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Successful Strategies Business Leaders Use To Implement Artificial Intelligence For Achieving Financial Benefits, Swain C. Riley Apr 2026

Successful Strategies Business Leaders Use To Implement Artificial Intelligence For Achieving Financial Benefits, Swain C. Riley

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Ineffective implementation of artificial intelligence (AI) strategies can erode organizational performance. Senior business leaders who struggle to integrate AI into core operations may find their organizations facing increased costs, reduced efficiency, and weakened competitiveness. Grounded in Lewin’s change management theory, the purpose of this qualitative pragmatic inquiry research project was to identify and explore effective strategies business leaders use to implement AI technologies to reduce costs and improve profitability. The participants were 10 senior business leaders who successfully implemented AI strategies within their organizations and were recruited via professional networking platforms. Data were collected through semistructured interviews and publicly available …


Therapists’ Perspectives On Female Patients’ Recovery From Sexual Violent Trauma Committed By Familiar Offenders, Lauren S. Doran Apr 2026

Therapists’ Perspectives On Female Patients’ Recovery From Sexual Violent Trauma Committed By Familiar Offenders, Lauren S. Doran

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

A mental health therapist is a licensed professional who is trained to identify any barriers or regression during the recovery process with their female patients’ psychological experiences from sexual violent trauma (SVT) perpetrated by a degree of familiar offenders. In this study, the therapists’ perceptions identified the impact of the SVT committed by a familiar offender toward the female victim’s recovery process. The theoretical foundation included betrayal trauma theory, moral injury, and victimology. The research question addressed how therapists described the psychological recovery of female patients who experienced sexual violence by a familiar offender. The research design was data collection …


Perceived Influence Of Childhood Domestic Violence Exposure On Intimate Relationships Among Heterosexual African American Men, Ronnie Lyman Apr 2026

Perceived Influence Of Childhood Domestic Violence Exposure On Intimate Relationships Among Heterosexual African American Men, Ronnie Lyman

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Childhood exposure to domestic violence (DV) remains a significant and underexplored issue within clinical social work, particularly as it pertains to African American men. This doctoral project involved addressing limited understanding of how heterosexual African American men who were exposed to DV in childhood perceived these early experiences in terms of shaping their emotional wellbeing and intimate partner relationships in adulthood. Guided by the intergenerational transmission of violence theory, this study involved exploring reflective narratives of men who experienced such exposure. Via a basic qualitative research design, data were collected through semi-structured interviews with seven purposefully selected participants who were …


Health-Related Quality Of Life Of Women With Polycystic Ovary Syndrome In Malaysia, Stephanie Yang Apr 2026

Health-Related Quality Of Life Of Women With Polycystic Ovary Syndrome In Malaysia, Stephanie Yang

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is the most prevalent endocrine condition among women of reproductive age. PCOS is known to be a chronic disease that presents significant physical and body image issues, which in turn are associated with lowered emotional and health-related quality of life. Previous studies point to widespread dissatisfaction and delays with the diagnosis of PCOS and a lack of information provided by doctors. This phenomenological study was guided by Wilson and Cleary’s model of health-related quality of life to explore the health-related quality of life in Malaysian women with PCOS. Seven Malaysian women aged 29 to 50 years …


Effective Strategies For Onboarding Programs Mitigating Turnover Of Recently Separated Veterans, Jamie Reed Apr 2026

Effective Strategies For Onboarding Programs Mitigating Turnover Of Recently Separated Veterans, Jamie Reed

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

High rates of early turnover among recently separated veterans weaken workforce stability and disrupt both family and organizational outcomes. Employers, veteran service organizations, and families are concerned that without comprehensive onboarding programs, veterans’ adjustment and retention will suffer. Grounded in Schlossberg’s adult transition theory and the 4S transition model, the purpose of this qualitative pragmatic inquiry was to explore effective onboarding strategies to mitigate turnover among recently separated veterans. The participants were six business leaders with experience onboarding veterans in Department of Defense-contracted industries in the United States. Data were collected through semistructured interviews and publicly available documents. Through thematic …


Information Security Strategies To Thwart Cybersecurity Attacks In The Financial Services Industry, Donovan Anthony Miles Apr 2026

Information Security Strategies To Thwart Cybersecurity Attacks In The Financial Services Industry, Donovan Anthony Miles

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Financial markets and industries are vulnerable to ransomware attacks. Information technology (IT) security subject matter experts (SMEs) are concerned about ransomware cyberattacks on critical infrastructure that threaten their customers’ financial privacy and the institution’s reputation, causing severe financial losses and diminishing productivity. Grounded in the diffusion of innovation theory, the purpose of this qualitative pragmatic inquiry was to explore strategies IT security SMEs use to increase the implementation of existing solutions to thwart cybersecurity attacks in the financial services sector. The participants were six IT security SMEs in the financial industry in the Northeast United States who were responsible for …


Student Perspectives On Title Ix Policy Across North Texas College Campuses, Felicia Chism Apr 2026

Student Perspectives On Title Ix Policy Across North Texas College Campuses, Felicia Chism

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This qualitative phenomenological study examined how North Texas higher education students’ lived experiences with Title IX (TIX) shaped their perceptions of the policy’s fairness, accessibility, and implementation. The study addressed the problem that experiential perspectives of TIX remain underexplored, despite their importance for understanding institutional accountability and student trust. Guided by the social ecological model and organizational justice theory, the research investigated how individual, relational, institutional, and societal factors influenced students’ interpretations of TIX processes. Eight students from North Texas public universities who had direct involvement in a closed TIX case participated in semi‑structured interviews. Data were analyzed using Moustakas’s …


Lived Experiences Of Husbands Of Deployed Military Spouses, Timothy Lee Heath Apr 2026

Lived Experiences Of Husbands Of Deployed Military Spouses, Timothy Lee Heath

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The focus of this study was to explore the lived experiences of civilian husbands during the deployment of their active-duty spouses. Although there is plenty of information concerning the negative and demanding impacts of deployment on female spouses and children, more is needed to understand the lived experiences of husbands of deployed soldiers. Research has confirmed that husbands of deployed soldiers have distinctive gender-specific needs that have been inadequately addressed, leading to adverse psychosocial effects. The couple adaptation to traumatic stress model and gender role theory served as the frameworks for this study to identify the psychosocial issues faced by …


Human Service Professionals’ Perceptions Culturally Competent Resources For Transracial Adoption, Rachelle Tau-Stewart Apr 2026

Human Service Professionals’ Perceptions Culturally Competent Resources For Transracial Adoption, Rachelle Tau-Stewart

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Transracial adoption continues to increase in the United States, particularly in states with predominantly White populations; yet, culturally competent preparation and postadoption resources remain limited. The lack of structured cultural socialization and race-responsive supports places transracially adopted youth at increased risk for identity disruption, mental health challenges, and experiences of racism and microaggressions. The purpose of this qualitative action research study was to explore human service professionals’ perceptions of the services needed to provide culturally competent resources for transracial adoption in Washington State. Guided by the Transracial Adoption Parenting Series framework developed by the Coalition for Children, Youth, and Families, …


Bound By Belief: Exploring The Influence Of Internalized Rape Myths On Survivor Agency And Identity, Arika I. White Apr 2026

Bound By Belief: Exploring The Influence Of Internalized Rape Myths On Survivor Agency And Identity, Arika I. White

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This qualitative study explored how internalized RMA impacts survivors’ cognitive processing, coping strategies, and psychological agency, as observed by licensed psychotherapists who treat sexual assault survivors. Despite extensive literature on the societal impacts of RMA, less attention has been given to understanding how these cultural myths are internalized by survivors and manifest intrapsychically, influencing self-perception, self-blame, and identity reconstruction following trauma. Using a phenomenological approach, semi-structured interviews with therapists provided meta-level insights into how survivors’ narratives reflect internalized cultural stigma and misogynistic beliefs. Thematic analysis was used to identify patterns of maladaptive coping, internalized misogyny, and diminished agency, revealing how …


Neurodiverse Secondary School Educators Transitioning To Online Teaching During Covid-19 Pandemic, Leane Pupo Apr 2026

Neurodiverse Secondary School Educators Transitioning To Online Teaching During Covid-19 Pandemic, Leane Pupo

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The COVID-19 pandemic affected individuals, families, communities, and a variety of workplaces across the world. Many studies have addressed the impact of the emergency transition from on-ground to online on educators, students, and their families. However, while there is emerging literature on the impact of COVID-19 on neurodiverse individuals and on neurodiverse individuals in the workplace, there is little or no research on neurodiverse teachers. The purpose of this study was to explore the experiences of neurodiverse educators who transitioned from on-ground to online teaching during the COVID-19 pandemic. Bandura’s social cognitive theory of self-efficacy and Garmezy’s theory of resilience …


Male Teachers' Experiences On The Gender Imbalance In Early Education, Erika White Apr 2026

Male Teachers' Experiences On The Gender Imbalance In Early Education, Erika White

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Diversity in the ECE workforce has been shown to have a positive social and academic influence on children and families within the ECE setting. The problem addressed in this study was that in an urban eastern school district (UESD), there was an educator gender imbalance in early childhood education (ECE). Grounded in Smith’s rational choice theory, the purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore the experiences of male preschool and kindergarten (P—K) teachers in UESD. Data were collected through semistructured interviews with 13 male P—K teachers working in the UESD. Thematic analysis using inductive coding indicated male educators: …


Elected Sheriffs’ Election Process And How It Affects Their Behavior, Brian James Ardoin Apr 2026

Elected Sheriffs’ Election Process And How It Affects Their Behavior, Brian James Ardoin

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Scholars have widely examined how electoral pressures influence the behavior of judges and prosecutors; however, less attention has been given to how elections affect law enforcement leaders. This quantitative study examined whether sheriff election cycles in Louisiana were associated with changes in law enforcement behavior. Louisiana parish sheriffs occupy a unique role as both elected officials and chief law enforcement executives, which may create incentives that influence enforcement priorities. Using secondary arrest data from the Federal Bureau of Investigation Uniform Crime Reporting program, this study analyzed parish-level arrest patterns from 2009 through 2019 to determine whether deputies’ arrest behavior differed …


Perceptions Of Fourth-Year Undergraduate College Students With Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder On Academic Success, Olympia Shante Jenkins Apr 2026

Perceptions Of Fourth-Year Undergraduate College Students With Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder On Academic Success, Olympia Shante Jenkins

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The problem addressed through this study is the low graduation rate of students with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) across the United States. Guided by Mezirow’s transformative learning theory, the purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the perceptions of fourth-year undergraduate college students with ADHD on the academic support or methods that contributed to their perseverance in college. For this basic qualitative design, semistructured interviews were conducted with 10 undergraduate college students who self-reported a diagnosis of ADHD and had successfully completed the first 3 years of their education. Through thematic analysis and open, inductive coding, the following …


Women Veterans’ Experiences Applying For Veterans Affairs Compensation For Military Sexual Trauma-Related Ptsd, Bridget Strong Apr 2026

Women Veterans’ Experiences Applying For Veterans Affairs Compensation For Military Sexual Trauma-Related Ptsd, Bridget Strong

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Military sexual trauma (MST)—sexual harassment or assault during military service—is more common among women and is a leading cause of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Veterans Affairs (VA) disability for MST-related PTSD offers financial support, free healthcare, and validation, but women face barriers and uneven access to supports (veteran service organizations, trained advocates, trauma-informed clinicians), reducing their chances of favorable decisions. In this generic qualitative study, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 11 purposively sampled women veterans representing diverse service eras, branches, and adjudication outcomes. Analysis was guided by feminist theory to shift focus from individual blame to structural factors, including how …


Public Policy Design In Georgia Child Support And Fatherhood, Troy Gathers Apr 2026

Public Policy Design In Georgia Child Support And Fatherhood, Troy Gathers

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Child support policy in the United States has been widely studied as a method to ensure financial responsibility; however, existing research has identified concerns regarding enforcement practices and their disproportionate impact on African American noncustodial fathers in Georgia. Limited qualitative research examined how Georgia fathers experience and interprets these policies, creating a gap in understanding how policy implementation influences paternal engagement. The purpose of this qualitative study was to examine how African American noncustodial fathers in Georgia perceived the child support process and to explore how modernization of enforcement policies might improve paternal engagement. Guided by policy feedback theory, this …


Investigating The Relationship Amongst Nursing Students’ Academic Self-Efficacy And Mindfulness, Joshua Josey Apr 2026

Investigating The Relationship Amongst Nursing Students’ Academic Self-Efficacy And Mindfulness, Joshua Josey

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Undergraduate nursing education presents ongoing challenges related to student stress and persistence, and the COVID-19 pandemic further complicated these existing challenges for many students and programs. In this quantitative, correlational, cross-sectional study, the relationships among state mindfulness, trait mindfulness, and academic self-efficacy in undergraduate nursing students were examined and whether state and trait mindfulness predicted academic self-efficacy was tested. Participants were recruited through nursing student Facebook groups and completed an anonymous SurveyMonkey questionnaire that included the State Mindfulness Scale, the Mindful Attention Awareness Scale, the Academic Behavioral Confidence Scale, and demographic items. Data were collected over 6 weeks ending August …


The Lived Experiences Of The Strong Black Woman Cultural Convention On Black Women Counselors’ Emotional Intelligence, Pranati Walker Apr 2026

The Lived Experiences Of The Strong Black Woman Cultural Convention On Black Women Counselors’ Emotional Intelligence, Pranati Walker

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Emotional intelligence (EI) is a critical competency for counselors due to the relational and emotionally demanding nature of counseling. Although existing literature explored EI among Black women broadly, limited research examined the experiences of Black women counselors (BWCs). This descriptive phenomenological study was guided by the philosophy of phenomenology and explored the lived experiences and impact of the SBW cultural convention on the EI of BWCs. The researcher explored the lived experiences of BWCs regarding the SBW cultural convention and its impact on emotional intelligence. Participant data from eight semi-structured interviews were collected. The participants identified as female gender identity, …


Exploring The Experiences Of Faculty Members Educating Students Virtually Post-Covid-19, Raven Ashley Richardson Apr 2026

Exploring The Experiences Of Faculty Members Educating Students Virtually Post-Covid-19, Raven Ashley Richardson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The COVID-19 pandemic significantly disrupted higher education, requiring institutions to rapidly transition to virtual learning environments and leaving faculty to manage increased workloads, stress, and challenges related to instructional quality and student engagement. The problem in this study is traditional faculty continue to experience these challenges in the post pandemic academic landscape, with implications for faculty wellbeing and student success. The purpose of this qualitative generic study was to explore experiences of traditional college faculty members educating students while transitioning from in-person to virtual learning environments post-COVID-19. Guided by the ecological systems theory, multilevel influences on faculty experiences were examined. …


Effective Data-Driven Marketing Strategies Used By Independent Insurance Agency Owners To Acquire And Retain Clients, Yolanda Marie Gunn Apr 2026

Effective Data-Driven Marketing Strategies Used By Independent Insurance Agency Owners To Acquire And Retain Clients, Yolanda Marie Gunn

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Ineffective use of data-driven marketing strategies among independent insurance agency owners’ limits client acquisition and weakens retention in saturated markets, thereby jeopardizing financial stability, constraining sustainable growth, and reducing long-term competitiveness. Grounded in data-driven decision-making theory, this qualitative pragmatic inquiry was to explore strategies independent insurance agency owners used to implement data-driven marketing practices to improve client acquisition and retention. Participants were six independent insurance agency owners in the southern United States with experience implementing data-driven marketing strategies. Data were collected through semistructured interviews, field notes, and publicly available agency marketing materials and analyzed using Braun and Clarke’s six-phase thematic …


Social Support And Weight Management Behaviors Lived Experiences Of Overweight Native Hawaiian Women, Satu Gruenstein Apr 2026

Social Support And Weight Management Behaviors Lived Experiences Of Overweight Native Hawaiian Women, Satu Gruenstein

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The Hawaiian Islands have an alarming concentration of obesity and related chronic health issues and many Native Hawaiian women do not have access to culturally sensitive weight loss information. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to increase understanding of the lived experiences of middle-aged Native Hawaiian women, relating to weight loss, weight management, and the impact of social support and cultural factors on those experiences. The conceptual framework for the study included the models of social support and social networks. A phenomenological research design and purposeful sampling were used to conduct semistructured interviews with eight middle-aged Native Hawaiian women, …


Psychosocial Characteristics Of North American Male Cannibals, Sheila A. Murphy Apr 2026

Psychosocial Characteristics Of North American Male Cannibals, Sheila A. Murphy

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Criminal cannibalism is a rare form of violent offending that remains understudied despite public attention. This gap limits understanding of the psychosocial characteristics and life experiences of individuals who engage in cannibalistic behavior. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore psychosocial characteristics within the life experiences of North American males who engaged in cannibalistic behavior and identify common themes. Grounded in social control theory and self-control theory, the study examined how weakened social bonds and diminished self-regulation may relate to extreme deviance. The guiding research question focused on identifying common psychosocial characteristics within this population. A descriptive phenomenological …


Psychometric Properties Of A Newly Developed Self-Report Scale To Determine The Relationship Between Retained Primary Reflexes And Behavioral Signs And Symptoms In An Adult Population, Joan Marie Macmillan Apr 2026

Psychometric Properties Of A Newly Developed Self-Report Scale To Determine The Relationship Between Retained Primary Reflexes And Behavioral Signs And Symptoms In An Adult Population, Joan Marie Macmillan

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Many adults suffer from mental health issues, often caused by retained primary reflexes. There are current gaps in the literature surrounding primary reflex assessment methods. The purpose of this quantitative psychometric study was to evaluate the psychometric properties of a new behavioral self-assessment scale used to identify retained primary reflexes from behavioral indicators, while also determining if statistically significant relationships exist among study variables. The theoretical foundation for this cross-sectional study was based on the neurodevelopmental and neurobehavioral work of Melillo, while conceptually benefiting from several neuroplasticity related frameworks, such as those developed by Ayres, Bach-y-Rita, and Masgutova. The self-report …


Shift Work And Shift Change And Police Officers’ Subjective Well-Being, Macey Silano Apr 2026

Shift Work And Shift Change And Police Officers’ Subjective Well-Being, Macey Silano

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This phenomenological study explored the lived experiences of police officers working second and third shifts and how these schedules impacted their subjective well-being, mental health, relationships, and life satisfaction. This study addressed an important research problem because limited research has examined how night shifts and shift changes impact police officers’ well-being. The purpose of this qualitative study was to examine how police officers experienced shift work and shift changes while working second and third shifts and how they made meaning of these experiences in relation to subjective well-being. Using interpretative phenomenological analysis, this study was grounded in restorative rest and …


Exploring Leadership Barriers To Patient Experience Improvement In The Acute Care Hospital Setting, James Scott Cooper Apr 2026

Exploring Leadership Barriers To Patient Experience Improvement In The Acute Care Hospital Setting, James Scott Cooper

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Resistance to patient experience initiatives remains a persistent challenge in acute care hospitals, often undermining organizational efforts to improve engagement, culture, and care delivery despite broad acknowledgment of their importance. Healthcare leaders need to understand this challenge as a primary indicator affecting patient experience outcomes. The purpose of this qualitative narrative inquiry was to explore the factors that cause resistance to change faced by patient experience leaders (PELs) in the acute care hospital setting. The theory of planned behavior grounded this study. The participants consisted of 15 PELs working in acute care hospitals across the United States. Data were collected …


Teachers’ Perceptions Of Preventing Teacher-Directed Violence In Urban Title I Schools, Allison Mashburn Apr 2026

Teachers’ Perceptions Of Preventing Teacher-Directed Violence In Urban Title I Schools, Allison Mashburn

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The problem that was investigated through this study was the increase in suspensions for teacher-directed violence at two urban mid-Atlantic Title I elementary schools. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore elementary teachers’ perceptions of preventing and managing teacher-directed violence in two Title I mid-Atlantic schools. Bronfenbrenner’s ecological framework was used as the foundation for environmental explanations. For this basic qualitative design, semistructured interviews with 10 teacher participants were conducted. The thematic analysis resulted in three themes based on the teacher request for (a) classroom management resources and supports, (b) clarifying the code of conduct, and (c) improving …


Exploring The Role Of Family Engagement In Youth Behavioral Health Programs, Jordon R. Washington-Trahan Apr 2026

Exploring The Role Of Family Engagement In Youth Behavioral Health Programs, Jordon R. Washington-Trahan

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The behavioral health leaders at Organization X do not have a clear and practical way to engage family members in youth behavioral health programs. When caregivers are not actively involved in youth behavioral health treatment, youth may disengage from missed appointments and discontinue treatment prematurely. The present case study focused on Organization X, a small behavioral health organization located in the Southeastern United States. The Baldrige Framework of Excellence was the conceptual framework for this study, with a focus on consumer engagement and workforce operations. Semi structured and structured interviews were conducted with three behavioral health leaders. Data were collected …


Educators’ Experiences With Structured Word Inquiry For Spelling Underachievement In K–8 Students, Leah Skinner Apr 2026

Educators’ Experiences With Structured Word Inquiry For Spelling Underachievement In K–8 Students, Leah Skinner

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The problem addressed in this basic qualitative study was that K–8 students in the western United States continue to experience spelling underachievement despite structured literacy interventions. Grounded in Bowers and Kirby’s structured word inquiry (SWI) framework, the purpose of this study was to explore educators’ experiences implementing SWI for spelling instruction with K–8 students in the western United States. Data were collected through semistructured interviews with 16 K–8 educators with SWI experience who were selected through purposive and snowball sampling. Thematic analysis using open and axial coding resulted in six themes. Findings indicated that educators perceived SWI as an effective, …


A Phenomenological Study Of Digital Divide In Rural Philippines, Dennis Dizon Apr 2026

A Phenomenological Study Of Digital Divide In Rural Philippines, Dennis Dizon

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The digital divide reflects policy relevant disparities in access to and effective use of internet based information resources, as experienced and interpreted by individuals navigating regulatory environments and governance conditions in the rural Philippines. Policymakers need to understand how the digital divide affects business owners and working-class people, with the impact of high costs and poor internet infrastructure in remote areas of the Philippines. Many of these business owners and working-class people lack access to the privileges and benefits of high-speed internet access. The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to explore the lived experiences of these business owners …


Southeastern United States African American Business Leaders’ Effective Business Profitability Strategies, Maurice Chamblin Apr 2026

Southeastern United States African American Business Leaders’ Effective Business Profitability Strategies, Maurice Chamblin

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

African American business leaders in the United States experience persistent operational constraints that affect business sustainability and long-term profitability. These leaders face recurring challenges in accessing capital, securing managerial support, and effectively utilizing resources, which may hinder their ability to remain viable and competitive. Grounded in resource-based view theory, this qualitative pragmatic inquiry project aimed to identify and explore the practical strategies used by African American business leaders in the Southeastern United States to increase their business profitability over more than 5 years. The participants were six African American business leaders from the Southeastern United States who had grown their …