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Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

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Improving The Teaching Effectiveness Of South African Educators As Inclusive Primary School Education Practitioners, Rashika Matthews Aug 2024

Improving The Teaching Effectiveness Of South African Educators As Inclusive Primary School Education Practitioners, Rashika Matthews

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In 1996, government policies in South Africa required all educational institutions to align with human rights and equality. Public schools now operate as inclusive institutions. Thus, there exists a problem that after 23 years of policy implementation, South African educators continue to acknowledge their need for knowledge, skills, and training to support effective inclusive education. There is an educational imperative to identify the South African educators’ gap in knowledge and skills to improve their effectiveness as active, inclusive practitioners. Mezirow’s transformational learning theory aligns with the South African educators’ need to build knowledge and inclusion skills. This research includes interviews …


Effect Of Nurse Work Hours On Nursing Home Patients Antipsychotic Medication Usage, Danielle Tisdale Aug 2024

Effect Of Nurse Work Hours On Nursing Home Patients Antipsychotic Medication Usage, Danielle Tisdale

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Antipsychotic medications used to treat and manage psychosis are sometimes prescribed inappropriately to nursing home patients. The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between direct care (registered nurse [RN] and licensed practical nurse [LPN]) staffing hours in New York nursing homes (independent variable) and the rate of antipsychotic medication usage (dependent variable) as well as the issuance of antipsychotic (F-758) citations (dependent variable). Donabedian’s three-part model served as the theoretical framework and aligned this study concerning nursing homes’ capacity and processes concerning staffing and antipsychotic medication administration. The study consisted of a quantitative examination of a sample …


Challenges Of Maintaining Sobriety For Adults In Recovery Returning To College, Rosalina Johns Aug 2024

Challenges Of Maintaining Sobriety For Adults In Recovery Returning To College, Rosalina Johns

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Alcohol abuse is a prevalent problem among college students, with negative consequences on academic performance, social interactions, and well-being. The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to explore the lived experiences and challenges of sobriety for recovering adults returning to college. Sociocultural theory was used to gain insights into participants’ experiences including resilience, risk and protective factors, and stress. Data were collected from semi structured interviews with three college students who were recovering adults. The data included participants’ responses regarding intervention or mediation techniques that eased their barriers and challenges during their academic journey. The findings revealed core themes …


Examining Coping Mechanisms Among Teachers And Administrators After Experiencing Gun Violence At School, Tracey Yvonne Holt Aug 2024

Examining Coping Mechanisms Among Teachers And Administrators After Experiencing Gun Violence At School, Tracey Yvonne Holt

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

According to recent research, gun violence at schools has become a public health issue. Teachers, administrators, students, and communities are trying to cope with the aftermath of gun violence at schools. The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to identify coping mechanisms among teachers and administrators after experiencing gun violence at school. The theoretical framework was the transactional model of stress and coping, contending that a person’s capacity to cope and adjust to challenges and problems is a consequence of transactions. Data collection included Zoom interviews with 10 participants. Findings from coding and thematic analysis indicated that experiencing gun …


Evaluating The Communication And Accountability Of Nurses In The Clinic Setting, Emily Baarz Aug 2024

Evaluating The Communication And Accountability Of Nurses In The Clinic Setting, Emily Baarz

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Research has demonstrated the importance of effective communication and its relationship to positive patient, provider, and organizational outcomes. In the local organization, nursing staff verbalized concerns regarding lack of professional communication that may contribute to a hostile work environment and affect the quality of patient care delivered. To address this concern, the organization implemented a staff education program focused on effective communication practices and level of accountability. The purpose of this quality improvement project was to determine if the educational intervention focused on effective communication practices and level of accountability increased the participants’ perceptions of communication and accountability among nursing …


Competition In The Banking Industry: An Empirical Study, Angela Smith Mcgee Aug 2024

Competition In The Banking Industry: An Empirical Study, Angela Smith Mcgee

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

According to recent studies, U.S. bank customers have been dissatisfied with banks and bank fees; therefore, some bank CEOs need to understand the relationship between the rise of cryptocurrencies, third-party payment services, and traditional bank startups. Using Porter’s five forces theory, the purpose of this quantitative, ex post facto, study was to determine if the dollar value of U.S. cryptocurrency startups, and U.S. third-party payment service startups predict U.S. bank startups. The sample of twenty-four records consisted of initial public offerings (IPO’s) within each month of the two-year period aggregated by variable dollars publicly listed in the Securities and Exchange …


Promotion And Personality In Military Officers As Moderated By Race, Margaret Raia Aug 2024

Promotion And Personality In Military Officers As Moderated By Race, Margaret Raia

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Career progression of U.S. military officers into the senior officer corps remains a difficult objective. Current research focuses on the lack of diversity in the senior officer corps and systematic factors inhibiting officers from promotions. This study was grounded in McCrae and Costa’s five-factor model of personality, to examine U.S. military officers’ personality characteristics and their relation to promotion while moderating for race. This quantitative study used binary logistical regression of survey data to establish whether the personality characteristics of openness, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism predict promotion. U.S. Army and Naval officers in ranks O4–O10 were sampled from social …


The Experiences Of Decision Making In Gangs, Julian Geoffrey Harris Aug 2024

The Experiences Of Decision Making In Gangs, Julian Geoffrey Harris

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Gang violence and illicit gang activities continue to be a major problem to society and law enforcement. Gang violence is responsible for much of the violence death and illicit drug trade. The decision juveniles make to initiate into a gang increases these unwelcome behaviors. The ways in which juveniles make decisions about gang initiation and how to assess the ramifications of those decisions are understudied and reflect a gap in the literature. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to better comprehend the experiences of juveniles who make decisions to initiate into a gang and to better understand how they …


Judicial Perspectives On Sentencing Mentally Ill Violent Offenders In New York, Vinita Puri Aug 2024

Judicial Perspectives On Sentencing Mentally Ill Violent Offenders In New York, Vinita Puri

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Mass incarceration is a public health crisis in the United States. Scholarly research has shown that incarceration may lead to exacerbated psychiatric conditions and increased recidivism risk. Lawmakers and policymakers have turned toward therapeutic jurisprudence (TJ) to develop and implement trauma-informed crime prevention and intervention strategies that focus on diverting individuals from prisons and into community-based treatment. New York legislators have expanded problem-solving courts (e.g., mental health courts), psychiatric treatment facilities, public housing supports, and law enforcement training. In this generic qualitative study, five criminal court judges in New York shared their perspectives on TJ and trauma-informed approaches to sentencing …


Motivation And Persistence In Long-Term Educators Of Students With Emotional And Behavioral Disorders In The Specialized Program, Nancy Wesselmann Aug 2024

Motivation And Persistence In Long-Term Educators Of Students With Emotional And Behavioral Disorders In The Specialized Program, Nancy Wesselmann

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Although few educators choose to work with students with behavioral difficulties, some decide to work with students with emotional and behavioral disorders (EBD). Special education teachers who work with students with EBD have a high turnover rate because those students are one of the most challenging populations to teach. Separate day programs (SDPs) are the most restrictive settings for students with EBD but are also the most restrictive settings for educators. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore the motivation of these educators and the factors that lead to their longevity in the field from the perspective …


Exploring Successful Strategies For Small Business Owners’ Access To Financing, Emmanuel Innocent Aug 2024

Exploring Successful Strategies For Small Business Owners’ Access To Financing, Emmanuel Innocent

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Considered the drivers of innovations and the engine of the economy, small and medium enterprises (SMEs) represent 99% of U.S. firms. However, nearly 80% of SMEs fail in their 1st year of operation, causing substantial financial hardship to the small business owners and significant loss of tax revenues to local and federal governments. Grounded in the theory of planned behavior, the purpose of this qualitative, pragmatic inquiry was to explore successful strategies that some small business owners use to gain access to financing for their businesses. The participants comprised six small business owners in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States, who …


Stakeholders’ Perspectives On Motivational Support For Economically Disadvantaged High School Students, Jenny Evans Aug 2024

Stakeholders’ Perspectives On Motivational Support For Economically Disadvantaged High School Students, Jenny Evans

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

A discrepancy in high school graduation rates for low socioeconomic students has been a historical trend. Despite evidence that reduced high school completion rates limit these students' career options and earning potential, state and national data consistently show a higher failure-to-graduate rate for them despite government interventions to reduce it. Studies have investigated various contributing causes for the gap in completion rates, but few studies have focused on schools that have filled that gap. The purpose of this study was to explore stakeholders’ perspectives on motivational support in schools that have successfully created graduation equality for economically disadvantaged students and …


Experiences Of Women On Career Progression To Leadership Positions In Nonprofit Organizations In Malawi, Wongani Grace Taulo Aug 2024

Experiences Of Women On Career Progression To Leadership Positions In Nonprofit Organizations In Malawi, Wongani Grace Taulo

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Gender and cultural biases continue to deter women from reaching their leadership aspirations in nonprofit organizations, and women continue to be underrepresented in leadership positions. This qualitative phenomenological study aimed to explore the lived experiences of women in senior leadership positions in nonprofit organizations to better understand the barriers and support factors to their career progression. Joan Acker’s (1992) gendering organizational theory and Hofstede’s (1983) cultural dimensions theory helped explain the persistence of gender disparities in leadership positions through an understanding of the power imbalances between men and women and the structural inequalities that continue to characterize organizational workforce and …


Exploring Human Capital Development: Perspectives Of Young Adults (Aged 18-25) In Lagos, Nigeria, Omobola Omotimirin Aug 2024

Exploring Human Capital Development: Perspectives Of Young Adults (Aged 18-25) In Lagos, Nigeria, Omobola Omotimirin

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Under-utilization of youth human capital and youth delusion, has the attendant effect of increased crime, insecurity, deplorable infrastructure, loss of foreign investment, revenue loss, etc. The large population of young adults (age 18-25) in Lagos State, Nigeria, is a source of human capital development. There is little to no literature on the young adults’ (age 18-25) perspectives on their human capital development in Lagos State. The purpose of this study was to understand the perspectives of young adults (age 18-25) on their human capital development needs. Research questions focused on understanding young adults’ perception on human capital development; how youth …


The Role Of Middle Management In Influencing Corporate Culture Change Success, Robert Aaron Parsons Aug 2024

The Role Of Middle Management In Influencing Corporate Culture Change Success, Robert Aaron Parsons

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Failure of organizations’ strategic change initiatives typically leads to continued mitigated financial performance. Grounded in transformational leadership theory, the purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to identify and explore strategies and processes middle managers use to support and implement organizational culture change initiatives to increase organizational financial performance. The participants were four middle managers from two transportation companies in Ohio that experienced thriving organizational culture changes to increase organizational financial performance. Data were collected using semistructured interviews and reviewing public financial statements. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis, and three principal themes emerged: participating in organizational culture change …


Social Media And Body Image With African American College Students Moderation Of Social Comparison, Khalil R. Coleman Ph.D. Aug 2024

Social Media And Body Image With African American College Students Moderation Of Social Comparison, Khalil R. Coleman Ph.D.

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Social media is a popular activity for emerging adults. Recent research shows that a negative relationship exists between social media use and mental health, particularly related to body image. Social media can adversely affect body image by falsely providing an idealistic or fake perspective, leading to body dysmorphia or mental health issues. However, this research has not been explored with African American college students. It is also not clear how social media plays a role in social media use and body image. Social comparison theory posits that more time comparing with others, which is easily done on social media, can …


Managerial Strategies To Create A Diverse Workforce For Enhanced Employee Performance, Karmashia Mcduffie Aug 2024

Managerial Strategies To Create A Diverse Workforce For Enhanced Employee Performance, Karmashia Mcduffie

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Organizations with ineffective diversity management strategies risk increased conflict and decreased organizational performance. Senior managers are concerned with workforce diversity, which is critical for enhancing employee performance in the health and human services industry. Grounded in Lewin’s force field theory, the purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to explore strategies that senior managers in the health and human services industry have successfully used to create a diverse workforce and increase employee performance. Participants were three senior managers from North Carolina health and human services agencies who successfully developed strategies to diversify workforces to increase employee performance. Data were …


Secure Implementation Of Sip Trunks For Voice: A Qualitative Study, Mary C. Kiser Aug 2024

Secure Implementation Of Sip Trunks For Voice: A Qualitative Study, Mary C. Kiser

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Organizations managing their own multi-line phone system are concerned about their telecommunication engineer’s ability to secure the SIP trunks properly. Billions of dollars are lost globally each year through exploited security vulnerabilities in Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) trunks. Grounded in the knowledge-based view of the firm as the theoretical framework, the purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to explore strategies used by telecommunications engineers to implement SIP trunks for voice communications securely. Six voice professionals in the United States volunteered as participants, having completed their own successful, secure SIP implementations for their organizations. Data were collected using semistructured …


Role Of Misogynous Rap Music On African American Married Millennials, Louisa Antwanett Parker Aug 2024

Role Of Misogynous Rap Music On African American Married Millennials, Louisa Antwanett Parker

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This study explored the influence of misogynistic rap music on self-image and objectification within the context of African American married millennials. Grounded in exposure theory and objectification theory, the study adopted a quantitative nonexperimental design. Data were collected from a sample of 101 participants while exploring how exposure to misogynistic music might shape individuals' self-perceptions and views of their partners, potentially contributing to adverse relationship outcomes such as domestic violence and infidelity. The survey instruments encompassed the Exposure Measurement Scale, Self-Objectification Scale (SOS), Objectified Body Consciousness Scale (OBSC), Relationship Assessment Scale (RAS), Self-Image Scale (SIS-D), Music Preference Questionnaire (MPQ-R), and …


Concussions And Their Relationship With Cheerleading, Jazmin Hampton Aug 2024

Concussions And Their Relationship With Cheerleading, Jazmin Hampton

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Concussions are a major public health issue that impacts a variety of persons. Cheerleading is an emerging popular sport that has seen increased participation. Minimal information about cheerleading and concussions is known. This study aimed to investigate sustaining a concussion as a cheerleader while accounting for demographics (age, race, and gender), mechanism of injury, and injury setting. The precaution adoption process model was the theoretical framework for this study. Chi-square analysis and binary logistic regression were applied to address research questions. Data from 3,536 patients were obtained from the 2018-2022 National Electronic Injury Surveillance System. Findings indicated there were associations …


School Counselors’ Perceptions Of And Recommendations For Increased Parent Involvement In Student Assistance Program Referrals, Joanna Harrington-Diorio Aug 2024

School Counselors’ Perceptions Of And Recommendations For Increased Parent Involvement In Student Assistance Program Referrals, Joanna Harrington-Diorio

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Parent refusal of Student Assistance Program (SAP) referrals limits their child’s access to critical behavioral and mental support services offered by the school district, which may put the child at risk academically, socially, and emotionally. In a county in an eastern state, the problem that was addressed in this study was that students were not receiving the recommended professional services through the SAP. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore school counselors’ perspectives about practices being used to educate and encourage parent involvement in SAP referrals. Using Epstein’s school–family–community partnership model as the conceptual framework, the perspectives …


Strategies To Address The Healthcare Staffing Crisis In An Acute Care Hospital, Allison L. Windas Aug 2024

Strategies To Address The Healthcare Staffing Crisis In An Acute Care Hospital, Allison L. Windas

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Healthcare staffing shortages are widespread and challenging; developing a successful retention and recruitment strategy requires an awareness of the generational, cultural, and environmental elements that positively influence employee motivation and engagement. The purpose of this integrative review was to synthesize existing research on factors that enhance hospital staff work satisfaction and increase intent to stay. Using the Job Characteristics Theory as a framework, an integrative review of literature published between 2019 and 2024 synthesized existing research on factors that enhance hospital staff work satisfaction and increase intent to stay. Thematic analysis of 35 selected studies identified four key themes and …


Social Ecological Factors Influencing Participation In Workplace Health Promotion Programming Among University Employees, Emily Frank Aug 2024

Social Ecological Factors Influencing Participation In Workplace Health Promotion Programming Among University Employees, Emily Frank

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Workplace health promotion programming (WHPP) promotes healthy behaviors in employees, reduces negative health risks, reduces overall healthcare costs, and improves workplace outcomes. Despite known benefits of workplace health promotion, research demonstrates low employee participation rates across various settings. There is limited research examining multilevel factors that influence employee participation in WHPP and how the Coronavirus 19 (COVID-19) pandemic impacted workplace wellness offerings and employee participation. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore factors that influenced participation in WHPP among university employees through a social ecological lens. Thirteen university employees participated in semi-structured interviews through Zoom. Interview questions explored …


Parental Experiences And Health Education Perceptions Raising Children With Orofacial Clefts, Ama Agyeibea Amuasi Aug 2024

Parental Experiences And Health Education Perceptions Raising Children With Orofacial Clefts, Ama Agyeibea Amuasi

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Congenital abnormalities, such as cleft lip and/or palate (CL/P), are a significant global public health issue that contribute to newborn morbidity and mortality, difficulties in social integration, psychological problems for affected persons, parents, and families. Available health education information and resources on CL/P care for parents and families in Ghana are however minimal. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the health education perceptions of parents of children born with CL/P to identify and understand experiences of common psychosocial challenges, potential risk, and protective factors used by parents. Five research questions were designed to examine the health education …


The Impact Of The Covid-19 Pandemic On Depression And Anxiety Among Idaho Adults, Melissa Marie Henbest Aug 2024

The Impact Of The Covid-19 Pandemic On Depression And Anxiety Among Idaho Adults, Melissa Marie Henbest

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Research indicates that the COVID-19 pandemic had negative repercussions on the mental health of U.S. citizens. The purpose of this study was to explore the impact the COVID-19 pandemic had on depression and anxiety on a population aged 18 years and older. Using a quantitative correlational repeated design, archival data were analyzed to evaluate the change in depression (as measured using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9) and anxiety (as measured using the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 [GAD-7]) indices from a non-pandemic year (2019) to the 1st pandemic year (2020) among patients of an outpatient community health care center. The study took into …


Educators’ Perspectives Of Science Instruction In Title I Elementary Schools To Improve Achievement, Sidonye Maria Coaxum Aug 2024

Educators’ Perspectives Of Science Instruction In Title I Elementary Schools To Improve Achievement, Sidonye Maria Coaxum

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The problem addressed in this study was that students in upper elementary at four Title I elementary schools did not meet district achievement standards in science for four consecutive years, which could impede their educational and employment futures. Little is known how teachers in these elementary grades taught science content to improve student achievement. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore five upper elementary educators’ perspectives of science instruction to improve achievement in Title I elementary schools in a southeastern state. The conceptual framework that grounded this study was a three-dimension concept of science, including scientific and …


Education For Nursing And Primary Care Providers On Nonpharmacological Management Of Chronic Pain, Ma Teresita Gonzales De Jesus Aug 2024

Education For Nursing And Primary Care Providers On Nonpharmacological Management Of Chronic Pain, Ma Teresita Gonzales De Jesus

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Chronic pain is one of the leading causes of disability worldwide, with a significant financial burden on those individuals affected, the communities, the healthcare systems, and the government. Chronic pain also interferes with individuals’ daily activities and alters the quality of life. The treatment for chronic pain includes a variety of medications, including prescription opioids and nonprescription such as NSAIDS, acetaminophen, and muscle relaxants. Pharmacological treatments can result in untoward effects. The CDC has recommended nonpharmacological alternative treatment modalities that promote self-management but are not emphasized or utilized in the primary care setting. The staff education program was framed within …


The Worry Of Food Insecurity And The Manifestation Of Generalized Anxiety In Relation To Perceived Health Status, Ramona Lynnette Taylor Aug 2024

The Worry Of Food Insecurity And The Manifestation Of Generalized Anxiety In Relation To Perceived Health Status, Ramona Lynnette Taylor

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This study examined the association between the worry of food insecurity and the manifestation of generalized anxiety, and how these factors related to perceived health status among adults aged 18 years and older in the U.S. The study controlled demographic factors such as gender, age, race, and education. Utilizing data from the 2019 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS), a binomial logistic regression analysis was employed. The findings indicated a significant association between those persons who often worry about food insecurity, severe (OR = 7.324, p < .001) and frequent generalized anxiety (OR = 5.185, p < .001) suggesting that individuals who worry about food insecurity have higher odds of experiencing severe and frequent (more than 3 times per week) generalized anxiety. Furthermore, both the worry of food insecurity in persons not sure (OR = 0.120, p = 0.004) and generalized anxiety (OR = 0.623 for severe anxiety, p = 0.009) were found to be significantly associated with lower perceived health status. These results suggest a potential association between worry about food insecurity and negative impacts on mental health and perceived overall well-being. Overall, these findings underscore the significant impact of food insecurity on mental health. Further research, including experimental and longitudinal studies, is necessary to elucidate the causal relationship between food insecurity and the manifestation of generalized anxiety in order to impact positive social change.


American Samoa High School Teachers’ Perceptions Of Fidelity Using Achieve 3000, Penelope Mareko Aug 2024

American Samoa High School Teachers’ Perceptions Of Fidelity Using Achieve 3000, Penelope Mareko

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

American Samoa, a U.S. territory, has grappled with low reading scores similar to other mainland schools. As a result, different reading interventions were implemented over the years. The problem studied was that despite using Achieve 3000 as a reading intervention for students in the local high school in American Samoa, reading scores had remained the same as expected, which suggested that there might have been issues with the instructional fidelity of the program implementation. This qualitative study explored teachers’ perceptions about the instructional fidelity of implementing Achieve 3000 in the local high school in American Samoa. Knowles’s theory of andragogy …


Early Childhood Teachers’ Perspectives On The Challenges Of Teaching Students Who Lack Age-Appropriate Social And Emotional Skills, Rachel Ann Stewart Aug 2024

Early Childhood Teachers’ Perspectives On The Challenges Of Teaching Students Who Lack Age-Appropriate Social And Emotional Skills, Rachel Ann Stewart

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The problem addressed in this study was the significant increase in the number of students who lack age-appropriate social and emotional skills (SES), which has become a concern, especially for teachers. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore early childhood teachers’ perspectives on the challenges of teaching students who lack age-appropriate SES and what support they believed would help them when working with these students in the classroom. The conceptual framework that guided this study consisted of Bandura’s social learning theory. The focus of the research questions was early childhood teachers’ perspectives on the challenges of teaching …