Digital Commons Network^™

The Cost Of Workplace Bullying In Irish Universities, Patrick Pearse Rockett

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Employees who demean and degrade coworkers cost organizations billions of dollars every year. Workplace bullying is a business problem that affects up to 15% of employees, and little empirical research is available to establish the extent of bullying in academia. Bullies flourish in decentralized structures, and universities can be particularly susceptible to bullying behavior because of their decentralized structures of teaching and research that promote the growth of microclimates in segregated silos, from laboratories to small departments. The purpose of this multiple-case, census sample study was to explore the cost-reduction strategies that university human resource (HR) leaders use to manage …

Perceived Academic Needs Of Military Veterans Within A For-Profit, Yvonne Rose Ross

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The number of recent U.S. military veterans attending college has increased due to the Veterans Education Assistance Act; however, retention and graduation rates for this population have declined. The purpose of this qualitative study was to identify the experiences and academic needs of recent military veterans as they transition from the military to academic life at a for-profit, proprietary college. In addition, this study identified differences in the problems faced by male and female veterans and explored whether veterans understood the resources available to them as they enrolled in higher education. Schlossberg's transitional theory was the conceptual framework used in …

Skills Women Bring To The Position Of Chief Of Police, Jo-Ann Helen Savoie

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Organizational leaders are unaware of the gender-specific leadership skillsets women possess to increase organizational effectiveness and how to address potential barriers for assuring these skillsets are recognized as effective. Of the estimated 69,000 police officers serving in Canada, approximately 14,000 are women. Of those 14,000, only 10% hold a senior rank, and less than 3% hold the position of Chief of Police. Technology speed, globalized crime, and shrinking budgets have created a need for a new style of leader in policing, and increasing the representation of women may address this need. This multiple case study used the concept of doing …

A Comprehensive Analysis Of Computer Use Among African Americans, Kandice Lauren Smith

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

On average, African Americans receive lower wages in the workplace due to lack of advanced technical skills. The reason for technical deficiency among some African Americans is often lack of exposure to IT resources at an early age. The purpose of this ethnographic study was to identify and explore the factors that contribute to lack of IT resources available to some African Americans to cultivate IT skills. Information literacy theory formed the conceptual framework, which focused on information resources that African American and Caucasians use in the workforce for problem solving and retrieving information. Data were collected by conducting face-to-face …

Teachers' Perceptions Of The Influence Of Professional Development On Music Integration, Marcy Thurmond Simmons

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

International Baccalaureate (IB) schools are focused on a school-wide approach to developing inquiring students who are motivated to succeed. The problem explored in this case study was based on a local IB elementary school's response to a reform model to integrate music into other content areas. The curriculum lacked an interdisciplinary approach to music education even though teachers had participated in some professional development (PD) to help them integrate music into content areas. The purpose of this study was to investigate the perceptions of elementary teachers regarding the influence of professional development on music integration at the IB elementary school. …

Combat-Related Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: Locus Of Control And Marital Satisfaction, Jesus Botello

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Combat-related posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a psychological condition researchers have cited as a major cause of marital discord and divorce for veterans with PTSD. This study examined the psychological construct of locus of control among the wives of veterans diagnosed with combat-related PTSD and whether or not it was a predictor of marital satisfaction within this context. An extensive search of the current literature revealed no previous studies that had investigated this relationship. Utilizing the family systems theory to address this gap, this study sought to compare reported marital satisfaction in wives with an internal locus of control to …

The Association Of Lead With Cataracts And Vision-Related Problems In Perimenopausal Women, Imogene Drakes

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Around the world, women are subject to an earlier incidence of cataracts, have a higher risk for cataracts, and also have a higher risk for other vision-related problems than men. Previous research has indicated an association between endogenous lead stored in long bones and cataracts in men over 60 years of age; however, a similar study in women did not reveal an association. This case control study was conducted to investigate whether perimenopausal mobilization of endogenous lead serves as a possible causative factor for women's generalized vision issues and cataract incidence in particular. Secondary data were gathered from 1,416 women …

Transgender Identity Development In A Rural Area: A Multiple Case Study, Nicholaus Lee Erber

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

A transgender person develops an identity over time and must overcome several obstacles such as stigma, transphobia, discrimination, and sexism, which can be even more difficult for transgender people who choose to come out and transition in a rural area. Grounded in queer theory, social constructivism, and rural identity development theory, the purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to explore the lived experiences of 4 transgender persons who came out and transitioned in a rural area, and who accessed online communities as a source of information during their identity development. A 4-stage process was used to collect data, …

Small Seasonal Business Strategies To Increase Profits Through Community Collaboration, Kevin B. Gibbons

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Seasonal small business owners (e.g., boating and golf industries), primarily within the upper and Midwestern United States, face challenges for profit and growth because of a brief business potential year and limited time to establish a reliable and committed customer base. The purpose of this case study was to explore strategies that seasonal small business owners in Oakland County, Michigan may use to collaborate with local associations and charitable organizations to increase profits. Stakeholder theory served as the conceptual framework for this study. A purposive sample of 4 successful small seasonal business owners in Oakland County, Michigan participated in face-to-face …

Displaced Workers With Low Academic Skills Retraining At A Community College, May Hang Khang

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Community colleges in Western North Carolina have enrolled many displaced workers who lack basic academic skills and are unable to find jobs. This study focused on the problem of displaced workers with low academic skills who rarely advance beyond Adult Basic Education (ABE) classes for retraining in high-tech job skills. The purpose of this single case study was to determine the barriers that prevent functionally illiterate displaced workers or nontraditional students enrolled in ABE programs from completing ABE classes and advancing to retraining programs. The adult learning styles and learning impediments framework were used to study what prevented student advancement …

How Nursing Educators Address The Differing Learning Styles Of Students, Kimmie Sue Gore

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Educational research has shown that student learning styles, and educators' consideration of learning styles, significantly influence the academic success of adult learners. This project study was designed to identify the perceptions and attitudes of nursing faculty concerning student learning styles and consideration of student learning styles in their praxis. The study was guided by Malcolm Knowles' theory of andragogy, and investigated nursing educators' knowledge about learning styles and course delivery with regards to students with different learning styles. It used a descriptive multiple case study approach and collected data among nursing educators using the Principles of Adult Learning Survey (PALS) …

The Impact Of A Nonpublic Schools Early Childhood Development Program On Readiness Achievement, Catina Pierre

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Researchers recognize that if certain academic skills are not present upon entrance into formal schooling, literacy achievement can be affected. The impact of a local early childhood program on student school readiness was unknown at the study elementary school. The purpose of this quantitative study was to compare the academic readiness between kindergarten students who participated in the Nonpublic School Early Childhood Development Program and those who did not. The theoretical framework was based on Bruner's constructivist theory of scaffolding, which highlights the importance of providing support to students in the initial stages of learning. Early achievement data from a …

Student Perspectives Regarding School Failure At The American Samoa Community College, Siamaua Ropeti

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Student Perspectives Regarding School Failure at the American Samoa Community College

by

Siamaua Ropeti

MEd, University of Hawaii, Manoa, 2006

BEd, University of Hawaii, Manoa, 2000

Doctoral Study Submitted in Partial Fulfillment

of the Requirements for the Degree of

Doctor of Education

Walden University

December 2014

Students taking remedial English courses at the American Samoa Community College are facing problems relating to school failure. The purpose of this study was to explore the stories and experiences of students who were not passing in remedial English courses. This study was guided by (a) Weiner's attribution theory, which posits that students achieve …

Teachers' Experiences Concerning The Rise In Student Aggression, Doris Massey Works

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This research study addressed the problem of aggressive and disruptive behaviors for kindergarten through Grade 12 students in a school district located in Southeastern United States. The study examined classroom teachers' daily lived experiences with student aggression. Using a phenomenological design and guided by the frustration aggression theory and the social learning theory, the research questions explored teachers' responses to what can be done to help with disruptive and aggressive students and how social learning could help students with these behaviors. Data were collected from interviews with 5 individual teachers who had experienced aggressive and disruptive behaviors; data were also …

Satisfaction And Use: Comparing First-Time Victims And Victims Of Multiple Sexual Assaults, Julie Lindahl

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Sexual assault advocacy services are intended to support and empower victims during the aftermath of an assault. This study's purpose was to identify sexual assault victims' use and satisfaction with victim advocacy services, and to compare those outcomes in first-time victims and victims of multiple sexual assaults. The goal was to determine if victims of multiple sexual assaults would seek services again due to satisfaction after receiving prior sexual assault advocacy services. Guided by empowerment theory, this study purported that victim satisfaction and seeking additional services would promote coping and empowerment for the victims and result in positive social change. …

The Relationship Between Final Grades And Tutoring Methods Of At-Risk College Freshmen, Valeria A. Russ

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Without academic intervention, such as tutoring, at-risk students may not pass their courses. This study examined differences between the final grades of at-risk students and tutoring methods, such as self-determined tutoring, academic advisor scheduled tutoring, group tutoring, one-to-one tutoring, peer tutoring, and professional tutoring. This study drew from cognitive learning theory and humanistic theory for its conceptual framework. A quantitative, ex post facto research design was used. Archived data supplied by the Registrar's Office and the Academic Enrichment Coordinator included records of 95 male and female students conditionally enrolled at Methodist University in the Academic Enrichment Program during the 2007 …

Social Disorder And Level Of Engagement Of Small Business Owners In The Virgin Islands, Saul Santiago

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The U.S. Virgin Islands is experiencing an economic recession, manifested through social disorders such as abandoned and vandalized houses. Research points to social disorders and lack of community engagement as key factors inhibiting community development efforts. In order to strengthen these struggling communities, research has highlighted the need for public-private partnerships. Guided by Ajzen's theory of planned behavior, which posits that attitudes can predict behaviors, this study examined the relationship between social disorder and engagement of small business owners in community development. Small business owners in the U.S. Virgin Islands received an Internet or paper survey; a total of 79 …

Nitrate In Private Wells:Knowledge, Oppinions,And Perceptions Of Stakeholders, Augustus D. Jaja

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The purpose of this quantitative study was to examine data describing nitrate concentration and cases of congenital cardiac defects. Residents with private wells and other stakeholders need data to make informed environmental decisions about the adverse health implications of nitrate contamination of private well water. Researchers have examined the exposure of nitrate in contaminated groundwater, but they have not examined nitrate levels in unregulated water systems. This gap in the literature highlighted the need to provide nitrate data for future research and private well users. Guided by the social ecological model, a quantitative, cross-sectional, nonexperimental design was used to survey …

School District Stress Prevention Practices In A Southern U.S. State, Stephen Field Keohane

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The growing recognition that stress is a risk factor for youth health problems has spawned research on school-based stress prevention programs and services. While such programs and services are now available for adoption by schools, there is an absence of data on their use in U.S. schools systems. In the current study, Everett Rogers's diffusion of innovations model provided the theoretical framework for the investigation of school district stress prevention practices in one southern U.S. state. The sample for this quantitative descriptive study consisted of 135 out of 136 active public districts, and 72% of school systems completed and returned …

The Effect Of A State Legitimation Process On Child Support Payments And Father-Child Relationships, Chalonda L. Smith

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

For noncustodial fathers, having legal rights and leaving an inheritance to their child or children are important aspects of being an active father. Georgia state law sees a difference between paternity and legitimation, and for some noncustodial fathers, although paternity is established and they are responsible for supporting that child financially and medically as deemed through child support enforcement, they have no legal rights to their children, nor can they petition the courts for visitation until legitimation is established. This correlational study examined the impact that the legitimation policy has on noncustodial fathers and their relationship with their child, as …

Nonattendance Rates And Barriers To Health Care In Outpatient Clinic Settings, Susan Louise Geiger

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Lower socioeconomic status, ethnicity, and race are associated with reduced health care use in the United States. Patients who continually miss their appointments suffer significant negative results, including a disruption in continuity of care, complications with their chronic illnesses, and an increase in hospital readmissions. The health belief model was used as the theoretical support for this project that investigated the underlying causes of no-shows at an urban hospital-based outpatient clinic in the United States. It used a quantitative, descriptive design and examined a minority, underserved, and underinsured population that was receiving care at the research site and had a …

Diabetes Among Hispanic Immigrants: The Impact Of Age At Migration, Nancy Hahn

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Diabetes is a disease that affects the Hispanic population in disproportionate numbers. With larger numbers of immigrants coming to the United States who are of Hispanic origin, the individual risk and health burden of this disease will have a major impact on the quality of life and the health care system. Research into the influence of the timing of changes in lifestyle suggested an association between specific levels of socioecological exposures and certain health conditions. This study examined that possibility. The use of the National Health Interview Survey, 2005-2011, provided adequate data for examining whether age at migration was associated …

The Impact Of Implementing Bedside Report To Transition Patients Across Units, Tonya Johnson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Evidence supports bedside report as a mechanism to improve communication, patient safety, quality of report, and nurse and patient satisfaction when implemented in a closed unit. The purpose of this project was to examine the impact of implementing a bedside report process to transition patients from the emergency department to a medical-surgical unit. Specifically, the goal was to analyze the impact of a bedside- reporting process on patient progression and on nurse and patient satisfaction. Lewin's change model provided the theoretical framework for this quasi-experimental study. Patient progression data consisted of 706 patient transitions from the emergency department to the …

Best Predictors Of A Person's Long-Term Success With Quitting Tobacco, Nhu-Tam P. Villar

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Smoking relapse rates among tobacco users remain high after quit attempts, with or without interventions. Though researchers have examined stress-related factors contributing to high relapse rate, little empirical research has concentrated on variables predicting long-term quit maintenance. The purpose of this study was to determine the predictability of stress management tools, including exercise motivation, eating behaviors, social support, and self-compassion, as well as the significant combined variance of these variables, in a person's long-term maintenance with tobacco use abstinence. Bandura's social cognitive theory was used to highlight the factors contributing to health behavior such as tobacco use. This study involved …

Spiritual Transcendence And Burnout Rate Among Psychologists And Social Workers Working With Severely Mentally Ill Patients, Cynthia Fuhrer Cameron

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Burnout is a psychological syndrome caused by occupational stress, which often manifests in mental health professionals who experience demanding and emotionally charged relationships with clients. Guided by the equity theory, this study examined the relationship between spiritual transcendence and burnout in psychologists and social workers who work with severely mentally ill patients after accounting for specific personality traits. Constructs were measured via the Spiritual Transcendence scale (STS), Maslach Burnout inventory (MBI), and the NEO-Five Factor Inventory (NEO-FFI). Sixty eight psychologists and social workers were selected from psychiatric hospitals, community centers, and private practice in Nevada to participate in the study. …

Clinical Significance Of Response Shift In A Spine Interventional Clinical Trial, Robin Carlson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The effectiveness of treatments for degenerative spine conditions, where the primary symptom is back pain, is typically determined using patient-reported quality of life (QoL) measures. However, patients may adjust their internal standards when scoring QoL based on factors other than their health. This response shift phenomenon could confound the interpretation of study data and impact effectiveness conclusions. In the current study, response shift was examined using structural equation modeling (SEM) and previously collected clinical trial data comparing 2 minimally invasive medical devices in lumbar spinal stenosis patients through 1 year postintervention. In subject QoL results, reprioritization shift between 3 months …

Steps To Reducing Heart Failure Hospital Readmissions Through Improvement In Outpatient Care, Paticia Laubach Dunn

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The outpatient care of the heart failure (HF) patient is fragmented due to the lack of evidence-based practice guidelines use. The primary goal of this project was to improve the care of the HF patient in the outpatient arena through use of clinical pathways using the logic model as the project framework. The intervention was carried out over a 4-week period on a convenience, random sample of patients (n = 80) attending a cardiology practice. The patients were recruited from 2 physicians' patient populations and were selected based on an adult diagnosis of HF, reduced ejection fraction of <40% at some point in time, and the New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class II-V. Comparisons were made in the documentation of care between patients on or off the pathway. The intervention included documentation of patient education, care follow-up, medications, NYHA functional class, and symptom exacerbation, documented in the electronic medical record. The quality of care data were evaluated based on 3 of the Joint Commission core measures for outpatient care of the HF patient. Additional data were collected regarding use of the clinical pathway based on provider and week of implementation. Data were analyzed via a Chi-square test of independence comparing pathway use by provider and use of pathway as study progressed. The comparative results show statistically significant differences in use of the pathway by provider and a statistically significant increase in use during the project . The quality of care results varied in statistical significance. The pathway utilization increased over time and provided a method for standardizing documentation of care for the HF patient in this outpatient clinic, a benefit for HF patients and providers in this cardiology practice and beyond.

The Effect Of An Online Coping Skill Application On Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis Sufferers, Jennifer H. Garrison

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Many individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS) are classified as having relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS), a form of the illness that requires constant symptom management for suffers to achieve optimum outcomes. There are only a few community-based educational programs that exist to help RRMS sufferers cope with their illness; the effectiveness of those that have been fielded has not yet been adequately assessed. The research questions of this study were to determine if an online training development module would increase the coping skills of those affected by RRMS and if the online educational module would be more effective at improving the coping …

Business Governance Best Practices Of Virtual Project Teams, William James Hamersly

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The steady increase in project failure rates is leaving businesses searching for better integration techniques to virtualize their project environments. Through virtualization, organizations may have positive impacts on communities across geographical boundaries and resource constraints. The focus of this phenomenological study was to explore, via the experiences of successful project management practitioners, best practice strategies for integrating virtual project teams through data analysis. The conceptual framework included von Bertalanffy's general systems theory, decomposition model of business process and project management frameworks, and the recomposition approach. Twenty-two senior project managers with more than 5 years of experience managing virtual project environments …

Centering Pregnancy Implementation And Its Effect On Preterm Birth And Low Birthweight, Carole Ann Moleti

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Preterm birth (PTB) and low birthweight (LBW) babies are the source of a large burden of infant, neonatal, and childhood morbidity. The purpose of this project was to expand the use of the CenteringPregnancy^TM Group Prenatal Care Model as an evidence-based intervention for management of both medical and psychosocial risk in low-income, ethnic and racial minorities in New York City. The standardized model developed by Schindler Rising decreases the incidence of preterm birth and low birthweight and increases the rate of breastfeeding. A CenteringPregnancy^TM program implementation plan, customized to meet the needs of a multisite urban hospital system, …