Digital Commons Network^™

Challenges Of Experienced Nurses In A Full-Time Online Rn-Bs Nursing Program, Diana Goldammer

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Practicing nurses need to be qualified at the baccalaureate level at a rate of 80% by 2020 to meet the needs of the increasingly demanding healthcare industry. Designed to meet this need, the online RN-BS (registered nurses earning a Bachelor of Science) nursing program at a local university has a declining completion rate that needs to be addressed and increased. The conceptual framework for this project was a qualitative program evaluation with a case study design; the project was designed to determine if the structure of the program was limiting student success or if factors experienced by full-time working RNs …

Collaborative And Creative Thinking Skill Development Through The Design Of Wearable Technologies, Laurie E. Korte

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Skills inherent in the creative thinking process such as reflecting and collaborating are needed for success in many careers. However, a focus on standardized testing in K-12 schools in the United States has resulted in the restructuring, reduction, and in some cases, elimination of arts in the curriculum to the detriment of students' creative thinking process. The purpose of this study was to discover whether creative thinking and collaborative skills were positive unintended consequences of a curriculum that includes the design of wearable technologies. Jonassen's modeling using Mindtools for conceptual change and Rosen's culture of collaboration provided the conceptual framework. …

The Presence Of Cyberbullying In Rural Middle Schools: Advanced Technology, School Initiatives, And Parent Involvement, Amy Painter

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This descriptive study used preexisting student and parent surveys to examine cyberbullying in two rural middle schools. This study was guided by the social dominance theory, which says that individuals establish themselves in social hierarchies, and by the social-ecological framework theory, which suggests that behavior is influenced by many related systems. This study identified the rates of occurrence of methods used for cyberbullying, types of Internet access available, parental awareness, intervention, and resolution of cyberbullying issues. A simple random sample of 162 parents and 213 students completed the survey. Compared to national results, more local students (9.9%) admitted cyberbullying in …

Academic Analytics In Higher Education: Barriers To Adoption, Willie L. Pomeroy

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The analysis of big data points and the use of data analytics have proven successful in improving corporate business efficiencies, growing profits, and increasing competitive advantages. The theory of academic capitalism, which holds that institutions of higher education are becoming more like corporations due to declining operating funds and the need to become more efficient, transparent, and competitive, guided this study. Despite the positive outcomes that analytic tools may produce in advanced efficiencies and competitive growth, college academic administrators have not yet adopted these tools, due in part to barriers facing the administrators. The purpose of this phenomenological study was …

A Historical Analysis Of The Relationship Of Faith And Science And Its Significance Within Education, John Gerard Yegge

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Science curriculum and pedagogy are at the center of a centuries-long debate concerning the appropriate relationship of faith and science. The difficulties that science educators face seem to be based in misinformation about the historical roots of this conflict. To address that conflict, the goals of this research were to separate myth from reality and to provide a necessary context to the current tensions that are disrupting science pedagogy and curriculum content within American public schools. Working within a theoretical framework of historical literacy, this qualitative, historical analysis was a comprehensive examination of the relationship of faith and science from …

Combining Appreciative Inquiry And Emotional Intelligence To Understand And Improve The Professional Development Of K-12 Teachers, Jamie Elizabeth Dewitt

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Creating meaningful and effective professional development (PD) programs for K-12 teachers is an ongoing challenge. The problem is exacerbated when PD models are implemented without fully aligning PD resources and plans with the training needs of teachers and the organization. The guiding question sought to understand the experiences of teachers at an online charter school about the implementation of PD as a means for improving student outcomes. The purpose of the study was to find ways to enhance PD in order to improve student outcomes at the school. The conceptual framework for this study is interwoven through the constructs of …

The Will To Lead: The Dynamic Integration Of Intrinsic Motivation And Social Change Leadership, Joshua M. Garrin

Journal of Sustainable Social Impact

Discourse on the psychosocial substrates of human motivation reflects a hot-button theme in contemporary leadership research circles. For many aspiring leaders, role models and social support provide an undercurrent for instilling leadership attributes. Yet for others, the drive to optimize leadership potentials is a naturally occurring, internally guided event that is continually reinforced through self-regulatory processes. As such, questions remain as to which intrinsic motives underpin the leadership potentials that have implications for social change agency. To date, the extant literature fails to offer a comprehensive model that highlights (a) the self-motives that have preeminent applicability to intrinsic motivation, (b) …

Forging Meaningful Social Connections In A Virtual World, Lisa J. Cook

Career Services Publications

No abstract provided.

Situated Identities, Competing Cultural Models: Discourse Analysis Of Policy Makers' Views On Teaching, Donna Gee, Mellinee Lesley, Marian K. Matthews

Journal of Educational Research and Practice

Because policymakers have a direct impact on schools, teachers, and therefore students, this study examined the discourse of policymakers in relation to their views on “quality” teaching. Findings from the study conclude the cultural models and discourses widely varied among policymakers. Their views were based on an idiosyncratic approach to teaching and learning. A fragmented understanding of quality teaching from policymakers as a whole emerged.

Cyberbullying In Higher Education, Maria A. Minor, Gina S. Smith, Henry Brashen

Journal of Educational Research and Practice

Bullying has extended beyond the schoolyard into online forums in the form of cyberbullying. Cyberbullying is a growing concern due to the effect on its victims. Current studies focus on grades K–12; however, cyberbullying has entered the world of higher education. The focus of this study was to identify the existence of cyberbullying in higher education, reveal the existence of students bullying instructors, and determine its impact. Three hundred forty-six online instructors from the undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs at the school of management at a large online university were surveyed. Of the respondents, 33.8% said they had been cyberbullied …

Sexual Scripts And Sexual Risk Behaviors Among Black Heterosexual Men: Development Of The Sexual Scripts Scale, Gary Burkholder, Seth Noar, Michelle Teti

School of Psychology Publications

Sexual scripts are widely shared gender and culture-specific guides for sexual behavior with important implications for HIV prevention. Although several qualitative studies document how sexual scripts may influence sexual risk behaviors, quantitative investigations of sexual scripts in the context of sexual risk are rare. This mixed methods study involved the qualitative development and quantitative testing of the Sexual Scripts Scale (SSS). Study 1 included qualitative semi-structured interviews with 30 Black heterosexual men about sexual experiences with main and casual sex partners to develop the SSS. Study 2 included a quantitative test of the SSS with 526 predominantly low-income Black heterosexual …

2013 Social Change Impact Report, Walden University

Social Change Impact Report

The 2013 Social Change Impact Report focuses uncovers who is leading and contributing to positive social change. The 2013 Social Change Impact Report posits types of change agents, providing new insights into defining social change agents.

The 2013 Social Change Impact Report site includes a link at which to download the entire report, resources for the media, profiles of some of Walden’s featured social change agents, information on data collection and methodology used in the 2013 survey, appendices, and three infographics illustrating report findings. A special feature is an interactive quiz; “What kind of social change agent are you?”

Leadership Strategies And Initiatives For Combating Medicaid Fraud And Abuse, Krista K. Laursen

Frank Dilley Award for Outstanding Doctoral Study

An estimated 3-10% of the $2 trillion spent annually on health care in the United States is lost to fraud. Improper payments undermine the integrity and financial sustainability of the Medicaid program and affect the ability of federal and state governments to provide health care services for individuals and families living at or below the poverty level. This study explored how health care leaders in the state of Arizona described factors contributing to the invisible nature of Medicaid fraud and abuse and necessary strategies for counteracting the business opportunities of Medicaid fraud and abuse. The institutional choice analytic framework grounded …

Applying Principles Of Psychology To Contemporary Society, Gary J. Burkholder

Walden Faculty and Staff Publications

No abstract provided.

Independent Living Oldest-Old And Their Primary Health Provider: A Mixed Method Examination Of The Influence Of Patient Personality Characteristics, Lee Stadtlander, Martha Giles, Amy Sickel, Emma Brooks, Cherri L. Brown, Melissa Cormell, Lara Ewing, Delores Hart, Dawn Koons, Christie Olson, Pamela Parker, Veronica Semenova, Shawna Stoneking

Walden Faculty and Staff Publications

This convergent mixed methods study examined 35 healthy, independent living individuals' (over 85 years) perceptions of their relationship with their primary health provider (PHP) and health practices. The relationship between PHP relationship perceptions and locus of control (LOC), resilience, and self-efficacy was explored through surveys and interviews. The majority indicated they visited their PHP just for preventative care; the number of PHP visits per year was significantly lower than reported for individuals over 85 by the CDC, possible reasons for this finding are provided. A positive relationship between LOC, resiliency, and self-efficacy for the oldest-old was found. Few participants indicated …

Sexual Scripts And Sexual Risk Behaviors Among Black Heterosexual Men: Development Of The Sexual Scripts Scale, Gary Burkholder, Seth Noar, Michelle Teti

Walden Faculty and Staff Publications

Sexual scripts are widely shared gender and culture-specific guides for sexual behavior with important implications for HIV prevention. Although several qualitative studies document how sexual scripts may influence sexual risk behaviors, quantitative investigations of sexual scripts in the context of sexual risk are rare. This mixed methods study involved the qualitative development and quantitative testing of the Sexual Scripts Scale (SSS). Study 1 included qualitative semi-structured interviews with 30 Black heterosexual men about sexual experiences with main and casual sex partners to develop the SSS. Study 2 included a quantitative test of the SSS with 526 predominantly low-income Black heterosexual …

Encouraging Corporate Social Responsibility In Rayong, Thailand, Christina Spoons, Mark Gordon

2010-2016 Archived Posters

A review of literature revealed a gap in research on effective ways to promote corporate social responsibility in the Rayong province of Thailand where the Integrated Refinery and Petrochemical Company (IRPC) is located. This case study used purposeful sampling of eight key informants in a CSR program designed to help restore the environment surrounding the refinery, increase cooperation and good will between IRPC and surrounding villages, and make better use of local resources.

The Role Of Leadership In Ict Integration And Its Impact On The Economy In Haiti, Carmel Louis-Jacques

2010-2016 Archived Posters

A phenomenological study on the process and effect Haitian leaders have on the implementation and application of information communication technologies in Haiti. Guided by Colaizzi’s Seven Steps of Phenomenological Analysis, the emerging concepts included key sectors, corruption, lack of infrastructure, decentralization, and engagement. The findings can aid researchers, academicians, and leaders interested in investigating how the use of ICT can produce positive or negative social and political outcomes in LDCs.

Citizen Participation, Trust, And Literacy On Government Legitimacy: The Case Of Environmental Governance, Myung Jin

Journal of Sustainable Social Impact

This paper explores the role of direct citizen participation, trust, and environmental literacy and its impact on the legitimacy of government institutions in the context of environmental governance in the U.S. The current knowledge regarding the dynamics of the institutional legitimacy at the policy level is significantly lacking. This paper addresses broadly the effects of direct citizen participation, citizen trust, and environmental literacy on government legitimacy. Findings indicate that citizens prefer government institutions over ordinary people on leading environmental governance. However, the preference was less clear when asked to choose between the government and businesses as to who should lead …

Political Engagement In Higher Education Curricula, Iris M. Yob, Aimee Ferraro

Journal of Sustainable Social Impact

Political Engagement in Higher Education Curricula

Submitted to the Teaching category of JOSC

Abstract

As more demands are made for universities and colleges to commit to public service, curricula in higher education may need to include the development of knowledge of and skills for political engagement. In an interview study, students, faculty members, and alumni at Walden University reflected on their understanding and experience of political action and working with policy-makers for social change. The responses overall indicated a general agreement that politics, political action, and policy making have roles to play in ensuring the lasting effects of social change …

Self-Regulatory Skills For Controlled Eating Emanating From Newly Initiated Physical Activity, James J. Annesi Ph.D., Kandice Johnson Porter

Journal of Social, Behavioral, and Health Sciences

The relationship of physical activity with weight loss may largely be due to its association with psychosocial factors. The goal of this research was to clarify such relationships using a field design lasting 24 weeks. In Study 1, change in self-regulation for controlled eating, but not energy expenditure, mediated the relationship between changes in physical activity and weight in formerly sedentary, severely obese adults (n = 174). In Study 2 (n = 148), the addition of a cognitive-behavioral nutrition treatment was associated with significantly greater improvement in self-regulation for eating. Physical activity-related self-regulation changes were related to those …

The Road To “Severe Obesity”: Weight Loss Surgery Candidates Talk About Their Histories Of Weight Gain, Julia Temple Newhook, Deborah Gregory, Laurie Twells

Journal of Social, Behavioral, and Health Sciences

Much research focuses on the causes of weight gain, but few studies examine the perspectives of those who have been categorized as “severely obese.” This paper discusses the findings of 54 interviews with weight loss surgery candidates in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. We explore participants’ perspectives on their histories of weight gain, focusing on their explanations for weight gain as well as the emotions surrounding their weight gain experiences. We find that the dominant individualized, medicalized construction of obesity both (1) adds to the burden of blame for weight loss surgery candidates, with potential emotional health implications, and (2) overlooks …

Seeing Is Believing: The Csi Effect Among Jurors In Malicious Wounding Cases, Corey Call, Amy K. Cook, John D. Reitzel, Robyn D. Mcdougle

Journal of Social, Behavioral, and Health Sciences

With the popularization of television crime shows that focus heavily on forensic science, such as CSI and its spin-offs, concerns about a new threat to jury trials have emerged in recent years. Dubbed the “CSI effect,” this phenomenon has reportedly come to influence the way jurors perceive forensic evidence at trials based on the way forensic evidence is presented on television. While the CSI effect has been the topic of much discussion throughout the popular press, the CSI effect has seldom been empirically tested. In this study, we present a selection of media accounts as well as criminological and …

From College Student To Change Agent: A Triadic Model Of Self-Efficacy, Attribution, And Appraisal, Joshua M. Garrin

Journal of Sustainable Social Impact

Beyond their newfound emancipation and opportunities for self-discovery, college students in the young adult stage of development are expected to achieve balance between their autonomous new world and the impending pressures of postgraduation life. The college student must not only reconcile issues related to identity formation, goal pursuits, and career exploration, but is expected to begin the process of identifying and developing the skills required to address salient social themes. How students establish competency beliefs, negotiate controllability over future outcomes, and appraise challenges have deep implications in their capacity to discover their social change “voice.” The following discussion proposes a …

“I’M Teaching What?!”: Preparing University Faculty For Online Instruction, Susan Ohara, Robert Pritchard

Journal of Educational Research and Practice

The percentage of higher education students enrolled in online courses has increased from 9.6 percent in fall 2002 to 33 percent in fall 2010. Due to the increased importance of online courses and programs on university campuses there is a need to better prepare novice technology faculty for the delivery of these courses. This article provides a description of the process through which a group of faculty with low to high technology skills prepared to deliver an online masters program. Minutes of meetings, documents produced, online discussion transcripts, and informal conversations were all used as data to analyze outcomes of …

The Potential Of Social Media As A Vehicle For Social Action, Guillermo J. Farfan

2010-2016 Archived Posters

Social network services (SNS) are potentially full of social capital, yet it remains unclear how to use SNS to generate productive social behavior. This proposal seeks to study how SNS users establish and foster a sense of community online. Identifying those features can be useful in encouraging pro-social participation offline.

2012 Walden University Summer Research Symposium, Walden University

2010-2016 Archived Programs

Welcome to the 2012 Walden University Summer Research Symposium, which is being held during the university faculty meeting for the first time. This positioning provides an opportunity for more of our academic community to experience the symposium and makes it more convenient for some of our newest researchers to participate. The topics for this symposium remain as interesting and varied as in the past and include some of our evaluation studies and thought leadership efforts. Speaking of new researchers, we have presentations on capstone projects representing nearly all the doctoral programs at Walden University—and in spite of the variety, each …

The Emerging Hiv Epidemic On The Mexico-U.S. Border: An International Case Study Characterizing The Role Of Epidemiology In Surveillance And Response, Steffaine Strathdee, Carlos Magis-Rodriguez, Richard Jimenez

Walden Faculty and Staff Publications

Purpose

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome surveillance data are critical for monitoring epidemic trends, but they can mask dynamic subepidemics, especially in vulnerable populations that underuse HIV testing. In this case study, we describe community-based epidemiologic data among injection drug users (IDUs) and female sex workers (FSWs) in two northern Mexico-U.S. border states that identified an emerging HIV epidemic and generated a policy response.

Methods

We draw from quantitative and qualitative cross-sectional and prospective epidemiologic studies and behavioral intervention studies among IDUs and FSWs in Tijuana, Baja California, and Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua.

Results

The recognition that the HIV epidemic …

The Tech-Savvy Teacher: Instruction In A 1:1 Learning Environment, Jenifer Corn, Jennifer T. Tagsold, Ruchi K. Patel

Journal of Educational Research and Practice

A research team conducted an evaluation of a laptop initiative in 18 North Carolina high schools through administrator, teacher, and student focus groups; teacher and student surveys; and classroom observations. The study aimed to provide information about the value of the laptop initiative in enhancing student learning. In addition, it intended to identify challenges to the successful implementation of 1:1 programs, strategies for meeting those challenges, and services and supports needed to enable successful 1:1 programs throughout the state. This paper explores how the initiative affected instructional practice in areas such as technology use, communication, the role of the teacher, …

English Language Learner Disproportionality In Special Education: Implications For The Scholar-Practitioner, Diana Linn, Lynn Hemmer

Journal of Educational Research and Practice

This study examined the representational patterns of English language learners (ELLs) receiving special education services in school districts in a southeastern Texas region over a 7-year period. Results indicated that although relative risk ratios have decreased over time, the region as a whole continued to show overrepresentation of ELLs in special education. Additionally, the percentage of districts demonstrating overrepresentation decreased by almost half over the 7 years. Finally, the relative risk ratios for some districts in the study indicated variability over time. Awareness of the representational patterns of ELLs at the
national, state, regional, district, and campus levels continues to …