Digital Commons Network^™

The Online Faculty Work Environment: An Exploratory Study, Lee Stadtlander, Amy Sickel, Martha Giles

2010-2016 Archived Posters

There is a considerable literature on college faculty working at in-person institutions and their work. However, there is little research on the online faculty home work environment. The present study, consisting of 236 survey respondents from 38 online institutions, examines how online faculty structure their home work environment.

Pedagogy: The Online Dissertation, Lee Stadtlander, Lynde Paule

2010-2016 Archived Posters

This preliminary study examines dissertation mentoring practices reported by 80 Walden faculty. Comments related to orienting students to instructor expectations and the dissertation process, motivating students, and expectations of frequency of student drafts are reported. Findings indicate that there are currently few consistencies in the pedagogical practices of mentors.

Organizational Climate And The Theory Of Human Caring In Hospitals, Vivienne C. Meanger

2010-2016 Archived Posters

Patient care in hospitals has become perfunctory, task focused, and void of a personalized human connection, which has become an area of concern among scholars since the 1970s. This experimental, post-test only, control-group study with a purposive patient and clinical staff sample explored the relationship between human caring and patient satisfaction; and the role of leadership in transforming the organizational culture in an long term acute care hospital (LTACH) setting implanting the Magnet initiatives.

Reliability/Validity Of The Self-Stigma Of Mental Illness Scale (Ssmis), Amy Sickel, Jason D. Seacat Ph.D., Nina A. Nabors Ph.D.

2010-2016 Archived Posters

Most individuals diagnosed with mental illness are mild-moderate in severity. Research on the Self- Stigma of Mental Illness Scale (SSMIS) has traditionally focused on stigma associated with severely mentally ill individuals using clinical samples, leaving the psychometric properties of the SSMIS questionable when used with less severely ill individuals. Data from a non-clinical sample of 423 adults indicates the SSMIS scales are reliable. Correlations between the SSMIS scales and mental health scales provide convergent validity for the SSMIS. Findings suggest the SSMIS scales are reliable and valid when used within this population and suggest future directions for mental health stigma …

Second-Parent Adoption: North Carolina Same-Sex Couples And Foster Care Adoptions, Mark Maxwell

2010-2016 Archived Posters

A qualitative phenomenological study about the experiences of same-sex couples with children adopted from foster care in a southeastern U.S. state. Interview data from 8 couples were coded and analyzed. Emerging themes included legal, social, and financial struggles and the couple􀀂s trailblazing experiences to become their children􀀂s legal parents. Implications for positive social change included informing same-sex parents, policy makers and social workers about the families􀀂 experiences and needs.

Counseling Canadian Aboriginal Peoples: Alliance, Outcome, And Counselor Training Level, Sidney Shaw

2010-2016 Archived Posters

This study evaluated predictors of outcome in counseling with Canadian Aboriginal peoples. The therapeutic alliance and counselor training level were predictor variables analyzed in relationship to client outcome. The client’s rating of the alliance was correlated with outcome and counselor training level was not significantly correlated with outcome.

Employee Engagement In An Animal Research Facility, Joni L. Scott

2010-2016 Archived Posters

Disengaged employees can compromise organizational growth. In this qualitative, single-case study, participants discussed their perceptions leading to engagement or disengagement while working at the facility. The characterization of the negative organizational and social effects of employee disengagement may lead to improvements in employee satisfaction, business growth, integrity, and animal welfare.

Evaluation Of National Institute Of Learning Development (Nild) And Discovery Educational Therapy Program, Prince Christopher Frimpong

2010-2016 Archived Posters

This qualitative study evaluated the NILD and Discovery Therapy Educational Program at one Christian school, for effectiveness and academic progress of students with learning disabilities (LD) who receive the therapy. This study leads to positive social change as leaders of Christian schools and parents see the need and provide interventional programs for LD students.

Anxiety And The Imposter Phenomenon Among Graduate Students In Online Versus Traditional Programs, Christy B. Fraenza

2010-2016 Archived Posters

This study compared online and traditional students on measures of imposter phenomenon (IP), anxiety, and perfectionism. Traditional students had significantly higher IP scores. Perfectionism was the strongest predictor of IP scores. Because the scale for perfectionism explored socially prescribed perfectionism, it seems to suggest an underlying social component to IP.

Self-Regulation Efforts And Cognitive Load Concerns Within A Developmental Learning Environment, Caroline M. Crawford, Richard A. Smith

2010-2016 Archived Posters

People new to the higher education learning environment, and without posessing the abilities sometimes described as ”learning how to learn”, delve into either gateway courses or developmental courses. In this case study, a developmental course instructor integrates self-regulation tools and cognitive load sensitivity into her developmental course, with positive outcomes.

Effects Of Positive Behavior Intervention And Supports On Teacher Self-Efficacy And Teaching Anxiety, Jill Van Parys Couet

2010-2016 Archived Posters

Positive Behavior Intervention and Supports (PBIS), for improving behavior and achievement is well established. The impact PBIS has on teaching anxiety and self-efficacy levels is unknown. Research indicates that both attributes affect students’ performance. This study examined how the implementation of PBIS affects teachers’ levels of teaching anxiety and self-efficacy.

Stress: The Development And Influence On Self-Identity, Earl Grey

2010-2016 Archived Posters

Using a grounded theory methodology and constantcomparative analysis, the investigator sought to develop an empirical understanding of the experience of stress and its influence on identity development. The 23 participants, who did not meet criteria for a DSM-IV-TR diagnoses, received 10 - 60 minutes sessions of eye movement desensitization and reprocessing treatment (EMDR). EMDR treatment targets stressful memories and elicits recall of thoughts, imagery, emotions, and physical body sensations related to the stressful experience. The data from video recorded sessions provided holistic information regarding each participant’s experience and recall of stressful events. The results yielded thematic developmental patterns of thoughts, …

Big Five Personality Traits And Proenvironmental Attitudes And Behaviors, Tara Rae Wuertz

2010-2016 Archived Posters

The big five is the most widely used model of individual personality trait differences. This quantitative research study is being completed to discern if the big five personality traits of openness, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism are correlated with pro-environmental attitudes and behaviors

The Human-Animal Bond And Combat-Related Posttraumatic Stress, Melissa White

2010-2016 Archived Posters

This study explored the lived experiences of Operational Enduring Freedom (OEF) and Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) service members with combatrelated posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms who had a companion animal postdeployment. Twelve OEF and OIF veterans participated in semi-structured interviews analyzed using Moustakas’ phenomenological approach. Four themes emerged: (a) rich descriptions of deployment events, (b) the experiences of returning from a deployment, (c) participants’ perceptions on their pets’ influence on posttraumatic stress symptoms, and (d) other comments and opinions related to participants’ experiences. These findings illuminate the experience of combat-related posttraumatic stress and the importance of animals in the therapeutic …

Influence Of Online And Classroom Multi-Modal Instruction On Academic Achievement, Valerie L. Trollinger, John W. Flohr

2010-2016 Archived Posters

The purpose of the study was to investigate the extent to which online and multi-modal classroom instruction influences academic achievement of undergraduate students. Instruction was enhanced with online multimodal materials used in the face-to-face classroom presentations and for online assignments. The current study investigates not only longitudinal effectiveness in aural and visual skills learning but also possible connections among increased aural and visual skills and academic achievement measured by overall GPA.

2014 Walden University Research Symposium, Walden University

2010-2016 Archived Programs

Welcome to the 2014 Walden University Research Symposium. National Harbor may be a new location for the research symposium this year, but we are still excited to be able to showcase research projects from our academic community, including work by our recent graduates. The presentations at this symposium appear in two different formats. Poster presentations provide an opportunity for researchers to engage with all individuals attending the symposium and potentially to network with other interested researchers. Within the roundtable presentation format, a select group of researchers will be available for interactive discussions of their work, with handouts and visual materials …

Hello My Name Is: Relationships As Motivation In The Undergraduate Classroom, Kimberlee Bethany Bonura, Michael Bonura

Center for Faculty Excellence Publications

Teacher-student relations are a strong motivator and indicator of learning. Trust between teacher and student is a fundamental prerequisite for higher learning (Curzon-Hobson, 2002). Further, the relationship allows for the construction of a safe and nurturing environment that facilitates the students’ ability to create and trust their knowledge (Raider-Roth, 2005). Relationships may even be correlated with student participation and enthusiasm for discussion (Davis, 1993). The purpose of this study was to assess the impact of a deliberate focus on relationship building in the undergraduate classroom at the United States Military Academy. Using a teacher-as-researcher method, the instructor asked students to …

Female Administrators Perceptions Of Distance Learning, Marydee A. Spillett, Mary Ann Mundy, Lori Kupczynski, Rebecca Davis

Center for Research Quality Publications

Gender disparity is evident in tenure track and tenured faculty positions at universities. However, distance education may provide more supportive environments for female academicians to grow and develop. The term distance learning is used to encompass any type of instruction delivered off campus. Distance learning has increased dramatically and has gained strategic importance possibly presenting women with a new realm for advancement. Leaders in distance learning must have qualities such as good listening skills, be understanding, engage in collaboration, be cooperative, demonstrate openness, have interpersonal sensitivity and empathy; attributes traditionally associated with females. This qualitative study utilizing a survey design, …

Effects Of Memantine And One-On-One Caregiver Contact On Antipsychotic Medication Prescribed To Elderly Veterans With Dementia, Abimbola Farinde

Presidential Alumni Research Dissemination Award

The reduction of antipsychotic medications for elderly patients diagnosed with dementia is an important goal for treatment because of the negative side effects and increased mortality risk associated with these drugs. Prior research has suggested the benefit of adding one-on-one caregiver intervention and memantine to a cholinesterase inhibitor protocol to reduce the amount of antipsychotic medication. This research examined the differences between these treatment protocols (cholinesterase inhibitor only and combination therapy) on antipsychotic drug dosage prescribed to 98 elderly male veteran outpatients with dementia. The theoretical foundations for this study are based on the neurochemical model, related to the cholingeric …

Drug Use And Sexual Risk Behaviors Of Msm With Syphilis In Atlanta, Tarneisha Shantelle Means

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Many men who have sex with men (MSM) engage in alcohol and drug use. Drug use, particularly methamphetamines, amyl nitrates (poppers), and drugs used to treat erectile dysfunction among MSM may also contribute to risks such as unprotected sex, which leads to the possibility of contracting syphilis, Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and other Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs). In the Metro Atlanta Area (Fulton and Dekalb Counties), primary and secondary syphilis rates among MSM are still rising and rank highest among the other counties in the area. Guided by the risk and protective factor theory, the purpose of this study was …

Teacher Assessments Of Positive Behavior Support In School, Terrie Davis Phillips

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Students are often removed from classrooms due to behavioral concerns, which has led to an increase in student drop-out rates. Positive behavior support (PBS), a proactive approach to student discipline, was implemented at a local school in order to address the influx of students being sent to the office. Constructivism was the framework for this mixed method study on teachers' assessments of the current behavior support approach in their school and teachers' perceptions of school-wide PBS training and implementation. Data from the Effective Behavior Support (EBS) Survey were used in a descriptive statistical analysis of 162 teachers' assessments of behavior …

Effects Of Learning Communities On Community College Students' Success: A Meta-Analysis, Keith Allen Wurtz

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Low graduation rates are a significant issue for colleges. The majority of higher education institutions in the United States offer learning communities (LCs), which have been found to be effective for improving course success and persisting to the next semester. However, there is a gap in the literature regarding the effectiveness of LCs with different types of populations and different types of LCs. The purpose of this meta-analysis was to identify the most effective types of LCs. Research questions addressed the effects of different types of LCs on different student success outcomes for community colleges. The study was based on …

Work Group Composition Effects On Leadership Styles In Aircraft Manufacturing Organizations., Monica Lynn Dunnagan

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

leadership styles

homogeneous versus heterogeneous

manufacturing leaders

contractor workforce

The Evaluation Of An Environmental Leadership And Service Program's Effectiveness, Roberta Harlow Mcfarland

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

According to a recent report from the National Center for Educational Statistics, approximately 20% of the United States' high-school aged population is at risk of dropping out of high school, an outcome that strongly limits participation in economic and educational opportunities. The importance of earning a high school diploma has increased many local districts' efforts to close graduation gaps across the student population. Accordingly, this study evaluated a recuperative environmental leadership and service (EL&S) program in a northwestern local district to ascertain its effectiveness in providing at-risk students the personal and academic support required for high school graduation. Following the …

The Effects Of Holistic Coping Strategies On Perceived Stress And Absenteeism In Hospital Nurses, Mary Alice Ayon

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The demanding work environments of professional nurses often contribute to high levels of stress that impact their professional practice and well-being. Although there is a significant amount of research regarding stress and absenteeism, a gap in the literature exists about the effects of holistic coping strategies on nurses' perceived stress and absenteeism. Based on the biopsychosocial model, the purpose of this quantitative study was to investigate effects of holistic coping strategies on perceived stress and absenteeism in 128 hospital nurses. An online cross-sectional survey design used the Perceived Stress Scale-10 to measure nurses' perceptions of stress. The independent grouping variable …

Adolescent And Community Adult Perceptions Of Adolescent Tobacco Use, Susan M. Franko

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In 1964, the Surgeon General issued the first report that linked smoking cigarettes as a direct cause of emphysema, heart disease, and lung cancer. Despite this landmark publication, the primary cause of preventable deaths each year in the United States continues to be related to the use of tobacco. Regardless of decades of health education and resources available to inform society that the use of tobacco products can have deleterious effects on health, adolescents continue to experiment with them. The purpose of this study was to gain a better understanding of the influences of adolescent tobacco use. Based on the …

Owner-Manager Separation And The Structure Of It Governance In Small Business, Jeffrey S. Saffer

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Small business owners and small business managers tend to favor different information technology (IT) governance structures. Such differences can lead to ineffective management and control of IT in small businesses. The purpose of this correlational study was to examine the extent and nature of the association between owner-manager separation in small businesses and the structure of IT governance in the businesses. Agency theory formed the theoretical framework of this study. Data were collected using a web-based survey and randomly sampled 3,697 small business owners and managers located in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Chi-square statistics indicated no significant association between owner-manager …

Predictors Of Hiv Testing Among Individuals Diagnosed With Bipolar Disorder, Marie Denise Decoline

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Research on rates of HIV testing among individuals diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder (BPD) is limited, while HIV infection continues to rise among BPD individuals. The problem is that BPD individuals are at high risk for HIV infection due to non-adherence to treatment for bipolar disorder and manic episodes that can lead to high-risk behaviors. The goal of the study was to examine the association between selected demographic variables, having a bipolar diagnosis, engaging in high-risk behaviors, inability to afford treatment for bipolar disorder, non-adherence to treatment for bipolar disorder, and substance abuse, and their relationship to obtaining an HIV test …

The General Abilities Index As A Third Method Of Diagnosing Specific Learning Disabilities, Kristin M. Sims-Cutler

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Many studies have investigated problems with the ability achievement discrepancy (AAD) method of diagnosing specific learning disabilities (SLDs). The definition of an SLD includes the presence of a deficit in one or more cognitive processing systems. Researchers in other studies found that the AAD method overdiagnoses English language learners and students from low socioeconomic backgrounds, and underdiagnoses students with cognitive processing deficits. Although SLD diagnostic methods have been widely researched, much less information is available regarding SLD diagnostic methods that predict important student outcomes, such as high school completion. The General Abilities Index (GAI) is an SLD diagnostic method that …

Attitudes, Experiences, And Perceptions Of Rural Christian Counselors With Regard To Self-Care, Theresa Grant White

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Rural Christian counselors are a distinct group of individuals faced with unique personal and professional challenges. Researchers have indicated that rural counselors experience a higher burnout rate due to wide practice scope; client stigma against receiving help; and physical isolation, making supervision, consultation, and referral difficult. Studies also show that self-care is an effective defense against the symptoms of burnout. Self-care is defined as any legal activity that promotes wellness and brings physical, emotional, mental, or spiritual balance. The central research question of this hermeneutic phenomenology examined the attitudes, perceptions, and experiences of rural Christian counselors with regard to self-care. …