Digital Commons Network^™

First Year College Students’ Perceptions Of Their Engagement Skills And Satisfaction In Online Courses, Ryan Ann Mathews

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The problem that was addressed through this study is the gap in literature on first-year college students’ perceptions of engagement and satisfaction in online courses. Grounded in the framework of Astin’s student involvement theory and Cotton et al., happy productive theory, the purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore first-year college students’ perceptions of their engagement and satisfaction in online courses. Semistructured interviews with eight first-year online college students throughout the U.S. were conducted. Through thematic analysis, the following four themes emerged: First-year online college students noted that their (1) engagement skills and study habits, when used consistently, …

Relationship Between Employee Engagement, Gender, And Intention To Quit In The Retail Industry, Lataya V. Mills

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Intention to quit remains a significant challenge for retail organizations, contributing to recruitment and training costs, workforce instability, and operational disruptions. The purpose of this quantitative correlational research project was to examine the relationship between employee engagement, gender, and intention to quit among frontline retail employees in the Mid-Atlantic United States. Grounded in employee engagement theory, participants included 71 frontline retail employees. Data were collected using the Utrecht Work Engagement Scale, an Intention to Quit Scale, and demographic questions. Composite scores were calculated for employee engagement and intention to quit, and the data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, reliability analysis, …

The Stigma Experiences Of The African American Transgender Individual In Mental Health Settings, Linda Shaw Henley

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The intersection of race, gender identity, and systemic marginalization has profound implications for mental health outcomes, particularly among African American transgender individuals. Addressing African American transgender individuals’ stigma experiences in mental health settings is important because transgender individuals have dual minority statuses, wherein racism, stigma, transphobia, and institutional neglect converge, significantly impacting their access to affirming and effective mental health treatment. The purpose of this study was to explore the stigma experiences of the African American transgender individual in mental health settings. The phenomenon of interest in this study was stigma experiences in mental health settings with mental health providers. …

African American Women’S Perceptions And Experiences With Weight Management And Ensuing Health Outcomes, Brenda Louise Gill

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

African American women (AAW) experience disproportionately high rates of obesity and chronic disease compared to all other demographic groups in the United States. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore the experiences of AAW aged 36–64 residing in Nashville, Tennessee, regarding food, weight management, and chronic disease management. The social-ecological model (SEM) served as the theoretical framework, providing a multilevel lens through which individual, interpersonal, organizational, community, and societal factors are examined. Three research questions guided the inquiry, examining individual-level experiences, parental and caregivers’ influences, and community and societal-level factors shaping participants’ relationship with food, weight management, …

Fostering Active Learning In Reproductive Health Classes Among Undergraduates Of A Nigerian Public University: The Role Of Cognitive Restructuring Health Education, Ndubuisi Friday Ugwu, Adewumi Segun Igbinlade, Adijat Bolanle Adams, Uchenna Anselm Anibueze, Gabriel Aderibigbe Oyegbami, Chinyere Chrysantus Onwurah, Sabina Nwakaego Igwilo, Olufemi M. Olubamise, Folasade Adediran, Oladipo Adeyeye Olubodun Phd, Jacob Kehinde Opele, Loveth Nnenna Ugwu, Amos Olorunwa Agbojo

Higher Learning Research Communications

Objective: This study examined the efficacy of the cognitive restructuring health education (CRHE) intervention in improving participatory learning in sexual and reproductive health classes among students at a Nigerian public university.

Methods: The study employed a randomized pretest/posttest control group design involving 130 undergraduates from Federal University Oye-Ekiti, Nigeria. Participants were randomly assigned to either a 2-week intensive health education–based cognitive restructuring program (n = 65) or a waitlist control group (n = 65). Interaction behavior was assessed at pretreatment, at post-treatment, and at a 6-week follow-up using the 14-item Interaction Behavior Checklist (reliability = 0.85). …

Racial Profiling In Traffic Enforcement: A Qualitative Exploration Of Police Chiefs' Perspectives On Traffic Stop Data Analysis, Peter J. Didomenica

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Racial profiling of people of color by police departments as part of traffic enforcement practices is a pervasive practice in the United States. The practice is a form of systemic racism, the conceptual framework for this study, that has resulted in people and communities of color suffering its deleterious effects. Although statistical analysis of traffic stop data is most effective in uncovering racial profiling in traffic enforcement, most police departments fail to conduct such analysis, and for those departments that do so, there is no uniform judicially accepted method. The purpose of this study was to understand the reasons most …

Fecal Fatty Acids And Other Risk Factors Associated With Multiple Sclerosis Score, Progression And Diagnosis Among Hispanic Adults, Juliana Ayala-Viqueira

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic neurological condition with insufficient research regarding risk factors influencing MS severity score (MSSS), progression and diagnosis among Hispanic adults living in the United States. This cross-sectional study assessed factors associated with MS score, progression and diagnosis using secondary data from the International Multiple Sclerosis Microbiome Study (iMSMS). Guided by the ecological model, the study included N = 576 participants with MS. Manuscript 1 explored the association between body mass index (BMI), sodium consumption, and the MS severity score in a Hispanic adult population. A multiple linear regression was conducted to examine whether age and …

Empowering Tomorrow’S Eco-Leaders: The Role Of Student-Led Recycling And Energy Conservation Initiatives In Fostering Environmental Sustainability In Educational Institutions, Angel Christian S. Arisga, Constantino G. Medilo Jr.

Journal of Educational Research and Practice

Environmental sustainability is now a growing priority in educational institutions as global environmental challenges continue to intensify. This paper studies the role of student-led recycling and energy conservation initiatives in promoting eco-friendly practices and developing environmental accountability among learners. Drawing on existing literature, the study illustrates how active student participation in waste management programs, recycling campaigns, renewable energy implementation, and energy audits contributes to reduced waste generation, lower energy consumption, and decreased greenhouse gas emissions in school settings. Apart from environmental outcomes, these projects foster essential competencies such as leadership, collaboration, problem-solving, and environmental awareness, positioning students as agents of …

Bridging The Gap Between Research And Practice In Schools, Giorgio Ostinelli

Journal of Educational Research and Practice

This case study examined how a group of Swiss primary school teachers collaborated with a school improvement advisor/researcher (SIA); it is now part of a larger project that uses a design-based methodology. The SIA is a rising entity in the educational landscape and serves as a state-mandated coach who bridges the gap between universities and schools. The SIA embodies the characteristics of both an educational researcher and a school advisor/coach. The SIA experience was created and designed using a frame–object, a valuable tool for collaboratively building professional development experiences with teachers and coaches. Understanding by Design served as the frame–object …

Clinical Practice Guideline For Evidence-Based Management Of Chronic Prostatitis, Sandra Castro

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) project involved the development, expert appraisal, and implementation of an evidence-based Clinical Practice Guideline (CPG) for chronic prostatitis management in adult male patients at a private outpatient clinic. The practice problem was persistent symptom burden from reliance on antibiotic monotherapy without adjunctive therapies, contributing to recurrent symptoms and decreased quality of life. The purpose was to develop and implement a standardized CPG to improve symptom outcomes and support antimicrobial stewardship. The project question was: In adult male patients with chronic prostatitis, how does a standardized CPG incorporating adjunctive ozone therapy and structured symptom monitoring, …

Factors Influencing Student Satisfaction With Blended Learning In Pedagogical Skills Training In Vietnam, Pham Thi Binh, Vu Thi Mai Huong, Nguyen Thi Bich, Kieu Phuong Thuy

Higher Learning Research Communications

This study investigates the structural determinants of student satisfaction with blended learning (BL) within pedagogical professional development modules at a Vietnamese university of education. Utilizing a partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) approach, with a large sample of 1,121 pre-service teachers, the research evaluates the relative influence of five key factors: instructional quality, learner agency and professional awareness, technological infrastructure, course content, and institutional support services. Results indicate a high overall level of student satisfaction. The structural model explains 63% of the variance in satisfaction (R2 = 0.63), with instructional quality identified as the most significant determinant, …

The Relationship Between Emotional Intelligence And Leadership Styles Among African American Female Law Enforcement Supervisors, Hudson Cutno, Jr.

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

No abstract provided.

Elementary Teachers’ Experiences Providing Feedback During 1:1 Writing Conferences, Trina Gould Williams

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

No abstract provided.

Mandatory Arrest Laws: Breaking The Cycle Of Violence In Colorado And Nebraska, Ryann Lavata Livingstone

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

No abstract provided.

Parental Participation And Engagement In North Carolina Medicaid Enhanced Mental Health Services For Children And Adolescents, Jonathan Andrew Traylor

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Parental participation and engagement (PPE) are positively associated with improved treatment outcomes for children receiving mental health services; however, parental involvement remains inconsistent among culturally diverse and economically disadvantaged families served through North Carolina Medicaid enhanced mental health services. Barriers to communication, collaboration, and sustained engagement may limit parents’ active participation in treatment planning and service delivery. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore PPE among culturally diverse and economically disadvantaged parents whose children received North Carolina Medicaid enhanced mental health services. The ecological perspective of human development constituted the theoretical framework for this study. Data were …

Effective Strategies For Retaining Millennial Employees In Small Southern Retail Businesses, Justin Nathaniel Moore

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Small retail businesses in the Southern United States continue to experience costly millennial employee turnover, threatening workforce stability and long-term business sustainability. This issue is important to small Southern retail business owners because turnover increases staffing costs, disrupts customer service, and weakens organizational performance. The purpose of this qualitative pragmatic inquiry was to explore strategies some small Southern U.S. retail business owners use to improve millennial employee retention. The job demands–resources model grounded the research project. Participants were six owner-operators in Virginia, Alabama, and Tennessee with at least 5 years of leadership experience managing millennial employees. Data were collected through …

Black Faith-Based Organization Leaders And Their Role In Mental Health, Alyssa Te'rese Green

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Blacks age 65+ have more mental health issues than others but underutilize mental health services because of stigma. The purpose of this generic qualitative study was to identify what leaders in Black faith-based organizations believe their role is in supporting their congregants in accessing/attaining mental health services and how they provide support to their elderly congregants who may not have social support that could identify mental health issues. The health belief model and theory of planned behavior were used to explore mental health knowledge and support for the elderly congregants of faith-based organizations. Semistructured interview data from 10 Black religious …

Telling On Themselves: A Qualitative Study On The Linguistic Markers Of Deception In High-Stakes Speech, James Butcher

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Deception detection in forensic and legal settings has historically relied on behavioral and nonverbal cues. Extensive research has demonstrated that these indicators are unreliable and prone to bias. This reliance has a significant impact on investigations, legal outcomes, and public trust. Although linguistic research has identified individual markers of deceptive speech, limited attention has been given to how multiple linguistic cues interact in real-world, high-stakes contexts. The purpose of this qualitative study was to examine how pronoun shifts, avoidance language, and equivocation cluster together during high-stakes deceptive speech. Truth-default theory (TDT) served as the theoretical foundation, and critical discourse analysis …

Black Entrepreneurs’ Strategies For Sustainability, Barbara Davis

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

No abstract provided.

Organizational Demands, Worker Adaptation, And The Relational Ripple Effect In Child Welfare Case Planning, Mackenzie Alexia Leach

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

No abstract provided.

Teachers’ Experiences In Teaching Foundational Reading Skills In The General Education English Language Arts Classroom In Grades 9-12, Jodi Leigh Mckenzie

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

No abstract provided.

Behavioral Intentions And Use Of Telehealth Among Afro-Caribbean Immigrants In Florida, Patsy Patricia Lindo-Wood

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Many researchers have documented the benefits of telehealth in managing cardiovascular disease and its risk factors. However, acceptance and use of telehealth among immigrants in the United States were low compared to other users, and little is known about Afro-Caribbean immigrants and their telehealth acceptance and use. Guided by the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology, this study explored how performance expectancy, effort expectancy, social influence, and facilitating conditions shape behavioral intentions and telehealth use among Afro-Caribbean immigrants in Port St. Lucie, Florida. A generic qualitative design with a purposive sampling strategy was used to interview 17 Afro-Caribbean …

Juvenile Justice Professionals’ Perceptions Of Prevention Programs In West Central Florida, Terry Rachelle Harmon

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

No abstract provided.

Reducing Turnover At The Frontline: Hotel Leadership Strategies, Tamica Hales

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

No abstract provided.

Managing Elderly Patients With Dementia Using Evidence-Based Non-Pharmacological Interventions In The Ed Setting, Rita Anue Cho

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Persons with dementia frequent emergency departments (EDs), but ED staff lack understanding of cognitive impairment and evidence-base management of these symptoms, which sometimes results to unsafe encounters, aggression, agitation and assault with or without injuries. As a result, staff may resort to physical or chemical restraints to maintain safety for patients, staff, and the milieu. It is essential for staff in the ED to understand the disease process, recognize behavioral triggers, and apply evidence-based non-pharmacological interventions. The purpose of this project was to provide education to ED staff to enhance their understanding of cognitive disorders and dementia in the elderly …

Leadership-Mediated Retention Strategies To Sustain Workforce Capacity And Performance In Public Health, Meredith Winslow Wilkins

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Workforce retention challenges continue to affect public health leaders by contributing to staffing shortages, reduced organizational capacity, and disruptions in service delivery. Public health leaders are concerned with employee turnover because it affects workforce stability, organizational performance, and the ability to meet community health needs. Grounded in Herzberg’s motivation-hygiene theory, the purpose of this qualitative pragmatic inquiry was to explore effective workforce retention strategies used by public health leaders to retain skilled staff and strengthen organizational capacity and revenue. The participants were eight public health leaders in the Northeast region of the United States with responsibility for workforce management and …

Caring In An Online Graduate Synchronous Learning Environment, Keith Higa

Journal of Educational Research and Practice

This self-study examines how caring practices are understood, enacted, and experienced within a synchronous online graduate teacher-education environment. Although online programs have expanded substantially, limited research addresses how relational approaches translate into mediated instructional spaces. Guided by Noddings’s ethics of care, this inquiry integrates reflective self-study with participant interviews to explore how technological structures, instructor practices, and real-time interactions shape students’ experiences of care. Findings reveal a multidimensional model consisting of (a) technological or structural care, characterized by course organization, predictability, and flexibility, and (b) humanistic care, expressed through relational presence, acknowledgment, responsiveness, and emergent dialogue in synchronous sessions. Together, …

Spreading Awareness And Advocating For The Shortage Of Special Education Resources In Martin County, Florida, Lynn Potter

Selected Social Change Portfolios in Prevention, Intervention, and Consultation

Goal Statement:

The goal is to prevent staff shortages of special education and student support professionals in Martin County, FL, and advocate for systemic changes that improve staff retention, raise awareness, and expand special education resources.

Significant Findings:

The shortage of ESE resources in Martin County, Florida, is affecting students’ success outcomes and relationships between parents and educators. With a 42% turnover rate over the past four years, the district needs to drastically improve teacher retention (WPBF 25 News, 2023). The western zone of Indiantown, which has a minority population of Hispanic and Latino students, is critically affected (United States …

Addressing Homelessness As A Key Risk Factor For Overdose Deaths In King County, Washington, Catherine Mutti-Driscoll

Selected Social Change Portfolios in Prevention, Intervention, and Consultation

Goal Statement:

In this portfolio, I identify prevention strategies that address the nested problems of overdose deaths and homelessness in King County, Washington. By examining how housing instability, substance abuse, structural racism, and gaps in coordinated care intersect, this paper advocates for a responsive prevention approach that combines evidence-based substance abuse strategies, phased housing approaches, and culturally responsive care.

Significant Findings:

While recent harm reduction measures have improved overdose death rates in King County, unhoused individuals continue to account for 50% of the county’s still concerning fatal overdose numbers. Data shows that historical racism in King County also shapes who …

Reducing Chronic Loneliness Among Lgbtq+ Older Adults In Greater Seattle, Douglas J. Gallup

Selected Social Change Portfolios in Prevention, Intervention, and Consultation

Goal Statement

The goal of this project is to reduce chronic loneliness and social isolation among LGBTQ+ adults age 65 and older in the Greater Seattle area by increasing access to affirming, accessible, and evidence-informed opportunities for meaningful connection.

Significant Findings

LGBTQ+ older adults in Seattle and King County face elevated risks of living alone, social isolation, and limited access to affirming services, while also demonstrating substantial resilience (Fredriksen-Goldsen et al., 2015). A promising approach would combine meaningful activity, social support, practical access assistance, and PEARLS-informed strategies. GenPride is a logical community partner because its programs foster well-being and belonging …