Digital Commons Network^™

Effective Risk Management Strategies For Information Technology Project Managers, Amath Sarr

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

A high rate of information technology (IT) projects in the telecommunication industry fail because of ineffective risk management strategies. Effective risk management strategies are important to IT project managers for the improvement of project success rates. Grounded in the actor-network theory, the purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to explore risk management strategies used by IT project managers in the telecommunication industry for improving project success rates. Data were collected using semistructured interviews and reviews of companies’ documentation on project risk management. The participants were 5 IT project managers in Dakar, Senegal, and had more than 8 years …

Strategies To Increase Per Capita Consumption Of Rosé Wines, Debbian Rose-Marie Spence-Minott

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Some marketing strategies executed to stimulate the consumption of wines and spirits do not affect an increase in per capita consumption. Wine business leaders must find ways to increase per capita consumption to sustain business profitability, as the wine category experienced no new growth. Grounded in the theory of segmentation, the purpose of this qualitative single case study was to explore marketing strategies adult beverage leaders used to increase per capita consumption of rosé wines in New York. The participants were 4 marketing leaders of an adult beverage company with operations in New York, who successfully executed strategies to increase …

Undercover Law Enforcement Operatives’ Perceptions Of Post Critical Incident Mental Health Services, David B. Spinella

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Undercover officers experience unique job-related stressors due to the covert nature and sometimes long duration of their tasks. Undercover officers adopt false identities that involve taking on a personality and lifestyle that the officer might find personally objectionable. If this identity is ever compromised, they and family members are in great danger. Officers are faced with the daily possibility of encountering abrupt and unforeseen traumatic events, such as gang retaliation, terrorism, and other events rarely experienced by civilians. Such events that exceed the range of normal experience are critical incidents, and they may be so overwhelming that they are beyond …

Competition And Services Offered Among General Hospitals In The Deep South, Vanessa Stone

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Hospitals, along with other health care providers, are a central part of every health care system and responsible for a great share of healthcare expenditure. In the United States, the cost of health care is much higher than it is anywhere else. High expenditures for hospital services could reduce the resources available for primary care and other services that could do more for population health. The purpose of this study was to explore the competition among general medical and surgical hospitals in the Deep Southern states of Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, and Louisiana to determine if increasing the level …

Social Workers' Role In Treating Individuals With Neurological Impairments From Brain Trauma, Kimberly D. Thompson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Nearly 1 billion individuals worldwide are diagnosed with a neurological condition. Neurological conditions might harm an individual’s overall mental state and quality of life. This qualitative action research project examined the social worker’s role in treating individuals with neurological impairments due to brain trauma. Information was gathered using a focus group of 4 rehabilitation social workers in Dallas, Texas, about their experiences related to utilizing social work practice with patients who have neurological conditions. Data from this action research project revealed an understanding of the psychosocial benefits of social work services for individuals with neurological impairments due to brain trauma …

Urgent Care Centers And Workers’ Compensation Medical Cost Containment, Drema M. Thompson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In response to healthcare payment policy reforms, billions of dollars in healthcare provider charges are challenged annually. Following the implementation of the Virginia workers’ compensation medical fee legislation, healthcare organizations experienced declining worker compensation medical fee schedule reimbursements and lack of profitability. Grounded in the adaptive cycle model, the purpose of this qualitative single case study was to explore strategies 2 urgent care center (UCC) leaders in Virginia used to increase profits after implementing the Virginia workers’ compensation medical fee legislation. Data were collected via in-depth interviews and a review of company documents. Thematic analysis was used to analyze data. …

The Origins Of Skin Tone Perceptions Within The African American Community, Clarissa Tibbs

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The distinction, categorizing, and hierarchical ranking of African Americans can be traced back to the enslavement of Africa Americans in the United States. There has been limited exploration on the origins of color consciousness among African Americans. Further, there is limited exploration on the in-group interactions of African Americans, perceptions of self-esteem, and experiences with psychological distress with skin tone as a mediating factor. Inquiry concerning the origins of color consciousness can lead to more effective cultural competence among mental health professionals and also treatment modalities equipped to address the unique experiences that African Americans face. The Black Racial Identity …

Strategies U.S. Coal Railroad Company Leaders Use To Remain Profitable, Jonathan Tomlin

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Leaders of coal railroad companies in the United States have experienced significant losses in profitability. Loss of profitability is of concern to railroad company leaders because it can lead to business closure. Through the lens of the transformational leadership theory, the purpose of this qualitative multiple-case study was to explore strategies leaders of U.S. coal railroad companies use to remain profitable. Data were collected from semistructured interviews and company documents from 4 railroad leaders in the Southeastern United States who successfully implemented strategies to remain profitable. Yin’s 5-step process was used to analyze the data. Three themes emerged: an equipment …

Burden And Coping Strategies Of Caregivers Of Persons With Alzheimer's Disease, Annette Laverne Tucker Osborne

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) currently presents a huge burden to individuals and families, a burden that is increasing in incidence with the aging of the baby boomer generation. Caring for a spouse diagnosed with AD holds potentially severe negative consequences for the caregiver’s physical and psychological well-being. The current study used secondary data from the 2017 New York State Department of Health/Behavior Risk Factor Surveillance System to identify a relationship, if any, between the time and activities a caregiver spends with the AD person and the caregiver’s self-reported level of general and mental health. A logistic regression was used for RQ1 …

Preschool Teacher Perspectives On Challenging Behavior And Behavior Management In Teacher-Student Relationships, Elizabeth Uchegbu

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Abstract

Challenging behavior is an expected part of development among preschool children, but

persistent disruptive behaviors can lead to teacher stress and burnout and negative

student-teacher relationships. Challenging behaviors are disruptive behaviors that

interfere with teaching and learning and can sometimes threaten the safety of children

and teachers in the classroom. According to current research, students’ academic success

is contingent on the nature of the relationships they have with their teachers. The purpose

of this basic qualitative study was to explore preschool teachers’ perspectives regarding

challenging behaviors and how the strategies they use to manage such behaviors could

affect relationships …

Meat-Eating Justification And Relationship Closeness With Vegetarian Family, Friends, And Romantic Partners, Amy Vandehei

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Omnivores often respond negatively when friends, family members, or romantic partners disclose adoption of a vegetarian/vegan diet. Examining the beliefs behind these negative responses could result in improved relationships between omnivores and vegetarians. This study examined whether the beliefs omnivores hold to justify meat-eating are related to relationship closeness. The theory of planned behavior provided a foundation with which to examine the attitudes omnivores have about meat consumption. A survey was used with 190 omnivores with existing friend, family member, or romantic partner relationships who had become vegetarian/vegan. Multiple regression analysis was used to determine the extent to which meat-eating …

Factors Affecting Commitment For Military Couples, Laura Villalobos Garza

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The reintegration process for combat veterans is challenging not only for soldiers but also for their spouses and family members. The purpose of this quantitative study was to examine factors affecting relationship commitment in military couples in which a service member has shown signs of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Sternberg’s triangular theory of love provided the framework for the study. Independent variables were passion, intimacy, age, and social support, and the dependent variable was commitment. Survey data were collected from 116 participants using Sternberg’s Triangular Love Scale and the Multidimensional Perceived Social Support Scale. The results of multiple linear regression …

Motivation For Exercise In Adults With Spina Bifida, Tasha Vitales

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The activity level among the U.S. population is low. Lack of exercise among individuals with disabilities adds a level of vulnerability to health issues for a population already facing multiple challenges. Despite considerable research on factors that may affect exercise among the general population, scant information is available about the relevance of such factors among individuals with disabilities. Furthermore, researchers have not used a coherent theoretical framework to explain empirical results. The present study addressed shortcomings in the literature by assessing, within the self-determination theory framework, if gender, self-efficacy, and self-determination predict exercise in individuals with a spina bifida. The …

Teachers’ Perspectives About Strategies To Address The Influence Of Adverse Childhood Experiences, Marie C Walker Arroyo

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Each year, the people of Puerto Rico prepare for hurricane season by attending to their properties and families’ needs, such as food, water, and supplies. Many educators on the island of Puerto Rico were not prepared for the adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) faced by children during and following Hurricanes Irma and Maria in September 2017. This basic qualitative interview study explored preschool teachers’ perspectives about strategies they used to address the influences of ACEs during and following the hurricanes. Resilience theory and Bronfenbrenner’s bioecological systems theory provided the conceptual framework for the study. The study sought to identify educators’ capacities …

The Relationship Between Emotional Intelligence And Assessment Technology Institute Nclex- Rn Predictor Score, Debra Ann Wallace

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The ability to pass a rigorous nursing curriculum and subsequently pass the National Council Licensing Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN) exam is a requirement for nursing students to enter the nursing profession. Test anxiety may lead students to perform poorly on exams but emotional intelligence (EI) may buffer stress, improve communication, decrease anxiety, and improve nursing performance. The purpose of this descriptive, correlational study, guided by the EI theory, was to determine if there was a relationship among EI, the ATI -RN Comprehensive Predictor score, and first time pass rates on the NCLEX-RN among registered nurses who had graduated from …

Exploring How Clinical Social Workers Screen Women For Adhd, Beth A. Walters

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Women with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are often overlooked in clinical mental health settings. If social workers do not screen their female clients for ADHD, then the theory of distributive justice inherent in the National Association of Social Worker’s code of ethics would suggest the women they see in clinical mental health settings are not receiving the services they need and deserve. Yet, little is known concerning how clinical social workers screen adult female clients for ADHD. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore how licensed independent clinical social workers in Massachusetts screen for ADHD in the women they …

Expressions Of Sexual Deviance In Black Serial Killers, Lucia J. Weatherall

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The number of Black serial killers (BSKs) has increased, but empirical studies have not focused on this unique population, including their expressions of sexual deviance. The purpose of this case study was to understand the common socialization experiences and the expressions of sexual deviance in BSKs. Two conceptual frameworks were used to identify the concepts to explore: Bandura’s social learning theory of aggression and Agnew’s general strain theory. Data collected came from archival court and police records in Texas. A content-analysis approach was used to analyze the archival data, organized by criminal background, sexual deviance, familial data, and social development. …

Community Perceptions Of A Rural Community College After A Replacement Levy Failure, Stephanie Wells-Mullins

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The study site, a rural community college, placed a property tax levy on the ballot in November 2017 to provide much needed additional funding to the financially struggling institution. The problem of the study is the levy failed. College administrators have determined that the levy proposition should be reissued, yet administrators do not have a clear understanding as to what went wrong in 2017. The purpose of this qualitative study was to examine community members’ perceptions about the way community members voted on the study site’s replacement levy proposition. Lewin’s change management model and his force field analysis were used …

Sexual Behavior, Contraceptive Use, And Unmet Needs Among Unmarried Teenage Women In Uganda, Lawrence Were

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

At 25%, teenage pregnancy in Uganda is one of the highest in the world, and this has been mainly attributed to low contraceptive use and a high unmet need for modern contraceptives. Unmarried women aged 15 to 19 years in Uganda face unique cultural, ethical, financial, and legal barriers to the use of contraception. The purpose of this study was to investigate how sexual behavior, contraceptive use, and unmet needs among unmarried teenage women in Uganda aged 15 to 19 years are influenced by personal and environmental factors. Bandura’s social cognitive theory was used as a theoretical framework for this …

African Americans Beliefs Regarding Skin Cancer And Prevention, Tamara Wesley

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Skin cancer is becoming more prevalent in African Americans. African Americans' mortality rate is significantly higher than any other race due to lack of awareness. The purpose of this qualitative study, guided by Rosenstock's health belief model, was to gain an understanding of African Americans' beliefs and perceptions regarding skin cancer. Ten telephone interviews were conducted with African Americans who were 18 years old or older, no history of cancer, and who were members of a church in a rural town in the southeastern United States. The interview transcripts were manually transcribed verbatim. The data were analyzed by using codes …

Leadership Strategies For Reducing Turnover Within Child Welfare Departments, Lace Shelise Whitten

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Employee turnover costs companies billions of dollars annually and can damage business sustainability. Childcare managers who lack leadership strategies may struggle to reduce employee turnover. Grounded in the motivation-hygiene theory, the purpose of this qualitative single case study was to explore leadership strategies childcare managers in Polk County, Florida, use to reduce employee turnover. Data were collected through semistructured face-to-face interviews with 5 purposively selected childcare managers who have used leadership strategies to reduce employee turnover. Data were also collected via field notes, observations, and company documents. Four themes emerged from the thematic analysis of the data: open communication, feedback …

Perspectives Of African Americans Diagnosed With End Stage Renal Disease And Their Perceptions Regarding Accessibility Of Care, Toya Williams

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

End stage renal disease (ESRD) is the final phase of kidney disease. African Americans make up 35% of all ESRD cases, which is rising. They lead all other racial groups and are 3 times more likely to be diagnosed with ESRD. Researchers have reported quantitative results involving this population, but none have focused on their experiences. The researcher sought to capture the experiences of these patients and their perceptions regarding access to healthcare to determine the role that access to care played in their condition. Interviews were conducted to gain an understanding of their experiences related to their use of …

Perceived Employment Barriers Involving Program Managers Assisting Unemployed Young African American Males, Michael P. Williams

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

For unemployed, young, African American males who face significant barriers to jobs, public employment training centers have become a critical last option. For 2016, the U.S. federal government appropriated more than $6.9 billion to states for Workforce Innovation Opportunity Act programs and approximately $3.4 billion in federal formula funding for partner programs. The research problem in this study concerns the lack of adequate employment-based policies and programs that guide the workforce employment process between program managers and recipients, in particular, young, African American males. Guided by Ingram, Schneider, and DeLeon’s theory of social construction and policy design, this study examined …

Impact Of District-Wide Free Lunch On Third-Grade Students’ Reading Comprehension, Rita A. Williams

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Poverty has an enormous impact on children and their success in school. Children with low economic status often perform poorly in math and reading. Poor reading skills often lead to truancy, low rates of high school graduation, low-paying jobs, and cycles of illiteracy in generations of families. The fundamental cause theory was the theoretical lens used for this study. The purpose of this quantitative, comparative ANOVA quartile split study was to examine the impact of universal free and reduced lunch (FRL) policy changes on third grade reading normal curve equivalent (NCE) scores. The research design included data analysis for examining …

Counselor Preparedness When Working With Survivors Of Human Trafficking, Jenise Wilson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Human trafficking is a social epidemic that impacts people globally. Human trafficking survivors are often left with a variety of physical and mental health concerns that need to be addressed by counselors. Due to the complex nature of the trauma, counselors may be unprepared to work with survivors. Using a qualitative transcendental phenomenological approach, this study looked at counselors’ perceived preparedness to work with human trafficking survivors by asking what counselors’ experience had been when working with survivors, and what information they would need to know to feel better equipped to work with such survivors. Seven licensed counselors who worked …

Instructional Leadership Practices Of K-12 School Principals Regarding Teachers' Burnout, Lakeva Lajune Winchester

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Teachers who experience burnout leave the teaching profession. School principals in a public school district located in the southern United States are inconsistently implementing instructional leadership practices to support teachers who experience burnout. The purpose of this basic qualitative research study was to understand the instructional leadership practices of school principals regarding teachers’ burnout. The conceptual framework was Vygotsky’s theory of zone of proximal development, which posits that people are more motivated to learn when they are supported and encouraged and is based on Malcolm Knowles’ theory of andragogy, known as the adult leaning theory. The research question considered how …

Parents And Educators Perspectives Of Chronic Absenteeism: Strategies To Improve Attendance, Gloria Genene Woullard-Wilder

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The research problem for this study was the chronic absenteeism for students in Grades 1–3 in a high-poverty, low-performing elementary school in a Southern state. Chronic absenteeism (CA) can result in poor reading skills and high dropout rates for students in low-income areas. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore the perspectives of 6 parents, 6 educators, and 4 school support staff regarding the causes of CA in Grades 1–3 and recommendations to increase and sustain attendance. Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems theory served as the framework. The research questions were used to identify causes of CA and suggestions …

Nurse Practitioner Approach To Care For Peripheral Vascular Disease, Jessica R. Wozniak

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The Amputation Coalition indicates that there were approximately 2 million people with limb loss in the United States primarily caused by peripheral vascular disease in 2019. Those with amputation related to vascular disease have a 5-year mortality rate. The gap in clinical practice at the facility used for this project is that there were no comprehensive program guidelines for nurse practitioners and other health care professionals working with people who are at risk for vascular intervention or limb loss. The practice-focused question was answered that an interprofessional team did develop a prototype for a comprehensive peripheral vascular program that serves …

Association Between Obesity, Socioeconomics, Mental Illness, And Education In Native American Communities, Darrell D. Wright

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Obesity is a profound health epidemic that adversely affects the health of all ethnicities. This growing health crisis has been found to be linked to several chronic diseases such as stroke, diabetes, and several forms of cancer. As in Native American populations, increased morbidity and mortality rates associated with obesity prevalence in minority populations has been linked to variables such as income, education, mental illness, and age. The purpose of this research was to examine the association of obesity with socioeconomic status, education, mental illness, and age in Native American populations. The theoretical framework used in this study was based …

Socioeconomic Status, Benzathine Penicillin Prophylaxis, And Clinical Outcomes In Patients With Rheumatic Heart Disease, Christopher Sabo Yilgwan

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Rheumatic heart disease (RHD) is the major cause of acquired heart disease and death for children and young adults in developing countries. Poverty and social disadvantage are thought to influence the clinical outcomes in RHD patients. Guided by the health lifestyle theory, this study assessed the relationship between socioeconomic status and clinical outcomes (heart failure events and mortality) in patients with RHD. It also examined how adherence to penicillin prophylaxis mediates the effect of socioeconomic status (SES) on clinical outcomes. Using the Nigerian database of the REMEDY study, this study was conducted with 243 participants using Poisson regression and logistic …