Digital Commons Network^™

Parental Ses And Geographic Location As Predictors Of Graduations In Southeastern High Schools Before And After Covid-19, Marcy J. Watkins

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

African American students in the United States have long faced systemic barriers to high school completion, which were further intensified by the COVID-19 pandemic. The purpose of this quantitative, correlational-predictive study was to examine the extent to which parental SES and school location predict graduation outcomes among African American students in southeastern public high schools from 2019 to 2024. Grounded in Bandura’s social learning theory, the study explored how environmental and socioeconomic contexts influence academic achievement. Three research questions guided the study: (1) To what extent do parental SES and location combined predict the number of African American graduates? (2) …

Business Intelligence Architectures And Implementation Strategies, Christopher Ziebert

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Organizations often make inferior decisions without business intelligence (BI) architectures. Information technology (IT) managers are increasingly concerned that without effective BI architectures, they forfeit data-driven intelligence, hindering organizational competitiveness, innovation capacity, and broader economic progress within their industries and communities. Grounded in the technology-organization-environment (TOE) framework, the purpose of this qualitative pragmatic inquiry was to explore the strategies used by data architects to implement BI architectures in the financial industry. The participants were six data architects who had successfully implemented BI architectures in the financial industry in the southwestern United States. Data were collected using semistructured interviews, field notes, and …

Excessive Expulsions And School Suspensions Of Black Children, Lasharee O. Rogers

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

While national and state-level literature has documented racial inequities in school discipline, limited research has focused on how these policies are specifically implemented and perceived within the Charlotte Metropolitan Statistical Region School. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to examine factors related to higher rate of expulsions and school suspensions of Black high school students in the CMSR Schools in comparison to their peers through the lens of the critical race theory. This research was used to engage teachers and administrators on current school suspension and expulsion policies while encouraging modifications to those policies that warranted equity and …

The Repeal Of Welfare Lifetime Ban, Sympathy Sutton Huggins

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The Welfare Lifetime Ban imposed severe restrictions on women’s access to essential resources during the critical period following incarceration. By denying housing assistance, food aid, and employment services, the policy created significant barriers to reintegration and undermines both criminal justice and social welfare reform. Little is known about the long-term impacts of the ban or the absence of effective rehabilitative policy alternatives. Few studies have examined its outcomes within the framework of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act (PRWORA). The findings within (PRWORA) enactment briefly stabilized a decline in welfare recipients, and employment rates increased temporarily for single …

Exploring Ex-Offenders’ Perceptions Of Their Learning Experiences And The Shape Of Criminal Activity In Louisiana, Carla Buntyn

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This qualitative study examined the lived experiences of 12 formerly incarcerated males in Louisiana between the ages of 18 and 25, with a focus on their perspectives related to schooling, social environments, and involvement in criminal activity. Guided by general strain theory, the research explored how participants described their learning experiences under Common Core standards and whether they perceived connections between those experiences and their criminal activity. The research question asked: How do American male ex-offenders between the ages of 18 and 25 in Louisiana describe the relationship between Common Core learning experiences and their criminal activity? Data were collected …

Police Officers’ Perceptions Of The Cultural, Structural, And Potential Training Barriers That Prevent Police Agencies From Adopting An Effective Emergency Response System, Allan David Dunham

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Despite the proven efficacy of the incident command system (ICS), police agencies face obstacles in effective critical incident response. This qualitative study explored the cultural, structural, and potential training barriers that hinder the adoption of the ICS within police agencies. The purpose was to investigate how police can more effectively adopt this unified command structure designed for multiagency emergency response. Guided by the theory of planned behavior, the research question addressed how California police officers’ attitudes, perceived social norms, and sense of behavioral control influence their adoption of incident command system principles. Data were collected using semistructured Zoom interviews with …

Resources And Strategies Needed To Address The Problem Of Child Labor In Erbil, Kurdistan Region Of Iraq, Evan Faiq

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Child labor is an international practice that has been on the rise in some parts of the world including Erbil, the Kurdistan region of Iraq. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the different resources needed but not available for the victims, how child labor has impacted the community, and how the criminal justice system can better approach the child labor issue and reduce it in Erbil, Kurdistan region of Iraq. Social conflict theory was used to guide the study. Data were collected from 15 interviews with individuals from different areas of the criminal justice department, local organizations …

Comparing Parents' And School Officials' Perceptions Of School Safety In A Rural Community In North Texas, Gidget S. Pettibon

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

With different types and sizes of school districts across the United States, not all federal safety and security recommendations will work for every school district. The school district stakeholders are important components to help administrators understand whether the current policies are working and provide recommendations for change. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore and compare the perceptions of parents and school officials on safety practices at a rural school district in North Texas. Using routine activity theory, this study provided information on how current practices were perceived by stakeholders in ensuring a safe school environment. Data were …

Exploring Challenges Of Parents With Disabilities Affecting Custody Of The Children, Kendyll King

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Despite the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 promoting equality for people with disabilities, parents with developmental and intellectual disabilities experience high rates of involvement with child welfare services due to outdated terminology, information about disabilities, and policies. The purpose of this study was to identify the challenges of parents with intellectual and developmental disabilities and determine if they differ from those of parents without a disability. This was a generic qualitative study grounded in intersectionality theory. Education, employment, health and safety concerns, independence, assistive technology, social services involvement, and supports or resources were examined through the perspective of the …

Strategies For Standardizing Nurses’ Pay To Mitigate Equal Pay Regulatory Fines, Pamela Davis

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Business leaders face pressure from community and government officials to standardize employee wages. Fines and litigation risks can be substantial for employers who fail to comply with equal pay regulations. Grounded in the wage devaluation theory and the equity theory, the purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to explore strategies healthcare leaders use to standardize wages and ensure compliance with equal pay regulations. Participants were four senior healthcare human resource leaders of private nonprofit hospital systems in the United States who have been successful in standardizing wages and in being compliant with equal pay regulations. Data were collected …

Exploring The Black Woman Experience Related To Sexual Practice, Sexual Identity, And Sexual Expression: A Qualitative Study, Ashley V. Rodriguez

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This study revealed the complex interplay between personal identities and social constructs, focusing on Black-identifying women and their lived experiences with sex, sexuality, and sexual expression. Over centuries, societal influences depicted Black women as hypersexual, simultaneously exposing them to criticism, shame, and judgment for their sexual expression and meaning-making related to sex and sexuality. Consequently, Black women remain a high-risk demographic for unsafe sexual practices and sexually transmitted infections. Using intersectionality theory and Black feminist theory, this study explored how Black-identifying women give meaning to sex, sexuality, and sexual expression as they shape the Black feminine experience. I sought to …

The Exploration Of The Housing Exclusion Impact Among Michigan Ex-Offenders, Jackie Adam Harris

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Ex-offenders possibly felt excluded when private landlords or property managers conducted background checks and decided to immediately deny ex-offenders housing opportunities. The problem this study addressed was how landlords and property managers’ exclusion of ex-offenders impacted reentry post-incarceration. There was a gap regarding how Michigan private landlords impacted ex-offenders’ success factor in securing safe housing upon reentry back to society. The key findings related to the literature in ways that showed how landlords acknowledged outside biases, yet described ex-offender tenants as appreciative, positive, and respectful. The purpose of this general qualitative study was to explore how state and federal policies …

Civic Engagement Among African American Women And The 2024 Presidential Election, Arquena Dailey

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Although election data exists on the importance of African American women for the Democratic Party, a gap remains in the literature regarding the influences of African American women who participated in the Democratic Party civic engagement during the 2024 presidential election. Key findings from existing literature included the tension between hope and burnout and the reliance on faith-based and peer networks to sustain motivation. The purpose of this study was to explore the influences responsible for African American women’s civic engagement in the 2024 presidential election. This authentic narrative qualitative study’s conceptual framework was grounded in the digital peer influence …

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 …

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 …

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, …

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 …

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 …

Association Between Embedded No-Cost Materials And Student Success For Undergraduate Students In For-Profit Universities, Gaby Gabriela Johnson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Purchasing educational materials adds to college costs. The problem addressed in this study is the lack of research on the association between student success and the use of no-cost educational materials in for-profit universities. Grounded in Rawls’ principles of justice, the purpose of this quantitative study was to investigate the association between student success as measured by pass/fail outcomes and the use of embedded no-cost educational and open educational resources (OER) materials in undergraduate courses at a for-profit university. Academic outcomes of 751 undergraduate students across three courses were analyzed using the chi-square test of association. Results showed a weak …

Reduction And Prevention Of Intimate Partner Violence In King County, Wa, Leta Whitney

Selected Social Change Portfolios in Prevention, Intervention, and Consultation

Goal Statement: The goal of my social change project is to reduce and prevent intimate partner violence in King County, WA, through educational awareness, training, and supportive resources for victims and perpetrators, as well as the communities in which they reside. Significant Findings: Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) is a preventable public health issue that affects millions of Americans and their communities, and it can occur across an entire lifespan. The National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey (NISVS) suggests that an estimated 8.5 million women and 4 million men in the United States have reported experiencing a level of IPV …

Resilient Families, Thriving Communities, Melanie Phillips

Selected Social Change Portfolios in Prevention, Intervention, and Consultation

Goal Statement: My goal as a future marriage counselor is to reduce the number of marriages that end in divorce in my community. I aim to achieve this through preventative measures designed to increase relationship resilience and promote the overall well-being of families and the community. Significant Findings: This paper explores the rising divorce rates in Thatcher, Arizona, and highlights preventative measures to strengthen marriages in order to reduce marital dissolution. Key findings suggest that proactive interventions, such as marriage education programs and the passing of pro-marriage public policies, are more cost-effective than addressing the consequences of divorce (U.S. National …

Housing Instability And The Prevention Of Recidivism In Travis County, Helen Carter

Selected Social Change Portfolios in Prevention, Intervention, and Consultation

Goal Statement: To reduce and prevent homelessness for those individuals being released from incarceration to aid recidivism prevention, through the expansion and maximization of re-entry programs prior to release. Significant Findings: Both homelessness and recidivism are significant problems in the Travis County area. Data showed over 6,000 individuals were unhoused per day in 2024 (ECHO, n.d.), with recidivism costing the state of Texas almost $370 million per year. There is also a strong association between having been incarcerated, being unhoused, and subsequent recidivism, with a 10 times higher likelihood of being homeless (Couloute, 2018). In addition, this demographic faces many …

Caregiver Perspectives About Implementing Educational Goals For Children Of Incarcerated Parents In A Head Start Program, Alissa Jane Stark

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The problem addressed in this study is that caregivers of children with incarcerated parents inconsistently implement the mandated educational goals developed through the Head Start program. Grounded in Bowen’s family systems theory, the purpose of this qualitative case study was to explore caregiver’s perspectives on implementing Head Start Educational goals for children of incarcerated parents and their views on the resources or training needed to support these goals. For this case study, 12 former caregivers from a Head Start program in a women’s correctional facility in Oregon were interviewed. Data were collected through semistructured interviews and analyzed thematically with the …

Exploring Lived Experiences And Perceptions Of Individuals With Substance-Use Disorder Recovery Management From A Biopsychosocial Perspective, Robin Carter Priest

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Substance-use disorder (SUD) poses significant biological, psychological, and sociological impacts that negatively affect areas of employment, health, family systems, and interactions with social welfare and legal agencies. Although there has been research on SUD treatment, relapse rates remain high at approximately 40%–75%, demonstrating a gap in the literature involving individuals who completed SUD treatment and continuation or management of recovery. Grounded in phenomenological theory and through a biopsychosocial lens, this qualitative study explored the lived experiences and perceptions of individuals with substance-use disorder managing their recovery. Data were collected from 8 individuals who completed partial hospitalization or intensive-outpatient levels of …

Consumer Behavior-Based Strategies Small Business Leaders Use To Increase Online Sales Revenues, Alexander Sakharov

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Many small business leaders struggle to tailor online strategies that drive demand, limiting growth and differentiation in competitive digital markets. Business leaders must adopt data-informed, customer-centered approaches that align digital marketing efforts with consumer behavior and market expectations. Grounded in social exchange theory, the purpose of this qualitative pragmatic inquiry was to explore the online shopping marketing strategies that some small business marketing leaders use to increase demand for products and services. Data were collected through semistructured interviews with six small business leaders from Vancouver, British Columbia; Toronto, Ontario; and Seattle, Washington. The four main themes identified using thematic analysis …

The Relationship Between Adverse Childhood Experiences And Disproportionate Minority Contact On Minority Youth Within Juvenile Justice In Texas, Atica Helms Thomas

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Disproportionate minority contact (DMC) remains a significant concern within the juvenile justice system, yet its connection to adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) among minority youth is underexamined. Nationally, minority youth, particularly Black youth, are disproportionately represented compared to their White peers, prompting efforts to understand and address racial and ethnic disparities in system involvement. The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between DMC and ACEs within the Texas Juvenile Justice Department (TJJD). Guided by general strain theory (GST), whether traumatic life experiences contribute to the disproportionate representation of minority youth was examined. The central research question was designed …

Perceptions Of Adulthood Preparation Among Individuals Who Aged Out Of The Foster Care System, Victor Torrez Dawson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This generic qualitative study was focused on the lived experiences of former foster care youth and their ability to acquire and retain self-sufficiency skills during their transition to adulthood. Using Bandura’s social learning theory as a framework, the research was focused on how interpersonal relationships with caregivers, mentors, and professionals influenced the development of these skills. Semistructured interviews were used to collect data from 10 former foster care youth. Thematic analysis was used to analyze the data, and three key themes and 13 subthemes emerged highlighting both support and barriers that youth encountered. The analysis of the data revealed that …

Teacher Perceptions Of The Mental Health And Socio-Emotional Challenges Of English Language Learners, Nilufer Guler, Dincer Guler, Kyle Bush

Journal of Educational Research and Practice

A fast-growing percentage of students in K–12 classrooms are English language learner (ELL) students, and a large number of these students are experiencing a vast array of academic and non-academic challenges at school. Many ELL challenges involve inadequate socio-emotional learning (SEL) skill development, as well as mental health obstacles, and many schools are not equipped with the resources needed to address and resolve these challenges for ELLs.

In this study, we focus on teacher observations of the SEL and mental health challenges that K–12 students face. In the initial survey, 120 teachers participated regarding ELLs and these challenges. Following the …

Strategies Human Resource Leaders Use To Increase Employee Retention In The Automotive Industry, Kendra Williams

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Excess turnover of personnel threatens organizational viability and long-term success. Human resource leaders need to develop strategies to increase employee retention. Grounded in Herzberg’s two-factor and Maslow’s hierarchy of needs theories, the purpose of this qualitative pragmatic inquiry was to explore and identify successful employee retention strategies employed by human resource leaders to mitigate employee turnover. Data were collected from human resources managers using semistructured interviews and public data from companies’ websites. Through thematic analysis, four themes emerged: (a) job assignment, (b) employee feedback, (c) employee benefits, and (d) training, growth, and development. A key recommendation is for human resource …

A Content Analysis Of Prison/Custodial Suicide In Bangladesh, Anisur Khan, Rasel Hussain

Journal of Social, Behavioral, and Health Sciences

Suicide is the leading cause of death in prisons and custodial settings globally. International studies have consistently shown that prisoners and detainees are at a higher risk of suicide compared to the general population. Despite Bangladesh having a large prison population, there is no scholarly work on suicide within these settings. Against this backdrop, this study explored online newspaper content analysis capturing the characteristics of prison and custodial suicide in Bangladesh from 2014–2024. A total of 20 suicide cases were identified during this period. The data were arranged based on year-wise trends, age, sex, type of custody, nature of criminality, …