Digital Commons Network^™

Investigating Teachers’ Resistance To Instructional Coach Support In A Southern, Rural U.S. School District, Tukiiya Stephens

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Instructional coaching is a strategy designed to support systematic changes in instructional practices and improve student achievement. In the study site district, teachers were required to use instructional coaching as a mandated form of pedagogical support for enhancing teaching practices and improving student achievement. However, prior to this study, 48% of teachers did not seek support from the instructional coaches (ICs) hired to provide this job-embedded professional development. Guided by Ajzen’s theory of planned behavior, the purpose of this basic qualitative study was to investigate teachers’ perspectives regarding the lack of engagement with ICs and to identify ways to increase …

Staff Education To Improve Nurse Confidence In Managing Co-Occurring Conditions, Gloria Johnston

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) staff education project addressed a lack of confidence and training for nursing staff who care for patients with co-occurring substance use and mental health disorders. The practice problem identified at the local project site was the inconsistent care of this patient population. Addressing this gap was essential because inadequate training can reduce care quality among patients with co-occurring conditions. The practice-focused question for this project was: In nursing staff caring for patients with co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders, how does an evidence-based staff education program on integrated treatment approaches compare to standard …

School-Based Human Service Professionals’ Perceptions Of The Relationships Between Black Families And Southern Schools, Vanessa Faye Barnhill

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The experiences that Black parents had in school have been found to influence how they view and interact with schools and the challenges and barriers related to their child’s education attainment. It is important to understand school-based human service professionals’ perceptions about the relationship that Black families have with Southern schools and suggestions these professionals have about promoting better communication and understanding with Black families. The purpose of this qualitative generic study was to examine school human service professionals’ perceptions about the relationship that Black families have with schools and to gather suggestions about how they could promote communication and …

Emotional And Psychological Well-Being In Early Postmenopausal Women: A Phenomenological Study, Marjorie F. Leon

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to explore how early postmenopausal women experience and navigate emotional and psychological well-being during the postmenopausal transition. Although menopause has been widely examined as a biological process, women’s lived emotional and psychosocial experiences during the early postmenopausal period remain underexplored in psychological research. Conceptually informed by Engel’s biopsychosocial model, this study examined how biological, psychological, and social factors intersect in shaping resilience, identity, and coping during this transitional life stage. Thirteen women within 5 years of menopause onset participated in semi structured interviews. Data were analyzed using Braun and Clarke’s six-phase reflexive …

Child Protection Workers’ Perceptions Of Burnout And Work Dissatisfaction, Ashley-Camille Jackson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Child protection workers work in a stressful and demanding occupation, subject to high staff turnover and inexperienced staff. This situation has created problems for child protection workers in doing their jobs effectively—for example, handling their daily tasks and caseload—leading to potential burnout and work dissatisfaction. Existing literature has explained how burnout begins to develop as a response to chronic exposure to job-related stressors, to a point of emotional exhaustion and reduced personal accomplishment. Researchers have found that work-related conditions have contributed to the development of burnout, especially when attempting to define how one could be overworked and how much labor …

Communication Challenges Experienced By Telephone Triage Registered Nurses Providing Assessment Of Health Symptoms, Stacy Huddleston

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Telephone triage nurses routinely assess symptoms and make clinical decisions without visual contact, which introduces complex communication challenges. Language differences, emotional distress, cultural misunderstandings, and the absence of visual cues may influence how symptoms are described, interpreted, and acted upon during telephone encounters. The purpose of this qualitative interpretive description study, guided by Peplau’s theory of interpersonal relations, was to explore how RNs experience and manage communication barriers in telephone triage practice. Six RNs with recent experience in telephone triage participated in semistructured interviews, and the data were analyzed using interpretive description and thematic analysis. Findings indicated that participants relied …

Hbcu Presidents’ Perceptions About The Unique Financial Challenges Influencing Enrollment, Tiffany Hardy Terrell

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) are important to the educational landscape. The problem that was addressed through this study was the unique financial challenges that influence enrollment at HBCUs. Guided by the conceptual framework of transformational leadership, the purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore HBCU presidents’ perceptions about the unique financial challenges as well as recommendations on how to overcome these challenges that influence enrollment at their institutions. Semistructured interviews were conducted with five former and three current HBCU presidents who had been in their role for a minimum of 1 year. Using in vivo coding, …

Leadership Strategies Nonprofit Leaders Use To Motivate Employees, Clara Dube

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Unmotivated nonprofit organization (NPO) employees threaten NPO mission fulfillment. NPO leaders are concerned with poor employee motivation as it negatively correlates with organizational performance. Grounded in the integration of self-determination theory and Vroom’s expectancy theory, the purpose of this qualitative single-case study was to explore the leadership strategies that some NPO leaders use to motivate employees. The targeted population was five leaders of an NPO in the Tigray region of Ethiopia who implemented successful leadership strategies to motivate employees. The participants comprised five leaders, purposively selected from an Ethiopian NPO, who had demonstrated the ability to motivate their employees. Data …

Former Foster Youth Lack The Understanding And Training In How To Access Medical And Preventative Care Benefits, Gloria Harrison

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The purpose of this qualitative action research study was to explore Dallas, Texas, human services professionals’ perceptions of the services that former foster youth need to ensure that they have access to medical and preventative care benefits when they age out of the system. The conceptual framework of Aday and Andersen’s health behavior model provided a structure for the lack of medical care access, the need for improvement, and the desire to use services for various marginalized at-risk populations. The action research design was chosen to help solve real-life healthcare problems that directly affect participants within their community. A purposeful …

Moderating Effects Of Leadership Style And Organizational Culture On Information Technology Involvement, Erick Dyson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This quantitative correlational study investigated the relationships among leadership styles, organizational culture, information technology involvement (INV), IT adoption intention (ITA), and knowledge-sharing intention (KSI) among managerial staff in educational institutions in the northeastern United States. Grounded in the technology acceptance model (TAM) and knowledge management theory, the study utilized survey responses from 141 participants in supervisory roles. Regression analyses revealed that INV significantly predicted ITA (F = 31.725, p < .001), accounting for 17.7% of the variance. However, ITA demonstrated a statistically significant but inverse relationship with KSI (F = 7.995, p < .001), indicating that greater ITA was associated with lower KSI. Hierarchical regression showed that the inclusion of leadership styles and organizational cultures improved model fit, with the final model explaining 53.3% of the variance in KSI. Charismatic, transformational, and transactional leadership styles moderated the ITA and KSI relationship, while servant and transactional leadership directly predicted KSI. Among cultural types, hierarchy and market cultures moderated the ITA and KSI relationship, while adhocracy, hierarchy, and market cultures directly predicted KSI. Seventeen significant two-factor interactions were identified, highlighting the complex interplay of leadership and culture. Reliability analyses confirmed acceptable internal consistency (α = .71 -.85), and regression diagnostics indicted no assumption violations. These findings challenge traditional TAM assumptions and emphasize the need for context-aware strategies integrating leadership and culture to enhance knowledge sharing in digitally transforming institutions.

Strategies For Bridging The Broadband Gap For An Inclusive Digital Economy, Hassana Asuku

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Broadband access remains a critical driver of digital participation and economic inclusion; however, many rural communities continue to lack adequate connectivity and remain excluded from the digital economy. Although Information and Communication Technology (ICT) policymakers, regulators, and operators prioritize expanding broadband infrastructure, limited research exists on the strategies these stakeholders use to successfully bridge rural broadband gaps. Drawing on Jan van Dijk’s resources and appropriation theory, the purpose of this qualitative pragmatic inquiry was to explore the strategies employed by ICT policymakers, regulators, and operators to bridge the broadband gap in rural areas. Eight telecommunications industry players who had successfully …

Perceived Black Maternal Narcissism And Their Daughters’ Delinquency: Chronicles From A Daughter’S Interpretation, Nzinga Cates

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This qualitative study examined the intricate dynamics between perceived Black narcissistic mothers and their daughters, particularly regarding potential delinquent behaviors exhibited by the daughters. By utilizing in-depth interviews with seven participants, I sought to uncover the psychological and relational factors contributing to these behaviors’ development. Thematic analysis indicated that daughters of narcissistic mothers often endure emotional neglect, manipulation, and lack of healthy role modeling. This can result in feelings of inadequacy and rebellion. Themes of identity confusion, low self-esteem, and desire for autonomy surfaced as significant contributors to the daughters’ engagement in delinquent activities. The study underscored the importance of …

Human Resource Management Practices’ Impact On Employee Retention, Regina Gregory

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Some human resource managers (HRMs) in small- to medium-sized manufacturing industries lack effective strategies to retain employees. Organizational leaders are concerned that the lack of effective strategies to retain employees negatively affects organizational sustainability and profitability. Grounded in Maslow’s hierarchy of needs theory, the purpose of this qualitative pragmatic inquiry project was to explore effective strategies that seven HRMs in small- to medium-sized manufacturing industries used to retain employees for more than 5 years. The participants were seven leaders from various HRM roles within the manufacturing industry who have implemented effective employee retention strategies. Data were collected using semistructured interviews …

Exploring The Perceptions Of Religious Trauma Among Former Members Of The Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter-Day Saints Who Identify As A Sexual Minority, Samuel Clemens

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This qualitative study explored the perceived experiences of religious trauma among formerly active members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) who identify as sexual minorities. Religious trauma, characterized by psychological, emotional, and social harm, arises from interactions with religious institutions and teachings. For sexual minorities within the LDS Church, strict adherence to heteronormative principles and rigid gender roles often results in identity suppression, emotional distress, and social isolation. Utilizing a generic qualitative inquiry approach, this study investigated how participants interpret their experiences of religious trauma and its perceived effects on their lives. Twelve participants aged 20–74 …

Innovative Strategies To Promote Financial Sustainability In Nonprofit Universities, Frank Koomson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

A lack of sustainable funding can negatively affect nonprofit universities’ ability to support students and retain qualified staff. Anchored in the Baldrige Excellence Framework, the purpose of this consulting capstone qualitative single-case study was to identify innovative strategies that nonprofit university business executives use to generate funds to promote financial sustainability. This study is important for nonprofit university executives and higher education decision-makers because effective revenue strategies can strengthen financial sustainability and support long-term organizational viability. The participant was an organizational leader with extensive experience and knowledge of the research phenomenon. Data were collected using a semistructured interview and a …

Negotiating Fatherhood: Young Men’S Narratives Of Care, Responsibility, And Struggle In A Low-Income South African Setting, Urlridge A. Thompson Dr, Tshepang Headman Mr, Leballo Tjemolane Mr, Lukhanyo H. Nyati Dr

Journal of Social, Behavioral, and Health Sciences

Financial provision continues to factor significantly in how Black men perceive and enact fatherhood, influencing the extent and manner of their paternal engagement. The enduring representation of men primarily as financial providers constrains the generation and enactment of alternative modalities of fatherhood within families and society. This qualitative study explored how the everyday lived experiences of young Black men in Soweto, South Africa, influence their varied engagements with fatherhood as they navigate structural constraints to pursuing their ideal of fatherhood. An exploratory descriptive qualitative approach was employed. We conducted two sets of semi-structured interviews with 19 young Black men in …

The Meaning Of The Practicum In Initial Teacher Training. The Educational Value Of Tutoring, María Pilar Sepúlveda-Ruiz, María José Mayorga-Fernández, Elena García-Vila

Higher Learning Research Communications

The theory-practice and practice-theory relationship is a fundamental axis in the learning of trainee teachers; therefore, the practicum must constitute the key element in their university training. The research described in this paper, in which students and teachers from the bachelor’s degrees in early childhood education and primary education programs at the University of Huelva in Spain have participated, has been carried out through a descriptive and interpretative qualitative study focused on case studies. This study highlights the need for greater communication between the work experience centers and the university and between the professionals who tutor the work experience period. …

Health Histories, Tiffanie Walton

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

No abstract provided.

High School Teachers’ Perspectives Of Middle School Biomedical Science Career Exploration Programs, Stephanie Gurule-Leyba

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Biomedical sciences (BMS) are a common career pathway for U.S. Hispanic high school students interested in pursuing healthcare careers. Little was known about how middle school career exploration programs in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics motivate Hispanic students to continue pursuing BMS careers. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore high school teachers’ perspectives of how middle school BMS career exploration programs can motivate Hispanic students’ interest in BMS careers. The study was grounded in Keller’s attention, relevance, confidence and satisfaction motivation model. Thirteen high school BMS teachers, who have taught or are currently teaching the PLTW …

Internal Quality Enhancement: Case Of A Uae Business School, Valentine Matthews

International Journal of Applied Management and Technology

This paper presents a case study of a quality enhancement process of a small business school in the United Arab Emirates. The research explores this specific quality enhancement process with a focus on why it is implemented by the case institution and how it achieves quality improvement. The case quality enhancement process is an internal institutional approach that deviates from the Scottish Enhancement-Led Institutional Review approach. Articulation of the process is conducted from policy and practice. The articulation provides deeper and clearer understanding of the approach to quality enhancement, how it achieves quality improvements, and the leadership’s justifications for adopting …

Communication Barriers Experienced By Academicians And International Students During The Education Process And Related Solutions, Ferhat Kaçar, Yusuf Taha Okan

Higher Learning Research Communications

Objective: In this study, we address the communication barriers between academics and international students using a phenomenological approach. The aim of the study is to examine in depth the communication barriers faced by these two groups in the education process and to develop solutions for these barriers.

Method: The qualitative data obtained from semi-structured interviews with 42 academics and 50 international students were analyzed using the MAXQDA 20 package program.

Results: In the study, four themes and sub-codes related to these themes were identified: (1) academics’ communications problems with international students, (2) solution suggestions for academics’ communication problems, (3) international …

Examining Academics’ Decision-Making Processes And Implementation Challenges Of Blended Learning Models For Future Higher Education, Devrim Akgunduz, Aysegul Kinik Topalsan

Higher Learning Research Communications

Objectives: Blended learning has gained increasing attention in higher education as a hybrid approach that integrates face-to-face and online modalities. This study investigates academics’ decision-making processes and challenges in implementing blended learning models to inform future educational practices.

Methods: An exploratory case study design was employed. Data were obtained from academics representing multiple faculties who participated in a professional development program on technological approaches and learning models. Participants completed the Blended Learning Sub-Model Preparation Form, which was analyzed to identify preferences and challenges in adopting blended learning.

Results: Findings reveal a clear preference for sub-models such as the flipped classroom, …

Teachers' Experiences Implementing Play-Based Learning Practices In Prekindergarten–Kindergarten Classrooms, Atiana T. Carroll

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The problem addressed through this study was that prekindergarten and kindergarten (PK-K) teachers in one large southern U.S. school district were not implementing play-based learning (PBL) practices despite the well-documented benefits of PBL in early childhood education. Guided by Knowles’s adult learning theory and Kolb’s experiential learning theory, the purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore PK-K teachers’ experiences with implementing PBL and to identify what teachers need to embed PBL practices in PK-K classrooms. Semistructured interviews were conducted with nine PK-K teachers, and thematic analysis was applied to identify key patterns. Four themes emerged from the analysis: …

Exploring Effective Retention Strategies Of Skilled And Productive Personnel In The Healthcare Industry, Joshua Emmanuel Banks

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Employee retention remains a significant challenge for healthcare organizations. Healthcare human resource (HR) managers are concerned about high turnover because it increases staffing costs, disrupts continuity of care, and threatens patient safety and workforce stability. Grounded in transformational leadership theory, the purpose of this qualitative pragmatic inquiry project was to explore strategies that healthcare HR managers use to retain skilled and productive employees to ensure continuity of care, patient safety, and overall organizational success. The participants were seven HR managers from the healthcare industry in Virginia; West Virginia; Washington, DC; and Maryland who retained skilled and productive employees to ensure …

Exploring African American Officers’ Lived Experiences Of Racial Microaggressions In A Metropolitan Police Department, Kareem Mc Kenna

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

African American men in law enforcement encounter subtle racial microaggressions that contribute to emotional distress, identity conflict, and burnout. Although researchers have examined microaggressions, few studies have centered on African American men within a large metropolitan police department or explored how they interpret these experiences across tenure ranges. This qualitative phenomenological study explored how African American men with at least 2 years of service in frontline or first-line supervisory roles in a Southern California metropolitan police department experienced, interpreted, and coped with workplace racial microaggressions over the past five years. Guided by critical race theory, intersectionality, and Sue et al.’s …

Staff Education For Prevention And Management Of Obesity In Adolescents From Underserved Communities, Doris Mtarubukwa

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This DNP project implemented a targeted staff education intervention designed to bridge the practice gap in obesity management among adolescents in underserved communities. A comprehensive chart review of 45 patients revealed that only 3% of encounters adequately addressed obesity using evidence-based practice (EBP) guidelines, establishing the urgent need for healthcare provider education and competency development. Adolescents in underserved communities face complex barriers to health and wellness, with obesity representing a critical public health concern. The literature demonstrated that childhood and adolescent obesity serves as a significant risk factor for multiple chronic conditions in adulthood, including Type 2 diabetes, hypertension, coronary …

Pressure Injury Prevention In Intensive Care Units, Michael Loya

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This project addressed the critical practice problem of formation of Stage III/IV pressure injuries in adult patients admitted to the long-term acute care (LTAC) intensive care unit (ICU) department, which has been linked to increased lengths of stay, mortality rates, and treatment costs for the facility. Thus, development of a clinical practice guideline (CPG) focused on a nurse-driven protocol to identify patients in the ICU department at high risk of developing a Stage III/IV pressure injury and initiating prevention measures formed the primary purpose of the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) project. The practice focused question addressed whether an evidence-based …

Staff Education On Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Identification And Referral Using The Vanderbilt Assessment Scale, Edith Nkeze

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Staff Education on Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Identification and Referral Using the Vanderbilt Assessment Scale

The Relationship Between Police Encounters And Anxiety Levels Among Urban Black Males Aged 18–40, Wilbert Smith

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This quantitative, cross-sectional, correlational study examined the relationship between police encounter characteristics and anxiety symptoms among urban Black males aged 18–40 in the United States. Although prior research has documented racial disparities in police contact and adverse mental health outcomes, limited empirical work has examined how multiple dimensions of police encounters jointly relate to anxiety within this population. Guided by Critical Race Theory, the study assessed whether the frequency, severity, and perceived fairness of police encounters were associated with self-reported anxiety symptoms. Data were collected from 138 self-identified urban Black males using a nonprobability, self-selected sampling approach. Participants completed an …

Medical-Surgical Nurses’ Perceptions On Incivility In A Hospital Setting, Monsurat Atinuke Mohammed

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Incivility in nursing has become a chronic issue that harms nurses, patients, teams, and organizations. Individuals often feel belittled, which contributes to frequent job dissatisfaction and resignation, ultimately resulting in financial losses for an organization. The purpose of this qualitative descriptive study, guided by Johnson’s behavioral model, was to explore nurses’ perceptions about incivility in a medical-surgical hospital setting. Ten semistructured audio-recorded interviews were conducted with registered nurses recruited through a professional organization. The data were manually transcribed verbatim and analyzed using Saldana’s approach. Results indicated four themes: (a) workplace culture and interpersonal dynamics, (b) need for support and mentorship, …