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Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

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Effects Of Laws, Policies, And Rehabilitation Programs On African American Male Juvenile Recidivism In Southwest Georgia, Kizzie Donaldson-Richard Jan 2020

Effects Of Laws, Policies, And Rehabilitation Programs On African American Male Juvenile Recidivism In Southwest Georgia, Kizzie Donaldson-Richard

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The laws, policies, and rehabilitation programs of Georgia’s juvenile justice system need to be revisited, especially given the documented rates of recidivism of African American male juveniles in southwest Georgia. The primary purpose of the juvenile justice system is to rehabilitate youthful offenders and to ensure that recidivism, defined as 3 or more arrests within 3 years after release, does not occur. Data have suggested that corrective behavior sanctions, rehabilitation programs, and lenient sentencing have escalated African American male juvenile recidivism rates, particularly in Dougherty and Tift Counties, Georgia. The purpose of this qualitative methodological study was to explore the …


Comparison Of Diagnosis And Hospital Referral Rates Between Physician And Non-Physician Practitioners, Joshua Alan Fisher Jan 2020

Comparison Of Diagnosis And Hospital Referral Rates Between Physician And Non-Physician Practitioners, Joshua Alan Fisher

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Physician extenders as support in healthcare facilities has been increasing in the United States and has the potential to help in currently under served communities. This study evaluated the quality of care provided by physician extenders through the examination of average diagnosis and referral rates that may inform healthcare leaders and policymakers in future decisions. The literature review pointed to a gap in the research related to the quality of care based on patient diagnosis and referral rates by physicians and physician extenders. The conclusions were based on a quantitative analysis of secondary data from the National Ambulatory Medical Care …


Physician–Patient Communication: Association With Health Literacy In African Americans Living With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus, Brittany Egeh Jan 2020

Physician–Patient Communication: Association With Health Literacy In African Americans Living With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus, Brittany Egeh

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Health literacy is needed throughout care to understand basic health, prevent diseases, understand diagnoses, and treatment and management of complicated diseases, such as Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Inadequate physician–patient communication is related to medication errors and overall understanding of basic health information in chronic condition such as T2DM. The purpose of this study was to examine the association between physician–patient communication and health literacy, glycemic control, diabetic knowledge, and demographics. The target population consisted of African Americans, ages 18-75, diagnosed with T2DM. Primary data were collected from a family medicine clinic using 4 questionnaires: s-TOFHLA (short form of functional …


Examining The Elements Of Fidelity Of Implementation Of A Reading Program, Emir Gonzalez Jan 2020

Examining The Elements Of Fidelity Of Implementation Of A Reading Program, Emir Gonzalez

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Middle school reading scores throughout the state of California have been predominantly less than average in recent years. A school located within this region has struggled to raise reading scores. An unknown problem existed that stemmed from the implementation of the school’s reading program. The purpose of this investigation was to (a) determine the level of fidelity to the reading program, (b) understand the teachers’ perceptions of the reading program, and (c) understand the structure of the reading program. The theory of andragogy guided this qualitative case study. Six teachers from a local school participated in the investigation. The teachers …


Body Dissatisfaction, Self-Objectification, And Ideal Body Size Among Alaska Native Women, Toni K. Monahan Jan 2020

Body Dissatisfaction, Self-Objectification, And Ideal Body Size Among Alaska Native Women, Toni K. Monahan

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Body dissatisfaction is often a precursor to eating disorders and a variety of destructive behaviors that put a person at risk physically and reduce a person’s quality of life. This study added to the growing literature on ethnic differences in perceptions of the body by comparing Alaska Native and Alaskan White women on 4 measures. These included a demographic questionnaire, the Body Esteem Scale for Adolescents and Adults, the Contour Drawing Rating Scale, and the Objectified Body Consciousness Scale. The theoretical framework for the study consisted of social comparison theory and feminist theory. A convenience sample of 134 Alaska Native …


Dsm-5, Asperger's Syndrome Diagnosis, And Mothers' Experiences With Mental Health Services, Pamela G. Riley Jan 2019

Dsm-5, Asperger's Syndrome Diagnosis, And Mothers' Experiences With Mental Health Services, Pamela G. Riley

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Mothers who have children with a previous Asperger's syndrome diagnosis had to go through a process to maintain or obtain services for their child when the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Health Disorders (DSM-5) removed the diagnosis. Prior to and since the release of the DSM-5 in 2013, there has been an expression of concern in the literature about how this diagnostic change would affect services for children with a previous Asperger's syndrome diagnosis. Current research has not sufficiently explored the experiences mothers have had with this process. The purpose of this hermeneutical phenomenological study …


Tobacco Treatment Education Module For Nurses Working In The Inpatient Psychiatric Setting, Marchell Rene Spielmann Jan 2019

Tobacco Treatment Education Module For Nurses Working In The Inpatient Psychiatric Setting, Marchell Rene Spielmann

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Tobacco use among people with mental illness remain a significant problem in the western United States. At the project site, there is widespread tobacco use among patients with mental illness and lack of training for nurses to address the issue. The purpose of this project was to educate nurses working in the acute psychiatric setting about evidence-based tobacco treatment interventions. The practice-focused question addressed whether a tobacco education program would increase nurses' knowledge, confidence, and skills to provide tobacco treatment interventions to patients with a mental illness. Self-determination theory and the transtheoretical model of change provided the theoretical framework for …


Experiences Of Subtle Sexism Among Women Employees In The National Park Service, Audrey Marie Ashcraft Jan 2019

Experiences Of Subtle Sexism Among Women Employees In The National Park Service, Audrey Marie Ashcraft

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Although blatant sexism persists in the workplace, there is a subtler type of sexism that is not often discussed. Some of the harmful outcomes that concern organization employees and leaders include decreased job satisfaction and morale, increased stress and turnover, damaged workplace relationships, barriers to career development for women, and decreased feelings of safety in law enforcement employees. Subtle sexism is often disguised as friendliness or chivalry, and therefore is difficult to detect, so it is often ignored or trivialized. The harms are cumulative and compound over time. The purpose of this qualitative, phenomenological study was to gather data about …


A Qualitative Study Of Instructional Practices For English Learners In Elementary Mathematics, Katie Corinne Baum Jan 2019

A Qualitative Study Of Instructional Practices For English Learners In Elementary Mathematics, Katie Corinne Baum

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

It is important for elementary teachers to provide quality mathematics instruction for English Learner (EL) students to close achievement gaps. Elementary mathematics teachers in the Keystone School District were struggling to implement instructional practices for EL students in mathematics as evidenced by communications with teachers, administrators, and documents from the state-required action plan. The purpose of this study was to explore the instructional practices and the challenges encountered by teachers related to providing mathematics instruction for ELs. The Sheltered Instruction Observation Protocol Model served as the conceptual framework. The research questions focused on the instructional practices that teachers were implementing …


Tutoring Time In Trio Student Support Services And Remedial Course Success, Jeannie Riddle Knecht Jan 2019

Tutoring Time In Trio Student Support Services And Remedial Course Success, Jeannie Riddle Knecht

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Since 1968, the federally funded TRIO Student Support Services (SSS) program has assisted students who are either low income, first-generation, or have disabilities with services designed to improve the success of these participants in college. To achieve this goal, the services offered, such as the tutoring services at a participating 2-year college in the southeastern United States, must be effective. Guided by Tinto’s theory of academic integration, the purpose of this retrospective prediction study was to ascertain whether the amount of documented time receiving tutorial services, college placement test scores, race/ethnicity, gender, and age were predictive of student success as …


Patient Satisfaction With Nursing Care Related To Hospital Magnet Designation, Sharon Haylett Jan 2019

Patient Satisfaction With Nursing Care Related To Hospital Magnet Designation, Sharon Haylett

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Many U.S. hospitals have historically failed to recognize nursing as essential to quality of care. Given the relationship between the patients' experiences, measured by the Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS), and government reimbursement, stakeholders now value the role of nurses in the care experience. Some hospitals have pursued Magnet designation, which is a rigorous and costly process, in order to promote patient satisfaction through nurse autonomy and retention. The purpose of this study was to understand whether non-Magnet hospitals received similar HCAHPS scores. Expectancy disconfirmation theory provides a framework to understand the components of patient satisfaction …


Assessment Of Cancer-Related Fatigue In Breast Cancer Survivors, Meagan Walker Jan 2019

Assessment Of Cancer-Related Fatigue In Breast Cancer Survivors, Meagan Walker

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Cancer-related fatigue (CRF) is a persistent and debilitating problem for many breast cancer survivors. Although many CRF measurement tools are available, no consensus exists on the most appropriate tool to use for breast cancer survivors. The purpose of this project was to identify the best method of assessing CRF in breast cancer survivors. The practice-focused question inquired about the most appropriate way to assess fatigue in breast cancer survivors. The central concepts of the project were CRF and cancer survivorship. This project was informed by the theory of health as expanding consciousness and Mishel's theory of uncertainty in illness. The …


Understanding Of Self-Confidence In High School Students, George Ballane Jan 2019

Understanding Of Self-Confidence In High School Students, George Ballane

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Students at a private high school in New Jersey exhibited low academic self-confidence as compared to other indicators on the ACT Engage exam. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to gain an understanding of academic self-confidence, academic performance, and learning within a sample of students. This research explored students' and teachers' perceptions of self-confidence and their impact on academic performance. The research was guided by Weiner's attribution and Bandura's self-efficacy theories. The research questions focused on 3 areas: students' and teachers' perceptions of academic self-confidence as factors impacting students' academic performance; and the perceived relationship between academic self-confidence, …


Exploring Education Needs For Heart Failure Patients' Transition Of Care To Home, Michelle D. Williams Jan 2019

Exploring Education Needs For Heart Failure Patients' Transition Of Care To Home, Michelle D. Williams

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Transitions of care is a model designed to ensure that patients have resources needed to assist them to care for themselves at home after hospital discharge, which helps to decrease preventable adverse events. For people with heart failure (HF) to transition home from the hospital successfully, specific education is needed that is individualized to the disease process, but most patients' educational needs after discharge are unmet. The purpose of this qualitative study, guided by the Meleis middle range theory of transition, was to explore the perspectives of people with HF about their educational needs in order to gather data that …


Parental Perception Of Physician Cultural Sensitivity And Adherence To Asthma Treatment, Narue Jaynelle Wright-Jegede Jan 2019

Parental Perception Of Physician Cultural Sensitivity And Adherence To Asthma Treatment, Narue Jaynelle Wright-Jegede

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In the United States, asthma remains a major cause of frequent urgent care visits, hospitalizations, and preventable deaths among children. Nationwide, the chronic disease continues to fall disproportionately on minorities, mostly residing in urban localities. When a child is diagnosed with asthma, the parents are typically tasked with managing the child's condition. Establishing a collaborative partnership between parents and their child's primary physician is significant for improving asthma self-management among youth. Using the theory of reasoned action as a theoretical framework, this mixed-methods study examined whether a relationship exists between parental perceptions of physician cultural sensitivity and parental care in …


Gaming, Workplace, Self-Esteem, Counterproductive Work Behaviors, Sarah Marie Dyson Jan 2019

Gaming, Workplace, Self-Esteem, Counterproductive Work Behaviors, Sarah Marie Dyson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Although there is ample information on the negative aspects of video game playing, we know less about the benefits and how the benefits transfer to the gamers’ workplace. Further understanding of these relationships may offer employees and employers more insight on how they can reduce counterproductive workplace behaviors (CWB) while also improving workplace morale and productivity. The purpose of this quantitative nonexperimental study is to examine the relationships between time spent engaging in gameplay, workplace self-esteem, and positive and negative workplace behaviors among gamers. Participants anonymously completed an online questionnaire utilizing the Behind the Screen Measure, Counterproductive Workplace Behavior Checklist, …


Instructional Practices Of Career And Technical Teachers Toward English Language Learners, Alan Kendall Crouch Jan 2019

Instructional Practices Of Career And Technical Teachers Toward English Language Learners, Alan Kendall Crouch

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In Midwestern high schools, English language learners (ELLs) who are enrolled in Career and Technical Education (CTE) classes transition from school to the workforce at unacceptably low levels. This loss of opportunity has been linked to CTE instructional practices. The purpose of this study was to explore the instructional practices used by CTE teachers to support ELL instruction and how the teachers perceive those practices to improve ELL transition from school to the workforce. The conceptual framework included Freire's critical consciousness theory, which holds that it is important to include learners in the learning process. The framework grounded the study …


Teachers' Perceptions Of African American Middle School Males' Reading Performance, Louis David Figueroa Jan 2019

Teachers' Perceptions Of African American Middle School Males' Reading Performance, Louis David Figueroa

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

School administrators at a middle school in the northeastern United States lacked understanding regarding reading services and teaching strategies to improve African American middle school (AA MS) males' performance on standardized state reading assessments. English language arts (ELA) teachers' perspectives on and experiences of teaching reading to AA MS males at the target site were explored using Kolb's model of experiential learning. A qualitative intrinsic case study with an anonymous survey was used to collect data at the target site. Fifteen individuals who met inclusion criteria of being 6th- or 7th-grade ELA teachers at the target site were recruited using …


Local Government Programs For The Learning Of English Among Adult Spanish-Speaking Immigrants, Charlotte E. Mcgee Jan 2019

Local Government Programs For The Learning Of English Among Adult Spanish-Speaking Immigrants, Charlotte E. Mcgee

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Spanish is the second-largest speaking language in the United States, and while many government agencies have developed programs to help immigrants learn English, little is known about how program participants perceive the programs in terms of utility in transitioning to life in America or the usefulness of skills learned. Using Blalock's racial power-threat theory as the foundation, the purpose of this general qualitative study was to examine the perceptions of one such program in a mid-Atlantic city specifically oriented toward Spanish speaking immigrants. Data were collected from 15 adults, Spanish speaking program facilitators and a review of publicly available documentation …


Teacher Perceptions Regarding The Influence Of Secondary Phonics Instruction On Student Reading, Alani Ramos Jan 2019

Teacher Perceptions Regarding The Influence Of Secondary Phonics Instruction On Student Reading, Alani Ramos

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In a Southern state at a rural high school, leadership staff implemented phonics-based strategies with 9th grade English teachers to improve students' Lexile reading scores. The absence of formative data related to program implementation left stakeholders without a clear understanding of the influence of the phonics-based strategies. The purpose of this qualitative exploratory case study was to obtain formative information from teachers to discern the perceived influence of the phonics-based strategies on reading. Dual coding theory was used to examine teachers' perceptions of the influence of phonics-based strategies on students' motivation, fluency, and self-efficacy. Data were collected using interviews with …


Experiences And Perceptions Of Staff Providing Substance Use Disorder Treatment For Adolescents, Connie Jean Rendleman Jan 2019

Experiences And Perceptions Of Staff Providing Substance Use Disorder Treatment For Adolescents, Connie Jean Rendleman

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Substance Use Disorder (SUD) is associated with high mortality rates and remains a public health concern in the United States. Although, numerous interventions are offered for adolescents struggling with substance misuse, minimal research is available on the effectiveness of treatments to reduce recidivism. Researching the most effective treatment offered to adolescents is crucial to treatment adherence and recovery. The purpose of this study is to determine the most effective SUD treatment for adolescent patients by exploring the perceptions and experiences of treatment therapists providing treatment. The trans-theoretical model was used with elements of the social cognitive theory as a guide …


Doctor Of Nursing Practice Roles In Academia, Jodi Renee Raisor Jan 2019

Doctor Of Nursing Practice Roles In Academia, Jodi Renee Raisor

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Over 15,000 master’s and doctoral degree students in the United States were denied admission to nursing schools in 2014 because of insufficient nursing faculty. In 2016, over 64,000 undergraduate and graduate students were unable to gain admission to nursing school due to the effects of faculty shortages. This project explored the role of the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)-prepared nurse in academic settings using a systematic review of the literature to determine the role of DNP-prepared nurses in academia. Souza’s systematic review model and Melnyk’s levels of evidence were used to guide the search, review, and the selection of scholarly …


Educators' Experiences Of Cooperative Learning In Adult Ged Prep Classes On A College Campus, Miriam M. Summers Jan 2019

Educators' Experiences Of Cooperative Learning In Adult Ged Prep Classes On A College Campus, Miriam M. Summers

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Research shows that educators working in General Education Development (GED) preparation classes lack research-based instructional practice. Current research further implies that using research-based instructional practices is beneficial to adult learners. The location of this study was a local public community college and satellite locations in a U.S. state on the East Coast that did not assess whether educators were using the research-based cooperative learning methods in GED prep classes. There was no known information to identify research-based instructional practices in GED prep classes. Therefore, the types of instructions educators used and whether educators were producing successful outcomes were both sought …


Comprehending Support Decisions Of Undergraduates Who Experienced Anxiety And Depression, David Vera Jan 2019

Comprehending Support Decisions Of Undergraduates Who Experienced Anxiety And Depression, David Vera

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

A West Coast university has had an increase of students who have experienced anxiety or depression over the last few years and have not sought professional assistance. Students have stated that multiple factors contributed to their anxiety or depression, including difficulty adjusting to their new college environment. This challenge has disrupted students' academic performances and often left them without professional help to deal with their anxiety or depression. The purpose of this qualitative narrative inquiry was to increase understanding of factors that lead undergraduate students to experience anxiety and depression and factors that led to their decision to seek or …


System Challenges For Bilingual Clinical Social Work In Forensic Settings, Roberto G. Arroyo Jan 2019

System Challenges For Bilingual Clinical Social Work In Forensic Settings, Roberto G. Arroyo

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Little information exists about challenges that bilingual clinical social workers face when engaging individuals with Limited English Proficiency (LEP) in forensic settings, which may influence the efficacy of services provided. Bilingual clinical social workers in the U.S. state of South Carolina lack operational guidelines to assist people with LEP who are involved in forensic matters. The purpose of this study was to explore challenges that affect delivery of bilingual clinical social work to people with LEP in forensic settings. Ecological systems theory served as the conceptual framework for this study. Purposive and snowball sampling methods led to the participation of …


Scripted Programs: A Curriculum Evaluation, Amanda Rose Crose Jan 2019

Scripted Programs: A Curriculum Evaluation, Amanda Rose Crose

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Schools participating in the Carson Curriculum Project use a scripted literacy curriculum. After years of implementation, these curricula are still being used, despite no increase in standardized tests, which is the goal of the project. An evaluation of scripted literacy curriculum has never been completed. The purpose of this study was to use a qualitative case study to gather the perspectives of 12 teachers, administrators, and curriculum coaches, three from each of the four schools who have taught in 3rd, 4th, or 5th grade for at least 1 school year. The conceptual framework for this study was Bradley's effectiveness model. …


Esl College Students' Perspectives On Classroom Content Delivery And Assessments, Nalda J. Francis Jan 2019

Esl College Students' Perspectives On Classroom Content Delivery And Assessments, Nalda J. Francis

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The purpose of this qualitative case study was to gather the perspectives of English as a Second Language (ESL) students to determine their views regarding content delivery and assessments in their content’ specific classes. This case study is based on the concept that students’ perspectives should be considered when planning content delivery and assessments for ESL students at Constitution College (pseudonym), a 4-year college in South Florida. ESL college students receive content and assessments in the same manner as native English - speaking students at Constitution College after completing an English for Academic Purposes (EAP) program. Even after this program, …


Job Retention Of Childcare Workers In A Military Child Development Center, Janet Marie Hooten Jan 2019

Job Retention Of Childcare Workers In A Military Child Development Center, Janet Marie Hooten

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This study explored the low retention rates of childcare workers at a military child development center in the northeast United States. The purpose of this case study was to explore the work experiences of childcare employees during their first year of employment at a child development center to discover the factors that influenced their decision to resign. The conceptual framework that guided this study was a 2-factor approach of motivator and hygiene factors associated with experiences and perceptions. Transcripts from interviews with 15 current and prior childcare workers and management team members were coded, triangulated, and thematically analyzed. The themes …


The Effects Of Breastfeeding Support On Women Enrolled For Wic Benefits, Judith Marie Khanuja Jan 2019

The Effects Of Breastfeeding Support On Women Enrolled For Wic Benefits, Judith Marie Khanuja

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Breastfeeding has been shown to protect both the mother and infant, and health care professionals consider it to be the best choice for feeding an infant. The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) provides food, referrals to other social service programs, and nutrition and breastfeeding education for enrolled families. However, community support for the breastfeeding woman once she leaves the hospital is limited, especially in Philadelphia, PA. The purpose of this mixed-methods study was to explore the impact of prenatal breastfeeding education and understand the role that members of the community play in the infant feeding …


Law Enforcement Perception Of Social Media As An Influence In Mass Shootings, Jazma Mekelle Parker Jan 2019

Law Enforcement Perception Of Social Media As An Influence In Mass Shootings, Jazma Mekelle Parker

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Mass shootings have been a persistent issue in the United States, and the underlying factors that continue to influence this crime are not yet evident. This study explored the effects of social media as an influence on mass shootings in the United States. Its purpose was to address the role of social media in spreading opinionated ideologies. The research question addressed the role of social media in influencing the actions of perpetrators of mass shootings in the United States. The study framework was based on the social-ecological model to facilitate classification of the susceptibilities of social media users to adverse …