Digital Commons Network^™

Social Media Presence And Innovation In Minority-Owned Small- And Medium-Sized Enterprises, Lionel Alexander Edlam Jr

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Minority-owned (e.g., Asian, Black/African American, Hispanic, and women) small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) account for a small percentage of U.S. businesses in this sector. In this context, owners and managers of these businesses need to capitalize on social media to increase their marketplace survivability within the first 18 months of operation. The purpose of this quantitative correlation study, which was based on the technology acceptance model and absorptive capacity theory, was to examine whether the number of social media platforms presences predicts social strategy, customer involvement in innovation, and knowledge gained from customers for innovation in the United States. The …

Successful Strategies Government Executive Stakeholders Use To Mitigate Higher Project Costs And User Adoption Failure Rates, Kimberly Rauscher

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

U.S. government agency projects are under intense scrutiny due to historical reporting of overspending and significant delays; however, only 13% of U.S. government information technology projects over $6M succeed, costing taxpayers money. Grounded in the theory of constraints, the purpose of this qualitative, pragmatic inquiry was to explore strategies that U.S. government executive stakeholders use to mitigate higher project costs and user adoption failure rates. The participants included three U.S. government agency executive stakeholders in Raleigh, North Carolina, the United States, who successfully implemented strategies to mitigate higher project costs and user adoption failure rates. Data were collected data using …

Relationship Between Respect, Trust, And Turnover Intentions, Christina Love Harmon

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Leaders in the U.S. federal government are concerned with employee intent to leave, as it is the number one predictor of actual employee turnover. Grounded in social exchange theory, the purpose of this quantitative ex-post facto correlation study was to examine the relationship between social exchange and employee intent to leave. The participants were 256 employees from all agencies within the U.S. federal government who completed the 2022 Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey, including the Intent to Leave Scale. The results of the multinomial logistics regression were significant, χ² (4) = 87.875, p = <.001. In the final model, two predictors were significant, respect for department leaders, χ² (12) = 43.631, p = <.001, and trust in direct supervisor, χ² (12) = 32.513, p = 001. A key recommendation is for business leaders to model positive attitudes and behaviors by fostering a culture of trust, respect, and integrity to contribute to employee satisfaction and retention significantly. The implications for positive social change include the potential to retain valued employees who are committed to achieving organizational goals and improving productivity for organizational success

Depression Screening For Nursing Home Residents, Victor Chukwuocha

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The project focused on depression among nursing home residents, an underrecognized and undertreated condition that affects quality of life. Few studies have been conducted on the subject of depression screening for nursing home residents, resulting in a lack of understanding among the nursing profession on managing specific conditions. At a nursing home, there was a need to address depression. The practice-focused question used in this project addressed the process of the translation of evidence to develop a staff education project for depression to enhance the knowledge of nurses working with nursing home residents. The project followed an evidence-based approach to …

Elementary Teachers’ Perceptions Of Teacher Retention, Jennifer Renee Turney

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The problem that was addressed in this study is the high rate of teacher attrition at a K–8 Title I school in Arizona. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore the perceptions of the teachers who have chosen to remain at this school rather than leave. The theoretical framework of the study was based on Herzog’s motivational theory pertaining to the factors that can influence job satisfaction and lead to higher employee retention. The research questions focused on the perceptions of teachers that contribute to their decisions to remain at the study site and what types of …

An Examination Of The Differences In The Funding Of Minority-Owned Businesses (Small And Large) Compared To Non-Minority Businesses, Malebatom Sousso

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Minority business owners face challenges obtaining capital even though, in the last 10 years, 50% of the two million minority-owned small businesses created up to 4.7 million jobs in the United States. Grounded in the financial growth cycle model, the purpose of this quantitative ex post facto study was to examine the impact of minority-owned business status and small business size on the disbursed/shipped approved funding amount score. Data records (N = 48,018) were collected from the Approved Working Capital Transactions Authorization dataset administered by the Export-Import Bank of the United States. The two-way ANOVA results showed a statistically significant …

Manufacturing Strategies For Optimizing Supply Chains And Mitigating Disruption, Rudolph Smith

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Shifts in consumer demands, access to raw materials, and rapid growth can influence supply chain performance. Tool and Die (T&D) manufacturing leaders tend to be concerned with ineffective supply chains, which can harm firms’ competitiveness and profitability. Grounded in Porter’s Value Chain theory, the purpose of this qualitative pragmatic inquiry was to identify and explore strategies that some leaders in the U.S. tool and die industry use to manage supply chains successfully. The participants were five T&D manufacturing leaders in the eastern United States who successfully managed T&D supply chains. Data were collected using purposeful sampling via semistructured interviews and …

Leadership Strategies Business Managers Use To Improve Diversity And Inclusion In The Workplace, Eric Ray Robinson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Business managers’ lack of leadership strategies leads to a lack of a diverse workforce in most high-powered positions. Business managers who fail to implement appropriate leadership strategies for improving diversity and inclusion in the workplace can experience poor innovation, high employee turnover rates, decreased productivity, and decreased customer satisfaction. Grounded in social identity theory, the purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to explore the leadership strategies business managers use to improve diversity and inclusion in the workplace to improve performance in the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia. Participants were four business managers who successfully used leadership strategies …

Fourth Grade Teachers’ Experiences Addressing Low Reading Achievement, Sametria S. Alexander

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The research problem addressed in this study was the low reading achievement scores of fourth grade students and fourth grade reading teachers’ struggles raising reading achievement. The purpose of the study was to explore fourth grade reading teachers’ experiences of finding strategies and interventions to improve reading achievement. The theoretical frameworks were Gough and Tunmer’s simple view of reading and Chall’s stages of reading development. The research questions addressed fourth grade reading teachers’ use of strategies and approaches and fourth grade reading teachers’ beliefs about school support. The study used a basic qualitative approach with semistructured interviews from 10 U.S. …

Southeastern South Carolina K-12 Teachers’ Perceptions Of The Difficulties In Implementing An Arts-Based Initiatives, Alexis P. Steedman

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

A public school district in southeast South Carolina implemented a new arts-based initiative due to the surge in demand for mental health services for students following the pandemic. With more students in the research site requiring intensive mental health support during the 2021-2022 academic year, compared to the 2016-2017 school year, the district is expanding its student mental health efforts to encompass a variety of arts-based initiatives to try to alleviate such concerns. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore K-12 teachers' experiences implementing arts-based initiatives and the resources they need when implementing arts-based initiatives in the …

Predicting Distance Learning Counselor Education Doctoral Students’ Research Self-Efficacy, Jennifer Patrice Edwards

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Distance learning is a growing educational delivery method for Counselor Education and Supervision (CES) doctoral students. At the time of this study, no research existed regarding the research self-efficacy (RSE) of distance learning CES doctoral students. Historically, the lack of RSE among counselor educators has been a chronic issue. However, research addressing contributors to improving RSE among distance learning CES doctoral students is unknown. The purpose of this study was to assess and provide data on current perceptions and predictors of RSE among distance learning CES doctoral students. Two theories were used to conceptualize the key variables which were Lent …

Ecological Factors And Minority Young Adults’ Trust In Law Enforcement, Jason Boswell

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Throughout the past decade, studies have shown that the relationship between police organizations and community members has developed mistrust as more citizens begin to document misconduct by law enforcement officers. Studies have also proven that community members trust the police when they feel the police are fair and just. Distrust of law enforcement undermines the legitimacy of police officers, and without this trust legitimacy, police officers lose their ability and authority to perform their jobs effectively. To help bridge the gap between minority communities and law enforcement agencies, this qualitative phenomenological study was conducted to examine the trust within law …

Relationships Between Environmental Pollution And Corporate Environmental Violence Within The Florida Energy Sector, Lynne Hodalski-Champagne

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Environmental pollution and corporate environmental violence (CEV) have become a primary motivator for research, activism, and policy initiatives. Prior research has involved environmental crime, environmental injustice and racism, its origins, history and applications, and effects on public perceptions leading to recommendations for policy implementation. The purpose of the study was to address environmental pollution in terms of total toxic emissions and CEV through analyses of harm inflicted on life, health, and physical integrity of humans, wildlife, and ecosystems. A quantitative correlational design was used with a Pearson’s r correlation coefficient to determine significance with a 95% confidence interval. Routine activities, …

Leaders’ Responsiveness To Creating Ethical Climate For Whistleblowing And Implicit Retaliation In The Public Sector, Oluwatoyin Olusegun

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Whistleblowing is reporting unethical or illegitimate practices witnessed by a member of an organization. Despite the laws and policies protecting whistleblowers in the public sector, many employees who report observed wrongdoings face retaliation. Creating an ethical climate impacts the responsiveness of organizational leaders to whistleblowing, yet little is known about how middle-level managers navigate organizational factors, situational factors, and personal beliefs to create an ethical climate. The current study aimed to bridge the knowledge gap by exploring how middle-level managers in government organizations in California described how organizational and personal factors influence their ability to create an ethical climate that …

Exploration Of The Implementation Of The Workforce Innovation And Opportunity Act By Vocational Rehabilitation Programs Through Collaboration With Education Officials, Elyse Leinani Luke

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Despite public policies intended to achieve employment equity for students with disabilities, compared to students without disabilities, transition-age students with disabilities are less likely to be in the workforce even after receiving public vocational rehabilitation (VR) services. The purpose of this qualitative, multicase study was to explore implementation of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) by VR programs through collaboration with state education officials to deliver pre-employment transition services (pre-ETS) to students with disabilities. The Integration Continuum was used to conceptually frame this study because the model provides a hierarchical scale with definitions about how organizations work together at …

Neonatal Nurses’ Intention To Stay In The Nicu, Carolyn Penn-Griffin

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Neonatal nursing leaders and national health care organizations within the United States are concerned about the recent shortage of skilled and experienced neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) nurses that may reduce the quality of care delivered to NICU patients. NICU nurses are passionate about caring for premature and ill full-term infants and providing educational and emotional support for their parents, some NICU nurses remain in the NICU long-term, yet others contemplate leaving the specialty. The purpose of this qualitative interpretative phenomenological research guided by Martin Fishbein and Ajezen’s theory of reasoned action was to explore the lived experiences of NICU …

A Therapist Perspective: Gender Differences In Treatment Recommendations For Adults With Adhd, Inattentive Presentation, Casey Redus

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder with onset during childhood and often persisting into adulthood. Statistics show that more men are diagnosed with ADHD than women, and that women are more often diagnosed with ADHD inattentive type. Treatment for ADHD has not focused on non-psychopharmacology gender-based treatment recommendations, and this has been identified as requiring further research. This qualitative study explored therapists' process in making treatment recommendations for women versus men diagnosed with ADHD inattentive subtype. Social role theory was used to underpin the research. The participants of the study included ten licensed psychologists in the state …

Language Equity In The Undergraduate Classroom: Fostering Language Diversity In The World Of Standard Academic English., Gabriela Johnson

Higher Learning Research Communications

In this essay, I explore the complex intersection of language, identity, and education with a particular focus on the importance of fostering linguistic equity in higher education settings. It is imperative for higher education institutions to reevaluate language-related practices and foster linguistic diversity and equity. Drawing upon linguistic theories and real-world examples, I highlight how language is deeply intertwined with personal identity, culture, and heritage. Various English dialects, such as African American Vernacular English, Chicano English, and others, are highlighted as valid linguistic expressions rather than deviations from a supposed standard. The role of standard academic English (SAE) in academia …

Attitudes Of Algerian Emi And Non-Emi Lecturers And Students Toward English, Sana Touahmia, Farhana Bakar

Higher Learning Research Communications

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate and compare the attitudes of English medium instruction (EMI) lecturers and students and non-EMI lecturers and students toward English in Algeria. The Algerian government plans to implement English as a medium of instruction in higher education.

Methods: The research was carried out at an Algerian university where French is the primary language of instruction, but English is used as the medium of instruction for certain courses in the engineering department. Data were gathered through a questionnaire, which was distributed to a group comprised of 52 EMI lecturers, 226 EMI students, 70 …

The Global Impact Of The Hlrc Journal On Digital Teaching And Learning Research And Best Practices In Higher Education, Erwin Krauskopf, Gary J. Burkholder

Higher Learning Research Communications

We are pleased to publish the first regular issue (Volume 14, Issue 1) of Higher Learning Research Communications (HLRC) for 2024. Because of our strategic decisions, the journal has advanced in the Scimago journal rank (SJR), which measures the frequency with which content published in a journal was cited in other journals during the three previous years. The SJR provides a numerical indicator of a journal's relative importance and impact within its field. We announce that HLRC has been ranked 612 out of 1,506 journals among all education journals indexed by Scopus, classifying HLRC as within the second quartile of …

An Examination Of The Differences In The Funding Of Minority-Owned Businesses (Small And Large) Compared To Non-Minority Businesses, Malebatom Sousso

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Minority business owners face challenges obtaining capital even though, in the last 10 years, 50% of the two million minority-owned small businesses created up to 4.7 million jobs in the United States. Grounded in the financial growth cycle model, the purpose of this quantitative ex post facto study was to examine the impact of minority-owned business status and small business size on the disbursed/shipped approved funding amount score. Data records (N = 48,018) were collected from the Approved Working Capital Transactions Authorization dataset administered by the Export-Import Bank of the United States. The two-way ANOVA results showed a statistically significant …

Leadership Strategies Business Managers Use To Improve Diversity And Inclusion In The Workplace, Eric Ray Robinson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Business managers’ lack of leadership strategies leads to a lack of a diverse workforce in most high-powered positions. Business managers who fail to implement appropriate leadership strategies for improving diversity and inclusion in the workplace can experience poor innovation, high employee turnover rates, decreased productivity, and decreased customer satisfaction. Grounded in social identity theory, the purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to explore the leadership strategies business managers use to improve diversity and inclusion in the workplace to improve performance in the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia. Participants were four business managers who successfully used leadership strategies …

Evaluation Of Flooding Disaster Risk Initiatives In Vulnerable Homeless Communities, Nicholas W. O'Clair

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Homeless individuals, who have limited resources and lack stable lodging, are particularly vulnerable during disasters, further jeopardizing their already precarious health conditions. By examining the effectiveness of existing preparedness and response strategies on the readiness of homeless individuals during flood events, insights can be gained to enhance emergency operations. The purpose of the study was to investigate the experiences and vulnerabilities of homeless populations in a northeastern U.S. city with the goal of promoting inclusivity and resilience. Research questions involved understanding knowledge of dangers of flooding disasters; disaster preparedness, response, and recovery; and how current public promotion practices of disaster …

Predicting Distance Learning Counselor Education Doctoral Students’ Research Self-Efficacy, Jennifer Patrice Edwards

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Distance learning is a growing educational delivery method for Counselor Education and Supervision (CES) doctoral students. At the time of this study, no research existed regarding the research self-efficacy (RSE) of distance learning CES doctoral students. Historically, the lack of RSE among counselor educators has been a chronic issue. However, research addressing contributors to improving RSE among distance learning CES doctoral students is unknown. The purpose of this study was to assess and provide data on current perceptions and predictors of RSE among distance learning CES doctoral students. Two theories were used to conceptualize the key variables which were Lent …

Fourth Grade Teachers’ Experiences Addressing Low Reading Achievement, Sametria S. Alexander

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The research problem addressed in this study was the low reading achievement scores of fourth grade students and fourth grade reading teachers’ struggles raising reading achievement. The purpose of the study was to explore fourth grade reading teachers’ experiences of finding strategies and interventions to improve reading achievement. The theoretical frameworks were Gough and Tunmer’s simple view of reading and Chall’s stages of reading development. The research questions addressed fourth grade reading teachers’ use of strategies and approaches and fourth grade reading teachers’ beliefs about school support. The study used a basic qualitative approach with semistructured interviews from 10 U.S. …

Leaders’ Responsiveness To Creating Ethical Climate For Whistleblowing And Implicit Retaliation In The Public Sector, Oluwatoyin Olusegun

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Whistleblowing is reporting unethical or illegitimate practices witnessed by a member of an organization. Despite the laws and policies protecting whistleblowers in the public sector, many employees who report observed wrongdoings face retaliation. Creating an ethical climate impacts the responsiveness of organizational leaders to whistleblowing, yet little is known about how middle-level managers navigate organizational factors, situational factors, and personal beliefs to create an ethical climate. The current study aimed to bridge the knowledge gap by exploring how middle-level managers in government organizations in California described how organizational and personal factors influence their ability to create an ethical climate that …

Neonatal Nurses’ Intention To Stay In The Nicu, Carolyn Penn-Griffin

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Neonatal nursing leaders and national health care organizations within the United States are concerned about the recent shortage of skilled and experienced neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) nurses that may reduce the quality of care delivered to NICU patients. NICU nurses are passionate about caring for premature and ill full-term infants and providing educational and emotional support for their parents, some NICU nurses remain in the NICU long-term, yet others contemplate leaving the specialty. The purpose of this qualitative interpretative phenomenological research guided by Martin Fishbein and Ajezen’s theory of reasoned action was to explore the lived experiences of NICU …

Relationships Between Environmental Pollution And Corporate Environmental Violence Within The Florida Energy Sector, Lynne Hodalski-Champagne

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Environmental pollution and corporate environmental violence (CEV) have become a primary motivator for research, activism, and policy initiatives. Prior research has involved environmental crime, environmental injustice and racism, its origins, history and applications, and effects on public perceptions leading to recommendations for policy implementation. The purpose of the study was to address environmental pollution in terms of total toxic emissions and CEV through analyses of harm inflicted on life, health, and physical integrity of humans, wildlife, and ecosystems. A quantitative correlational design was used with a Pearson’s r correlation coefficient to determine significance with a 95% confidence interval. Routine activities, …

Exploration Of The Implementation Of The Workforce Innovation And Opportunity Act By Vocational Rehabilitation Programs Through Collaboration With Education Officials, Elyse Leinani Luke

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Despite public policies intended to achieve employment equity for students with disabilities, compared to students without disabilities, transition-age students with disabilities are less likely to be in the workforce even after receiving public vocational rehabilitation (VR) services. The purpose of this qualitative, multicase study was to explore implementation of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) by VR programs through collaboration with state education officials to deliver pre-employment transition services (pre-ETS) to students with disabilities. The Integration Continuum was used to conceptually frame this study because the model provides a hierarchical scale with definitions about how organizations work together at …

Evaluation Of Flooding Disaster Risk Initiatives In Vulnerable Homeless Communities, Nicholas W. O'Clair

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Homeless individuals, who have limited resources and lack stable lodging, are particularly vulnerable during disasters, further jeopardizing their already precarious health conditions. By examining the effectiveness of existing preparedness and response strategies on the readiness of homeless individuals during flood events, insights can be gained to enhance emergency operations. The purpose of the study was to investigate the experiences and vulnerabilities of homeless populations in a northeastern U.S. city with the goal of promoting inclusivity and resilience. Research questions involved understanding knowledge of dangers of flooding disasters; disaster preparedness, response, and recovery; and how current public promotion practices of disaster …