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 541 - 570 of 6363

Full-Text Articles in Entire DC Network

Experiences Of Women In K–12 Educational Technology Leadership Positions, Natalie M. Johnson Jul 2025

Experiences Of Women In K–12 Educational Technology Leadership Positions, Natalie M. Johnson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The problem addressed in this study was the lack of women in K–12 educational technology leadership positions in the United States. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore the experiences of women in K–12 educational technology leadership regarding the challenges and successes they encountered in achieving and maintaining their positions. Feminist standpoint theory formed the framework for this study. Semistructured interviews were conducted with 10 women who were active or former K–12 educational technology leaders in public schools across the country. Open and pattern coding were used to support thematic analysis. An overarching theme of gender bias …


Staff Education To Increase The Number Of Continuous Glucose Monitors (Cgms) Prescribed At An Adult Primary Care Clinic For Individuals With Type 2 Diabetes., Josephine Opara Jul 2025

Staff Education To Increase The Number Of Continuous Glucose Monitors (Cgms) Prescribed At An Adult Primary Care Clinic For Individuals With Type 2 Diabetes., Josephine Opara

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This quality improvement project focused on increasing the use of continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) in primary care for patients with type 2 diabetes. Its goal was to enhance providers' ability to prescribe and manage CGMs effectively. A review of existing literature and a provider survey identified key barriers, such as limited time and insufficient provider education on CGMs. The survey emphasized educational needs related to initiating and prescribing CGMs. Educational materials, including a PowerPoint presentation on prescribing, monitoring, and management, were developed and shared with clinic staff. Consequently, CGM prescriptions increased over the three-month period. The project aimed to improve …


Effective Strategies That Marketing Leaders Use To Increase Fan Base, Denise Leslie Rosa Jul 2025

Effective Strategies That Marketing Leaders Use To Increase Fan Base, Denise Leslie Rosa

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Despite its growth and potential, the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) consistently struggles to generate profit, remaining unprofitable in its 28th (2024) season and heading into its 29th (2025) season. The inability of women’s professional basketball marketing leaders to generate increased revenue and fan engagement has limited the sport’s growth and visibility. Grounded in McCarthy’s four Ps of marketing concept that includes product, price, place, and promotion, the purpose of the qualitative pragmatic inquiry project was to identify and explore effective and innovative marketing strategies that marketing leaders use to increase the revenue of women’s professional basketball teams and their …


African American Women’S Lived Experiences Of Adultification Bias And Emotional Well-Being, Carolyn Lovette Lanier Jul 2025

African American Women’S Lived Experiences Of Adultification Bias And Emotional Well-Being, Carolyn Lovette Lanier

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

While existing studies have explored the manifestations of adultification bias in various contexts, there is a significant gap in the literature regarding research on the emotional well-being of African American women who have navigated this bias. The purpose of this study was to understand how adultification bias manifests in the lives of African American women, to illuminate the nuances of how adultification bias unfolds in the lives of African American women, and to examine its presence within their emotional realms. The theoretical frameworks of adultification bias and emotional well-being ground the study. The key research questions centered on the specific …


Relationship Of A Business Simulation Course To Act Applied Math Outcomes, Brenda Lorraine Savage Jul 2025

Relationship Of A Business Simulation Course To Act Applied Math Outcomes, Brenda Lorraine Savage

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Little evidence links the use of business simulations to advances in the higher order thinking skills that high school students need to prepare for careers in finance. The problem for this study was that students in three southern high schools had limited success on the ACT Applied Math Assessment, and there was a need to explore the relationship of a newly implemented stock market trading simulation course to student success on the assessment. Kolb’s experiential learning theory, which was aligned to the simulation activities, guided the study. The purpose of this quantitative predictive study was to determine whether participation in …


Union Employees’ Perceptions And Lived Experiences Of Organizational Culture And Job Satisfaction In Michigan Manufacturing Organizations, Angela Wantuck Jul 2025

Union Employees’ Perceptions And Lived Experiences Of Organizational Culture And Job Satisfaction In Michigan Manufacturing Organizations, Angela Wantuck

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Manufacturing organizational cultures steeped in tradition, corporate loyalty, and paternalistic values have experienced a decrease in union employee engagement and organizational satisfaction. Manufacturing leaders are concerned with this decrease as a primary indicator of employee walkouts or union strikes, impeding the manufacturing process, and affecting market share, profitability, and local economies. The purpose of this qualitative hermeneutic phenomenology study was to explore the union employees’ perceptions and lived experiences of organizational culture and job satisfaction in Michigan manufacturing organizations. Shaped by Schein’s organizational culture theory, the research question queried the perceptions of the union-represented employees as a subculture in the …


Teachers' Perspectives On Teacher Retention In Early Childhood Programs, Christopher Lavon Curry Jul 2025

Teachers' Perspectives On Teacher Retention In Early Childhood Programs, Christopher Lavon Curry

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In a Midwestern state, teacher shortages have intensified the retention challenges of prekindergarten and kindergarten (PreK–K) teachers in early childhood (EC) programs. The problem addressed in this study was the retention of PreK–K teachers in EC programs and schools at the local level. Grounded in dual-factor and coping-competence- context theories, the purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore teachers’ perspectives of the factors affecting the retention of PreK–K teachers in EC programs at the local level. Data were collected through semistructured interviews with 12 PreK–K teachers in a Midwestern state, who had a minimum of 3 years of …


Oncology Nurse Self-Assessment Of Caring Behaviors Following Telehealth And In-Person Visits, Maryann Connor Jul 2025

Oncology Nurse Self-Assessment Of Caring Behaviors Following Telehealth And In-Person Visits, Maryann Connor

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Oncology nurses coordinate care, ensure the safe administration of treatments, manage symptoms, and support those newly diagnosed with cancer. Traditionally, oncology care included in-person visits, but the COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the adoption of telehealth, transforming how oncology care is delivered. The purposes of this study, guided by Watson’ theory of human caring, were to determine (a) if there is a difference in oncology RNs’ self-assessments of applying caring behaviors during in-person visits compared to oncology RNs’ self-assessments of applying caring behaviors of telehealth visits with newly diagnosed cancer patients, and (b) if there is a difference in self-assessment of caring …


Reasons For Former Teachers To Change Employment Or To Depart The Profession, Vicki Renfroe Jul 2025

Reasons For Former Teachers To Change Employment Or To Depart The Profession, Vicki Renfroe

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Teacher turnover adversely affects students’ academic performance and the educational community. The problem that was addressed through study is the approximately 18% teacher turnover at a local Title I school district in southeast Texas. This purpose of this study was to explore why teachers within a local souteast Texas Title I school district left their positions. The conceptual framework was Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. The study was guided by a research question centered on recurring reasons for teachers considering retiring, leaving the profession, or changing locations. A basic qualitative study employing semistructured interviews with 14 former teachers who had left …


Predicting Dietary Behavior In Obese Adult Diabetics Using Social Cognitive Theory, Precious Mueller Jul 2025

Predicting Dietary Behavior In Obese Adult Diabetics Using Social Cognitive Theory, Precious Mueller

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Predicting Dietary Behavior in Obese Adult Diabetics Using Social Cognitive Theory by Precious Mueller MA, University of Phoenix, 2009 BS, University of Iowa, 2006 Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Public Health Walden University November 2024 “ Diabetes mellitus Type II is a prevalent and serious condition affecting millions globally, particularly among obese adults. The association between dietary behaviors and diabetes management is critical, as it directly impacts health outcomes and quality of life for affected individuals. This study aims to identify the determinants of dietary behaviors that influence Type II …


An Explanation Of African American Males' Experiences And Decisions In The Pursuit Of Doctoral Degrees, Vincent L. Tucker Jul 2025

An Explanation Of African American Males' Experiences And Decisions In The Pursuit Of Doctoral Degrees, Vincent L. Tucker

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

There was a limited understanding of the lived experiences of African American males who had completed their doctoral degrees, which could provide solutions to the barriers faced by those did not complete the doctoral program. Elements of critical race theory, Vroom’s expectancy theory, and Herzberg’s theory of motivation were combined into a single conceptual framework to understand the barriers experienced by African American men that prevented them from pursuing and completing doctoral programs. The data analysis process included a pre-coding exercise conducted after data collection to identify patterns or commonalities between the two sets of data. The results from this …


Parents’ Experiences With Their Child’S Psychotherapy And Mental Illness, Valerie Marsman Jul 2025

Parents’ Experiences With Their Child’S Psychotherapy And Mental Illness, Valerie Marsman

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Low parental engagement—especially among fathers and ethnic minority groups like Latinx parents—in child psychotherapy increases the risk of treatment dropout, behavioral issues, and poorer outcomes, contributing to persistent disparities. More research was needed on perceptual barriers and facilitators to parental engagement such as attitudes, beliefs, and expectations. The purpose of this study was to gain an in-depth understanding of parents’ experiences with their child’s psychotherapy and mental illness to facilitate parental engagement in services that support the child. An interpretative phenomenological approach and multiperspectival focus group design were used to illuminate each participant’s voice and explore overarching themes. Hill’s theory …


School Counselors’ Perceptions On Providing Mental Health Services In Schools, Kimberly Davis Jul 2025

School Counselors’ Perceptions On Providing Mental Health Services In Schools, Kimberly Davis

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The increasing prevalence of mental health concerns among students in the United States has amplified the demand for comprehensive school-based mental health services. School counselors are often positioned as frontline providers of this support, yet research suggests they face numerous systemic and role-related challenges. This qualitative phenomenological study was conducted to explore school counselors’ perceptions of their roles in providing mental health services, the barriers they encounter, and the ways in which self-efficacy is shaped by these experiences. Ten school counselors from diverse school settings participated in semistructured interviews. Thematic analysis revealed five central themes: (a) roles and responsibilities, (b) …


Positive Social Emotional Influences Experienced By College-Educated Black Men During Their K–12 Education In U.S. Public Schools, Lyzanethia Howard Jul 2025

Positive Social Emotional Influences Experienced By College-Educated Black Men During Their K–12 Education In U.S. Public Schools, Lyzanethia Howard

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Although negative experiences and unfair factors in the K–12 educational experiences of Black males are well-researched, very little research is found on the positive contributions toward their educational success. As some Black males successfully complete K–12 schooling and advance to the college level, it is imperative to understand the factors that positively contributed to their educational advancement. Guided by Yosso’s theory of community cultural wealth, this basic qualitative study explored six aspects of cultural capital—the aspirational, familial, linguistic, resistant, navigational, and social capital—that contributed to the educational success and advancement of Black males during their journeys through the U.S. K–12 …


A Chat Room In A City Of Missouri's Public Safety Answering Point, Rochele Wynee' Young Jul 2025

A Chat Room In A City Of Missouri's Public Safety Answering Point, Rochele Wynee' Young

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Despite new and emerging communications technologies to improve access to 911 emergency services for people with speech, hearing, and cognitive disabilities, there continue to be access barriers for those who may require silent communications due to the nature of the emergency. Chat rooms in 911 communications present a promising solution to this challenge. However, the current literature has inadequately examined the use of chat rooms in 911 communications, mainly due to the nascent nature of this technology. This study aimed to fill that gap by providing valuable insights to enhance access to 911 emergency services for individuals who may require …


Mental Health Services Utilization And Health Insurance Status Among Firefighters, Yvette Evans Jul 2025

Mental Health Services Utilization And Health Insurance Status Among Firefighters, Yvette Evans

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Firefighting exposes individuals to significant psychological dangers, leading to mental health issues like anxiety, depression, and posttraumatic stress disorder. This study investigated the underuse of mental health services among firefighters, focusing on the relationship between health insurance status and service utilization while considering age, gender, race, and ethnicity. Data from the National Health Interview Survey within the Integrated Public Use Microdata Series were analyzed using a quantitative approach. The study employed logistic regression to examine the likelihood of mental health service utilization based on health insurance status, adjusting for demographic factors. The sample included 1,526 firefighters, predominantly male (78.9%) and …


A Qualitative Case Study On Mental Health Stigma Within Rastafarian Culture, Alecia Douglas Jul 2025

A Qualitative Case Study On Mental Health Stigma Within Rastafarian Culture, Alecia Douglas

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Cultural and social factors, such as ethnic and racial backgrounds, religion, and supernatural beliefs, influence mental health utilization among African Americans. Past studies show that Rastafarians underutilize mental health services due to the stigma associated with mental health. However, there remains a gap in the literature regarding the incorporation of culturally sensitive and inclusive approaches in mental illness treatment. Per the biopsychosocial (BPS) pathways framework, biological, psychological, and social factors interact to provide a holistic architype of mental illness. The framework can be applied to understand how mental health stigma is influenced by personal beliefs, experiences, values, cultural, and societal …


Strategies Leaders In Affordable Housing Can Use To Decrease Property Management Turnover And Increase Professional Tenure, Marisa T. Baldwin-Woodhouse Jul 2025

Strategies Leaders In Affordable Housing Can Use To Decrease Property Management Turnover And Increase Professional Tenure, Marisa T. Baldwin-Woodhouse

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Executive leaders of rental housing in the affordable housing sector have a high turnover rate of property managers, resulting in wasted time, compliance concerns, loss of institutional knowledge, deterioration of operational costs, and lost revenue, negatively impacting employee commitment. Grounded in the job embeddedness theory, the purpose of this qualitative pragmatic inquiry was to explore effective strategies that some executive leaders in affordable housing can use to decrease property manager turnover and increase professional tenure. The participants comprised eight executive leaders who oversaw property managers in affordable housing in the United States. Data were collected from semistructured interviews, and thematic …


Parents’ Experience Of The Effects Of Racism On The Psychological And Physical Health Of Teenagers With Intellectual And Developmental Disabilities, Akane Nakamura Jul 2025

Parents’ Experience Of The Effects Of Racism On The Psychological And Physical Health Of Teenagers With Intellectual And Developmental Disabilities, Akane Nakamura

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Many children and adults in the United States experience developmental disabilities and mental health challenges, leading to bias, marginalization, and economic hardship. Racism exacerbates these issues for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), increasing depression, isolation, and health disparities. The purpose of this study was to explore parents' perspectives on the impact of racism on the psychological and physical health of teenagers aged 13–18 years with moderate IDD in the Northwestern United States. Disability critical race theory provided a lens for examining how race and disability intersect to create barriers for these teenagers. The research method was qualitative. Phenomenology …


Relationship Between Indulgent Parenting, Household Composition, And Parental Efficacy In Managing Adolescents' Smartphone Use, Bernice Cook Jul 2025

Relationship Between Indulgent Parenting, Household Composition, And Parental Efficacy In Managing Adolescents' Smartphone Use, Bernice Cook

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Smartphones have become an integral part of society, resulting in increased adolescent dependence on smartphone applications. This dependence poses challenges for parents in managing the risk of problematic smartphone use among adolescents aged 11-17 years old. Rapid technological advancements have significantly reshaped parenting practices, necessitating greater adaptability and impacting adolescent development. Guided by Bandura’s self-efficacy theory, this correlational study examines how indulgent parenting and household composition, including demographic variables such as race, gender, education, employment, and income, predict parental self-efficacy in managing adolescent smartphone use. A convenience sample of 238 U.S. parents, with at least one adolescent aged 11-17 years, …


Drug Recognition Experts’ Perspectives On The State Of Maryland’S Legalization Of Cannabis And Its Impact On Impaired Driving, Raymond D. Brooks Jul 2025

Drug Recognition Experts’ Perspectives On The State Of Maryland’S Legalization Of Cannabis And Its Impact On Impaired Driving, Raymond D. Brooks

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Motor vehicles have become both affordable and practical to own. As a result, law enforcement has been tasked with enforcing laws related to safe vehicular operation on the roadways nationwide. Further, much like alcohol, drug influence causes concern for motorists, and with the introduction of cannabis legalization, there is a clash between use, public interaction and vehicle operation. Cannabis consumption in public, the perception that use is allowed anywhere, and the impact that impairment has while driving can be a concern for those tasked with enforcing laws that some perceive to be allowed. This study introduces cannabis legalization within the …


African American Women's Lived Experience Of The Process And Outcomes Of Psychotherapy For Depression, Eva Coleman Springs Jul 2025

African American Women's Lived Experience Of The Process And Outcomes Of Psychotherapy For Depression, Eva Coleman Springs

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The study of individuals’ experiences in psychotherapy has resulted in improvements in delivery of services to clients. The purpose of the current study was to use Aragon’s primary provider theory as the theoretical foundation to explore African American women’s perceptions of the process and outcomes of their psychotherapy for depression. Phenomenological methodology was used to explore a sample of nine African American women’s perceptions of the process and outcomes of their psychotherapy for depression and other mental health issues. Participants answered nine semi-structured interview questions to describe their experiences of at least one session of psychotherapy in the 2023 calendar …


Communication Enhancement Strategies To Mitigate Functional Siloes In Head Start Programs, Maryom G. Mccloud Jul 2025

Communication Enhancement Strategies To Mitigate Functional Siloes In Head Start Programs, Maryom G. Mccloud

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Inefficient internal communication between program and financial operations may negatively affect organizational performance and profitability. Some Head Start Program (HSP) leaders are concerned with communication failures because of the potential to negatively impact business productivity and profitability. Grounded in business process re-engineering, the purpose of this qualitative single case study was to explore strategies used by HSP leaders to increase communications between program and financial operations to increase profitability. The participants were four HSP leaders located in the Northern Region of the United States, who successfully implemented such strategies. Data were collected from semistructured interviews and company documents. Through thematic …


Strategies Used By Public Relations And Communications Executives To Implement Ethical Use Standards For Ai, Karl Bateson Jul 2025

Strategies Used By Public Relations And Communications Executives To Implement Ethical Use Standards For Ai, Karl Bateson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Public relations and communications (PR&C) executives’ ineffective artificial intelligence (AI) strategies to develop and apply ethical frameworks for AI implementation can negatively impact organizations’ brand reputation. Grounded in AI4People and stakeholder theory, the purpose of this qualitative pragmatic inquiry project was to identify and explore the effective AI strategies PR&C executives used to develop and apply ethical frameworks for AI implementation while maintaining their organizations’ brand reputations. The participants were six PR&C executives who used effective strategies to develop and apply ethical frameworks for AI implementation while maintaining their organization’s brand reputation. Data were collected using semistructured interviews, public websites, …


The Association Between Dietary Behavior Change And The Health Of Adult African Immigrants In The United States, Seyoum Abebe Jul 2025

The Association Between Dietary Behavior Change And The Health Of Adult African Immigrants In The United States, Seyoum Abebe

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

African immigrants represent one of the fastest-growing immigrant populations in the United States; yet, their health outcomes related to Type II diabetes remain understudied compared to other racial and ethnic groups. Grounded in the theoretical framework of the Health Belief Model, the purpose of this quantitative non-experimental study was to examine the relationship between dietary behavior changes and the diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes among African immigrants aged 20–80 residing in the United States. The research questions examined the association between getting meals prepared away from home and awareness of MyPlate nutritional guidelines, recommended by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, …


Pragmatic Approaches To Data Breach Prevention: Strategies Employed By It Managers, Thompson Adefemi Olatuyi Jul 2025

Pragmatic Approaches To Data Breach Prevention: Strategies Employed By It Managers, Thompson Adefemi Olatuyi

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The increasing frequency and complexity of data breaches present critical challenges for cybersecurity managers responsible for protecting organizational assets. This qualitative phenomenological study examined how information technology (IT) managers conceptualize, strategize, and apply best practices to prevent breaches in complex environments. Unmanaged risks can compromise sensitive systems, disrupt operations, and erode stakeholder trust. Business and IT leaders must proactively address these threats to avoid reputational damage, financial loss, regulatory penalties, and loss of competitive advantage. Grounded in Actor-Network Theory (ANT), the study examined insights gathered from 20 experienced IT managers in multiple countries, using semi-structured questionnaires and organizational documents. Thematic …


Third To Fifth-Grade Teachers’ Challenges When Teaching Reading Comprehension Skills To English Language Learners In Northern Virginia, Lorraine A. Wickham-Ellis Jul 2025

Third To Fifth-Grade Teachers’ Challenges When Teaching Reading Comprehension Skills To English Language Learners In Northern Virginia, Lorraine A. Wickham-Ellis

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Third to fifth-grade teachers in a Northern Virginia Title 1 elementary school faced challenges when teaching reading comprehension skills to English language learners (ELLs) which impacted ELLs’ performance on state-mandated tests. Framed by Cummins’s second language acquisition theory, the purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore third to fifth-grade teachers’ challenges in teaching reading comprehension skills to ELLs and their suggestions for improved training and resources in a Northern Virginia Title 1 elementary school. Two research questions addressed the teachers’ challenges and suggestions for improved training and resources. Semistructured interviews were used to collect qualitative data from nine, …


Intersectionality Gaps Among Multiple Social Determinants In U.S. Infant And Maternal Mortality Rates, Mary D. Kirkley Jul 2025

Intersectionality Gaps Among Multiple Social Determinants In U.S. Infant And Maternal Mortality Rates, Mary D. Kirkley

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The purpose of this quantitative, cross-sectional study was to examine whether social determinants interactively influence U.S. maternal and infant mortality rates. Grounded in the Social Ecological Model, this study analyzed secondary data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Vital Statistics System were analyzed using multivariable logistic regression. The final sample included 110,402 maternal deaths and 55,839 infant deaths, with inclusion criteria requiring complete data on race, education, age, marital status, gender (for infants), residency, and year of death. Exclusion criteria included non-U.S. resident deaths or missing demographic data. Results revealed statistically significant interaction effects: race/ethnicity with education …


Shareholders’ Perceptions And Attitudes On Recruiting Female Board Members To Financial Institutions In The Caribbean, Jadese Mikova Manning Jul 2025

Shareholders’ Perceptions And Attitudes On Recruiting Female Board Members To Financial Institutions In The Caribbean, Jadese Mikova Manning

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Although research underscores the importance of having women on boards, the problem is that women remain disproportionately underrepresented in boardrooms, even in countries with mandatory quota laws. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to explore shareholders’ perceptions and attitudes on recruiting female board members to serve at financial institutions in the Caribbean. The agency and critical mass theories grounded this study. The participants comprised 10 shareholders, five of whom were current board members. Data were collected using semistructured interviews. Six themes emerged from the thematic analysis: (a) shareholders’ perceptions of women regarding board governance and decision-making, (b) shareholders’ …


Lived Experiences Of Sexual Orientation Discrimination Of Gay Male Service Members, Dwayne A. Tyler Jul 2025

Lived Experiences Of Sexual Orientation Discrimination Of Gay Male Service Members, Dwayne A. Tyler

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The repeal of the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy (DADT) has been an area of study among scholars since 2011. Researchers have demonstrated that discrimination based on sexual orientation is still occurring in the armed forces. However, researchers have not studied the lived experiences of active-duty male service members in the army who self-identified as gay. The purpose of this phenomenological qualitative study was to examine the lived experiences of discrimination based on the sexual orientation of male service members who self-identified as gay in the army since the repeal of the DADT policy. Using semi-structured interviews, four self-identified gay …