Digital Commons Network^™

The Impact Of Strategic Alliances On Corporate Performance: Exploring Mechanisms And Conditions In The Context Of Oil And Gas Industry In The Uae, Khalid A. Al Kindi

Dissertations

Strategic Alliances are fast gaining traction in the oil and gas Drilling Industry in the World and the UAE in particular, in contrast to the challenges that arise in the markets as a result of globalization and as a business strategy to enhance the corporate performance of the firms involved in the alliances. The alliances are also in the focus of academic and business researchers and interest in Strategic Alliances has significantly increased over the past decades. This research aims to study to what extent do strategic alliances impact the corporate performance of the firms involved in these alliances in …

Establishing The Roadmap For The Implementation Of Genomic Medicine And Pharmacogenomics In The United Arab Emirates, Azhar Talal Mahmoud Rahma

Dissertations

The slow clinical application of genomic medicine and Pharmacogenomics (PGx) is attributed mainly to lack of knowledge of genomic medicine and PGx and confidence among healthcare professionals, scarcity of infrastructure, and absence of stakeholders’ interest. The objective of this study is to lay out a strategic plan for the implementation of genomic medicine and PGx in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) by exploring multiple areas: (1) the educational environment of genomic medicine and PGx in colleges and universities; (2) knowledge, and attitude of the medical and health sciences students, academics, and the healthcare providers; (3) the current infrastructure of genetic …

Wireless Antenna Multiplexing Using Tunable Antenna For Space Applications, Saifudeen Ahammed Kabeer

Dissertations

Recent development in communication technologies shifts the communication paradigm from point to point to multi-user wireless systems. These developments eased the use of mobile telephone, satellite services, 5G cellular, smart application, and the

Internet of Things. The proliferation of mobile devices has necessitated an elaborate mechanism to serve multiple users over a shared communication medium, and a multiplexing approach is introduced to serve this purpose. Multiplexing refers to a method that aims at combining multiple signals into one signal such that each user would be able to extract its desired data upon receiving the multiplexed signal. This spectrum sharing allows …

Perceived Source Characteristics Of E-Wom Senders Effects On Purchase Intentions And Behaviours: An Experimental Study In The Uae, Hala Saeed Hasan Al Ghusain

Dissertations

The popularity and power of Electronic Word of Mouth (e-WOM) have raised the attention of academia and businesses in the past decade. A plethora of relevant literature investigated the motives of the sender to engage in e-WOM, besides the actual content of the message, leaving unanswerable questions concerning the receiver’s perception of the message and the interpersonal similarities with the sender. This study aimed at filling this gap by assessing the potential impact of e-WOM cues on the receiver experimentally by consulting i) social comparison theory, and ii) social judgment theory. Two experiments were designed and conducted incorporating mixed-method research …

Managing Value Co-Creation Effectiveness Within The Healthcare Setting Of The Emirate Of Abu Dhabi: Patients’ Perspectives, Mariam Hamad Al Meraikhi

Dissertations

Value co-creation is an emerging trend in the healthcare context, a topic that is attracting increasing attention in modern healthcare settings as the emphasis shifts to encouraging patient engagement in care delivery. Value co-creation seems appropriate for the healthcare setting because of the intrinsic involvement of patients in activities associated with promoting and protecting their health. However, its application in healthcare is still evolving. This study develops a model of how various actors in healthcare delivery can collaborate to improve the delivery and quality of healthcare services. Deeper insights into how to achieve value co-creation in delivering care have received …

The Influence Of Parent-Child Relationships On Female Sexual Functioning: A Review Of The Literature, Laura Tillman

Dissertations

This literature review is an examination of the impact of parental communication of sexual functioning in women. Women have many commonalities of sexual experiences and receive similar messages as children and adolescents in regards to their sexual behavior. Current attitudes towards women’s sexuality and sexual functioning and the outcomes that a lack of communication can warrant are areas of importance for this literature review. This Clinical Research Project (CRP) examines how frequently parents communicate about sexual topics with their child, how parents communicate, and parental feelings surrounding discussions. Parenting models and attachment styles are reviewed and how childhood experiences shape …

Support Systems Contributing To Retention Of Latinas In The Superintendent Position, Rachel Lemus Valenzuela

Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of this exploratory mixed-methods study was to identify and describe the support systems that California Latina superintendents perceive contribute to their retention in the position. A second purpose of this study was to discover to what extent these support systems impact their retention as a superintendent.

Methodology: This exploratory sequential mixed-methods study described the experiences of 11 Latina public school district superintendents in California. Participants were selected based on delimiting criteria, and purposive and convenience sampling methods were applied. The qualitative phase consisted of one-to-one interviews to gain in-depth information about the support systems the superintendents perceived …

The Church And Michael Brown: The Influence Of Christianity On Racialized Political Attitudes In Ferguson, Missouri, Tyler Chance

Dissertations

This study examines whether the Christian faith played a pacifying or inspiring role in racialized politics following the death of Michael Brown and subsequent uprisings in Ferguson, Missouri. To evaluate the role of religion in responding to racialized crisis, the author examines both the attitudes of individual citizens and the actions of faith leaders. Using data gathered from two exit-polls conducted by the author in Ferguson and the surrounding area during the period between the death of Michael Brown and the decision not to indict the officer who killed him and then again after the grand jury decision, the author …

Bridging The Gap: A Closer Look At Educational Inequities And Strategies To Support African American Students, Terry Daily-Davis, Lachrisa Crenshaw, Gina M. Jenkins

Dissertations

This autoethnography shares our personal experiences, narratives, and counter-stories as we view the social justice issues of inequities in the education of African American students. Through our journey, we highlighted our personal views and real scenarios as seen through the eyes of a reading specialist, social worker, and college-level administrator. Critical Race Theory in Education (CRT) served as our primary guiding force allowing us to focus on the following tenets: counter-stories, permanence of racism, whiteness as property, interest convergence, and critique of liberalism (Dixson, Anderson & Donnor, 2017). Critical Race Theory (CRT) is the framework in Social Sciences that examines …

Barriers To Post-Secondary Success, Douglas Swanson, Najeana Henderson, Maritza Sloan

Dissertations

This study reviews factors that prior studies have identified or failed to consider as barriers to post-secondary success. The three main areas include academic success for Latinx students after high school, organizational systems and their impact on African-American students’ postsecondary readiness, and what workers think of their high school education with regards to career preparedness.

Five factors are identified as major barriers for Latinx students to continue in a higher education system. A survey of former students from Saint Louis, Missouri, and Dallas, Texas, metroplex area identified 56 Latinx students that participated in an initial survey. This led to a …

A Tale Of Two Schools: A Study Of Student Risk Factors And Exclusionary Suspension Incidents, Brandy Nicole Williamson

Dissertations

discipline practices can widen the opportunity gap for at-risk students (Baker & Coley, 2013; Black, 2016; Crosby et al., 2018; Gibson & Gibson, 2019; Mallett, 2016; McCarter, 2017; Porter, 2015; Williams et al., 2017). The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between student risk factors and exclusionary discipline rates. Identification of a significant relationship between exclusionary discipline and student risk factors could lead to an increased awareness of precertification and practicing educator professional development needs. Identification of a significant relationship between trauma-related risk factors and exclusionary discipline could lead to an awareness of exclusionary discipline alternatives more …

Moth To A Flame: An Investigation Of The Personality Traits And Early-Life Trauma Histories Of Women Who Have Survived Adult Relationships With Men With Pathological Narcissism, Michelle D. Roberts

Dissertations

Although emotional and psychological abuse, in addition to physical assault, are now commonly accepted as aspects of Intimate Partner Violence (IPV), narcissistic abuse as a subset of IPV is not widely recognized or understood. Due to the extremely debilitating, chronic mental health effects of narcissistic abuse (Bremner, 2008; Campbell, 2002; Yoon et al., 2009), this study sought to explore the experiences, personalities, early-life (childhood) trauma histories and mental health outcomes of heterosexual women who self-identify as having been in an adult romantic relationship with a man with pathological narcissism. Specifically, this study aimed to identify the nature and frequency of …

Examining The Impact Of Interscholastic State Activity Association Athletics Expansion At The Middle School Level In A Large Urban School District, Nathaniel Brooks Gillespie

Dissertations

Few studies have been conducted to investigate the educational benefits of participation in extracurricular activities during middle school (Hughes et al., 2016; Knifsend & Graham, 2012). This mixed-methods study involved elicitation of athletic directors’ perceptions and analysis of secondary data to determine the impact of interscholastic athletics participation on school connectedness. The qualitative portion of the study involved an analysis of the perceptions of athletic directors. The quantitative portion of the study involved an analysis of grade-point average (GPA), attendance, and discipline data of middle school students who participated in intramural athletics during the 2016– 2017 school year and those …

The Impact Of Supervisory Roles On Employee Engagement At A Private Midwest University, Brittany D. Brown

Dissertations

Previous research has confirmed that high performing employees have higher levels of engagement. This study explored factors influencing employee engagement in the context of higher education with particular emphasis on the potential impact of supervisory behaviors. Participants included faculty, adjunct instructors, staff, and coaches. No significant relationships were found between direct supervisor behaviors and the extent to which the research sample was engaged in their work. In addition to meaningful opportunities, recognition and collaboration with others were found to be important motivators through which engagement at work is heightened.

The Role Of The Academic Librarian: A Comparison Of Administrator And Librarian Perspectives, Christina Prucha

Dissertations

Abbott (1988) theorized librarians belonged to a class of professionals whose division of labor required constant negotiate with other stakeholders. Regardless of or perhaps because of constant negotiation, librarians have advocated for and documented roles as educators, faculty, and professionals from the earliest days of the profession (Sawtelle, 1878) to the present (Coker et al., 2010; Cronin, 2001; Gabbay & Shoham, 2019; Galbraith et al., 2016; Garcia & Barbour, 2018; Hicks, 2014; Hill, 1994; Zai, 2015). To a lesser extent, librarians have also documented how others view librarian roles (Christiansen et al., 2004; English, 1984), and Fleming-May and Douglass (2014) …

The Influence Of Irtiqa’A Inspectorate Program On School Leaders’ Professional Identity And Their Operational Practices In Abu Dhabi Schools, Sameera Abdulla Alhosani

Dissertations

Entering a new phase of attaining excellence in all sectors, the UAE has specifically emphasized the importance of improving and enhancing the education sector, in order to establish a knowledge-based economy. One of the main functions of the school inspections is the school development and school enhancement for improving the performance of educational institutions through inspectorial programs, which are vital in ensuring the success of the quality of education offered in the UAE. The study explores the influence of school inspections on school leaders’ (principals, vice-principals, and lead teachers/heads of faculties) in Abu Dhabi Schools. The effects of school inspections …

Lowering Stress, Anxiety And Distress Levels In Medical Oncology Patients Actively Receiving Intravenous Treatment With Utilization Of Art Therapy, Katarina Devault, Mary Vanerhoef

Dissertations

The purpose of this DNP quality improvement (QI) project was to examine and evaluate the effects of the Self-Book (AT) intervention on stress, anxiety and distress levels of medical oncology patients who are actively receiving IV treatment at a University of Florida (UF) Health clinic.

Strategies That Exemplary Elementary Dual Immersion Principals Use To Create An Organizational Culture Of Inclusiveness, Stephanie K. Smart

Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of this sequential explanatory mixed methods study was to identify and describe the leadership strategies that exemplary elementary dual immersion principals in Orange and San Diego counties in Southern California use to create an organizational culture of inclusiveness using Kennedy’s (2008) five leadership qualities of cultural differences.

Methodology: This sequential explanatory mixed methods research study utilized quantitative surveys and qualitative interviews of 15 exemplary elementary dual immersion principals in Orange and San Diego counties in Southern California to identify and describe the strategies used to create an organizational culture of inclusiveness according to Kennedy’s (2008) five qualities …

Perceptions Regarding The Benefits Of Social And Emotional Learning, Tina L. Morse

Dissertations

According to the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL) (2018) and the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) (2018), only eight states have kindergarten through 12th-grade learning goals to articulate what students should know and be able to do socially and emotionally. Another 16 states have standards for social and emotional development for early elementary students (CASEL, 2018; NCSL, 2018). Researchers have suggested teaching social and emotional learning skills early in life to foster successful and productive citizens beneficial to their communities (CASEL, 2018). Jones and Doolittle (2017) recommended incorporating social and emotional learning into state educational standards …

What Are School Counselors From Exemplary Alternative Schools Doing To Support Social And Emotional Learning With Students?, Sandra Shaw

Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of this phenomenological study was to identify and describe the best practices school counselors from exemplary alternative education schools in San Bernardino County use to support social emotional learning (SEL) using the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL) core competencies (self-management, self-awareness, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision-making). An additional purpose of the study was to describe the CASEL SEL core competencies that were perceived as most important by school counselors from exemplary alternative education schools in San Bernardino County.

Methodology: This qualitative phenomenological study identified and described the best practices school counselors from …

Safety Climate And The Use Of Personal Protective Equipment By Petroleum Refinery Workers, Mark Zapp

Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore the impact of peer and supervisor influences of task risks associated with refinery workers’ use of PPE while working in an industrial environment. The study focused on the safety climate model to discover the perceived value workers placed on safety and Fishbein and Ajzen’s theory of planned behavior’s roadmap for understanding their use of PPE.

Methodology: This study used phenomenological qualitative methodology to collect responses from 16 petroleum refinery contractor workers from Los Angeles, California, regarding the influences peers, supervisors, and task risk have on their use of PPE. Respondents …

The Phenomenological Study On The Impact Of Servant Leadership For Establishing A Culture Of High Performance As Perceived By High School Principals, Angela Lawyer

Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore and describe the perceived impact of Patterson’s (2003) 7 servant leadership constructs on high school principals in establishing a culture of high performance.

Methodology: The qualitative phenomenological method was decided by 8 thematic researchers to study the high school principals’ perceived impact of the 7 servant leadership constructs developed by Patterson (2003) on establishing a culture of high performance. This method was selected to investigate the experiences, perceptions, and impact of the participants to help identify how the establishment of a culture of high performance in a high school setting …

Phenomenological Study On The Lived Experience Of Black Women In Positions Of Leadership In California State Government, Tonia Burgess

Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore the lived experiences of Black women in their roles as leaders in the California state government with respect to support received and barriers encountered.

Methodology: The phenomenological qualitative study involved exploring the lived experiences of 12 Black women in positions of leadership in northern California state government with regard to the supports they received and the barriers they encountered during their careers in California state government. Patton (2015) asserted that phenomenology's philosophical interpretation occurs when individuals only know what they experience. Additionally, "to fully understand the phenomenon, it must be …

The Challenges Of Lesbian Senior Leaders In The Army Branch Of The Department Of Defense, Ella Nunley-Spaights

Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore the perceptions of lesbian senior leaders and the types of challenges they experience while serving in the Army Branch of the Department of Defense. A secondary purpose of this study was to identify strategies lesbian senior leaders employ to overcome perceived challenges while serving in the Army Branch of the Department of Defense.

Methodology: This phenomenological study described the lived experiences of seven lesbian senior leaders serving in the Army who were retired from service within the past five years. Convenience and snowball sampling were utilized to identify women who …

The Influence Of Implicit Bias On Student Evaluations Of Teaching At A Missouri Community College, Kimberly Franklin Berry

Dissertations

Student Evaluations of Teaching (SET) are the primary instrument used to measure teaching effectiveness by colleges and universities nationwide (Wallace, Lewis, & Allen, 2019). Many colleges and universities use the SET for personnel decisions regarding tenure, promotion, and termination. Yet, the possibility of implicit bias impacting the SET and resulting in discriminatory practices against marginalized faculty continues to be a concern for higher education (Mitchell & Martin, 2018). The effectiveness of the SET continues to be debated by faculty and administrators due to concerns about reliability, validity, and bias (Bonitz, 2011). This quantitative study was conducted to examine the influence …

The Politics Of Superintendent-Board Relationships: The Strategies Exemplary Suburban Elementary School District Superintendents Use To Work With The Political Styles Of Board Members, Susan Andreas-Bervel

Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of this sequential explanatory mixed methods study was to identify the political styles of exemplary suburban elementary school district superintendents and school board members in Southern California as perceived by superintendents. In addition, it was the purpose of this study to identify and explain the political strategies exemplary suburban elementary school district superintendents in Southern California use to work with the different political styles of school board members.

Methodology: This study utilized a sequential explanatory mixed methods research design. Quantitative data were collected through surveys to determine how superintendents perceived their own political style and the political …

Foot Care Confidence Of Individuals With Diabetes In A Medically Underserved Area, Rachel A. R. Ortega

Dissertations

More than 30 million Americans have diabetes, and approximately five in every 1000 will be hospitalized for lower limb amputations each year. Foot care is vitally important to prevent both limb and life threatening complications in patients with diabetes. The rate of diabetes in Ohio is 11% and in Lucas County is 12%. High rates of diabetes and low incomes are prevalent in medically underserved areas in Lucas County. Additionally, income, education level, and access to primary care pose unique barriers to foot care for individuals in medically underserved areas. Foot care education that addresses these barriers may affect participation …

Dames Paving Pathways To Directorships. A Study About Female Leaders In Art Museums In The United States, Mechele Manno

Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to examine and describe the career pathways of female art museum directors in the United States

Methodology: This phenomenological study described lived experiences of eight female art museum directors with over five years of directorship experience from museums with operating budgets over $10 million and in states that receive the highest private funding: CA, DC, IL, MA, NY, OH, PA, and TX. Data collection consisted of in-depth interviews using a scripted interview guide in research categories: a) motivation; b) career advancement; c) barriers; and d) support.

Findings: All major findings were …

Embedded Librarianship And Student Success In Graduate Nursing Programs, Jennifer Marie Brady

Dissertations

The academic library’s contribution to the institutional mission and goals is something library administrators have been striving to communicate to administrators since 2010 when the Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL) released their report entitled The Value of Academic Libraries. The purpose of this study was to evaluate how students perceive and report their usage of the academic library and to determine if students demonstrate a higher level of information literacy competency at the completion of a course including an embedded librarian compared to students without access to an embedded librarian. Library survey responses were evaluated for frequency of …

A Mixed-Methods Study Regarding Full-Time And Adjunct Faculty Burnout In A Community College Setting, Margaret Leigh Loflin-Williams

Dissertations

Until recently, compassion fatigue and burnout were primarily associated with the profession of healthcare, not education (Jurado et al., 2019). Research on compassion fatigue and burnout in education has been focused on elementary and secondary schools with little attention given to the higher education sector (Kaiser et al., 2017; Kelly & Lefton, 2017). This mixed-methods study was focused on compassion fatigue and burnout in both adjunct faculty and full-time faculty members at a southwest Missouri comprehensive community college. For the quantitative portion of the study, a Likerttype survey was sent to 250 adjunct faculty members and 150 full-time faculty members …