Digital Commons Network^™

Cultural Relevance In An English Language Learners' Classroom: A Qualitative Case Study, Katherine L. Roe

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Colleges and universities typically provide remedial reading coursework for English language learners (ELL) to develop academic reading proficiency. However, a disproportionate number of ELLs fail to exit remedial classes. Prior research has indicated cultural relevance can motivate and stimulate learning; however, the extent to which a culturally relevant classroom curriculum makes a difference in the ELL classroom experience has not been fully explored. This study describes the experience of cultural relevance in an academic reading ELL college class. Moll's funds of knowledge was used as the conceptual framework in a qualitative case study to examine how cultural strengths and knowledge …

A Comparative Study Of Two Instructional Models In Developmental Education Writing Programs, Barbara Ann Roseborough

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Low college readiness among high school graduates is a national problem. A significant percentage of graduates are referred to courses designed to remediate deficiencies in the basic skills of reading, writing, and mathematics. Initiatives designed to improve the student experience in remedial and developmental programs have focused on the use of technology. Although technology has been used in the teaching of writing, research has not shown that this method is an improvement when compared to the lecture-based approach to teaching writing. The purpose of this nonexperimental quantitative study was to examine the impact of a technology-based writing program on student …

College Transition Experiences Of Homeschooled Women, Jeanine L. Sanclemente

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

During the past 40 years, the U.S. homeschooling population rose exponentially. The results of homeschooling need to be studied further so that parents, legislators, and higher education leaders can make prudent and well-informed decisions regarding homeschooled students. No studies have been completed that focus on the unique experiences of homeschooled women as they transition to college in terms of academics, forming new relationships, and individuating from their families. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore academic and relational processes during the transition to college. In this qualitative dissertation based on constructivist design and in the conceptual framework of …

Exploration Of Perceptions Of Marriage Dissatisfaction Among African American Couples, Terrence Schofield

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Perceptions of Marital Dissatisfaction Among African American Couples

by

Terrence Schofield

MS, Walden University, 2012

BS, Knoxville College, 1994

Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment

of the Requirements for the Degree of

Doctor of Philosophy

Clinical Psychology

Walden University

August 2016

Teachers' Perspectives: Face-To-Face And Computer-Based Instruction In Math, Carolyn Jones Sessoms

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Differentiated instruction offers opportunities to improve student academic performance, specifically in students with learning disabilities. However, teachers' perceptions of which differentiated-instruction program works best to support differently abled students were unknown. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to explore teachers' perceptions on whether face-to-face instruction using response to intervention or computer-based learning using TenMarks works best in improving the academic performance of students who are differently abled in mathematics, specifically geometry. Constructivism, social disability theory, and Bandura's social learning theory formed the study's theoretical framework. Research questions guiding the study focused on teachers' perceptions of the advantages and …

Improving Bedside Swallow Screening In Acute Stroke Patients: An Evaluation Plan, Juliette Segree

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

A stroke is a life-changing event for a patient and his or her family. The acute stroke patient is at risk for developing aspiration pneumonia, whether silent or overt. Prevention of pneumonia in this population requires timely completion and documentation of the bedside swallow screen to identify those patients at risk for aspiration pneumonia; however, anecdotal data from the emergency department at the site of this project suggested that completion and documentation of the screening were inconsistent. Guided by the quality caring model adopted by the project site as well as the logic model, the aim of this project was …

Improving Machine Changeover/Setup Times By Increasing U.S. Manufacturers' Knowledge Of 5s, Nicole Schra-Martin

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The 5S process is one of the techniques born out of Japanese manufacturing. Ohno, the developer of 5S, found that when manufacturing waste is eliminated, costs are reduced and profits increase. This is the bases of 5S and this research. The cost of U.S. manufactured products is higher compared to the cost of products from other global manufacturers that use 5S. This study was conducted to determine if implementing 5S in U.S. manufacturing could change U.S. manufacturing cost and if using 5S could impact U.S. manufacturing. The research questions focused on the relationship between 5S and changeover/setup times on production …

Technology Integration: A Community Of Practice To Support Learning, Claudette W. Stone

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Abstract This qualitative case study examined teachers' perceptions that contributed to a lack of

technology integration in their K-8 classrooms. The purpose of the study was to determine why teachers of a K-8 and K-5 school underused or failed to integrate technology to support learning. The theoretical framework for this study was provided by Dewey's constructivist theory, Lave and Wenger's situated learning theory and communities of practice, and Kolb's experiential learning theory principles of teaching and learning. The research questions addressed teachers' perceptions of technology integration as a curriculum strategy and teachers' perceptions of how technology affected professional practices to …

Identifying Leadership Development Needs Of Catholic Secondary Educators, Neil M. Theisen

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Current administrators at a Northeast metropolitan area Catholic school have not formally identified the needs that support leadership development for their future and novice administrators. Compounding this problem, an increasing number of Catholic school lay administrators are taking on leadership roles traditionally held by members of religious communities whose membership is steadily declining within the United States. This case study examined the experiences of current administrators to identify leadership development needs for novice and future administrators at a Catholic secondary school. The study's framework was derived from the concepts of leadership succession planning and mentoring. A purposeful sample of 10 …

Exploring Organizations' Software Quality Assurance Strategies, Scott Underwood

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Poor software quality leads to lost profits and even loss of life. U.S. organizations lose billions of dollars annually because of poor software quality. The purpose of this multiple case study was to explore the strategies that quality assurance (QA) leaders in small software development organizations used for successful software quality assurance (SQA) processes. A case study provided the best research design to allow for the exploration of organizational and managerial processes. The target population group was the QA leaders of 3 small software development organizations who successfully implemented SQA processes, located in Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada. The conceptual …

Outcomes Of Professional Development For Rural Community College Leaders, William Thompson Thompson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

To mitigate the loss of experienced administrators, community college leaders create internal grow-your-own (GYO) leadership development programs. Although the purpose of these programs is to ensure institutional efficacy by developing a pipeline of administrative and faculty leaders, little attention has been given to learning about the participants' post-program career advancement over time. Consequently, the value of GYO leadership training for participants is not well known. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to explore the post-program professional development of a group of participants 2 years after completing a rural community college GYO leadership program. The conceptual framework was guided …

Integration Of Place-Based Education Into Science Classes From Prekindergarten Through Grade 5, Terri Adele Wade-Lyles

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In a large urban district in Ohio, 29.2% of Grade 5, 28.7% of Grade 8, and 45.7% of Grade 10 students passed the state test in science. School district administrators formed a community partnership with local science institutions in order to provide students with hands-on place-based learning experiences intended to improve science academic achievement in PK-Grade 5. The purpose of this qualitative program evaluation was to determine the level of implementation of that place-based program by examining the efficacy of the teachers' embedded professional development and their experiences with the training components. Bruner's theory of cognitive development was used to …

Unique Barriers Faced By First-Generation Adult Learners, Paulette Williams

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

There has been an increase in the number of first-generation adult learners in higher education institutions. However, literature has revealed limited information on the experiences of first-generation adult learners and their perception of the barriers they face in higher education. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to examine the experiences of 6 first-generation adult learners attending a higher education institution and their perception of the barriers they faced. The theoretical foundations were andragogy theory and social-cognitive career theory. Data were collected using purposeful interviews and data were analyzed using iinterpretative pphenomenological aanalysis. Five detailed patterns were identified: (a) students …

Examining Alignment Between Canadian Municipal Police Performance Evaluation Policies And Officer Perceptions, Birdella Wilson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

A lack of alignment between police performance evaluation policy purposes and officer performance evaluation perceptions has implications for the organizations' resource management, officer morale, and public safety. A literature review points towards a gap existing between policy purpose statements and employee perceptions. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between the policy purposes of police performance evaluations and the officers' perceptions of those evaluation experiences in 4 Ontario municipal police services. DiMaggio and Powell's (1983) Institutional theory was the foundation for this study. Data for this study were collected from 4 police services in Ontario, Canada. The …

Preparing Employees For Entrepreneurship In Retirement: A Case Study, Samuel Omonowa Aikhuomogbe

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In Nigeria, 92% of retirees live in poverty because of insufficient preparation for entrepreneurship that could serve as an alternative income in retirement. Guided by the human capital theory, the purpose of this case study was to explore how 15 civil service employees in Grade Levels 15-17 at the public service attained small scale business information before retirement. All employees had knowledge, training, and experience in small-scale business operation. Fifteen employees participated in individual interviews and 5 participated in a focus group; data were also gathered from, employee training records, organizational policy documents on training, and public service documents regarding …

Evaluating The Implications Of Parental Mental Illness For Children Using An Ecological Perspective, Jessica Elizabeth-Rose Carroll

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Researchers have extensively studied the experiences and potential consequences of being a child whose parent has a mental illness (COPMI). However, there is no consensus on the best way to support these children, in general or in schools. The purpose of this quantitative study was to examine the effects of parental mental illness on children by using an ecological approach. Researchers have used ecological theory to illustrate the importance of internal characteristics, skills, and supports for children to enhance resiliency. This study looked at whether COPMI differed significantly from the children of parents of parents with no current or past …

Servant Leadership And Non Servant Leadership Organization Triple Bottom Line Reporting Outcomes, Lydia M. Daniels

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The competitive environment of the 21st century, failure of U.S. companies, and the financial crisis of 2008 have moved leadership expectations to the forefront of research. However, there is a lack of empirical research about organizational reporting outcomes of self-identified servant leadership (SL) organizations compared to self-identified nonservant (non-SL) organizations. Guided by Greenleaf's SL theory, the purpose of this study was to compare information on organizational data for triple bottom line (TBL) reporting outcomes in SL organizations and non-SL organizations. Using causal comparative research design and global reporting initiative data with a sample of 12 organization reports, reporting outcomes were …

Absenteeism In An International Custom Software Engineering Company, Jennifer M. Mudek

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Absenteeism has a negative impact on organizational output in the form of lost productivity and profit reduction for software engineering companies. The purpose of this qualitative descriptive case study was to explore the strategies that software engineering managers utilize for reducing absenteeism. The theory of planned behavior formed the conceptual framework for this study. Data were collected through semistructured interviews from a purposeful sample of 11 managers at an international custom software engineering company. Data collection also included organizational data on employee absences for the past 5 years (2011-2015), e-mail memos, newsletters, employee handbook, and employee performance reviews. Based on …

Teachers' Perceptions Of Elementary School Principals' Leadership Attributes And Their Relationship To School Effectiveness, Dyana Ontai-Machado Ontai-Machado

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Schools in Hawaii are continuing to struggle with low student performance on their state's mandated test. Principal leadership has been found to have a direct impact on school effectiveness and researchers have indicated that school effectiveness can also be predicted by teachers' perceptions of principal leadership. This quantitative study was an examination of the relationships between teachers' perceptions of their principals' leadership attributes and school effectiveness as measured by the Strive HI Index in the state of Hawaii. The theoretical framework was grounded in Leithwood's core effective principal practices. A 41-item questionnaire from Colorado Education Initiative with a Cronbach's alpha …

Impact Of Medicare And Medicaid Beneficiaries With Selected Conditions On Emergency Department Utilization, John K. Amoh

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and Congestive Heart Failure (CHF) are conditions that represent significant and ongoing medical costs, including frequent emergency department (ED) visits, hospitalizations, work absences, and disability. This retrospective cross-sectional study, examined the effects of the frequent ED visits due to COPD and CHF on the beneficiaries of Medicare and Medicaid in Maryland. The goal was to identify the factors that led these patients to visit the ED, the impact of these visits on Medicare utilization and costs across Maryland, and preventative intervention strategies to control this population's costs of care. Secondary data were analyzed from 2010-2012 …

Effect Of Reduced-Fee Dental Hygiene Treatment And Oral Health Perceptions Among Socioeconomically Deprived Persons, Janeime Necole Asbury

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Access to oral health care remains problematic for millions of Americans. Factors such as socioeconomic status, age, race, and lack of dental insurance benefits inhibit the ability of many to obtain preventative oral health care. The aim of this study was to explore the effect of preventive oral health treatment and education at reduced-fee dental hygiene facilities on the oral health behaviors and perceptions of socioeconomically deprived persons within the state of Georgia. This study was based on the health belief model constructs. A convenience sample of 102 participants was recruited from the individuals who visited two dental hygiene colleges …

The Lived Experiences Of South Asian Same-Sex Attracted Women Residing In The United States, Surinder Kaur Bal

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

South Asian same-sex attracted women in the United States experience discrimination and marginalization that puts them at an increased risk for mental health issues. Research shows their rates of counseling and psychotherapy use are low due to perceptions of stigma, lack of knowledge, and concerns about culturally insensitive treatment plans. Mental health providers lack the literature needed to inform culturally sensitive treatment plans to address these concerning gaps in services, and an extensive literature review found no studies on the lived experiences of this population. Guided by feminist theory, this research study examined how discrimination, oppression, and marginalization mold women's …

Exploring Factors Influencing Information Technology Portfolio Selection Process In Government-Funded Bioinformatics Projects, Braulio J. Cabral

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In 2012, the National Cancer Institute's (NCI) Board of Scientific Advisors (BSA) conducted a review of the Center for Biomedical Informatics and Information Technology's (CBIIT) bioinformatics program. The BSA suggested that the lack of a formal project selection process made it difficult to determine the alignment of projects with the mission of the organization. The problem addressed by this study was that CBIIT did not have an in-depth understanding of the project selection process and the factors influencing the process. The purpose of this study was to understand the project selection process at CBIIT. The research methodology was an exploratory …

Continuity Of Operations Planning At Historically Black Colleges And Universities In Alabama, Lewis Alvin Eakins

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Continuity of operations planning for Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) is critical for institution sustainability. The absence of such planning can result in an HBCU closing for an extended period of time after a disaster resulting in loss of revenue, research projects, students, faculty, and staff. There is a void of information on the extent of continuity of operations planning at HBCUs and how these institutions would continue functioning after a disaster. Using resilience theory as the foundation, the purpose of this qualitative case study was to explore the extent of continuity of operations planning at HBCUs in Alabama …

Sexual Health Education Policy: Influences On Implementation Of Sexual Health Education Programs, Renata Denise Ellington

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

High school youth in Grades 9-12 who are in public schools without comprehensive sexual health education (CSHED) are more likely to engage in high-risk sexual behaviors and have higher rates of HIV and sexually transmitted diseases than are their peers in schools with CSHED. The purpose of this correlational study was to explore the statistical relationship between the consistent implementation of CSHED, before and after the enactment of the Chicago Public Schools' (CPS) sexual health education policy, and the sexual risk behaviors of Chicago high school youth in Grades 9-12. The study was based on Antonovsky's salutogenic model of health …

Generational Differences Among Social Security Administration Employees And Their Perception Of Value, Joyce Moses Jones

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Social Security Administration (SSA) managers and leaders are facing an unprecedented challenge to understand 3 to 5 generations of employees, and value the diversity of each group (Glass, 2007). Perceived lack of recognition has resulted in low morale and job satisfaction, leaving employees not feeling valued. The purpose of this qualitative, phenomenological research study was to explore, identify, and examine the lived experiences and perceptions of SSA employees to determine how managers and leaders can contribute to employee valuation. The central question and subquestions were designed to determine whether generational theory accurately described the lived experiences and perceptions of the …

Improving The Completion Rate Of Advance Directives In Home Health Agencies, Ndidiamaka Ezinne Mbakpuo

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The number of individuals aged more than 65 years in the United States and their life expectancy has been increasing in the past decades. In spite of the presence of federal and accreditation policies recommending completion of advance directive documents by patients admitted to health care settings, advance directive completion rates are low in most health care organizations. The purpose of this study was to determine the level of advance directive completion among home health patients. The health belief model provided the theoretical framework that guided this study. A retrospective chart review was carried out in a home health agency …

The Relationship Between Hospital Leadership Activities And Clinical Quality Outcomes In Iowa, Sarah Pavelka

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services have been working with hospital networks across the United States to improve health care through education and training on clinical best practices and leadership frameworks. Some organizations have failed to reach the high-quality standards of care expected and have adverse patient care outcomes. The purpose of the study was to determine the relationship between leadership actions, funding type, and clinical care outcomes in participating Partners for Patients hospital programs in Iowa. The secondary variable data were provided from a Partnership for Patients contractor, through the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Organizational Assessment …

Heroes Or Victims: The Lived Experiences Of Women On Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting In Northwestern Nigeria, Sarah Kasham Philips

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The custom of female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) is a traditional practice inimical to women's health with profound implications. There is a gap in the literature on the lived experiences of women who have undergone FGM/C and their statuses within their communities. Guided by the social cognitive theory and the ecological model, this qualitative study aimed at explicating the attitudes and perceptions of women in the northwest region of Nigeria towards the practice of FGM/C, to illuminate how the women view themselves in their society and the inspiration for the continued practice of FGM/C. Interview and observation data were gathered from …

Strategies To Improve Project Management Maturity Processes, Walter H. Sargent

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Information technology organizations lose significant competitive value when business leaders fail to use project management maturity (PMM) processes that enhance market delivery, reduce costs, and increase profitability. Using a multiple-case study, the researcher explored strategies that project leaders have used to improve PMM processes and expanded upon Kerzner's PMM model, which comprises 5 PMM levels essential for achieving repeatable project success. The researcher selected 20 project leader participants in the Southeastern region of the United States using a purposeful snowball sampling technique. In depth interviews were combined with archival and document exploration using a multiple-case study design where different types …