Digital Commons Network^™

Challenges Black Males Face At Predominantly White Institutions, Jerrell Lamon Starling

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The problem is that Black males in higher education have declining retention and graduation rates compared to other ethnic groups. Over the past two decades, Black males have declined in enrollment, retention, and graduation rates. Colleges and universities have struggled to attract, keep, and graduate Black male students, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Recent research has shown that Black male students have experienced the most challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic. Today's educators and practitioners have emphasized the need to do more to keep Black male students and help them complete college. Framed by Critical Race Theory, this study investigated first-generation, …

The Global Impact Of The Hlrc Journal On Digital Teaching And Learning Research And Best Practices In Higher Education, Erwin Krauskopf, Gary J. Burkholder

Higher Learning Research Communications

We are pleased to publish the first regular issue (Volume 14, Issue 1) of Higher Learning Research Communications (HLRC) for 2024. Because of our strategic decisions, the journal has advanced in the Scimago journal rank (SJR), which measures the frequency with which content published in a journal was cited in other journals during the three previous years. The SJR provides a numerical indicator of a journal's relative importance and impact within its field. We announce that HLRC has been ranked 612 out of 1,506 journals among all education journals indexed by Scopus, classifying HLRC as within the second quartile of …

Leadership Strategies Business Managers Use To Improve Diversity And Inclusion In The Workplace, Eric Ray Robinson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Business managers’ lack of leadership strategies leads to a lack of a diverse workforce in most high-powered positions. Business managers who fail to implement appropriate leadership strategies for improving diversity and inclusion in the workplace can experience poor innovation, high employee turnover rates, decreased productivity, and decreased customer satisfaction. Grounded in social identity theory, the purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to explore the leadership strategies business managers use to improve diversity and inclusion in the workplace to improve performance in the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia. Participants were four business managers who successfully used leadership strategies …

Evaluation Of Flooding Disaster Risk Initiatives In Vulnerable Homeless Communities, Nicholas W. O'Clair

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Homeless individuals, who have limited resources and lack stable lodging, are particularly vulnerable during disasters, further jeopardizing their already precarious health conditions. By examining the effectiveness of existing preparedness and response strategies on the readiness of homeless individuals during flood events, insights can be gained to enhance emergency operations. The purpose of the study was to investigate the experiences and vulnerabilities of homeless populations in a northeastern U.S. city with the goal of promoting inclusivity and resilience. Research questions involved understanding knowledge of dangers of flooding disasters; disaster preparedness, response, and recovery; and how current public promotion practices of disaster …

Predicting Distance Learning Counselor Education Doctoral Students’ Research Self-Efficacy, Jennifer Patrice Edwards

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Distance learning is a growing educational delivery method for Counselor Education and Supervision (CES) doctoral students. At the time of this study, no research existed regarding the research self-efficacy (RSE) of distance learning CES doctoral students. Historically, the lack of RSE among counselor educators has been a chronic issue. However, research addressing contributors to improving RSE among distance learning CES doctoral students is unknown. The purpose of this study was to assess and provide data on current perceptions and predictors of RSE among distance learning CES doctoral students. Two theories were used to conceptualize the key variables which were Lent …

Leaders’ Responsiveness To Creating Ethical Climate For Whistleblowing And Implicit Retaliation In The Public Sector, Oluwatoyin Olusegun

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Whistleblowing is reporting unethical or illegitimate practices witnessed by a member of an organization. Despite the laws and policies protecting whistleblowers in the public sector, many employees who report observed wrongdoings face retaliation. Creating an ethical climate impacts the responsiveness of organizational leaders to whistleblowing, yet little is known about how middle-level managers navigate organizational factors, situational factors, and personal beliefs to create an ethical climate. The current study aimed to bridge the knowledge gap by exploring how middle-level managers in government organizations in California described how organizational and personal factors influence their ability to create an ethical climate that …

Neonatal Nurses’ Intention To Stay In The Nicu, Carolyn Penn-Griffin

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Neonatal nursing leaders and national health care organizations within the United States are concerned about the recent shortage of skilled and experienced neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) nurses that may reduce the quality of care delivered to NICU patients. NICU nurses are passionate about caring for premature and ill full-term infants and providing educational and emotional support for their parents, some NICU nurses remain in the NICU long-term, yet others contemplate leaving the specialty. The purpose of this qualitative interpretative phenomenological research guided by Martin Fishbein and Ajezen’s theory of reasoned action was to explore the lived experiences of NICU …

Relationships Between Environmental Pollution And Corporate Environmental Violence Within The Florida Energy Sector, Lynne Hodalski-Champagne

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Environmental pollution and corporate environmental violence (CEV) have become a primary motivator for research, activism, and policy initiatives. Prior research has involved environmental crime, environmental injustice and racism, its origins, history and applications, and effects on public perceptions leading to recommendations for policy implementation. The purpose of the study was to address environmental pollution in terms of total toxic emissions and CEV through analyses of harm inflicted on life, health, and physical integrity of humans, wildlife, and ecosystems. A quantitative correlational design was used with a Pearson’s r correlation coefficient to determine significance with a 95% confidence interval. Routine activities, …

Exploration Of The Implementation Of The Workforce Innovation And Opportunity Act By Vocational Rehabilitation Programs Through Collaboration With Education Officials, Elyse Leinani Luke

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Despite public policies intended to achieve employment equity for students with disabilities, compared to students without disabilities, transition-age students with disabilities are less likely to be in the workforce even after receiving public vocational rehabilitation (VR) services. The purpose of this qualitative, multicase study was to explore implementation of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) by VR programs through collaboration with state education officials to deliver pre-employment transition services (pre-ETS) to students with disabilities. The Integration Continuum was used to conceptually frame this study because the model provides a hierarchical scale with definitions about how organizations work together at …

Evaluation Of Flooding Disaster Risk Initiatives In Vulnerable Homeless Communities, Nicholas W. O'Clair

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Homeless individuals, who have limited resources and lack stable lodging, are particularly vulnerable during disasters, further jeopardizing their already precarious health conditions. By examining the effectiveness of existing preparedness and response strategies on the readiness of homeless individuals during flood events, insights can be gained to enhance emergency operations. The purpose of the study was to investigate the experiences and vulnerabilities of homeless populations in a northeastern U.S. city with the goal of promoting inclusivity and resilience. Research questions involved understanding knowledge of dangers of flooding disasters; disaster preparedness, response, and recovery; and how current public promotion practices of disaster …

Ecological Factors And Minority Young Adults’ Trust In Law Enforcement, Jason Boswell

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Throughout the past decade, studies have shown that the relationship between police organizations and community members has developed mistrust as more citizens begin to document misconduct by law enforcement officers. Studies have also proven that community members trust the police when they feel the police are fair and just. Distrust of law enforcement undermines the legitimacy of police officers, and without this trust legitimacy, police officers lose their ability and authority to perform their jobs effectively. To help bridge the gap between minority communities and law enforcement agencies, this qualitative phenomenological study was conducted to examine the trust within law …

Southeastern South Carolina K-12 Teachers’ Perceptions Of The Difficulties In Implementing An Arts-Based Initiatives, Alexis P. Steedman

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

A public school district in southeast South Carolina implemented a new arts-based initiative due to the surge in demand for mental health services for students following the pandemic. With more students in the research site requiring intensive mental health support during the 2021-2022 academic year, compared to the 2016-2017 school year, the district is expanding its student mental health efforts to encompass a variety of arts-based initiatives to try to alleviate such concerns. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore K-12 teachers' experiences implementing arts-based initiatives and the resources they need when implementing arts-based initiatives in the …

Manufacturing Strategies For Optimizing Supply Chains And Mitigating Disruption, Rudolph Smith

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Shifts in consumer demands, access to raw materials, and rapid growth can influence supply chain performance. Tool and Die (T&D) manufacturing leaders tend to be concerned with ineffective supply chains, which can harm firms’ competitiveness and profitability. Grounded in Porter’s Value Chain theory, the purpose of this qualitative pragmatic inquiry was to identify and explore strategies that some leaders in the U.S. tool and die industry use to manage supply chains successfully. The participants were five T&D manufacturing leaders in the eastern United States who successfully managed T&D supply chains. Data were collected using purposeful sampling via semistructured interviews and …

The Lived Experience Of Stigmatization Due To Chemotherapy-Induced Hair Loss For Young Women With Cancer Who Attend College, Challna Blair

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This study investigated the stigmatization experienced by young women in college due to chemotherapy-induced hair loss. Previous research primarily focused on older women, adolescents, and men, leaving a gap in understanding the impact on young college-age women. Using Goffman’s theory of stigma and Giorgi’s descriptive phenomenological method, six young women were interviewed confidentially. The primary research question asked what is the experience of stigma in young women in college who have hair loss during or following chemotherapy cancer treatment? The study revealed that these women often faced being ostracized by peers, received minimal family support, and experienced distressing scrutiny from …

Ten Myths About Artificial Intelligence In Education, Louie Giray

Higher Learning Research Communications

Objectives: I analyze, deconstruct, and debunk prevalent misconceptions about artificial intelligence (AI) in education.

Methods: This study identifies and presents ten common myths about AI in education, followed by concise explanations that counter each myth with the corresponding reality, relying on credible sources and evidence.

Results: AI does not replace educators; it lacks the vital human qualities crucial for effective learning experiences. Thus, it can complement rather than substitute for educators. Physical classrooms remain pivotal for fostering student engagement, an element AI cannot fully replicate, challenging the notion of AI replacing the need for traditional classrooms. Despite excelling in specific …

Early Childhood Teachers’ Perspectives Of Differentiating Social And Emotional Learning, Anya Kayne

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Teachers face challenges in differentiating social emotional learning (SEL) to meet the diverse needs of their students. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore early childhood teachers’ perspectives of strategies and challenges to differentiating SEL curricula to meet students’ diverse needs using the theory of social constructivism. The research questions focused on teachers’ perspectives of strategies they use and challenges they face when differentiating SEL curriculum. Semistructured interviews were conducted with 11 participants with 3 or more years of teaching experience in kindergarten through third grade in the United States. Interview transcripts were thematically analyzed, resulting in …

Employee Retention Strategies Of The U.S. Power Industry, Michael Robert Schulz

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Employee turnover in the U.S. power industry continues to be a challenging issue. Leaders of U.S. power organizations tend to be concerned about employee turnover, which has a negative impact on productivity and profitability. Grounded in Herzberg’s hygiene-motivator theory, the purpose of this qualitative pragmatic inquiry was to identify and explore successful strategies that some U.S. power company leaders use to improve employee retention. The participants were seven business leaders from seven power companies across the Midwestern United States who successfully implemented strategies to improve employee retention. Data were collected using semistructured interviews and company website information. Through thematic analysis, …

Employee Retention Strategies Of The U.S. Power Industry, Michael Robert Schulz

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Employee turnover in the U.S. power industry continues to be a challenging issue. Leaders of U.S. power organizations tend to be concerned about employee turnover, which has a negative impact on productivity and profitability. Grounded in Herzberg’s hygiene-motivator theory, the purpose of this qualitative pragmatic inquiry was to identify and explore successful strategies that some U.S. power company leaders use to improve employee retention. The participants were seven business leaders from seven power companies across the Midwestern United States who successfully implemented strategies to improve employee retention. Data were collected using semistructured interviews and company website information. Through thematic analysis, …

Middle School Teachers’ Perceptions Of Implementation Of School Discipline Practices For African American Girls, Jasmine Marie Gladney

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Middle school African American girls have yet to be studied comprehensively concerning school discipline practices related to their behavior. It has been assumed that teachers are not doing their jobs and are mistreating African American girls by singling them out; however, teachers’ voices and perceptions of school discipline practices in the classroom have not been examined extensively to understand this issue. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to examine middle school teachers’ perceptions of implementing school discipline practices related to African American girls in their classrooms, schools, and districts. The conceptual framework was based on Gregory et al.’s …

Strategies Credit Union Leaders Use To Build Customer Retention, Nira N. Cooper

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Enhancing customer retention is critical for U.S. credit unions to maximize competitiveness. Credit union leaders are concerned with customer retention because the loss of customers can negatively impact profitability and sustainability. Grounded in the expectation-confirmation theory, the purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to explore the strategies that U.S. credit union leaders use to build customer retention. The participants were six credit union leaders successful in retaining customers. Data were collected using semistructured interviews and a review of organizational documentation. Four themes were identified through thematic analysis: credit union leaders build customer retention through excellent customer service; credit …

Strategies Credit Union Leaders Use To Build Customer Retention, Nira N. Cooper

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Enhancing customer retention is critical for U.S. credit unions to maximize competitiveness. Credit union leaders are concerned with customer retention because the loss of customers can negatively impact profitability and sustainability. Grounded in the expectation-confirmation theory, the purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to explore the strategies that U.S. credit union leaders use to build customer retention. The participants were six credit union leaders successful in retaining customers. Data were collected using semistructured interviews and a review of organizational documentation. Four themes were identified through thematic analysis: credit union leaders build customer retention through excellent customer service; credit …

Early Childhood Teachers’ Perspectives Of Differentiating Social And Emotional Learning, Anya Kayne

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Teachers face challenges in differentiating social emotional learning (SEL) to meet the diverse needs of their students. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore early childhood teachers’ perspectives of strategies and challenges to differentiating SEL curricula to meet students’ diverse needs using the theory of social constructivism. The research questions focused on teachers’ perspectives of strategies they use and challenges they face when differentiating SEL curriculum. Semistructured interviews were conducted with 11 participants with 3 or more years of teaching experience in kindergarten through third grade in the United States. Interview transcripts were thematically analyzed, resulting in …

Middle School Teachers’ Perceptions Of Implementation Of School Discipline Practices For African American Girls, Jasmine Marie Gladney

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Middle school African American girls have yet to be studied comprehensively concerning school discipline practices related to their behavior. It has been assumed that teachers are not doing their jobs and are mistreating African American girls by singling them out; however, teachers’ voices and perceptions of school discipline practices in the classroom have not been examined extensively to understand this issue. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to examine middle school teachers’ perceptions of implementing school discipline practices related to African American girls in their classrooms, schools, and districts. The conceptual framework was based on Gregory et al.’s …

Natural Hazards Triggering Technological Disasters: Source Identification, Vulnerability, And Evaluation Of Emergency Preparedness In A Southern California City, Lisa Peumsang

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Natural hazards triggering technological disasters (natech) events exist around the world and affect people, infrastructure, the economy, and environment but are not often considered for local hazard mitigation and emergency preparedness plans. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to identify (a) the natech event vulnerability of the target city, which is in the western United States, and potential sources for these events and (b) the extent to which the city’s hazard mitigation and emergency operations plans addressed natech events. The vulnerability assessment was performed through the lens of network risk theory and involved secondary data analysis of publicly …

Natural Hazards Triggering Technological Disasters: Source Identification, Vulnerability, And Evaluation Of Emergency Preparedness In A Southern California City, Lisa Peumsang

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Natural hazards triggering technological disasters (natech) events exist around the world and affect people, infrastructure, the economy, and environment but are not often considered for local hazard mitigation and emergency preparedness plans. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to identify (a) the natech event vulnerability of the target city, which is in the western United States, and potential sources for these events and (b) the extent to which the city’s hazard mitigation and emergency operations plans addressed natech events. The vulnerability assessment was performed through the lens of network risk theory and involved secondary data analysis of publicly …

The Influence Of A Caregiver Support Program On Consumer Well-Being, Wallace Thomas Peake

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Caregiving has been shown to be a potential burden for the well-being of caregivers. The focus of this study was a caregiver support program whose managers lacked an understanding of the efficacy of the program in enhancing the well-being of the consumers of the program. The purpose of this quantitative study was to develop and administer a consumer satisfaction survey that evaluated the efficacy of caregiver support program services from the consumer perspective. This study was grounded by the positive emotion, engagement, relationships, meaning, and accomplishment model, which informed the development of the survey that was administered to the participants …

The Influence Of A Caregiver Support Program On Consumer Well-Being, Wallace Thomas Peake

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Caregiving has been shown to be a potential burden for the well-being of caregivers. The focus of this study was a caregiver support program whose managers lacked an understanding of the efficacy of the program in enhancing the well-being of the consumers of the program. The purpose of this quantitative study was to develop and administer a consumer satisfaction survey that evaluated the efficacy of caregiver support program services from the consumer perspective. This study was grounded by the positive emotion, engagement, relationships, meaning, and accomplishment model, which informed the development of the survey that was administered to the participants …

Veterans Justice Outreach Program, Risk Of Recidivism, And Justice-Involved Veterans, Melody C. Weathers

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

To date, no study has examined whether the Veterans Justice Outreach (VJO) program influences recidivism once a justice-involved veteran (JIV) completes the program. Nor has a study examined the diagnoses and comorbidities between a JIV’s propensity for recidivism following separation from the VJO. One of the VJO program’s goals has been to end JIVs' contact with the criminal justice system. This study utilized a generic qualitative design that aimed to explore JIVs who received treatment from the VJO and whether there was an effect on their risk of recidivism. Additional elements for exploration included posttraumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain disorder, …

Effective Strategies To Improve Retention Of Sales Professionals In U.S. Large Retailers, Nicole Monique Jackson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Retail sales professionals have the highest turnover rates of approximately 40% in the United States. Retail business leaders see a continuous decline in sales due to understaffed workers in large apparel retailers leading to poor business performance. Grounded in Herzberg’s two-factor model theory, the purpose of this qualitative single case study was to explore strategies that some retail management teams use to retain sales professionals of large retailers in the Virginia peninsula and Portland, Oregon Metropolitan areas. The participants were five retail managers of four large apparel retailers who were successful in retaining sales professionals in their current roles within …

Veterans Justice Outreach Program, Risk Of Recidivism, And Justice-Involved Veterans, Melody C. Weathers

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

To date, no study has examined whether the Veterans Justice Outreach (VJO) program influences recidivism once a justice-involved veteran (JIV) completes the program. Nor has a study examined the diagnoses and comorbidities between a JIV’s propensity for recidivism following separation from the VJO. One of the VJO program’s goals has been to end JIVs' contact with the criminal justice system. This study utilized a generic qualitative design that aimed to explore JIVs who received treatment from the VJO and whether there was an effect on their risk of recidivism. Additional elements for exploration included posttraumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain disorder, …