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Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

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Identifying Motivators For Retention Of Service Workers In Youth Group Care Programs, Michelle Lynn Briegel Oct 2025

Identifying Motivators For Retention Of Service Workers In Youth Group Care Programs, Michelle Lynn Briegel

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Residential group care programs in Calgary, Alberta, Canada face challenges in recruiting and retaining qualified human service workers. This workforce retention issue affects the quality of care provided to vulnerable children and youth, as well as the overall stability of residential group care. The purpose of this qualitative action research study was to explore why service workers in front-line jobs choose to stay in their positions in youth-serving residential group care programs, guided by Herzberg’s two-factor theory of motivation. Nine participants were recruited through purposeful sampling via social media and email, with the criterion that they had been employed at …


Strategies For Standardizing Nurses’ Pay To Mitigate Equal Pay Regulatory Fines, Pamela Davis Oct 2025

Strategies For Standardizing Nurses’ Pay To Mitigate Equal Pay Regulatory Fines, Pamela Davis

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Business leaders face pressure from community and government officials to standardize employee wages. Fines and litigation risks can be substantial for employers who fail to comply with equal pay regulations. Grounded in the wage devaluation theory and the equity theory, the purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to explore strategies healthcare leaders use to standardize wages and ensure compliance with equal pay regulations. Participants were four senior healthcare human resource leaders of private nonprofit hospital systems in the United States who have been successful in standardizing wages and in being compliant with equal pay regulations. Data were collected …


Association Between Diabetes Mellitus, Hypertension, Obesity, And Diagnosis Of Covid-19 In Puerto Rico, Julian Rene Rivera Rodriguez Oct 2025

Association Between Diabetes Mellitus, Hypertension, Obesity, And Diagnosis Of Covid-19 In Puerto Rico, Julian Rene Rivera Rodriguez

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The population of Puerto Rico has been heavily affected by chronic diseases; however, data remains limited on the influence of diabetes mellitus (DM), hypertension, and obesity on the probability of COVID-19 diagnosis. The purpose of this quantitative study was to evaluate the association between non-communicable diseases that included DM, obesity, hypertension, and COVID-19 diagnosis, controlling for age and sex and person exposure in Puerto Rico. The sample consisted of 1,463 participants who underwent a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test for COVID-19 from April 1, 2020, to March 31, 2021. Results from adjusted multivariable logistic regression analyses established that obesity OR …


Educating About Military Culture: Lived Experiences Of Nurse Educators, Jennifer C. Dodge Oct 2025

Educating About Military Culture: Lived Experiences Of Nurse Educators, Jennifer C. Dodge

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Despite national initiatives designed to expand healthcare programs and resources for veterans, there is a lack of knowledge about military culture and health problems specific to this demographic among registered nurses who serve in a role to impact the suicide rate among the veteran population. The purpose of this qualitative study, guided by Leininger’s culture care theory and Benner’s novice to expert model, was to understand the lived experiences of associate degree in nursing (ADN) nurse educators in non-Veterans Health Administration-affiliated programs regarding teaching undergraduate nursing students about military veteran culture. Fifteen ADN nurse educators, selected through purposeful sampling, participated …


Strategies For Recruitment And Retention Of Mental Health Providers In The Military Health System, Christopher J. Chase Oct 2025

Strategies For Recruitment And Retention Of Mental Health Providers In The Military Health System, Christopher J. Chase

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Recruitment and retention of mental health professionals are critical challenges for the Military Health System (MHS), affecting timely access to behavioral health care, workforce stability, and mission readiness. Persistent shortages threaten the well-being of service members and increase reliance on the resilience of overburdened staff, particularly in rural and underserved areas. This integrative review aimed to identify and synthesize best practices to improve recruitment and retention of mental health providers within the MHS. Using the Johns Hopkins Nursing Evidence-Based Practice Model, a systematic literature search and thematic analysis were conducted on 27 high-quality research and non-research articles. The Affective, Continuance, …


System Barriers To Brokering School-Based Versus Community-Based Therapeutic Services From The Perceptions Of School Social Workers In Georgia, Jessica Ochei-Gilliam Oct 2025

System Barriers To Brokering School-Based Versus Community-Based Therapeutic Services From The Perceptions Of School Social Workers In Georgia, Jessica Ochei-Gilliam

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Barriers to brokering therapeutic services cause challenges for school social workers to address their students’ mental health needs, especially in Georgia, where students’ mental health needs are high. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore school social workers’ perceptions of the system barriers related to brokering these services. The research questions explored school social workers’ perceptions of brokering on-site versus community-based therapeutic services in the state of Georgia. In addition, this study inquired about the system barriers that school social workers face when brokering these services. This study was grounded in the ecological systems theory, which argues that …


Lived Experiences Of Postdoctoral And Licensed Psychologists Diagnosing Bipolar Disorder In Adolescents, Kim Colleen Anaya Oct 2025

Lived Experiences Of Postdoctoral And Licensed Psychologists Diagnosing Bipolar Disorder In Adolescents, Kim Colleen Anaya

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) was conducted to explore the lived experiences of licensed psychologists in diagnosing adolescents with bipolar disorder, aiming to answer two key questions: How do psychologists make sense of diagnosing bipolar disorder in adolescents? And do they rely on their education and lived experience in the diagnostic process? Drawing from developmental psychology, clinical decision-making theories, and ethical considerations, the study highlights the complexities and challenges of diagnosing bipolar disorder in youth. Semi-structured interviews with four psychologists were transcribed and analyzed to identify recurring themes, which emphasized the importance of collateral information, developmental context, and professional judgment. …


The Motivating Factors Of Volunteer Engagement: A Study Of Youth Sports Organizations, Autumn L. Tomas Oct 2025

The Motivating Factors Of Volunteer Engagement: A Study Of Youth Sports Organizations, Autumn L. Tomas

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The decline in volunteer engagement within nonprofit organizations poses a significant challenge, particularly in youth sports where volunteer support is essential to program success. The purpose of this quantitative study was to examine the organizational factors that influenced volunteer motivation and satisfaction in a youth sports nonprofit. The practice focused research question for the study was: what factors within the organization either motivate or demotivate current individuals to volunteer in youth sports? Guided by Herzberg’s two-factor theory and self-determination theory, the study utilized the Modified Volunteer Functions Inventory for Sports survey to collect responses from 21 coaches and board members. …


Special Education Teachers’ Perceptions Of Teaching Effectiveness When Working With Students With Emotional And Behavioral Disorders, Ernest J. Fruge Oct 2025

Special Education Teachers’ Perceptions Of Teaching Effectiveness When Working With Students With Emotional And Behavioral Disorders, Ernest J. Fruge

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This qualitative study examined how special education teachers perceived their teaching effectiveness in supporting students identified with emotional and behavioral disorders (EBD). The study addressed a gap in the literature by examining the factors that influence special educators’ sense of self-efficacy when working with this population. Bandura’s theory of self-efficacy served as the conceptual framework. A generic qualitative research design was employed, and data were collected through semi-structured interviews with eight participants from two central Texas school districts. Braun and Clarke’s thematic analysis guided the coding and interpretation process, supported by MAXQDA software. Analysis of the data revealed seven key …


Experiences Of Medically Discharged Veterans Who Transitioned Without A Medically-Oriented Transition Program, Roschelle J. Brown Oct 2025

Experiences Of Medically Discharged Veterans Who Transitioned Without A Medically-Oriented Transition Program, Roschelle J. Brown

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

All discharged service members are required to attend a Transition Assistance Program (TAP). Service members who are found medically unfit to serve must attend TAP prior to being discharged by a Medical Evaluation Board (MEB). This qualitative research study examined the experiences of disabled veterans who were medically discharged with only the general transition program. The problem that was addressed was the lack of information about the experiences of medically discharged service members and the unique challenges that disabled veterans continue to experience because of it. The purpose of this study was to understand the experiences of medically discharged veterans …


Effective Marketing Strategies Business Leaders Use To Remain Profitable And Sustainable Beyond 5 Years In The Digital Age, Lauren Taylor Sawyer Oct 2025

Effective Marketing Strategies Business Leaders Use To Remain Profitable And Sustainable Beyond 5 Years In The Digital Age, Lauren Taylor Sawyer

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

A lack of effective marketing strategies to stay profitable in the digital age is a concern for small and medium-sized business leaders because it can lead to early business failure, lost revenue, and reduced long-term sustainability. Grounded in relationship management theory and Kotter’s (1996) 8-step change model, this qualitative pragmatic inquiry was conducted to explore effective marketing strategies business leaders use to remain profitable and sustainable beyond 5 years in the digital age. Participants were six business leaders located in the Southeastern United States who had successfully sustained their companies for over 5 years and were directly responsible for marketing …


The Role Of Higher Education Attainment In Mitigating Police Misconduct, Marty Allen Hatfield Oct 2025

The Role Of Higher Education Attainment In Mitigating Police Misconduct, Marty Allen Hatfield

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Police misconduct continues to undermine public trust and strain community–law enforcement relationships in the United States. The potential role of higher education in reducing misconduct among officers remains underexamined. The purpose of this quantitative correlational study was to examine whether higher educational attainment is associated with reduced rates of documented misconduct in a large urban police department. Grounded in the social learning and organizational justice theories, the research addressed how postsecondary education influences ethical decision-making and conduct. The overarching research question concerned whether education level predicted misconduct frequency, controlling for gender, rank, and years of service. Archival personnel and disciplinary …


Teacher Perspectives On Challenges To Close The Reading Achievement Gap For African American Students, Miriam Aliyya Moore Oct 2025

Teacher Perspectives On Challenges To Close The Reading Achievement Gap For African American Students, Miriam Aliyya Moore

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The problem addressed through this study was that African American students score lower than White students in reading across grade levels, demonstrating a gap in teaching practice in early childhood education. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore early childhood teachers’ perspectives on challenges to increase African American students’ level of reading proficiency and what they believed they needed to close the African American-White student achievement gap in reading. The conceptual framework was Ladson-Billings’s culturally relevant pedagogy. Semistructured interviews were conducted with 10 kindergarten through third grade teachers who were currently teaching reading to African American students …


Effective Organizational Succession Planning Strategies For Retaining Knowledge From Retiring Employees, Rodriquez Tremayne Brown Oct 2025

Effective Organizational Succession Planning Strategies For Retaining Knowledge From Retiring Employees, Rodriquez Tremayne Brown

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

A lack of succession planning to retain critical knowledge from retiring employees poses significant risks to organizational revenue and long-term survival. Organizational leaders are particularly concerned about succession planning because failure to capture employee knowledge threatens organizational performance and survival. Grounded in the 7-step model for succession planning theory, the purpose of this qualitative pragmatic inquiry project was to identify and explore effective succession planning strategies that some organizational leaders use to retain knowledge from retiring employees to avoid a negative impact on organizational revenue and survival. The participants included eight senior human resource managers from different organizations in the …


Association Between Embedded No-Cost Materials And Student Success For Undergraduate Students In For-Profit Universities, Gaby Gabriela Johnson Oct 2025

Association Between Embedded No-Cost Materials And Student Success For Undergraduate Students In For-Profit Universities, Gaby Gabriela Johnson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Purchasing educational materials adds to college costs. The problem addressed in this study is the lack of research on the association between student success and the use of no-cost educational materials in for-profit universities. Grounded in Rawls’ principles of justice, the purpose of this quantitative study was to investigate the association between student success as measured by pass/fail outcomes and the use of embedded no-cost educational and open educational resources (OER) materials in undergraduate courses at a for-profit university. Academic outcomes of 751 undergraduate students across three courses were analyzed using the chi-square test of association. Results showed a weak …


Stakeholder Value Creation Strategies For Small Financial Service Business Owners, David Sone Njumbe Sep 2025

Stakeholder Value Creation Strategies For Small Financial Service Business Owners, David Sone Njumbe

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Small business owners who emphasize wealth creation to the detriment of sustainability may experience negative business outcomes. Small insurance agency owners are concerned because agency sustainability is a key to creating value for all stakeholder groups. Grounded in the stakeholder theory, the purpose of this qualitative pragmatic inquiry was to explore strategies that some owners of small insurance agencies in the financial services industry use to create value for different stakeholder groups in order to remain sustainable in an evolving business environment. The participants were six financial professionals/advisors of the financial services industry. Data were collected using semistructured interview questions. …


The Level Of Awareness Of County Services In Maryland Offered By A Local Care Team To Youth With Developmental Disabilities And Mental Illness, Wanna Nedgie Dare Sep 2025

The Level Of Awareness Of County Services In Maryland Offered By A Local Care Team To Youth With Developmental Disabilities And Mental Illness, Wanna Nedgie Dare

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Mental and developmental health challenges remained a significant concern in one Maryland county. The Maryland Governor’s Office for Children (GOC) funds and supports the Local Care Team (LCT). Participation remains low, indicating a lack of community awareness. The purpose of this study was to explore the awareness of LCT services and strategies to improve outreach, interagency coordination, and communication to increase service use. The research question was: What is the Level of Awareness of County Services in Maryland Offered by a Local Care Team to Youth with Developmental Disabilities and Mental Illness? Guided by the person-centered care (PCC) model, evidence …


Leading Through Times Of Financial Uncertainty In Nonprofit Organizations, Lakisha A. Dent-Gordon Sep 2025

Leading Through Times Of Financial Uncertainty In Nonprofit Organizations, Lakisha A. Dent-Gordon

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This macro analysis examines the leadership effectiveness of a CEO within a nonprofit re-entry organization dedicated to reducing the 36% recidivism rate in a Southwestern U.S. state. The organization serves up to 50 clients recently released from the state prison system, offering housing and support services. The organizations leadership faced imminent closure due to a financial crisis driven by limited funding, high employee turnover, and a lack of community partnerships, allowing for an examination of the CEO’s response to the crisis. The quantitative study includes a review of peer-reviewed literature, assessments based on the Baldrige Framework of Excellence, and interviews …


Strategies To Improve The Financial Success For Minority And Small Business Owners, Kimberly D. Stone Sep 2025

Strategies To Improve The Financial Success For Minority And Small Business Owners, Kimberly D. Stone

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Although minority small business owners have a substantial influence on the U.S. economy, they often face significant financial obstacles. Minority small business owners are concerned with the history of unfair lending practices in the United States, as access to adequate capital is crucial to achieving business success. Grounded in Donaldson’s pecking order theory, the purpose of this qualitative pragmatic inquiry was to explore effective financial strategies that some minority small business owners used to sustain their businesses. The project participants were six minority small business leaders who had more than 5 years of experience from various industries in South Florida. …


Women Clergy Members' Perceptions Of Mentorship Strategies For Leader Development, Linda Ann Brady Sep 2025

Women Clergy Members' Perceptions Of Mentorship Strategies For Leader Development, Linda Ann Brady

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

According to recent studies, women were underrepresented in senior leadership in the global Christian church, and leadership pathways for the development of women were often lacking. The local problem within the International Christian Church (ICC) was a lack of understanding of holistic mentoring strategies that support the development of women clergy members, which could help fill the current leadership gap. Guided by Dahlvig and Longman’s model of women’s leadership development, the purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore the perceptions of women clergy regarding holistic mentoring strategies that might increase the number of women in leadership within the …


Patient Care And Certified Nursing Assistants’ Motivation And Job Satisfaction In Nursing Facilities, Roswell Royce Lawrie Sep 2025

Patient Care And Certified Nursing Assistants’ Motivation And Job Satisfaction In Nursing Facilities, Roswell Royce Lawrie

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This study was focused on certified nursing assistants’ (CNAs) views of the association between their motivation, job satisfaction, and the quality of care they offer to patients in one chosen nursing home center in New Jersey. Herzberg’s two-factor theory of motivation and a generic qualitative design were used to explore CNAs’ experiences and perspectives relating to their motivation, job fulfillment, and the level of care. The study included semi structured interviews with the 12 CNAs, who were directly and consistently in contact with their respective patients at the selected nursing home center. The interviews were audio recorded, transcribed, and analyzed …


Effective Small Business Employee Job Retention Strategies, Cynthia Marie Harris Sep 2025

Effective Small Business Employee Job Retention Strategies, Cynthia Marie Harris

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Unsuccessful retention strategies for small businesses can significantly impact an organization's success. Small business leaders who struggle to retain employees beyond two years are at high risk of business uncertainty. Grounded in Freeman’s (1984) stakeholder theory, the purpose of this qualitative pragmatic inquiry research project was to identify and explore practical strategies that small business leaders use to retain employees beyond 2 years. The research project comprised eight small business leaders who had an effective strategy to retain employees for more than two years. Data were collected from semistructured interviews and publicly available documents. Through thematic analysis, five key themes …


The Relationship Between Adverse Childhood Experiences And Disproportionate Minority Contact On Minority Youth Within Juvenile Justice In Texas, Atica Helms Thomas Sep 2025

The Relationship Between Adverse Childhood Experiences And Disproportionate Minority Contact On Minority Youth Within Juvenile Justice In Texas, Atica Helms Thomas

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Disproportionate minority contact (DMC) remains a significant concern within the juvenile justice system, yet its connection to adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) among minority youth is underexamined. Nationally, minority youth, particularly Black youth, are disproportionately represented compared to their White peers, prompting efforts to understand and address racial and ethnic disparities in system involvement. The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between DMC and ACEs within the Texas Juvenile Justice Department (TJJD). Guided by general strain theory (GST), whether traumatic life experiences contribute to the disproportionate representation of minority youth was examined. The central research question was designed …


Young Adults’ Self-Perceptions Of Parenting Styles And Attachments Influencing Juvenile Criminality, Keristin Zanda Scott Sep 2025

Young Adults’ Self-Perceptions Of Parenting Styles And Attachments Influencing Juvenile Criminality, Keristin Zanda Scott

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Parenting styles, parent-to-child attachments, and parental involvements are contributing factors leading to juvenile delinquency. Adolescents are committing offending acts at a younger age, recidivating, and perpetrating with peers or parents. However, there is a lack of empirical research on juvenile perceptions of parenting, juvenile criminality, and desistance implications. The purpose of this interpretive phenomenological study was to explore past juvenile criminal offenders’ lived experiences and the corresponding influence parenting styles had on their deviant behaviors. Ainsworth and Bowlby’s attachment theory, Baumrind’s parenting style theory, and Bandura’s social learning theory provided a lens for examining young adults’ perceptions of parenting related …


Strategies Human Resource Leaders Use To Increase Employee Retention In The Automotive Industry, Kendra Williams Sep 2025

Strategies Human Resource Leaders Use To Increase Employee Retention In The Automotive Industry, Kendra Williams

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Excess turnover of personnel threatens organizational viability and long-term success. Human resource leaders need to develop strategies to increase employee retention. Grounded in Herzberg’s two-factor and Maslow’s hierarchy of needs theories, the purpose of this qualitative pragmatic inquiry was to explore and identify successful employee retention strategies employed by human resource leaders to mitigate employee turnover. Data were collected from human resources managers using semistructured interviews and public data from companies’ websites. Through thematic analysis, four themes emerged: (a) job assignment, (b) employee feedback, (c) employee benefits, and (d) training, growth, and development. A key recommendation is for human resource …


Nigerian Immigrant Mothers’ Parenting Style In Supporting Academic Achievement In Their Children, Ganiyat Olasumbo Saidu Sep 2025

Nigerian Immigrant Mothers’ Parenting Style In Supporting Academic Achievement In Their Children, Ganiyat Olasumbo Saidu

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Supporting their children’s academic activities while navigating the socioeconomic norms of the new system continues to be a significant challenge for most immigrant parents in urban areas of the United States. However, there is inadequate literature on the parenting behaviors used by Nigerian immigrant parents to support their children’s academic achievement. The purpose of this qualitative study was to understand how Nigerian immigrant mothers describe the parenting styles that support their children’s academic achievement. The theoretical framework for this study was Bandura’s (1977) social cognitive theory and Baumrind’s (1966) theory of parenting styles. For this basic qualitative study, the population …


Preschool Teachers’ Perspectives Regarding Children’S Aggressive Behavior And In-School Suspension, Martha Baker Sep 2025

Preschool Teachers’ Perspectives Regarding Children’S Aggressive Behavior And In-School Suspension, Martha Baker

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Aggressive behavior can lead preschool students to be suspended in and out of school. The problem in this study was the high rate of in-school suspension (ISS) among preschool students in response to child aggressive behavior. Informed by Harvey’s domain model of social reasoning and social information processing, the purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore perspectives of preschool teachers working in childcare centers in one city in Texas regarding children’s aggressive behavior that may lead to ISS as a response to that behavior. Four research questions probed how preschool teachers describe the level of choice exercised by …


Postpartum Conversion Type 2 Diabetes In African American Women With Gestational Diabetes, Guerino Tondreau Sep 2025

Postpartum Conversion Type 2 Diabetes In African American Women With Gestational Diabetes, Guerino Tondreau

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) remains a significant public health concern in the United States, with non-Hispanic Black women bearing a disproportionately high burden of the disease. Although this group has a lower overall prevalence of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), those who develop GDM face an increased risk of progressing to T2DM. The purpose of this quantitative, correlational study was to explore the relationship between GDM, physical activity, weight status, and T2DM development among non-Hispanic Black women. Secondary data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, collected from 2017 through March 2020, were analyzed. The health belief model served …


Exploring The Effective Ai Adoption And Integration Strategies Technology Firm Leaders Use To Mitigate Risks And Enhance Organizational Performance, Bona Eze Sep 2025

Exploring The Effective Ai Adoption And Integration Strategies Technology Firm Leaders Use To Mitigate Risks And Enhance Organizational Performance, Bona Eze

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance organizational performance has emerged as a fundamental focus in modern enterprises. Technology firm leaders are concerned with AI adoption and integration strategies, as poorly aligned AI approaches lead to resource wastage and the inability to achieve competitive advantages. Grounded in the technology acceptance model, the purpose of this qualitative pragmatic inquiry was to explore the effective AI adoption and integration strategies technology firm leaders use to mitigate risks and enhance organizational performance. The participants were 10 technology firm leaders who had implemented AI adoption and integration in their firms. Data were collected by conducting …


The Progressive Changes In Posttraumatic Symptoms And Posttraumatic Growth Associated With Traumatic Incident Reduction, Joseph L. Mcclory Sep 2025

The Progressive Changes In Posttraumatic Symptoms And Posttraumatic Growth Associated With Traumatic Incident Reduction, Joseph L. Mcclory

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Many millions of people are suffering from symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Just in the United States, 13 million Americans had a PTSD diagnosis as of 2020. Through the theoretical lens of catharsis, analysis of variance was used to examine whether traumatic incident reduction (TIR) is associated with changes in posttraumatic symptoms and posttraumatic growth by comparing pre, mid, and post-TIR PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5) and Posttraumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI) scores. Regression was also used to test whether post-PCL-5 scores accounted for variance in the post-PTGI scores. Ninety-seven TIR cases from the mental health agency between 2017 and …