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African Public Leadership On Technology Readiness And Diffusing The Circular Economy In Sub-Saharan Africa, Evans Jakpa-Johns

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Sub-Saharan Africa is not yet ready to embrace the digital and the fourth industrial revolution, and there remains a literature gap about technology readiness and effective technology diffusion to support a circular economy transition in West and East African countries. The purpose of this qualitative, multiple case study was to describe African public leadership experts' views on how sub-Saharan African leaders can enable technology readiness and the technology diffusion needed for a successful transition to a circular economy. A multiple case study design was used to collect data from a purposeful sample of 14 African public leadership experts. Semistructured interviews, …

Relationship Experiences Of Long-Term Partners Of Individuals With Narcissistic Traits, Tamara Betty-Jean Knott

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The phenomenon of narcissism is well-documented and has garnered much attention from the scientific community. However, a facet of this subject that has been largely unstudied involves the consequences that narcissistic relationships have on intimates. Typically, an individual with narcissistic traits (INT) most negatively affects the romantic partner. Still, there has been very little in the way of academic knowledge, understanding of partner experiences, or how to help from a mental health standpoint. Research has implied that partnering with an INT entails distinct forms of emotional abuse (EA), resulting in the development of unique psychological distress. This qualitative narrative study …

Well-Being Among Foster Parents Of Children With A History Of Sexual Abuse, Jelenny Marquez

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

There are over half a million children and adolescents living in foster care in the United States, and many of them endure frequent disruptions to their placements. Disruptions are more common among children with a history of sexual abuse. The disruption of placement increases the likelihood of undesirable outcomes for both the children and their foster parents. Foster parents who are willing to offer a home that is safe and stable for a child in the foster care system are more important than ever. This qualitative study explored foster parents’ experiences of well-being after having fostered children with a history …

Relationship Between Country Culture, Country Demographics, And Restaurant Electronic Word-Of-Mouth Valence Ratings, Cynthia Roberts Maubert

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Researchers have documented that country culture and country demographics influence electronic word-of-mouth (eWOM) within various industries. Although past research has shown the importance of eWOM to restaurants as a measure of consumer satisfaction, researchers have not established the effect of country culture and country demographics on eWOM within the restaurant industry. Thus, the specific management problem addressed in this quantitative correlational study was the lack of knowledge and understanding regarding the relationship between country culture, country demographics, and restaurant eWOM valence ratings. Grounded in Hofstede’s cultural dimensions theory, the research questions addressed six measures of country culture, 12 measures of …

Effects Of Supermax On Inmate Mental Health: Phenomenological Experiences Of Knowledgeable Professionals, Lea Michelle Miller

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

It may or may not be true that the conditions and practices associated with supermax sentencing are both creating and exacerbating psychological harm for the inmates who are exposed to them. To date, there is evidence that both supports and refutes the contention that supermax sentencing is psychologically harmful; thus, the literature necessitates additional research into this phenomenon. This qualitative study was conducted to add to the extant body of knowledge relevant to supermax prisons and populations by exploring the lived experiences of professionals who have worked with them. This research was conceptually based in the current understanding of social …

Relationship Between Race, Collectivistic/Individualistic Attitudes, Internet Addiction, And Nomophobia Among College Students, Nefretiti Morant

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Internet and social media misuse contributes to negative mental health outcomes among young adults. Because research suggests that cultural attitudes may influence Internet use, using Hofstede’s cultural dimension theory as the foundation, the purpose of this study was to examine the extent to which race and collectivistic/individualistic cultural attitudes predict Internet addiction and nomophobia. The sample included 250 college students (140 Caucasian, 110 African American) between the ages of 18 and 22. Participants completed the Horizontal & Vertical Individualism Collectivism II scale, the Internet Addiction Test, and the Nomophobia Questionnaire. The results revealed that race was a predictor of Internet …

Financial Aid As A Predictor For Retention Of First-Year Black Male Community College Students, Malcom Jamar Morgan-Petty

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractBlack male students are retained in higher education at less than half the rate of their Hispanic and White counterparts. At Southwestern Community College (SWCC, a pseudonym), there were indicators that the amount of financial aid received was related to retention; however, the extent of the relationship was unknown. The purpose of this nonexperimental quantitative correlational study was to examine the relationship between the amount of financial aid received and the retention of first-to-second-year Black male students at SWCC. Bean and Metzner’s model of nontraditional undergraduate student attrition provided the theoretical foundation. The research question sought to clarify the extent …

Microaggressions Against Ethnic Individuals From Minorities In Counseling, Joan Morton

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractEven though the current literature addresses racial microaggressions among ethnic minority people and implications for counseling, no qualitative research that included the voices of ethnic minority individuals was found. Researchers have not fully addressed the prevalence of racial microaggressions in counseling sessions. The purpose of this qualitative narrative study was to explore the lived encounters of ethnic minorities concerning racial microaggressions in counseling. The study issue was analyzed through the lens of critical race theory. Four participants were recruited from the Walden University participation pool. Data were selected through semi-structure interviews and narrative analysis was used to analyze data to …

Challenges With Multicultural Leadership For Project Managers: A Qualitative Multiple Case Study, Harrison Nnaemeka Nnaji

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Culturally diverse teams are becoming the norm with the rising trend of globalization. The phenomenon has been associated with a rise in the number of multicultural teams with diversified team members. The central problem addressed in this study relates to inadequate understanding of challenges posed to project managers of multicultural software development teams operating in Nigeria. The purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to explore challenges faced by this population. Avruch’s theory of culture, the Human needs theory by Burton, and the cross-cultural adaptation theory by Kim were the conceptual frameworks for this study. Participants included 15 project …

A Meta-Analysis Of Higher Education On Professional Police Behavior Patterns, Augustine S. Nugba

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Police misconduct has become an issue of concern among law enforcement officers and other stakeholders. Approximately, 10% of law enforcement officers commit 90% of misconduct problems, and as high as 45% of the misconduct generates citizen complaints. Thus, there has been an increasing debate on whether police officers should attain a college education or not. The purpose of this quantitative correlational study was to investigate the relationship between education level and the number of complaints filed against police officers for misconduct. This study was grounded on the cognitive development theory. The study was conducted by following the guidelines proposed by …

A Quantitative Study On Molecular Cluster Detection In Virally Suppressed Communities, Mariska Belinda Osborne-Wells

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Viral suppression within human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) care and treatment planning is the gold standard of care for most providers when engaging with their patients. In many settings, the patient has received a positive lab that is indicative of HIV antibodies being detected; this in turn means they need additional medical attention to manage the infection. Upon receiving linkage to care services and attending an initial appointment, an initial genetic sequence is usually completed to assess the patient’s strain of HIV and how antiretroviral medications may antagonize or complement the HIV strain. It is possible that access, bias, and colorism …

Examining The Relationship Of Social Inclusion On Job Satisfaction And Turnover Intentions Of Us Post-9/11 Veterans, Sheree' L. Peters

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Many American veterans return to the civilian workforce and report having problems reintegrating into society, as well as finding their role in the new corporate social realms. Over 80% leave their civilian jobs within the first two years of employment, and over 70% report experiencing feelings of loneliness. Recently, the World Health Organization reported that the lack of perceived social inclusion also has a significant economic impact on both individuals and societies. A quantitative, nonexperimental methodology was used to examine the moderating relationship of social inclusion on the relationship between job employee turnover intentions of post-9/11 enlisted veterans. This study …

Community Advocate Perspectives On Addressing Equity Gaps In Florida’S Gifted Programs, Ashley Phelps

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The problem for this study addressed the lack of community advocate perspectives related to efforts being made to improve bureaucratic representation for minority students who were underserved by gifted programs in Florida. The purpose of the study was to investigate the perceptions of community advocates about efforts to improve bureaucratic representation for students underserved by gifted programs in Florida. The study was conceptually framed around Kingsley’s theory of representative bureaucracy. The research questions focused on community advocates’ perceptions related to diversity in Florida’s public school gifted programs and their current efforts to improve representation of minority students in gifted education …

Impact Of Minority Incarceration On The Family Unit, Huey S. Ratcliff

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The economic impact of incarceration on minority family units has both secondary and third-order effects on the minority family unit when a family member is incarcerated, which is exacerbated when the incarcerated family member was both the primary breadwinner and a parent. The purpose of this study was to identify the social and economic effects incarceration has on minority families. The study addressed how minority families adjust to changes in organic composition and how the minority family copes with increased debt and loss of earning potential. Further, the study sought to answer how minority families overcome economic hardship when the …

Nurses' Lived Experiences Caring For Covid-19 Patients In The United States, Cynthia Rose Rodriguez

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected healthcare services and delivery and may leave unprecedented effects on nurses’ physical and mental health. Research is sparse on the pandemic’s effects on nurses, but studies have identified the stressful factors that may contribute to nurses’ health and well-being. The purpose of this qualitative interpretive phenomenological study was to understand the lived experiences of nurses caring for COVID-19 patients in the United States and discover how their experiences impact them on a personal and professional level. Hans Selye’s general adaptation theory served as the theoretical basis for this study with Edmund Husserl’s life worldview used …

Police Excessive Use Of Force: Preventing Trauma-Induced Stress And Anxiety In The Black Community, St. Louis, Mo., Ashleigh A. Cole

Selected Social Change Portfolios in Prevention, Intervention, and Consultation

Goal Statement: The goal of this portfolio is to increase awareness of mental health disparities in the Black community due to experiencing or witnessing police brutality.

Significant Findings: This brief explores issues of police excessive use of force during interactions with Blacks that result in trauma-induced stress and anxiety, whether witnessing or experiencing such brutality, for this marginalized population. In St. Louis, Missouri, Blacks who experience police use of force in person or “seeing a video of police use of force in the media” experience moderately high police contact anxiety (Murez, 2021, para. 7). The scope of the problem illuminates …

The Experiences Of Resettled Liberian Refugees: A Research Study On Whether Public Assistance Can Affect Their Living Standards., Mwalimu Steve Boley

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractThe study investigated the extent to which the thoughts, feelings, and attitudes of resettled Liberian refugees in the Delaware Valley region have been affected by their use of public assistance and the overall effect that it has had on their living standards. It also explored whether participants in the study would likely persuade other resettled Liberian refugees in their community to utilize available public assistance programs as a means of improving their living standard. The study utilized Humanist Theory as the theoretical framework to interpret its findings. The research methodology was based on phenomenological approach in which a generic demographic …

Customer Relationship Management In The Hotel Industry, Lakewa Davis

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The inability to satisfy customers in the hospitality industry is a concern for business managers, as a decrease in customer satisfaction can lead to unhappy customers, which adversely affects business performance and profitability. Grounded in the customer relationship management theory, the purpose of this qualitative multiple-case study was to explore how managers of boutiques improve customer satisfaction and increase profitability. Participants were four boutique hotel managers in the metro Detroit area who successfully improved customer satisfaction and increased profitability. Data were collected from semistructured interviews, customer reviews, hotel website documents, customer indices, and hotel industry reports. Data were analyzed using …

The Effects Of Parental Engagement Programs On Grades 3-5 Milestones Student Achievement, Deborah Malone

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Although the Every Student Succeeds Act sets the parameters for parents and families to be involved in their children’s education, there are no specified guidelines on how that involvement should be designed to best impact student achievement. The purpose of this study was to compare Grade 3-5 students’ mean Milestones test scores in English Language Arts, mathematics, and science (dependent variables) at two Southeastern United States elementary schools which offered parental involvement/parental engagement programs—a nonmandatory or mandatory program (independent variable), represented by School A and B, respectively. The theoretical foundations of the study were the social and human capital theory …

Colonial Legacy, Education, And Employment Opportunities: The Case Of Cameroon, Frantz Batoh

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractThe history of colonialism is one of the most powerful factors affecting the development of newly independent African states and limiting their chances for successful evolution. This research involved Cameroon and employment and educational issues associated with colonialism. The division between France and Britain contributed to the establishment of bilingualism within its territories, which is a source of multiple problems today. The study involved investigating the current situation in Cameroon through the lens of colonialism and its influence on countries. Theoretical foundations for this study were the colonial and postcolonial theory, neocolonialism, and concept of postcolony. They are used to …

Mortgage Broker Strategies To Overcome The Volatility Of Inconsistent Sales, Marissa Blackwell

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Many mortgage brokers leave the mortgage industry because of unforeseen changes andvolatility. Mortgage brokers are concerned with adequate strategies to mitigate industry volatility and inconsistent sales, which is important to successful sustainability during challenging times. Grounded in relationship marketing theory, the purpose of this qualitative single case study was to explore the strategies seven mortgage brokers from a single organization used to sustain sales during volatile times. Data were collected using semistructured interviews by telecommunication, a reflective journal, LinkedIn, Facebook, and broker websites. Through thematic analysis, three themes emerged: maintaining a presence with new and existing clients, understanding client needs, …

An Evaluation Of Community-Based Juvenile Firesetting Programs Through The Custodial Lens, Peter William Blaich

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Using general strain theory and social learning theory as the foundation, this generic qualitative study addressed whether interventions and prevention services for juvenile firesetters in the City of Charlotte–Mecklenberg County met needs from the perspectives of critical stakeholders. Data were collected through in-depth interviews with 12 parents/guardians of justice-involved adolescent fire offenders. Interviews were transcribed and analyzed using a six-step procedure for thematic analysis by Braun and Clarke. The study's results revealed that the current juvenile firesetters intervention and prevention program is perceived as inadequate when applied without input from the adolescent’s parent or guardian. The participants perceived the need …

Personal Hardiness As An Unexamined Component Of The Healthy Volunteer Effect, Angelique E. Blann

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Clinical trials are the standard for approving medicines for public use. To conduct trials, researchers depend on a declining number of volunteers. The healthy volunteer effect, a phenomenon in which participants demonstrate better outcomes than their peers, limits the generalizability of trial outcomes. The healthy volunteer effect does not fully explain the outcome difference between volunteers and nonvolunteers. The purpose of this cross-sectional quantitative study was to examine personal hardiness as an unexplored component of the healthy volunteer effect and determine whether personal hardiness is associated with willingness to participate. Hardiness was a personality construct that represented resilience to stress. …

Financial Aid As A Predictor For Retention Of First-Year Black Male Community College Students, Malcom Jamar Morgan-Petty

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractBlack male students are retained in higher education at less than half the rate of their Hispanic and White counterparts. At Southwestern Community College (SWCC, a pseudonym), there were indicators that the amount of financial aid received was related to retention; however, the extent of the relationship was unknown. The purpose of this nonexperimental quantitative correlational study was to examine the relationship between the amount of financial aid received and the retention of first-to-second-year Black male students at SWCC. Bean and Metzner’s model of nontraditional undergraduate student attrition provided the theoretical foundation. The research question sought to clarify the extent …

Examining Psychosocial Characteristics Of Female Serial Murderers, Rachael Strebel

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Previous studies of serial murderers have focused primarily on male serial murderers.The reason for this is unknown, but is primarily reflective of media patterns, gender roles, and social norms that often exclude females from conversations surrounding female serial murder. This study focused on the psychosocial characteristics of female serial murderers. Both solo female serial murderers and serial murderers who worked with one partner were studied. Using a grounded theory approach, based on the review of 11 secondary data case studies, 12 female serial murderers were studied; six who murdered individually and six who murdered within a team. Six main themes …

Public Policy And African American Victims Of Inner-City Violence, Michael Andrew Benson Sr.

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The effects of being victimized or being a witness to a violent traumatic event without the support of public institutions, such as criminal justice, social service agencies, and mental health care clinics has led to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The purpose of this study was to explore the barriers and success factors for victims of inner-city violence as it related to access to public administration institutions to address their victimization. Self-efficacy theory was used as the theoretical foundation, and the study’s research question focused on victimization and access to public policy institutions. The study used a qualitative design with 10 …

Mortgage Broker Strategies To Overcome The Volatility Of Inconsistent Sales, Marissa Blackwell

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Many mortgage brokers leave the mortgage industry because of unforeseen changes andvolatility. Mortgage brokers are concerned with adequate strategies to mitigate industry volatility and inconsistent sales, which is important to successful sustainability during challenging times. Grounded in relationship marketing theory, the purpose of this qualitative single case study was to explore the strategies seven mortgage brokers from a single organization used to sustain sales during volatile times. Data were collected using semistructured interviews by telecommunication, a reflective journal, LinkedIn, Facebook, and broker websites. Through thematic analysis, three themes emerged: maintaining a presence with new and existing clients, understanding client needs, …

Personal Hardiness As An Unexamined Component Of The Healthy Volunteer Effect, Angelique E. Blann

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Clinical trials are the standard for approving medicines for public use. To conduct trials, researchers depend on a declining number of volunteers. The healthy volunteer effect, a phenomenon in which participants demonstrate better outcomes than their peers, limits the generalizability of trial outcomes. The healthy volunteer effect does not fully explain the outcome difference between volunteers and nonvolunteers. The purpose of this cross-sectional quantitative study was to examine personal hardiness as an unexplored component of the healthy volunteer effect and determine whether personal hardiness is associated with willingness to participate. Hardiness was a personality construct that represented resilience to stress. …

Succession Planning Strategies For Nonprofit Organizations, Chandler Campbell

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Nonprofit organizations are cornerstones in the community that contribute to improving environments, communities, persons, and life overall. However, some nonprofit organization senior leaders lack the succession planning strategies, resources, and funding to continue serving as positive social change agents in the community. Grounded in the general systems theory, the purpose of this qualitative single case study was to explore business strategies nonprofit leaders use for succession planning. The participants included three senior leaders in a nonprofit located in the northeastern region of the United States who have indirectly or directly implemented succession planning strategies. Data were collected through semistructured interviews, …

Effect Of Drug Medi-Cal Organized Delivery System Access To Substance Use Disorder Treatment, Ana Y. Davies

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Drug addiction, mental health disorders, and homelessness has impacted communities nationwide increasing mortality and morbidity and is a public health threat. But access to substance use treatment has been a problem due to the lack of the ability by many to pay for services. This observational quantitative research design utilized administrative secondary data collected between July 2017 and June 2022. The key variables are Insurance Status, Number of Admissions, and Successful Discharges in outpatient substance use treatment. The purpose of the study and research questions involved evaluating the effects Drug Medi-Cal (DMC) Organized Delivery System program by analyzing program admissions …