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Principal And Teacher Perceptions Of How Principal Motivational Leadership Practices Influence School Climate, Emily Harber Williams

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Research indicates that school leadership influences the success of student outcomes through school climate. However, little is known about how principals and teachers perceive principals’ motivational leadership practices and how these leadership practices influence school climate. The purpose of this qualitative study was to gain a better understanding of seventh and eighth grade principal and teacher perceptions of principal motivational leadership practices influence on school climate. This study was based upon Sullivan’s motivational language theory and Deci and Ryan’s self-determination theory by way of the utilization of the conceptual framework on charismatic leadership. The research questions focused on principal and …

Exploring Health Literacy In The Acute Care Setting In A Rural Border Region, Shiloh Williams

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Health literacy is important to ensuring patients have the necessary knowledge and skills needed to actively participate as a member of their own healthcare team. Patients with low health literacy are at increased risk for poor outcomes and limited participation in decisions affecting their health or treatment plan. Using the Social Ecological Model (SEM) as a framework, the purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between medical-surgical registered nurses, medical-surgical patients and the registered nurse’s (RN) assessment of their patient’s health literacy of those who live in a rural-border region. The study’s sample consisted of 84 pairs of …

Social Workers' Perceptions Of Exercise In Treating Chronic Mental Illnesses: Action Research, Carlene Battiste-Downie

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Social Workers' Perceptions of Exercise in Treating Chronic Mental Illnesses: Action Research

by

Carlene Battiste-Downie

MSW, Fordham University, 2000

BS, Oneonta State University, 1993

DSW Research Project Submitted in Partial Fulfillment

of the Requirements for the Degree of

Doctor of Social Work

Walden University

July 2020

Though social workers are an integral part of the mental health profession, there is a fundamental gap in the clinical mental health social workers' practice. This gap is a lack of physical exercise as part of the routine regimen in treating clients suffering from chronic mental illnesses such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, …

College Students And Their Decisions To Disclose Disabilities, Matthew A. Christian

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Legislation in the United States mandates support services to assist students with disabilities in postsecondary settings, and research literature includes legislation and case law dealing with access rights to higher education and studies in areas of transitioning to postsecondary settings, including perceptions of support services and barriers to attainment. Yet, the processes that require students to divulge increasingly personal information related to their disabilities can discourage the students who need services. There is a gap in research and practice concerning the factors leading these students to decide to disclose; therefore, the purpose of this narrative inquiry was to explore the …

Recidivism In The U.S. Criminal And Military Justice Systems, Dameian Cooper

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Recidivism in the U.S. Criminal and Military Justice Systems

by

Dameian J. Cooper

MA, American Military University, 2015

BS, Columbia Southern University, 2012

Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment

of the Requirements for the Degree of

Doctor of Philosophy

Criminal Justice

Walden University

August 2020

The purpose of the U.S. criminal and military justice systems is to deliver justice for all and protect public safety. However, “tough on crime” legislation has contributed to mass incarceration and high rates of recidivism. The purpose of this qualitative study was to understand which justice system (criminal or military) is more effective in reducing recidivism. …

Managing Energy As Experienced By Female Federal Senior Managers, Gwendolyn Jones Crimiel

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Senior managers experience a drain on personal energy while trying to meet the demands of work. The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenological study was to explore how female senior managers describe lived experiences of managing and renewing personal energy while at work. The theoretical framework included conservation of resources theory and effort recovery theory. Data were collected from semi-structured interviews with 14 female senior managers who experienced managing and renewing their personal energy at work. Data analysis involved coding to capture the essence of the experiences and to identify common themes. Findings indicated that insufficient energy affected participants’ mental and …

Predictive Factors Of Risky Sexual Behaviors Of Emerging Adult Women, Corey Dabney

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This study offered a predictive model to better understand the social dynamics of risky sexual behavior through examining how reproductive coercion, self-esteem, and peer relationships that present with risky sexual behaviors correlate to unintended pregnancy. The participants were 104 emerging adult women between the ages 18-25 who resided in the United States and were proficient in the English language. Using the theoretical lens of reciprocal determinism, direct logistic regression was performed to assess the likelihood that the variables reproductive coercion, peer relationships, and self-esteem would impact unintended pregnancy. The full model containing all predictors was statistically significant, indicating that the …

Communication Strategies Used To Improve Employee Performance In A Diverse Workforce, Dr. Sharine Denise Daniel

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Ineffective communication strategies can negatively affect employee performance in a diverse workforce, which may hinder business growth. Top-level managers in the telecommunication sector who struggle to improve employee performance are at high risk of their businesses failing. Grounded in organizational information theory, the purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to explore the communication strategies top-level managers in the communication sector use to improve employee performance in a diverse workforce. The participants were 5 top-level managers in 2 telecommunication companies in St. Maarten, who effectively used communication strategies to improve employee performance in a diverse workforce. Sources for data …

Perceptions Of Organizational Support Among Social Workers Exposed To Vicarious Trauma, Paula Denise Downie

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Repeated exposure to clients’ trauma has led to secondary or vicarious emotional distress for social workers, which has negatively impacted their professional and personal lives. The purpose of this qualitative action research study was to explore social workers’ perceptions of organizational support of social workers with symptoms of vicarious trauma. Ecological systems theory provided the framework for the study. The sample consisted of 6 clinical licensed social workers who participated in 2 focus group sessions, one with 4 participants and one with 2 participants. Data were inductively coded and analyzed to identify patterns and themes. Findings indicated that social workers …

Strategies For Retaining Bedside Nurses, Desmond Chuma Duru

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Health care organizations incur high costs because of the increase in voluntary turnover of nursing staff. Grounded in the social exchange theory, the purpose of this qualitative single case study was to explore strategies to reduce the voluntary turnover of bedside nurses. The participants comprised 6 senior health care leaders in the southeastern United States who successfully implemented strategies to reduce bedside nurses’ voluntary turnover. Data were collected from face-to-face, semistructured interviews, member checking interview summaries, reflexive journal notes, and reviewing the available digital documentation from the health care system’s websites. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis. Three themes emerged: …

Nurses’ Aesthetic Responses And Emotional Judgements To Senior Leaders’ Symbolism, Lucinda A. Easler

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Stress can be heightened during a merger; understanding how acute care nurses who work in a hospital undergoing a merger, experience senior leaders’ use of symbolism may help to promote hospital and leader sustainability. Executive symbolism unfolds into aesthetic experience, normally considered a response to art, with few studies of its existence and benefit to organizational life. The purpose of this phenomenological-hermeneutic study guided by Parker’s aesthetic theory was to examine acute care nurses’ emotional responses and experiences with senior leaders’ use of executive symbolism in the midst of the organizational change. Interviews with 11 acute care registered nurses were …

Strategies For Automating Pharmacovigilance Adverse Event Case Processing, Mythily Easwar

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Business leaders who fail to implement innovative technology solutions in their companies face economic distress in these organizations. Guided by the task technology fit model as the conceptual framework, the purpose of this qualitative single case study was to explore strategies used by pharmacovigilance (PV) systems leaders to implement innovative technology solutions. The participants were 4 PV systems managers working in a pharmaceutical company in the Boston area of Massachusetts, United States, who used successful strategies to implement innovative technology solutions to automate adverse events case processing. Data were collected using semistructured interviews and company documents. The collected data were …

Perceptions Of Health Care Professionals Providing Smoking Cessation In Health Care Settings, Dr. Tenishia Tamika Edwards

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Tobacco use affects many individuals in the United States and around the world, particularly those who have existing health disparities. Smoking cessation therapy is a process used by health care professionals (HCPs) to help aid in the reduction or elimination of tobacco use. HCPs providing this service in health care settings can reach patients directly while helping to decrease the mortality rate in those who use tobacco. The purpose of this phenomenological qualitative study was to identify HCPs’ perceptions of patient barriers to adherence to smoking cessation services and what can be done to improve smoking cessation in health care …

Group Education Program To Increase Obesity Knowledge In Cardiac Care Nurses, Ethel Emenogu

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Obesity increases the severity of cardiac disease, leading to increased mortality and morbidity. The need to address obesity is critical in reducing obesity-associated complications such as heart failure, strokes, heart attacks, and even death. Obesity is also a risk factor for many chronic diseases such as heart disease, cancer, diabetes, hypertension, and depression. Evidence has shown that obese individuals with cardiac disease are at increased risk of developing complications. The practice-focused question for this doctoral project asked whether a group educational program could increase obesity knowledge among cardiac care clinic nurses. The purpose of this DNP project was to provide …

An Exploratory Study To Identify Strategies For Retaining Laboratory Professionals In Hospital Setting, Ambrose E. Ewane

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Medical laboratory professionals have faced more than 20 years of workforce shortages. The causes of these workforce shortages include poor retention of new professionals and an insufficient number of new graduates who enter the workforce. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to explore the strategies that are used by managers in hospitals for the retention of laboratory professionals. The theoretical framework comprised Mobley’s theory of turnover and Porter’s organizational commitment theory. The research questions for this study addressed what managers perceived as the biggest challenges for the retention of laboratory professionals and what effective strategies they thought could …

A Phenomenological Study Of Christian Conversion And Recidivism In Ex-Prisoners, Christopher Featherstone

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Recidivism rates are high in the United States. According to the Bureau of Justice

Statistics, within 5 years of being released, 77% of ex-prisoners are arrested, with 37%

arrested within the first 6 months and 57% arrested within the first year. Past research has

indicated that religiosity functions as a protective factor in relation to criminal behaviors

that is consistent across genders and developmental periods. The purpose of this

qualitative study was to examine Christianity as a protective factor against offending. The

theoretical framework of the study, self-determination theory, with its focus on

individuals’ growth tendencies based on self-motivation and …

Lived Experience Of Parenting Nurses Pursuing A Doctorate: A Phenomenological Inquiry, Jaimee Feldstein

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The need for more doctoral prepared nurses is evident; data indicate that less than 1% of nurses hold doctoral degrees, yet, little is known about student persistence in doctoral nursing programs. Even less is known about doctoral nursing students navigating an online learning environment while balancing parenthood. The purpose of this phenomenological study, guided by Rovai’s composite persistence model, was to explore the embedded meanings in the experiences of parenting nurses pursuing their doctoral degrees at an online university. Ten female parenting nurses who completed a doctorate within the last 2 years were interviewed and shared the key factors that …

Motivators That Influence Canine Handlers To Volunteer In Animal Assisted Activities, Gina Marie Fisher

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Animal-assisted activity (AAA) programs support various mental health or health-related concerns. Little research has studied why individuals are motivated to volunteer in animal-assisted therapy programs; no studies have addressed what motivational factors influence individuals to become an AAA volunteer. This quantitative investigation used functional motivational theory and attachment theory to uncover the motivations of these volunteers. Certain motives were primed with cues to understand key influences among the 186 individuals selected by convenience sampling through a therapy animal organization. Data were collected through an online survey in which the participants answered a series of essay type questions, some of which …

The Socialization And Academic Engagement Of Black Males In A Christian High School, David Flowers

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Black males in a metropolitan private Christian high school (PCHS) in the Midwest encounter unique sociocultural experiences that may be associated with racial microaggressions and the struggles of fitting in that can negatively impact academic success. The problem that was addressed in this study was the need for more specific information on how Black males fit socially into the local PCHS, and their attitudes towards academic achievement. Bandura’s self-efficacy theory and Tajfel’s social identity theory were used in this case study to explore the sociocultural experiences of 6 former Black male students and 5 members of the school staff. The …

Single Mothers’ Perceptions Of Police Encounters And Effectiveness Related To Youth Gun Violence, Janay M. Gasparini

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Single mothers and their children residing in high-crime communities (HCCs) in the United States are disproportionately exposed to crime, and therefore, the criminal justice system. Specific challenges of single motherhood in HCCs compound the link between juvenile offending and single-female-headed households. Little is known, however, about how single mothers in HCCs perceive and use the police as a resource to help prevent juvenile offending, specifically gun violence. The purpose of this study was to explore the lived experiences of single mothers with police as they related to the arrest of their children for a gun crime. The research questions focused …

Job Self-Efficacy, Alexithymia And Secondary Traumatic Stress Among Correctional Officers, Paulette Andrea Gayle

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Correctional officers work in a volatile environment and are regularly exposed to inmates’ violence or cruelty. These factors negatively affect their job performance, contribute to physiological and mental health issues that could result in secondary traumatic stress (STS) symptoms. Researchers have identified job self-efficacy and alexithymia traits as mitigating factors against elevated stress. Other researchers have identified the traits as strongly associated with mental health illnesses. The purpose of this quantitative study, using a convenience sampling strategy, was to determine whether job self-efficacy and alexithymia traits were predictors of STS among a sample of 79 correctional officers working for Her …

Ethiopian Construction Project Management Maturity Model Determination And Correlational Prediction Of Project Success, Hailemeskel T. Hailemarkos

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In Ethiopia, although the construction industry is booming, the practice of effective project delivery in time, cost, and quality remains a challenge. Construction project success comes through the application of knowledge-based, critically essential factors. The industry's effectiveness is dictated by the level of project management knowledge built in each company. The purpose of this quantitative, correlational study was to evaluate project management maturity level of construction industry and the predictability of project success from project management knowledge maturity of 193 project managers working in contractors, consultants, and clients. The study, which was informed by the project management body of knowledge …

Succession Of Power And Transferring Knowledge In A Small Family Business, Todd Alan Hanzes

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Thirty percent of small family businesses continue to the second generation, and 13% continue to the third generation. Small family business owners’ ability to find a replacement, for the succession of power, continues to challenge small family business owners. Small family business owners who do not incorporate successful succession strategies run a high risk of failure and closure. Grounded in the dynamic theory of organizational knowledge creation, the purpose of this qualitative single case study was to explore strategies 3 small family business owners in Hawaii used for the succession of power. Data were collected through semistructured interviews and supplemented …

The Sustainability Knowledge, Attitude, And Behavior Differences Between Green And Non-Green University Students, Rebekah Hart

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Research has shown that green schools and sustainability education (SE) can improve learning, health, attitudes, and behaviors. They can also model the necessary community, societal, and global changes needed for sustainable living. However, most students do not attend green schools or receive adequate SE. Limited peer-reviewed studies have also examined the sustainability knowledge, attitude, and behavior differences between green and non-green university student populations. The theoretical foundation of the study was based on the theories of planned behavior and social identity theory. In order to fill the research gap, 606 undergraduates and graduates from 265 U.S. accredited green and non-green …

Teachers’ Experiences Addressing Students’ Trauma-Related Behavior In The Classroom, Amanda Lynn Henry

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Trauma is not something the untrained eye can see; it can be described as a silent issue, but the effects of trauma are seen in society. Research about trauma has focused on the perspective of the student and not the interaction between the teacher and the student. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore classroom teachers’ perceptions and experiences with addressing students’ trauma-related behavior. The theoretical foundation was trauma theory. Data were collected through questionnaires and in-person interviews with teachers and administrators who work in Southwest Pennsylvania. There were a total of 13 participants. Descriptive coding was …

Effective Coping Mechanisms For Caregivers Of Dialysis Patients, Olga Natalia Hernandez

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In the United States, approximately 9 million informal caregivers, such as family and friends, assist other adults with essential activities, and more than 20 million adult Americans in the United States suffer from some level of chronic kidney disease. Research on the burden and satisfaction of caregivers of dialysis patients has focused on patients and caregivers who have been dealing with long-term kidney disease; however, this study addressed patients and their caregivers who were first transitioning from wellness to illness. The main intent of this study was to identify the coping mechanisms of effective caregivers at this point in time. …

Predictors Of Hiv Testing Among African American Men Who Have Sex With Men, Jeanette Marie Higgins

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections affect more than 1.2 million people living in the United States and disproportionately affect African Americans (AA) men who have sex with men (MSM). The numbers of those who have HIV infections are likely higher due to lack of HIV testing by all individuals living at risk for HIV in the United States. Prior research has been inconclusive in determining the exact cause of the disparity among AA MSM. Therefore, the purpose of this quantitative secondary data study was to explore barriers to HIV testing within the AA MSM population. The sample for this study …

Management Barriers In Bringing The Digital Age To Rural Nicaragua, Helen Anne Hicks

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Living without access to a steady and reliable source of electricity is one form of energy poverty, and living without access to the Internet is one definition of the digital divide. In many rural and remote areas around the world, residents struggle with energy poverty and the digital divide. However, off-grid renewable energy electricity systems are being installed in these areas to provide electricity. Thus, the purpose of this study was to identify management barriers that affect the maintenance of these off-grid systems and the possibility of using them to provide Internet connectivity. This was a qualitative phenomenological study with …

The Lived Experiences Of Rural Clinical Social Workers In North Carolina, Sarah Horne

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Rural clinical social workers face unique challenges when providing services to members of rural communities. To face these challenges and deliver culturally competent services, clinical social workers in rural communities must be specifically prepared for rural clinical social work. This study addressed issues of preparedness for rural clinical social work centered around rural clinical social work supervision in the context of the systems theory. The phenomenological design allowed for the exploration of the lived experiences of rural clinical social workers. Study participants who volunteered for study after being contacted via information provided to the North Carolina Social Work Board were …

Lived Experience Of Concept-Based Educated Novice Nurses Transition To Practice, Kim Hostetter

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Novice nurses often feel unprepared to transition to practice, which results in increased turnover, which is costly to healthcare organizations and can compromise patient care. Many schools have transitioned to a concept-based curriculum, to move away from traditional content-saturated nursing education. The purpose of this study was to explore the lived experiences of novice nurses educated in a concept-based curriculum as they transitioned to practice. Benner’s novice-to-expert framework and Tanner’s clinical judgment model guided understanding of the behavior of the nurses during the transition period. This interpretative phenomenological study was used to understand new graduates’ perception of their experiences as …