Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Digital Commons Network™

Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Discipline
Keyword
Publication Year

Articles 61 - 90 of 5177

Full-Text Articles in Entire DC Network

Effective Strategies To Improve Ai Governance And Regulatory Compliance, Mursal Haroon Aug 2026

Effective Strategies To Improve Ai Governance And Regulatory Compliance, Mursal Haroon

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Senior business leaders across sectors face increasing risks because many organizations lack effective strategies to ensure transparency and regulatory accountability in artificial intelligence (AI) governance. This problem is critical for industry leaders who rely on transparent and compliant AI systems to protect consumers and maintain operational stability. Grounded in the ethical usage of AI systems, the purpose of this qualitative pragmatic study was to explore effective strategies senior business leaders use to improve transparency and regulatory accountability in AI governance. The participants were six senior business leaders in the United States who successfully implemented such strategies. Data were collected through …


Hiring Out-Of-Field Teachers In Urban Title I Schools In Georgia, Lakeshia Pruitt Dixon Jul 2026

Hiring Out-Of-Field Teachers In Urban Title I Schools In Georgia, Lakeshia Pruitt Dixon

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Urban Title I schools commonly experience teacher shortages, prompting principals to hire teachers to teach content areas for which they are not certified. The problem addressed in this study was that 8% of the teachers within a large urban school district in Georgia were teaching out-of-field. Guided by Elmore’s conceptual framework of knowledge, skills, and dispositions, the purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore the factors contributing to principals’ decisions to recommend hiring out-of-field teachers in urban Title I schools in Georgia and to examine the support available for those teachers to meet certification requirements. Semistructured interviews were …


School Counselor Preparedness With Mass School Shootings, Lidia Oviedo Jul 2026

School Counselor Preparedness With Mass School Shootings, Lidia Oviedo

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Mass school shootings represent a significant threat facing K–12 schools, yet the lived experiences of school counselors as they engage in prevention efforts and prepare to respond to and recover from these incidents remain unexplored. This study addressed the discrepancy between the increasing prevalence of mass school shootings and the limited understanding of school counselors' preparedness. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the experiences of school counselors regarding their preparedness to prevent, respond to, and recover from mass school shootings. This study was grounded in Giorgi's descriptive phenomenological method and informed by the U.S. Department of Education's …


Strategies Used By Silicon Valley Technology Leaders To Advance Latinx Employees Into Leadership Roles To Increase Firm Productivity, Elizabeth A. Garcia Jul 2026

Strategies Used By Silicon Valley Technology Leaders To Advance Latinx Employees Into Leadership Roles To Increase Firm Productivity, Elizabeth A. Garcia

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The underrepresentation of Latinx professionals in leadership roles remains a challenge for technology leaders. Leaders who lack effective leadership development strategies for Latinx employees may experience reduced innovation, lower productivity, and decreased organizational competitiveness. Grounded in the resource-based view, the purpose of this qualitative pragmatic inquiry research project was to identify and explore effective strategies used by Silicon Valley technology leaders to advance Latinx employees into leadership roles to increase firm productivity. Participants were 10 technology leaders with experience implementing strategies to hire, develop, and promote Latinx talent. Data were collected through semistructured interviews, public organizational documents, and industry publications. …


The Experiences Of Deaf American Muslims In Their Pursuit And Retention Of Employment, Shukry Mahmood Jul 2026

The Experiences Of Deaf American Muslims In Their Pursuit And Retention Of Employment, Shukry Mahmood

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Deaf American Muslims in the United States face high levels of unemployment. They often experience compounded marginalization at the intersection of disability, religion, and cultural identity, which often leads to exclusion and underrepresentation in employment contexts. The purpose of the study was to explore the lived experiences while pursuing and retaining employment in the United States of deaf Muslims in United States workplaces. In this qualitative study, a self-designed, semistructured interview protocol with open-ended questions was used to explore these experiences. The sample of 12 participants was selected based on their self-identification as deaf American Muslims with at least 30 …


Identifying Symbolic Modeling Of Grooming Precursors In Social Media, Heath Landress Jul 2026

Identifying Symbolic Modeling Of Grooming Precursors In Social Media, Heath Landress

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Short-form video platforms such as TikTok and Instagram Reels increasingly circulate dating and lifestyle advice that may normalize coercive relational scripts. A key challenge for preventing technology-facilitated child sexual exploitation is that early grooming precursors can be communicated through audiovisual design choices, such as tone, pacing, setting, and editing, that make manipulative narratives appear benign. The purpose of this qualitative multimedia content analysis was to identify recurring observable patterns that provide a form of symbolic modeling, through which relational and boundary-shaping cues associated with early-stage sexualized grooming are framed as ordinary dating or lifestyle advice in public TikTok and Instagram …


Risk Factors For Metabolic Syndrome Among U.S.-Born And Non-U.S.-Born Hispanics In The United States, Banessa Maldonado Jul 2026

Risk Factors For Metabolic Syndrome Among U.S.-Born And Non-U.S.-Born Hispanics In The United States, Banessa Maldonado

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Current knowledge regarding risk factors for metabolic syndrome (METS) among Hispanic individuals of Mexican descent remains limited. Using data from NHANES 2017–2020, this study compared factors contributing to METS and included U.S.-born and non-U.S.-born Hispanic adults of Mexican descent aged ≥ 18 years living in the USA (N = 949) with assessed METS. Grounded in the social ecological model and social determinants of health, this research evaluated dietary habits, lifestyle patterns, and acculturation processes using multivariate logistic regression and stratified analyses. Educational attainment was associated with METS, but the association was not statistically significant in adjusted models p = 0.528. …


Strategic Organizational Growth In Nonprofit Organizations: A Swot-Based Change Management Analysis, Sharika Williams Jul 2026

Strategic Organizational Growth In Nonprofit Organizations: A Swot-Based Change Management Analysis, Sharika Williams

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Nonprofit organizations often face operational and sustainability challenges. This study examined a nonprofit serving individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities that was experiencing increased service demands, communication challenges, and workforce shortages. The purpose of this generic qualitative study was to develop a sustainable strategic change management approach to strengthen workforce development, financial stability, stakeholder collaboration, and strategic planning. Guided by the research question, "How can the client nonprofit organization implement a sustainable change-management approach that addresses internal communication challenges and resource constraints while maintaining mission alignment?" the study used a SWOT analysis and Kotter’s eight-step change model. Data were collected …


Secondary English Teacher Experiences Implementing Culturally Responsive Teaching With Black Students In Maryland, Angela James Jul 2026

Secondary English Teacher Experiences Implementing Culturally Responsive Teaching With Black Students In Maryland, Angela James

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Despite state mandates requiring culturally responsive teaching (CRT) implementation, the problem addressed by this study was that urban high school teachers are not consistently integrating CRT practices with Black students in Reading/English language arts (RELA) courses. Guided by the CRT framework, the purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore the experiences of urban high school teachers with incorporating CRT practices with Black high school students in RELA courses in Maryland. Data were collected through semistructured interviews with 10 RELA teachers. Through open coding, the following three themes emerged: the need for increased and targeted professional development, structured opportunities …


Ai Vs. Licensed Psychologists: A Comparative Analysis Of Treatment Plan Quality For Treating Psychological Distress, Michael Edward Maloney Jul 2026

Ai Vs. Licensed Psychologists: A Comparative Analysis Of Treatment Plan Quality For Treating Psychological Distress, Michael Edward Maloney

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The study was conducted to investigate whether statistically significant differences exist in the quality of treatment plans developed by artificial intelligence (AI) platforms versus treatment plans generated by licensed psychologists, with a focus on intervention specificity and clinical appropriateness. Given the rapid proliferation of digital mental health technologies and the persistent shortage of licensed mental health professionals, empirical evaluation of AI-driven clinical tools has become a critical area of inquiry. Grounded in dual process theory (DPT), which conceptualizes decision making as the product of both intuitive and analytical cognitive systems, the study employed a quantitative, between-groups design. Sixty-six licensed psychologists …


Residual Effects Of Childhood Sexual Victimization On Black Caribbean Immigrants’ Adult Functionality, Sophia Elaine Profit Jul 2026

Residual Effects Of Childhood Sexual Victimization On Black Caribbean Immigrants’ Adult Functionality, Sophia Elaine Profit

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Childhood sexual victimization is associated with long-term psychological, emotional, and functional challenges that may persist into adulthood. Despite a growing body of literature on childhood trauma, limited research has explored its residual effects on adult functionality among Black Caribbean immigrants. The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to explore the residual effects of childhood sexual victimization on adult functionality among Black Caribbean immigrants. Purposive and snowball sampling were used to recruit 9 participants through social media platforms. Rational choice theory served as the conceptual framework to examine how trauma-related and sociocultural factors shaped participants' decision-making processes. Data were collected …


How Female Leaders Perceive The Influence Of Gender On Career Advancement In The Indonesian Construction Industry, Jadeviput Suwanarat Jul 2026

How Female Leaders Perceive The Influence Of Gender On Career Advancement In The Indonesian Construction Industry, Jadeviput Suwanarat

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Women who work in leadership positions in the construction industry in Indonesia face gender related challenges. Grounded in Acker’s theory of gendered organizations, this qualitative hermeneutic phenomenological study examined how women leaders experience and interpret gender-related workplace challenges. I collected data through semistructured interviews with nine women leaders in the Greater Jakarta Metropolitan Area and analyzed the data using the modified van Kaam method. Manual coding produced seven emergent themes. Key findings showed that gender inequality is embedded in organizational culture, policies, and everyday practices rather than occurring as isolated incidents. Women leaders reported heightened scrutiny, the need to continually …


Higher Education Faculty’S Perceptions On Generative Artificial Intelligence Use In Teaching And Learning Practices, Inez Mitchell Jul 2026

Higher Education Faculty’S Perceptions On Generative Artificial Intelligence Use In Teaching And Learning Practices, Inez Mitchell

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The problem that was addressed through this study is that higher education (HE) faculty are challenged to integrate generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) in their teaching and learning practices. Grounded in Mishra and Koehler’s technological, pedagogical and content knowledge framework and Knowles’ theory of andragogy, the purpose of this study was to explore HE faculty’s perceptions on their content, andragogical, and technological knowledge and their instructional strategies used in integrating GenAI. For this basic qualitative design, semistructured interviews were conducted with nine HE faculty who self-identified as having at least 3 years of teaching and GenAI usage experience from across the …


Administrative Discharge Strategies To Decrease Readmission Rates Of Black Patients In Acute Care Hospitals, Patricia Cummings Jul 2026

Administrative Discharge Strategies To Decrease Readmission Rates Of Black Patients In Acute Care Hospitals, Patricia Cummings

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

High 30-day hospital readmission rates among Black patients remain a healthcare administration problem associated with high costs and poor care quality. The purpose of this integrative review was to identify evidence-based discharge planning strategies to reduce hospital readmissions among Black patients. The review question was used to examine strategies healthcare administrators can implement to enhance discharge planning for Black patients. Donabedian’s structure-process-outcome model guided the review. A literature search yielded 87 relevant articles; 27 articles published from 2021 through 2026 were appraised using the Johns Hopkins evidence-based practice model, and 25 were used in this review. Thematic analysis resulted in …


Perceived Level Of Preparedness For A Terrorist Event Between State, Local And Tribal Law Enforcement Officers, Herbert Henderson Jul 2026

Perceived Level Of Preparedness For A Terrorist Event Between State, Local And Tribal Law Enforcement Officers, Herbert Henderson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In this quantitative cross-sectional study, differences in perceived preparedness among state, local, and tribal law upon Kingdon’s multiple streams approach and Baumgartner and Jones’ punctuated equilibrium theory to explain administrative changes in law enforcement following the September 11, 2001, attacks. Data were collected from 53 full-time police officers across state, local and tribal agencies using a web-based survey instrument measuring enforcement officers in a northern border region were examined. Officers’ perceived preparedness to identify, prevent, and respond to future terrorist threats were evaluated. Whether perceived preparedness differed by agency type and whether officers with military experience or advanced homeland security …


Principals' Perceived Leadership Training For Inclusive K-12 Education, Lettie E. Webster Jul 2026

Principals' Perceived Leadership Training For Inclusive K-12 Education, Lettie E. Webster

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Adequate training and professional development enhance school principals’ effectiveness in leading inclusive K-12 schools. The problem addressed in this study was the gap in the literature on K-12 principals’ perceptions of the essential elements of preparation and ongoing professional development needed for effective leadership in inclusive educational settings. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore K-12 school principals’ perceptions of essential components of preparation for effective leadership and the role of ongoing professional development in enhancing their effectiveness as leaders in inclusive educational settings. Beard’s engaged school leadership theory served as the conceptual framework. For this basic qualitative …


Leadership Characteristics Driving Positive Patient Experience Outcomes In Behavioral Healthcare Organizations, Sophia Iovenitti Jul 2026

Leadership Characteristics Driving Positive Patient Experience Outcomes In Behavioral Healthcare Organizations, Sophia Iovenitti

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Patient experience is a key indicator of healthcare quality and performance; however, limited evidence exists regarding the specific leadership characteristics that influence patient experience outcomes in behavioral healthcare. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to explore the leadership characteristics associated with positive patient experience outcomes, examine how leadership behaviors influence patient perceptions, and identify leadership development strategies to enhance patient experience. The study was guided by the Baldrige excellence framework and the Beryl Institute’s definition of patient experience. Data were collected through semi structured interviews with executive and operational leaders and triangulated with organizational artifacts, including aggregated patient …


Examination Of Maternal Mortality, Mental Health Conditions, And Co-Occurring Factors, Laura Eileen Skaarer Jul 2026

Examination Of Maternal Mortality, Mental Health Conditions, And Co-Occurring Factors, Laura Eileen Skaarer

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Maternal mortality (MM) continues to be a public health concern in the state of Arizona. There is little to no research investigating the relationship between MM and mental health conditions co-occurring with contributing factors among women who have died in Arizona while pregnant or within 1 year of the end of a pregnancy. The purposes of this quantitative study, guided by the three delays model (3DM), were to examine (a) MM and mental health conditions as the primary underlying cause of death; (b) MM and mental health conditions surrounding death; and (c) significant contributing factors (i.e., discrimination, knowledge, lack of …


Experiences Of Reproductive Health Care Practitioners In North Carolina After The Dobbs Decision, Arwyn Lapella Jul 2026

Experiences Of Reproductive Health Care Practitioners In North Carolina After The Dobbs Decision, Arwyn Lapella

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Since the Supreme Court of the United States made the decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, providing access to reproductive health care in the state of North Carolina has been a challenge for medical professionals. Findings from existing literature indicate that a lack of access to reproductive health care can have a negative impact on society from socioeconomics, food and home inequality, and other health care complications. The purpose of this study was to focus on the impacts that health care providers faced when providing care for those who live in the state of North Carolina since the Supreme Court’s …


The Impact Of Super Political Action Committee Spending On Abortion Legislation In A Post-Dobbs Era, Jeni Atchley Jul 2026

The Impact Of Super Political Action Committee Spending On Abortion Legislation In A Post-Dobbs Era, Jeni Atchley

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Super political action committee (Super PAC) spending has become a prominent feature of U.S. elections, yet limited research had examined how independent expenditures related to electoral success in competitive U.S. House races and whether that relationship varied by candidates’ abortion policy positions in the post-Dobbs era. Prior research has shown that Super PAC independent expenditures expanded sharply after Citizens United and can influence candidate visibility in competitive races, yet findings on whether that spending translates into electoral success have been mixed, and few studies had examined it in relation to candidates' abortion positions after Dobbs. The purpose of this correlational …


Fall Prevention Education Among Older Adults At Townson Assisted Living Facility (Talf), Yolana Farrell-Williams Jul 2026

Fall Prevention Education Among Older Adults At Townson Assisted Living Facility (Talf), Yolana Farrell-Williams

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Falls in the elderly are a significant cause of injury, disability, and preventable medical expenditure; thus, fall prevention is an issue to assisted living homes like Townson Assisted Living Facility (TALF). The internal incident reports showed that persistent fall incidents were associated with inconsistent knowledge among the staff and unequal observed compliance with fall-prevention guidelines, indicating a practice gap in the systematized education of nurses. Educational interventions are effective in achieving high-quality staff, adherence to protocols, and outcomes concerning falls. Consequently, the current project was conducted to determine whether a specialized falls-prevention education program would enhance the knowledge and competency …


Prepared Or Not? Perceptions Of Novice Counseling Professionals On Working With Trauma Clients, Christina L. Richardson Jul 2026

Prepared Or Not? Perceptions Of Novice Counseling Professionals On Working With Trauma Clients, Christina L. Richardson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The prevalence of trauma across clinical settings and limited trauma training for clinicians can negatively affect trauma survivors. The impact of novice clinicians’ lack of preparedness and its implications for clients should be important considerations for educators, supervisors, and policymakers. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the lived experiences of novice counselors and their preparedness to work with trauma survivors. Grounded in descriptive phenomenology, this study explored participants’ perceived preparedness to work with trauma survivors and the ways these experiences may inform counselor education and supervision. Participants were provisionally licensed counselors within three years of graduating from …


The Association Between Food Insecurity, Housing Insecurity, Self-Care Practice And Depression Among Black Immigrants In The United States, Beatrice Ngozi Mbaocha Jul 2026

The Association Between Food Insecurity, Housing Insecurity, Self-Care Practice And Depression Among Black Immigrants In The United States, Beatrice Ngozi Mbaocha

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The prevalence and poor prognosis of depressive symptoms remain significant among adult Black immigrants in the United States. This study examined the complex interplay between food insecurity, housing insecurity, self-care practices, and depression among adult Black immigrants in the United States. Grounded in the socioecological model, this quantitative cross-sectional study analyzed data from N = 469 noninstitutionalized Black immigrant adults (54.2% female, 45.8% male) using the 2023 National Health Interview Survey. Binary logistic regression was employed to assess the probability of depressive symptoms as a function of food insecurity, housing insecurity, and self-care practices, controlling for age, gender, and employment …


The Stigma Experiences Of The African American Transgender Individual In Mental Health Settings, Linda Shaw Henley Jul 2026

The Stigma Experiences Of The African American Transgender Individual In Mental Health Settings, Linda Shaw Henley

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The intersection of race, gender identity, and systemic marginalization has profound implications for mental health outcomes, particularly among African American transgender individuals. Addressing African American transgender individuals’ stigma experiences in mental health settings is important because transgender individuals have dual minority statuses, wherein racism, stigma, transphobia, and institutional neglect converge, significantly impacting their access to affirming and effective mental health treatment. The purpose of this study was to explore the stigma experiences of the African American transgender individual in mental health settings. The phenomenon of interest in this study was stigma experiences in mental health settings with mental health providers. …


Racial Profiling In Traffic Enforcement: A Qualitative Exploration Of Police Chiefs' Perspectives On Traffic Stop Data Analysis, Peter J. Didomenica Jul 2026

Racial Profiling In Traffic Enforcement: A Qualitative Exploration Of Police Chiefs' Perspectives On Traffic Stop Data Analysis, Peter J. Didomenica

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Racial profiling of people of color by police departments as part of traffic enforcement practices is a pervasive practice in the United States. The practice is a form of systemic racism, the conceptual framework for this study, that has resulted in people and communities of color suffering its deleterious effects. Although statistical analysis of traffic stop data is most effective in uncovering racial profiling in traffic enforcement, most police departments fail to conduct such analysis, and for those departments that do so, there is no uniform judicially accepted method. The purpose of this study was to understand the reasons most …


What Strategies Do Some It Leaders Use To Prevent Ransomware Attacks On Healthcare Computer Networks, Sherraine Michelle Houston Jul 2026

What Strategies Do Some It Leaders Use To Prevent Ransomware Attacks On Healthcare Computer Networks, Sherraine Michelle Houston

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

No abstract provided.


Mandatory Arrest Laws: Breaking The Cycle Of Violence In Colorado And Nebraska, Ryann Lavata Livingstone Jul 2026

Mandatory Arrest Laws: Breaking The Cycle Of Violence In Colorado And Nebraska, Ryann Lavata Livingstone

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

No abstract provided.


Parental Participation And Engagement In North Carolina Medicaid Enhanced Mental Health Services For Children And Adolescents, Jonathan Andrew Traylor Jul 2026

Parental Participation And Engagement In North Carolina Medicaid Enhanced Mental Health Services For Children And Adolescents, Jonathan Andrew Traylor

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Parental participation and engagement (PPE) are positively associated with improved treatment outcomes for children receiving mental health services; however, parental involvement remains inconsistent among culturally diverse and economically disadvantaged families served through North Carolina Medicaid enhanced mental health services. Barriers to communication, collaboration, and sustained engagement may limit parents’ active participation in treatment planning and service delivery. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore PPE among culturally diverse and economically disadvantaged parents whose children received North Carolina Medicaid enhanced mental health services. The ecological perspective of human development constituted the theoretical framework for this study. Data were …


Leadership-Mediated Retention Strategies To Sustain Workforce Capacity And Performance In Public Health, Meredith Winslow Wilkins Jul 2026

Leadership-Mediated Retention Strategies To Sustain Workforce Capacity And Performance In Public Health, Meredith Winslow Wilkins

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Workforce retention challenges continue to affect public health leaders by contributing to staffing shortages, reduced organizational capacity, and disruptions in service delivery. Public health leaders are concerned with employee turnover because it affects workforce stability, organizational performance, and the ability to meet community health needs. Grounded in Herzberg’s motivation-hygiene theory, the purpose of this qualitative pragmatic inquiry was to explore effective workforce retention strategies used by public health leaders to retain skilled staff and strengthen organizational capacity and revenue. The participants were eight public health leaders in the Northeast region of the United States with responsibility for workforce management and …


Administrative Leadership, Job Resources, And Teacher Burnout In U.S. Middle Schools: A Jd-R Study, Santerous Glenn Colbert Jul 2026

Administrative Leadership, Job Resources, And Teacher Burnout In U.S. Middle Schools: A Jd-R Study, Santerous Glenn Colbert

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

No abstract provided.