Digital Commons Network^™

Internet And Telecommunications Companies' Provision Of Customer Information To The Government, Gbenga Ayodeji Osinowo

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The strategy of the National Security Agency (NSA) surveillance program is to incorporate the private sector into the bulk data collection of customers information, yet there is little legislative and judicial oversight. As a result, internet and telecommunications companies participated, placing at risk protected privacy interests of their customers. Using policy feedback theory and narrative policy framework as the theoretical framework, the purpose of this qualitative, case study was to explore how the federal government gains compliance of the internet and telecommunications industry to engage in information sharing with NSA during post 9/11, 2001 terrorists' attack. Secondary data were collected …

Comparison Of Army Veterans' And Nonveterans' Individual Work Performance, Petrina Veola Stack

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Business managers lack knowledge and understanding of the transferability of Army veterans' individual work performance (IWP) in the private sector, which results in organizations' failure to hire Army veterans who possess strong IWPs. The purpose of this nonexperimental, cross-sectional study was to compare Army veterans' and nonveterans' transferable IWP as defined by task performance (TP), contextual performance (CP), and counter-productive work behavior (CWB). The IWP framework provided the theoretical foundation for this study. The research question examined how veterans' IWPs compared to those of nonveterans. The sample frame included U.S. Army civilian veterans and nonveterans at a large military installation …

Influence Of Administrators Support On Third Grade Student Behavior In Schools, Alicia Vink

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Research indicated that teachers' perceptions of administrator support behaviors, behavioral interventions, and students' classroom behaviors have a strong connection to students' academic outcomes. A lack of administrator support practices present challenges to teachers' effectiveness and students' academic and social success. The purpose of this quantitative study was to address the relationships among teachers' perceptions of administrator support, the FAST (Families and Schools Together) behavioral intervention program, and teachers' perceptions of student classroom behavior. Spillane's distributed leadership theory was used as a framework. The data were a subset of archival data from a target population of approximately 200 teachers working at …

Body Cameras Effectiveness In A Large Police Department In The Southeast, Jason D. Armstrong

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Several recent high profile incidents involving law enforcement officers have resulted in the death of a citizen. In some of these cases, the use of deadly force by police was ruled as justified only to learn later that one or more officers were not truthful about what occurred. These incidents have called into question law enforcement's legitimacy and created a demand for greater transparency by equipping officers with body-worn cameras. Body cameras can act as independent, reliable witnesses with no bias or agenda. Federal, state, and local governments have pledged millions of taxpayer dollars to implement body-worn camera programs in …

Strategies For Improving Data Protection To Reduce Data Loss From Cyberattacks, Jennifer Elizabeth Cannon

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Accidental and targeted data breaches threaten sustainable business practices and personal privacy, exposing all types of businesses to increased data loss and financial impacts. This single case study was conducted in a medium-sized enterprise located in Brevard County, Florida, to explore the successful data protection strategies employed by the information system and information technology business leaders. Actor-network theory was the conceptual framework for the study with a graphical syntax to model data protection strategies. Data were collected from semistructured interviews of 3 business leaders, archival documents, and field notes. Data were analyzed using thematic, analytic, and software analysis, and methodological …

A Study Of Rural Nonprofit Board Communication And Collaboration, Angela-Janine C. Crawford

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This case study explored the perceptions, experiences, and significant internal communication and collaboration problem(s) faced by a rural nonprofit board of directors experiencing a growth transition. Specifically, this study addressed (a) how a rural nonprofit's board members perceived their communication and collaboration skills and practices, and (b) the training needed to improve board communication and collaboration policies and practices. Ten rural area study participants shared their experiences and made recommendations for board communication and collaboration training. Exploring the perceptions, understandings, and capacities of the rural nonprofit board members revealed how specific communication and collaboration policies and practices affected their organization's …

Partner-Objectification And Relationship Satisfaction In Gay Male Relationships, Kerry Sue Donaldson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Objectification theory explains how media-driven ideals can be internalized and lead to the development of eating disorders, poor body image, depression, anxiety, a desire to achieve a thin ideal, and lowered rates of relationship satisfaction. Research on objectification theory, until recently, has focused primarily on a female population and heterosexual couples. As nontraditional sexual identities have become more accepted in society, media influences have begun to impact other populations, including the Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender community. The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of these media-driven ideals on a gay male population and determine how objectification may …

Practicing Self-Efficacy And Transparency To Achieve Long-Term Recovery And Reduce Recidivism, Lisa Kent

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

There is limited data about the positive application of self-efficacy and the practice of transparency for individuals in recovery to achieve long-term recovery from substance addiction and criminal recidivism. The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to gain more insight and knowledge about how the application of self-efficacy and the practice of transparency help individuals in recovery achieve long-term recovery from substance addiction and criminal recidivism for two or more years. The conceptual framework used to guide this study was Albert Bandura's self-efficacy theory. This study is significant because it explains that long-term recovery is not an easy task …

The Phenomenon Of Living Close To Nuclear Power Plants, Jacquelynn Isabel Miles

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Communities near nuclear power plants are at potential risk from natural and man-made failures at the nuclear power plants located within those communities. This study explored the concerns and rationalizations of residents of a community who live within a 10-mile evacuation zone of the nuclear power plant located there. Using the general theory of deliberative democracy, the purpose of this qualitative study was to understand and explore why individuals continue to live close to nuclear power plants. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 15 individuals who live within a 10- mile radius of a nuclear power plant in the …

Best Practice Suicide Screening/Assessment Tools For The Emergency Department, Katheryn M. Spirito

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Patients presenting to the emergency department (ED) often suffer from more than physical ailments when seeking care and treatment. Some of these patients have emotional ailments and suicidal ideation when they come to the local ED. The lack of recognition of at-risk patients by health care providers can lead to poor patient outcomes and death. The focus of this project was to understand which valid and reliable suicide assessment tools described in the literature were considered the best evidence-based instruments to identify ED patients who were at risk for suicide. Peplau's theory of interpersonal relations guided this project. A systematic …

Social Media Effects On Millennials' Counterterrorism Type Of Behaviors, Laura C. Domasneanu-Miulescu

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Social media is a critical and omnipresent component in Millennials' lives. Using social media can lead to significant social change for societies both online and offline. Social media can be used as a tool to combat domestic and foreign terrorism and to protect our society. Prosocial perceptions and behaviors exhibited on a social media platform can transcend online social culture and produce replicas of those behaviors in the real world. Research in social activism portrayed by Millennials via social media is limited, and research regarding social media use and counterterrorism behaviors of Millennials has not yet been attempted. The current …

Natural Environment Associations With Mental Health And Obesity Status, Adam Edwin London

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Mental health and obesity were ranked among the health priorities of the 2014 and 2017 Community Health Needs Assessments in Kent County, Michigan. Exposure to nature is correlated to improved health outcomes across a variety of morbidities including poor mental health and obesity. This cross-sectional study set within the frameworks of attention restoration theory, environmental health, and pathways to health benefits from nature assessed county survey data including self-reported nature exposures/interactions separated into 3 domain areas: access to nature, attitudes about nature, and physical activity in nature or in nature-based activities. Binary logistic regression analyses of the 653 respondents found …

Predictors Of Rapid Repeat Pregnancy In Zimbabwe, Thenjiwe Sisimayi

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Rapid repeat pregnancy (RRP) is associated with adverse maternal and infant outcomes and a range of undesirable social and economic challenges for the mother, her baby, and society. Although the consequences of RRP are well known, Zimbabwe—a country with some of the poorest maternal health indicators—has not investigated or made efforts to directly address this problem. This is confirmed by the lack of targeted programs to curb RRP, the unavailability of documented evidence regarding RRP significant risk factors, and the lack of understanding of the extent of RRP in the country. Using social cognitive theory as the theoretical framework, an …

Breast Cancer Screening Knowledge And Beliefs Of Nigerian Women Living In The United States, Enobong Clement Utin

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Breast cancer is one of the leading causes of death and disability globally. Although mammogram has been identified as a significant breast screening tool in the United States, researchers have indicated that African-born women in the United States are diagnosed with advanced stages of breast cancer because of underutilization of mammogram from diverse reasons. The purpose of this quantitative study was to determine the association of demographic factors, breast cancer knowledge, health beliefs, and the utilization of mammogram among Nigerian women, 40 years and older in the United States (N=200). The study was guided by the health belief model and …

Evaluation Of The Focused Reading Intervention Program For Middle School Struggling Readers, Joyce Diane Mccoy Booth

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This mixed methods study of an in-school Focused Reading Program employed a quasi experimental pre-posttest design to examine program effectiveness and Vygotsky's sociocultural theory as the theoretical framework. The quantitative research question inquired whether the program resulted in a significant difference in reading performance for participants receiving the instruction based on pre and post measures. Data analysis for this component involved descriptive and inferential statistics. Pre- and posttest scores for the combined groups of seventh and eighth graders were analyzed for significant differences through an independent t- test. The results revealed there was a statistically significant difference between the pre-posttest …

Utilization Of Preventative Care Services By African Americans Post-Affordable Care Act, Madalyn Mcknight

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Preventative care services allow patients to be fully equipped with the knowledge, tools, and other resources to help them discover and treat many diseases and illnesses so that the burden of costs will not fall on patients and their families. Since the passage of the Affordable Care of Act (ACA) by President Barack Obama, the requirement for health insurance coverage has not translated to utilization of preventative care services. The purpose of this study is to determine the motivation for African Americans who have insurance coverage and access to care who are not taking advantage of opportunities for screenings and …

Millennials Leaving Religion: A Transcendental Phenomenological Research Study On Religious Disaffiliation, Elizabeth Ann Rainwater

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Religious disaffiliation among Millennials has increased significantly in the past decade alongside rapidly changing social relationships amplified by social media applications. In the United States, many Millennials claim no religious identity with many leaving their religion for a variety of reasons. The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to explore the lived experiences of religiously disaffiliated Millennials regarding their psychological health and well-being. Self-determination theory fulfilled the theoretical framework for examining the lived experiences of young adults regarding their well-being after religious disaffiliation. A purposive sample of 12 male and female religiously disaffiliated Millennials was recruited for semistructured interviews. …

Clinicians' Attitudes Toward Sex Offender Treatment, Vallerie Hancock

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Clinician attitudes toward a client have a significant influence on outcomes for that client's treatment. Exploring the attitudes of clinicians toward sex offenders can provide additional insights into methods to improve treatments for this population. The purpose of this qualitative grounded theory study was to examine the attitudes of clinical professionals who work with sex offenders to identify the specific ways that these attitudes influenced professional behaviors and client interactions. Grounded theory was used to move beyond a general description of the issue to formulate a theory regarding clinician work with sex offenders and its implications. The sample comprised 10 …

Physical Activity And Dietary Interventions For Adolescent African Americans In Mississippi, Tanga Deson Hart Robinson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

African American (AA) adolescents have higher rates of obesity than many other ethnic groups, which increases their risk for obesity-related diseases. Culturally sensitive obesity preventive interventions have been unsuccessful, resulting in a steady increase of obesity among AA adolescents. AA adolescents in the southern region of the United States are at a higher risk for obesity and physical inactivity; knowledge and understanding of causative factors remains limited. To identify the impact of programs, a systematic review of the literature focused on structured physical activity and/or dietary education interventions in Mississippi. The ecological framework was used to guide this study. The …

Gifted Students In Poverty's Perceptions Of Blended Learning, Darren Chase Crutcher

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Students who are raised in poverty and are not adapted to technology use have less positive learning experiences with technology usage than other students. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore students' perceptions of blended learning among gifted students who are enrolled in the free and reduced lunch program in a public high school district in the southeastern United States. Davis's version of the technology acceptance model was used as the conceptual framework. The research questions explored the perceptions of these gifted students when they are taught using blended learning in terms of their attitudes, perceived usefulness, perceived …

Strategies For Oil And Gas Asset Retirement Sustainability In Alberta, Canada, Ikenna Uhuegbulem

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Oil and gas companies in Alberta, Canada lose millions of dollars per year due to ineffective management of retired assets. Ineffective management of inactive oil and gas assets in Alberta has led to over 80,000 inactive wells, highlighting the practice of prolonged deferment of asset end-of-life costs. Using the corporate sustainability model and asset management concept model as frameworks, this multiple case study was conducted to explore the strategies that asset managers in small- and medium-sized oil and gas companies used to manage retired assets effectively to increase organizational sustainability. The population for the study included 3 business leaders of …

Assessing Perceptions Of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Among A Cohort Of Noncontracted Rotc Cadets, Stephen P. Gontz

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Stigmatization has shown to negatively impact service members with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Published research has shown stigma to significantly affect service members through increased suicide, homicide, unemployment, homelessness, and criminal justice system interaction rates. Additionally, stigma also affects overall readiness and cohesion of the military organization. However, little research has focused on the perceptions of Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) cadets about service members with a combat-related stress disorder in which they will eventually be charged with leading. The purpose of this quantitative study was to measure a cohort of ROTC cadets and determine their perceptions about service members …

Counter-Ideology As A Wider Strategy For Defeating The Boko Haram Terrorist Group, Kwesi Ayima

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

There is a need to address current military strategies to defeat the resilience of the Boko Haram Terrorist (BHT) group. The purpose of this qualitative study was to provide a counter-ideology framework as an alternative strategy to defeat the group. The relational/vengeance and relative deprivation theories provided the theoretical foundation for the study, and the research question addressed the extent to which counter-ideology strategies can be instituted to defeat the BHT group. Data were collected through semi structured interviews from 20 participants who were Muslim clerics, community leaders, and military personnel, and data were analyzed using Nvivo software. The themes …

Relational-Cultural Experiences Of Burnout By Mothers Of Color In Online Counseling Programs, Juliana Forrest-Lytle

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Burnout permeates helping professions and is a concern in counselor education and training. The defining characteristics of burnout are depersonalization, emotional exhaustion, and reduced personal accomplishment. Data on burnout in diverse populations are notably limited. The primary goal of this qualitative grounded theory study was to understand the experiences of burnout in mothers of color (MoCs) who were enrolled in or recently (within the last 5 years) graduated from an online Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Education Programs accredited clinical mental health counseling (CMHC) program. Another goal of this study was to investigate how MoCs managed burnout. …

Drones And American Domestic Policy: An Analysis Of Elite And Mass Opinion, Kevin Michael Leonard

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Researchers have primarily focused on the use of drones for military purposes. Yet, understanding how the use of drones influences domestic policymaking from the perspective of mass and elite opinion was generally absent from the academic literature. The purpose of this descriptive study was to explore and describe the perceptions of policy elites and the mass public on the impact of drone use on domestic policy. Guided by Donohue, Tichenor and Olien's theories of media framing and salience, mass opinion was measured through a convenience sample via the Walden Participant Pool, whereas elite opinion was measured through a purposive sampling …

School Resource Officers And Student Arrest Inclination, Bill B. Young

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The problem examined in this study was the harming of students arrested in schools and related human and fiscal costs. The purpose was to identify arrest decision-making processes of school resource officers (SROs) and non-SROs and examine how arrest inclinations may lead to the concept of a school-to-prison pipeline. Black's theory of arrest and the factors of amount of evidence, suspect demeanor, wishes of the victim, seriousness of the offense, and the relationship between victim and suspect was the theoretical framework for this study. Six research questions were tested to examine relationships between SROs, non-SROs, and the arrest of students. …

Dissertation Mentor Communication Style And Behavior As Predictors Of Student Stress And Satisfaction, Julienne Inez King

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Many graduate students (60%) do not complete their program of study. It is important for

universities to find ways to increase student completion rate. The general problem is that

online U.S. universities are faced with a high rate of PhD student drop out resulting in an

increased number of students not being able to complete their doctoral studies. The

purpose of this multiple linear regression study was to identify predictor variables of

dissertation student stress and overall dissertation satisfaction. Deci and Ryan's self

determination theory and Lazarus' theory of cognitive appraisal were used to guide this

research to identify how …

Effects Of Herzberg's Hygiene Factors On Fire Department Paramedics, Christine Elizabeth Peterson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The decline in the number of lead paramedics at an Indiana fire department has stressed the local emergency medical system (EMS), jeopardized public safety, accelerated personnel burnout, and increased overtime expense. Using Herzberg’s motivation hygiene theory as a guiding lens, this phenomenological study explored the effects of the Indiana fire department’s policies related to lead paramedic job satisfaction. The purpose of this study was to investigate possible hygiene factors, relabeled as workplace satisfaction factors, which led to a decrease in the number of lead paramedics within EMS from 2007–2017. The reduction in lead paramedic numbers led to unanticipated and unbudgeted …

High School Teacher Perceptions Of Blended Learning, Stephen Raymond

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Blended learning technology integration by teachers can be influenced by a number of factors and is not simply a matter of following the dictate of an administrator or supervisor. A lack of knowledge exists as to what extent a high school teacher’s perception of blended learning influences his or her implementation decision. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the perceptions of high school teachers regarding their decision to implement blended learning pedagogy in their classroom. Social cognitive theory and the technology acceptance model were used as the conceptual framework for this study. The key research questions were …

Predictors Of Cervical Cancer Screening Among Hispanic Women In Texas, Madhu Ravindranath

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Hispanic women in Texas show higher cervical cancer incidence rates as compared to all women in the United States. The rate of cervical cancer in the United States has reduced mostly due to regular cervical cancer screening. However, high cervical cancer among Hispanics in Texas may reflect low cervical cancer screening. The purpose of this quantitative study was to examine the insurance status (independent variable) and cervical cancer screening (dependent variable) among low-income Hispanic women, living in Texas Health Service Regions (HSRs), after controlling for age, marital status, and personal health care provider. The theoretical framework used in this study …