Digital Commons Network^™

Maintaining Number Sense Mastery In Urban Primary Grades, Colese Brown

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The problem addressed in this study was that urban kindergarten to third grade students demonstrated decreased levels of number sense mastery on state-mandated assessments as they matriculated across grade levels. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore school-based educators’ perceptions on what they believe are the reasons urban students demonstrated decreased levels of number sense mastery, and to identify what improvements are needed to support teachers in determining students’ zone of proximal development (ZPD) while scaffolding students towards number sense mastery. The conceptual framework comprised Bruner’s theory of instruction and Vygotsky’s ZPD. A purposeful sample of six …

Respite Care Services And The Experiences Of Unpaid Adult Child Alzheimer’S Caregivers, Juanita Serena Elliott

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Primary unpaid family caregivers of Alzheimer’s care recipients endure physical fatigue, emotional stress, psychological pressures, and health issues that could hinder their capacity to deliver consistent care. Respite care services can help reduce caregiver burden and enhance health outcomes; therefore, examining and evaluating their effectiveness is beneficial in meeting the needs of primary unpaid family caregivers. This study was conducted to address a lack of information in the literature and to evaluate the efficacy of respite care services for primary unpaid family caregivers of Alzheimer’s care recipients in Alaska and their caregivers’ awareness of and motivation to utilize these services …

Understanding The Perspectives Of African American Women Towards Initiating A Fitness Program, Clarissa Sheneka Davis Best

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

African American women residing in rural communities have seen substantial increases in preventable diseases resulting from obesity. The research problem addressed in this study surrounded the perspectives that African American women have towards initiating a fitness program. The purpose of this study was to explore those perspectives utilizing a sample population of African American women living in Salisbury, North Carolina. This study embraced the Theory of Reasoned Action (TRA) created by Prachaseree et al., (2021) and the Self-Determination Theory (Deci & Ryan, 1991) as the conceptual frameworks. Three research questions guiding this study were: What specific barriers do African American …

Perspectives Regarding Creating A Community Of Inquiry In Online Versions Of Lab Courses, Yuna Buhrman

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The COVID-19 pandemic shut down science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) college labs due to the restricted physical access to resources. The problem that was addressed in this study was that there is a lack of understanding of how the three presences of the community of inquiry were implemented by STEM lab instructors when developing online lab courses during emergency remote teaching (ERT). The purpose of this generic qualitative study was to explore perspectives of college STEM lab instructors regarding social, teaching, and cognitive presences in online versions of their lab courses during ERT. Data were collected using semistructured interviews …

Disability And Leadership: Barriers And Business Culture Perspectives, Ernest Edward Garrett

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Persistent disparities in employment rates between people with disabilities (PWDs) and people without disabilities (PWODs) indicate that PWDs continue to face barriers and challenges to employment opportunities. The research problem is the underrepresentation of PWDs in leadership positions within business cultures and persistent barriers and challenges faced by human resource managers (HRMs) and leaders concerning their hiring and retention. The purpose of this qualitative descriptive study was to explore the varying perspectives of business leaders with disabilities (LWDs) and HRMs concerning the barriers and challenges associated with hiring and retaining PWDs for leadership roles. Critical realism, universal design, and human …

Effective Employee Retention Strategies Used By U.S. Hotel Organizations, Marian Yvette Woods

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

High employee turnover rates continue to represent a significant challenge for U.S. hotel organizations, impacting operational efficiency. Hotel leaders are concerned that turnover negatively affects profitability and organizational viability, making retention strategies critical for competitiveness. Grounded in Herzberg’s two-factor motivation-hygiene theory, the purpose of this qualitative pragmatic inquiry study was to identify and explore effective strategies that some business leaders in U.S. hotel organizations use to enhance employee retention. The participants were eight leaders who have implemented effective employee retention strategies in U.S. hotel organizations in Georgia. Data were collected using semistructured interviews, company website information, and publicly available documents. …

Educating Staff On Using Medication-Assisted Treatment (Mat) In Opioid Use Disorder (Oud), Demie Alaekwe

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Medication-assisted treatment (MAT) programs, especially those led by providers, can expand access to care for persons with opioid use disorder (OUD). The gap in practice at the site was the insufficient knowledge among nurses on how to effectively use MAT in treating OUD. The purpose of this staff educational project was to design and implement a training module to educate mental health providers on the principles and interventions of MAT. The practice-focused question was: Does educating nurses on MAT principles while incorporating evidence from the literature improve their knowledge as measured by pre- and post-test? The ADDIE pedagogy model was …

Sustainability Of Private Historically Black Colleges Or Universities, Herbert A. Stewart

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In the United States, private Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) have been declining in enrollment, revenues, and profitability, and many have closed permanently. The problem, which is important to HBCU leaders, is the lack effective strategies for sustainability. Grounded in the transformational leadership theory as the conceptual framework, the purpose of this pragmatic inquiry research project was to explore the successful strategies some successful HBCU leaders have used to increase enrollment and maintain profitability for sustainability. Data were collected through personal interviews and publicly available documents or documents provided by participants. Yin’s 5-step process was used for data analysis, which …

Reducing Readmission Rates In A Mental Health Hospital, Zamzam Mohamed

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Summary I designed this clinical practice guideline (CPG) doctoral project to address the critical practice problem of high readmission rates in a mental health unit at a large academic medical center. This quality improvement initiative focused on developing and evaluating CPG to improve discharge planning. I aimed to address gaps in continuity of care, inadequate discharge education, and limited post discharge follow-up, which had been identified as contributing factors to early psychiatric readmissions. The practice-focused question guiding this project was: What evidence supports the development of a discharge planning CPG designed to reduce readmission rates in a mental health unit? …

Clinical Practice Guideline For Intentional Rounding, Julia Griggs

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This is a quality improvement clinical practice guideline (CPG) to address the inconsistent staff rounding practices, developed following recognition of a fall rate of 3.2 per 1000 patient days and declining patient satisfaction in the project facility. I developed the CPG using current evidence-based practices to establish standardized procedures for purposeful rounding to enhance patient safety, satisfaction, and care quality. Three experts, including an educator, clinician, and administrator, evaluated the CPG using the Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Evaluation II (AGREE II), a tool consisting of seven domains used for measuring the methodological rigor and transparency in which a …

Cybersecurity Risk Assessment Methods For Digital Financial Services In Sub-Saharan Africa, Emmanuel Niyikora

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The rapid growth of digital financial services (DFS) in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) has significantly expanded access to financial services for underserved populations. However, cybersecurity managers within telecommunications regulatory agencies in SSA remain concerned about emerging cyber threats that pose risks to DFS providers and their customers, potentially undermining trust and economic growth. Grounded in the technology-organization-environment framework, the purpose of this qualitative pragmatic inquiry study was to explore strategies cybersecurity managers within telecommunications regulatory bodies in SSA use to assess the cybersecurity readiness of DFS providers. Data were collected using semistructured interviews with six cybersecurity managers from telecommunications regulatory bodies …

Effective Strategies Nursing Home Leaders Use To Implement Changes And Increase Staff Retention And The Quality Of Patient Care, Evaristus C. Chu

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Ineffective retention strategies for nursing home staff can negatively affect the continuity of patient care, employee morale, and patient outcomes. Nursing home leaders who struggle to implement changes and increase staff retention and quality of patient care are at high risk of business instability. Grounded in Greenleaf’s servant leadership conceptualization and Kotter’s eight-step change model, the purpose of this qualitative pragmatic inquiry was to explore strategies nursing home leaders use to implement change, retain staff, and enhance the quality of patient care. Data sources consisted of semistructured interviews, public websites, and current and archival public documents. Thematic analysis yielded five …

Faculty Implementation Of Online Teaching Practices Learned In A Professional Development Course, Laurie Ann Pendleton

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The problem addressed through this study was the low implementation rate of practices learned during professional development courses which can limit positive student outcomes. The purpose of this qualitative study was to identify the challenges online faculty encounter when implementing teaching practices learned in an online PD course in effective online teaching practices and to better understand the characteristics of the practices they were able to implement. Rogers's diffusion of innovation theory grounded the study. In this basic qualitative study, semistructured interviews were conducted with a purposeful sample of 12 participants who recently completed the course and responded to an …

Improvisation In Agile Environments To Manage Disruption From Vuca Events, Christopher J. Remediani

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity (VUCA) events have always existed and demonstrated increases in regularity as well as damage. Management’s ability to mitigate and manage VUCA events has been challenged as they and nonmanagement employees are required to engage in rapid problem analysis and decision-making outside of standard procedures to identify and implement solutions. The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenological study was to explore lived experiences of Agile practitioners in the information technology (IT) industry regarding their integration of improvisation techniques to mitigate and manage VUCA disruptions. Semi-structured interviews with open-ended questions were used to guide the study and address …

Preschool Teachers’ Perspectives Regarding Children’S Lack Of Social Skills Needed For Success In Preschool And Kindergarten, Janet S. Grigg

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The problem addressed through this study was many preschool students in the United States lack the social skills needed to be successful in kindergarten. The study’s purpose was to explore preschool teachers’ perspective regarding some children’s lack of social skills needed for success in kindergarten and the efforts teachers made to promote development of these skills. Using Flavell’s theoretical framework of metacognition and cognitive monitoring, 2 research questions were developed to address teachers’ perspectives and efforts to improve children’s social skills. Twelve preschool teachers from Louisiana with one to twenty years of experience in early childhood were interviewed via Zoom, …

Exploring Leadership's Role In Improving Completion Rates In Substance Use Disorder Programs, Benjamin John Hoppie

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The problem addressed in this study was the influence of leadership on low treatment completion rates in a nonprofit outpatient substance use disorder program in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. The purpose of this case study was to examine how leadership styles, decision-making processes, and supervisory alignment affected client engagement and treatment outcomes at the program. The study was grounded in the Baldrige Excellence Framework, which provided a systems-thinking lens to assess leadership behavior and organizational performance. Data were collected through semistructured interviews with two senior leaders and a review of limited internal documents, including the organization’s …

Teachers’ Perceptions Of The Benefits Of Art Education For Elementary Students With Autism, Brenda Lynn Miller

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The problem addressed in this study was the lack of knowledge regarding art teachers’ perceptions of the social and emotional benefits of art classes for elementary school students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore elementary school art teachers’ perspectives regarding the social and emotional benefits of school-based art education for elementary school students with ASD. Schweizer et al.’s art therapy model was the conceptual framework. Semistructured interviews from 12 elementary school art teachers were used to collect data. Data were analyzed using axial coding procedures and thematic analysis. Results produced the …

Successful Strategies Used By Leaders In The U.S. Medical Device Industry To Increase Employee Engagement, Jason Brockway

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Disengaged employees present significant challenges to firm profitability and competitiveness in the U.S. medical device industry. Leaders of U.S. medical device firms are concerned disengaged employees could negatively impact organizational sustainability. The purpose of this qualitative pragmatic inquiry study was to explore strategies used by leaders in the U.S. medical device industry to enhance employee engagement. Purposeful sampling of six medical device leaders in Massachusetts was used; participants held leadership roles, had at least five years of leadership experience, and were directly involved in employee engagement. The study was grounded in Kahn’s engagement theory, focusing on psychological meaningfulness, safety, and …

Staff Education To Addressing Medication Nonadherence Amongst Patients With Mental Health Challenges, Euphemia Mah

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Walden University College of Nursing This is to certify that the doctoral study by Euphemia Mah 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. Corinne Wheeler, Committee Chairperson, Nursing Faculty Dr. Robert McWhirt, Committee Member, Nursing Faculty Chief Academic Officer and Provost Sue Subocz, Ph.D. Walden University 2025 Summary Poor adherence to medication regimens among patients who have a mental illness leads to multiple adverse outcomes, which include symptom exacerbation, decreased quality of life, and repeated hospitalizations. To address this …

Strategies Senior Human Resource Leaders Use To Implement Flexible Work Arrangements, Valena R. Bewry

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Flexible work arrangements (FWAs) have become increasingly significant in contemporary workplace settings, particularly for their role in enhancing employee morale and promoting work-life balance. Education stakeholders and employees are concerned with the failure to implement FWAs, as it may hinder employee productivity and retention. Grounded in the conceptual framework of Theory Z, the purpose of this qualitative pragmatic inquiry was to explore senior HR leaders’ strategies to implement successful flexible work arrangements for employees. The study involved six educational leaders from the northeastern United States who successfully implemented flexible work arrangements. Data were collected through semi structured interviews and publicly …

The Impact Of The 2017 Square Footage Requirement On New Jersey Supplemental Nutrition Program For Women, Infants, And Children (Wic) Vendors, Carmelo Rodriguez

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This study examined the impact of the 2017 New Jersey regulation requiring vendors to have 1,000 square feet of retail space in order to participate in the Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) food program. Specifically, it examined vendors' role in developing the policy and their perspectives on its implementation. Previous research indicated improved policy outcomes by including policy targets in policy dialogue, but there was a lack of research exploring the experiences of vendors. Not known was how the policy affected WIC vendors, the essential frontline suppliers of nutritional foods to WIC participants. The purpose of …

Lived Experiences Of Nurses Caring For Patients With Opioid Use Disorder, Oneatha Alexander

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Opioid abuse is a significant problem in the United States. People with opioid use disorder (OUD) visit the emergency room (ER) for pain management. OUD is the overuse and abuse of opioids, which can result in dependence, relapses, and death. Nurses in the ER and medical-surgical units face challenges in distinguishing OUD from chronic pain. The purpose of this qualitative interpretive phenomenological study, guided by Benner’s novice-to-expert framework, was to explore the lived experiences of ER and medical-surgical nurses who provide care to OUD patients. Eight ER and medical-surgical nurses were interviewed using semi-structured interviews. The main themes from coding …

International Space Station Deorbit: A Qualitative Study On Aerospace Employees Perceptions Of Their Job During Decommission, Jesse Hudson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The decommissioning of the International Space Station (ISS) represents a significant organizational transition. Despite parallels with previous National Aeronautics and Space Administration program closures, research has not fully examined the human impact of such mission-driven disruptions. Employees face uncertainties regarding job roles, the relevance of specialized skills, and the future within a rapidly commercializing space sector. The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to explore how aerospace employees perceive and navigate the psychological and professional challenges associated with the ISS decommissioning. Bridges’ transition model and affective events theory grounded this study. The participants were 12 current aerospace employees who …

Challenges Identified By Educators Who Teach Students With Disabilities, Christine Elizabeth Fityere

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The problem that was addressed through this study is that educators are challenged to meet the needs of students with disabilities (SWDs) in the inclusion classrooms at a northeastern school district in New Jersey (NSD, a pseudonym). The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore educator’s experiences with the system of inclusion as well as resources needed to overcome any issues or barriers at NSD. The conceptual framework was von Bertalanffy’s systems theory. For this basic qualitative design, semistructured interviews with 13 educators that were recruited through purposeful sampling from NSD through an email sent by the director of …

Using Microsoft Teams Class Notebook E-Portfolios As A Reflective Tool In Education For Sustainable Development Business Writing: Learners’ Perspectives, Mona Abdelfattah

Higher Learning Research Communications

Objective

This study investigates the efficacy of Microsoft Teams Class Notebook ePortfolios as a reflective tool in business writing courses. This study addresses gaps in the literature regarding ePortfolio use in business writing courses in F2F classes, focusing on student perceptions, its impact on writing skills, the convenience of the MS Teams Class Notebook, and how it fosters critical thinking regarding their learning which is one of the important goals of Education for sustainable development (ESD).

Methods

The iterative cross-sectional study was conducted over 13 weeks at a private college in Oman with 60 undergraduate students in two business writing …

Effective Strategies For Placing Underrepresented Women In Senior Management Positions: Shared Strategies, George Alexander Pegram Jr.

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Underrepresentation of women in senior management positions within the tech industry poses a significant challenge in terms of organizational equity and effectiveness. Business leaders are concerned with this disparity, as it reflects systemic barriers to women’s advancement. Grounded in the people’s capability maturity model (P-CMM), the purpose of this qualitative pragmatic inquiry was to explore strategies that senior executives in the Washington, DC tech industry use to promote women to senior management positions. The participants were eight senior women executives purposefully selected for their leadership roles. Data was collected using semistructured interviews. Through thematic analysis, four themes were identified: personalized …

Staff Education On Strategies To Eliminate Medication Errors And Promote Medication Compliance In The Community And Healthcare Settings, Rita Nyongkah Yeba

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Patient health is highly influenced by non-adherence to medications and faults in them. Longer diseases, unneeded hospital visits, and growing healthcare expenses are the effects of these problems. Medication errors can arise from incorrect prescriptions, too low or too high doses, poor administration, or inconsistent provider communication. Patients may also neglect their prescriptions for several reasons, including lack of motivation, forgetfulness, or worries about side effects. This initiative aimed to provide medical staff members with techniques meant to help lower errors in the healthcare environment and enhance medication adherence. The aim of this initiative was to instruct the staff members …

Effective Business Strategies And Regulatory Compliance Within Fintechs: A Qualitative Pragmatic Inquiry Study, Tranae N. Johnson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Ineffective strategies to adapt to evolving regulatory changes can negatively impact financial technology (fintech) leaders’ capabilities. Fintech leaders who struggle to adapt to evolving regulatory changes are at risk of business instability. Grounded in stakeholder theory, the purpose of this qualitative pragmatic inquiry project was to explore and identify effective business strategies used by fintech leaders to adapt to evolving regulatory changes. The participants were eight fintech leaders who effectively used strategies to adapt to evolving regulatory changes. Data were collected using semistructured interviews, public websites, and documents, current and archival. Using thematic analysis, five key themes were identified: (a) …

Staff Education Program On Care Transitions For The Elderly, Emmanoela Mugha

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This project was developed as a staff education program using the analyze, design, develop, implement, and evaluate (ADDIE) model with a focus on discharge planning in a medical clinic in northern Maryland. There is a gap in discharge planning for older adults due to shortage of providers and inadequate education related to care transitions among the elderly. The care transition process can be improved through education. The practice focused question was: “Does an educational project for nurses on care transitions for the elderly increase knowledge as compared pre-to post education?” The Johns Hopkins evidence-based practice model (Appendix A) was the …

Employee Engagement Strategies For Purchasing Managers, Winona L. Sewell Hall

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The lack of employee engagement negatively impacts organizations through revenue loss, poor productivity, and toxic cultures. Purchasing managers are concerned with decreased employee engagement as it negatively impacts productivity and revenue. Grounded in situational leadership theory, the purpose of this qualitative pragmatic inquiry was to explore strategies purchasing managers use to increase engagement and productivity. The participants were six managers who have been successful in implementing strategies to increase employee engagement. Data were collected using semistructured interviews. Through thematic analysis, three key themes were identified: (a) communication, (b) leadership styles, and (c) culture. A key recommendation is for purchasing managers …