Digital Commons Network^™

Law Enforcement Officers’ Perceptions About Antipolice Sentiment And Social Media As A Force Multiplier, Edward Peter Pope

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

As a newly emergent form of mass communication, social media platforms can act as a force multiplier in fomenting negative and critical attitudes or viewpoints toward law enforcement officers and agencies. The purpose of this qualitative study was to examine the perceptions and lived experiences of law enforcement officers about antipolice sentiment and social media as a force multiplier. Amid growing concerns regarding public opinion and the impact of social media on law enforcement practices, more research was needed on how officers navigate and interpret these challenges. Data from in-depth interviews with 10 law enforcement officers were thematically analyzed to …

Identifying And Exploring Successful Leadership Strategies To Improve Nurse Retention, Jennifer Triggs Rickerson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Nurse turnover has become a critical concern in healthcare, as low retention rates lead to decreased patient care quality and increased operational costs. A critical issue for hospital stakeholders is that many nursing leaders lack strategies to improve nursing retention. Grounded in the leader-member exchange theory, the purpose of this qualitative pragmatic inquiry was to identify and explore successful leadership strategies used by nurse managers in the Pacific South region of the United States to improve nurse retention. The study included interviews with six nurse managers who successfully implemented retention strategies. Data were collected through semistructured interviews and publicly available …

Gender Differences In Regretted Consensual Sexual Experiences And Problematic Alcohol Use Among First-Year College Students, Shannon Shen, Soyoung Kwon, Sukho Lee

Journal of Social, Behavioral, and Health Sciences

Regretted sexual behaviors and alcohol use often occur in tandem for college students; however, few studies have examined their interrelationships or the variance across gender. This study tested gender differences in how regretting a consensual sexual experience is related to college students’ alcohol use. One hundred and forty first-year students (63% women, 69% Hispanic) surveyed in 2018 and 2019 reported their sexual behavior and alcohol use (following the Rutgers Alcohol Problem Index [RAPI]). Twenty-one percent of men and 16% of women reported a regretted sexual encounter. Interaction effects from regression models revealed that men with sexual regret had a significantly …

Lived Experiences Of Black African Non-Denominational Pastor’S Perceptions, Attitudes, And Beliefs Of Mental Health, And Their Referral Practice In The United States, Esther Paul

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The high frequency of mental health issues within the Black African Christians communities and the insufficient use of mental health resources, was the driving forces for this study. This qualitative study aimed to explore the attitudes, beliefs, and lived experiences of non-denominational Black African pastors on mental health and identified potential barriers to mental health care and create culturally appropriate solutions by investigating their experiences. The theoretical basis of this study was centered on Goffman’s social stigma theory, which was created by Erwin Goffman, the social identity theory (SIT), and the role identity theory, the latter which served as the …

Exploring Strategies In Manufacturing To Reduce Loss Of Workers And The Costs Associated With Turnover, Aaron Sterrett

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

High employee turnover rates in the U.S. manufacturing firms create significant operational and financial challenges. Leaders of U.S. manufacturing firms seek to address employee turnover, which threatens productivity, profitability, and long-term sustainability. Grounded in the competing values framework, this qualitative pragmatic inquiry project aimed to identify and explore manufacturers' efficient management strategies to reduce employee turnover. The participants were five individuals who work in different management roles within the manufacturing industry and have assisted in developing successful employee retention strategies. Data were collected using semistructured interviews and a review of organizational information. Four themes were identified during qualitative coding analysis: …

Impact Of Military-Related Moves On Spousal Perinatal Depression Screening And Mental Health Services, Chambraia Jones

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Maternal depression, including perinatal depression (PND), poses significant public health risks to women, infants, and families. Although routine PND screening is recommended, limited research has examined screening and referrals among military spouses, an underserved population affected by frequent relocations and deployments. This study examined how permanent change of station (PCS) frequency affects PND screening and referrals to mental health services. Grounded in Bronfenbrenner’s socioecological model and the CDC’s social ecological model of health, eight research questions explored associations between PCS frequency, PND screening, referrals, and the moderating roles of military branch and deployment status. A quantitative cross-sectional design was used …

Predictive Study Of The Relationship Between Self-Care And Professional Quality Of Life Among Licensed Counselors Impacted By Covid-19, Maria G. Billings

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The COVID-19 pandemic has created unprecedented challenges for mental health professionals, significantly increasing burnout and secondary traumatic stress while reducing available resources and limiting opportunities for compassion satisfaction. The purpose of this cross-sectional, quantitative survey study was to determine whether self-care engagement predicts levels of burnout, secondary traumatic stress, and compassion satisfaction among counselors. Grounded in Stamm’s theoretical framework on compassion satisfaction and compassion fatigue, the Self-Care Assessment Worksheet (SCAW) was used to measure self-care engagement, and the Professional Quality of Life Scale (ProQOL-V) was used to assess burnout, secondary traumatic stress, and compassion satisfaction. The sample included 59 licensed …

Understanding The Perspectives Of African American Women Towards Initiating A Fitness Program, Clarissa Sheneka Davis Best

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

African American women residing in rural communities have seen substantial increases in preventable diseases resulting from obesity. The research problem addressed in this study surrounded the perspectives that African American women have towards initiating a fitness program. The purpose of this study was to explore those perspectives utilizing a sample population of African American women living in Salisbury, North Carolina. This study embraced the Theory of Reasoned Action (TRA) created by Prachaseree et al., (2021) and the Self-Determination Theory (Deci & Ryan, 1991) as the conceptual frameworks. Three research questions guiding this study were: What specific barriers do African American …

Perspectives Regarding Creating A Community Of Inquiry In Online Versions Of Lab Courses, Yuna Buhrman

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The COVID-19 pandemic shut down science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) college labs due to the restricted physical access to resources. The problem that was addressed in this study was that there is a lack of understanding of how the three presences of the community of inquiry were implemented by STEM lab instructors when developing online lab courses during emergency remote teaching (ERT). The purpose of this generic qualitative study was to explore perspectives of college STEM lab instructors regarding social, teaching, and cognitive presences in online versions of their lab courses during ERT. Data were collected using semistructured interviews …

Effective Employee Retention Strategies Used By U.S. Hotel Organizations, Marian Yvette Woods

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

High employee turnover rates continue to represent a significant challenge for U.S. hotel organizations, impacting operational efficiency. Hotel leaders are concerned that turnover negatively affects profitability and organizational viability, making retention strategies critical for competitiveness. Grounded in Herzberg’s two-factor motivation-hygiene theory, the purpose of this qualitative pragmatic inquiry study was to identify and explore effective strategies that some business leaders in U.S. hotel organizations use to enhance employee retention. The participants were eight leaders who have implemented effective employee retention strategies in U.S. hotel organizations in Georgia. Data were collected using semistructured interviews, company website information, and publicly available documents. …

Sustainability Of Private Historically Black Colleges Or Universities, Herbert A. Stewart

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In the United States, private Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) have been declining in enrollment, revenues, and profitability, and many have closed permanently. The problem, which is important to HBCU leaders, is the lack effective strategies for sustainability. Grounded in the transformational leadership theory as the conceptual framework, the purpose of this pragmatic inquiry research project was to explore the successful strategies some successful HBCU leaders have used to increase enrollment and maintain profitability for sustainability. Data were collected through personal interviews and publicly available documents or documents provided by participants. Yin’s 5-step process was used for data analysis, which …

Cybersecurity Risk Assessment Methods For Digital Financial Services In Sub-Saharan Africa, Emmanuel Niyikora

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The rapid growth of digital financial services (DFS) in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) has significantly expanded access to financial services for underserved populations. However, cybersecurity managers within telecommunications regulatory agencies in SSA remain concerned about emerging cyber threats that pose risks to DFS providers and their customers, potentially undermining trust and economic growth. Grounded in the technology-organization-environment framework, the purpose of this qualitative pragmatic inquiry study was to explore strategies cybersecurity managers within telecommunications regulatory bodies in SSA use to assess the cybersecurity readiness of DFS providers. Data were collected using semistructured interviews with six cybersecurity managers from telecommunications regulatory bodies …

Teachers’ Perceptions Of The Benefits Of Art Education For Elementary Students With Autism, Brenda Lynn Miller

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The problem addressed in this study was the lack of knowledge regarding art teachers’ perceptions of the social and emotional benefits of art classes for elementary school students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore elementary school art teachers’ perspectives regarding the social and emotional benefits of school-based art education for elementary school students with ASD. Schweizer et al.’s art therapy model was the conceptual framework. Semistructured interviews from 12 elementary school art teachers were used to collect data. Data were analyzed using axial coding procedures and thematic analysis. Results produced the …

Strategies Senior Human Resource Leaders Use To Implement Flexible Work Arrangements, Valena R. Bewry

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Flexible work arrangements (FWAs) have become increasingly significant in contemporary workplace settings, particularly for their role in enhancing employee morale and promoting work-life balance. Education stakeholders and employees are concerned with the failure to implement FWAs, as it may hinder employee productivity and retention. Grounded in the conceptual framework of Theory Z, the purpose of this qualitative pragmatic inquiry was to explore senior HR leaders’ strategies to implement successful flexible work arrangements for employees. The study involved six educational leaders from the northeastern United States who successfully implemented flexible work arrangements. Data were collected through semi structured interviews and publicly …

African American Women Veterans’ Lived Experience Of Barriers To Seeking Access To Mental Health Treatment, Aaliyah Shakirah Harris

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

African American women veterans' race and gender present challenges as the compounded nature of the racism and sexism they experience creates specific barriers to seeking access to mental health treatment. Much of the research to date has focused on the interconnections between African American women veterans' state of mental health and their experiences in the military; however, their lived experience of encountering barriers to seeking access to mental health treatment has remained unexplored. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore African American women veterans' lived experience of encountering barriers to seeking access to mental health treatment to better …

The Impact Of The 2017 Square Footage Requirement On New Jersey Supplemental Nutrition Program For Women, Infants, And Children (Wic) Vendors, Carmelo Rodriguez

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This study examined the impact of the 2017 New Jersey regulation requiring vendors to have 1,000 square feet of retail space in order to participate in the Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) food program. Specifically, it examined vendors' role in developing the policy and their perspectives on its implementation. Previous research indicated improved policy outcomes by including policy targets in policy dialogue, but there was a lack of research exploring the experiences of vendors. Not known was how the policy affected WIC vendors, the essential frontline suppliers of nutritional foods to WIC participants. The purpose of …

Staff Education To Addressing Medication Nonadherence Amongst Patients With Mental Health Challenges, Euphemia Mah

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Walden University College of Nursing This is to certify that the doctoral study by Euphemia Mah has been found to be complete and satisfactory in all respects, and that any and all revisions required by the review committee have been made. Review Committee Dr. Corinne Wheeler, Committee Chairperson, Nursing Faculty Dr. Robert McWhirt, Committee Member, Nursing Faculty Chief Academic Officer and Provost Sue Subocz, Ph.D. Walden University 2025 Summary Poor adherence to medication regimens among patients who have a mental illness leads to multiple adverse outcomes, which include symptom exacerbation, decreased quality of life, and repeated hospitalizations. To address this …

Effective Strategies For Placing Underrepresented Women In Senior Management Positions: Shared Strategies, George Alexander Pegram Jr.

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Underrepresentation of women in senior management positions within the tech industry poses a significant challenge in terms of organizational equity and effectiveness. Business leaders are concerned with this disparity, as it reflects systemic barriers to women’s advancement. Grounded in the people’s capability maturity model (P-CMM), the purpose of this qualitative pragmatic inquiry was to explore strategies that senior executives in the Washington, DC tech industry use to promote women to senior management positions. The participants were eight senior women executives purposefully selected for their leadership roles. Data was collected using semistructured interviews. Through thematic analysis, four themes were identified: personalized …

Using Microsoft Teams Class Notebook E-Portfolios As A Reflective Tool In Education For Sustainable Development Business Writing: Learners’ Perspectives, Mona Abdelfattah

Higher Learning Research Communications

Objective

This study investigates the efficacy of Microsoft Teams Class Notebook ePortfolios as a reflective tool in business writing courses. This study addresses gaps in the literature regarding ePortfolio use in business writing courses in F2F classes, focusing on student perceptions, its impact on writing skills, the convenience of the MS Teams Class Notebook, and how it fosters critical thinking regarding their learning which is one of the important goals of Education for sustainable development (ESD).

Methods

The iterative cross-sectional study was conducted over 13 weeks at a private college in Oman with 60 undergraduate students in two business writing …

Employee Engagement Strategies For Purchasing Managers, Winona L. Sewell Hall

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The lack of employee engagement negatively impacts organizations through revenue loss, poor productivity, and toxic cultures. Purchasing managers are concerned with decreased employee engagement as it negatively impacts productivity and revenue. Grounded in situational leadership theory, the purpose of this qualitative pragmatic inquiry was to explore strategies purchasing managers use to increase engagement and productivity. The participants were six managers who have been successful in implementing strategies to increase employee engagement. Data were collected using semistructured interviews. Through thematic analysis, three key themes were identified: (a) communication, (b) leadership styles, and (c) culture. A key recommendation is for purchasing managers …

The Motivating Factors Of A Multigenerational Workplace Based On Work Values And Reinforcements, Alaina Lister

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

There are currently four generations in the workplace—Generation Z, millennials, Generation X, and baby boomers—each having its own values and motivations due to different life experiences. Leaders are facing new challenges regarding how to motivate each generation in relation to rewards, recognition, and work values. It was unknown whether there are empirical differences in motivation and leadership preferences based on generational cohort. The purpose of this study was to examine how the members of four different generations are motivated based on their preferred rewards and recognition, and the work values they hold. The targeted population were members of Generation Z, …

Employee Engagement And Productivity Among Remote Workers In The Finance Industry, Mauriom Ndikeh

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The COVID-19 pandemic and its related restrictions made remote work a defining feature of the modern workforce. Some finance industry leaders lack effective employee engagement strategies to increase productivity in remote work environments. The purpose of this qualitative pragmatic inquiry project was to identify and explore successful employee engagement strategies some finance industry leaders used to increase productivity in remote work environments. This project was grounded in Kahn’s employee engagement theory. The participants were six finance industry leaders from financial organizations in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. Data were collected using semistructured Zoom interviews, field notes, …

The Relative Strength Of Help-Seeker Stereotype, Help-Seeking Self-Stigma, And Self-Esteem In Predicting Attitudes Toward Seeking Mental Health Help, Souad Torjani Azim

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The increasing prevalence of mental health issues among college students is a critical concern. Disorders such as depression and anxiety are becoming more common, with depression notably a major risk factor for suicide—the second leading cause of death in this age group. Despite this troubling trend, significant barriers to accessing mental health services remain. While research has explored various factors contributing to students’ reluctance, such as stigma, distrust in the mental health system, lack of social support, and mental health literacy, none to date has examined the relative strength of help-seeker stereotype, help-seeking self-stigma, and self-esteem in predicting attitudes toward …

Nurses’ Role In Reducing Mental Health Stigma In Healthcare, Olufunmilayo Elizabeth Adeloye

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) project implemented a targeted educational intervention to reduce mental health stigma among healthcare providers. Mental health stigma, often resulting in misdiagnosis, delayed treatment, and decreased patient engagement, represents a significant barrier to effective nursing practice. The project’s practice-focused question examined whether an educational program could improve provider knowledge and attitudes toward mental illness. Using the ADDIE model (analysis, design, development, implementation, and evaluation), a needs assessment at a family practice and behavioral healthcare clinic identified gaps such as judgmental perceptions, avoidance behaviors, and lack of empathy among providers. An extensive literature review supported the …

Bias In Media Portrayals Of Filicide Cases Involving African American Women, Channing Lelar Collins

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This study was conducted to examine racial disparities in media portrayals of filicide cases involving African American and Caucasian women, exploring how systemic biases and societal narratives influenced public perception, policy, and the child welfare and legal systems. Using a qualitative content analysis of 42 cases involving African American women and 20 involving Caucasian women, framing techniques, language, and imagery were analyzed. The research addressed three questions were (a) What narratives and framing were used?, (b) How did these differ across racial lines?, and (c) What are the broader societal and systemic implications? Results showed that media coverage of African …

Experiences Of Black Women In Black Colleges Voluntarily Seeking Psychiatric Services, Linda Jarvis Brown

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Black Americans face significant barriers to psychiatric services including a lack of access to culturally competent care. Mental illnesses continue to be the leading causes of disability in the United States. This qualitative phenomenological study, guided by the health belief model, explored the experiences of Black women in Black colleges who voluntarily seek psychiatric services. My study addressed a gap in understanding the facilitators and barriers for Black women voluntarily seeking mental health services. Data were collected through semistructured interviews with nine participants who were Black women attending Black colleges who voluntarily sought psychiatric services. Data analysis was accomplished using …

Leadership Strategies To Enhance Funding Performance In Pre-K -12 Public School Districts, Cynthia W. Williams Jones

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Some school leaders lack strategies to impact educational funding performance in prekindergarten through 12th grade (PK-12) public schools and increase students’ academic achievement and performance. School leaders and policymakers are concerned with improving educational funding, student achievement, and student performance in PK-12 public schools. Grounded in the Baldrige excellence framework, the purpose of this qualitative pragmatic inquiry study was to identify effective strategies that school leaders use to improve educational funding performance in PK-12 public schools and increase students’ academic achievement and performance. Participants were six PK-12 public school leaders with at least 5 years of leadership experience who had …

Crisis Management Strategies For Sustaining Small Business Operations And Profitability During Unexpected Events, Dr. Brandy Marie Jones

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Small business leaders face financial and logistical challenges during crises, such as economic downturns, natural disasters, and supply chain disruptions. This issue is critical for small business owners and policymakers, as effective crisis management ensures economic stability and community resilience. Grounded in situational crisis communications theory, the purpose of this qualitative pragmatic inquiry was to identify and explore effective crisis management strategies that small business leaders use to remain operational and profitable during unexpected events. The participants were seven small business leaders in Dallas, Texas who used effective crisis management strategies to remain profitable during unexpected events. Datum was collected …

Digital Transformation Strategies Used By Church Leaders To Increase Revenues And Meet Budgetary Goals, Lee Riley

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Ineffective strategies to use digital transformation to increase revenues and meet budgetary goals can negatively impact small rural church leadership capabilities. Small rural church leaders who struggle to increase revenues and meet budgetary goals are at high risk of business instability. Grounded in the diffusion of innovations theory, the purpose of this qualitative pragmatic inquiry was to identify and explore effective digital transformation strategies used by small rural church leaders to increase revenues and meet budgetary goals. Participants were eight small rural church leaders who had effectively used digital transformation to increase revenues and meet budgetary goals. Data were collected …

Nonprofit Marketing Strategies To Target A Specific Client Population, Daniel Curtis Grant

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

African American females are the fastest-growing demographic in the United States contracting HIV. Nonprofit executives are concerned that, without effective marketing campaigns, African American females are not seeking the education or testing proven to reduce the chance of contracting HIV. Grounded in the integrated marketing communications theory, the purpose of this qualitative single case study was to explore strategies that nonprofit executives use to design and execute effective marketing campaigns targeted to a specific client population. The participants were four senior leaders from a nonprofit healthcare clinic located in the south-central Region of the United States who have 10 or …