Digital Commons Network^™

Exploring The Wealth Creation Struggles Of Black Millennials, Jasmine Allen

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The equity gap for Black millennials continues to lag compared to other racial groups. The purpose of this qualitative study was to understand the experiences of Black millennials in navigating the landscape of quality internships, high-paying careers, and generational wealth through the lens of individual, interpersonal, organizational, and community system levels. Using a narrative approach, the qualitative analysis of narratives from eight participants who have experienced these obstacles is presented. A purposive sampling technique through social media platforms was used. This study was guided by Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems theory. Thematic analysis was employed. The themes were (a) limited exposure, (b) …

Innovation Strategies To Develop A Sustainable Municipal Government Beyond A Financial Crisis, Vickie Michelle Riggins Medina

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Some government leaders lack knowledge of innovation strategies to develop a sustainable municipal government through a financial crisis. The purpose of this qualitative multiple-case study was to explore innovation strategies municipal government leaders employed to help overcome a financial crisis. The research question explored what innovation strategies municipal government leaders employ to help overcome a financial crisis. Argyris and Schön’s organizational learning theory of action provided the conceptual framework for this study. A purposeful sample of 10 participants included municipal government leaders and elected officials. Data were collected through semistructured open-ended interview questions, which elicited responses of shared experiences in …

African American Women’S Lived Experiences With Obstetrics/Gynecology Services In Atlanta, Georgia, Audrey M. Blake

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

African American women in Georgia die during the perinatal period at almost three times the rate of other ethnic groups. Adverse maternal outcomes demonstrate a disparity among African American women. In this phenomenological qualitative study, the lived experiences of African American women receiving obstetrical and gynecological (OB/GYN) care in the Atlanta, Georgia, Metropolitan area were explored. The study included women who identified as African American, ages 18 – 45 years old, receiving OB/GYN care in Georgia. No income limits were applied, allowing women across income levels to be included. Feagin’s systemic racism theory, along with Greenwald and Krieger’s implicit bias …

African American Women’S Lived Experiences With Obstetrics/Gynecology Services In Atlanta, Georgia, Audrey M. Blake

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

African American women in Georgia die during the perinatal period at almost three times the rate of other ethnic groups. Adverse maternal outcomes demonstrate a disparity among African American women. In this phenomenological qualitative study, the lived experiences of African American women receiving obstetrical and gynecological (OB/GYN) care in the Atlanta, Georgia, Metropolitan area were explored. The study included women who identified as African American, ages 18 – 45 years old, receiving OB/GYN care in Georgia. No income limits were applied, allowing women across income levels to be included. Feagin’s systemic racism theory, along with Greenwald and Krieger’s implicit bias …

Relationship Of Cyber Threat Intelligence And Critical Infrastructure Assets On Information Technology Critical Infrastructure Attacks, Albert Su

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Ransomware cyberattacks on critical infrastructure can disrupt critical services with the capacity to impact human lives. Some security operations center (SOC) analysts feel overwhelmed by the influx of threat indicators of compromise (IoC), making it challenging to discern which alerts are significant for their organization. Grounded in John Boyd's OODA (Observe, Orient, Decide, Act) theoretical framework, the purpose of this quantitative correlational study was to examine the relationship between cyber threat intelligence (CTI) and critical infrastructure assets on information technology critical infrastructure attacks. Data were collected by ingesting information from a U.S. CTI vendor and alerting IoCs related to critical …

African American Women’S Lived Experiences With Obstetrics/Gynecology Services In Atlanta, Georgia, Audrey M. Blake

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

African American women in Georgia die during the perinatal period at almost three times the rate of other ethnic groups. Adverse maternal outcomes demonstrate a disparity among African American women. In this phenomenological qualitative study, the lived experiences of African American women receiving obstetrical and gynecological (OB/GYN) care in the Atlanta, Georgia, Metropolitan area were explored. The study included women who identified as African American, ages 18 – 45 years old, receiving OB/GYN care in Georgia. No income limits were applied, allowing women across income levels to be included. Feagin’s systemic racism theory, along with Greenwald and Krieger’s implicit bias …

Data Analytics Strategies For Management Accountants In Small And Medium Enterprises, Katty Nkeze Nkem

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Data analytics has increasingly become vital in maintaining competitive advantage in the contemporary business environment. Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) have been among the top beneficiaries of data-driven decision-making processes; however, management accountant leaders often do not effectively use data analytics strategies for decision-making purposes to maintain a competitive advantage. Grounded in the diffusion of innovation theory and the technology acceptance model, the purpose of this qualitative pragmatic inquiry study was to explore data analytics strategies that SME management accountant leaders in Virginia use for decision-making purposes to maintain a competitive advantage. The participants were 12 SME management accountants and …

Concealed Cognitive Disabilities, Bullying In The Workplace, And The Americans With Disabilities Act, Craig Darrell Taylor

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This qualitative study uniquely explores the perceptions of individuals with concealable cognitive disabilities (CCDs) regarding Titles I–III of the Americans with Disabilities Act and its amendments (ADAAA). The research addresses a significant gap in understanding this population’s views on workplace experiences, particularly in the context of harassment, privacy, self-identification, and labeling. Using Schneider and Ingram’s social construction framework to examine societal power dynamics, the study analyzed interviews with eight participants, employing rigorous thematic coding. The analysis revealed four key themes: social construction (perception in the workplace and the power of employment protections), disability (cognitive disabilities and the challenges of disclosure …

Educator Perceptions Of The Use Of Technology To Teach Digital Literacy In Urban High School Classrooms, Jessica Erin Dennis

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

To engage interests and connect with 21st-century learners, educators must be able to effectively use technologies in their classrooms. The problem this study addressed was the limited understanding that language arts educators in urban school districts have of effectively using technological tools while teaching digital literacy. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore high school language arts teachers’ perceptions of the use of technology to teach digital literacy in urban school classrooms. The technology acceptance model was the conceptual framework used for this study, which aided in the discovery of how language arts educators gauge the usefulness …

Strategies For Articulating Information In Disaster And Emergency Response Common Operating Pictures, Donald Leon Mccue

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Emergency management leaders face challenges building common operating pictures (COPs) to display and share critical information, foster collaboration, and improve decision-making among response teams during crises. Without evidence-based strategies to help curb those challenges, poorly implemented COPs can impede situational awareness, decision making, and undermine efforts to get critically needed resources to populations in need. Grounded in a multi-theory model conceptual framework that leveraged the formulation of SA, decision making, and cognitive load psychology, this pragmatic qualitative inquiry explored the strategies that emergency management leaders use to implement the display and sharing of data in COPs to enhance the effectiveness …

Clarifying Ethical Dilemmas Of Using Artificial Intelligence In Research Writing: A Rapid Review, Ndubuisi Friday Ugwu Phd, Adewumi Segun Igbinlade Phd, Raphael E. Ochiaka Phd, Ugoma Deborah Ezeani Phd, Nnaemeka Chijioke Okorie Mr, Jacob Kehinde Opele Phd, Toyin Segun Onayinka Phd, Obinna Iroegbu Phd, Ogechi Kate Onyekwere Phd, Adijat Bolanle Adams Dr, Precious Aigbona Ms, Folasade Busayo Ojobola Phd

Higher Learning Research Communications

Objective: The purpose of the study was to clarify, through the lenses of experts and frontline publishers, ethical dilemmas related to the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in research writing.

Method: We conducted a rapid review of expert opinions and publishers’ policy statements on ethical considerations in using AI for research writing. We included articles published in journals indexed by academic databases that met the criteria. We also included the policy statements and guidelines of seven reputable publishers.

Result: The use of AI in scientific writing is acceptable, contingent on addressing ethical considerations bordering on plagiarism, transparency, and disclosure. While …

Discovering Strategies To Lead Teams Abruptly Forced Into Virtual Environments Due To The Covid-19 Pandemic, Shonelle Maria Ramserran

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

COVID-19 was an unprecedented time in the global economy, causing a massive shift for many organizations conducting business. The speed at which organizations needed to implement World Health Organization’s restrictions and transition their teams from face-to-face to virtual environments was unpredictable. The purpose of this qualitative single case study was to explore what leaders prepared for an organization to cope with situations like COVID-19 when abruptly moving employees from face-to-face to virtual environments. A conceptual framework based on the organizational change theory and the team adaptation theory was used to direct this study. The research question address what strategies leaders …

Concealed Cognitive Disabilities, Bullying In The Workplace, And The Americans With Disabilities Act, Craig Darrell Taylor

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This qualitative study uniquely explores the perceptions of individuals with concealable cognitive disabilities (CCDs) regarding Titles I–III of the Americans with Disabilities Act and its amendments (ADAAA). The research addresses a significant gap in understanding this population’s views on workplace experiences, particularly in the context of harassment, privacy, self-identification, and labeling. Using Schneider and Ingram’s social construction framework to examine societal power dynamics, the study analyzed interviews with eight participants, employing rigorous thematic coding. The analysis revealed four key themes: social construction (perception in the workplace and the power of employment protections), disability (cognitive disabilities and the challenges of disclosure …

The Relationship Among Emotional Intelligence And Leadership Styles Of Female Law Enforcement Executives, Durriyyah Drummond

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Effective leadership within police organizations has contributed to challenges in retention, recruitment, and increased negative public attention. While researchers have proposed a relationship between emotional intelligence (EI), leadership effectiveness, and leadership styles, limited research has explored these dynamics within law enforcement, particularly among female law enforcement executives. This study utilized transformational leadership theory, the full-range leadership model, and trait EI theory as its theoretical frameworks. The primary objective of this quantitative research was to assess the relationship between gender, EI, and leadership styles, building on previous studies that examined similar correlations among African American and Caucasian law enforcement executives. The …

Nurses' Perceived Sense Of Self-Efficacy And Communication In Domestic Violence Screening, Claudette Arlene Richardson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Nurses working in health care settings, especially nurses working in emergency rooms and urgent care settings, play a crucial role in the identification, prevention, and management of domestic violence. However, nurses with lower self-efficacy relative to communication about this role may face increased challenges in job performance. Grounded in Bandura’s theory of self-efficacy, the goal of this quantitative study utilizing a survey design was to investigate the relationships between nurse education and training and their perceived sense of self-efficacy in screening for domestic violence. Participants included a convenience sample of 86 registered nurses aged 18 and above holding state licenses. …

Discovering Strategies To Lead Teams Abruptly Forced Into Virtual Environments Due To The Covid-19 Pandemic, Shonelle Maria Ramserran

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

COVID-19 was an unprecedented time in the global economy, causing a massive shift for many organizations conducting business. The speed at which organizations needed to implement World Health Organization’s restrictions and transition their teams from face-to-face to virtual environments was unpredictable. The purpose of this qualitative single case study was to explore what leaders prepared for an organization to cope with situations like COVID-19 when abruptly moving employees from face-to-face to virtual environments. A conceptual framework based on the organizational change theory and the team adaptation theory was used to direct this study. The research question address what strategies leaders …

Concealed Cognitive Disabilities, Bullying In The Workplace, And The Americans With Disabilities Act, Craig Darrell Taylor

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This qualitative study uniquely explores the perceptions of individuals with concealable cognitive disabilities (CCDs) regarding Titles I–III of the Americans with Disabilities Act and its amendments (ADAAA). The research addresses a significant gap in understanding this population’s views on workplace experiences, particularly in the context of harassment, privacy, self-identification, and labeling. Using Schneider and Ingram’s social construction framework to examine societal power dynamics, the study analyzed interviews with eight participants, employing rigorous thematic coding. The analysis revealed four key themes: social construction (perception in the workplace and the power of employment protections), disability (cognitive disabilities and the challenges of disclosure …

The Relative Strength Of Populist Attitudes, Religiosity, And Locus Of Control In Predicting Climate-Change Denial, Ryan Reynaldo Williams

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

As climate change becomes an increasingly urgent global issue, the persistence of climate denial presents a significant barrier to progress. Despite overwhelming scientific evidence from NOAA and NASA, many individuals continue to deny the reality or severity of climate change. Previous studies have examined factors like anti-elitism and anti-egalitarianism in climate skepticism; however, no known research has assessed the relative strength of populist attitudes, religiosity, and locus of control in predicting climate denial. This quantitative, cross-sectional survey was conducted to fill that gap. Locus of control theory, which focuses on how individuals perceive events as within or beyond their control, …

Association Between Adults’ Perceptions Of Their Parents’ Parenting Behaviors During Youth And Resulting Attachment Dimensions In Adulthood In The Native American Community, Christine Marie Summering

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Forced assimilation of Native American peoples has led to the destruction of their traditional ways of life and contributed to heightened rates of Native American children in foster care, increased domestic violence, substance abuse, alcoholism, and poverty. The purpose of this study was to understand associations between perceived parenting behaviors and current adult attachment within Native American communities and whether those associations were moderated by historical loss. The attachment theory and historical trauma theory were used as theoretical foundations for the study. Research questions for this nonexperimental quantitative study involved associations between warmth and involvement and anxious and avoidant attachment …

Discovering Strategies To Lead Teams Abruptly Forced Into Virtual Environments Due To The Covid-19 Pandemic, Shonelle Maria Ramserran

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

COVID-19 was an unprecedented time in the global economy, causing a massive shift for many organizations conducting business. The speed at which organizations needed to implement World Health Organization’s restrictions and transition their teams from face-to-face to virtual environments was unpredictable. The purpose of this qualitative single case study was to explore what leaders prepared for an organization to cope with situations like COVID-19 when abruptly moving employees from face-to-face to virtual environments. A conceptual framework based on the organizational change theory and the team adaptation theory was used to direct this study. The research question address what strategies leaders …

Exploring Help Seeking Barriers For Military Sexual Trauma Veterans, Clarence Harris

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Military sexual trauma (MST) among military personnel has grown and the effects of this sexual trauma vary by individual. One out of three women fail to share their victimization with their providers or wait decades before getting help, despite actions taken by Congress to prevent and address sexual assaults in the military. High prevalence and low reporting continue to exist due to barriers, such as fear of retaliation, not being believed, lack of awareness of available resources, gender-related distress, and disruption of the unit. In this qualitative study, a purposive sampling technique was used to identify 13 survivors of MST …

Childhood Trauma As An Influencing Factor On Obesity Among Black Women, Andréa Autum Michel

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Childhood trauma and obesity have a significant impact on development throughout the lifespan. Black women have the highest prevalence of obesity and experience more severe and a greater number of traumatic events than their White peers. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore how Black women perceived the role of childhood trauma in their struggles with obesity. Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems theory served as the theoretical framework for this study. The central research question explored the experiences of Black women who experienced childhood trauma and were struggling with obesity as adults. A secondary question explored coping mechanisms developed to …

Fraud Detection And Prevention In The Nigerian Financial Industry, Ibukunoluwa Adetola Ayodeji

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The emergence of digital banking has led to an increase in transaction volume in Nigeria's financial industry, resulting in a rise in fraud cases. This is gradually eroding trust in the economic system and posing a major challenge to the Central Bank's goal of financial inclusion. Fraud detection and prevention strategies must be put in place by IT leaders of Nigerian financial institutions, as fraud in the country can undermine the integrity and trust that are essential to maintaining the integrity of the country's financial system. Grounded in the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology 2 (UTAUT 2) …

Spanish-Speaking Students’ Perceptions Of Presences In Digital Technology-Enabled High Schools, Deb Ogburn

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Spanish-speaking students, also identified as Hispanic or Latino/a/x, have been reported to have lower high school graduation rates, and lower enrollment and retention rates in higher education than their peers. Research exists describing technology and emergency remote teaching (ERT) as widening the achievement gap, however Spanish-speaking students’ perspectives of their high school experiences in digital technology-enabled learning environments (DTELEs) are missing in the literature. To fill this gap this qualitative study explored six Spanish-speaking students’ perceptions of Garrison’s social, teaching, and cognitive presences with the addition of Cleveland-Innes and Campbell’s emotional presence in public high schools in the northwestern United …

Perceptions Of Teachers About The Factors That Contribute To Recurring Chronic Absenteeism In Grades K-8, Jamie Routhier

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Even with federal and state interventions, the number of K-8 students labeled as chronically absent continues to increase. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to investigate teacher perceptions about the increasing student absences at Central Maine School District, and suggestions to reduce the number of student absences in Grades K-8. The conceptual framework for this study was Bronfenbrenner’s socioecological theory, which states that humans are affected by the people in their daily lives, from home and school. A basic qualitative study was used, gathering data through semistructured interviews with twelve K-8 classroom teachers through purposeful sampling. Data were …

Relationship Between Counselor Educators’ Intrinsic Religiosity, Multicultural Counseling Competence, And Spiritual Competence, Theresa Lynn Brixius

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Religion and spirituality are vital components of multicultural competence, which are key ethical guidelines outlined by the American Counseling Association and the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs. Clients have reported that religion and spirituality are important in their lives; however, counseling students commonly feel unprepared in their training to address the topic with clients. Grounded in multicultural counseling theory (MCT) and namaste theory, the purpose of this quantitative correlational study was to describe the relationship between counselor educators’ intrinsic religiosity (IR), multicultural counseling competence (MCC), and spiritual competence (SC). Participants included fifty-six doctoral-level counselor educators recruited …

Differences Between The Reintegration Of Combat Veterans And Noncombat Veterans While Controlling For Stigma, Caroline Ramos

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Veterans face challenges in reintegrating into civilian life. Experiences of public stigma arise from socially learned stereotypes about military service and mental health issues, which can impact veterans' ability to reintegrate following military deployment successfully. Goffman’s theory of stigma details its influences on personal adjustment. The purpose of this quantitative research study utilizing a survey design was to assess the role of public stigma as a mediator between the type of deployment and veterans’ reintegration experiences. A snowball sample of 85 recently discharged veteran volunteers representing combat zone deployed or non-combat zone deployed completed the Military Stigma Scale and the …

Seventh-Day Adventist Clergy’S Perceptions Of Dealing With Parishioners’ Mental And Emotional Health Challenges, Allens Gilles

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The issue of how Seventh-day Adventist (SDA) clergy perceive and address parishioners’ mental health challenges is critical. Clergy perceptions are significant because they can greatly influence parishioners’ quality of life and choices regarding mental health care. However, there is limited literature on SDA clergy’s perspectives on these matters. Thus, the purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to explore the perceptions of SDA clergy regarding how to assist parishioners with emotional and mental health challenges. The theoretical framework was the mental health literacy theory, developed in the mid-1990s. Data were collected from semistructured interviews with 10 clergy of African American …

Perceptions Of Family Resiliency Among Adult Children Of Parents Diagnosed With Borderline Personality Disorder, Ashley D. Shulski

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Adults who grew up experiencing childhood maltreatment may struggle more frequently with interpersonal relationships and may have low resilience, which may create ongoing struggles with having meaningful, healthy relationships with others, especially within their parent–child relationships. Individuals diagnosed with borderline personality disorder (BPD) are 13 times more likely to endorse multiple childhood adverse experiences (ACEs) than their peers and struggle to have a secure attachment to others. However there has been limited research focused on exploring parental availability and family resilience in a home with a parent diagnosed with BPD, addressing low emotional availability and parent–child bonding. This qualitative study …

Lived Experiences Involving Family Decision-Making Processes For Placing Older Adults In Long-Term Care Facilities In Arkansas, Jennifer Elaine Carpenter

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Although family members play an important role in decisions regarding their loved ones in long-term care facilities, their experiences have not been explored. Guided by Bowen’s family system and Simon’s decision-making theories, this qualitative study utilized phenomenology. The research question was: What are experiences involving the decision-making process for family members when placing family members in long-term care facilities in Arkansas? Purposive sampling resulted in face-to-face interviews with a sample of 11 such family members over 18 years of age. Data trustworthiness was established by using reflexivity and rich thick descriptions. Member checking was used with participants to verify transcripts …