Digital Commons Network^™

Experiences Of Supervisees Developing Culturally Responsive Skills Through Clinical Supervision, Jaime Lyn Parker

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Culturally responsive supervision has been shown to be beneficial to supervisees (Adams et al., 2023). A research gap exists in culturally responsive clinical supervision through the lens of supervisees’ experiences; as a result, supervisors are ill-equipped to offer culturally responsive clinical supervision. The purpose of this narrative inquiry study was to explore supervisees’ culturally responsive experiences in clinical supervision. Grounded in critical race theory, this study highlights the narratives of marginalized voices as they share their stories of developing culturally responsive skills through clinical supervision. That is, the research question explored the experiences of counseling supervisees as they develop culturally …

Understanding Elementary Teachers’ Experiences Implementing Technology In A 1:1 Classroom, Susan Mccurry

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The availability of technology resources in elementary classrooms is becoming more commonplace, including environments where every child has a laptop. The problem addressed in this basic qualitative study was that elementary school teachers in kindergarten through the fifth grade struggled to adapt their teaching to the 1:1 technology-based approach at Fennario School District (FSD, a pseudonym), an urban southern elementary schools. The purpose of this study, framed by Magana’s translational, transformative, transcendent, framework for innovation in education, and Bandura’s theory of self-efficacy, was to explore elementary school teachers’ successes, challenges, and the resources needed to integrate 1:1 laptop technology in …

Navigating The Employability Landscape: Unanswered Questions For International Students In Southeast Asia, Hengzhi Hu

Higher Learning Research Communications

As Southeast Asia becomes an increasingly popular destination for international students, important questions arise concerning the employability of graduates from this region. This comment article advocates for a comprehensive examination of how effectively Southeast Asian universities equip their international students to navigate both global and home country labor markets. Additionally, this article calls for a critical rethinking of the global recognition and value of qualifications obtained from Southeast Asian higher education providers, which often face challenges in being perceived as on par with those from more established educational hubs and underscores the necessity for comparative research to assess how the …

Experiences And Meaning Of Seeking Help And Resources For Male Victims Of Intimate Partner Violence, Dr. Cierra A. Ozolin

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Experiences and Meaning of Seeking Help and Resources for Male Victims of Intimate Partner Violence by Cierra Ozolin MSW, Walden University, 2022 BA, BS, Central Washington University 2019 Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Human Services Walden University August 2025

Generative Ai Use Among University Students Depends On Academic Level And Task, Karen E. Singer-Freeman, Kristi Verbeke, Betsy Barre

Higher Learning Research Communications

Objectives: The present study investigated the extent to which AI use and opinions about its use will vary by academic stage and academic task in ways that align with Budwig’s (2013) developmental stages.

Methods: We surveyed 1,259 students from different academic stages (first-year students, sophomores, juniors, seniors, and graduate students) at a highly selective private university in the United States.

Results: We found that all students desire institutional AI policies and are concerned about the negative consequences of AI use by themselves and others. There was some evidence of the use of AI in ways that might violate academic integrity. …

Parents Of Adolescents On Electronic Use And Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: Parental Perspectives, Sleep, Internalization, Jessica Wiepking

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

ADHD in adolescents is a common diagnosis, with exposure to daily electronic use. There is strong evidence for a relationship between electronic use and ADHD in adolescents. However, there is a gap on electronic use, internalized feelings, and sleep behaviors in ADHD adolescents and how sleep behaviors might impact that relationship. ADHD has its core symptoms that impact the individual daily. These symptoms need to be taken into consideration when looking at internalized feelings and sleep behavior patterns. The theoretical framework that aligns with this study is the Dopaminergic Dysregulation Theory (DDT). This theory is a module that suggests that …

In-Home Supports For The Developmentally Disabled Population: A Heuristic Phenomenological Study Of Sc’ Experiences, Stephen Troy Davis

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Despite occupying a central role in the developmental disabilities systems of 48 states, SC do not have a voice in program or policy development and are not well represented in the disabilities literature. The purpose of this study was to understand the experiences of SC who work with individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities in southeastern Pennsylvania. The theoretical lenses through which the study was viewed were Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems theory and Wolfensberger’s social role valorization. The study was guided by research questions aimed at illuminating the intensity of support coordinators’ experiences by uncovering how they experience and define their …

Improving Employee Engagement Through Effective Change Management, Whitney Cearrow Sims

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Human resources (HR) managers often face challenges due to ineffective change management strategies, which can lead to reduced employee engagement, decreased performance, and increased turnover. This issue is important to HR managers and organizational leaders who seek to improve workforce engagement and retention. Grounded in Kotter’s eight step change management model and Herzberg’s motivation-hygiene theory, the purpose of this qualitative pragmatic inquiry was to explore the strategies HR managers use to improve employee engagement. The participants were five HR managers from manufacturing companies in the southeast region in Georgia who had implemented effective change management strategies that improved employee engagement. …

Relationship Between Indulgent Parenting, Household Composition, And Parental Efficacy In Managing Adolescents' Smartphone Use, Bernice Cook

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Smartphones have become an integral part of society, resulting in increased adolescent dependence on smartphone applications. This dependence poses challenges for parents in managing the risk of problematic smartphone use among adolescents aged 11-17 years old. Rapid technological advancements have significantly reshaped parenting practices, necessitating greater adaptability and impacting adolescent development. Guided by Bandura’s self-efficacy theory, this correlational study examines how indulgent parenting and household composition, including demographic variables such as race, gender, education, employment, and income, predict parental self-efficacy in managing adolescent smartphone use. A convenience sample of 238 U.S. parents, with at least one adolescent aged 11-17 years, …

Integrating Ai In Academia: A Sem Evaluation Of Research Scholars Usage Intentions On Chatgpt, Sonal Sharma Phd, V. P. Joshith Phd, K Kavitha Med, Anusha Anthony Med

Higher Learning Research Communications

Objectives: In this study, we investigate the intentions of research scholars to use ChatGPT in their academic research endeavors by employing an extended Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology model, the UTAUT2, which examines factors such as performance expectancy, effort expectancy, social influence, facilitating conditions, hedonic motivation, habit, ethical concerns, and research excellence. By incorporating “research excellence” into the model, we aim to provide insights into artificial intelligence (AI) adoption in academic research settings and contribute to the broader discourse on the future of academic practices.

Method: We conducted a survey among 400 research scholars in Indian higher …

Communication Enhancement Strategies To Mitigate Functional Siloes In Head Start Programs, Maryom G. Mccloud

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Inefficient internal communication between program and financial operations may negatively affect organizational performance and profitability. Some Head Start Program (HSP) leaders are concerned with communication failures because of the potential to negatively impact business productivity and profitability. Grounded in business process re-engineering, the purpose of this qualitative single case study was to explore strategies used by HSP leaders to increase communications between program and financial operations to increase profitability. The participants were four HSP leaders located in the Northern Region of the United States, who successfully implemented such strategies. Data were collected from semistructured interviews and company documents. Through thematic …

Strategies Used By Public Relations And Communications Executives To Implement Ethical Use Standards For Ai, Karl Bateson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Public relations and communications (PR&C) executives’ ineffective artificial intelligence (AI) strategies to develop and apply ethical frameworks for AI implementation can negatively impact organizations’ brand reputation. Grounded in AI4People and stakeholder theory, the purpose of this qualitative pragmatic inquiry project was to identify and explore the effective AI strategies PR&C executives used to develop and apply ethical frameworks for AI implementation while maintaining their organizations’ brand reputations. The participants were six PR&C executives who used effective strategies to develop and apply ethical frameworks for AI implementation while maintaining their organization’s brand reputation. Data were collected using semistructured interviews, public websites, …

Big Five Personality Traits As Predictors Of Funeral Directors’ Job Satisfaction, Teresa Busick

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

By 2037, annual deaths in the United States are expected to exceed 3.6 million, over 1 million more than in 2015. At the same time, the funeral service industry faces a serious staffing problem, with about 50% of funeral directors leaving the profession within 2 years. These combined challenges highlight the need to understand what contributes to job satisfaction and helps to retain these workers in this essential field. This quantitative correlational study examined whether the Big Five personality traits predict job satisfaction among funeral directors. Thus, the Big Five model of personality traits was used to guide the study. …

Third To Fifth-Grade Teachers’ Challenges When Teaching Reading Comprehension Skills To English Language Learners In Northern Virginia, Lorraine A. Wickham-Ellis

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Third to fifth-grade teachers in a Northern Virginia Title 1 elementary school faced challenges when teaching reading comprehension skills to English language learners (ELLs) which impacted ELLs’ performance on state-mandated tests. Framed by Cummins’s second language acquisition theory, the purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore third to fifth-grade teachers’ challenges in teaching reading comprehension skills to ELLs and their suggestions for improved training and resources in a Northern Virginia Title 1 elementary school. Two research questions addressed the teachers’ challenges and suggestions for improved training and resources. Semistructured interviews were used to collect qualitative data from nine, …

Intersectionality Gaps Among Multiple Social Determinants In U.S. Infant And Maternal Mortality Rates, Mary D. Kirkley

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The purpose of this quantitative, cross-sectional study was to examine whether social determinants interactively influence U.S. maternal and infant mortality rates. Grounded in the Social Ecological Model, this study analyzed secondary data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Vital Statistics System were analyzed using multivariable logistic regression. The final sample included 110,402 maternal deaths and 55,839 infant deaths, with inclusion criteria requiring complete data on race, education, age, marital status, gender (for infants), residency, and year of death. Exclusion criteria included non-U.S. resident deaths or missing demographic data. Results revealed statistically significant interaction effects: race/ethnicity with education …

Strategies For Reducing Employee Turnover In Long-Term Care, Eleanor Denise Gaines

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

High employee turnover in long-term care (LTC) facilities contributes to diminished care quality, low staff morale, and increased operational costs. LTC organizational leaders must address high turnover because it disrupts continuity of care, undermines team cohesion, and increases the burden of recruiting and training new staff. This qualitative multiple case study explored strategies used by human resource managers (HRMs) to improve staff retention and morale in LTC settings, motivated by the need to prevent workforce deterioration, enhance competitive advantage, and increase organizational profitability. Grounded in Herzberg’s two-factor theory, the purpose of the study was to identify evidence-based practices that effectively …

Imaging Sciences Teachers’ Experiences With Simulation-Based Clinical Training Curriculum, Mandy Stelz

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Simulation-based education (SBE) is currently being used in imaging sciences education with no set standards or best practices. Grounded in the framework drawn from Kolb’s experiential learning theory and Magana’s T3 framework of innovation, the purpose of this qualitative study was to explore imaging science teachers’ experiences using SBE for clinical training. The participants were 12 imaging science teachers that have taught imaging science students using SBE for a minimum of 3 years. Data were collected using semistructured interviews. Through thematic analysis, four themes were identified: (a) imaging science teachers reported a wide variety of tools and types of SBE …

A Case Study In Evolving Academic Governance: Democratic Accountability And Academic Capitalism, William C. Schulz, Denise Dezolt

Higher Learning Research Communications

As the higher education market becomes both more competitive and fragmented (as well as controlled through uncertain and changing regulatory regimes), and as those whom the higher education market serves become more discerning as consumers who apply proven customer behaviors within the market, universities must re-evaluate their internal governance systems. Re-evaluation of customer behaviors and governance systems may allow universities to become more inclusive, responsive, and adaptive within an academic capitalism setting.

In this case study, we present a research-based and integrated “Shared, Informed, Stakeholder-Engaged Governance” model. We describe how a large online university developed and implemented a model that …

Experiences Of Post-Secondary Teachers With Using Information And Communication Technologies In Rural Communities, Latonya Shirelle Motley

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Teaching and learning in the 21st century requires full access and use of digital technologies but this can be challenging in rural areas. Teachers at post-secondary schools in rural communities often have limited access to information and communication technologies (ICT), which restricts their ability to fully serve their rural students. Guided by the theory of the digital divide, the purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore the experiences of post-secondary teachers with using ICT in rural areas in the United States. Data for this qualitative study were collected from 44 participant interviews who evaluated their access of digital …

Evaluating Nutrition, Exercise, And Education, On Mental Health And Quality Of Life In Menopause, Jill R. Stone

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Physical inactivity, poor nutrition, and a lack of understanding of menopause adversely affect mental health and quality of life in women entering menopause. Metabolic changes during this period can lead to an increase in visceral fat, loss of muscle mass, depression, and anxiety. These metabolic changes are linked to a higher risk for cardiovascular disease, type two diabetes, and metabolic syndrome. This cross-sectional quantitative study, guided by the health belief model, explored the contribution of adopting specific nutrition strategies, exercise, and education in women during menopause transition to help manage mental health (as measured by depression and tension), and quality …

Lived Experiences Of Ex-Offenders In Securing Stable Employment After Reentry Programs, Tony Lemar Williams

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The reintegration of formerly incarcerated individuals into society has garnered increasing attention largely due to structural and social barriers that impede their successful transition. The purpose of this qualitative descriptive phenomenological study was to explore the lived experiences of ex-offenders who successfully obtained gainful employment following their reintegration into society while navigating the enduring consequences of their past convictions. Self-determination, self-efficacy, and implicit theories grounded this study. Ten participants were recruited through social media platforms and flyers on community billboards in a suburban area of Ohio. Data were collected using semistructured in-depth interviews. Narrative coding, according to Saldana, was used …

Personal Social Media Usage And The Effect On Individuals’ Job Satisfaction: A Social Identity Theory Perspective, Daniel Adam Blair

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Social networking sites are web-based platforms that serve as tools to enhance connectivity and communication for a broad spectrum of different individuals, but they may be doing a disservice to the users who overuse the platforms as a means to bolster their self-esteem surrounding their different identities. The purpose of this study was to examine the differences in individuals’ job satisfaction levels when using personal social media (PSM) to varying degrees and how individuals’ social identities may influence this interaction. Utilizing the social identity theory framework, this study aimed to determine whether a relationship exists between PSM usage and job …

Service Provider Practice And Dual Victimization Survivors Seeking Emergency Shelter, Lana Heinen

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The Violence Against Women Act supports responses to the crimes of domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, and stalking. It does not provide a permanent or guaranteed pathway to safe and stable housing for those experiencing the dual victimization of domestic violence and human trafficking. Service provider practices can alleviate or aggravate barriers faced by this population. These practices are influenced by the education and training service providers receive before entering the field and throughout their career. The purpose of this generic qualitative study was to explore service providers’ perceptions of structures and barriers contributing to the obstacles of accessing …

Burnout Theory, Pandemic Teaching And Teacher Efficacy: What Is Lost When Schools Return To “Normal”?, Katy Farber, Penny A. Bishop

Journal of Educational Research and Practice

Our qualitative study examined educators’ perceptions of teaching during the COVID-19 pandemic through the lens of burnout theory. Using the three components of burnout as theorized by Maslach and Leiter (2016), we analyzed teachers’ self-reports of emotional exhaustion, cynicism/depersonalization, and reduced sense of professional self-efficacy. We interviewed 16 teachers who taught through the emergency remote-learning phase of the pandemic in March 2020 and remained in the same district when prepandemic practices returned. We conducted semistructured interviews in person and on Zoom with special educators, integrated arts teachers, school counselors, and general classroom teachers. We describe the unanticipated finding that teachers …

Understanding Georgia Child Welfare Case Manager’S Perspective, Practicum Experience, And Retention, Takierra Dawson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Child welfare workers have high turnover rates and low retention rates. While there is well-documented research on reasons for turnover, no research was found on how a case manager's practicum experience impacts turnover rates. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore child welfare case managers' perspectives on retention and to understand how their practicum and internship experiences influence retention. The theories that ground this research include systems theory by Bertalanffy and social constructivism by Vygotsky. The two research questions for this generic qualitative study were: What are the experiences of child welfare case managers during their internship and …

Havana To Port-Au-Prince: Cuba’S Medical Internationalism Aid To Haiti, Wilner Saint Cyr

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Haiti ranks among the lowest in healthcare quality in the Americas, according to the health indicators used by the World Health Organization. Despite national and international efforts to improve health service delivery, access to primary medical care and preventive services is limited, especially in rural areas. In response to a request from the Haitian government following the devastating Hurricane Georges, the arrival of the first Cuban doctors to support ongoing public health needs commenced in December 1998. Recognizing an opportunity for international cooperation, the Haitian president sought assistance from Cuba by signing a bilateral cooperation agreement for initial and ongoing …

Strategies It Managers Use To Manage Remote Teams In The Medical Industry, Sonia Raj Gandham

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Healthcare IT managers experience significant challenges while leading remote teams, as they must maintain secure communication practices and regulatory compliance while achieving high-performance standards. Organizations without proper strategies face data breaches and productivity losses that harm operational performance and patient care, leading to legal troubles and reputational harm. Grounded in adaptive structuration theory (AST), this qualitative pragmatic study explored successful remote team management strategies among U.S. healthcare IT managers with five or more years of experience. AST provided the theoretical lens to examine how technology and organizational structures interact in distributed work environments. Interviews with six participants were analyzed thematically …

Exploring Strategies For Improving Employee Engagement In Large Technology Companies, Antonio Evocatio Montiero

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

A lack of effective employee engagement strategies is a pressing concern for large technology companies aiming to stay competitive and profitable. Business leaders are concerned about this issue, as ineffective engagement can jeopardize both the company's financial health and its ability to retain talent. Grounded in Maslow’s hierarchy of needs theory, the purpose of this qualitative pragmatic inquiry was to identify and explore strategies that large technology company leaders use to effectively engage their employees to remain competitive and profitable. The participants were six leaders of large technology companies in the United States who had success with engaging their employees. …

Examining Firefighters’ Perspectives On Critical Incident Stress Debriefing, Olivia O'Hare

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Firefighters are routinely exposed to critical incidents, potentially resulting in mental health consequences. Critical incident stress debriefing (CISD) is a common postcritical incident intervention used among fire departments in the United States to address these mental health impacts. Understanding the perspectives of firefighters’ experience with CISD can contribute information to the social work profession, may engage firefighters in the discussion surrounding their mental health needs, and could provide effective postcritical incident coping strategies. The purpose and research questions of this study were focused through a vicarious trauma lens was to understand firefighters’ perspectives and experiences of CISD, explore CISD trauma …

Strategies Health Care Leaders Use For Telemedicine Utilization And Subsequent Revenue Enhancement, Wesley Raymond Wingate

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Health care leaders face challenges in increasing the utilization of alternative synchronous health care platforms, such as telemedicine, which enable real-time virtual consultations, which can influence in-person clinic visits and impact organizational revenue. Rising demand for accessible health care, and ineffective telemedicine implementation limits patient access and overall organizational sustainability, increasing the need for evidence-based strategies critical for health care leaders to improve both service delivery and financial outcomes. This qualitative pragmatic inquiry, grounded in the health belief model, aimed to explore strategies used by health care leaders in the South Texas region to implement telemedicine effectively. The participants included …