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Adult Learners With Learning Disabilities’ Motivation To Succeed In Higher Education Online Learning During Covid19, Sara Michelle Rodriguez

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Many students had to transition to online learning due to the COVID-19 pandemic while other students were already enrolled in online education. Online study may hold additional struggles for students with learning disabilities. The problem addressed in this qualitative, phenomenological study was the motivating factors of online higher education students who have a learning disability during the COVID-19 pandemic. The theoretical foundation was Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. Data were gathered through 10 semistructured interviews and then analyzed through the thematic analysis yielding five themes: (a) lack of professional support, (b) resources, (c) support system, (d) consistent motivation, and (e) low …

Experiences And Perceptions Of Local Diocesan Catholic School Teachers Regarding The Progress Of Their Implementation Of Project-Based Learning In The Classroom, Donna Lee Saladino

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractAfter finding research confirming that the innovative approach of project-based learning (PBL) improves 21st century education for all students, the administrators of a large local diocesan Catholic school system (LDCSS) initiated PBL implementation in their schools. The problem was that after 6 years it was not known how the teachers were experiencing and perceiving their progress with this implementation in the classrooms. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to discover and understand LDCSS teachers’ experiences and perceptions of their progress of PBL implementation in the classroom. The conceptual framework for the study comprised John Dewey’s educational philosophy of …

Gender-Based Pay Inequality In The Canadian Insurance Companies, Mostafa Shayangogani

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractThe problem in this study was gender-based pay inequality among women at Canadian insurance companies. The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenological study was to understand gender-based pay inequality for women at Canadian insurance companies. Aigner's, Cain's, Arrow's, and Phelps' statistical discrimination theory guided the study. The theoretical foundation also included the human capital theory by Becker and Schultz. The research questions focused on understanding C-suite and V-level executives’ lived experiences of gender-based pay inequality and identifying effective strategies that should be adopted to overcome the problem at Canadian insurance companies. This study used purposeful sampling to recruit 15 C-suite and …

Professional Counselor Identity Development Relative To Professional Recognition, Brandon Shurn

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This descriptive phenomenological study was conducted to explore how professional counselors described their professional identity development and if professional recognition from psychologists, social workers, psychiatrists, and other professional organizations contributed to professional identity development. Phenomenology was developed by Edmund Husserl and explores insights from others based on their experiences. Licensed clinical professional counselors in Maryland formed the purposive sample that included six participants; each participated in a semi-structured interview. Thematic coding highlighted themes that emerged and included (a) the importance of the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), (b) licensure as a stressful process, (c) professional …

Cultural Competence: Minoritized Student Experiences With Faculty In Counselor Education And Supervision Programs, Mariangelly Sierra

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Minoritized students face additional challenges that contribute to poor experiences in higher education when compared to dominant populations. Multiculturally-competent faculty behaviors positively influence minoritized students’ lived experiences in higher education and promote culturally-responsive learning environments. This study investigated minoritized students’ experiences working with faculty teaching in Counselor Education and Supervision (CES) programs accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) guided by the principles of Heidegger’s hermeneutic philosophy and Crenshaw’s theory of intersectionality. The specific research question of this study was about minoritized students lived experiences with faculty teaching in CACREP-accredited CES programs. Data were …

Understanding The Lack Of Communication Between Communities And Law Enforcement Through A Community Policing Program, Patrick B. Skoczek

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Abstract

Inequitable treatment by law enforcement officers has deeply impacted minority communities in the United States. Public incidents of abuse of power, discriminatory treatment, and excessive use of force have received increased attention, creating increased community mistrust of law enforcement officers. To help bridge the gap between communities and law enforcement agencies, this qualitative phenomenological study was conducted to examine the use and impact of the Policing and Public Safety Problem-Solving Programs. Data were collected through interviews with 12 retired police officers and 12 community members. Interview questions were related to participants’ perceptions regarding a breakdown in trust between law …

Veterans’ Experience With Social Acceptance After Beginning Civilian Employment, Dr. Mike Smith

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractWhen an individual feels excluded from a group that they seek to be a part of, they experience negative physiological and psychological outcomes. The innate human need to be socially accepted is identified and described in elements of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs and McClelland’s human motivation theory. Social acceptance has also been shown to play an integral role in areas of communication, organizational commitment, performance, and team cohesiveness. However, it is not known if social acceptance directly impacts a veteran’s ability and desire to maintain civilian employment after transitioning from active-duty service. Therefore, the purpose of this qualitative, phenomenological study …

Exploring Barriers To Accessing Funding For Individuals With Dementia Who Reside In Long-Term Care Facilities, Gwendolyn Cox Smith

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractMedicare and Medicaid are the most used funding sources for long term care (LTC); however, they are insufficient to pay for all social activities needed by individuals with dementia who reside in LTC facilities in the United States. Barriers in accessing funding to provide social activities for these individuals were explored though the theoretical lens of a logic model related to funding. A qualitative exploratory case study design was used to find not only the barriers of accessing funding but also the type of available funding and the eligibility criteria for receiving funds for social activities for those with dementia …

Lived Experiences Of Technology-Based Legal Resources, Michael Ray Stanley

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractLack of access to United States civil courts by individuals who cannot afford or are otherwise unable to retain legal counsel has attracted the interest of policy makers and members of the legal community in recent years. The literature revealed a wide range of efforts and public and private resources that have been employed to address the problem. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore the experiences, perceptions, and insights of individuals in a medium-size Michigan city who had utilized services that deliver legal resources by technology-based platforms. Social construction of targeted populations and the technology acceptance model …

The Recidivism Rate In Correlation To The Effectiveness Of The Bridges To Life Reentry Program In Texas, Steven Steen

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This research explored the relationship between reentry programs and recidivism in the state of Texas. One program in particular, Bridges To Life (BTL), has had an impact on recidivism in the state, and this research analyzed how the overall organization of BTL correlated to recidivism. Recidivism is the repeated or habitual relapse into crime. The purpose of this quantitative research study was to determine whether there was a direct correlation between the reduction of recidivism and the effectiveness of reentry programs through BTL in the state of Texas. The research question for this study explored the correlation between BTL and …

Understanding Teachers’ Perceptions Of Pedagogy In Teaching Mathematics To English Language Learners, David Suh

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The number of socially and linguistically varied students at two local high schools in a southwestern state located in the United States has greatly increased. Since the 2018-2022 school years, English language learners (ELLs) scored low on the state achievement mathematics test scores. The problem was teachers were challenged to support the mathematics achievement of Grade 9-12 ELLs. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the perceptions of the teachers’ challenges in supporting the mathematics achievement of Grade 9-12 ELLs. The conceptual framework for this study was Vygotsky’s sociocultural theory, which helped to inform the study in giving …

Participant Perceptions Of Investigative Interviewing Utilizing Archival Pre And Post-Implementation Data, Shaun Michael Sylvester

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Scholars and practitioners have provided substantial literature and research into the efficacy of investigative interviewing as a method of police interrogation that mitigates false confession and coercion. This quantitative study examined archival data on participant perceptions of investigative interviewing before and immediately following an investigative course. Three areas representing principles of investigative interviewing and police investigator perceptions were examined: Confession and evidentiary testimony, confirmation bias, and deception detection through body language observation. Participants included sworn law enforcement officers, either newly employed or on the path to becoming an investigator. There were 206 responses for both the pre-test and post-test surveys. …

Occupational Stress Of Adult Protective Service Workers, Tiffany Taylor

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Research has revealed that adult protective service workers experience high levels of occupational stress that often result in health complications such as burnout, secondary traumatic stress, and compassion fatigue. Although several qualitative studies have been conducted over the past decade, there was limited information on the phenomenon of how stress is experienced by adult protective service workers investigating cases of alleged elder abuse. The purpose of this study was to examine the lived experiences of a sample of adult protective service caseworkers from the southwestern United States that have experienced occupational stress while investigating cases of elder abuse. This study …

An Evaluation Of A Community-Based Children’S Bereavement Group Using A Resilience Model, Ada Terry Denone Terry

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The death of a loved one can be an extremely painful process that can have detrimental consequences on the emotional well-being of individuals if they don’t receive grief intervention support. When it specifically comes to the emotional eudaemonia of children and teens experiencing the death of a loved one, research is limited on empirical-based bereavement intervention support to enhance their coping skills. Utilizing the theoretical framework of resilience theory, the purpose of this quantitative secondary research study was to evaluate the Sutter Sacramento Children’s Bereavement Art Group (CBAG) ten- week intervention for children and teens ages 5-12. The first question …

The Self-Efficacy Of Counselors Providing Telemental Health Services During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Chelsea Threadgill

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, counselors have had to adapt and evolve to meet the needs of clients and the growing need for mental health services. In addition to a lack of experience providing telemental health (TMH) services, many counselors had received little or no TMH training or continuing education prior to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Counselor self-efficacy (CSE) may be an important factor in determining how counselors have been impacted by the increase in provision of TMH services, and the areas where they are needing more support. The purpose of this quantitative study was to …

Nigerian Women Entrepreneurs’ Narratives On Collective Action For Economic Empowerment And Gender Parity, Elizabeth Oyanu Ujah

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

While entrepreneurship has offered some potential for empowering subordinated women in urban areas of Nigeria, a literature gap exists on urban Nigerian women entrepreneurs' narratives to understand better how their collective action may further support economic empowerment and gender parity. The purpose of this qualitative, narrative inquiry study was to understand how women entrepreneurs in urban Nigeria view their work to gain economic empowerment and gender parity through collective action. The narrative inquiry method was used to address the problem and answer the research question using interview data from 10 urban female Nigerian entrepreneurs. This study was framed by two …

Exploring Dual Roles In Law Enforcement Officers Who Administer Naloxone, Regina Sullivan Wachenheim

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

With the introduction of law enforcement-administered naloxone, officers are assuming the dual role of law enforcer and caregiver with opioid users. This study used cognitive role theory and Thorne’s interpretive approach to explore the dual roles experienced by officers. The purpose of this study was to understand (1) how officers who administer naloxone describe their experience of the dual role, and (2) how the officers describe the role expectations of law enforcer and caregiver. Seven officers completed semi-structured, one-on-one, telephone interviews. The eight themes that emerged were related to the officers’ views of (1) saving and changing opioid users’ lives; …

Effective Strategies For Small Business Sustainability, Kathleen A. Watson-Wilkin

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractSmall businesses in the United States experience a higher failure rate than medium-sized and large corporations. Small business owners without successful strategies to sustain their businesses may fail. Grounded in the McKinsey 7S model, the purpose of this multiple case study was to explore strategies small general construction contractor business owners use to sustain their businesses beyond 5 years. The participants were three small general construction contractor business owners within Miami, Florida, who sustained businesses for 5 years. Data were collected using semistructured and audio-recorded face-to-face interviews. Through thematic analysis, four themes emerged: (a) creating strategies for a solid customer …

Exploring Social Workers And Self-Care, Justyna Wawrzonek

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

First responder social workers are exposed to a stressful work environment, which puts them at risk for burnout. Burnout increases turnover rates, which negatively impacts both social workers and the clients they serve. The use of self-care practices mitigates the harmful effects of burnout. Because first responder social workers in southern California have an average turnover rate of 6 to 12 months after hire, this study explored southern California first responder social workers’ experiences with self-care practices. A basic qualitative design using semistructured interviews was applied through the purposeful sampling of eight first responder social workers. The study was grounded …

Educating Nursing Staff On Code Lavendar, Melanie Gumapas Webb

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The role of the nurse has changed considerably over the past decade. Nurses are facing alarming rates of burnout that is causing them to leave the profession prematurely. The practice-focused question was to determine if a nurse staff education program on Code Lavender that focused on wellness and resiliency strategies helped to decrease nurse burnout. The purpose of this doctor of nursing practice project was to educate nurses on an 11-bed inpatient oncology unit at a hospital located in Maryland. A comprehensive literature review was conducted utilizing several databases and using inclusive terms such as nurse burnout, wellness, patient safety …

Issues Of Inmates Not Receiving Mental Health Treatment: A Prison-Based Counselor Perspective, Ashley Celestine Westmoreland

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Mental illnesses in correctional facilities have been an issue for decades and have increased over time. According to recent studies, correctional facilities have become known as mental health institutions without access to treatment. It is unclear why correctional facilities have limited resources, but research indicates that offenders are not receiving the appropriate treatment. This qualitative phenomenological study aimed to explore how five prison-based counselors perceive the quality and quantity of mental health services provided to inmates. The data were analyzed and coded using the Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA). The current study’s findings further added to the base of knowledge that …

Strategies Call Center Managers Use To Reduce Employee Turnover, Sheena R. Wheeler

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Excessive employee turnover can disrupt an organization's efficient operational performance. Call center managers remain concerned with excessive employee turnover due to the expense of lost productivity, recruiting, and training new employees. Grounded in Herzberg’s two-factor theory of motivation, the intent of this qualitative single case study was to explore strategies call center managers use to reduce employee turnover. The participants consisted of five managers in one financial service call center in Nebraska who used successful strategies to reduce employee turnover. Data was collected using semistructured interviews and a review of the employee handbook. Four themes emerged through Yin’s 5-step process: …

Implementation Of Night Shift Rounding To Improve Nursing Communication And Reduce Days Of Intubation In The Intensive Care Setting, Lisa Wilkinson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Multidisciplinary rounds are the gathering of various health care providers who have a shared interest in a patient’s well-being to discuss the plan of care and the patient’s progress through their hospital stay. This multidisciplinary group of staff can be the providers, the nurse, charge nurse, social worker, pharmacist, dietician, respiratory, chaplaincy, and occupational and physical therapists. On night shift at the project site, this rounding process did not occur, leaving the staff feeling they were not involved in the plan of care. The purpose of this quality improvement evidenced-based project was to create a process change, introduced to the …

African American Men’S Lived Experiences Of Stigma Regarding Use Of Mental Health Services, Leon M. Wilson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

African American men are disproportionately more likely to live with untreated mental health challenges; the incidence of mental illness in African Americans is, per capita, 30% higher than among non-Hispanic Whites. African American men experience significant barriers and deterrents to psychological help seeking, which are primarily due to internalized stigma. The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to explore and describe African American men’s experiences that influenced internalized stigma regarding seeking and using traditional mental health services. The theoretical framework included the theory of social stigma and minority stress theory. Nine purposively selected African American men from the Mid-Atlantic …

Patient-Rated Physician Compassion And Patient Compliance With Colorectal Cancer Screening, Christine Caputo Winn

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In 2021, colorectal cancer was the second leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States, where screening prevented 46%–63% of colorectal cancer deaths. Compassionate care has been an area of study among scholars since Hippocrates. The purpose of this quantitative research study was to examine whether there was a relationship between the independent variables of provider compassion, patient gender, and length of provider patient relationship with the dependent variable of patient adherence behavior for prescribed colorectal cancer screening tests among primary care patients between 2019 and 2020 in a northeastern U.S. state. Guided by the theory of planned behavior …

Association Between Psychosocial, Obstetric, And Lifestyle Factors And Antenatal Depression, Tomnema Xiong

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Antenatal depression, or depression during pregnancy, is a mental health concern in the United States that impacts mothers and their infants. This study examined the associations between psychosocial, obstetric, lifestyle factors, and antenatal depression. This study was guided by social cognitive theory, specifically the reciprocal determinism construct. Secondary data from the 2007–2018 National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey (NHANES) were used in this quantitative cross-sectional study. Every participant of the NHANES completed the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 depression screening form. The study sample consisted of 274 women who were pregnant at the time of participating in the NHANES, approximately 28.8% of …

Nonprofit Leader Strategies For Revenue Growth And Financial Sustainability, William David Woods

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Nonprofit leaders must ceaselessly endeavor to become more entrepreneurial by accumulating strategies for growing organizational revenue and promoting financial sustainability when charitable contributions cannot fund their business operations. The failure to obtain charitable contributions can lead to nonprofit closure. Grounded in behavioral portfolio theory, the purpose of this qualitative single case study was to explore strategies a leader of a small Wisconsin nonprofit used to increase revenue and financial sustainability when charitable contributions were insufficient to finance business operations. Data collection included semistructured interviews; organizational documents and reports; financial records and reports; social media; and internet reports. Data were analyzed …

Variables Associated With Police Use Of Excessive Force In The United States, Leander Shane Zanders

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractA negative relationship persists among minority communities and law enforcement officers, including officers’ use of excessive force. Use of force researchers hold that a high percentage of African American men and boys can expect to die at the hands of police in the United States. Further, African American men are more likely than their White peers to die during an encounter with police. The purpose of this quantitative study was to examine the relationship between predictor variables and the use of excessive force against racial and ethnic minorities in the United States, controlling for race, gender, and household income. The …

Food Safety And Free Trade Area In East Africa, Diana Ogwal Akullo

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Africans experience high incidences of foodborne diseases annually leading to poor public health, yet there is limited information on implementation of food laws in Uganda, Ethiopia, and Kenya from the perspectives of public officials with knowledge of and experience with implementing food laws, policies, and regulations to inform policy on food security and safety and help mitigate foodborne diseases and associated trade concerns between countries. The study’s research question involved identifying the perceptions of public officials on the impact of food laws on the food safety delivery systems in Uganda, Ethiopia, and Kenya. The study applied complex adaptive system theory …

Risk Factors Influencing Poliomyelitis Seroprevalence In Polio High Risk Areas Of Afghanistan, Wasan Abdulaziz Al-Tamimi

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Afghanistan is one of the remaining polio endemic countries in the world. Nearly one million children under 5 years of age have missed polio vaccination in Afghanistan from May 2018 until January 2021. This quantitative study used the socioecological model as the theoretical framework and secondary data analysis of the 2020 polio serosurvey (N = 1384) to investigate various risk factors such as gender, parental education, family origin (language/location), wealth, distance to nearest health facility, and number of polio vaccine doses on the level of antibodies (i.e., seroprevalence) against all three types of polioviruses in children of two age groups, …