Digital Commons Network^™

Social Change Initiatives For African-American And Latino Males In Los Angeles County, Kay Ramsey

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In the 21st Century, many Americans continue to fight battles for men of color who are at the forefront of criminal injustice, unemployment, and low matriculation. With great dominion and urgency, our Nation must ensure all men, regardless of the adversity can succeed and build legacies in their families, communities, and the economy. In this action research study, an ecological system theory was used to analyze the stakeholders who have implemented the following public polices under the Obama Administration: 21st Century Policing, My Brother's Keeper, and Race to the Top. This research answers the question how stakeholders are able to …

Factors Influencing Degree Of Implementation Of Technology In A Georgia High School, Darby Eckman Steele

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Based on an external school review, a large suburban high school outside a southeastern United States metropolitan area was not in compliance with state technology standards. The school leadership team concluded that because teachers were not effectively integrating technology for teaching, student achievement may have been negatively influenced. The purpose of this nonexperimental project study was to measure relationships among factors influencing degree of implementation of technology (ITC) in the classroom using Dewey's experiential theory with an emphasis upon constructivism as a theoretical framework. A modified survey, Technology and Professional Development Survey of Georgia High School Teachers, was distributed to …

Hopeful Thinking: Conceptualizing A Future Beyond Domestic Abuse, Henri Zombil

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Domestic violence is a continuing public health problem. Immigrant women facing domestic violence have additional challenges in dealing with domestic violence and accessing services. Hopeful thinking has been identified as a strategy for intervening and surviving beyond domestic violence. The purpose of this multiple descriptive case study was to explore hopeful thinking in Haitian immigrant women domestic abuse survivors' (HIDAS) conceptualizations of the future beyond domestic abuse. The framework for the study was resilience theory, which emphasizes the individual's ability to bounce back from stressful situations. This framework was used to investigate how HIDAS in the United States experience hopeful …

Translation And Validation Of The Spanish Version Of The Rapid Estimate Of Adult Literacy In Dentistry-30, Wilma Luquis

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Low or marginal health literacy affect nearly 90 million citizens in the United States, compromising health outcomes, including oral health. Oral health literacy has been studied in diverse populations, yet the assessments used were developed and validated for English-speaking populations. A validated Spanish-language oral health literacy assessment was needed to help researchers and practitioners evaluate oral health literacy in the Hispanic population. Using the oral health literacy framework, the purpose of this study was to translate, culturally adapt, and validate a Spanish version of a previously validated English-language oral health literacy. A translation-back-translation process was applied to the English version …

Temporary Restaurant Closures And Food Handling Violations: Inspection Reports In British Columbia, Pam Mandarino

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Unsafe food handling practices are implicated in many restaurant-associated foodborne disease outbreaks. Factors that contribute to unsafe food handling in restaurants include inadequate food safety knowledge, employees who perceive that safe food handling is not under their control, and restaurant cultures that do not prioritize food safety. The purpose of this study was to determine whether temporary restaurant closures were associated with reduced food handling violations after closure in restaurants from the Vancouver Coastal Health Authority and the Fraser Health Authority, in British Columbia, Canada. The theoretical foundations used were the health action process approach and the theory of planned …

Gender Differences In Health Service Utilization Among Veterans With Acute Kidney Injury, Freneka Fronsha Minter

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) studies on acute kidney injury (AKI) have focused on defined procedures and outcomes but not on gender differences. The purpose of this study was to investigate differences in health services utilization by gender and other predisposing factors (age and race) among hospitalized veterans with AKI during a 5-year period from 2008 to 2013. The study included a retrospective cohort design and the behavioral model of health services utilization as the underlying theoretical framework. Secondary data were collected from an existing VA cohort. Data from 1,636 hospitalized AKI veterans were subjected to t tests …

Stress Management Training, Gender, Level Of Stress, And Coping In Police Officers, Samantha Leigh Fields Salain

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Stress has lasting and sometimes fatal effects on the law enforcement community, which can compromise the well-being of police officers. To date, there is little research on factors that influence the level of stress in police officers. The purpose of this quantitative, correlational study was to investigate the relationship of gender, used coping mechanisms, and levels of organizational and operational stress among police officers who have and have not received stress management training. Bandura's social learning theory and Lazarus and Folkman's theory of cognitive appraisal provided the theoretical foundation. Cross-sectional survey data from a convenience sample of 134 male and …

Leadership Strategies For Addressing U.S. Pharmaceutical Drug Shortages And Supply Chain Disruptions, Adrian Grant Scioli

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Health care providers in the United States expend more than $400 million in unnecessary direct costs annually managing the effects of widespread drug shortages. Based on the theory of complexity and complex adaptive systems, the purpose of this exploratory multiple case study was to identify the strategies that health care pharmaceutical procurement leaders from the Eastern region of the United States use to address widespread drug shortages. Data were collected from 5 semistructured interviews with pharmaceutical procurement leaders, recorded field notes, and a review of public documents from company websites. Data analysis included deductive and open coding techniques. Emergent themes …

Leadership Attributes And Behaviors As Predictors Of Organizational Resilience In Academic Health Care Systems, Patti Lynn Besuner

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Research intentionally addressing how leadership attributes and behaviors collectively contributed to the socioecological perspective of organizational resilience were not found. This is a problem for organizations who must hire without benefit of how a collective leadership effect might influence their psychological capital. The purpose of this study was to explore whether or not self-efficacy, psychological empowerment, personal resilience, and leadership style were associated with or predicted organizational resilience among clinical managers in an academic medical center setting. Metatheory of resilience and resiliency was used to frame the study. A quantitative correlational design was used. Self-reported data was collected via the …

Examining Parental Involvement In Impoverished Schools, Tara Lynn Broadus

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

A decline in parent participation in one impoverished Pre-K through Grade 5 school in Texas over recent years has been an ongoing concern for school administrators. The purpose of this instrumental case study was to investigate parent perceptions of the school's efforts to involve parents in the school. Research questions focused on identifying factors that inhibited parental involvement concentrating on parent perceptions of school efforts. Constructivist theory and the advocacy/liberatory framework formed the conceptual framework for this study. A triangulation method for data collection included parent interviews, teacher questionnaires, and observations of parental involvement activities over 12 weeks. Participants were …

Qualitative Examination Of Strategies To Overcome Resistance To Change In Lean Manufacturing, Elizabeth Burmester

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Approximately 80% of lean manufacturing program initiatives are abandoned in the first year of implementation. Only 2% of organizations that embark on the lean journey complete it with the results and the sustainability they expected. There is a gap in past research regarding, the leadership strategies organizations can use to overcome resistance to change during lean manufacturing program implementations. The problem in this study was that leaders have limited information to overcome resistance to change when implementing these programs. The purpose of this study was to explore how leaders within manufacturing organizations may overcome resistance to change through leadership strategy. …

Liberian Educational Stakeholders' Perceptions Of Overcrowding In An Urban Public Elementary School In Monrovia, Franklin T. Dalieh

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In post-conflict Liberia, more students are returning to schools and moving to urban areas resulting in overcrowding and class sizes that surpassed recommended and legally-sanctioned limits. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to explore educational stakeholders' perceptions of the factors (e.g., organizational leadership, social, and environmental) contributing to overcrowding and the challenges and opportunities of overcrowding. The conceptual framework was based on Bolman and Deal's theory of reframing organization and Bertalanffy's theory of general systems. The research questions centered on educational stakeholders' perceptions of the effects overcrowding has on elementary school students' achievement and the opportunities available for …

Employee Perceptions Of Merit Pay And Its Influence On Work Performance, Michael John Mcknight, Sr.

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The work performance of employees remains a vital factor both in an organization's viability as well as in the prosperity of its employees. Merit pay can influence employee performance and is one of the most frequently used monetary reward incentives for motivating employees to achieve a higher level of performance. The problem is the limited knowledge on how state employees in a southern state perceive merit pay and how those perceptions may influence employee work performance. Using a conceptual framework built from elements of various motivational theories including Maslow's hierarchy of needs and Herzberg's 2 factor theory, the purpose of …

Social Networking Sites And Online Infidelity, Amber Nicole Adams

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Biological factors, attachment styles, socioeconomic status, and religion are among some of the variables researched as casual factors of infidelity. However, limited research is available for infidelity originating online. This study aimed to investigate causal factors for engaging in online infidelity via social networking site use. A cognitive behavioral perspective guided the research. Review of literature on offline infidelity, online behavior, and Davis' work on generalized problematic internet use identified the variables relationship satisfaction, impulsivity, permissive sexual values, and the intensity of social networking site use for exploration. Research questions addressed any contribution these four variables may have to engaging …

Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus And Colorectal Cancer Risk And Survival In Oman, Rose Ngozi Mafiana

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and colorectal cancer (CRC) are 2 chronic diseases with common risk factors related to physical inactivity, obesity, and diet. Literature on T2DM as a risk factor for CRC development and survival in Oman is scarce. Using de-identified archival data provided by Sultan Qaboos University Hospital (SQUH) Oman, a retrospective, case-control, and time-to-event study designs were used to compare odds of developing CRC, and survival rates among adults with and without T2DM. The ecosocial theory provided the theoretical base for this research. Logistic regression was used to examine the odds of developing CRC among 114 cases …

Lived Experiences Of Individuals Quality Of Life On Prolonged Home Mechanical Ventilation, Munyaradzi Ephie Rwakonda

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Improvements in technology have allowed people with tracheostomies to live at home on mechanical ventilation (HMV). Quality of life (QOL) for HMV users has been studied quantitatively, but few qualitative studies have been published. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore QOL for individuals with tracheostomies on prolonged HMV focusing on activities of daily living (ADLs) and the role of decision- making. The Roper, Logan, and Tierney activities of living theory were used to categorize activities. Ten participants, 18 years and older, with a tracheostomy and on HMV for at least 6 months were enrolled using purposive sampling. …

Women In Stem: The Effect Of Undergraduate Research On Persistence, Jodi Christine Wilker

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The underrepresentation of women in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) careers constitutes a major issue in postsecondary science education. Perseverance of women in STEM is linked to a strong science identity. Experiential learning activities, such as undergraduate research, increase science identity and thus should help keep women in STEM. Most studies on research program development are from 4-year institutions, yet many women start at community colleges. The goal of this study was to fill this gap. Science identity and experiential learning theories provided the framework for this case study at a local institution (LECC). Semistructured interviews determined college science …

Exploring Strategies Microenterprise Owners Use To Succeed In Business Beyond 2 Years, Dr. Tamika Ebony Haynes

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In the United States, microenterprises, critical segment of the small business population, accounts for 110 million small businesses that source new jobs. Despite the increase in the number of created businesses in the U.S., more than 70% of microenterprise business owners are unsuccessful after 2 years. The multiple case study included 6 participants living in Houston, Texas, and intended to explore business strategies microenterprise event management owners used to succeed in business beyond 2 years. The conceptual framework that grounded the study was the 5-stage small business growth model and the 5-stage of the evolution of entrepreneurship theory. The data …

Elementary Teachers' Perceptions Of Mathematics Instruction In Montessori And Traditional Classrooms, Linda Kofa

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Abstract

Students in grades 3 and 4 attending a traditional public elementary school in a northeastern state did not meet proficiency levels in mathematics as measured by the state's assessment system. Published reports indicated that students attending the Montessori programs were more proficient in solving math problems compared to students in traditional schools. However, researchers had not compared Montessori and traditional teachers' perceptions of teaching elementary mathematics. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to explore the perceptions of traditional and Montessori teachers regarding teaching basic problem solving skills in mathematics. Koehler and Grouws' model provided the theoretical framework. …

Exploring Strategies For Early Identification Of Risks In Information Technology Projects, Nina Michele Mack-Cain

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Project managers must ensure risk management and business justification for their projects. Approximately, 53% of IT projects failed due to project managers not identifying risks early in the projects' lifecycle. The purpose of this single case study was to explore strategies IT project managers utilize to identify risks early in the project's lifecycle. The study population consisted of 5 lead IT project managers from a telecom company located in the Midwest region of the United States who had managed IT projects. The conceptual framework that grounded this study was the general systems theory. The data collection process involved semistructured interviews, …

Internal Controls Possessed By Small Business Owners, Stephanie Weiss

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

On average, a small business could lose $150,000 a year due to employee fraud schemes. For most of the small businesses affected by employee fraud schemes, the average $150,000 loss could be detrimental to the small business, causing the business to close. The purpose of this multiple case study was to explore the internal controls small business owners apply to detect and prevent fraud from occurring in the business. The population for the study consisted of 3 small business owners located in Hartsville, South Carolina who implemented effective internal fraud controls in their business. The conceptual framework guiding the study …

The Relationship Between Juvenile Sex Offender Registration And Depression In Adulthood, Sharon E. Denniston

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Accounts of sexual abuse appear daily in the media. Rightfully, this issue demands attention. Juveniles may be victims; they may also be offenders who are subject to sex offender registration and notification (SORN) policies. Growing research finds that SORN policies fail to achieve intended public policy outcomes. Little is known, however, about the unintended consequences of SORN for juvenile offenders. This study contributed to a more comprehensive understanding of the effects of these policies on this population. Merton's concept of manifest and latent functions of purposive social action and an alternate non-criminogenic form of Lemert's secondary deviance proposition provided the …

Risk Factors For Tuberculosis And Multidrug-Resistant Tuberculosis Complications Among Foreign-Born Persons In Houston, Texas, James N. Isaboke

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Tuberculosis (TB) is a leading public health problem across the world. For various reasons, TB and multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) have increased. Clarification on TB/HIV co-infection and homelessness as risk factors for TB and MDR-TB is required to inform policy interventions to reduce TB-related morbidity, mortality, and healthcare costs. In this quantitative study, data from the Houston Health Department (N = 341) were analyzed to explore the relationship between TB and MDR-TB outcomes and TB/HIV co-infection and type of housing/homelessness. Foreign-born persons are disproportionately affected in the United States. The socio-ecological model provided a theoretical framework for the investigation. Multiple and …

Examining Maternal Psychological Recollections Of Children Diagnosed With Autism Spectrum Disorders, Christine Desiree Shoop

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Mothers of children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) experience symptoms of depression, anxiety, stress, and despair stemming from the challenges of raising offspring with behavioral, communicative, and socioemotional impairments. Researchers have shown that children diagnosed with ASDs exhibit symptoms within the first year of life (early-onset), while some exhibit normal development until the second year (regressive-onset), and some exhibit normal development until the second year but display abnormalities in the first year (mixed-onset). Despite the wealth of research on ASDs, there are few examinations of ASD symptom onset groups and the impact of those onset groups on parental psychological …

Perceptions Of Leader Emotional Intelligence And Subordinate Turnover Intentions In Substance Abuse Treatment Centers, Suzanne L. Jafferian

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Substance abuse is a persistent social problem contributing to family disruption; domestic abuse; school failure; and financial costs relating to criminal prosecution, incarceration, treatment, and lost productivity and wages. Substance abuse is amenable to treatment, including psychotherapy. A client-therapist relationship is broken if the therapist leaves the organization; therefore, employee retention is especially important in treatment centers. Employee retention has been studied, but how it is affected by supervisees' perceptions of their managers' emotional intelligence has been a neglected area. The purpose of this nonexperimental, correlational study was to determine the relationship between employee turnover intention and perceived emotional intelligence …

Relationship Between Autonomous Motivation And Ego-Depletion, Mark A. Heilman

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Previous research has shown that exerting self-control on a demanding task can impair performance on a subsequent demanding self-control task. This phenomenon is known as ego-depletion; however, its underlying mechanisms are not well understood. Notable gaps in the literature exist regarding whether participants’ motivation levels can attenuate the depletion effect, and whether trait self-control is related. Drawing from the process model of depletion and the self-determination theory, the goal of the study was to examine whether motivational incentives in the form of autonomy can impact performance on tasks in an ego-depleted state, and the potential relationship of trait self-control. Amazon …

Perceptions Of Business School Students About Character Development And Ethical Reasoning, Larkey Mays Iii

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Character development in higher education is essential for enhancing ethical awareness and moral reasoning. However, inconsistent perspectives exist concerning the impact of ethics education on students' ethical awareness and moral reasoning. This phenomenological study examined the perceptions of senior-level undergraduate business students on their own ethical belief systems and changes in ethical awareness. Astin's student development theory on the environmental effects on learning formed the conceptual framework. The research questions explored how the 4-year undergraduate business school experience changed the students' ability to recognize and evaluate ethical concerns in relation to the ethical aspects of coursework. Thirteen undergraduate seniors pursuing …

Perceptions Of Cameroonian Women Regarding Cervical Cancer Prevention, Anna Nkapsah Nji

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Women in Cameroon as well as those residing in the Maryland-Washington Metropolitan area and the Diasporas suffer a disproportionate rate of cervical cancer morbidity and mortality due to the vast disproportion in the distribution of healthcare services. The widespread human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination holds promise for helping to attenuate the disproportion in cervical cancer screening and prevention services. Literature from other countries including Cameroon suggests that barriers to the uptake of cervical cancer screening include: culture, religion, the psychological impact of embarrassment, the influence of husbands, cost, discomfort, and vulnerability. The purpose of this study was to gain an understanding …

16pf® Traits As Predictors Of Emergency Medical Service Worker Tenure, Beverly J. Paschal

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The United States is experiencing a severe shortage of Emergency Medical Service (EMS) paramedics. The job outlook for paramedics (EMT-P) for the years 2012-2022 is predicted to increase by 23%-33%, which is much faster than the 4% average increase of other first-response professions. The average tenure of paramedics is less than 4 years. There is a significant gap in the literature concerning paramedic personality traits and tenure. The primary objective of the current study is to provide empirical data on the personality traits possessed by long-term paramedics (5+ years), and compare them to those with shorter tenure (< 5 years). Using Allport's Trait Theory, I predicted that personality would affect paramedic longevity. The 6 personality traits tested were warmth, reasoning, emotional stability, liveliness, social boldness and openness to change. A socio-demographic questionnaire, determined the length of their EMS career, while the 16PF® Assessment, tested their personality traits. Using t tests, Mann-Whitney U tests, and a set of regression analyses, data were examined to determine if length of career and personality traits predicted paramedic tenure. The research sample consisted of long term paramedics and former paramedics. The results showed that of the 6 personality traits, only warmth was a significant predictor of paramedic tenure. A logistic regression showed for every additional point in warmth, the odds of leaving EMS prior to 5 years increased by a factor of 2.77. This study provides support for positive social change by helping EMS to learn how to increase recruitment and tenure. It also helps by advising EMS agencies to attend to the mental and emotional health of their paramedics by being aware of the level of their warmth personality trait.

The Effectiveness Of Promoting Alternative Thinking Strategies ( Paths) When Used Once Per Week In Therapeutic Day Treatment, Beth Cherish Wilson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Promoting Alternative Thinking Strategies (PATHS) is an intervention program for children with behavioral and emotional deficits, designed for use, and shown to be effective when used in the classroom a minimum of 3 times per week. However, in some settings, as in the current study, PATHS is being used just once per week. The purpose of this quantitative study was to determine whether PATHS was beneficial in helping elementary school aged children improve their behavioral and emotional health when implemented once per week in a group therapy setting. PATHS was developed based on cognitive behavioral theory, which focuses on improving …