Digital Commons Network^™

Corporate Social Responsibility Implementation Framework, Samuel Bonsu

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

As social problems, such as environmental pollution persist, the need to implement corporate social responsibility (CSR) to enhance societal well-being becomes important. However, little is known about how corporate leaders implement CSR. The purpose of this qualitative transcendental phenomenological study was to identify and report the lived experiences of corporate managers relevant to CSR implementation. This study was guided by ecological systems theory, the Porter hypothesis, the Maslow hierarchy of needs theory, and the Harrod-Domar growth model, which justify the importance of societal well-being to business profitability and growth. The research question regarding the lived experiences of corporate managers of …

Strategies For Motivating A Multigenerational Workforce, Avon Donnell Cornelius

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The multigenerational workforce creates leadership challenges for business managers, and the members of each generational group have different factors that motivate them. Failure to motivate a multigenerational workforce can lead to decreased productivity, increased absenteeism, high turnover rates, and reduced profits. The purpose of this single case study was to explore the strategies that marketing managers in a Maryland-based marketing firm use to motivate a multigenerational workforce using Maslow's hierarchy of needs theory. The study comprised 7 marketing managers who have experience motivating a multigenerational workforce. The data collection process for this study consisted of semistructured interviews, observation, and member …

Individual Ability To Learn A Parallel Processing Technique And Musical Aptitude., Daniel Warren Emmett

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Correlations between music training and psychosocial skills, sensory abilities, and aspects of intelligence, are sorted into primary or secondary effects. Correlations between these areas of human development and music training lack support pertaining to the underlying cognitive networks that these processes rely on. Thus, this study was based on the work of Baddeley and Hitch's model of working memory, and implemented a test of parallel processing (Articulatory Suppression Task, AST), which measures proficiency of working memory systems. Individual differences therein, were compared with music aptitude. Participants were gathered throughout urban and rural regions of the state of Oregon. Half the …

Organizational Learning In Libraries At For-Profit Colleges And Universities, Julie Evener

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Academic libraries contribute to student engagement, student learning, and retention; therefore, the effects of improved library services for students may be positive and long lasting. However, despite successful application of organizational learning (OL), a strategic process for improvement, to enhance services in academic libraries, little is known about OL in libraries of for-profit colleges and universities (FPCUs). The purpose of this sequential explanatory mixed-methods study was to assess and explore the use of OL in libraries at FPCUs. Argyris and Schön's theory of organizational learning grounded this study. Responses to Chen's Processes and Phases of Organizational Learning Questionnaire, completed online …

Strategies For E-Commerce Adoption In A Travel Agency, Anita Smith

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In 2016, online travel sales increased 8%, resulting in profits increasing to over 565 billion U.S. dollars. Traditional travel agencies in brick-and-mortar storefronts are facing challenges related to competing with online travel agencies (OTAs), attracting new customers, and retaining existing customers. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to explore the e-commerce processes, business models, and strategies that leaders of traditional travel agencies use to compete with OTAs. The study sample consisted of 8 travel professionals from 3 small travel agencies located in the mid-Atlantic region of the United States. The conceptual framework for this study was Rogers's diffusion …

Teachers' Perceptions Of Student Engagement In A Hybrid Learning Environment, Dimika N. Smith

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Today, educators in several U.S. states use a variety of instructional tools in their classrooms to engage students in a hybrid learning environment. The problem for this study was a disconnect in teachers' perceptions of student engagement in a hybrid high school learning environment. The purpose of this study was to explore teachers' perceptions of student engagement in a hybrid learning environment in 10th-12-grade classes. The conceptual framework was derived from Astin's theory of student involvement and the idea that student engagement is instrumental in academic performance. The central research and sub-questions addressed how teachers perceive student engagement affects hybrid …

Role Identity And The Transition From Police Department To Civilian Life, Susanne Tufano

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

An individual may internalize their role as a police officer which may affect identity when that role is changed at retirement. The purpose of this study was to measure the identity role effects of former police personnel who have transitioned from a police department to civilian life. Past research has indicated identity change with role transition. Social identity theory addressed individuals who categorize, identify, and compare themselves as part of a group. Role theory addressed behavior based on social membership, which may change when roles are transitioned. Adjustment regarding a voluntarily verses a forced early retirement from a police department …

The Relationship Between Law Enforcement Agency Size And Police Stress, William Warner

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Researchers have found that law enforcement officers often experience stress. The purpose of this quantitative study was to determine if the size of the law enforcement agency (small, medium, or large) had any significant influence on how police officers perceive stress in their profession from a cognitive appraisal perspective with regards to Administrative/Organizational Pressure, Physical/Psychological Threats, and Lack of Support. Members of law enforcement (N = 144) from Utah and New York were surveyed utilizing Spielberger et al.'s Police Stress Survey. Archival data were provided by the National Police Suicide Foundation. Stress index scores were calculated manually for each survey …

Black Business Owners Overcoming Barriers In Texas, Henry Williams

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Black entrepreneurs in the state of Texas reported that they did not achieve the same level of success as nonminority enterprises. Many Black entrepreneurs have obtained education from top tier institutions and have the managerial experiences, skills, and working knowledge that facilitate business success, but they are not able to sustain business growth. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore the lived experiences of Black Texan entrepreneurs. This research was established using the conceptual framework of human capital. The overarching research question concerned the lived experiences of Black Texas entrepreneurs who were not as successful in business as …

Perceived Child Regard, Parenting Stress, And Depressive Symptoms Of Nonresidential And Residential Stepmothers, Lenee Nicole Kehnt

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The dynamics of the modern blended family is a topic of considerable interest in family research. The purpose of this quantitative study was to understand how parental stress, perceived parental regard, and depressive symptoms affect nonresidential and residential stepmothers. Family Systems Theory provided an appropriate lens for this research study. An analysis of covariance was used to determine whether differences existed between nonresidential and residential stepmothers in terms of parental stress, perceived parental regard, and depressive symptoms. The second goal was to determine whether the covariates of age, ethnicity, household income, time spent stepparenting, and the number of biological and …

Profitability Strategies For Small And Medium Entrepreneurs In Michigan, Dritan Pepaj

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Small businesses create 50% of all jobs in the United States, but at least 50% of all newly founded small businesses have failed since 2006, and only 1/3 have survived beyond 10 years. Small businesses have a high chance of failure in the first 5 years due to a lack of sustainable strategies. The purpose of this multiple case study was to explore the strategies small business owners need to sustain their business beyond 5 years in a purposefully chosen county in Michigan. A conceptual framework was constructed based on the stakeholder theory and its derived theories to provide a …

Determinants Of Low Birth Weight In A Population-Based Sample Of Zimbabwe, Paul Nesara

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Low birth weight (LBW) is a major public health concern globally. Despite its negative social and economic impact on the family and community at large, it has remained relatively unexplored at population level in Zimbabwe. The purpose of the study was to establish determinants of LBW using data from the 2015 Zimbabwe Demographic and Health Survey. The socioecological model was the conceptual framework for the study. A secondary analysis was conducted on 4,227 mother-infant dyads. Independent variables were duration of pregnancy, number of births within the past 5-year period, exposure to mass media, type of fuel used for cooking in …

Influence Of Self-Assessment Scripts On Self-Regulated Learning And Students' Performance In A Multimedia Environment, Guillermina Viruet

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Multimedia learning may be more effective than text-only methods. Researchers have not examined the effects of metacognitive strategies on self-regulated learning (SR) within multimedia learning environments (MLE). The purpose of this quasi-experimental study was to examine potential differences in learning and SR skills between students who use a script as a self-assessment tool and students who do not, while creating a conceptual map. The cognitive-affective theory of learning with media was used to frame the study. The sample included 87 secondary school students from a public school in Puerto Rico, enrolled in 11th and 12th grade English courses. Control and …

Factors Affecting Employee Persistence In An Online Management Development Certificate Program, Todd D. Chester

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

An important approach to prepare new managers for increased responsibility is participation in online management development programs; however, there is a lack of information about the factors that affect employee completion of these programs. This study addressed how chief executive officers (CEOs) can implement these programs to rapidly develop new managers who are qualified to serve in the leadership roles left behind by many retirees. This qualitative descriptive case study explored employees' perceptions about persistence in an online management development certificate program at a U.S. nonprofit organization. Herzberg's motivation-hygiene theory and Rovai's composite persistence model provided the conceptual framework for …

The Sexual Identity Development Of Gay Men In China, Stephen Pijanowski

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Limited research describes the impact of ethnic groups and mores, especially those of Asian ethnicities, on the development of a global queering theory of sexual-identity development. The purpose of this grounded-theory study was to investigate the sexual-identity development of homosexuals in a non-Western collectivist culture and the extent of influence Western gay expatriates have on Chinese gay males' sexual-identity development. Five identity-development models served as the theoretical foundations of this study: Cass, Troiden, McCarn and Fassinger, D'Augelli, Gock, and the conceptual theory of global queering. NVivo aided in data organization, while coding and analysis were applied to the data. Individual, …

Sustaining Peace In Sierra Leone Through Collaboration Of The Dominant Ethnic Groups, Osman Kabba

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

There is convincing evidence in the literature that the civil war fought in Sierra Leone beginning in 1991 was the result of social and political grievances between the 3 dominant ethnic groups, Krio, Mende, and Temne. Hitherto, there were no studies which explored their collaboration on postconflict sustainable peacebuilding efforts. By closely examining the political behaviors of these groups, this qualitative expert study was designed to create understanding of how collaboration between them supported postconflict sustainable peace-building efforts. Data consisted of observational notes and semistructured interviews of 21 Sierra Leonean experts living in the United States. Data were analyzed using …

The Impact Of Parental Education Level, Wealth Status, And Location On Female Genital Mutilation Prevalence In Northwestern Liberia, Sando Adetunji

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Walden University

College of Health Sciences

This is to certify that the doctoral dissertation by

Sando Adetunji

has been found to be complete and satisfactory in all respects,

and that any and all revisions required by

the review committee have been made.

Review Committee

Dr. Chinaro Kennedy, Committee Chairperson, Public Health Faculty

Dr. Adebowale Awosika-Olumo, Committee Member, Public Health Faculty

Dr. James Rohrer, University Reviewer, Public Health Faculty

Chief Academic Officer

Eric Riedel, Ph.D.

Walden University

2018

Female genital mutilation has been a public health issue in many countries. As a result, researchers across the globe have conducted numerous studies …

Knowledge, Beliefs, And Perceptions About Tuberculosis Among Haitian Immigrants And Haitian Americans Living In Miami-Dade County, Florida, Leslie Barbour

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Tuberculosis (TB) kills 1.7 million people each year, and 1/3rd of the world's population is estimated to have latent TB. It was once the deadliest disease in the United States but is now relatively rare and, if treated properly, it is curable. Migrants from TB-endemic countries, such as Haiti, are one source of TB transmission to the US, and the prevalence of TB remains high and is increasing in Little Haiti, Florida. Data on the knowledge and perceptions of Haitian immigrants and Haitian Americans about TB is inadequate. The purpose of this qualitative research was to study the TB-related knowledge, …

Maternal Socioeconomic Status And Human Papilloma Virus Vaccine Uptake, Shawn Lockett

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

There are more than 79 million people in the U.S. currently infected with human papillomavirus (HPV), with an estimated 14 million new infections annually. There is a lack of knowledge about the maternal socioeconomic influences and uptake of the HPV vaccine series. Infection with HPV can cause cervical cancer in women, and there are over 11,000 cervical cancer diagnoses in the U.S. responsible for 4000 deaths annually. Vaccination coverage to prevent HPV infection does not meet the Healthy People 2020 goals of an 80% vaccination rate in the U.S. In this study, associations were tested between maternal SES variables and …

Assimilation For Hispanics, Generational Standing, Education And Income: A Correlational Empirical Study., Tammy B. Burroughs

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Latino immigrants who lack assimilation into U.S. society often experience discrimination and immigrant backlash. The purpose of this exploration was to better understand the historical lack of assimilation of Latino immigrants, so they may avoid discrimination and have more access to goods and services. Self-determinism helped explain why the Latino immigrant group has a problem assimilating due to exclusionary practices, while segmented assimilation offered explanations on why assimilation is difficult. In this study, assimilation was measured according to English mastery by Spanish speakers. The research question was focused on what extent the level of generational standing, education, and income relate …

Predictors Of Blood Pressure And Lipids Levels Among African Americans, Frank Lanor

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

African Americans disproportionately develop cardiovascular disease risk factors including high blood pressure and high cholesterol levels in comparison to European Americans. The purpose of this study was to examine the associations of diet quality and physical activity with blood pressure levels and cholesterol levels among African Americans. The social ecological model was the theoretical foundation for the study. Research questions were designed to examine the extent to which diet quality and physical activity predict blood pressure levels and cholesterol levels. The research design was quantitative cross-sectional secondary analysis of 959 participants. After controlling for demographic factors, body mass index, and …

Strategies To Decrease Business Failure In Small And Medium-Sized Enterprises, Pantiva Navamarat

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In Southeast Asia, many small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) fail each year; in 2010, SME failure rate exceeded 50%. The purpose of this multiple case study was to explore strategies that some SME business leaders use to decrease the failure rate of SMEs in Southeast Asia. The target population consisted of 5 SME business leaders in Southeast Asia who demonstrated success in using strategies to decrease the failure rate of SMEs. The conceptual framework for this study was the Ulrich model, which supports the notion that a human resource manager needs to be involved in overall organizational decision making as …

Financial Strategies And Initiatives For Preventing Rural Hospital Closure, Chinue Uecker

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In the United States, rural hospital closures increased 34% since 2015 due to financial reasons, affecting access to healthcare services in rural communities. For rural hospital leaders, improving the hospital's financial performance is a valuable strategic goal. This multiple case study was designed to explore strategies that rural hospital leaders implement to improve their hospital's financial performance in Arizona, Georgia, Illinois, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, and the United States Virgin Islands. The strategic decision-making framework supported the study because top leaders make decisions that affect the organization's health and survival. Fifteen rural hospital leaders who maintain their hospital's financial stability provided hospital …

Fast Food Business Survivability Beyond 5 Years In Nigeria, Victor Ukorebi

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The lack of manager's effective business strategies contributes to the failure of fast food businesses in Nigeria. The size of the fast food industry in Nigeria grows at the rate of 4% annually with rapid rate of return on investment. The annual value of the fast food business in Nigeria was N250 billion in 2015, which is approximately US$700 million. However, approximately 80% of fast food restaurants launched in Nigeria in 2014 failed to persist for longer than 5 years because of lack of survival strategies. Using the human capital theory, the purpose of this multiple case study was to …

Impact Of Increased Learning Time On Economically Disadvantaged Students At An Urban Elementary School, Scott M. Larkin

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

At an urban school district, administrators were concerned about the English language arts (ELA) achievement gap between economically disadvantaged (ED) students and non-economically disadvantaged (NED). To address this gap in performance, district administrators instituted an extended day program (EDP) for ED students that included additional learning time and individualized strategies in ELA. The purpose of the study was to determine the extent of the impact that the EDP had on ED students in ELA achievement. The quasi-experimental quantitative design was guided by Carroll's model of school learning and explored the difference in ELA Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College …

The Readjustment Experiences Of Single Women Returning From Combat In Iraq And Afghanistan, Joanie Rainey

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

On January 24, 2013, the Secretary of Defense rescinded the 1994-ground combat exclusion policy to integrate women into all occupations previously closed to them, particularly special operations, infantry, and armored divisions. This change in policy required military policy makers to establish gender-neutral standards for physically demanding jobs to meet the military's needs. Extensive research exists on the readjustment experiences of male veterans and families adapting to new lives after a service member returns from combat, yet the experiences of single women returning from combat remain empirically unexplored. The purpose of this study was to fill the gap in this area …

Sustainability Strategies For Immigrant Small Business Owners, Hope Obika Waobikeze

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In 2017, the Texas economy grew faster than the U.S. economy; however, the rate of failed immigrant-owned small businesses is an economic problem for the southwestern United States. The objective of this multiple case study was to explore strategies immigrant small business owners practiced in sustaining their businesses for longer than 5 years. The population of the study was 3 immigrant small business owners in the southwestern United States. The conceptual framework for this study was transformational leadership theory. Thematic analysis of interviews, member checking, participant observations, and field notes identified 5 emergent themes: acquired leadership skills (with transformational leadership …

Retention Strategies For Millennial Long-Haul Truck Drivers, Debra A. Washington

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

A persistent truck driver shortage and high driver turnover at common carriers limit the effectiveness of some U.S. supply chains. Most driver vacancies result from job hopping, especially among younger drivers. A multiple case study was conducted to explore strategies that some leaders of U.S. common carriers have used to retain millennial-age long-haul truck drivers. Data sources consisted of semistructured, in-person and phone/videoconference interviews; participant observations; and company documents. The sample population was 9 leaders from 6 different common carriers with operations in the southwestern region of the United States who successfully retained millennial long-haul drivers. The conceptual framework was …

Effect Of Augmented Reality On Anxiety In Prelicensure Nursing Students, Sarah Ball

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Prelicensure nursing students experience high anxiety as they enter the clinical setting, which can have a negative impact on learning care performance and critical thinking. Nursing faculty are faced with the challenges of limited time for clinical experiences, meeting the needs of learners who are technologically astute, and engaging students in the clinical environment to meet learning outcomes. The purpose of this pretest posttest quasi-experimental study, guided by the discovery learning theory, was to determine the effect of augmented reality (AR) 360 photosphere on prelicensure nursing students' level of anxiety as they entered a new clinical environment as compared to …

Relationship Between Victims Of Urban Violence And Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Jashon Anthony Banks Sr.

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Urban violence has become common in lower-income communities that have high rates of shootings and African-American victims. Urban violence causes victims and their family and friends to experience trauma and puts them at risk for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) injuries. However, there is a gap in knowledge in the framework of urban communities and their range of needs to address PTSD. The purpose of this quantitative study was to examine whether a relationship exists between reinforcement of needs, membership, influence, shared emotional connection, and post-traumatic stress symptomology (PTSS) of urban violence victims in a large metropolitan city. Albert Bandura's self-efficacy …