Digital Commons Network^™

Nursing Distance Learning Course Comparison Of Assignments And Examination Scores, Jennifer Mundine

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Nursing programs have embraced distance learning in their curricula, but discussion is ongoing about course assignments and grading criteria to increase examination scores in nursing distance learning courses. Because course examinations are a predictor of success on the postgraduate licensing examination (NCLEX-RN), the purpose of this study was to determine whether differences existed in student examination scores between nursing distance learning courses with and without points aligned to assignments. The theoretical framework was Knowles's theory of andragogy, which highlights adults' motivation and self-direction to succeed. The quantitative causal comparative study included a convenience sample of 164 students to compare archival …

Retention Of Direct Care Professionals Supporting Intellectually Disabled Individuals, Melanie Opalka-Bentler

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In the health and human service industry, employee turnover affects business practices and causes disruption of the lives of vulnerable individuals with intellectual disabilities receiving support. Using a human capital conceptual framework perspective, the purpose of this multiple case study was to explore strategies used to increase employee retention. The criteria for participation included organizational leaders from 3 Pennsylvania human service agencies that supported individuals with intellectual disabilities, tracked employee turnover for at least 2 years, and developed strategies to increase employee retention. Organizational leaders volunteered to participate and the first 3 organizations meeting the criteria were selected. Data collection …

Perception Of Cervical Cancer Screening Among Immigrant African Women Residing In Houston, Texas, Esther Ifeomadiniru Orji

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Perception of cervical cancer screening among Immigrant African women residing in Houston, Texas

Esther I. Orji

M.Ed., University of Lagos, 2002

B. Ed, Abia State University, 1998

A.C. E. University of Benin, 1990

Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment

of the Requirements for the Degree of

Doctor of Philosophy

Public Health

Walden University

August 2016

Disparities in cervical cancer screening participation still exist especially among immigrant and minority women compared to non immigrant populations. Research investigators through multiple studies have explored reasons for non participation in cervical cancer screening among immigrant and minority women. However, there was limited research specifically on …

A Phenomenological Study Of The Roles Of Principals In Special Education, Sarah Marie Parker

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

At the time of this study, there is intensified awareness of the importance of special education and the appropriate implementation of supports and services for the students identified as having special needs. In the United States, understanding special education laws, the needs of students with special needs who are served in the school building, and effective ways to interact with staff members and families about special education are important components of principal leadership success. Principal supervisors and others who provide training and ongoing professional development for principals and potential school leaders need to understand more about issues principals face in …

Impact Of Positive Youth Development Services On Resilience Among Adjudicated Girls, Shaunette Roberta Byers Parker

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Positive youth development (PYD) frameworks that guide PYD services suggest at-risk youth need to develop resiliency attitudes and resiliency skills in order to prevent long-term failure in their adult lives. This concept is based on multiple developmental theories that suggest increased levels of resiliency make it easier to navigate challenging situations. Adjudicated youth have faced a major setback in their short lives, yet they still have an opportunity to become successful and avoid additional jail time, if they are able to display a strong sense of resilience. Many youth development programs geared toward serving adjudicated youth, lack the appropriate structure …

Measuring Knowledge And Attitudes Of Clinicians About Motivational Interviewing With Troubled Adolescents, Sophia Joseph Parrilla

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Adolescents with acting-out behavior have an increased risk of dropping out of high school, incarceration, and early mortality. Researchers have indicated the need for studies using motivational interviewing (MI) to promote behavioral change. There is a gap in the literature about the efficacy of MI with adolescents and clinicians' knowledge of, and attitude toward, MI. Using self-determination theory as the grounding theory, this study examined the knowledge and attitudes of 73 clinicians on the island of St. Croix, Virgin Islands, about knowledge and attitudes of MI and whether it predicted the use of MI as a therapeutic intervention for adolescents …

Perception Of Nutrition And Utilization Of Healthy Food Ideas When Making Food Choices., Judy Pilgrim-Hector

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The availability of nutrition information is an important aspect of health care and equally important is access to cultural and theoretical nutrition evidence to increase awareness on ways to manage a diet in ethnic communities. The problem was the shortage of culturally appropriate nutrition data to educate Caribbean immigrants. The purpose of the study was to acquire culturally profound nutrition information on Caribbean immigrants' distinctive philosophical perception on nutrition and food choices. A phenomenological approach was used to examine ways in which the participants integrate nutrition facts when making food choices. The theory of reasoned action was the main conceptual …

Information Technology Adoption By Small Businesses Owners, Soha Elaskalani Ragab

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Small business owners need effective strategies to increase profitability. One such strategy is the adoption of information technology (IT). The purpose of this multiple case study was to explore the strategies used by small business enterprise (SBE) owners to implement IT solutions for increased profitability within 3 years of opening their business. The population consisted of 3 small business owners in Orange County Southern California who were profitable by their third year of business. The conceptual framework for this study was based upon general systems theory. Data for this study were collected through semistructured interviews and a review of company …

A Multiple Case Study On Leader Support, Breastfeeding, And Work Commitment, Lisa Marie Rancourt

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In the United States, over 50% of women return to paid work after becoming mothers. Mothers who breastfeed are more likely to stop working than peers who chose to use infant formula. The purpose of this research was to explore work commitment among new mothers during the first year of their infant's life. Many of these mothers had skills that were imperative to organizational success, making their retention a priority. The relationship between leadership support for dual roles as mothers and employees had not received attention previously in the literature. This multiple case study analyzed the perceptions of new mothers …

Algebraic Content And Pedagogical Knowledge Of Sixth Grade Mathematics Teachers, Mariyam Shahuneeza Naseer

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Algebra test scores of the Maldivian students from grade 6 through 12 are the lowest compared to any other area of mathematics. Algebra is a fundamental topic in mathematics and lays the foundation for mathematical reasoning and complex problem-solving. Research shows that strengthening algebra instruction could improve student achievement. This concurrent mixed methods study examined the algebraic content and pedagogical knowledge of 5 sixth grade mathematics teachers who teach in 5 different schools across the Maldives. Shulman's major categories of teacher knowledge and Ball, Thames, and Phelps' domains of mathematical knowledge for teaching guided this study. The research questions examined …

Integration Of Sustainability Reporting At An Academic Institution, James William Shimko

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Leaders at nonprofit academic institutions are following the global business trend of embracing sustainability initiatives for positive social change; however, there has been slow growth in sustainability reporting among academic institutions. The purpose of this study was to explore the strategies and processes necessary for leaders and managers to integrate sustainability reporting into the reporting cycle for a nonprofit higher education institution. I conducted a single case study of a nonprofit academic institution that utilized sustainability reporting. The study sample consisted of 4 leaders and managers at a nonprofit academic institution located in the state of Michigan that published sustainability …

The Relationship Between School Type And Mental Health Of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, And Questioning Young Adults, Steven Vincente Spencer

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Gay-straight alliance (GSA) clubs may positively affect mental health for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning (LGBT) students, but little research has studied schools that primarily enroll LGBT students. Guided by neofunctional and sexual stigma theory, the purpose of this study was to determine if graduates of LGBT high schools have better mental health than LGBT and heterosexual graduates of mainstream high schools. A snow ball sample, of 183 graduates of high schools in the United States and 95 graduates from high schools in other countries, 80% who identified as LGBT, completed an online survey consisting of 5 short mental …

Controlling Auditor Interactions To Improve The Quality Of A Financial Statement Audit, Christopher Turner

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Poor quality financial statement audits have a negative impact on the information provided to principals and stakeholders that can increase the risk of corporate fraud. The well-documented collapses of companies, such as Enron and WorldCom, brought the issue of audit quality to the headlines. Using agency theory as the conceptual framework, the purpose of this single case study was to determine what strategies client managers and boards can use to facilitate an engagement with an audit firm and effectively carry out their responsibility to provide effective relevant evidence and support for their management assertions as outlined in the engagement letter. …

Reducing Maternal And Child Morbidity And Mortality Through Project Recommendations, Dominique Valentin

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Haiti is a Caribbean island with a humanitarian medical center providing healthcare services to 90,000 residents. Pregnant women visiting the medical clinic for prenatal care often do not return for delivery; instead, they return home to deliver alone or with the assistance of a traditional matron. Home-birth practices increase maternal-child health morbidity and mortality in an already fragile country. The purpose of this project was to gain a deeper understanding of Haitian pregnant women's preferences to deliver at home or at the healthcare clinic. The transtheoretical model for behavior change and the Johns Hopkins nursing evidence-based practice model guided the …

Branding Strategies Of Private International Schools In India, Balasubramanian Varadarajan

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Private international schools in India are considered by many to be a quality brand. They have grown rapidly leading to competition among schools for student enrollments. The purpose of this case study was to explore the branding strategies used by leaders of Indian private international schools. The study population consisted of private international school leaders in India as well as the faculty and parents from the study site. The double vortex brand model served as the conceptual framework for the study. Semistructured interviews were conducted with 5 school leaders, 5 faculty, and 5 parents from an international school in Chennai. …

Phenomenological Study Of The Educational Component Of The Formal Disarmament, Demobilization, And Reintegration Program Of Ex-Militants In Liberia, John Tamba Wollie

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

A significant number of Liberian ex-militants are unemployed and underemployed despite the job skills, formal education, and entrepreneurial training they received as participants in the Formal Disarmament, Demobilization, and Reintegration (DDR) program that was established to reintegrate combatants into civilian society at the end of the two civil wars in Liberia in 2003. The purpose of this study was to examine the strengths and weaknesses of the vocational training offered by the DDR program. Informed by the theories of Human Capital, Peace Building, and Bronfrenbrenner, the research questions for this study assessed the benefits of the educational component of DDR. …

Government 2.5: The Impact Of Social Media On Public Sector Accessibility, Wayne E. Woods

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Innovative approaches to communicating with the masses continue to evolve in the private sector, while accessibility of goods, services, and public information within federal, state, and local government organizations has been declining for decades. This situation has resulted in a lack of trust and sense of isolation from communities. At the same time, the implementation and use of social media have increased exponentially. Despite the simultaneous occurrence of these events, limited research has explored the connection between them. Specifically, the purpose of this case study was to address the central research question of whether the adoption of social media platforms …

Teachers' Perspectives Of Balanced Assessment, Michele Branch Branch

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Current research indicates that when properly implemented, professional development (PD) can positively affect teaching practice and student academic achievement. However, teachers at Lincoln High School (pseudonym) questioned the effectiveness of their district's PD: Balanced Assessment. Given the paucity of research on teachers' viewpoints of PD and how it impacts implementation, the purpose of this qualitative case study was to examine teachers' perspectives of Balanced Assessment as it relates to implementation in the classroom. Guided by Knowles adult learning theory, which states that adults need to make a connection to what they are learning to real life, this study examined 4 …

Triangulating A Sustainable Safety Culture In The Readymade Garment Industry Of Bangladesh, Maurice Len Brooks

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Many obstacles still exist toward improving safety standards, practices, and culture in the ready-made garment (RMG) industry in Bangladesh. Workers' beliefs and habits, employers' level of involvement, and gaps in the regulatory framework necessitate an examination of safety practices to build a foundation for safety culture in the workplace. The focus of this study was to contribute to regulatory reform aimed at creating a safe work environment by exploring the perceptions of workers, employers, and government regulators through the lens of the theory on reciprocal determinism. A total of 41 participants, categorized into three groups of workers, employers, and government …

The Experiences Of Grade 3 Literacy Teachers Teaching English Language Learners, Casaundra Joyce Howell

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

English language learners (ELLs) at a public elementary school in the southeastern United States had not been passing state tests on literacy. Researchers have found that teachers must be adequately prepared to use instructional practices in mainstream classrooms to help ELLs increase language acquisition and pass state tests in literacy. The purpose of this case study was to examine the experiences of Grade 3 literacy teachers teaching ELLs in a mainstream classroom at the study elementary school in order to understand their instructional challenges. The conceptual framework was based on Bandura's social cognitive theory in order to understand how these …

Examining Nurse Practitioners' Perceptions And Beliefs Regarding Hospice Referrals For African Americans, Karen Jackson Mcclary

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Terminally ill patients often have difficult choices at the end-of-life, and electing to receive hospice services is one of them. Hospice has been linked to improved quality of life and death and is accessible to terminally ill patients. Despite the accessibility, African American patients often make the decision to forgo hospice services. The purpose of this descriptive study was to explore perceptions and beliefs of nurse practitioners (NPs) regarding the lack of utilization of hospice for African American patients and the feasibility of NPs for initial referral for terminally ill African American patients. The research questions addressed whether an NP's …

Afterschool Program Effects On English Learners' Reading And Teachers' Reading Curriculum Perceptions, Helen Marie Mayfield

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This project study addressed the problem of 3rd grade English language learners (ELLs) not passing the state mandated reading test at the same rate as other students between 2009 and 2013 in Georgia. The purpose of the study was to examine the effects of an elementary school's afterschool program (ASP) on ELLs' reading achievements and to investigate 3rd grade afterschool teachers' perceptions of the reading curriculum using a mixed methods explanatory sequential design. Schema theory, the framework used to guide this study, indicated prior knowledge and experiences are necessary to comprehend new ideas or concepts. Prior knowledge and experiences can …

Decision-Making On Technology Deployment For Online Programs At Historically Black Institutions, Shirley M. Mcclellan

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) lag behind predominantly White institutions in their production of online courses and degree programs because of nonexistent or inadequate technology training for faculty members and limited financial resources. The purpose of this qualitative comparative case study was to obtain insight into how decisions are made on technology deployment and integration of online programs at HBCUs. Guided by Donaldson's contingency theory, this case study addressed how decisions are determined at HBCUs to integrate online learning programs into the curriculum and how the individuals who make these decisions perceive online learning programs. Survey responses were collected …

Hiv/Aids-Related Stigma And Discrimination Toward Women Living With Hiv/Aids In Enugu, Nigeria, Chinyere Fidelia Nnajiofor

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

HIV/AIDS-related stigma and discrimination (S&D), lack of social support, poverty, and gender inequalities have been identified as factors in the increased prevalence rate of HIV transmission in Enugu, Nigeria, especially among women ages 15 to 49 years. Despite the funding of reduction programs, HIV/AIDS-related S&D remain a major driving force in the increased rate of new HIV cases in Enugu. This study addressed a perceived need for behavioral change intervention approaches that span all societal factors to reduce the HIV infection rate in Enugu Nigeria. The study was guided by Goffman's (1963) social S&D theory. The sample was composed of …

Strategies For Accessing Credit By Small And Medium Enterprises, Henry Jefferson Ogoi

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Small and medium enterprise (SME) business owners play a significant role in the Kenyan economy as they account for approximately 78% of total employment and 57% of the new jobs created. The purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to explore what strategies some Kenyan SME business owners used within the past 5 years to access credit to improve company profitability and growth. The target population consisted of 4 SME owners of businesses located in Kakamega Town, Kenya, who have had access to credit within the past 5 years. The conceptual framework for this study was the social capital …

Strategies For E-Commerce Platform Adoption In The Manufacturing Sector In Western India, Neeraj Parikh

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

While 95% of Indian SME leaders have not adopted an e-commerce platform, the few SME leaders having adopted such platforms reported 64% higher sales and 65% higher profits. The purpose of this multi-case study, guided by the diffusion of innovation (DOI) theory, was to explore the strategies that Indian SME leaders used to adopt e-commerce platforms to expand their businesses. Data for this study emerged from conducting face-to-face, semistructured interviews with 3 SME leaders who operated in the manufacturing industry in western India. The data analysis process included validating, coding, interpreting, and summarizing data and generating themes. Methodological triangulation of …

Factors That Contribute To Resilience Of Early Care And Education Teachers, Nefertiti Bruce Poyner

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

There is a lack of understanding of how teachers in Early Care and Education (ECE) work to overcome occupational stress and burnout. Many investigators have documented the stress and burnout that often result in high levels of attrition in ECE teachers. The purpose of this study was to determine to what degree a teacher's protective factors help in mitigating the experiences of stress and burnout often associated with working as a teacher in the field of ECE. Guided by Werner's theory of resilience, which highlights the importance of protective factors as a means of overcoming risk factors, the research questions …

Examining Data Privacy Breaches In Healthcare, Tanshanika Turner Smith

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Healthcare data can contain sensitive, personal, and confidential information that should remain secure. Despite the efforts to protect patient data, security breaches occur and may result in fraud, identity theft, and other damages. Grounded in the theoretical backdrop of integrated system theory, the purpose of this study was to determine the association between data privacy breaches, data storage locations, business associates, covered entities, and number of individuals affected. Study data consisted of secondary breach information retrieved from the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Civil Rights. Loglinear analytical procedures were used to examine U.S. healthcare breach incidents and …

The Effects Of Parent Involvement On Student Outcomes In A Minority-Serving Charter High School, Linda Varnell Washington

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Researchers have associated parent involvement in primary schools with the improvement of grades, attendance, and the decrease of negative social behaviors. Consequently, parent involvement has improved in many primary schools. However, in secondary schools, parent participation continues to be deficient, particularly among Latino and African American communities due to language barriers, low incomes, and lack of social networks. Research is needed on how parent participation affects student achievement in secondary schools with underserved populations. Social capital theory provided the conceptual framework to help determine if parent involvement could create parent-school relationships that would lead to improved student academic and behavioral …

Accounting Strategies For Small Business Law Firms' Sustainability, Karen Ann Adams

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Small business family law firms generate jobs within the local community, but often fail because of suboptimal accounting strategies. A multiple case study was used to research the accounting strategies small business family law firm owners use to succeed in business beyond 5 years. The population for this study was three small business owners of family law firms located in West Chester, Pennsylvania. The small business family law firm owners had achieved and maintained profitability of their businesses for a minimum of 5 years. Financial literacy theory and the leadership skill model comprised the conceptual framework for this study. Data …