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College Students’ And Teachers’ Biases Regarding School Children Based On Appearance, Sex, And Clothing, Lauren K. Decoste, Terry F. Pettijohn Ii

Journal of Educational Research and Practice

This research explored how appearance, sex, and clothing differences influence adults’ perceptions of primary school students across two studies. Male students were predicted to be rated higher in academic ability, behavior, and likeability compared to female students, while formally dressed students were expected to receive more favorable ratings than informally dressed students. Study 1 included college students (N = 160), and Study 2 included employed teachers (N = 112). Participants rated formally and informally dressed male and female students on perceived behavioral, academic, and social skills, likeability, and engagement. Results showed that model sex influenced several perceptions, with male students …

Chatgpt Employment Anxiety And Career Confidence: Discipline-Contingent Evidence From Malaysian Undergraduates, Fahd A. Raza, Abtar D. Singh, Rabia Anwar, Jonathan Js Kovilpillai, Analisa Hamdan, Fumiko Konno, Husna Hr Azami, Murali Raman

Higher Learning Research Communications

Background: The rapid diffusion of generative artificial intelligence (AI) has raised concerns about graduate employability, yet evidence on how ChatGPT employment anxiety relates to career confidence remains limited, particularly in non-Western contexts.

Objectives: We examined whether ChatGPT employment anxiety is associated with career confidence among Malaysian undergraduates and whether academic discipline or usage intensity moderates that association.

Methods: Using the Malaysian subset of the 2024–2025 Global ChatGPT Student Survey (Aristovnik et al., 2025; N = 315 ChatGPT users), we constructed a four-item employment anxiety index (α = .80) and estimated hierarchical ordinary least squares (OLS) regressions predicting a single-item measure …

A Systematic Review Of Cipp Model Implementation In Educational Program Evaluation: A Comparative Study Of Türkiye And Indonesia, Zahid Zufar At Thaariq, Memet Karakuş, Fatma Altun

Higher Learning Research Communications

Objectives: This study compares CIPP (context, input, process, product) evaluation model implementation in educational programs across Türkiye (Turkey) and Indonesia through a systematic literature review. Despite structural similarities as Muslim-majority countries, no comparative research has examined how national contexts shape CIPP application in both settings.

Methods: Following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, a Scopus search yielded 25 empirical studies (seven from Türkiye and 18 from Indonesia) analyzed using directed content analysis and comparative methods.

Results: Findings reveal two contrasting national patterns: (1) Türkiye’s “systematic formalism,” characterized by structured processes, standardized methodologies, and European Union policy …

Secondary School Teachers’ Perceptions Of The Risk And Protective Factors Associated With A School Shooting, Emily M. Hudson, Susana Verdinelli

Journal of Social, Behavioral, and Health Sciences

School shootings have devastating impacts on those directly or indirectly exposed to them. Most school shooters are current or former students. Teachers can play a crucial role in intervening, but their support for intervention strategies can vary depending on their perceptions of the underlying associated factors. This generic qualitative study used semi-structured interviews to explore 10 secondary education teachers’ perceptions of the risk and protective factors associated with the perpetration of a school shooting. Teachers identified four interrelated domains shaping the risks for and protections against school shooting perpetration: emotional stability and support, the influence of social networks, the normalization …

High School Teachers' Experiences Working With Latino Immigrant Students Who Have Experienced Trauma, Collette Marie Jiménez Serra

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Latino immigrant students in U.S. public high schools are disproportionately exposed to trauma related to migration experiences, family separation, poverty, and acculturative stress, yet many teachers report feeling underprepared to address students’ trauma-related needs in culturally responsive ways. Limited research has examined high school teachers’ lived experiences implementing trauma-informed practices with Latino immigrant students, particularly from teachers’ own perspectives. The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to explore high school teachers’ lived experiences implementing trauma-informed practices with Latino immigrant students, including their perceptions of preparedness and the factors influencing implementation. Guided by principles of trauma-informed care (TIC) and relational-cultural …

Mental Well-Being Of Parents Who Have A Child With A Disability, Miracle Denae Adkins

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Parents of children with developmental disabilities often experience elevated levels of stress and emotional burden associated with caregiving responsibilities, which can affect their mental health and overall well-being. The purpose of this generic qualitative study was to explore the perceptions, experiences, and decision-making processes of parents of children with developmental disabilities regarding the use of resources to support their own mental health. Data were collected through semistructured interviews, and data were analyzed using thematic analysis. The findings revealed that parents’ decisions to seek and use mental health resources were influenced by multiple factors, including accessibility and availability of services, financial …

Examining The Challenges Of Providing Mental Health Treatment In Female Correctional Facilities From The Perspective Of Mental Health Professionals, Lacretia Williams

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Women in correctional settings frequently experience significant mental health issues that are linked to histories of trauma, abuse, and victimization. Despite increased attention to trauma-informed and gender-responsive approaches, numerous obstacles continue to affect the delivery of mental health treatment within female correctional facilities. Existing literature focuses on systemic and policy concerns, overlooking mental health professionals' experiences. Guided by general systems theory, this qualitative study examined the challenges encountered by providers, including how organizational, environmental, and institutional factors influence treatment implementation. Data collected through semistructured interviews with 10 mental health professionals revealed multiple barriers to effective service delivery, including the complex …

Educators’ Perceptions Of The Challenges Of Reintegrating High School Students Returning From Suspension In A Western Suburban School District In Chicago, Rebecca Moss

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The problem that was addressed through this study was that Grade 9–12 educators face challenges in implementing effective behavioral support systems for students returning to school after a suspension. Grounded in Bandura’s social cognitive theory, the purpose of this basic qualitative study was to investigate Grade 9–12 educators’ perceptions of the challenges they face and their recommendations when supporting students who return to school after a suspension in a western suburban Chicago district. Semistructured interviews were conducted with 11 purposely sampled Grade 9–12 educators including administrators, teachers, social workers, school counselors, and school psychologists. Through thematic analysis, four themes emerged. …

Strategies Small Business Leaders Use To Reduce Employee Absenteeism And Improve Productivity, Dawn Eugenia Simington

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Failure to reduce employee absenteeism remains a significant concern for small business leaders. Without clear and actionable strategies, these leaders may struggle to avoid decreased revenue. Grounded in the resource-based view (RBV) theory, the purpose of this qualitative pragmatic inquiry project was to identify and explore effective strategies small business leaders use to reduce employee absenteeism to avoid decreased revenue. Participants included seven small business leaders located in the Southern United States who had used effective strategies to reduce employee absenteeism to avoid decreased revenue. Data were collected from semistructured interviews and publicly available documentation. Three themes emerged from thematic …

Primary Care Providers In Alabama And Washington Who Provide Care To African American Women With Dense Breast Tissue With And Without A Cancer Diagnosis, Andrea Shermaine Mcdaniel

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

African American women with dense breast tissue have experienced challenges related to breast cancer screening, timely follow-up care, and access to diagnostic services. There was limited research showing the experiences of primary care providers (PCPs) who provided care to this population. The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to explore the lived experiences of PCPs in Alabama and Washington who provided care to African American women with dense breast tissue, both with and without a breast cancer diagnosis. The conceptual framework for this study was intersectionality theory, which is used to consider multiple social determinants of health when examining …

Perceptions Of Correctional Officers In Prison Environments And The Coping Mechanisms They Use To Support Work–Life Balance, Amiee C. Ruger

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This qualitative study explored correctional officers’ lived experiences with occupational stress, coping strategies, work–life balance, and psychological well-being. The purpose of the study was to better understand correctional officers’ experiences working in high-stress correctional environments, including how they experienced and managed occupational stress, as well as the factors that influenced their psychological well-being. The Yerkes-Dodson law, Nixon’s human function curve, and the transactional model of stress and coping provided the theoretical framework for the study. Eight correctional officers were recruited using purposive and snowball sampling techniques. Semistructured interviews were conducted through the online meeting platform Zoom, and the data were …

Staff Education On Early Cpi-Based De-Escalation Strategies And Unit-Based Resources, Doris Onyenji Lerama

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This doctoral project was a staff education evidence-based practice initiative implemented at a state-operated adult inpatient psychiatric facility in California. The practice gap was inconsistent nursing staff knowledge of early Crisis Prevention Intervention-based de-escalation strategies and available unit-based resources despite an established crisis-prevention framework. The practice-focused question asked whether a standardized staff education activity would increase staff knowledge, as measured by anonymous pre-education and immediate post-education scores. The purpose was to develop, implement, and evaluate the education using staff knowledge change as the sole measurable outcome. The Johns Hopkins Evidence-Based Practice Model guided appraisal and synthesis of 11 evidence sources …

Strategic Planned Preventive Maintenance To Promote Sustainability In Acute Care Hospitals, Samuel Ngounou

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Despite advances in healthcare delivery, acute care hospitals often lack standardized strategic planned preventive maintenance (SPPM) protocols, resulting in equipment failures, higher costs, and disruptions to patient care. The purpose of this integrative review was to identify evidence-based best practices for implementing SPPM programs in acute care hospitals. The review question concerned the organizational practices and strategic approaches most effective for implementing an SPPM program. The Donabedian structure–process–outcome model represented the foundational framework for this review. The initial literature search yielded 110 articles. After further assessment, 27 studies were appraised using the Johns Hopkins Nursing evidence-based practice tools. Three low-quality …

Exploring Stigma In Access To Treatment For Women With Co-Occurring Substance Use And Sex Addiction, Maria Alejandra Knox-Lugo

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Despite the high prevalence of substance use disorder among adult women in the United States, treatment engagement remains low, particularly for women experiencing co-occurring substance use disorder and compulsive sexual behavior. Although stigma is a documented barrier for individuals with substance use or compulsive sexual behavior in accessing and remaining engaged in behavioral health services, its effects on treatment access for adult women with co-occurring substance and compulsive sexual behavior have not been adequately scrutinized. The purpose of this generic qualitative study was to explore how human services and behavioral health professionals perceive stigma experienced by adult women with co-occurring …

Counselors-In-Training’S Perceptions Of Counselor Educators’ And Supervisors’ Roles In Developing Grief Counseling Self-Efficacy, Tonya Andrews

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Counselors-in-training (CITs) encounter grieving clients despite limited grief-specific preparation. Understanding these experiences could inform preparation for supporting grieving clients. Guided by Bandura’s self-efficacy theory, this qualitative hermeneutic phenomenological study explored these perceptions. The purposive sample included 10 CITs who were master’s-level students completing field experience or postgraduate counselors under clinical supervision, lacked independent licensure, attended or graduated from Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP)–accredited programs without required stand-alone grief coursework. None had a direct supervisory, instructional, or evaluative relationship with the researcher. The research question was: How did CITs perceive and make meaning of the role …

Oral Health Provider's Perspective: The Impact Of Public Health Programs Improving Patients' Access In Marginalized Communities, Bridgette Long Hickey

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Access to public oral healthcare in Alabama’s Black Belt Region has been a persistent systemic challenge for working poor adults ages 19–64. This population continues to face barriers to oral healthcare because of socioeconomic disparities, geographic isolation, lack of insurance, provider shortages, limited infrastructure, and the need to travel long distances for quality or specialized services. This study investigated whether public health programs have improved access to oral healthcare for working poor adults in rural communities, from the perspective of oral healthcare providers. The Social Ecological Model served as the theoretical framework. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 13 …

Medical School Admissions Officers' Perceptions On Lower Admissions Rates Of Black Applicants In Georgia, Wanda Sebrena Thomas

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The problem addressed through this study was the disproportionate lower admission rates of Black students compared to their White counterparts at a Georgia medical school. Grounded in Bourdieu’s theory of social reproduction, the purpose of this study was to explore admission officers’ perceptions on the factors contributing to lower admission rates of Black applicants at a Georgia medical school. For this basic qualitative design, semistructured interviews with 10 admissions officers were conducted. Through Saldaña’s first- and second-cycle coding procedures, the following nine themes emerged: (a) Medical College Admission Test scores create barriers for Black applicants; (b) unequal educational resources and …

Effectiveness Of Pancreatic Cancer Screening In High-Risk Elderly Individuals In Florida, Adeleke A. Aromolaran

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Routine preventive care supports early identification and management of health conditions among adults at high risk for pancreatic cancer. Evidence is limited regarding socioeconomic and health care access factors associated with engagement in routine preventive care among Florida adults aged 65 years and older at high risk for pancreatic cancer. The purpose of this quantitative cross-sectional correlational study was to examine these associations among this population. The health belief model served as the theoretical framework. Secondary data from the 2022 Florida Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System were analyzed for N = 4,032 participants using two multivariable binary logistic regression models …

Exploring Sub-Saharan African Immigrants’ Perceptions Of The American Criminal Justice System, Martin B. Kalala

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This qualitative phenomenological study explored sub-Saharan African immigrants’ perceptions of the United States criminal justice system, including law enforcement, courts, and correctional institutions. Despite the significant and growing presence of sub-Saharan African immigrants in the United States, their perspectives remain underrepresented in criminal justice research. Grounded in critical race theory and informed by a narrative inquiry lens, this study sought to understand how race, immigrant status, and cultural background shape perceptions of fairness, trust, and legitimacy within the justice system. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 21 sub-Saharan African immigrants residing in the United States. The data were analyzed …

Strategic Effort For Employee Retention In The Financial Industry, Gail Nichole Flores

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Failure to properly retain financial industry employees can cause a chain reaction of detrimental issues, including financial consequences, high turnover rates, and vulnerabilities to an organization’s overall health and success in the industry. Financial industry leaders may struggle to maintain an appealing organization for current and prospective employees, hindering their ability to retain talent profitably and sustainably and gain a competitive advantage in the financial industry. The purpose of this qualitative pragmatic inquiry project was to identify and explore effective strategies that financial industry leaders use to retain employees and remain profitable and sustainable. Using Herzberg’s two–factor theory of motivation, …

Implementation Of An Evidence-Based Multifactorial Fall-Prevention Staff Education Program In A Long-Term Care Facility., Peter Mufua Tumenta

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Walden University College of Nursing This is to certify that the doctoral study by Peter Mufua Tumenta has been found to be complete and satisfactory in all respects, and that any and all revisions required by the review committee have been made. Review Committee Dr. Melanie Braswell, Committee Chairperson, Nursing Faculty Chief Academic Officer and Provost Sue Subocz, Ph.D. Walden University 2026 Executive Summary Falls are a significant patient safety concern among older adults in long-term care (LTC) facilities. This Doctor of Nursing Practice quality improvement project implemented and evaluated a standardized, evidence-based multifactorial fall-prevention staff education program to improve …

The Perception Of Gay Black Males Concerning Cultural Responsiveness Of Police Officer Use Of Force, Christopher M. Collier

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Police officers’ use of force on the public has been a popular topic of conversation over the last decade. Political campaigns, social media platforms, and neighborhood groups have expressed concerns about how police officers use force disproportionately within various communities. Suggestions have been made to increase police training, promote body-worn cameras, and foster greater transparency to hold police officers accountable for actions that may be unethical or illegal. This study sought to understand if cultural environments have an effect on law enforcement’s interaction with Black same gender loving males (BSGLM). Understanding the use of force was derived from BSGLMs’ perspectives …

Effective Strategies To Recruit And Retain Quality Candidates To Increase Organizational Performance, Jonathan Vl Jenkins

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Employee recruitment and retention remain persistent challenges for organizational leaders seeking to improve workforce stability, sustain performance, and remain competitive in dynamic labor markets. Business leaders who struggle to capture and retain talent experience lowered organizational performance and profitability, placing the organization at risk of failure. In the context of performance measurement and the dynamic capabilities framework, this qualitative, pragmatic inquiry aimed to identify and explore effective strategies that leaders use to recruit and retain employees to improve business performance and organizational effectiveness. The participants were six senior leaders from government, education, defense, and private-sector organizations in California and the …

Lived Experiences Influencing Breast Cancer Survivorship Among African American Women After Treatment, Brianne Layce Jones

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

It is well documented that a breast cancer diagnosis elicits various psychoemotional feelings. Despite resilience African American women show during breast cancer treatment, gaps remain in the healthcare system in regard to meeting specific needs of this population. Using Kierkegaard’s theory of existentialism, this study examined influences of breast cancer survivorship among African American women after treatment. Data were collected from 10 African American women who were breast cancer survivors residing in Virginia via in-person and virtual interviews. Interviews were conducted using a questionnaire. Resilience, spirituality, and personal coping strategies were values among African American women who survived breast cancer. …

Clinicians’ Perceptions Of Mental Health Care Access For Middle-Aged, Black Women Post-Sexual Assault, Monica Latrice Bolton

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

No abstract provided.

Staff Education To Improve Sleep Hygiene Knowledge And Competency Among Nursing Staff On An Inpatient Behavioral Health Unit, Jennings Ubadi Mekoba

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This staff education project addressed the gap in standardized knowledge and implementation of evidence-based sleep hygiene interventions among nursing staff on an inpatient behavioral health unit. Sleep disturbances affect 80%–90% of psychiatric patients and directly impact treatment outcomes and recovery. I developed the practice-focused question to consider whether an evidence-based sleep hygiene education program would enhance the awareness, knowledge, and practices of the nursing staff regarding sleep hygiene interventions. A thorough literature review of 23 high-quality sources formed the background for the development of a structured educational intervention that encompassed assessment methodologies, nonpharmacological interventions, environmental interventions, and patient education interventions. …

Barriers To Psychological Care: Lived Experiences Of Adults With Spinal Muscular Atrophy, Hovhannes Nazaryan

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Adults with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) may experience significant disability-related stressors, yet mental health services remain underused within this population. Although prior research has identified barriers to service use among individuals with SMA and people with disabilities more broadly, there is less literature about how adults with SMA experience the mental health care system. The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to explore lived experiences of adults living in the United States with SMA as they relate to this system. Guided by the biopsychosocial model and Andersen’s behavioral model, the study involved addressing the question: What are lived experiences …

Phenomenological Study Of Protective Buffering By Afsoc Civilian Spouses During Military Deployments, Janell C. Cotton

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Protective buffering (PB) is used by civilian military spouses to withhold or deny stressful information or concerns to protect their spouse, others, or themselves, from upset or burden. This coping mechanism is commonly used during military deployments, yet is associated with negative physical, psychological, and social consequences. The purpose of this phenomenological qualitative study was to explore the lived experience of when and why civilian military spouses engage in PB during military deployments. Guided by the communication privacy management theory and the transactional stress and coping theory, the study examined the civilian spouses’ perceptions of their active-duty spouses’ stressors, and …

The Psychosocial Experience Of Black Pentecostal Pastors In Western America Post-Pandemic, Isaiah Kelley

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted religious institutions, altering how Black pastors provided spiritual leadership, community support, and social connection. Limited research has examined how these disruptions affected the social identity and psychosocial well-being of African American Pentecostal pastors. This qualitative phenomenological study explored the lived experiences of 11 African American Pentecostal pastors in the western United States following COVID-19 church closures. Guided by social identity theory, semi-structured interviews examined changes in participants’ social identity. Data were analyzed using Moustakas’s phenomenological approach: first- and second-cycle coding, member checking, reflective journals, and thematic analysis. Four themes emerged: psychological and emotional burden, social isolation …

Teachers’ Perceptions Of The Challenges Related To Science Vocabulary Instruction In Wyoming Elementary Schools, Alexis Barney

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Science vocabulary supports conceptual understanding, engagement in scientific discourse, and achievement across content areas. The problem addressed in this study was Wyoming’s low literacy and science performance, as indicated by standardized and national test scores, highlighting the critical need for improved vocabulary instruction to close gaps in content-specific terminology that hindered elementary students’ understanding and achievement. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore Wyoming elementary science teachers’ perceptions of challenges, instructional strategies, and recommendations for improving science vocabulary instruction. Guided by Vygotsky’s (1978) constructivist theory and the concept of the zone of proximal development, the study included …