Digital Commons Network^™

Impact Of A Rural Public School District On Community Culture, Lynnwood Michael Baade

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Individuals and families often migrate to rural areas anticipating a utopian environment and a school system that supports their beliefs and values. Little qualitative research, however, has been conducted about the impact of rural public school districts on their local communities. Therefore, the purpose of this qualitative study, as reflected in the central research question, was to explore how a rural public school district contributed to community culture. Maslow's motivational theory related to a hierarchy of human needs formed the conceptual framework for this study. A single case study was executed as the method of inquiry. Participants included 6 residents …

Scholarly Writing Among Graduate Students: A Qualitative Project Study, Marsha Armstrong Harwell

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This project study focused on scholarly writing skills of adult students enrolled in a private graduate institution in the West Indies. The institution provided writing instruction, but scholarly writing skills remained inadequate for some students when they began their final projects. The project study provided insight into the most pervasive writing skill deficits and the positive and negative influences on writing skill development among graduate students. The research design was an applied qualitative case study using data collected from a purposeful sample of convenience within a bounded system of current students, faculty members, and administrators in one institution. Open-ended questionnaires …

Implementation And Evaluation Of Dietary Modification With Gestational Diabetes, Celia T. Ojeaga

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) negatively affects the health of both mothers and babies, and is the most common pregnancy complication in the United States. Many dietary modification programs for pregnant women diagnosed with GDM rely on a one-size-fits-all approach to menu planning. The purpose of this project was to develop a diet modification program for GDM management using a patient-centered approach. The project objective was to develop the policies, procedures, and supporting documents needed to implement a successful GDM management program for pregnant women receiving antenatal care at an obstetrical clinic. The developed program incorporated strategies for clinic nursing staff …

A Qualitative Study On Female Opinions Of Female Bullying And Relational Aggression, Cindy Lee Stevenson Mcclure

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

According to the American Psychological Association, 160,000 children miss school each day because of a fear of bullying. Existing research indicates that the typical male style of bullying is distinctly different from the typical female style of bullying, which is referred to as relational aggression. This kind of aggression can cause damage to girls in the form of low self-esteem, eating disorders, and suicide. Research on female bullying has increased in the last five years, yet there is minimal research on relational aggression from the female perspective. The purpose of this qualitative study was to expand on the existing bullying …

The Lived Experiences Of Immigrant Canadian Women With The Healthcare System, Salma Debs-Ivall

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Immigrants to Canada report better health status than the Canadian-born population when they first arrive in Canada, a phenomenon called the Healthy Immigrant Effect. However, by the fourth year after immigration, immigrants report a health status that is worse than that of the Canadian-born population. Visible minority immigrant women report the largest deterioration in health. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the lived experiences of visible minority immigrant women with encounters with the Canadian healthcare system to examine the multiplicative impact of gender, ethnicity, and immigration on their health. This phenomenological study, guided by Crenshaw's feminist intersectionality …

Industry Best Practices Contributing To Small Business Success, Timothy John Giardino

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Small business owners generate jobs within the local community, but half of new business owners often fail to sustain operations for the first five years. The purpose of this qualitative descriptive study was to explore strategies that small business owners in central Texas used to sustain their businesses beyond the first 5 years. Schumpeter's theory of economic development grounded the study. Data collection included semistructured face-to-face interviews with a purposeful sample of 20 small business owners due to their success in creating strategies resulting in sustaining their businesses beyond 5 years in a postrecession business environment. All interpretations from the …

Self-Care Activities And Nurse Manager Well-Being, Gretchen Eileen Johnson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The role of the nurse manager is important in organizations and influences outcomes such as the safety and quality of care provided on a unit, satisfaction, turnover of nursing staff, and overall health of the work environment. Stressors for managing nurses can impair physical and emotional health and lead to poor patient and staff satisfaction, safety, and outcomes. The evidence-based practice project will explore nurse managers' well-being and self-care activities. The theoretical framework of the project is the Relationship-Based Care Model as well as Kotter's change theory. The literature suggests that self-care activities can reduce stress and improve well-being. A …

Veterans First Contracting Program Preference Hierarchy: Effect On Veteran-Owned Small Business, Harry Parker

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) leaders created a Veterans First Contracting Program (VFCP) under Public Law 109-461 to provide procurement opportunities for veteran-owned small businesses (VOSBs) and service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses (SDVOSBs). However, DVA leaders established a preference hierarchy that increased opportunities for SDVOSBs and decreased opportunities for VOSBs. Research was lacking regarding the effects of the preference policy on VOSBs as a distinct small business category. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore and understand the experiences of 20 VOSB owners actively enrolled in the VFCP from Maryland, Virginia, and District of Columbia. Through the lens …

The Need For Soft Skills In A Medical Assistant Program, Micheal L. Randolph

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

There is a perceived soft skills problem within the medical assistant program (MAP) at a 2-year technical college in the Midwestern United States. Soft skills refer to relational skills such as practicing self-management, communicating with various groups, adapting to change, negotiating, and resolving conflict. The purposes of this intrinsic case study were to (a) understand the perspectives of faculty, staff, and leadership regarding students' soft skills ability within the study MAP and (b) identify important soft skills needed in the workplace. An integrative conceptual framework that drew upon vocational and organizational theories was used as a theoretical framework for the …

Promoting Annual Depression Screening In A Federally Qualified Healthcare Center, Denise Lesley Alleyne

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

According to the World Health Organization, depression affects about 350 million people worldwide. In 2014, only 50% of the adult patients were screened for depression in the community-based Federally Qualified Healthcare Center (FQHC) for which this doctorate of nursing practice (DNP) project was developed. In an effort to meet the 100% benchmark set nationally for the screening of adult patients in the primary care settings, the FQHC's quality improvement team now requires that 80% of adult patients in the clinic be screened for depression. Framed within the Iowa model of evidence-based practice, the purposes of this project were to: (a) …

Cross-Age Peer Mentoring To Improve Sixth-Grade Student Reading, Christina L. Belotti

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In a middle school in the southern United States, administrators and teachers are concerned that approximately 40% of sixth-grade students are reading below grade level despite intervention programs. The purpose of this mixed-methods case study was to inquire whether a cross-age peer mentoring program would improve sixth-graders' reading achievement and motivation to read. The theoretical framework for the study was Vygotsky's constructivist theory, with a focus on scaffolding. Research questions focused on sixth-grade students' perception of their participation in a cross-age peer mentoring program and the effect of the program on reading achievement and motivation. Data were collected through pre- …

Enrollment Patterns In Advanced Middle School Mathematics Classes, Paul Gray Gray

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The problem investigated in this study is that U.S. minority and low socioeconomic status (SES) student participation in advanced academic classes continues to lag behind that of Caucasian and economically advantaged students. The purpose of this project study was to investigate the participation gaps between minority and low SES students compared with non-minority and high SES students in advanced mathematics courses in the study district's middle school. The theoretical framework for the study was gap-analysis theory. A quantitative gap analysis of existing student test score data was conducted, utilizing a secondary analysis of existing Iowa Test of Basic Skills data …

Perception Of Cervical Cancer Screening Among Immigrant African Women Residing In Houston, Texas, Esther Ifeomadiniru Orji

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Perception of cervical cancer screening among Immigrant African women residing in Houston, Texas

Esther I. Orji

M.Ed., University of Lagos, 2002

B. Ed, Abia State University, 1998

A.C. E. University of Benin, 1990

Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment

of the Requirements for the Degree of

Doctor of Philosophy

Public Health

Walden University

August 2016

Disparities in cervical cancer screening participation still exist especially among immigrant and minority women compared to non immigrant populations. Research investigators through multiple studies have explored reasons for non participation in cervical cancer screening among immigrant and minority women. However, there was limited research specifically on …

Algebraic Content And Pedagogical Knowledge Of Sixth Grade Mathematics Teachers, Mariyam Shahuneeza Naseer

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Algebra test scores of the Maldivian students from grade 6 through 12 are the lowest compared to any other area of mathematics. Algebra is a fundamental topic in mathematics and lays the foundation for mathematical reasoning and complex problem-solving. Research shows that strengthening algebra instruction could improve student achievement. This concurrent mixed methods study examined the algebraic content and pedagogical knowledge of 5 sixth grade mathematics teachers who teach in 5 different schools across the Maldives. Shulman's major categories of teacher knowledge and Ball, Thames, and Phelps' domains of mathematical knowledge for teaching guided this study. The research questions examined …

Teachers' Perspectives Of Balanced Assessment, Michele Branch Branch

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Current research indicates that when properly implemented, professional development (PD) can positively affect teaching practice and student academic achievement. However, teachers at Lincoln High School (pseudonym) questioned the effectiveness of their district's PD: Balanced Assessment. Given the paucity of research on teachers' viewpoints of PD and how it impacts implementation, the purpose of this qualitative case study was to examine teachers' perspectives of Balanced Assessment as it relates to implementation in the classroom. Guided by Knowles adult learning theory, which states that adults need to make a connection to what they are learning to real life, this study examined 4 …

Examining Nurse Practitioners' Perceptions And Beliefs Regarding Hospice Referrals For African Americans, Karen Jackson Mcclary

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Terminally ill patients often have difficult choices at the end-of-life, and electing to receive hospice services is one of them. Hospice has been linked to improved quality of life and death and is accessible to terminally ill patients. Despite the accessibility, African American patients often make the decision to forgo hospice services. The purpose of this descriptive study was to explore perceptions and beliefs of nurse practitioners (NPs) regarding the lack of utilization of hospice for African American patients and the feasibility of NPs for initial referral for terminally ill African American patients. The research questions addressed whether an NP's …

An Evaluation Of Champs For Classroom Management, Vernessa Evans

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Teacher education programs focus on preparing teachers to instruct students, but they usually do not focus on preparing teachers to manage students’ behavior, which may prevent teachers from providing effective instruction. This project study evaluated a classroom behavior management model, CHAMPS, designed to help teachers manage student behavior so they can focus their time and energy on instruction and student success. Positive Behavior Systems (PBS), used in the field of behavioral management, served as the theoretical foundation for this study. The evaluation design followed Stufflebeam’s (2003) Context, Input, Process, and Product (CIPP) by employing the outcome-based approach, which evaluated the …

Geographical Effects On Adult Sickle Cell Disease Treatments, Morbidity, And Mortality, Paula Busbee

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

A small percentage of patients with sickle cell disease (SCD) have experienced an increase in life span by 10 years, while others with the same disease continue to die prematurely. The purpose of the study was to evaluate whether or not regional location was a barrier to care for adults with SCD in relation to emergency department visits and health outcomes at 16 and 21 years after the approval of hydroxyurea therapy as treatment. Secondary data were sourced and a retrospective quantitative correlational design was used to examine the effect of hydroxyurea treatment approval on emergency department visits and mortality …

Implementing The Common Core State Standards For Mathematics, Susan E. Hinkley

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Current research and declining test scores indicate that changes in educational practice are required for successful implementation of the Common Core State Standards for Mathematics (CCSSM). Using a constructivist change theory framework, this grounded theory study explored the experiences 6 purposefully selected, experienced teachers at an Upstate New York school district had related to the implementation of the CCSSM. The research question investigated the experiences that educators had related to implementing the CCSSM and the accompanying New York State mathematics modules. Observation notes, interview transcripts, and teachers' journals were collected and analysed simultaneously through coding, constant comparison, theoretical sampling, and …

Perceptions Of Employed People With Narcolepsy, Chantelle L. Jones

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Many companies have used perceptions of their employees to understand how sleep disorders affect their working environment. Sleep disorders have had an undesirable effect on employee performance and often result in employee modifications to accommodate their condition in the workplace. Though information is available concerning employees' experiences pertinent to working with sleep disorders, research focusing on how employees with narcolepsy perceive their work environment appears to be missing from the literature. The purpose of this study was to gain understanding of perceptions of employees with narcolepsy about their work environment and strategies that may influence others to promote positive health …

Bone Health Education For Osteoporosis Risk Reduction In Premenopausal Women: A Quality Improvement Project, Gloria Nichols Nichols

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In the United States, about 8.5 million women live with osteoporosis. Osteoporosis is a debilitating systemic skeletal disorder characterized by low bone mass and reduced bone mineral density that occurs with the loss of estrogen. The mortality rate for this group is about 3 to 4 times higher than other women and as many as 1 in 3 experience a fracture. Guided by the Health Belief Model, this project evaluated how a bone health fact sheet impacts knowledge about osteoporosis and self-efficacy for preventative behavioral change in premenopausal women (age 40-58 years). The project also evaluated if an electronic medical …

Adoption Of Information And Communication Technology In Nigerian Small- To Medium-Size Enterprises, Kessington Enaye Okundaye

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Small- to medium-size enterprises (SMEs) play a vital role in a dynamic economy through job creation, poverty alleviation, and socioeconomic development in developed and developing countries. The purpose of this multiple case study was to explore how SME leaders in Lagos, Nigeria, adopted information and communication technology (ICT) as a business strategy to increase profitability and compete globally. Organizational leaders have adopted ICT so that their organizations can become more efficient, effective, innovative, and globally competitive. This study involved 4 SMEs that had successfully implemented ICT. The participants included 5 SME leaders from each of the SMEs. The data collection …

Secondary Preservice Teachers' Perceptions Of Preparation To Teach In Urban Schools, Jacquinne Reynolds

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

University officials have identified a problem among secondary preservice teachers (SPTs) who have expressed reluctance to teach in local urban schools. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to explore the perceptions of SPTs regarding their preparation for and experiences with teaching in urban school settings. Vygotsky's zone of proximal development and Bruner's concept of scaffolding served as the conceptual frameworks that guided this study. Data were collected from 11 SPTs who completed the requirements of their field service experiences in urban schools. Data collection consisted of individual interviews, one focus group interview, and field observations. Findings showed that …

An Evaluation Of Individuals' Construction Of Personal Trust In Organizations, Colin Edward Armour

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Trust is in decline within organizations resulting from poor management and ethical indifference. Failing to address trust perceptions has led to stress between management and employees. Researchers have studied organizational trust as a constant quality within groups but have neglected the uniquely individual constructs of trust that inhibit trust-building efforts. The purpose of this quantitative study was to evaluate how personal constructs of trust may affect outcomes at the organizational level among workers and managers in hierarchal structured organizations. The topics of the research questions addressed the extent which cultural values and the relative trust situation affected individuals' perceptions of …

Differentiated Instruction, Teacher Immediacy, And Students' Mathematic Success, Katherine Ann Albanese-Benevento

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This study investigated the role of both arts-integrated instruction (art activities as part of math instruction) and teacher immediacy (teacher caring behaviors) levels on students' math achievement. Although students from low socio-economic culturally diverse school districts have shown improvement in academic test scores, their scores are still significantly lower than scores of students from other school districts. Research has shown that when there is an increase in teacher immediacy, students' academic success increases. Despite this known correlation, there is a lack of literature on the ways that arts integration, combined with teacher immediacy, can affect academic success. Constructivist theories, experiential …

The Use Of The Problem Solving Method In A Middle School Mathematics Response To Intervention Program, Robbi Nikkole Brown

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Response to Intervention (RTI) has primarily been used as an early intervention in the elementary grades to improve the reading of all students; however, in recent years, mathematics has been added to the program and this addition has not been systematically evaluated. Guided by Deno's problem-solving model, the purpose of this qualitative case study was to gain insight on how middle school mathematics teachers use the problem-solving process to design interventions for struggling students and to understand the strategies they used to implement the plan. The research questions addressed how the problem-solving method is used when creating and implementing interventions, …

Internet Technology As A Means Of Delivering Reading Instruction In The Content Areas, Kimberly Rose Pintok

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Due to students not meeting minimum proficiency levels in reading, a central Florida middle school that was rated an A school for 4 years consecutively dropped to a B rating during the 2012-2013 school year and was 10 points away from dropping to a C rating in the 2013-2014 school year. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to describe classroom implementation of Internet technology in a middle school classroom in an attempt to address the steady decline in reading scores. Guided by Piaget, Dewey, and Vygotsky's social constructivist view of education, this study explored if and how teachers used …

The Effects Of A Summer Math Program On Academic Achievement, Kermit Snyder

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The math achievement of students is low in a small rural district in Colorado. The purpose of this study was to explore the efficacy of a summer third through fifth grade math program in improving math scores. Piaget's theory of cognitive development was used as the theoretical foundation for the math instructional resource delivered to the struggling students in the program. A quasi-experimental design was used to address whether the math scores improved for the participating students (n = 145) and whether the participating students experienced a smaller summer loss in academic achievement than the students who did not participate …

Female Circumcision: A Phenomenological Study Of Somalian Immigrant To The United States, Emmanuel Fai Tatah

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Female circumcision (FC) is the partial or total removal of the female genitalia for nonmedical reasons. This study was designed to examine the lived experiences of Somali women who underwent FC before coming to the United States. FC is widely carried out in Somalia with a prevalence of 98%, making Somalia the country with the highest percentage of circumcised women. There are short- and long-term consequences associated with FC such as bleeding, infection, and death. Therefore, it is important to understand how Somali women who underwent FC think and feel about circumcision, why they would continue the practice, and whether …

What Are The Perspectives Of Osteoporosis Screening Among Black Women?, Angela Alsberry Wilkins

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Osteoporosis is a serious disease which often brings pain, disability, hospitalization, and even death. An increasing number of studies have been conducted on the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis in White women, yet a paucity of research exists to explain disparities in screening and treatment of osteoporosis in Black women. This narrative study describes the perspectives of Black women regarding individual barriers to osteoporosis screening. The purpose of this study was to better understand the perspectives of Black women regarding prevention of and screening for osteoporosis. Selections included purposive, criterion sampling of 10 Black women who were 50 years and …