Baldrige Criteria for Performance Excellence. The study population consisted of 6 business executives and 2 organizations in the U.S. state of Texas, all with experience in implementing the Baldrige Criteria for Performance Excellence. The theory of high performance work systems provided the conceptual framework for the study. Data were gathered from interviews and record reviews that were conducted within the organizations. Inductive …

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Correlates Of Project Success In The Nigerian Real Estate Construction Sector, Augustine Ofodile Onyali Jan 2017

Correlates Of Project Success In The Nigerian Real Estate Construction Sector, Augustine Ofodile Onyali

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Project managers in the Nigerian real estate construction sector are facing challenges in delivering real estate projects profitably. The purpose of this correlational study was to examine how comprehension, motivation, skills, resources, and communication can predict project success in the real estate construction sector in Nigeria. Understanding these elements was necessary for developing project management strategies aimed at optimizing profitability. The population of the study was project management practitioners in the Nigerian real estate construction sector who are facing challenges in delivering real estate construction projects profitably. The duck alignment theory served as the theoretical framework for the study. Data …

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Servant Leadership: What Makes It An Effective Leadership Model., Janice Poland Tanno Jan 2017

Servant Leadership: What Makes It An Effective Leadership Model., Janice Poland Tanno

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Servant leadership (SL), a universal, ethical leadership style, consistently produces high performance and employee engagement. For the last two decades, lack of business ethics in decision making by senior leaders has resulted in many negative outcomes, such as the WorldCom scandal. The purpose of this descriptive phenomenological study was to identify and report the lived experiences of senior leaders in relation to decision making in SL organizations in the southwestern United States. The study's theoretical/conceptual foundations encompassed Maslow's motivation theories, decision theory, spirituality, spiritual intelligence, Cicero's virtue theory of ethics, and Greenleaf's SL. Data collection involved the use of semistructured …

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Acculturation, Identity Formation, And Mental Health-Related Issues Among Young Adult Ethiopian Immigrants, Sam A. Wolde Jan 2017

Acculturation, Identity Formation, And Mental Health-Related Issues Among Young Adult Ethiopian Immigrants, Sam A. Wolde

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Immigration is a contributing factor to population growth in the United States. Ethiopian immigrants who are residing in the United States constitute the second-largest African immigrant group next to Nigeria. The effect of immigrants' identity formation and acculturation process on their social and emotional wellness has drawn behavioral and social scientists' attention. Still, limited research has been devoted to exploring Ethiopian immigrants' acculturation and identity formation processes and how these processes shape 1.5- and second-generation immigrants' perceptions of mental health-related issues. This phenomenological study explored identity formation, acculturation processes, and mental health beliefs in 1.5- and second-generation Ethiopian immigrants. Face-to-face …

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The Role Of Leadership In Changing The Culture Of An International School To Be Inclusive Of Students With Special, Simon Norman Gillespie Jan 2017

The Role Of Leadership In Changing The Culture Of An International School To Be Inclusive Of Students With Special, Simon Norman Gillespie

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Educating a diverse student population is a core principle of international school education. Historically, many international schools have had admissions policies that excluded students with special learning needs. However, admission policies have changed to require more inclusiveness and school support for a wider range of students and for effectively meeting their needs. The study was based on change theory. Of interest was how school leaders best supported the change process to create the conditions for success in the context of changing admissions policies. Research questions targeted strategies that supported change and student success that were used to change the culture …

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Researchers', Stakeholders', And Investors' Perceptions Of U.S. Stem Cell Research Policy, Dorothy King-Moore Jan 2017

Researchers', Stakeholders', And Investors' Perceptions Of U.S. Stem Cell Research Policy, Dorothy King-Moore

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Federal support and funding for human embryonic stem cell (hESC) research in the United States lags behind stem cell programs in many countries because of the divisive debate over hESC research and the continually evolving federal policies that have hindered research efforts. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore the perceptions of stem cell researchers, stakeholders, and investors in the United States about the effects of the current federal stem cell policy on stem cell research in the United States, the moral disagreement with stem cell research, and their recommendations to improve stem cell research policy in the …

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Reducing Delirium In The Hospitalized Elderly With A Nursing Prevention Protocol, Mari L. Fraire Jan 2017

Reducing Delirium In The Hospitalized Elderly With A Nursing Prevention Protocol, Mari L. Fraire

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The aim of this project was to implement and evaluate the effectiveness of the Clear Minds protocol for early detection and prevention of delirium in hospitalized, elderly patients. The protocol was used to monitor for delirium and improve sleep quality by reducing sleep disturbances caused by environmental factors in hospital settings. Due to the risk of delirium for patients in late adulthood, implementation of a delirium-prevention protocol was needed. Upon admission, patients 60 years and older or patients that screened positive for the Brief Confusion Assessment Method (bCAM) were placed on the Clear Minds protocol. The protocol consisted of establishing …

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Parental Perception Of Mobile Device Usage In Children And Social Competency, Christin Topper Jan 2017

Parental Perception Of Mobile Device Usage In Children And Social Competency, Christin Topper

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Parents in the 21st century are concerned with the ubiquity of mobile devices and their effects on the progression of social development. A review of the literature indicated that although digital interaction has become more prominent, limited empirical data existed on whether children who spend more time interacting in the digital realm would develop the necessary competency to handle social situations in real-life settings. Using social constructivist theory and the Schramm model of communication as the theoretical foundations, the present study examined the relationship between mobile device usage and the level of social competency in young children as perceived by …

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Virtual Learning Environments' Impact On Adult Learners' Motivation In The Workplace, Clarence Eugene Bashshar Jan 2017

Virtual Learning Environments' Impact On Adult Learners' Motivation In The Workplace, Clarence Eugene Bashshar

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Virtual learning environments have become prevalent in the workplace to improve talent development. However, because there are so many different types of design options, not all learners are finding success in the virtual learning environment. This mismatch can negatively impact employees' motivation and learning outcomes. The purpose of this study was to explore how design features of a virtual learning environment impacted adult learners' motivation in the workplace. Constructivist and self-determination theories were used as theoretical frameworks. The research question in this study explored how social and external contextual factors influence an adult learner's motivation to learn in a virtual …

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Nigerian Oil And Gas Industry Content Development Act's Perceived Performance Impact, Olakunle Thomas Ayoola Jan 2017

Nigerian Oil And Gas Industry Content Development Act's Perceived Performance Impact, Olakunle Thomas Ayoola

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Petroleum-producing companies in Nigeria were forced to increase spending on Nigerian-sourced materials and services from $8 billion to $13 billion since 2010, due to the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development Act. The act was enacted in 2010 to support local firms and improve the companies' performance. However, there is sparse research on how the act affected the companies' performance. This study was an examination of the impact of the act on the companies' performance. Bandura's social cognitive theory was the theoretical framework. The research questions of this descriptive correlational study were used to examine the act's effect on …

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Developing Small And Medium Enterprises In The Nigerian Oil And Gas Sector, Blessing Ejiro Inubiwon Jan 2017

Developing Small And Medium Enterprises In The Nigerian Oil And Gas Sector, Blessing Ejiro Inubiwon

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) participation in the Nigerian oil and gas industry has remained low despite their importance in income generation, employment, local capacity building, and poverty eradication. The purpose of this multiple case study was to explore the strategies SME owners use to improve profitability in the Nigerian oil and gas industry. The target population consisted of 5 business owners who had successfully managed SMEs in Warri, Delta State, Nigeria for more than 5 years. The resource-based view and Porter's 5 forces of competition served as the conceptual framework for the study. Data collection was through semistructured interviews …

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Achieving Sustainability In Hazard-Prone Territories: A Case Study, Denise J. Roberts Jan 2017

Achieving Sustainability In Hazard-Prone Territories: A Case Study, Denise J. Roberts

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Achieving sustained economic growth and development has been an area of concern for policy-makers in the Anglophone Caribbean since the transition from colonial rule to self-governance. To date, the researcher did not find any research that has explicitly examined the role of policy-making effectiveness as a strategy for achieving the goals of sustainable development. This qualitative multiple case study of Barbados and Grenada was conceptualized from the perspective of critical theory from the World Commission on Environment and Development to explore and understand why sustainability has not been sufficiently realized and how sustainable development may be pursued in territories that …

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Association Between Physician Characteristics And Surgical Errors In U.S. Hospitals, Obumneke A. Amadi Jan 2017

Association Between Physician Characteristics And Surgical Errors In U.S. Hospitals, Obumneke A. Amadi

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The high incidence of medical and surgical errors in U.S. hospitals and clinics affects patients' safety. Not enough is known about the relationship between physician characteristics and medical error rates. The purpose of this quantitative correlational study was to examine the relationship between selected physician characteristics and surgical errors in U.S. hospitals. The ecological model was used to understand personal and systemic factors that might be related to the incidence of surgical errors. Archived data from the National Practitioner Data Bank database of physician surgical errors were analyzed using bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses. Independent variables included physicians' home …

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A Teacher Retrospective Of A Decade Of One-To-One Devices, Sarah J. Irish Jan 2017

A Teacher Retrospective Of A Decade Of One-To-One Devices, Sarah J. Irish

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

One-to-one electronic devices have become commonplace in many educational settings across the globe, but it has been unclear how long-term teaching practices using such devices have evolved and how they relate to recognized best practices for using technology in the classroom. This study examined what a generation of teachers has over time identified as best applications of using these devices; their benefits, drawbacks, and challenges; and whether their use reflected previously identified best application of technologies in the classroom. This case study, conducted in one school system in New England, used the theories of Substitution, Augmentation, Modification and Redefinition (SAMR) …

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Stakeholder Perceptions Of Factors That Limit Career And Technical Education Course Offerings, Antonio Cooper Jan 2017

Stakeholder Perceptions Of Factors That Limit Career And Technical Education Course Offerings, Antonio Cooper

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This study addressed the problem of the lack of Career and Technical Educational (CTE) courses offered at 3 high schools located in a rural Alabama county. Guided by Bourdieu's cultural capital theory, this study examined cultural capital in reference to the transference of knowledge that each high school in this study provides its students throughout their high school education. The research questions explored the stakeholders' perceptions of the factors that prevent the schools from offering more CTE programs and how CTE programs should be expanded in each school. A collective case study design was used for this study, with the …

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The Managerial Impact On Small Business Global Supply Chain, Silvia Nigh Jan 2017

The Managerial Impact On Small Business Global Supply Chain, Silvia Nigh

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In a global economy, companies that are able to engage in international trade may have a competitive advantage over others. Increased globalization is also increasing the demand for effective global supply management practices. Building on Lorenz's chaos theory, this instrumental case study explored the strategies that 4 senior managers from small and medium-sized enterprises in Indianapolis, Indiana used to reduce disruptive vulnerabilities in the supply chain continuum. Review of company documents served as the second data collection method. Rowley's 3-step analysis guided the coding process of the interview data, and the trustworthiness of interpretations was enhanced through methodological triangulation of …

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The Effects Of Process Management On Stakeholder Performance: A Meta-Analysis, Donna Pulliam-Brown Jan 2017

The Effects Of Process Management On Stakeholder Performance: A Meta-Analysis, Donna Pulliam-Brown

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In 2012, there were over 500,000 business management degrees conferred at the undergraduate and graduate level; however, the assessment of student performance has not kept pace with the growth of courses offered in both an online and traditional format. One of the objectives of teaching is to ensure that all students regardless of mode of instruction are receiving a quality education. The purpose of this meta-analysis was to measure the efficiency of learning in a business discipline by evaluating final course grades of 1,051 students. Ten traditional and 10 online course grades provided final student outcomes that were used to …

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Relationships Between Job Satisfaction, Supervisor Support, And Profitability Among Quick Service Industry Employees, Joseph Carl Vann Jan 2017

Relationships Between Job Satisfaction, Supervisor Support, And Profitability Among Quick Service Industry Employees, Joseph Carl Vann

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Low profit margins threaten the sustainability of quick service restaurants (QSRs). In the United States, low levels of employee job satisfaction and low employee perceptions of supervisor support decrease organizational profitability by as much as $151 million annually, depending on the size and type of organization. Guided by the 2-factor theory of motivation, the purpose of this correlational study was to examine the relationship between employee job satisfaction, employee perceptions of supervisor support, and organizational profitability. A convenience sample of employees from 86 QSR franchise locations in Houston, Texas completed the Job Satisfaction and Perceived Supervisor Support surveys. Multiple linear …

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A Summative Program Evaluation Of Online And Hybrid Military Professional Development Courses, Leah Flores Goerke Jan 2017

A Summative Program Evaluation Of Online And Hybrid Military Professional Development Courses, Leah Flores Goerke

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Instructors at a U.S. Military School transitioned traditional courses used for professional development (PD) of military and civilian personnel to fully online and hybrid formats that combine online and face-to-face instruction. No evaluation of student satisfaction or instructor experiences during the transition has been conducted. The purpose of this sequential mixed methods summative program evaluation was to evaluate hybrid and online delivery of 2 PD courses by analyzing student satisfaction data and instructor experiences. This study was grounded in Knowles, Holton, and Swanson's adult learning theory and Anderson's and Salmon's online learning theories. Data from 96 course evaluations from students …

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Examining Parental Involvement In Impoverished Schools, Tara Lynn Broadus Jan 2017

Examining Parental Involvement In Impoverished Schools, Tara Lynn Broadus

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

A decline in parent participation in one impoverished Pre-K through Grade 5 school in Texas over recent years has been an ongoing concern for school administrators. The purpose of this instrumental case study was to investigate parent perceptions of the school's efforts to involve parents in the school. Research questions focused on identifying factors that inhibited parental involvement concentrating on parent perceptions of school efforts. Constructivist theory and the advocacy/liberatory framework formed the conceptual framework for this study. A triangulation method for data collection included parent interviews, teacher questionnaires, and observations of parental involvement activities over 12 weeks. Participants were …

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The Relationship Between Nurse Manager Leadership Style And The Enculturation Of Shared Governance, Anna Elizabeth Keane Jan 2017

The Relationship Between Nurse Manager Leadership Style And The Enculturation Of Shared Governance, Anna Elizabeth Keane

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Shared governance, a participative model of governance, implemented by healthcare organizations for more than 30 years has been associated with empowerment, job satisfaction, and retention of registered nurses. Recent studies document a lack of participation in shared governance by registered nurses; the reason for the change is unknown. The nurse managers' role in this change is unknown. The purpose of this non-experimental, cross-sectional survey design study was to test Bass' theory of transformational leadership that examines the relationship between the leadership style of the manager and the enculturation of shared governance in acute care hospitals in the United States. A …

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Care Coordination For Better Outcomes, Chad Dunavan Jan 2017

Care Coordination For Better Outcomes, Chad Dunavan

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

A deficiency of care coordination and delayed discharge planning has contributed to increased lengths of stay for telemetry patients and has pressed staff to discharge patients expeditiously, potentially leading to increased 30-day readmissions. Rushing the discharge process on the day of discharge has resulted in breakdowns in communication and lack of collaboration amongst the health care team of this study, contributing to extended lengths of stay, increased readmissions, and low Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAPHS) scores. This project highlighted a patient-centered care coordination team approach with 2 clinical registered nurses and a social worker who coordinated …

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Humanitarian Aid Workers' Perceptions Of Stress Management Services, Annette Hearns Jan 2017

Humanitarian Aid Workers' Perceptions Of Stress Management Services, Annette Hearns

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Humanitarian aid workers live and work in harsh circumstances far from loved ones and support mechanisms. The problem is that international aid must continue to work effectively despite stress levels. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to understand how aid workers perceive their work-related stressors, examine their subsequent experiences of in-house stress management services, and describe the factors that influence aid workers' decisions to access in-house stress management services. The conservation of resources theory was used to understand aid workers experience of stress. A purposive sampling technique was used to identify 12 aid workers with a minimum of 5 …

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Utilizing Corporate Governance In Strategy Formulation And Execution, Oladayo Ojo Jan 2017

Utilizing Corporate Governance In Strategy Formulation And Execution, Oladayo Ojo

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Ineffective corporate governance is a leading cause of financial crises. Ineffectual corporate governance is mainly due to the lack of prudential and efficient supervision, which is symptomatic of board composition and the selection criteria of board members. The purpose of this single case study was to explore the strategies that banking leaders used to identify board selection criteria that ensures effective governance. The sample consisted of 4 business leaders at a bank located in California that remained profitable and did not have losses during the recent recession. The conceptual framework used for the study was agency theory. The data sources …

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Low Health Literacy And Preoperative Instruction Compliance Among Patients Undergoing Surgical Procedures, Mariefel Casino Paqueo Jan 2017

Low Health Literacy And Preoperative Instruction Compliance Among Patients Undergoing Surgical Procedures, Mariefel Casino Paqueo

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In addition to cancelations and delays of needed surgical procedures, serious or fatal complications can occur when patients with low health literacy do not comply with preoperative instructions. The purpose of this quality improvement project was to provide more insight about ways to decrease on cancelled and delayed surgical procedures in low health literacy patients' due to noncompliance with preoperative fasting instructions. The project was informed by the reach, effectiveness, adoption, implementation, and maintenance model (King, D. K., Glasgow, R. E., and Leeman-Castillo, B. (2010). The project question centered on whether health literate preoperative fasting instructions could decrease cancellations and …

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Discipline Patterns In A Public-School District With A History Of Disproportionate Suspensions, Barbara M. Slingerland Jan 2017

Discipline Patterns In A Public-School District With A History Of Disproportionate Suspensions, Barbara M. Slingerland

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Nationwide concerns include disproportionate discipline referrals and suspensions of certain student groups and the associated negative student outcomes. The state's department of education cited a school district for suspending Black students with disabilities (SWD) at more than 3 times the rate of all other student groups; yet, the complex nature of the disciplinary disproportionality in this district was unknown. The purpose of this study was to investigate how student-related characteristics including race/ethnicity, gender, age, grade level, disability status, and school location, may predict number of discipline referrals, types of discipline referrals, and types of suspensions issued to students. Guided by …

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