Digital Commons Network^™

Identifying Cultural Themes In A Shared Experience Of Water Hygiene Education Partners, Sarah M. Etheridge-Criswell

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Lack of safe drinking water and lack of water hygiene literacy contribute to a large disease burden in rural areas of Africa, and children suffer disproportionately more than adults from diarrheal diseases caused by nonpotable water. Research is needed to help merge education and water sanitation to provide more effective methods of preventing diarrheal diseases. The ecological model and hygiene improvement framework were used to guide the study. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to describe the shared experiences of people participating in the water hygiene education program provided by Lifewater International. Lifewater is a nonprofit organization focused on …

Evaluating The Effects Of The Olweus Bullying Prevention Program On Middle School Bullying, Michelle Marie Kendrick

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This project study addressed the problem of bullying, victimization, and the awareness of these activities at a public suburban middle school in Northwest Georgia. The study school implemented the Olweus Bullying Prevention Program (OBPP) in 2009, yet had not evaluated the program to identify whether or not it met its goals after 1 year of implementation. Using a quasiexperimental, goal-free program evaluation, the research questions explored whether or not the OBPP succeeded in reducing the student reported rates of bullying and victimization while also increasing awareness of such activities. A Mann Whitney U test was utilized for analysis due to …

Sales Performance And Emotional Intelligence Of Technology Sales Professionals, Michael Reid

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

United States business leaders spend $15 billion per year on sales training, but approximately 50% of salespeople still fail to reach their annual sales targets. Business leaders have limited understanding of the relationship between emotional intelligence and its central constructs (self-perception, self-expression, interpersonal, decision making, and stress management) and sales performance of sales professionals based in the United States. The purpose of this correlational research study was to examine the relationship between emotional intelligence and sales performance via an online pre-existing emotional intelligence assessment. The theoretical framework incorporated emotional intelligence theory and job performance theory. The sample included 86 technology …

Examining The Impact Of Accreditation On A Primary Healthcare Organization In Qatar, Alia Ghareeb

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Although a modest body of literature exists on accreditation, little research was conducted on the impact of accreditation on primary healthcare organizations in the Middle East. This study assessed the changes resulting from the integration of Accreditation Canada International's accreditation program in a primary healthcare organization in the State of Qatar. The study also investigated how accreditation helped introduce organizational changes through promoting organizational learning as well as quality improvement initiatives. Pomey's Dimension of Change framework and questionnaire was used to measure the effect of Accreditation Canada International standards on the perceived quality performance and the progress towards organizational learning. …

Comparison In Personality Profiles Between Child Abusers Versus Child Neglectors, Jodi R. Cuneo

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Children who suffered parental abuse or neglect can be returned home if their safety can be ensured following offender treatment. However, some caregivers will continue to abuse or neglect their children upon return home, leading to additional treatment, state involvement, and harm to the child. This study assessed personality differences between child abusers and neglectors who were caregivers by applying a binary logistical regression analysis to the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory, Second Edition (MMPI-2) scores sampled from archival data for 215 caregivers. Analysis showed that the abusers had statistically significant higher scores on the F Scale ('Faking Bad'), but significantly …

Success Experiences Of Hispanic Nursing Students Who Persisted And Graduated After Academic Failure, Barbara Ninan

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Twenty percent of Hispanic nursing students at a west coast university are being dismissed from the nursing program due to repeated failures in nursing courses. The purpose of this study was to gain a better understanding of Hispanic nursing students' experiences of successfully completing a nursing program, earning a baccalaureate of science degree, and passing the state licensing examination for registered nurses despite having failed a nursing course and having been placed on academic probation. Guided by Tinto's theory of academic integration, a descriptive phenomenological design was used to explore Hispanic nursing graduates' success experiences. Purposive sampling was used to …

Building Resilience And Coping Effectiveness (Brace): A Program For Military Families, Linda Pauline Zarrett

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Building Resiliency and Coping Effectiveness (BRACE): A Program for Military Families

by

Linda Zarrett

MSN, University of Cincinnati, 2012

BSN, Minnesota State University, Moorhead, 1985

Project Submitted in Partial Fulfillment

of the Requirements for the Degree of

Doctor of Nursing Practice

Walden University

August 2015

Veterans returning from combat report significant family strain and Post Traumatic Stress Symptoms (PTSS) yet have limited access to care resources. Family members, including children, report very similar symptoms to those of veterans and have yet fewer health care resources. The purpose of this project was to apply principles from existing research on post-traumatic stress …

Instructional Design And Facilitation Approaches That Promote Critical Thinking In Asynchronous Online Discussions: A Review Of The Literature, Laura Schindler, Gary J. Burkholder Jr

Center for Research Quality Publications

Asynchronous online discussions (AODs) are often used to promote critical thinking in online courses; however, recent research suggests that levels of critical thinking in discussions remain low. Furthermore, there is a lack of consensus in the literature about the definition of critical thinking and many of the existing studies focus on one specific cognitive construct. Therefore, it is unknown which instructional approaches have the strongest empirical support for promoting critical thinking across multiple cognitive constructs. The purpose of this article is to present a review of the literature related to instructional design and facilitation approaches that promote critical thinking in …

Motivational Issues Of Faculty In Saudi Arabia, Peter J. Anthony, Akram Abdul Cader

Walden Faculty and Staff Publications

This study focused on the factors that affect motivation of faculty in Saudi Arabia. It included two surveys and open-ended queries to a focus group of five academic managers and 25 faculty members of varying nationalities, rank, and institutes in Saudi Arabia. The research showed that the faculties in Saudi Arabia’s higher education industry feel disconnected from the program development. The faculty members did not feel motivated to participate in the development and improvement of the academic program due to: (a) lack of monetary and non-monetary incentives, (b) management not involving faculty in decision-making, and (c) lack of recognition and …

Parents' And Children's Emotions Spanning The Hiv Disclosure Process In Kenya, Grace Gachanja, Gary J. Burkholder Jr, Aimee Ferraro

Walden Faculty and Staff Publications

2014 APHA Annual Conference Tuesday, November 18, 2014 New Orleans, LA

HIV disclosure from parent to child is challenging. While disclosure is expected to be emotion for parents and children, the total disclosure experience has not been described. The purpose of this study was to understand the lived experiences of HIV - positive parents and their children in Kenya during the disclosure process.

From Too Little To Too Much: Sorting Through The Online Resource Environment In Education, Nathalie Carrier, Jacqueline Sohn, Limin Jao, Saira Shah

Journal of Educational Research and Practice

The Internet is considered to be one of the most important mechanisms for sharing research (Chavkin & Chavkin, 2008), raising questions about the scope and variety of research-based education resources available online. Whereas years ago, the challenge for educators was to find relevant research information for practice, this challenge has shifted to one of sorting through the “infoglut” (Edmunds & Morris, 2000), or the abundance of information claiming to be grounded in research, and being able to judge which resources are most valuable and reliable. Drawing on scholarship that seeks to mobilize evidence between researchers, practitioners, and policymakers (Levin, 2011), …

Common Boundaries: Moving Toward Coordinated And Sustainable Planning On The Oneida Reservation, Rebecca M. Webster

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Comprehensive planning can help communities engage in purposeful and sustainable land use development. Previous research has indicated that Indian reservations in the United States often face unique roadblocks to these planning efforts: checkerboard patterns of tribal and nontribal ownership, and the presence of both tribal and local governments exercising land use authority within the same shared space. These roadblocks can lead to uncooperative, uncoordinated, or unsustainable development. Despite these noted problems, there remains an important gap in the current literature regarding solutions to overcome these roadblocks. The purpose of this study was to address that gap. Guided by Forester's critical …

Examining The Relationship Between Math Scores And English Language Proficiency, Denfield L. Henry, Beate Baltes, Nicolae Nistor

Journal of Educational Research and Practice

Multiple studies propose that English proficiency dictates English language learners’ (ELLs) performances on mathematics assessments. The current study investigates the predictive power of English proficiency on mathematics scores, while controlling for gender, socioeconomic status (SES), and grade level among ELLs at a south Florida elementary school. Krashen’s theory of comprehensible input as a precursor to second language acquisition provides the framework for this quantitative, correlation study. Mathematics scores from the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test for Grade 3–5 ELLs (N = 177) were analyzed using multiple linear regression. Analysis reveals English proficiency as a statistically significant predictor of mathematics scores. …

The Influence Of Religion On Attitudes Toward Alcohol Use In Jewish Adolescents, Toby R. Levin

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Historically, the Jewish faith has used alcohol in rituals and religious holidays in which adolescents are permitted to fully participate and this exposure to alcohol may influence attitudes and beliefs about underage drinking among Jewish adolescents. The purpose of this study was to determine if there was a relationship between the Jewish religion and attitudes toward alcohol among Jewish adolescents. The theoretical frameworks, on which this study was based, were the social bond theory and the social development theory. Each of these theories indicates that community is important to the individual. Using a cross sectional study design, 160 adolescents participated …

A Process Framework For Managing Quality Of Service In Private Cloud, Arvind Maskara

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

As information systems leaders tap into the global market of cloud computing-based services, they struggle to maintain consistent application performance due to lack of a process framework for managing quality of service (QoS) in the cloud. Guided by the disruptive innovation theory, the purpose of this case study was to identify a process framework for meeting the QoS requirements of private cloud service users. Private cloud implementation was explored by selecting an organization in California through purposeful sampling. Information was gathered by interviewing 23 information technology (IT) professionals, a mix of frontline engineers, managers, and leaders involved in the implementation …

Hiv-Positive Parents, Hiv-Positive Children, And Hiv-Negative Children’S Perspectives On Disclosure Of A Parent’S And Child’S Illness In Kenya, Grace Gachanja, Gary J. Burkholder Jr, Aimee Ferraro

Walden Faculty and Staff Publications

HIV disclosure from parent to child is complex and challenging to HIV-positive parents and healthcare professionals. The purpose of the study was to understand the lived experiences of HIV-positive parents and their children during the disclosure process in Kenya. Sixteen HIV-positive parents, seven HIV-positive children, and five HIV-negative children completed semistructured, in-depth interviews. Data were analyzed using the Van Kaam method; NVivo 8 software was used to assist data analysis. We present data on the process of disclosure based on how participants recommended full disclosure be approached to HIV-positive and negative children. Participants recommended disclosure as a process starting at …

Tackle Prostate Cancer: A Doctoral Student’S Response, Luis E. Lacourt

Walden Faculty and Staff Publications

This first hand reflection as a doctoral counseling student narrates mthe author' s social action response after learning of his diagnosis with prostate cancer. The author discusses his experience, reviews facts about prostate cancer, and applies Bandura’s (1977) Social Cognitive Theory, a SWOT analysis, and Eriksen’s (1997) social action stages to mhisactivities. These illustrate how he used his story and unique community resources to create awareness and raise funds through an event at a high school football game. Possibilities for additional advocacy events are also discussed.

Patient Safety Culture And High Reliability Organizations, Jared D. Padgett

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

A 1999 evaluation of case studies performed by staff from the Institute of Medicine found that between 40,000 and 98,000 patients died from preventable errors, while 43,598 individuals died in car accidents that year. A 2011 report increased that estimate nearly 10 times. Widespread preventable patient harm still occurs despite an increase in healthcare regulations. High-reliability organization theory has contributed to improved safety and may potentially reverse this trend. This explorative single case study explored how the perceptions and experiences of nursing and respiratory staff affected the successful transition of a healthcare organization into a reliability-seeking organization. Fourteen participants from …

A Resilient Warrior: Coping Positively With Combat Stress Exposure, William Stallard

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The purpose of this study was to explore and examine coping with combat stress exposure in a homogeneous group of 132 U.S. Marines who served in Operations Enduring Freedom or Iraqi Freedom, and who self-reported that they were coping positively. A mixed methods concurrent triangulation strategy was employed with positive psychology as the quantitative theoretical base and Husserlian transcendental phenomenology as the qualitative conceptual framework. Quantitatively, hardiness, hope, social support, personality, and coping strategies were assessed in the participants to examine how these variables may moderate or mediate the relationship between combat stress exposure and subjective well-being. Five hypotheses were …

Does The Perception Of Psychosocial Factors Increase The Risk Of Pesticide Exposure Among Seasonal Hispanic Farmworkers?, Donna L. Levesque, Ahmed A. Arif

Walden Faculty and Staff Publications

BACKGROUND:

Migrant farmworkers are prone to several psychosocial stressors.

OBJECTIVE:

To investigate the effect of perceived psychosocial factors on pesticide exposure among seasonal migrant Hispanic farmworkers in North Carolina, USA.

METHODS:

A cross-sectional interview survey of 187 seasonal migrant farmworkers of Mexican descent, identified from labor camps located in rural counties in North Carolina, was conducted using nonprobability purposive sampling approach. Multivariable ordinal logistic regression analysis was used to determine the relationship between perceived control over the harmful effects of pesticide exposure, lack of social support, and the impact of anxiety on perception of pesticide exposure.

RESULTS:

More than 20% …

Factors Associated With Tuberculin Skin Test Positivity Prevalence In U.S. Medical Laboratory Microbiologists, Julie Ann West

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Prior research has indicated that healthcare personnel (HCP) who work in areas where Mycobacterium tuberculosis poses an occupational hazard are at high risk of tuberculin skin test (TST) positivity and subsequent conversion to active tuberculosis (TB). U.S. medical laboratory microbiologists confront similar hazards but have not been studied outside of the HCP aggregate. The purpose of this study was to fill this gap by examining the relationships between the predictor variables of self-reported history of bacille Calmette-Guerin (BCG) immunization, place of birth, and years of laboratory experience and the outcomes of self-reported lifetime TST positivity, preventive treatment noninitiation, and barriers …

The Virtual Research Lab: Research Outcomes Expectations, Lee Stadtlander, Martha Giles, Amy Sickel

Journal of Educational Research and Practice

This paper examines the complexities of working with student researchers in a virtual lab setting, logistics, and methods to resolve issues. To demonstrate the feasibility of a virtual lab, a mixed method study consisting of quantitative surveys and qualitative data, examined changes in doctoral students’ confidence as measured by research outcome expectations and changes in a self-assessment of research knowledge and skills test in a three quarter virtual psychology research lab. In the lab, 10 doctoral students conducted a faculty-designed project, analyzed data, and co-wrote a literature review. Findings indicate lab students’ research knowledge and research outcome expectations improved significantly …

Pedagogy: The Online Dissertation, Lee Stadtlander, Lynde Paule

2010-2016 Archived Posters

This preliminary study examines dissertation mentoring practices reported by 80 Walden faculty. Comments related to orienting students to instructor expectations and the dissertation process, motivating students, and expectations of frequency of student drafts are reported. Findings indicate that there are currently few consistencies in the pedagogical practices of mentors.

Testing The Waters: Are Health Education Specialists Willing To Conduct Rapid Hiv Testing?, Angela W. Prehn, Jacquie Fraser, Anthony J. Santella

2010-2016 Archived Posters

Approximately 1 in 5 people with HIV are not aware of their infection; access to testing is an important part of public health. In a national study, Health Education Specialists with high HIV knowledge and favorable attitudes towards persons with HIV/AIDS were more willing to be trained to conduct rapid HIV testing (RHT)

The Fatigue Experience Of African American Women With Breast Cancer, Phyllis D. Morgan Dr.

2010-2016 Archived Posters

Little is known about fatigue related to breast cancer among African American women. This qualitative study explored the fatigue experience of 10 African American women with breast cancer. The study was conducted in the southeastern United States. African American women provided vivid accounts of cancer related fatigue. The women discussed how they worked together with their physicians to manage fatigue related to breast cancer treatment. Strategies used by women included pharmacologic (i.e., vitamins and supplements) and non-pharmacologic (i.e., prayer and exercise) interventions. This information can be used to assist breast health advocates to understand how to support African American women …

Organizational Climate And The Theory Of Human Caring In Hospitals, Vivienne C. Meanger

2010-2016 Archived Posters

Patient care in hospitals has become perfunctory, task focused, and void of a personalized human connection, which has become an area of concern among scholars since the 1970s. This experimental, post-test only, control-group study with a purposive patient and clinical staff sample explored the relationship between human caring and patient satisfaction; and the role of leadership in transforming the organizational culture in an long term acute care hospital (LTACH) setting implanting the Magnet initiatives.

Reliability/Validity Of The Self-Stigma Of Mental Illness Scale (Ssmis), Amy Sickel, Jason D. Seacat Ph.D., Nina A. Nabors Ph.D.

2010-2016 Archived Posters

Most individuals diagnosed with mental illness are mild-moderate in severity. Research on the Self- Stigma of Mental Illness Scale (SSMIS) has traditionally focused on stigma associated with severely mentally ill individuals using clinical samples, leaving the psychometric properties of the SSMIS questionable when used with less severely ill individuals. Data from a non-clinical sample of 423 adults indicates the SSMIS scales are reliable. Correlations between the SSMIS scales and mental health scales provide convergent validity for the SSMIS. Findings suggest the SSMIS scales are reliable and valid when used within this population and suggest future directions for mental health stigma …

Second-Parent Adoption: North Carolina Same-Sex Couples And Foster Care Adoptions, Mark Maxwell

2010-2016 Archived Posters

A qualitative phenomenological study about the experiences of same-sex couples with children adopted from foster care in a southeastern U.S. state. Interview data from 8 couples were coded and analyzed. Emerging themes included legal, social, and financial struggles and the couple􀀂s trailblazing experiences to become their children􀀂s legal parents. Implications for positive social change included informing same-sex parents, policy makers and social workers about the families􀀂 experiences and needs.

Employee Engagement In An Animal Research Facility, Joni L. Scott

2010-2016 Archived Posters

Disengaged employees can compromise organizational growth. In this qualitative, single-case study, participants discussed their perceptions leading to engagement or disengagement while working at the facility. The characterization of the negative organizational and social effects of employee disengagement may lead to improvements in employee satisfaction, business growth, integrity, and animal welfare.

Effect Of Aerobic Activities On Promoting Healthy Fitness Standards Of Freshman Students, Monica N. Hudson

2010-2016 Archived Posters

Obesity is one of the greatest threats to child and adult health in the United States. Adolescents are engaging in sedentary behaviors, and their body fat composition is directly affected by a lack of exercise. Direct instruction was used as the framework to compare the results.