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Guardians Or Bystanders? Examining School Shooting Responses In The Southern United States, Andre L. Tompkins Ed.D.

Journal of Educational Research and Practice

School shootings challenge educational safety, demanding effective leadership strategies. The Robb Elementary School shooting in Uvalde, Texas, which claimed the lives of 19 children and 2 teachers, heightened concerns about campus vulnerabilities, urging administrators to prioritize student protection. I performed a qualitative study interviewing principals, teachers, parents, and community leaders to examine their experiences addressing campus threats. The findings revealed three themes: (1) ineffective leadership affects campus safety, (2) prompt actions enhance trust in leadership, and (3) connecting with others enhances safety. In this study, I spotlight the crucial role that proactive leadership plays in building the coalitions needed to …

The Academic And Social Meaning Of Transcendental Meditation Practice For Students And Their Guardians, Holly Erica Squires

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Transcendental meditation (TM) is a unique meditation practice that uses a personal mantra to help the practitioner create a quiet state of mind, greater mental clarity, better concentration, and emotional control. TM has not been examined for its value to help students academically and socially. In this generic qualitative study, high school students and their guardians were asked to describe the meaning of TM practice in their academic and social life. The competencies of social emotional learning (SEL) theory were utilized as the conceptual framework to guide the study’s methodology. Data from semistructured interviews with six students and five guardians …

Parent-Teacher Communication In The Infant-Toddler Setting, Shaquonna A. Alston

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

There is a lack of understanding in terms of how to support effective parent-teacher communications in infant and toddler education programs. Early childhood educators are necessary to communicate with parents about what occurs in classrooms as parents are vital sources about what occurs in homes. The purpose of this study was to explore parent and teacher perspectives on parent-teacher communication to determine ways to improve and support home-school communication and support early learners. Bronfenbrenner's theory of ecological systems, particularly the mesosystem, which involves interactions between two or more settings such as homes and schools, guided the research. For this basic …

Experiences Of Teachers Who Left The Profession In Their First 5 Years, Rashemia Bennett

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Recent studies show that teachers are leaving the profession at a rapid rate, which is leading to a shortage in the classroom that is impacting school districts across the United States. Teachers are leaving the profession within their first 5 years of teaching as opposed to finishing their careers and retiring. Studies show that teachers leave the profession for various reasons, such as emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, lack of resources, student behaviors, and personal accomplishment. The purpose of this generic qualitative study was to learn about the experiences of teachers who left the profession within the first 5 years of teaching …

Marketing Strategies To Engage Multicultural Consumers, Nazanin Weck

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The lack of marketing strategies that engages multicultural consumers is a concern for marketing managers because it can adversely impact their business profitability and sustained market competitiveness. Grounded in identity management theory (IMT), this qualitative pragmatic inquiry was conducted to explore the marketing strategies that successful marketing managers use to engage multicultural consumers. The participants were six marketing managers from distinct companies in the southeastern United States who specialize in acquiring and engaging multicultural customers. Data were collected through semistructured interviews, analysis of public company documents, and a systematic review of secondary sources, including social media content and corporate websites. …

Participant Experiences With Mobile Integrated Health In Underserved Communities While Managing Chronic Disease: Grounded Theory, Margaret Piwowar

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Individuals in underserved communities face barriers to the management of chronic disease compounded by the lack of consideration of the social determinants of health in health education interventions. This qualitative study explored the perspectives and experiences of adults living in underserved communities who have graduated from an integrated program in a large metropolitan area in the United States. Mobile integrated health programs, conducted by community paramedics, work in underserved communities within citizens' homes, managing chronic disease. Limited research exists regarding the perspectives of participants who have received interventions from integrated programs and the perceived impact these interventions have on reducing …

Perceptions Of Using Exercise As A Self-Determining Motivational Strategy For Gen Z Females With Depression Since Covid-19., Andrea Menhennet

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The COVID-19 pandemic significantly disrupted individuals' daily routines, which amplified mental health challenges worldwide. A demographic highly prone to depression is Gen Z females. They faced unique struggles during this period, specifically managing their well-being. This study explored the perceptions of Gen Z females with depression regarding the use of exercise as a motivational strategy based on self-determination theory (SDT). The study aimed to understand how physical activity and ways to cope were allocated to manage mental health struggles, focusing on autonomy, competence, and relatedness as pertinent psychological needs. Using the generic qualitative approach, eight female Gen Z participants shared …

Female Students With Disabilities’ Perceptions Of Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics Education, Toni Anne Walkowiak

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The demand to increase enrollment in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education programs has intensified globally since the early 21st century. Researchers have concentrated on the gender divide with limited research on female students with disabilities (FSwDs). The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore FSwDs’ perceptions of their successes and challenges with accessibility, inclusion, and support experienced in STEM education programs, as well as their recommendations for improving policies and practices in STEM higher education. The study was grounded in social identity and social learning theories. For this basic qualitative design, semistructured interviews were conducted with nine …

The Perspective Of African American Single Mothers In Birmingham, Alabama On The Criminalization Of African American Male Adolescents, Jessica Ruth Whiteside

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the lived experiences of single African American mothers raising males and their association with criminal behavior. The nature of this research was phenomenological. This cross-sectional study, informed by the general strain theory, explored the effects of stress and strain from adversity and systematic racism on the criminality of African American male adolescents. The key research question was: In what ways do African American single mothers view their part and the part of their socio-economic context as contributing to the criminalization of their sons? A phenomenological research approach was used, and the …

Level Of Consensus For A Forward-Thinking Cyberterrorism Model, Latreecia P. C. Folkes

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Cyberterrorism jeopardizes national security and fiscal systems and its potential gains and risks to public safety. U.S. corporate and government leaders must understand the ineffective collaboration to mitigate cyberterrorism risks. The purpose of this qualitative e-Delphi study was to develop information that may reveal a consensus among a panel of corporate cybersecurity experts as to the elements of an appropriate and feasible forward-looking collaborative model between U.S. corporate and government leaders for mitigating the risks of cyberterrorism. The research questions were used to gather experts’ perceptions on the solutions or deterrents to collaboration across the public and private sectors. Pruitt-Mentle’s …

Qualitative Study Of Sexual Orientation In Law Enforcement, Ruby Nelson Brockenberry

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The experiences of LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer) persons working in law enforcement were examined in this qualitative research. While the workplace is often seen as a collaborative setting and efforts to accomplish shared objectives without discrimination or prejudice, this is not always true for LGBTQ law enforcement personnel. This research focused on gender identity and sexual orientation to highlight the difficulties as well as discrimination and harassment which can negatively impact LGBTQ officers’ general well-being. Data was collected using semi-structured interviews from a sample of 11 LGBTQ law enforcement officers in the Pee Dee Region. Date was …

Improving Financial Sustainability Through A 990n-Sized Charity’S Fundraising-Activity Audit, Eileen Callejas

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Current scholarly literature has asserted that large non-profit organizations benefit from conducting fundraising-activity audit portfolio analyses. However, suitable techniques and tools that ultra-small nonprofits (990N-sized charities) can use to improve their fundraising-activity analyses have not been clearly established. The research problem was in modifying tools that work efficiently for hyper-localized charities to compare the effectiveness of their fundraising-activities. Preferred tools were needed to reinforce ideation and align improvements within the charities’ known constraints. The purpose of this study was to explore three suitably modified instruments that could be used for fundraising-activity auditing. Based on Ostrom’s institutional analysis and development framework, …

Principals Perceptions Of Balancing Leadership And Self-Care, Marchelle Latanya Williams-Hines

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The increasing demands of educational leadership place significant stress on school principals, leading to challenges in balancing leadership responsibilities with self-care. This study explored principals’ perceptions of three key aspects: the challenges of balancing leadership and self-care, the demands contributing to stress, burnout, and turnover, and the resources that help mitigate these challenges. Guided by the job demands-resources model and mindfulness theory, this qualitative study utilized semistructured interviews with 10 elementary school principals in a southern Jamaican district. Data collection focused on self-care practices, leadership demands, and coping strategies, with thematic analysis identifying six major themes: the unpredictability and overload …

Transformational Strategies That Some Small Organizational Leaders Use To Lead Their Business Beyond The 5-Year Start-Up Mark, Al Richard Powell

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Small businesses are critical contributors to economic stability and job creation but often struggle to survive beyond their first five years. Business leaders face challenges such as declining employee morale and high turnover, which can contribute to organizational failure, financial loss, loss of credibility, and bankruptcy. Grounded in transformational leadership theory, this qualitative pragmatic inquiry study aimed to discover and explore strategies small business leaders have used to achieve sustained growth and longevity beyond the initial five-year startup period. The participants included eight small business leaders from South Florida and the Caribbean who had successfully operated their businesses for at …

Parental Support Experiences During The Covid-19 Pandemic While Supervising 9th – 12th Grade Student Learning, Sarah E. White

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The COVID-19 pandemic impacted the lives of parents, children, and families in numerous ways. These impacts included increased parental involvement in remote learning. This was an ongoing situation where parents were supervising and being highly involved in their student’s education. The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to explore the parental support experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic while supervising high school student learning. Bronfenbrenner’s bioecological theory was used as a theoretical foundation to understand the experiences of parents. This theory related to support systems, which was relevant during COVID-19 when remote learning changed the interactions between in-person students and …

Staff Education For Intake Clinicians On A Behavioral Health Unit At A 137-Bed Safety Net Hospital In An Underserved Community, Latisha Stennis

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Mental health conditions among adolescents are rising across the nation. This project consisted of an educational intervention implemented at a 137-bed safety net hospital that is expanding psychiatric services for adolescents, and numerous personnel at the organization reported having limited knowledge and experience working with this population. The project aimed to reduce the knowledge gap by accentuating the signs and symptoms of adolescents with anxiety, depression, suicidal, and self-injurious behaviors. The practice question that was developed to address this problem was as follows: Does implementing an educational intervention focused on adolescent anxiety, depression and recognizing suicidal and self-injurious behaviors enhance …

Relationship Between Years Of Experience, Age, Teamwork, And Medical-Surgical Nurses’ Intentions To Stay, Kimberly Dawn Reddish

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The United States is currently experiencing a nurse staffing crisis that is significantly impacting the medical-surgical (MS) nursing workforce. With MS nurses providing the most care for inpatient beds, hospital administrators must identify strategies that support MS nurse retention to preserve access to care for patients and support patient safety. The purpose of this study, guided by the complex adaptive systems theory, was to understand the relationship between teamwork, age, years of experience, and MS nurses’ intentions to stay in their roles in acute care hospitals. MS nurses were recruited via invitations from the chief nursing officer of a system …

Mental Health Seeking Perspectives Of Filipino Immigrants In California, Jonathan Patam Won

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Filipino immigrants have low access to mental healthcare in their native country and a high rate of mental health disorders. The problem that was investigated in this concurrent triangulation mixed-methods study was a lack of understanding regarding how Filipino immigrants to California perceive mental health services. Acculturation theory was used to understand the lived experiences of eight Californian Filipino immigrants who had sought mental health services and seven who had not. All participants had lived in California for at least 10 years. Semi-structured interviews and thematic analysis were employed for the qualitative component. An acculturation questionnaire was used to gather …

Exploring Service Quality In Gambian Public Universities In The Dawn Of Massification: Perceptions Of Internal Authorities, Yankuba Yabou, Precious Nyoni

Higher Learning Research Communications

Objective: The purpose of our study was to explore the perceptions of internal authorities of public universities in The Gambia—with a focus on the University of The Gambia (UTG)—on service quality amid massification and thereby elicit their recommendations.

Method: This qualitative case study of service quality in public universities in the Gambia employed content analysis of data collected through semi-structured interviews to ascertain categories.

Results: The results showed an unfavorable view of the quality of all the factors observed—physical environment quality, core educational quality, and transformative quality. Despite efforts of the university administration to enhance the quality of education, the …

Effective Strategies Nursing Leaders Use To Increase Registered Nurse Retention, Hannah L. Campa

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The declining number of registered nurses (RNs) across all specialties in the United States presents significant challenges to the healthcare system, requiring nursing leaders to implement effective retention strategies. A critical issue for hospital stakeholders is that many nursing leaders lack evidence-based strategies to improve RN retention. Grounded in the stakeholder theory as the conceptual framework, the purpose of this pragmatic inquiry research project was to explore the nurse retention strategies successfully used by six nursing leaders in the Midwest United States. Data were collected through personal interviews and publicly available documents, then analyzed following Yin’s 5-step process ,ensuring data …

Asean's Scs Divergence: An Analysis Of Historical, Economic, And Strategic Factors, Carl E. Dick

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

There is a significant gap in the scholarly literature on the Association of Southeast Asia Nations’s (ASEAN's) internal divisions and policy inconsistencies in responding to China's expansion in the South China Sea that considers national interests, economic dependencies, and security concerns. There is no cohesive regional strategy. This study examined the ASEAN’s responses to Chinese expansionism in the South China Sea, focusing on the Second Thomas Shoal. It addressed the research question: how have historical, economic, and strategic factors influenced ASEAN's collective and individual member state responses to China's actions. Territorial peace theory and constructivist perspectives were used to analyze …

Hurricane Irma's Impact On Mortality Among The Chronically Ill Populations In Florida, Cody Ray Thornton

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Natural disasters pose significant risks to individuals with chronic diseases, exacerbating health disparities through disruptions in healthcare access and systemic vulnerabilities. This study investigated the association between chronic disease-related mortality occurring within 2 months of Hurricane Irma, and whether demographic variables, including age, sex, race, Hispanic ethnicity, poverty, urbanicity, and educational attainment, modified this relationship. This cross-sectional study used the social-ecological model to analyze secondary mortality data from the National Vital Statistics System. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression revealed that deaths from chronic illnesses, occurring between September 2017 and October 2017, were 2.694 times higher, compared to the same period …

Solutions To Retaining Leaders In Behavioral Health Organizations, Kelly Murphy

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Retaining qualified behavioral health leaders is critical to the success of the behavioral health organization. Continually exploring solutions and strategies helps the organization to assess and improve its effectiveness in meeting its mission, vision, and values. This study focused on the development and execution of the strategic plan as a tool for the organization to successfully meet its goals. The problem addressed in this study is the leadership turnover rate and how this change impacts progress toward achieving the mission, vision, and values of the organization. The Baldrige Excellence Framework was used in this study to evaluate processes of hiring, …

Management Strategies And Processes For Improving Product Returns, Marcus Thornton

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Inadequate returns management (RM) capabilities among supply chain and logistics managers can lead to inefficiencies in handling product returns, increasing operational costs and reducing overall profitability. Without effective RM strategies, managers may struggle to minimize the financial impact of product returns on business performance. Grounded in the resource-based view theory, the purpose of this qualitative multiple-case study was used to explore how supply chain and logistics managers implement RM strategies and processes to effectively and efficiently handle product returns. The participants were two senior supply chain managers with over five years of experience in reverse logistics and supply chain management, …

Physical And Mental Health Experiences Of Obese Men Living In The United States During The Covid-19 Pandemic, James Cunningham

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The COVID-19 pandemic posed unprecedented challenges to public health worldwide, significantly impacting vulnerable populations like obese men in the United States. This qualitative descriptive study involved exploring how these men perceived the pandemic’s impact on their physical and mental health, addressing a critical gap in existing literature. The research question that guided this study was: How did obese men living in the United States perceive the stressor that was the COVID-19 pandemic on their physical and mental health? Guided by the biopsychosocial model, the study involved using semi-structured interviews with 15 participants who were recruited online through social media. Thematic …

Teachers’ Instructional Strategies In Teaching English Language Learners English Writing In A Dual Language School, Courtney Mae Henson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

It is the responsibility of educators to provide quality instruction for all students, including English language learners,. The problem that was addressed through this study is that teachers at Missionary Elementary School were struggling to implement appropriate instructional practices when teaching English writing to English language learners (ELLs) enrolled in a dual language program. The purpose of this study was to examine the instructional methods and to understand the support and/or resources needed for teachers to be successful. The writing observation framework provided the conceptual framework that guided this research. Data for this qualitative case study were collected through observations …

Stratgies Used By Small Fashion Retail Business Leaders To Survive Beyond 5 Years, Lakeshia Nicole Chaney

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Small fashion retail business leaders face survival challenges due to rapidly shifting consumer spending patterns and growing demands for social responsibility. The leaders care deeply about addressing these challenges to maintain profitability, protect jobs, and ensure sustainable growth in an increasingly competitive market. Grounded in strategic contingency theory, the purpose of this qualitative pragmatic inquiry study was to explore strategies small fashion retail business leaders use to survive beyond 5 years in South Central United States. The participants were six small fashion business leaders from a retail sector entity who successfully implemented survival strategies for at least 5 years. Data …

Reducing Disparities In Breastfeeding Among African American Women Through Professional Support, Latonia Feagin

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This project involved developing a toolkit and implementing a staff education program to increase provider self-efficacy and knowledge concerning breastfeeding, increase provider understanding of the importance of a toolkit for addressing the gap in breastfeeding among African American women, and increase the intention of providers to use the toolkit by a minimum of 20%. The clinic reported breastfeeding in only 21% of African American patients, attributing this mainly to provider lack of breastfeeding self-efficacy and knowledge. It is essential for providers to deliver evidence-based, culturally sensitive breastfeeding information. This project involved evaluating provider self-efficacy, knowledge, understanding the importance of a …

The Role Of Leadership In Improving Discharge Planning For Complex Cases In A Healthcare System, Philmaris Miranda Rodriguez

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Behavioral health organizations face significant challenges in managing psychiatric hospital readmissions, often influenced by social determinants of health (SDOH) such as poverty, education, social support, housing, and food security. This study examines the perspectives of behavioral health leadership on discharge planning in psychiatric hospitals in the southeastern United States, exploring how leadership strategies impact patient readiness for discharge and reduce the risk of readmission. Using the Baldrige Performance Excellence Framework, key performance categories, including leadership, strategy, measurement, and operations, were evaluated to inform actionable improvements in discharge planning and transitional care. Evidence was collected through interviews with healthcare leaders and …

Therapists’ Experiences In Cases Of High-Conflict Divorce Among Individuals With Personality Issues, Tamara Soal

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

High-conflict divorce (HCD) involves prolonged conflict exceeding 2 years, persistent hostility, and extensive court involvement. Mental health professionals often participate as court-appointed expert witnesses or provide therapy at parental request. Therapists' roles become more complex when parents exhibit challenging personality traits. This descriptive qualitative study explored therapists’ experiences in treating children and families in HCD cases where one or both parents displayed complex personality issues or disorders. Greenberg and Gould’s model on mental health professionals in court cases and Freud’s countertransference theory provided the study’s conceptual framework. Data were collected through semistructured interviews with nine therapists, and thematic analysis was …