Digital Commons Network^™

Effective Strategies Respiratory Managers Use To Reduce Burnout And Retain Respiratory Therapists, Candi Nelson Tucker

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Respiratory therapists (RTs) have one of the highest organization turnover rates in the healthcare industry. Turnover is important to RT managers because they often lack strategies to retain therapists. Grounded in the job embeddedness theory, the purpose of this qualitative, pragmatic inquiry study was to identify and explore strategies that healthcare managers use to reduce burnout and turnover to facilitate the retention of RTs. The participants were five respiratory managers in five acute care hospitals in an eastern U.S. state. Data collection included semistructured interviews and the review of publicly available data from the hospitals’ websites. Data were thematically analyzed, …

Relationship Between Performance Frameworks In Health Care And Opioid-Exposed Infants' Length Of Stay In New Jersey Hospitals, Nancy Yates Narvell

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Substance use, including opioids, during pregnancy may lead to the birth of infants with neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS). With billions of dollars in annual costs to the U.S. health care system for resource use and hospital length of stay (LOS), federal and state authorities have made improving care and reducing the financial burden of substance use disorders and ramifications of opioid dependence a priority and have incentivized hospitals to improve care delivery and outcomes for this population. The purpose of this quantitative study was to examine the relationship between hospital participation in a performance excellence framework and LOS for substance-exposed …

Teacher Outcomes Of An Intensive Stem-Focused Professional Learning Initiative: An Examination Of Their Beliefs, Practices, And Perceptions, Elizabeth L. Adams, Leanne R. Ketterlin-Geller, Caitlin T. Cox, Karen Pierce

Journal of Educational Research and Practice

The purpose of this paper is to describe teacher outcomes from participating in an intensive science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) professional learning (PL) initiative for middle school science teachers in the United States. The initiative included intensive summer coursework and ongoing support (e.g., individual coaching, professional learning communities), and focused on enhancing teachers’ STEM instruction and their pedagogical content knowledge (PCK), with the ultimate goal of improving student outcomes.

In this mixed method study, we examine change across time in teachers’ beliefs, use of STEM instruction, and PCK. In general, we did not observe statistically significant change in teachers’ …

Relationship Of Enterprise Risk Management To The Success Of Micro-, Small-, And Medium-Sized Enterprises, Gary Francis

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Micro-, small-, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) account for over 95% of businesses and 80% of the workforce in Jamaica. Jamaican government and business leaders are concerned that MSMEs’ meager success rate will continue to hinder economic growth. Grounded in the four pillars of enterprise risk management and rent theory, the purpose of this quantitative correlational study was to examine the relationship between ERM and the business success of MSMEs. The participants were 85 owners or managers of registered MSMEs who operate in the Kingston metropolitan area of Jamaica, have been in operation for at least three years, and completed a …

A Quantitative Study On Restorative Justice Programs And Socioeconomic Status On Gun Violence Prevention In Urban Schools, Debra Kaye Long

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

A gun violence epidemic had been a topic of conversation in America's schools in the form of mass shootings, homicides, nonfatal attacks, accidental discharges, and weapon suicides. The significance of this issue lies in its effects on student safety, well-being, and educational outcomes. A logistic regression model was used to assess the impact of free or reduced-price lunch (SES) and the adoption of restorative justice practices on the likelihood of firearm incidents in schools. Using social learning theory and trauma-informed care, this quantitative study used surveys from 7,290 individuals to analyze these correlations. The findings revealed significant reductions in gun-related …

Teachers’ Use Of Differentiated Instructional Strategies To Support Students Of Low Socioeconomic Status, Cindi Van Petten

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The problem under investigation in this qualitative study was teachers’ inconsistent implementation of differentiated instructional strategies when teaching students of low socioeconomic status. The purpose of this qualitative study was to investigate how elementary teachers implement differentiated instructional strategies to support students of low socioeconomic status. The conceptual framework was based on Jerome Bruner’s constructivist theory, the growth of mind, because symbolic representation helps students visualize the world and enhance experiences. The research questions investigate how teachers implement differentiated instructional strategies to support students of low socioeconomic status and how they believe training on differentiated instructional strategies to support students …

Strategies That Successful Fund Managers Use In Surviving Challenges In Ghana’S Financial Sector, Afua Akyaa Osei

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Globally, economic downturns affect the performance and survival of financial institutions. Fund managers are concerned with economic downturns, as some funds will succumb to the financial challenges. Grounded in the balanced scorecard framework, the purpose of this qualitative multiple-case study was to explore the strategies that managers of some fund management companies in Ghana use to remain in business during financial downturns. The participants were nine managers from three fund management companies that used successful strategies to withstand challenges in the financial sector. Data were collected using semi-structured interviews and a review of company websites and publicly available brochures. Through …

K-3 Teachers’ Perspectives Of Response To Intervention In Closing Reading Achievement Gaps, Sarwat Suraiya

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

General education teachers are directly responsible for implementing the Response to Intervention (RTI) process to close achievement gaps for their struggling readers. The problem in this study was the experiences of K-3 teachers with inconsistent implementation of RTI to support struggling readers at a southeastern school. When the RTI process is not implemented consistently, results can adversely affect closing achievement gaps of struggling readers. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore K-3 teachers’ experiences with inconsistent implementation of the RTI process for struggling readers in a southeastern school. This study was based on Ely’s conditions of change …

Workplace Diversity, Equity, And Inclusion In The Retention Of Faculty Women Of Color In Science, Technology, Engineering, And Mathematics, Sherri Reese

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Gender discrimination and the underrepresentation of women of color in faculty positions in higher education institutions, especially in the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) departments, is a research and policy problem. Despite efforts to improve diversity and inclusion in higher education workplaces, women of color remain largely underrepresented among STEM faculty. Informed by Adams’s equity theory, Tajfel’s social identity theory of organizational commitment, and Bell’s critical race theory, the purpose of this quantitative cross-sectional study was to examine the relationship between diversity and organizational commitment and inclusion and organizational commitment among faculty women of color. Survey data were collected …

The Value Of Cybersecurity Investment In Electronic Health Records (Ehrs, Ansu Katta

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Senior healthcare IT leaders concerned about cybersecurity in electronic health records (EHR) continue to face fundamental challenges when efficiently managing EHR cybersecurity infrastructures to fulfill business objectives. Grounded in the updated DeLone and McLean information system success model, the purpose of this quantitative multiple linear regression study was to examine relationships between information quality, system quality, service quality, and user satisfaction related to cybersecurity and cloud computing infrastructures for EHR. The participants were 161 senior healthcare IT leaders in North and South Carolina who completed a survey that used an instrument scale based on ISS. The results of the multiple …

Nurse Leaders Promoting Well-Being Through Mindfulness, Laura G. Cockrell

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Becoming a nurse is not just a career but a calling. With this calling comes an ethical duty to the patient, but the duty remains to provide care for oneself. During the COVID-19 pandemic, a strained nursing profession felt the effects of a self-care deficiency. Mindfulness is one self-care tool that can allow nurses to maintain a state of well-being. This project followed Orem’s self-care deficit theory, in which people can use self-care to maintain wellness. The purpose of this project was to develop, deliver, and evaluate an education program for registered nurse leaders on mindfulness activities to address whether …

The Experiences Of Jamaican Secondary School Counselors Who Provide Psychological Support To Adolescents, Onnica Morris

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

School counselors play an integral role in helping adolescents navigate and overcome the psychological distress that they experience. This study aimed to better understand the experiences of Jamaican school counselors who provide psychological support to adolescents in high school. Urie Bronfenbrenner’s (2006) bioecological model of human development and Hans-Georg Gadamer's (1981) hermeneutic theory formed the conceptual framework for this study. Seven Jamaican secondary school counselors who provide psychological support to adolescents in high school participated in semistructured interviews via the Zoom online platform. Narrative analysis was used to code and analyze the data from the interviews. Seven themes emerged from …

Early Childhood Education Leaders’ Challenges To Assist K-3 Teachers With Transitioning To Online Teaching Due To Covid-19 Pandemic, Lewisetta Monii Perkins

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Early childhood education leaders were challenged to assist K-3 teachers with transitioning to online teaching due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore early childhood education leaders’ challenges to assist K-3 teachers with transitioning to online teaching during the COVID-19 pandemic. The conceptual framework was based on Kolb’s experiential learning theory which is focused on the learning process and on making adaptations. The research questions focused on challenges K-3 early childhood education leaders encountered when assisting teachers transitioning to online teaching due to the COVID-19 pandemic and what early childhood education leaders believe …

Shared Leadership And Its Influence On Millennials' Performance In A Work Group, Beverlyn Denise Trimble

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Millennials have been constructed in the popular imagination as self-centered, bratty, and difficult to manage. Finding ways to relate to this generation has taken on more urgency now that it is the largest in the workforce. Company leaders realize as well that they can no longer rely on traditional forms of leadership amid the proliferation of complex adaptive systems and digital technologies; one leader does not possess the skills, knowledge, and abilities to handle the complexities faced by contemporary organizations. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the behaviors and experiences of millennials who work in a shared …

Effective Strategies For Building Traditional Church Membership, Carlos Blake

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

A dwindling number of congregational members poses a significant risk to the continuity of U.S. churches. Leaders in traditional congregations need effective tactics for membership expansion. Drawing upon Bolman and Deal’s four-frame theory, the purpose of this qualitative pragmatic inquiry was to explore effective strategies leaders of traditional churches use to build membership. The participants were six leaders from traditional churches situated in the Southern and Eastern parts of the United States. Data were collected by conducting semistructured interviews and archival documents. Thematic analysis of the data revealed four prominent themes: influential leadership, community involvement, use of technology and social …

Psychological Well-Being Of International Students In Qatar, Padmakumari Chandrannair Sarada

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

International students experience adaptation difficulties that have the potential to affect their psychological well-being. Qatar has a growing yet understudied population of international students. The problem addressed in this study is that little is known about the role that cultural distance, psychological well-being, and selected demographic variables play for the international student population in Qatar. The purpose of this quantitative correlational study was to measure the effect of the predictors—cultural distance, age, gender, and length of residency—on the psychological well-being of international students in Qatar. The framework used to guide this study was cross-cultural adaptation theory by Ward and Searle. …

Student Nurse Experiences Of Retention Strategies And The Perceived Contribution To Academic Progress, Jessica Dugas

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

There is a worldwide nursing shortage that has been heightened by the COVID-19 pandemic. Several factors have contributed to the worsening shortage, including high attrition rates in nursing programs. Retention strategies have been suggested to support nursing students during their education to have success and graduate. The purpose of this descriptive qualitative study was to explore how nursing students experience retention strategies and their perceived contributions to academic progress. Bandura’s social cognitive theory was the theoretical framework used to guide the study. Data were collected from one-on-one interviews with 12 nursing students recruited using purposeful and snowball sampling. Data were …

Organization Members’ Lived Experiences Of Destructive Leadership, Angela E.C. Etson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Destructive leadership may negatively impact an organization and its members. Although scholars recognized that destructive leadership behavior exists, there was little qualitative empirical evidence of its effect on an organization and its members. The purpose of this qualitative transcendental phenomenological study was to explore the essence of the lived experiences of individual organization members based on how they perceived and gave meaning to destructive leadership’s negative influence on the organizations where they worked or had worked. The conceptual framework consisted of Van de Ven and Poole’s dialectical change theory, Benson’s dialectical analysis, Schein’s organizational culture, Schneider’s organizational climate, and Weick’s …

Psychological Impact Of Ebola Disease On Survivors: A West Africa Study, Babatunde Moses Irinoye

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Survivors of Ebola virus disease often experience social isolation. Understanding the psychological impact of Ebola virus disease on these survivors was the focus of this study. The study encompasses assessment of experiences in re-integration back into communities, and psychological implications (post-recovery), among Ebola infection survivors (EIS) in Republic of Liberia. The purpose of the study was to explore the psychological impact of Ebola as the EIS continue their re-integration journey in their communities in Liberia. The conceptual framework for this study was based on principles of system theory, based on interrelatedness of the biopsychological experience of the EIS, and the …

Religion And Social Support As Protective Factors Among African American Women Sexually Abused As Children, Vanessa K. Tower

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Childhood sexual abuse (CSA) is a worldwide public health issue. Although CSA has been researched internationally, research on African American women who self-report CSA remains limited. Utilizing secondary data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health, a quantitative study was conducted to explore whether religion and social support were related and differed as a function of CSA presence versus absence among African American women between ages 33 and 43. This study was grounded in resiliency theory, which is rooted in the study of adversity and is a strength based approach. A cross-comparative correlation design was conducted. Religion …

Kindergarten Through Third Grade Teachers’ Perspectives Of Instructional Practices Used To Teach Reading To African American Boys, Margaret Ann Petty

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Since the 1960s, African American (AA) male literacy has been a concern among scholars. According to recent studies, AA male third graders’ reading standardized test scores lag behind other students, demonstrating that AA boys’ reading abilities need improvement. This basic qualitative study aimed to explore kindergarten through third grade reading teachers’ perspectives on instructional practices used to teach AA boys how to read. Guided by Ladson-Billings’ conceptual framework and culturally relevant pedagogy, the research question was utilized to analyze teachers’ perspectives via semistructured interviews. Purposeful sampling was limited to kindergarten through third grade reading teachers of AA boys and recruited …

Native American Higher Education Students’ Perspectives Of Preparation And Encouragement Received Prior To College Entrance, David Edward Marshall

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The problem addressed through this study was that Native American students in the area surrounding a local university participated in higher education at low levels. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore local Native American college student perspectives about becoming a college student, including their individual experiences and recommendations for increasing future Native American college participation. The conceptual framework for the study included Tinto’s model of student integration and Bandura’s social learning theory. Three research questions were addressed regarding Native American college student perspectives on becoming a college student; the experiences, programs, and support that led to …

Exploration Of Therapists' Use Of Bibliotherapy As A Clinical Strategy For Military Children, Destiny Huff

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Military-connected children face unique life stressors related to their parents serving in the military. Therapists play an integral role in supporting these families. Specifically, research on therapists’ use of bibliotherapy as a clinical strategy to support these children’s needs is recommended. Bibliotherapy uses written material such as books, stories, and poems to address clients’ needs. The purpose of this interpretive descriptive qualitative study was to explore therapists’ use of bibliotherapy as a clinical strategy to address the unique stressors faced by military children ages 3-8 years old. Shrodes’s model of bibliotherapy was used as the theoretical framework. Data were collected …

Use Of A Community-Based Mentoring Program To Reduce Juvenile Delinquency And Crime In Adolescents, Andida Prince

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The risk factors of juvenile delinquency and crime fail to acknowledge the systemic injustices, environmental stressors, and challenges youths bring to mentoring programs. Community-based mentoring programs are in place to assist with deterrence and reduction of juvenile delinquency and crime. The purpose of this qualitative study was to understand delinquency and crime in adolescents through the theoretical lens of social control theory. The goal was to explore the theories and understand what can be done to counteract the risk factors from the perspective of mentoring professionals. The research questions focused on community-based mentoring programs’ role in an adolescent’s life and …

Kindergarten Through Third-Grade Teachers’ Perceptions Of Implementing The Science Of Teaching Reading Practices, Shari Yvonne Ehly

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In 2019, declines in reading achievement across Texas motivated changes for teacher recertification, which required 60-hour professional development in the science of teaching reading (STR). The problem this study addressed was the challenges K-Grade 3 reading teachers encountered when implementing the recently adopted Reading Academy content at a large urban school in Texas. The purpose of this basic qualitative project study was to explore the challenges K through Grade 3 reading teachers encountered when implementing the recently adopted Reading Academy content at a large urban school in Texas. The implementation science conceptual framework guided this study on the fidelity of …

Transformative Learning: Changing Nurses’ Perceptions About People In Poverty, Jacqueline Debrew

Journal of Social, Behavioral, and Health Sciences

Background: Meaningful learning experiences with clients in poverty may help nursing students change their perceptions towards those experiencing poverty and, thus, provide unbiased, nonjudgmental care when they become nurses.

Purpose: The purpose of this research was to understand what learning activities and experiences nursing students found meaningful and led to a change in prior perceptions of people in poverty.

Methods: Guided by Mezirow’s Theory of Transformative Learning, accelerated BSN students enrolled in a mental health nursing course (n = 14) were assigned reflective journals throughout the semester on their assigned clinical experiences, which were analyzed for emergent themes.

Results: …

Variables That Support Trauma-Informed Care Implementation By Registered Play Therapists™, Christopher Todd Correa

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Federal agencies, researchers, and professional associations have addressed concerns regarding the growing number of children who are exposed to adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and trauma. In response, they have recommended adoption of trauma-informed care (TIC) that provides care to children. However, there were mixed results in terms of successfully implementing TIC at places of employment. The purpose of this quantitative survey study was to investigate whether Registered Play Therapist™ (RPTs™) experiences, perceptions, and knowledge predicted their attitudes regarding TIC. This study involved exploring perceptions of RPTs™ regarding effectiveness of implementing TIC. The trauma-informed systems model guided this study. Research questions …

Special Education Teachers’ Experiences In A Virtual Setting, Angela Taylor

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The problem this study addressed was that K-12 special education teachers were challenged with using effective instructional and engagement practices in a virtual setting for students with disabilities. The purpose of this study was to explore K-12 special education teachers’ experiences with using effective instructional and engagement practices in a virtual setting for students with disabilities. The conceptual framework that supported this study was Kearsley and Shneiderman’s engagement theory: A framework for technology-based teaching and learning to improve students’ learning and engagement in a virtual setting. The research question for this study focused on what are K-12 special education teachers’ …

Elementary Principals’ Instructional Support To Teach Science, Alfred Lewis

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Principals serve as the instructional leader of their schools and teaching staff, a critical role in leading science achievement. In a racially diverse K-8 public school district in New Jersey, elementary principals are challenged to provide instructional support to teachers who are struggling to teach science to elementary students performing below proficiency on the state’s standardized assessment for science. The research questions focused on principals’ perceived challenges to support elementary science teachers, as well as recommendations for improved training and resources to support teachers. A basic qualitative study consisted of semistructured interviews with 12 elementary principals and assistant principals. The …

Caregiver Attitudes Toward Sexual Behavior And Sex Education For Children With Down Syndrome, Shawna Urban

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This quantitative correlational study investigates caregivers’ attitudes toward sexual behavior and sex education for children with Down syndrome, drawing upon the theories of reasoned action and planned behavior. Data was collected from a convenience sample of 112 caregivers. The analysis revealed significant positive associations between caregivers’ attitudes toward sexuality and their perspectives on sex education. Binary logistic regression indicated that higher POS scores predict increased likelihood of endorsing sexual behavior and supporting sex education for children with Down syndrome. Notably, demographic factors such as gender, age, and educational level did not significantly influence caregivers’ decisions regarding sex education support. The …