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Reintegration Experiences Of Male Victims Of Human Trafficking, Thomas Brooks Oct 2025

Reintegration Experiences Of Male Victims Of Human Trafficking, Thomas Brooks

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Human trafficking continues to be a world-wide problem, despite attempts to mitigate it. Many human trafficking victims are saved each year, but many more do not make it out. When rescued, the victims of human trafficking need to be reintegrated back into society. Research on human trafficking survivors is mostly focused on female victims; there is little research focused on male victims. Due to this, the purpose of this research was to explore the experiences of men who have been through the reintegration process as children in America after they have been rescued from human trafficking. A phenomenological approach was …


Predictors Of Parental Behavior And Child Weight Status, Fidelia Senayah, Heba M. Athar, Allison G. Litton Oct 2025

Predictors Of Parental Behavior And Child Weight Status, Fidelia Senayah, Heba M. Athar, Allison G. Litton

Journal of Social, Behavioral, and Health Sciences

Childhood obesity is a major health issue globally. The prevalence rate remains high in Ohio, with associated complications among affected children and adolescents. The current study examined the association among obesity risk knowledge, risk perception, feeding behavior, and child weight outcome while controlling for race, gender, income, and education. We collected quantitative data through an online survey of parents in Northwest Ohio (n = 71) using the obesity risk knowledge scale and factors from the Child Feeding Questionnaire. We analyzed data using multiple linear regression. The primary outcome measures were feeding behavior and child weight status. Parental obesity risk …


Polarization, Performance, Responsiveness, And Trust In Malawian Executive, Legislative, And Judicial Institutions, Rodgers Brenner Chawani Oct 2025

Polarization, Performance, Responsiveness, And Trust In Malawian Executive, Legislative, And Judicial Institutions, Rodgers Brenner Chawani

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Political trust matters for good governance and democracy. Although Malawi's constitution affirms trust as a key component of authority, Afrobarometer surveys have revealed broad declines, hindering democratic consolidation and the achievement of the long-term Vision 2063 development goals. Prior researchers studying the country have fixated on qualitative analyses and overlooked affective polarization and differentiation across government branches. The purpose of this cross-sectional quantitative study was to examine the predictive relationship between perceived government performance, responsiveness, corruption, affective polarization, democratic satisfaction, and trust in the Malawi president, parliament, and judiciary, using generalized linear models to apply Easton's political support theory to …


Novice Teachers’ Perceptions Of In-Person Professional Development On Technological Self-Efficacy, Spencer James Kiper Oct 2025

Novice Teachers’ Perceptions Of In-Person Professional Development On Technological Self-Efficacy, Spencer James Kiper

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The problem that prompted this study was the lack of professional development opportunities that address novice K–12 teachers’ technological self-efficacy. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore the perceptions of novice K–12 teachers in a large urban school district in Louisiana regarding professional development opportunities for technological self-efficacy. The conceptual framework for this study was composed of Bandura’s theory of self-efficacy and the technological pedagogical content knowledge (TPACK) framework. Ten novice teachers with fewer than 5 years of teaching experience participated in semistructured interviews. Data analysis procedures included descriptive coding, axial coding, and thematic analysis. Results revealed …


Faculty Perceptions Of Interprofessional Education To Prepare Physical Therapy Students For The Workforce, Marianne Hanover, Heather Pederson Oct 2025

Faculty Perceptions Of Interprofessional Education To Prepare Physical Therapy Students For The Workforce, Marianne Hanover, Heather Pederson

Journal of Educational Research and Practice

Interprofessional collaboration (IPC) aims to enhance patient care by improving outcomes. Interprofessional education (IPE), a teaching approach for IPC, is now mandated in Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) curricula. Although faculty perceptions of IPE in other healthcare fields are documented, studies exploring faculty attitudes in entry-level DPT programs remain limited. In this qualitative study, we investigated how DPT faculty perceive IPE as a means to prepare students for clinical practice. Using Rogers’s Diffusion of Innovation (DOI) theory as a guide, we collected data during interviews with PT faculty in DPT programs. Study findings suggest that the advancement of IPE in …


Surprises From The Shadows: Confronting Intrusions From Bots & Generative Ai In Survey Research, Vincent Cho, Sofia I. Duenas Oct 2025

Surprises From The Shadows: Confronting Intrusions From Bots & Generative Ai In Survey Research, Vincent Cho, Sofia I. Duenas

Journal of Educational Research and Practice

Unbeknownst to many researchers, online surveys can be vulnerable to attacks from bots and generative artificial intelligence (AI), which can generate hundreds of fraudulent responses instantly. Confronting this challenge to data integrity, we employed an adaptive approach to test the effectiveness of various anti-fraud tactics (e.g., CAPTCHA; honeypot questions; question pairs; open-ended questions) and to distinguish between good-faith human respondents versus bots or fraudsters. Findings revealed that bots with generative AI capabilities bypassed some conventional defenses, including CAPTCHA, and effectively supplied human-like responses to open-ended questions. Other tactics, like removing response incentives and verifying IP addresses, showed promise but came …


Embedding Social And Emotional Learning Into Educator Preparation Programs: An Alternative Certification Perspective, Valerie Flanagan, Lisa Fulks, Wanetta Morrow Oct 2025

Embedding Social And Emotional Learning Into Educator Preparation Programs: An Alternative Certification Perspective, Valerie Flanagan, Lisa Fulks, Wanetta Morrow

Journal of Educational Research and Practice

This study discusses the impact of integrating social and emotional learning (SEL) curriculum into alternative certification educator preparation programs (EPPs), in response to prior research indicating the lack of SEL strategies in schools. It offers a review of educator preparation students’ thoughts concerning SEL implementation, as well as their selection of and reflection upon embedding SEL skills into lessons. Participants serving as teachers of record during their coursework reported positive outcomes in the classroom resulting from lessons including SEL content. Given the increasing importance of SEL in addressing students’ diverse developmental, behavioral, and academic needs, preparation for educators must go …


Educational Experiences Of Traditional And Online Learning Graduate Students, Beverly Crawford Williams Oct 2025

Educational Experiences Of Traditional And Online Learning Graduate Students, Beverly Crawford Williams

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore how graduate-level human services students who have attended both traditional and online courses describe their educational experiences, particularly in terms of engagement, knowledge application, and peer connections. Semistructured interviews were conducted among 12 graduate-level, human services students who had experience in both learning environments. Social learning theory was the theoretical foundation used in the study. Thematic analysis, revealed four major themes describing distinct learning experiences across modalities. First, online and traditional learning involve different forms of engagement. Second, relational engagement in academic environments is important. Third, constraints on engagement across learning …


Navigating Transition: Lived Experiences Of Discharged Foster Care Youth (18–24) In Accessing Community Resources, Joi Junetta Miller Oct 2025

Navigating Transition: Lived Experiences Of Discharged Foster Care Youth (18–24) In Accessing Community Resources, Joi Junetta Miller

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The transition from foster care to independent living represents a critical life stage for youth, especially those aged 18–24, who face numerous challenges in accessing and utilizing community resources. In the United States, nearly 391,000 children are in foster care, with many experiencing negative outcomes upon exiting the system, such as homelessness, unemployment, and incarceration. This qualitative phenomenological study explored the lived experiences of discharged foster care youth, focusing on their ability to access and utilize available resources, including education, employment, healthcare, and mental health services. The study was grounded in social adjustment theory and resiliency theory, which framed youth …


Effective Strategies To Integrate Social Media Influencers In Marketing Frameworks, Vanessa R. Alexander Oct 2025

Effective Strategies To Integrate Social Media Influencers In Marketing Frameworks, Vanessa R. Alexander

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Social media dominates modern marketing, yet many retail businesses struggle to integrate social media influence into their business marketing frameworks. This problem is important to retail marketing leaders because unsuccessful integration influence can weaken brand credibility and reduce revenue. Grounded in Cialdini’s theory of social influence and the electronic word-of-mouth model, the purpose of this qualitative pragmatic inquiry was to identify and explore effective strategies that retail industry marketing leaders on the East Coast of the United States used to integrate social media influencers. The participants were eight retail industry marketing leaders on the East Coast of the United States. …


Strategies To Prevent Employee Turnover And Revenue Losses Resulting From Workplace Bullying, Sylvester Doby Jr Oct 2025

Strategies To Prevent Employee Turnover And Revenue Losses Resulting From Workplace Bullying, Sylvester Doby Jr

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Workplace bullying is a serious issue that can lead to high employee turnover and significant revenue loss. To maintain a healthy work environment and support their employees, business leaders need to develop and implement effective strategies to prevent bullying. Grounded in the transformational leadership theory, the purpose of this qualitative pragmatic inquiry study was to identify and explore the successful strategies that U.S. business leaders used to prevent workplace bullying. Six business leaders who have successfully implemented strategies to combat workplace bullying were purposively recruited and interviewed using semistructured interviews. The reflexive six-step thematic analysis of the interview transcripts and …


Experiences Of Medically Discharged Veterans Who Transitioned Without A Medically-Oriented Transition Program, Roschelle J. Brown Oct 2025

Experiences Of Medically Discharged Veterans Who Transitioned Without A Medically-Oriented Transition Program, Roschelle J. Brown

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

All discharged service members are required to attend a Transition Assistance Program (TAP). Service members who are found medically unfit to serve must attend TAP prior to being discharged by a Medical Evaluation Board (MEB). This qualitative research study examined the experiences of disabled veterans who were medically discharged with only the general transition program. The problem that was addressed was the lack of information about the experiences of medically discharged service members and the unique challenges that disabled veterans continue to experience because of it. The purpose of this study was to understand the experiences of medically discharged veterans …


Special Education Teachers’ Perceptions Of Teaching Effectiveness When Working With Students With Emotional And Behavioral Disorders, Ernest J. Fruge Oct 2025

Special Education Teachers’ Perceptions Of Teaching Effectiveness When Working With Students With Emotional And Behavioral Disorders, Ernest J. Fruge

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This qualitative study examined how special education teachers perceived their teaching effectiveness in supporting students identified with emotional and behavioral disorders (EBD). The study addressed a gap in the literature by examining the factors that influence special educators’ sense of self-efficacy when working with this population. Bandura’s theory of self-efficacy served as the conceptual framework. A generic qualitative research design was employed, and data were collected through semi-structured interviews with eight participants from two central Texas school districts. Braun and Clarke’s thematic analysis guided the coding and interpretation process, supported by MAXQDA software. Analysis of the data revealed seven key …


Experiences Of Early Childhood Professionals Regarding Selective Mutism, Jessica Denise Huffman Oct 2025

Experiences Of Early Childhood Professionals Regarding Selective Mutism, Jessica Denise Huffman

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The problem that was addressed through this study is that the experiences of early childhood professionals (ECPs) working with children with selective mutism are unknown. Grounded in Bronfenbrenner’s ecological theory of child development, the purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore the experiences of ECPs working with children with selective mutism. Data were collected through semistructured interviews with 12 ECPs who support children with selective mutism in several districts in southern California. Through open coding, the following themes emerged: ECPs noted (a) limited knowledge about selective mutism; (b) supporting children who have selective mutism is both enjoyable and …


School Leaders’ Perceptions Of Post-Covid-19 Recruiting And Retention Of Special Education Teachers In A Local School District, Framy Diaz Oct 2025

School Leaders’ Perceptions Of Post-Covid-19 Recruiting And Retention Of Special Education Teachers In A Local School District, Framy Diaz

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

School leaders in a local school district continue to struggle keeping their special education (SPED) positions appropriately staffed. The problem was that the inability to fill these large numbers of vacancies could adversely affect the quality of services SPED students receive and impact school personnel's ability to meet legal IEP compliance requirements. Guided by Maslow’s hierarchy of needs and Herzberg’s two-way factor theories, the purpose of this qualitative study was to gain the perspectives of school and district leaders regarding difficulties in post-COVID-19 recruiting and retention of SPED teachers. A basic qualitative design was used to capture the insights of …


Keys For Success When Using An Integrative Interprofessional Teaching Model: A Synergistic Approach, Hon-Vu Quang Duong, Nina Marcellus, Sandip Thanki Oct 2025

Keys For Success When Using An Integrative Interprofessional Teaching Model: A Synergistic Approach, Hon-Vu Quang Duong, Nina Marcellus, Sandip Thanki

Journal of Educational Research and Practice

This study presents a longitudinal analysis of the qualitative experiences and quantitative outcomes associated with integrative, interdisciplinary teaching in the context of a specific nursing course, Pathophysiology (NURS 337), at a public, 4-year, state college (now university). Spanning an 8-year period, from 2014–2022, the research compares two distinct student cohorts: one exposed to collaborative interdisciplinary teaching methods, the other to traditional non-collaborative instructional approaches. The findings reveal that integrative, interdisciplinary teaching yielded significant benefits across multiple metrics. Notably, integrative, interdisciplinary teaching contributed to a more normalized distribution of grades, higher student retention rates, and an elevated cumulative GPA at the …


Positive Education And Student Success In College: An Overview And Practical Implications, Lin L. Agler, Saurabh Gupta Oct 2025

Positive Education And Student Success In College: An Overview And Practical Implications, Lin L. Agler, Saurabh Gupta

Journal of Educational Research and Practice

Institutions of higher education are facing a historically challenging time as student graduation and retention rates continue to be less than ideal, especially since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. This is a critical time of transition for the competitive structure of higher learning, as finances, technology, student success, and institutional rankings all have a joint leading position in this structure. Applying concepts of positive psychology to higher education has been shown to be advantageous for student success and retention. This strengths-based approach helps institutions remain innovative and competitive. However, instructors face a great challenge in effectively applying positive psychology …


Teacher Perspectives On Challenges To Close The Reading Achievement Gap For African American Students, Miriam Aliyya Moore Oct 2025

Teacher Perspectives On Challenges To Close The Reading Achievement Gap For African American Students, Miriam Aliyya Moore

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The problem addressed through this study was that African American students score lower than White students in reading across grade levels, demonstrating a gap in teaching practice in early childhood education. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore early childhood teachers’ perspectives on challenges to increase African American students’ level of reading proficiency and what they believed they needed to close the African American-White student achievement gap in reading. The conceptual framework was Ladson-Billings’s culturally relevant pedagogy. Semistructured interviews were conducted with 10 kindergarten through third grade teachers who were currently teaching reading to African American students …


Implementation Of The Patient Health Questionnaire-9 As A Screening Tool For Depression, Nathalie Teboh Njofri Bih Oct 2025

Implementation Of The Patient Health Questionnaire-9 As A Screening Tool For Depression, Nathalie Teboh Njofri Bih

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Depression is a common mental health issue that is often misdiagnosed or underdiagnosed in primary care practice due to a lack of appropriate screening. The practice problem addressed by this project was the inconsistent use of standardized tools, like the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), which hinders timely and accurate depression diagnosis. The practice-focused question was: Does educating staff impact their knowledge of the recommended use and interpretation of the PHQ-9 and their confidence in administering the tool? I aimed to enhance depression screening practices by educating nursing staff on administering, scoring, and integrating the PHQ-9 into routine patient care. For …


Early Childhood Special Education Teachers’ Perspectives Of Teaching Social-Emotional Skills During The Covid-19 Pandemic Virtual Learning Period, Dalena Lynette Lafferty Oct 2025

Early Childhood Special Education Teachers’ Perspectives Of Teaching Social-Emotional Skills During The Covid-19 Pandemic Virtual Learning Period, Dalena Lynette Lafferty

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

During the COVID-19 pandemic, early childhood special education teachers struggled to virtually teach social-emotional skills to their students when schools were closed, and all students were moved from face-to-face to virtual learning. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore early childhood special education teachers’ perspectives on teaching social-emotional skills to their students during the COVID-19 pandemic virtual learning period. Vygotsky’s sociocultural theory was used as the conceptual framework for this study. Data were collected through semistructured interviews with 10 early childhood special education teachers from the United States who had experience with teaching social-emotional skills virtually during …


Strategies To Improve Access To Clinical Informatics Specialist Consultations In An Acute Care Hospital System, Holli Miller Oct 2025

Strategies To Improve Access To Clinical Informatics Specialist Consultations In An Acute Care Hospital System, Holli Miller

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Access to clinical informatics specialist (CIS) consultations is essential for optimizing electronic health record (EHR) use in acute care hospital systems. Limited availability of CIS support contributes to clinician burnout, workflow inefficiencies, and patient safety risks. The purpose of this integrative review was to identify strategies to improve access to CIS consultations in acute care settings. A comprehensive literature search across multiple databases yielded 656 articles, with 24 meeting inclusion criteria based on relevance and methodological rigor, evaluated using the Johns Hopkins Nursing Evidence-Based Practice appraisal tools. These studies, published between 2019 and 2024, underwent thematic analysis guided by the …


Improving Icu Nurses’ Knowledge Of Early Mobility Through An Educational Intervention, Mohini Chand Oct 2025

Improving Icu Nurses’ Knowledge Of Early Mobility Through An Educational Intervention, Mohini Chand

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This doctoral project sought to close a critical knowledge gap in the implementation of early mobility (EM) practices among intensive care unit (ICU) nurses. Guided by the ADDIE instructional design model, the initiative centered on developing and delivering a six-week educational intervention aimed at enhancing nurses’ comprehension and application of EM strategies for critically ill patients. Despite robust evidence supporting EM’s role in mitigating ICU-acquired weakness, reducing delirium, and improving functional outcomes, its clinical adoption remained inconsistent prior to this intervention. The project was anchored by the practice-focused question: “To what extent does an educational intervention improve ICU nurses’ knowledge …


Perceptions Of Whole Plant-Based Diets And Weight Among Hispanics In Miami, Florida, Zoraida Powell Oct 2025

Perceptions Of Whole Plant-Based Diets And Weight Among Hispanics In Miami, Florida, Zoraida Powell

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Being overweight or obese poses major public health concerns and contributes to the development of chronic illnesses. While researchers have explored how a total plant-based diet impacts excess body weight or obesity, there is still a lack of clarity about how Hispanics living in Miami, FL, perceive or understand this diet concerning overweight and obesity. Using a generic qualitative approach, this study was conducted on how Hispanics in Miami, FL, understand and view a whole plant-based diet (WPBD) for preventing and reducing overweight and obesity. Through interviews with 14 diverse Hispanic participants, the study revealed that they see WPBD as …


Strategies Managers Use To Retain Financial Advisors New To The Industry, Andraes Anthony Alexander Oct 2025

Strategies Managers Use To Retain Financial Advisors New To The Industry, Andraes Anthony Alexander

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

High employee turnover can negatively affect a business. Some financial advisor managers are concerned about the retention of financial advisors who are new to the industry, as addressing this issue is vital for organizational efficiency, given the high costs of employee replacement. Grounded in social exchange theory, the purpose of this qualitative, pragmatic inquiry project was to explore the strategies financial advisor managers use to improve the retention of financial advisors who are new to the industry. The participants comprised eight financial advisor managers with successful retention strategies. Data were collected using semistructured interviews and by reviewing organizational websites and …


The Role Of Higher Education Attainment In Mitigating Police Misconduct, Marty Allen Hatfield Oct 2025

The Role Of Higher Education Attainment In Mitigating Police Misconduct, Marty Allen Hatfield

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Police misconduct continues to undermine public trust and strain community–law enforcement relationships in the United States. The potential role of higher education in reducing misconduct among officers remains underexamined. The purpose of this quantitative correlational study was to examine whether higher educational attainment is associated with reduced rates of documented misconduct in a large urban police department. Grounded in the social learning and organizational justice theories, the research addressed how postsecondary education influences ethical decision-making and conduct. The overarching research question concerned whether education level predicted misconduct frequency, controlling for gender, rank, and years of service. Archival personnel and disciplinary …


An Examination Of Successful Reentry And Recidivism For Drug-Involved Offenders In Rural Areas, Jacqueline Cottle Oct 2025

An Examination Of Successful Reentry And Recidivism For Drug-Involved Offenders In Rural Areas, Jacqueline Cottle

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In rural communities, treatment and supportive resources are limited, putting ex-offenders (EXOs) at an increased risk for relapse or recidivism. The purpose of this qualitative study was to understand, through semistructured interviews, the experiences of EXOs who completed the court residential treatment center, intermediate sanction facility, or substance abuse felony punishment facility, and returned to a rural county in Texas, along with the perspectives of 11 community supervision officers who worked closely with the EXOs. This study was guided by Agnew’s general strain theory, which posits that drug-involved offenders achieve successful reentry in rural areas when positive supports are present, …


Staff Education Program On Perceived Stress Scale, Juliana Mutua Oct 2025

Staff Education Program On Perceived Stress Scale, Juliana Mutua

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This project was a staff education program conducted at a mental health and rehabilitation center in the United States. The program was designed to address a critical gap in practice of limited staff knowledge of using standardized stress assessment tools to assess patient stress, leading to poor patient outcomes. The practice-focused question was: Does staff education on the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) improve staff knowledge as compared pre- to post-education? The purpose was to enhance staff knowledge on the application and interpretation of the PSS. The Johns Hopkins nursing evidence-based practice (JHNEBP) model was used to organize and evaluate the …


Lived Experiences Of Obese Women In Mississippi Concerning The Role Of Psychosocial Factors In The Development Of Obesity, Temitope Olabode Oct 2025

Lived Experiences Of Obese Women In Mississippi Concerning The Role Of Psychosocial Factors In The Development Of Obesity, Temitope Olabode

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

One of the highest rates of obesity in the United States is in Mississippi, where middle- aged obese women deal with a variety of social, cultural, and personal issues, including shame, discrimination, and stigma based on weight, mental anguish, cultural norms, financial limitations, and restricted access to healthcare. This study investigated the psychosocial factors that contribute to obesity in women aged 40- 60 years, and the effects of obesity on body image, self-esteem, health behaviors, and quality of life. A qualitative phenomenological study using the social ecological model (SEM) framework looked at the individual, interpersonal, and policy levels of the …


Clubhouse Versus Ips Outcomes In Terms Of Hours Worked And Pay Earned, Daniel Scott Reynolds Oct 2025

Clubhouse Versus Ips Outcomes In Terms Of Hours Worked And Pay Earned, Daniel Scott Reynolds

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Individuals balance personal needs and societal norms as they attempt to achieve self-fulfillment. However, those who have mental illness face marginalization from the workforce and diminished quality of life. Of the two prominent vocational programs – the Clubhouse and the Individualized Placement and Support (IPS) – that assist this population in integrating into the workforce, and therefore into society. It is unknown which program does better at helping the mental illness population meet their objectives of integration. Such a comparison is important because it will help these people to integrate into the workforce and into society, thereby increasing their quality …


Open Distance Learning’S Transformative Potential To Bridge Educational Disparities While Fostering Inclusive Growth, Khalid Ghoulam Oct 2025

Open Distance Learning’S Transformative Potential To Bridge Educational Disparities While Fostering Inclusive Growth, Khalid Ghoulam

Higher Learning Research Communications

In recent years—during and after COVID-19—the demand for flexible and accessible education surged across the continent, prompting numerous institutions to adopt and expand their Open Distance Learning (ODL) initiatives. This paper provides a comprehensive overview of ODL programs in African universities while exploring the state of ODLs and examining institutional strategies, technological advancements, and ODL’s impact on student accessibility and success. Using case study analyses, which contain data from African universities from various regions, this paper highlights current ODL insights and future directions. This paper also discusses ODL best practices and implementation challenges, and delves into the socioeconomic and cultural …