Digital Commons Network^™

Synchronic Analysis Of Adversarial Attacks In Syria Committed By The Islamic State, Brian C. Montgomery

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Militarized technologies, large support infrastructures, and the unintended consequences of increased violence demonstrate that the current strategies are unsustainable to end modern conflict. However, the potential exists to precisely identify patterns from empirically reduced adversarial behaviors. Therefore, the purpose of this quantitative, non-experimental synchronic retrospective analysis was to determine the relationship between the distance, fatalities, and time (independent variables) to the hazard force (dependent variable) executed by ISIS in Syria between the years 2007 to 2015. A data set containing 12,326 records for attacks committed by U.S. adversaries in 20 countries between the years of 2007-2015 was analyzed using multiple …

Leadership For The Implementation Of Standards-Based Grading In Asian Expatriate High Schools, Virginia Leigh Prairie

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Expatriate high schools in Asia needed to explore administrative practices used in securing teacher buy-in of standards-based grading and reporting (SBGR). School leaders in this region needed help addressing the challenges of change and securing teacher buy-in of SBGR to successfully transform grading practices in their schools to improve learning for all students. The purpose of the study was to explore the reasons described by administrators for SBGR implementation, administrative practices used to facilitate teacher implementation of SBGR, and the mechanisms put in place to support successful implementation. The exploration of administrators’ perceptions and strategies provided insight into the planning …

Childhood Obesity: The Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act And School-Aged Children, Frankie Jean Alstin-Brooks

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Obesity among children in America is at an all time high, 57.3% of the nation’s children will be obese by the age of 35. The purpose of this study was to examine the effectiveness of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act (HHFKA) policy. The HHFKA modified the nutritional and physical policies in order to reduce the obesity rates by changing their expenditures. Schools in all 50 states that are subject to federal, state and local nutrition regulations were researched. This was a quantitative, non-experimental, correlation study that measured state compliance with the USDA guidelines and tested for an association between compliance …

Perceptions Of White Mountain Apache High School Graduates About College, Tyler Rush Bangert

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Very few high school graduates from the White Mountain Apache Reservation go on to college, and it is not known what perceptions may contribute to a decision not to attend college. The purpose of this qualitative exploratory case study is to investigate these perceptions, including cultural values and family obligations. The framework of this study is founded on Tribal Critical Race Theory, also known as TribalCrit, which came out of Critical Race Theory (CRT). TribalCrit posits that colonization (Western European peoples colonizing Native American lands and peoples) is endemic in society. Seventeen White Mountain Apache tribal members who had graduated …

Culturally Responsive Leadership And Distributed Leadership Practices In A Stem School, Cynthia Bradley

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Culturally responsive leadership practices and distributed leadership are strategies that could aid racially diverse students to become successful in STEM courses and later in a STEM field. The purpose of this study was to explore culturally responsive leadership practices and distributed leadership within a STEM school to support racially diverse students. Distributed leadership and culturally responsive leadership practices were the conceptual frameworks of the study used to explore the rationale for the decision-making within a school. The research questions addressed the challenges and opportunities of implementing culturally responsive leadership practices and distributive leadership to enhance the diversity of students in …

Elementary Reading Teachers' Perceptions About Differentiated Instruction, Cathy Marie Davis

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The local school district mandated the implementation of differentiated instructional (DI) strategies to strengthen students’ reading skills and curtail literacy deficits. The problem addressed by this study was that elementary reading teachers experienced difficulty implementing DI in their mixed-ability classrooms. The purpose of this study was to investigate the local elementary reading teachers’ perceptions about using DI in the classroom and to explore what teachers believed was needed to improve the effectiveness of their practice. Tomlinson’s DI model and Vygotsky’s theory of constructivism formed the conceptual framework that guided this study. The research questions focused on reading teachers’ perceptions about …

Demographic, Lifestyle, And Psychosocial Predictors Of Obesity Among Nigerian Igbo Immigrants, Ahamefula Arthur Duru

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Obesity is known as a risk factor for chronic diseases, and a contributor to health disparities among minorities and vulnerable persons. There is a paucity of data on Nigeria Igbos on obesity risks in the United States; therefore, studying obesity in this population may help policymakers tailor interventions that could reduce the prevalence of obesity. The purpose of the study was to examine the predictors of obesity among Nigerian Igbo immigrants in the United States. This study sought to examine lifestyle, psychosocial, and demographic factors as unique predictors of obesity in Nigeria Igbo immigrants. The social-ecological model and acculturation theory …

Reintegration Of Female Non-Commissioned Officer Veterans Into The Private Business Sector, Wanda E. Floyd

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Experiencing a significant career transition can directly impact military veterans.

Literature exists on military transition and reintegration but is focused on topics ranging from combat-related disabilities and mental health issues to higher learning. There is a lack of knowledge regarding female Non-Commissioned Officer (NCO) veterans’ transition and reintegration experiences. The purpose of this qualitative study, using a phenomenological design with purposeful sampling, was to explore the lived experiences of female NCO veterans’ process of transition and private-sector reintegration. The research question evaluated participants’ perceptions, leveraging them to increase awareness and improve programs for the U.S. veteran population. Semi structured interviews …

Exploring Strategies To Transition To Big Data Technologies From Dw Technologies, Mbah Johnas Fortem

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

As a result of innovation and technological improvements, organizations are now capable of capturing and storing massive amounts of data from various sources and domains. This increase in the volume of data resulted in traditional tools used for processing, storing, and analyzing large amounts of data becoming increasingly inefficient. Grounded in the extended technology acceptance model, the purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to explore the strategies data managers use to transition from traditional data warehousing technologies to big data technologies. The participants included data managers from 6 organizations (medium and large size) based in Munich, Germany, who …

Understanding Causes For Jamaican Dropouts From The Career Advancement Program, Eron Garfield Mclean

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In Jamaica, a significant number of at-risk older youths do not attend school, nor are they employed. The government created the Career Advancement Program (CAP) to provide skills and career options for them, but many students drop out of the program. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to gain a better understanding of the reasons why students were dropping out of CAP and what could be done to retain them longer. The study was designed to explore why students dropped out of the CAP before completion, to what extent experiences in CAP satisfied student needs, and how experienced …

Instructional Strategies Teachers Use To Improve Literacy Performance Of Children In Poverty, Carlene Leonie Miller-Thompson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Poverty has an on-going and broadening negative effect on students’ academic performance. At the research school, 78% of the students in poverty performed below proficiency on the national literacy test in 2012. In 2013, the number was 68%, and in 2014, 80% performed below proficiency. The purpose of this research study was to explore the instructional strategies that teachers are using with these students in poverty. Piaget’s cognitive development and Vygotsky’s social development theories established the conceptual framework for this study. The research questions that this study sought to answer at the local school setting were what instructional strategies teachers …

Middle School Teachers’ Experiences Implementing The Workshop Model In Their Classroom, Patience Ndidi Onyegwara

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Abstract

Due to the increasing diversity in U.S. schools, there is a need for differentiated and individualized educational models for these learners to be successful in the future. However, little is known about innovative educational models allowing differentiation and individualized education. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to understand the experiences and perceptions of middle school teachers implementing the innovative Workshop Model (WSM) of teaching and learning. The conceptual framework for this study included the diffusion of innovation, sociocultural, and andragogical theories, and the principles of technological pedagogical content knowledge (TPACK). The participants were 10 middle school teachers …

Achieving Sustainability In Global Supply Chains, Parthiv G. Patel

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Most multinational company leaders lack effective strategies to achieve sustainability in their supply chains. Multinational company leaders who struggle to sustain supply chains, experience poor business performance creating risks of business failure. Grounded in systems theory, a qualitative multiple case study was conducted to explore successful strategies that leaders of multinational companies implemented to achieve sustainability throughout their supply chains. The participants comprised 6 business leaders of multinational consumer packaged goods companies in northern Vermont who have successfully implemented strategies for achieving sustainability in their global supply chains. Data were collected through semistructured face-to-face interviews, internal company supply chain documents, …

Case Study Of Teachers’ Instructional Practices Among Eighth Grade Students With Disabilities, Lashaundon Perkins

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Academic achievement of students relies heavily on a student’s reading proficiency. The college-and career-readiness reading test results of 8th grade North Carolina students did not meet expectations during the 2016-2017 school year. The overall reading performance of 8th grade North Carolina students who have shown achievement at or above proficient was 30%, which is below the national average. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to explore the instructional practices of special education teachers in a low performing school in the eastern region of North Carolina. Vygotsky’s sociocultural theory provided the conceptual framework for this study. Research questions addressed …

Grit And Female Graduates’ Experiences In Engineering And Computer Science Programs, Jennifer Ilene Watson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Institutions have implemented recruitment and retention initiatives in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) degree programs; however, gender disparity of women in engineering and computer science programs persists. The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to explore the lived experiences of female graduates from engineering and computer science programs. The conceptual framework was the theory of grit to explore how female students sustained their passion and perseverance through obstacles and adverse situations. Data were gathered through semistructured interviews with 17 female participants who graduated from engineering and computer science programs in the United States. Data were analyzed through a …

Teachers’ Challenges With Implementing Curriculum-Based Assessment In Secondary Students With Disabilities, Kim Welch

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This qualitative research study was an investigation into teachers’ challenges for not consistently using curriculum-based assessments to assess 9th and 12th grade students with disabilities. The conceptual framework of the study was guided by Nitko’s curriculum-based criterion-reference practices theory, which posits that curriculum-based assessment should be the basis for assessing student learning, especially in high-stakes evaluation. The research questions addressed: 1) Special and general education teachers’ perceptions of the use of curriculum-based assessments for 9th and 12th grade students with learning disabilities, and 2) Special and general education teachers’ challenges to conducting curriculum-based assessment with fidelity for 9th and 12th …

Innovation And Market Leadership In A Technology Industry, Wilson Zehr

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

According to the Abernathy-Utterback (A-U) model, firms focus on technological product innovation early in the product lifecycle and then shift to process innovation as markets mature. However, there is no consensus on the forms that non-technological innovation can take. In addition, the A-U model, which guides innovators, does not include forms of non-technological innovation that are generally accepted by experts. In this study, a hybrid e-Delphi technique with an AHP decision model was used to evaluate the forms of innovation used to establish market leadership over the historical lifecycle of the personal computer industry in the United States. In Phase …

Strategies For It Product Managers To Manage Microservice Systems In Enterprises, Walter Zrzavy

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Many information technology (IT) product managers have experienced significant challenges in adopting microservice architecture (MSA) systems successfully in their organizations. Inefficiencies resulting from MSA system adoption are of concern to IT product managers as these inefficiencies increase the cost of maintenance and increase the time to deliver software updates to the business. Grounded in the technology-organization-environment theory, the purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to explore the strategies used by IT product managers for the domain-driven design and development and operations practices to reduce the inefficiencies during the MSA system adoption. The participants were 18 IT product managers …

Strategies To Digitize Business Processes, Mohamed Abdelmoneim

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Information technology leaders with limited digitization strategies are less profitable than competitors in the same industry. Without digital strategies, information technology leaders suffer from manual business processes, which results in losing business opportunities. Grounded in general systems theory, the purpose of this multiple case study was to explore the strategies that 10 IT leaders used to transform business processes digitally at four different organizations in Ireland. Data were collected using semistructured face-to-face interviews. The second data source was organizational digitization documents. The 3 themes that emerged from thematic analysis were (a) strong digital leadership competencies, (b) digitally aligned with the …

Critical Success Factors For E-Government Web Services, Mark Alpern

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Some municipal government leaders are unable to effectively implement e-government web services, which results in poor client satisfaction. Grounded in the critical success factor theory, the purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to explore critical success factors managers use to build quality e-government web services. The participants included 3 managers in different municipalities within Ontario, Canada, who successfully implemented e-government web services. Data were collected through semistructured interviews and the review of organizational documents. Thematic analysis was conducted using Yin's 5-step data analysis method, and 5 themes emerged: client-centric government, change management, management support, client engagement, and external …

Effective Data Analytics And Security Strategies In Internal Audit Organizations, Desiree Auchey

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The digitization of the corporate and regulatory environment presents an opportunity for internal audit organizations to change their audit techniques and increase their value to corporations. Audit functions have not kept pace with these advancements, as evidenced by the massive frauds in recent years, and current audit methodology does not robustly incorporate analytics and security of data. Grounded in agency theory, the purpose of this qualitative case study was to explore successful strategies business leaders use to implement data analytics and security for internal auditing and fraudulent activity. The participants comprised 3 audit leaders in Pennsylvania, who effectively used data …

Strategies To Grow And Expand A Nonprofit Business, Olusegun Abimbola Awode

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Nonprofit organizations make significant contributions to individuals, organizations, communities, the environment, and societies, but many do not survive in the long run. This study is important to business leaders in for-profit and nonprofit organizations who want to implement strategies for the long-term survival of their business, improve business performance, and effect positive social change. Grounded in Penrose’s theory of growth, the purpose of this qualitative single-case study was to explore strategies leaders used to grow and expand a nonprofit business in the midwestern region of the United States. The participants comprised 5 nonprofit leaders with recorded success at growing and …

College Student Performance In Blended, Accelerated And Traditional Developmental Reading Instruction, Rochella Bickford

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Despite evidence that underprepared college students benefit from literacy support, students who take developmental courses are less likely to earn a degree or certificate. Many community colleges have implemented redesigned developmental coursework models to improve student success, but there is a gap in practice on redesigns that involve an accelerated, blended model of instruction. This quantitative, causal-comparative study using archival data was based on Knowles’ theory of adult learning that postulates adults exhibit self-awareness, internal motivation, and independent initiatives in learning. The purpose was to compare students who took a blended, accelerated developmental reading course and students who took a …

Teachers' Perspectives Of The Use Of A School-Wide Reading Program With Secondary Remedial Reading Students, Mary {Parker

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The problem of low reading scores on standardized tests prompted the implementation of a supplemental reading program to support students in a high school in a Southwestern state. It was unknown how effectively teachers were implementing that program. Reading is essential to all students; they must be able to read the content in their core subjects, state-mandated exams, and the end of course exams. In addressing the achievement gap for at-risk students, the district adopted a supplemental program, Achieve3000, for the remedial reading classes. The purpose of this study was to explore teachers perspectives of and experiences with the use …

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 …

Using Formative Assessment Of Map Data To Shape Instructional Practices, Jeremy Wagner

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

A school district in the Southwestern United States identified gaps in student performance on 3rd grade math standards and implemented the Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) provided by the Northwest Evaluation Association so that K-2 teachers might better inform their instruction of math standards. The problem was that the district needed to determine the ways in which MAP has changed formative assessment practices. A qualitative case study was conducted using the 5 components of formative assessments identified by Laud and Patel as a conceptual framework. The research questions asked about how formative assessment of students reflects the 5 components in …

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 …

Relationship Between Arts Integration Experiences And Student Academic Achievement Of Limited English Proficient Learners, Colleen Marie Zando

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

There is a significant achievement gap between limited English proficient (LEP) learners and English proficient (EP) learners. This problem is important because the U.S. education system’s inability to serve LEP students effectively results in significantly lower achievement on state exams and reduced career opportunities in later life. Arts integration programs can be a way to improve student learning in the classroom and state exam outcomes. The purpose of this study was to provide insight into whether bringing the arts into core curriculum can raise LEP students’ academic achievement, thereby helping to close the gap in practice of LEP students lacking …

Impact Of Medicare Utilization On Mortality And Readmission Rates Of Heart Failure Patients 65 Years And Over, Joanna Alexander

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Roughly 25% of individuals 65 years and over hospitalized with heart failure are readmitted within 30 days after discharge. Elderly individuals identified with heart failure possess a 5-year mortality approaching 50%. The purpose of this study was to determine if there is a relationship between Medicare-covered services for care, mortality rates, and readmission rates for beneficiaries 65 years and over with heart failure. To address this topic, the chosen approach was retrospective and quantitative. The theoretical foundation was the Chronic Care Model. The research questions sought to determine if there is a relationship between the Medicare-covered services for care and …

Curricular Policy Changes And College Readiness, Carol Ann Alexander

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The problem addressed in this study was the uncertain influence of a local curricular policy change. Educators, policymakers, and communities need more data to determine the usefulness of changes in policy and practice because changes involve restructuring, resource allocation, and understanding the intended and unintended consequences of policy implementation. In the United States, fewer than 50% of high school graduates complete a college preparatory curriculum and are eligible to enter 4-year public state universities. The purpose of this ex post facto study was to investigate how a change in local curricular policy might have influenced high school graduates' college readiness …