Digital Commons Network^™

A Survey Comparison Of Virtual And In Situ Leadership Competencies, Christopher Wesley Wells

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Leaders support many workplace configurations that do not rely on the collocation of leaders and followers and may exhibit different interaction competencies with employees. There was limited understanding about these leadership competencies required in virtual work environments. The purpose of this nonexperimental study was to examine the relationship between the percentages of time spent weekly as a virtual leader (IV) and 6 leadership competencies (DVs), such as a leader's vision and values. The theoretical framework was based on Sandstrom and Smith's legacy leadership model. Study participants were randomly selected from LinkedIn.com forums (N = 93). Data were collected using the …

Relationship Between Parents' Attitudes And Involvement In An Elementary School, Vaneia Lashea Williams

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Parental involvement at Shady Lane Elementary School is lower than the district average, which might be contributing to low levels of student achievement. The purpose of this quantitative correlational study was to explore attitudes of parents at the school and selected parental involvement behaviors. The framework for this study was the theory of planned behavior. The focus of research question 1 was the relationship between parents' attitudes toward the school and parental involvement in the form of communicating, volunteering, and learning at home. The focus of research question 2 was the relationship between parents' attitudes toward parental involvement and parental …

Relationship Between Budget And Project Success Factors In The Ghanaian Building Construction Sector, Kenneth Kwame Aggor

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In developing countries, 60% of project management professionals appear to lack knowledge that timely completion, budget fidelity, and high quality are critical success factors for completion of construction initiatives. Based on the theories of iron triangle, accident causation, scientific management, and strategic management, the purpose of this correlational study was to examine the relationship between project budget and the independent variables of time, quality, safety, environmental impact, and site disputes in the Greater Accra Region of Ghana. One hundred and sixteen project managers, randomly selected from the population of construction professionals in the Greater Accra Region of Ghana, completed the …

Strategies For Improving Utilization Of Maternal Health Program Funds In Ghana, Dorothy Esi Awotwi

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Effective utilization of donor resources for maternal health remains a challenge in Ghana. The purpose of this descriptive multiple case study was to identify strategies and processes that recipient partners use to improve the utilization of maternal health program funds. Harrod and Domar's aid-to-investment-to-growth model, Collier's game theory, and Martens' agency theory on aid effectiveness informed the conceptual framework of the study. The study included face-to-face semistructured interviews with 7 program and project managers from 7 UNFPA recipient institutions in Ghana. Data analysis involved assembling, rearrangement, categorizing, and interpreting the data. Member checking and methodological triangulation of interview data with …

Strategic Cyber-Risk Implications Of Cloud Technology Adoption In The U.S. Financial Services Sector, Olatunji Mujib Arowolo

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

According to research, the risks of adopting new technology and the technological and organizational factors that influence adopting it are not clear. Thus, many financial institutions have hesitated to adopt cloud-computing. The purpose of this quantitative, cross-sectional study was to evaluate the cyber-risk implications of cloud-computing adoption in the U.S. financial services sector. The study examined 6 technological and organizational factors: organization size, relative advantage, compliance, security, compatibility, and complexity within the context of cyber-risk. Using a combination of diffusion of innovation theory and technology-organization-environment framework as the foundation, a predictive cybersecurity model was developed to determine the factors that …

Evidence-Based Practice Project Proposal: Reducing Chfrr Through The Get Well Networks Chf Prevention Education Materials, Susan Kay Richmond

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In the United States, congestive heart failure (CHF) impacts 6.5 million adults and costs about $39 billion year with a projected incidence increasing by 25% by 2030. CHF can be addressed by advancing patient self-care knowledge through interactive patient education. For this project, the Health Beliefs Model guided a strategy to stimulate behavior modification based on perceived benefits of self-care. The purpose of this quality improvement project was to implement an interactive patient education video system, called the Get Well Network, to encourage patient self-care to reduce CHF readmission rates at a veteran's administration hospital. Four evidence-based CHF video order …

Effectiveness Of Hands-On Pedagogy In Stem Education, John Kyere

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

With the low enrollment in the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields at the high school and college levels, administrators at the local school district have been struggling to improve elementary school students' performance in math and science. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the STEM program using hands-on instruction facilitated by professional development (PD) activities. Guided by Dewey, Piaget, and Vygotsky' constructivism theory, the qualitative program evaluation using the research questions examined the success of the STEM program using a hands-on instructional approach and the PD support that teachers need to be …

Effect Of Emotional Experiences On Emotional Intelligence Among U.S. Military Leaders, Robert S. Crosby

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Military veterans may have constructive skills and abilities in emotional intelligence (EI) that assist in managing emergencies, crises, and relationships. However, according to U.S. government-employment statistics, the joblessness rate of military veterans is up to 400% higher than that of nonveterans. The paucity of research conducted on the relationship between EI and prolonged intense emotional experiences, such as those experienced during military deployments, lessens the abilities of these veterans to market their EI skills in the pursuit of employment. The purpose of this quantitative nonexperimental survey study was to observe, evaluate, and compare the Wong and Law Emotional Intelligence Scale …

The Relationship Between Childhood Maltreatment And Sexual Coercion Proclivity In Women, Christina Renee Dean

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Researchers have explored the effects of sociocultural factors on male and female sexual expression, as well as the relationship between sexual objectification and overall sexual well-being; however, few scholars have focused on how, when combined with early experiences of childhood maltreatment, such factors can result in increased long-term risks for a variety of concerns that may impede the development of healthy relationships in women. This quantitative study explores the relationship of childhood maltreatment and sexual coercion proclivity in adult women. The purpose of this study was to measure self-reports of 1 or more experiences with childhood maltreatment (i.e., physical, sexual, …

Relationship Between Educational Leisure Motivation And Recovery From Mental Illness Among Members Of Clubhouse International, Dianna Rene Pearce

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Individuals with serious mental illness (SMI) exhibit low motivation to participate in educational leisure activities at Clubhouses accredited by Clubhouse International (CI). This correlational study examined the relationship between each of 4 motives, intellectual, social, competence-mastery, and stimulus-avoidance, to engage in leisure activities, and the perception of recovery from SMI. Knowles's theory of andragogy supported the concept of informal self-directed learning, which occurs with leisure activities. Literature indicates that participating in leisure activities such as those offered at Clubhouses aids in the recovery from SMI. Quantitative data were collected from a convenience sample of 75 individuals at 4 CI clubhouses …

A Comparative Study Of Cervical Cancer Among Indigenous Amerindian, Afro-Guyanese, And Indo-Guyanese Women In Guyana, Carol Jones-Williams

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Cervical cancer is a major public health problem in developing countries. In Guyana, factors associated with increasing cervical cancer cases among Indigenous Amerindian women (IAW), Afro- women (AGW), and Indo-Guyanese women (IGW) have not been fully examined. In this comparative cross-sectional study, 5,800 cervical cancer cases were selected from Guyanese women age 13 and above for ethnicity (Indigenous Amerindian, Afro- and Indo Guyanese women), geographical region, marital status, and year and stage at diagnosis. Secondary data from Guyana Cancer Registry for the 2000-2012 study periods were analyzed using chi-square test, multinomial logistic regression, poisson regression, and relative risk. Geographical region …

Social Networking Sites And Online Infidelity, Amber Nicole Adams

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Biological factors, attachment styles, socioeconomic status, and religion are among some of the variables researched as casual factors of infidelity. However, limited research is available for infidelity originating online. This study aimed to investigate causal factors for engaging in online infidelity via social networking site use. A cognitive behavioral perspective guided the research. Review of literature on offline infidelity, online behavior, and Davis' work on generalized problematic internet use identified the variables relationship satisfaction, impulsivity, permissive sexual values, and the intensity of social networking site use for exploration. Research questions addressed any contribution these four variables may have to engaging …

Leadership Styles And Employee Motivation In Qatar Organizations, Anas Al Haj

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Organizations in the public sector in Qatar have a reputation for delivering inefficient services. Leaders lack an understanding of motivational factors affecting public sector employee performance. The purpose of this correlational research was to examine the relationship between leadership styles and employee motivation in public companies in Qatar. The independent variables were the transformational, transactional, and passive-avoidant leadership styles. The dependent variable was employee motivation. The moderator variables were employee age and salary. A sample of 92 employees from 4 public sector organizations in Qatar responded to the online survey. The full range leadership theory served as the theoretical foundation …

Implementation Of A Standardized Multifactorial Fall Prevention Program In A Rehabilitation Facility, Shanetta Monique Ancrum-Lee

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

One and a half million people are currently living in residential care facilities; as the baby boomer generation ages, this number will increase to 3 million. Approximately 3 out of 4 residents of these facilities fall each year, and 10% to 20% of those falls result in serious injuries such as fractures, disability, and a decreased quality of living. The BOUNCE Back fall initiative is a multifactorial program that uses a systematic approach starting on admission and to re-evaluate a resident following a fall. Nursing and therapy uses the Morse Fall Scale and the Elderly Mobility Scale to assess and …

Facebook And Teenagers: Investigating Changes Of Perceived Peer Pressures For Romantic Relationship Involvement Based On Facebook Attachment, Courtney Lynn Weiss Bennett

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Although youth aged 12-17 years old constitute a growing segment of Facebook users, the impact social networking websites may have on their psyche has not been well-studied. Additionally, researchers have not investigated peer pressure as a mediator between individuals overall attachment to Facebook and the desire to be involved in a romantic relationship among teens or adults. The purpose of this quantitative study was to examine the connection between Facebook attachment and perceived peer pressure, specifically with regard to romantic relationships in individuals aged 14-17 years. Impression management theory served as the theoretical framework. A survey design was used to …

Elementary Instructional Best Practices For English As Secondary Language Teachers, Terrance Michael Bigley

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

A trending national concern is the increasing number of English language learners (ELL) who are being reclassified as long-term English language learners (LTELL) instead of progressing to the general education classroom. This trend is a local problem for the study elementary schools. Guided by sociocultural learning theory that outlined ESL best instructional practices, the purpose of this case study was to examine the instructional practices of elementary ESL teachers. Ten ESL teachers from each grade level from 1st to 5th grades were interviewed and observed. Analysis and organization of the data through its transcription and coding led to the emergence …

Employee Turnover In The Long-Term Care Industry, Olalya Ayanna Bryant

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Employee turnover costs long-term care facilities billions of dollars on an annual basis. The purpose of this correlational study was to examine the relationships between employee turnover intention of certified nursing assistants (CNAs) in the long-term care industry and employee compensation, engagement, job satisfaction, motivation, and work environment. The predictor variables were employee compensation, engagement, job satisfaction, motivation, and work environment. The criterion variable was employee turnover intention. The population of interest consisted of CNAs who were residents of Florida, over the age of 18 years, and employed in the long-term care industry. The theoretical framework that grounded this study …

Relationship Between Teachers' Attitudes Toward Inclusion And Professional Development, Patricia Chatman Chatman

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Integration of general and special education students in the classroom has become common in many educational systems. Researchers have found that some general education teachers may have negative attitudes of inclusion when they are inadequately prepared to instruct in an inclusion setting. The purpose of this causal-comparative study was to investigate the relationship of teachers' professional development (PD) on their attitudes about teaching in an inclusive classroom at a northeast Georgia middle school. Using Vygotsky's sociocultural developmental theory, the research question examined the difference in teachers' attitudes toward inclusion as measured by the Scale of Teachers' Attitudes Toward Inclusive Classrooms …

Generational Communications In The New York City Public Sector Workplace, Nathasha Anita Brooks-Harris

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Walden University

College of Social and Behavioral Sciences

This is to certify that the doctoral dissertation by

Nathasha Brooks-Harris

has been found to be complete and satisfactory in all respects,

and that any and all revisions required by

the review committee have been made.

Review Committee

Dr. Mark Gordon, Committee Chairperson,

Public Policy and Administration Faculty

Dr. Michael Knight, Committee Member,

Public Policy and Administration Faculty

Dr. Michael Brewer, University Reviewer,

Public Policy and Administration Faculty

Chief Academic Officer

Eric Riedel, Ph.D.

Walden University

2017

There is a digital divide between Baby Boomers and Millennials in the way they communicate …

The Impact Of Parental Incarceration On Childhood Health, Nastassjiah Cunningham

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Many children in the United States have experienced the imprisonment of a parent, given the country's high rate of incarceration. Researchers have found that such children have a higher likelihood of having health problems than do other children. However, a gap in current literature exists regarding these children's ability to acquire needed health care services to accommodate health issues resulting from the experience of parental incarceration. Therefore, the purpose of this quantitative study was to examine the relationship between these children's health status and their experience of parental incarceration. Bowlby's attachment theory, along with life course theory, constituted the conceptual …

Relationship Between Teachers' Use Of Academic Progress Data And Students' Test Scores, Amanda Egan Egan

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

A small private secondary school in Mexico implemented periodic progress testing with the intention of individualizing education of its students. The relationship between teachers' use of Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) data and students' mathematics and reading gain scores was not known. The purpose of this study was to determine whether the frequency of teachers' use of MAP data or student profiles was related to students' MAP mathematics and reading test gain scores between 2 years of test administrations. The theoretical framework for the study was Dewey's, Kolb's, and Vygotsky's ideas on pragmatism and constructivism, which support students' opportunities for …

Correlations Between Management Behaviors And Financial Indicators With Fda Compliance Leading To Medicine Shortages, Francisco Gutierrez-Perez

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In the first 3 years of the Obama Administration, 2009-2011, the number of warning letters issued to pharmaceutical firms for manufacturing and quality issues increased by 81% to 49 letters. Only 9 letters were issued in the last 3 years of the George W. Bush Administration. Shortfalls in compliance and product quality led to medicine shortages that affected patients' treatment and health. This quantitative study sought to learn to what extent, if any, the independent variables, management behaviors and financial indicators at pharmaceutical firms in the United States, correlated with, or predicted, the dependent variable, compliance with the FDA regulations. …

Perceptions Of Community-Based Participatory Research From Community And Academic Members, Ivonne G. Kanko

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Community-based participatory research (CBPR) is an increasingly popular form of public health research. However, little is known about the application of CBPR and the levels of involvement for partners in specific phases of the partnership. This phenomenological study addressed the application of CBPR from the perspectives of 7 academic researchers and 6 community members experienced in CBPR. Arnstein's ladder of citizenship participation and the community coalition action theory provided the framework for the study. Semi-structured interviews addressed participants' levels of involvement in the CBPR process, as well as challenges, concerns, successes, and recommendations for improvement. Interview transcripts were analyzed by …

Development Of An Evidence-Based Practice Guideline For Prevention Of Diaper Dermatitis, Nanita Flavier Lim-Sulit

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Diaper dermatitis, an acute inflammatory reaction of the skin, is one of the most common forms of dermatitis among neonatal and pediatric patients. The problem addressed in this quality improvement project was the absence of an evidence-based practice (EBP) guideline for perineal care which resulted in 4 unexpected cases of diaper dermatitis per 100 hospital days at a non free standing children's hospital. Framed within Rosswurm and Larrabee's model for EBP, the purpose of this project was to develop an educational initiative encompassing an EBP guideline for perineal care, an educational curriculum plan for staff members, and a Power Point …

The Relationship Between Corporate Governance And Organizational Performance In Nigerian Companies, Toyin Ishola Lasisi

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The growing lack of confidence in public companies arises from the recent accounting scandals and corporate collapses, which have been attributed to the consequences of separation of ownership and control in modern firms. Agency theory predicts a conflict of interest between managers and shareholders that leads to agency costs and weak performance. This study used agency, stakeholders', and stewardship theories as the theoretical framework and multiple regression analysis to examine the relationship between corporate governance mechanisms and organizational performance in nonfinancial firms listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange. The results of the study could help clarify understanding of corporate governance …

Local Parents' Perspectives On Choosing Charter Schools Versus Traditional Schools, Jeffrey Lawrence Litel

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Recent charter school enrollment trends suggest that a growing number of parents have opted to transfer their children from neighborhood public schools into charter schools, despite data indicating public school achievement equal to or above charter schools. This trend encourages school leaders to examine parent choice. The purpose of this qualitative study was to gather perspectives from parents in the study community who chose to enroll their children in charter schools instead of public schools and identify reasons parents chose charter schools. The humanistic theories of Maslow and Rogers, which emphasized the importance of choice, creativity, values, and self-realization as …

A Grounded Theory Of The Factors Affecting Employee Vision Inspiration, Luis Luarca

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Inspired, motivated employees are essential to organizational success. Research findings indicate a strong relationship between vision, leader charisma, organizational factors, and the extent to which employees feel motivated to achieve organizational goals based on the vision, known as employee vision inspiration (EVI). However, little is known about how employees personalize organizational visions and why this affects their performance. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore in-depth the organizational and employee-related factors that affect EVI using the constant comparative method and grounded theory methodology, and how EVI manifests itself in employee behaviors directed toward the achievement of a company's …

Perceptions Among Senior Consumers Regarding Stereotyping In Magazine Advertisements, Greg Milsom

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Marketing decision makers often employ stereotypes in their advertising messages, but constant exposure to negative messages is offensive to older consumers and contributes toward ageism. The general problem is that many senior adults feel dissatisfied with advertising directed toward them and may not purchase products that they could otherwise enjoy. Based on the tenets of social identity theory, the purpose of this study was to explore the perceptions of a group of senior consumers toward the stereotypes used to portray older adult models featured in magazine advertisements by uncovering the factors that influence purchasing decisions and the stereotypes that are …

Internal Strategies For Assessing Organizational Communication Channel Effectiveness, Melvin Murphy Murphy

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Evolving communication technology, the increased volume of information needed by businesses, and the intensified competitive environment have made internal company communication more critical to business success. The purpose of this multiple case study was to explore strategies used by managers and leaders of 3 law firms in the Commonwealth of Virginia for assessing the effectiveness of their organization's internal communication channels. The participating firms were recognized by their peers as being exceptionally well-managed. Data from interviews and company documents were analyzed through the conceptual lens of the channel expansion theory and the use of software coding to identify patterns and …

Quality Improvement Through Evidence-Based Education: Advancing Obesity Awareness And Clinical Management Strategies For People Living With Mental Disorders, Ellis Ehizele Opusunju

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

People living with mental disorders (PLWMDs) are at an increased risk for developing obesity due to poor diet, physical inactivity, and antipsychotic medications. In the United States, the general-population obesity rate is 36% compared to more than 50% for PLWMDs. Mental health professionals (MHPs), focused on addressing psychiatric conditions, seldom recognize and clinically manage obesity. Furthermore, this population is socioeconomically disadvantaged with poor dietary habits while consuming psychiatric medications that stimulate hunger, further exacerbating the risk for obesity. The Promoting Action on Research Implementation in Healthcare Services (PARISHS) framework guided this quality improvement project to improve obesity awareness and management …