Digital Commons Network^™

Leadership Implications Of Exploring Educator Perceptions About The Use Of Pbis And Cultural Responsiveness To Promote Equitable Discipline Practices For Black Students, Onika L. Stjames

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

School leaders and educators face challenges administering discipline equitably in school environments comprised of diverse student populations due to teachers’ potential inherent biases and lack of understanding and training about cultural responsiveness. To increase equity and reduce the disproportionality of discipline referrals issued to Black students, principals and assistant principals, district leaders, and other stakeholders need to acquire more knowledge about culturally responsive practices. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore educator perceptions about the use of positive behavior interventions and supports (PBIS) and cultural responsiveness to reduce the disproportionality of discipline referrals issued to Black students …

Effect Of Mental Distress And Functional Impairment On Mental Health Service Use By Filipino Americans In California, Marieann R. Brill

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Mental health conditions are a significant global public health issue. Research shows that while Filipino Americans frequently experience mental distress and functional impairment, they are hesitant to use mental health services. In this quantitative study, the association between mental distress and functional impairment on mental health service utilization of prescription medication use, visits to primary care providers, and visits to mental health professionals was explored in adult Filipino Americans residing in California. Control variables included age, gender, marital status, education, employment, and income. This study was based on Andersen's behavioral model of healthcare use. Secondary data from the 2021-2022 California …

Successful Strategies Manufacturing Leaders Use To Increase Manufacturing Employees’ Productivity, Cathy Robinson-Wright

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

A lack of strategies to improve and maintain production employees’ productivity can lead to unfavorable manufacturing outcomes. Business owners often recognize decreased employee productivity as the leading cause of profit losses. Grounded in systems theory, the purpose of this qualitative pragmatic inquiry was to explore strategies from manufacturing business owners to use to increase production employees’ productivity. The participants were five business leaders of a manufacturing organization who implemented strategies to improve and maintain production employees’ productivity. Data were collected using semistructured interviews and a review of production reports. Through thematic analysis, six themes were identified: (a) effective communication, (b) …

Staff Education To Improve Knowledge Regarding Fall Prevention In Long-Term Care, Molly Salmonsen

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Falls in residents at long-term care facilities result in increased hospitalizations and healthcare-associated costs, as well as increased morbidity and mortality, which can significantly decrease quality of life. To help prevent falls for long-term care residents, nurses must be knowledgeable regarding fall risk precautions and fall safety as these are the first-line defenses in fall prevention. This doctoral staff education project focused on improving fall-risk reduction and prevention education in nurses of a 125-bed long-term care facility and aimed to answer the practice-focused question: Does implementation of a standardized education program related to fall-risk reduction in the elderly increase nurse’s …

Periodic Fever, Aphthous Stomatitis, Pharyngitis & Cervical Adenitis, Sonia P. Wheat

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The suffering of children with periodic fever, aphthous stomatitis, pharyngitis, and cervical adenitis (PFAPA) is well documented and includes diminished quality of life (QoL), emotional/behavioral problems, fatigue, food avoidance and school absenteeism. As an example of childhood adversity, and because the model of pediatric medical traumatic stress demonstrates traumatic responses do not always subside over time, this study examined the psychosocial health of PFAPA survivors post resolution. Using a quantitative, cross-sectional study design, the psychosocial well-being of PFAPA survivors was compared to children with persistent asthma and children without chronic illness or a history of medical trauma. Two validated parent-completed …

Information Technology Management And Emotional Intelligence, Tina M. Muheim

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Information technology (IT) employees often face high stress, burnout, and turnover, indicating a potential gap in IT leaders’ emotional intelligence (EI), which may hinder their ability to support and retain their teams effectively. Since IT plays a critical role in organizational performance and achieving strategic goals, addressing this gap is crucial for improving team well-being and organizational success. Grounded in EI theory, the purpose of this quantitative correlational study was to examine the relationship between IT managers’ EI subscales—assertiveness and interpersonal relationships—and their influence on the EI subscale, happiness/well–being indicator. The participants were 38 IT managers from U.S. organizations who …

Periodic Fever, Aphthous Stomatitis, Pharyngitis & Cervical Adenitis, Sonia P. Wheat

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The suffering of children with periodic fever, aphthous stomatitis, pharyngitis, and cervical adenitis (PFAPA) is well documented and includes diminished quality of life (QoL), emotional/behavioral problems, fatigue, food avoidance and school absenteeism. As an example of childhood adversity, and because the model of pediatric medical traumatic stress demonstrates traumatic responses do not always subside over time, this study examined the psychosocial health of PFAPA survivors post resolution. Using a quantitative, cross-sectional study design, the psychosocial well-being of PFAPA survivors was compared to children with persistent asthma and children without chronic illness or a history of medical trauma. Two validated parent-completed …

Lived Experiences Of South Texas Police Officers After Completing Crisis Intervention Training, Lyna Yvette Campos

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This qualitative phenomenological study addressed the paucity of research on the experiences of police officers who have both completed crisis intervention team (CIT) training and interacted with people with mental illnesses (PwMI). To address the problem, I investigated police officers’ perceptions of PwMI and the pertinent CIT training information they found advantageous when interacting with a PwMI in crisis. Rogers’s protection motivation theory was the theoretical foundation for addressing the research questions. Interviews were conducted with 13 South Texas police officers who had completed CIT training. Data was collected through transcribed interviews and analyzed with an approach that included theme …

Information Technology Management And Emotional Intelligence, Tina M. Muheim

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Information technology (IT) employees often face high stress, burnout, and turnover, indicating a potential gap in IT leaders’ emotional intelligence (EI), which may hinder their ability to support and retain their teams effectively. Since IT plays a critical role in organizational performance and achieving strategic goals, addressing this gap is crucial for improving team well-being and organizational success. Grounded in EI theory, the purpose of this quantitative correlational study was to examine the relationship between IT managers’ EI subscales—assertiveness and interpersonal relationships—and their influence on the EI subscale, happiness/well–being indicator. The participants were 38 IT managers from U.S. organizations who …

Lived Experiences Of South Texas Police Officers After Completing Crisis Intervention Training, Lyna Yvette Campos

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This qualitative phenomenological study addressed the paucity of research on the experiences of police officers who have both completed crisis intervention team (CIT) training and interacted with people with mental illnesses (PwMI). To address the problem, I investigated police officers’ perceptions of PwMI and the pertinent CIT training information they found advantageous when interacting with a PwMI in crisis. Rogers’s protection motivation theory was the theoretical foundation for addressing the research questions. Interviews were conducted with 13 South Texas police officers who had completed CIT training. Data was collected through transcribed interviews and analyzed with an approach that included theme …

Education Of Nursing Staff On Management Of Aggression And Violence In Mental Health Patients Using Less Restrictive Measures., Irene Ozurumba-Omoregie

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Mental health nurses frequently face physical and emotional challenges due to the high prevalence of violence in psychiatric settings. A 2023 survey by the American Nurses Association revealed that 62% of nurses reported abuse from patients, underscoring the need for improved training on managing violent behaviors without excessive reliance on restraint and seclusion. This project addressed a critical knowledge gap in de-escalation techniques among mental health nurses by developing and implementing an educational program for violence prevention. The training included de-escalation strategies and alternative management practices aimed at reducing patient aggression while enhancing nurse safety and confidence. Forty-five of sixty …

Education Of Nursing Staff On Management Of Aggression And Violence In Mental Health Patients Using Less Restrictive Measures., Irene Ozurumba-Omoregie

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Mental health nurses frequently face physical and emotional challenges due to the high prevalence of violence in psychiatric settings. A 2023 survey by the American Nurses Association revealed that 62% of nurses reported abuse from patients, underscoring the need for improved training on managing violent behaviors without excessive reliance on restraint and seclusion. This project addressed a critical knowledge gap in de-escalation techniques among mental health nurses by developing and implementing an educational program for violence prevention. The training included de-escalation strategies and alternative management practices aimed at reducing patient aggression while enhancing nurse safety and confidence. Forty-five of sixty …

Faculty Perceptions Of Academic Advising, Shane C. Hansen

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Academic advising of students by faculty is considered an important component of education at many universities in the United States. However, faculty advisors do not always have input into advisor training and methods of obtaining advising information. Guided by Boyer’s model of scholarship, the purpose of this sequential explanatory mixed-methods research was to study the lack of faculty advisor input into the faculty advising process. Research questions addressed how the university faculty advisors’ responses on the Faculty Survey of Student Engagement (FSSE) Academic Advising module compared to a national sample and how faculty advisors described their perceptions of the advising …

Strategies For Patient-Centered Care Implementation In Independent Medical Practices, Jesse Otto Irvin

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Method: Qualitative Design: Pragmatic Inquiry Why the study is being done: Explore strategies some independent medical practice professionals used to implement patient-centered care, ensuring quality patient care and practice profitability. How the data was collected. Semistructured interviews, audio, and examining public records Identify the population from which the researcher will collect data: six professionals from six medical practices in the St. Louis MSA who implemented patient-centered care to improve patient care quality and practice profitability. How data was analyzed. Qualitative with Themes Communication Financial Consciousness Quality Patient Care Time Management How will data contribute to social change: Implementing best practices …

Elementary School Leaders’ Perceptions Of Suspensions As A Disciplinary Approach With Students Of Color, A Whitney Jones

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The problem addressed in this study was that students of color were being suspended with great frequency in elementary schools at the study site. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore perceptions of elementary school leaders regarding the use of suspensions as a disciplinary approach and how culturally responsive school leadership (CRSL) practices influence their decision-making processes with students of color in one southeastern U.S. school district. The conceptual framework used in this qualitative study included Bell’s critical race theory and Khalifa’s CRSL. For this basic qualitative study, semi-structured interviews were conducted with nine elementary school leaders …

Elementary School Leaders’ Perceptions Of Suspensions As A Disciplinary Approach With Students Of Color, A Whitney Jones

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The problem addressed in this study was that students of color were being suspended with great frequency in elementary schools at the study site. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore perceptions of elementary school leaders regarding the use of suspensions as a disciplinary approach and how culturally responsive school leadership (CRSL) practices influence their decision-making processes with students of color in one southeastern U.S. school district. The conceptual framework used in this qualitative study included Bell’s critical race theory and Khalifa’s CRSL. For this basic qualitative study, semi-structured interviews were conducted with nine elementary school leaders …

Strategies For Patient-Centered Care Implementation In Independent Medical Practices, Jesse Otto Irvin

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Method: Qualitative Design: Pragmatic Inquiry Why the study is being done: Explore strategies some independent medical practice professionals used to implement patient-centered care, ensuring quality patient care and practice profitability. How the data was collected. Semistructured interviews, audio, and examining public records Identify the population from which the researcher will collect data: six professionals from six medical practices in the St. Louis MSA who implemented patient-centered care to improve patient care quality and practice profitability. How data was analyzed. Qualitative with Themes Communication Financial Consciousness Quality Patient Care Time Management How will data contribute to social change: Implementing best practices …

Faculty Perceptions Of Academic Advising, Shane C. Hansen

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Academic advising of students by faculty is considered an important component of education at many universities in the United States. However, faculty advisors do not always have input into advisor training and methods of obtaining advising information. Guided by Boyer’s model of scholarship, the purpose of this sequential explanatory mixed-methods research was to study the lack of faculty advisor input into the faculty advising process. Research questions addressed how the university faculty advisors’ responses on the Faculty Survey of Student Engagement (FSSE) Academic Advising module compared to a national sample and how faculty advisors described their perceptions of the advising …

Washington, Dc Public School Educators’ Perspectives On The Implementation Of Educational Technology In Music Education, Steven Garrison

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

There was a gap in practice in the consistent use of educational technology to engage students, provide instruction differentiation, and improve the overall music learning experience in the District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS). The inconsistent use of technology in DCPS music programs limits students’ potential to fully experience and benefit from music education advancements. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore the perspectives of K–12 DCPS music teachers on the use of educational technology to engage students, provide differentiated instruction, and improve overall learning outcomes. The conceptual framework was Davis’s technology acceptance model, which has been …

Washington, Dc Public School Educators’ Perspectives On The Implementation Of Educational Technology In Music Education, Steven Garrison

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

There was a gap in practice in the consistent use of educational technology to engage students, provide instruction differentiation, and improve the overall music learning experience in the District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS). The inconsistent use of technology in DCPS music programs limits students’ potential to fully experience and benefit from music education advancements. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore the perspectives of K–12 DCPS music teachers on the use of educational technology to engage students, provide differentiated instruction, and improve overall learning outcomes. The conceptual framework was Davis’s technology acceptance model, which has been …

Protecting The Mental Health Of Children Exposed To Domestic Violence In Dallas, Texas, Lakitta Brewton

Selected Social Change Portfolios in Prevention, Intervention, and Consultation

Goal Statement: This project Aims to explore the impacts of domestic violence and provide a prevention focused response that prioritizes early intervention over crisis management. Shifting the focus from reactive to proactive care will strengthen the community's well-being and ensure that families receive the support they need and deserve.

Significant Findings: Children who are exposed to domestic violence are at a much higher risk of developing mental health challenges, like anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) (NCTSN, 2022). In Dallas, the numbers are alarming, with over 13,800 family violence incidents reported in 2023, many of which involved children, either …

Substance Use Prevention For Lgbtq+ Youth And Young Adults, Dustin Braley

Selected Social Change Portfolios in Prevention, Intervention, and Consultation

Goal Statement: Improve mental health outcomes among LGBTQ+ youth by reducing the prevalence of substance use through strategic prevention measures.

Significant Findings: LGBTQ+ youth experience significantly higher rates of substance use compared to their heterosexual and cisgender peers, often as a way to cope with systemic discrimination, family rejection, and a lack of culturally competent support (Marshal et al., 2008; Madireddy & Madireddy, 2022; Mallory, Brown, & Sears, 2019; The Trevor Project, 2022). This paper examines how family-centered models like FCU and FAP can improve prevention by addressing parent-child dynamics and supporting LGBTQ+ youth. It explores barriers created by discriminatory …

Prevention Of Homelessness For Formely Incarcerated Individuals In Alamance County, North Carolina, Tiffanie Robinson

Selected Social Change Portfolios in Prevention, Intervention, and Consultation

Goal Statement: The goal of this project is to reduce homelessness and marginalized housing for formerly incarcerated individuals in Alamance County, North Carolina, by implementing strategic re-entry programming.

Significant Findings: Thousands of offenders are released back into Alamance County, North Carolina each year from both county detention centers and state prison facilities (Lyons, 2024). One in six of these individuals are released into homelessness, with many more finding themselves without secure housing within the first two years of release (Lyons, 2024). While the statistics are alarming, there is hope for reduction in homelessness by implementing holistic re-entry programming and increasing …

Adolescent Substance Abuse In Central New Jersey, Kaitlyn Santucci

Selected Social Change Portfolios in Prevention, Intervention, and Consultation

Goal Statement: The goal of this portfolio is to explore methods of reducing substance abuse among New Jersey teenagers through increased substance use education for students and families. Specifically, through programs developed for use in the public school system, ensuring that children have equal access to the materials.

Significant Findings:

In the state of New Jersey, adolescent substance abuse continues to be an ongoing problem. Rates of abuse of specific substances, such as marijuana vapes, have increased over recent years (NCHS Data Query System, 2024). Significant risk factors include a lack of proper substance abuse education, social normalization of substance …

Domestic Violence In Florence, Alabama, Isabella Sinde

Selected Social Change Portfolios in Prevention, Intervention, and Consultation

Goal Statement: My goal would be to contribute to the prevention and reduction of domestic violence in Lauderdale County, Alabama, by raising awareness, supporting and empowering survivors, and advocating for system-wide changes promoting education, the allocation of necessary aid, and community well-being.

Significant Findings: Domestic violence (DV) is a serious public health issue negatively affecting people worldwide, including in the city of Florence, Alabama. DV can cause a host of mental and physical consequences, such as poor self-esteem, internalized anger or resentment, severe injury, and even death (American Psychiatric Association [APA], 2023). This issue can happen to individuals from all …

Smoking Cessation And Prevention In Spartanburg County, South Carolina, Shezada Holland

Selected Social Change Portfolios in Prevention, Intervention, and Consultation

Goal Statement: My goal for this prevention portfolio is to reduce the percentage of adults in Spartanburg County, South Carolina who smoke tobacco. Significant

Findings: In this social change portfolio, I highlight the profound impact of adult smoking in Spartanburg County, South Carolina, where in 2021, 18% of adults smoked; higher than both the state (16%) and national (15%) averages. Also, that year, 17.1 million pounds of tobacco were harvested in South Carolina, contributing to the crisis. In this paper, I examine the risk and protective factors that influence whether an individual smokes. Smoking rates are disproportionately high among American …

African American College Students’ Perceived Motivation And Engagement In Online Learning Environments, Juanita Sharpe

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The current study delved into the problematic achievement gap between African-American graduates students and other groups, specifically in the online learning environment. African-American graduate students’ lower achievement is problematic due to its lost opportunity costs and social subjugation of an entire group of Americans. The study’s purpose was to improve our understanding of this problem in order to better inform the content and packaging of future academic delivery to this population. A qualitative methodology with a phenomenological design was used to cull the 1st hand experiences of African-American graduate students as to their online learning experiences. Self-determination and constructivism theories …

A Mother's Understanding Of Her Adolescent: A Social Anxiety Study, Cheronda Pinkard

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Social anxiety disorder (SAD) affects 1% to 13% of adolescents, often placing significant demands on their caregivers. Mothers frequently adapt their behaviors to accommodate their child’s anxiety, which may impact their well-being and the parent-child relationship. This qualitative study explored the lived experiences of mothers accommodating adolescents with SAD to understand better the emotional and relational toll of this caregiving role. The problem addressed is the limited understanding of how maternal accommodation affects mothers. Mental health practitioners, educators, and policymakers may benefit from this research by gaining insight into these families' challenges and informing family-centered interventions and support services. Guided …

African American College Students’ Perceived Motivation And Engagement In Online Learning Environments, Juanita Sharpe

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The current study delved into the problematic achievement gap between African-American graduates students and other groups, specifically in the online learning environment. African-American graduate students’ lower achievement is problematic due to its lost opportunity costs and social subjugation of an entire group of Americans. The study’s purpose was to improve our understanding of this problem in order to better inform the content and packaging of future academic delivery to this population. A qualitative methodology with a phenomenological design was used to cull the 1st hand experiences of African-American graduate students as to their online learning experiences. Self-determination and constructivism theories …

Educating Mental Healthcare Staff On Using The Phq-9 In Telehealth, Anoopa M. Jacob

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

I developed a quality improvement staff educational program aimed at addressing the inconsistent use of the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) at the project facility, which could adversely affect the quality and continuity of patient care. The need for the program was prompted by the increasing use of telehealth services and the necessity for consistent mental health evaluation tools. I aimed to educate mental health staff about evidence-based practices using the PHQ-9 in telehealth to enhance the quality of care for patients with depression in remote settings. Analytical methods included administering pre- and postintervention tests to measure changes in staff knowledge …