Digital Commons Network^™

Factors Related To The Perceptions Of Academic Honesty Among Campus-Based And Online Undergraduate Students, Robert Defranco

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Academic dishonesty poses a challenge for the online and campus-based learning environment where technology and assessment at a distance may encourage easy and innovative ways of cheating. The purpose of this quantitative study was to assess campus-based and online students’ attitudes and perceptions toward academic dishonesty. Data were collected via the Student Academic Honesty Survey to measure student perceptions of academic dishonesty to determine the following: (a) whether biological males and females differed in their perceptions of academic dishonesty, (b) the predictive relationships between perceptions of academic dishonesty and locus of control after controlling for type of school, and (c) …

Riders’ Lived Experiences About Ride-Sharing On The Concept Of Customer Trust In The Choice Of Rides In Dallas, Texas, Winston Randolph John

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

A business’s long-term success is dependent on the ability to build and maintain customer trust. Failed projects within the sharing economy, which ride-sharing is part of, suggest distrust of the services and products of sharing economy companies. The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to explore the lived experiences of riders using ride-sharing regarding the concept of customer trust in Dallas, Texas. The conceptual framework for this study was the theory of planned behavior. Interview data were gathered from 15 participants who met the inclusion requirements of being a rider with Uber or Lyft with ride experiences before, during, …

High School Science Students’ Cognitive Load Using Virtual Reality Compared To Traditional Instruction, Maria Carmen R. Lagalante

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Cognitive load is the effort needed to process and store information in memory and can be measured via subjective, physiological, and performance methods. Virtual reality learning environments (VRLEs) enhance science aptitude and motivate students to pursue science careers. Cognitive load is divided into three types: intrinsic, extraneous, and germane. Using cognitive load theory as the framework, the problem addressed through this study was that it is not yet fully understood what the effect of VRLEs is on students’ cognitive load, which can hinder their learning if it is too high. Secondary science education comprises many complex topics with significant levels …

An Educational Intervention For Perioperative Nurses On Venous Thromboembolism Prophylaxis, Joann Mcghee-Evans

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractResearch has demonstrated that enhancing a nurse’s knowledge and awareness may result in positive patient, provider, and organizational outcomes. In a local organization, there had been a 25% increase of postoperative venous thromboembolisms (VTEs) within the last 12 months. The purpose of this doctor of nursing practice (DNP) project was to determine whether an educational intervention focused on VTE and the standards of care for VTE prevention increased knowledge and awareness among perioperative nurses working in the local organization. Benner’s novice to expert theory and King’s goal attainment theory provided the framework for the DNP project. Thirty-eight nurses were invited …

Reducing Same-Day Procedure Cancellations At An Interventional Spine And Pain Management Center, Adriene Smith

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractReducing Same-Day Procedure Cancellations at an Interventional Spine and Pain Management Center by Adriene Smith

Walden UniversityOctober 2023   Abstract The practice problem at a local interventional spine and pain management center was that the nurses lacked sufficient knowledge of the facility’s preoperative screening tool. The problem resulted in inadequate patient preparation for surgical procedures that led to a 33% same-day surgery cancellation rate. A staff education project was conducted to educate the nurses on how to properly use the facility’s preoperative screening tool and assess their knowledge of common blood thinner medications included in the preoperative screening process. Failure to …

Healthcare Organizational Strategies For Designing And Implementing Economic Think Tanks, Robert Worthington

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

A lack of focus on organizational strategy impedes the development of successful healthcare think tanks. Healthcare leaders are concerned about the lack of strategies and their importance in combating fraud, reducing errors, enforcing practice guidelines, and improving patient healthcare services. Grounded in the four trajectories of industry change theory, the purpose of this qualitative single case study was to explore strategies healthcare management leaders use to develop successful healthcare think tank organizations. The participants were three healthcare professionals in senior leadership positions for a healthcare think tank organization. Data were collected using semistructured interviews, a review of organizational documents, and …

Sharing Strategies Between Higher Education Administrators And Their Information Technology Leaders, Larita Brewster

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Some senior administrators in higher education institutions lack strategies to share leadership decision-making with their information technology (IT) leaders in the quest to sustain and improve organizational performance, which is often of concern to leverage technology and improve organizational performance. Grounded in the Bolman and Deal four-frame model of leadership, the purpose of this qualitative, multiple-case study was to explore strategies used at four higher education institutions by four IT leaders and four senior administrators, to improve organizational performance in Alabama. The participants were four higher education senior administrators and four IT leaders in Alabaman higher educational institutions. Data were …

Vicarious Trauma And Elementary School Counselors, Erin M. Duduit

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Vicarious trauma has been a focus of scholars for many years and demonstrates that vicarious trauma effects professional behaviorally, personally, and physiologically. This quantitative cross-sectional study explored the relationship between vicarious trauma and occupational exposure (caseload size) disrupting the cognitive structures of empathy, control, and esteem. The theoretical framework for this study was the constructivist self-development theory, which described how helping professionals develop vicarious trauma after exposure to traumatic stories. The social cognitive theory was also used for this study, explaining how elementary school counselors can increase their capacity for empathizing through modeling and experiencing empathy from others. The study …

Business Functions Capabilities And Small And Medium Enterprises’ Internationalization, Henry Mbidde

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Ineffective global expansion can adversely affect small and medium enterprises (SMEs) business outcomes. Business leaders are concerned with developing effective global expansion strategies to penetrate potential international markets, thus enhancing sustainability. Grounded in the business management systems theory, the purpose of this qualitative multi-case study was to explore strategies that leaders of Sub-Saharan Africa manufacturing SMEs use for global expansion. The participants were five manufacturing value-adding SME leaders participating in export markets. Using Yin’s five steps data analysis process, six themes emerged: (a) enterprise characterization, (b) understanding the enterprise’s product, (c) intra-enterprise factor-based strategies for export participation, (d) the enterprise’s …

Evaluating Church Hurt In The Black Church, Sheriyse Williams

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The Black Church has been a significant source of support for many African Americans and has served as a protective factor while meeting religious and spiritual needs. However, some studies have suggested that the Black Church can also be a source of trauma, betrayal, and abuse for some African Americans. The purpose of the present study was to examine the effects between emotional manipulation, gender discrimination, spiritual bullying, and spiritual neglect on outcomes associated with church hurt and understand occurrences of church hurt using betrayal trauma theory. A nonexperimental, quantitative, correlational research design was used evaluate data from 155 African …

Improving Nurse-Patient Communication Through Motivational Interviewing In A Step-Down Unit, Ana G. Becker

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractPatient satisfaction is an essential component in assessing the quality of nursing care. Often monitored through patient satisfaction surveys, this doctorate in nursing practice project (DNP) was developed to improve the problem of low Press Ganey nurse-patient communication scores for a medical-surgical step-down unit. The aim of the project was to develop a staff education program for the purpose of introducing motivational interviewing as an intervention to improve nurse-patient satisfaction scores. Lewin’s change model, Knowles’ adult learning theory, and the analysis, design, develop, implement, and evaluate (ADDIE) model were used to guide the development of the DNP project. Conducted over …

Perceived Multicultural Self-Efficacy As A Predictor Of Competency In Social Justice Advocacy Among U.S. School Counselors, Damon D. Chambers

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

School counselors who engage in advocacy work may experience barriers when attempting to challenge oppression; hence, they need specific skills to advocate efficiently and effectively. Despite the trend in conceptual articles surrounding school counselor advocacy, little is known about how school counselors’ multicultural self-efficacy predicts school counselors’ social justice advocacy practices. This study addressed this gap in the literature by exploring factors related to school counselor social justice advocacy; that is, multicultural self-efficacy. Multicultural self-efficacy and advocacy competence have had an integral role in fostering school counselors’ abilities to identify and support the needs of diverse student populations within the …

Experiences And Perceptions Of Hospital Social Workers Regarding Discharge Planning And Readmission, Kenshara Cravens

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services created the Hospital Readmission Reduction Program in 2010 to decrease the problem of hospital readmissions. This program reduces hospital reimbursements from Medicare or Medicaid when patients with specific diagnoses are readmitted within 30 days of discharge. This generic qualitative study explored hospital social workers’ experiences and perceptions of the impact of discharge planning on hospital readmission. Meleis’s transitions theory provided the conceptual framework for this study. Data were collected from semistructured interviews with 10 female medical social workers. Data analysis entailed categorizing and classifying the data into emerging themes to answer the research …

An Analysis Of Client And Employee Satisfaction Surveys For A Public Organization, Jennifer Davidna Derisse

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The need to analyze surveys to understand clients and improve services has been a focus of scholars. It is missing in literature the best methods to analyze surveys. Researchers have yet been able to establish the need of surveys in public organizations. The problem was that the Sunshine House (SH) needed to analyze surveys to understand clients and improve services. Surveys were analyzed to apply alignment, effectiveness, and action orientation. The purpose of this study was to analyze perceptions of clients and staff in surveys concerning the effectiveness of services. Research questions were the following: (a) employee satisfaction and employee …

Assessing The Impact Of Domestic Violence Upon The Lives Of African American Women, Meleh Duarto

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Domestic violence is a public health problem in the United States. It can be associated with physical, mental, emotional, and psychological problems for the victims. African American (AA) women experience this type of violence more than any other ethnicity or race. The purpose of this phenomenological qualitative study is to identify and report AA women’s lived experiences of domestic violence. Even though research devoted to understanding domestic/intimate partner violence’s consequences is limited, this problem has devastating consequences for AA women. This problem needs immediate attention. Likewise, there is limited empirical research done on the topic: Why do African Americans experience …

Perceptions Of Active Social Media Adults’ Mental Health After Participating Online With Uncivil Political Discourse With Out-Group Members, Bridgette Eastman

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Online incivility that occurs in the comment sections of social media sites has become increasingly prevalent. Much of this incivility occurs in the context of political debate. Previous research has indicated that heated political debates online can lead to increased levels of emotional distress and that individuals have the capacity to become addicted to a variety of activities that take place on the internet. Using the theoretical lens of the social identity model of individuation effects, this study explored the impact of online political incivility on the mental health of individuals who engage in this type of behavior. This study …

Organizational Leadership Culture And Gender Inequality In The C-Suite, Rocelia Hornbuckle

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Women in the automotive industry often struggle to advance into top leadership positions. More specifically, culture and gender inequality affect senior-level and higher women leaders trying to achieve a position in the C-Suite in automotive manufacturing organizations. The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to explore the lived experiences of senior-level and higher women seeking a C-Suite position. The research questions addressed the lived experiences of women who strive to be promoted to C-Suites positions. Three sub-questions were used to evaluate participants' perceptions, leveraging them to increase awareness of the cultural and gender inequality affecting the representation of women …

Public Company Ceo Strategies For Navigating A Global Economic Shock, Trevor Lee Johnson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Covid-19 has been the most significant economic shock of the 21st century, evidenced by the S&P 500 index plunging over 30% in early 2020. Business leaders who fail to prepare for black swan events are at a high risk of failure. Grounded in Taleb’s black swan theory, the purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to explore strategies some public market CEOs use to defend share price returns during economic shocks. The participants were five CEOs of five publicly traded companies listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange who generated positive investor returns since the pandemic began. Data were collected …

How Elementary School Principals Manage Their Workload, Cynthia Ann Mccabe

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Elementary school principals in a suburban, Mid-Atlantic public school system may face challenges when balancing their workload. This problem is significant as an elementary school principal’s workload could contribute to ineffective leadership. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore how these principals balance their workload and obtain their perceptions of the administrative support required to meet the daily challenges of their job. The conceptual framework is Gronn’s distributed leadership model which is based on the purposeful sharing and disseminating of leadership responsibilities. The research questions explored how elementary school principals describe the challenges they have in balancing …

The Underreporting Of Educator Sexual Misconduct In K-12 Schools, Nina Cordella Kornegay

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Educator sexual misconduct continues to present a problem in U.S. K–12 schools. Asmandatory reporters, K–12 educators must report any suspicion of educator sexual misconduct, but despite state and federal laws regarding reporting, educator sexual misconduct often goes unreported. The purpose of this exploratory phenomenological study was to learn more about how U.S. K–12 educators perceive underreporting of educator sexual misconduct. The integrated change model served as this study’s conceptual framework. Semistructured interviews were conducted to collect data from eight educators in K–12 schools in two school districts in North Carolina. Coding analysis was used to identify themes. Five themes related …

How Supply Standardization Affects Non-Emergent Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy Costs And Length Of Stay, Marc Lopez

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This study was conducted to identify if there were practices that could be implemented to decrease costs in the operating room without negatively effecting patient outcomes. With the cost of healthcare in the United States consistently increasing, studies that focus on cost-reduction measures such as this one are crucial to ensure health systems continue to operate with a neutral or positive margin to remain available to provide patient care. This was a retrospective quantitative research study built on the diffusion of innovation theory. It focused on motivating factors such as differences in cost between surgical cases that used a standardized …

Maternal-Early-Warning-System Education To Improve Registered Nurse Knowledge Of And Appropriate Responses To Triggers, Dawn Marie Moore

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The maternal early warning system (MEWS) is the single most reliable response tool to improve maternal outcomes in obstetrics. Recognition and response by nurses to the MEWS triggers was worrisome at the project site as the MEWS trigger to detect changes in the clinical conditions in obstetric patients was not applied consistently at the bedside. This project was developed to evaluate whether providing an education program on the application of MEWS to nurses in obstetrics at the practicum site would improve registered nurses’ knowledge of and appropriate responses to the MEWS trigger alarms. A literature search targeting the key words …

Teachers’ Perceptions Of Social Emotional Learning Instruction And High Residential Mobility Students’ Reading Literacy, Janel Dorene Morris

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Based on recommendations from research, leaders in a north Texas public school district implemented social emotional learning (SEL) to address academic gaps among high residential mobility (HRM) students. Incorporating SEL instruction improves academic achievement 11 percentile points on average; however, in Adoniram School District (ASD), 2021 passing rates fell 8% from 2019 despite adopting SEL curriculum. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to explore how ASD elementary teachers instructed SEL, and their perceptions of how SEL techniques influenced HRM elementary students’ reading literacy development. The study on social and emotional skills (SSES) conceptual framework guided this study because …

Perceptions Of Female Veterans Regarding Mental Health Services In The Veterans Administration System, Linda Kaye Perry

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Over the past 2 decades, women’s roles in the United States military have changed which has increased their risk of developing post-traumatic stress disorder. In 2016, all military occupational specialty were opened to women which allowed women to fight and be exposed to a combat environment. As more female veterans are returning home and reintegrating into their communities, they are seeking care for combat-related post-traumatic stress disorder and combat exposure. The purpose of this generic qualitative study was to understand the female veterans’ perception of the utilization of the Veterans Health Administration when seeking care for combat-related post-traumatic stress disorder …

Parent Perspectives On How The Covid-19 Pandemic Affected Symptoms Of Autism Spectrum Disorder In Their Children, Desiree Marie Vanderlick

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Autism is a disorder that is characterized by struggles with socialization anddevelopmental delays that often involve much guidance and support. The purpose of this study was to explain the experience of parents as they attempted to manage behaviors related to symptoms of autism during the worldwide quarantine prompted by COVID-19. This study aimed to close the gap in literature and explore to see if there were any concerns that could be addressed by future studies. The study was framed around Bowen’s theory, which addresses emotions within a family unit, and the interdependence theory, which addresses how humans thrive to be …

Help-Seeking Behavior Of African American And Non-African American Victims Of Elderly Abuse, Tesfaye Yigletu Wosene

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Elderly abuse is a pervasive public health problem in the United States. Most abuse and neglect go unreported due to barriers including fear for safety, concerns about the consequences, culture, lack of knowledge about elder abuse, shame, and self-blame. However, there is limited research on how race and ethnicity impact help-seeking behaviors of the elderly. This cross-sectional quantitative study examined the difference in reporting and help-seeking behavior between African American and non-African American victims of elderly abuse. Applying the behavioral model of health services use, this study involved a secondary data analysis using the Nation Elderly Mistreatment Study Wave II …

The Effects Of Secondary Traumatic Stress And Resilience On The Indicators Of Compassion Fatigue Among Occupational Therapists, Gayla Ann Aguilar

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractCompassion fatigue (CF) has been described as the “cost of caring” for traumatized individuals, which may lead to missed workdays, diminished work satisfaction, increased turnover, and decreased client care. CF has long been studied in other caring professionals, but occupational therapy practitioners (OTPs) have been largely overlooked. The purpose of this quantitative correlation study was to determine the relationship between secondary traumatic stress (STS) and resilience (RES) on burnout (BO) and compassion satisfaction (CS; i.e., indicators of CF) in OTPs. In this study, the moderation effect that RES has on STS and BO as related to CF in 68 completed …

The Essence Of Therapeutic Relationships In Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy, Joy Clark Akin

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractTraditional psychotherapeutic approaches are not always effective in alleviating psychological symptoms and improving functioning in young adults. Equine-assisted psychotherapy (EAP) has been shown as a beneficial alternative therapeutic method developed for clients not helped by traditional methods. However, the essence of the therapeutic relationship that develops between the client, horse, therapist, and equine specialist has not been explored. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore the lived experience of the therapeutic relationship in young adults who participated in EAP. The frameworks of person-centered theory and self psychology guided the development of interview questions, data analysis, and interpretation. Four …

Retention Strategies For Managers Of Generation Y Employees, Michael Askari

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Employee turnover may lead to increased business costs, degradation of employee mental health, and more taxes on social programs. Managers of Generation Y employees are concerned with turnover because Generation Y employees tend to leave within 12 months of being hired. Grounded in the job embeddedness theory, the purpose of this qualitative multiple-case study was to explore management retention strategies to reduce Generation Y turnover. The participants were six managers of Generation Y employees from six retail businesses who successfully retained employees for more than 12 months. Data were collected using semistructured interviews, journal notes, and a review of public …

Closing The Knowledge Gap For Advanced Practice Nurses On Medical Cannabis, Regina Bernice Askew-Gibbs

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractSince cannabis, also called marijuana, has been decriminalized or legalized as a prescription for medical purposes, more patients are using cannabis recreationally for medical purposes or as a holistic therapeutic approach in contrast to Western medicine. With increased use among patients, it has become important for the advanced practice nurse (APN) to have a basic knowledge of the therapeutic benefits of marijuana. The goal of this DNP project was to supply APNs with education on marijuana and cannabis to prevent poor patient assessment and education. Pre-and posttest data from 6 participants who work at a medical, ambulatory clinical site, were …