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Covid-19 Ethical Decisions Encountered By Healthcare Professionals In Southwest Ohio, Joshua Lader

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The COVID-19 coronavirus has wreaked havoc on the world and medical community. Treating individuals during a worldwide pandemic is nothing short of heroic. With limited supplies and treatment options, healthcare professionals were forced to make ethical considerations when treating patients with COVID-19. The pandemic exposed stress in the healthcare system, leading to difficult ethical decisions such as providing access or denying access to treatment. Knowing these ethical considerations can assist healthcare professionals with practical policies for future pandemics. The key research question in this study explored how healthcare professionals in Southwest Ohio made ethical decisions related to who and how …

Officers' Perceptions Of The Ontario Provincial Police Framework For Police Preparedness For Indigenous Critical Incidents, Armand P. La Barge

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractResponding to First Nation occupations and protests is one of the most challenging duties that police officers in Canada undertake. Over the last 30 years, these types of incidents have resulted in deaths and injuries to police and protesters, and millions of dollars’ worth of damage and financial loss. After the 1995 shooting death of an unarmed Indigenous protester by police at the Ipperwash occupation, the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) introduced an unconventional operational approach for protests known as the OPP Framework policy. That approach was built on the concepts of peacekeeping, patient negotiation, mutual respect, and the minimal use …

Innovation Strategies For Rural Micro And Small Businesses, Suzanne K. Larsen

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Facing many unique challenges compared to their urban counterparts, rural business owners rely on innovation strategies to successfully operate their businesses. Reflecting only 14% of the population but occupying more than 72% of the geographic United States, the failure of rural business owners jeopardizes the network of goods and services that feed and support the entire nation. Grounded in Castle’s rural capital framework and Van de Ven’s innovation framework, the purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to explore the strategies rural small business owners use to ensure business innovation. The participants were eight successful rural small business owners …

Relationship Between Risk Exposure, Volatility Forecasting, And Financial Performance Of Hedge Funds, Thandi Lasana

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Poor hedge fund performance can impede the financial performance of a business organization. Despite the success of hedge funds, they incurred a loss of 33% during the global economic recession of 2007-2009. Understanding volatility and risk exposures are vital for investors and managers to increase hedge fund returns in various market conditions. Grounded in Markowitz’s modern portfolio theory, the purpose of this quantitative correlational study was to examine the relationship between hedge fund risk exposure, volatility forecasting, and financial performance. Data were collected from archival data from the HedgeNews Africa database and financial databases in South Africa between 2007 and …

Course Modality And Dialogue As Predictors Of Postsecondary Student Success In Online Programs, Danielle Lawson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

There is a growing demand for online education; however, online programs yield consistently lower student retention rates and student success. Students in online programs are typically nontraditional students from underrepresented populations in higher education. The purpose of this nonexperimental quantitative study was to determine whether dialogue (learner–learner, learner–instructor, and learner–content interactions) and course modality (traditional online and competency-based education [CBE] online) predicted student success (final course grade). Moore’s model of transactional distance served as the theoretical framework for this study, specifically the dialogue component. Participants were 127 online higher education students who took (successfully or unsuccessfully) a traditional online course …

Influence Of Clinical Supervision On Licensed Clinical Social Workers’ Confidence In Implementing Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Jamie Rebecca Leigh

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Licensed clinical social workers (LCSWs) require clinical supervision when they are new to the field or new to a treatment method. The supervision is meant to guide the LCSWs as they learn new skills and build confidence. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to understand how LCSWs described the impact clinical supervision had on their confidence in implementing trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (TF-CBT) with youths in a North Carolina intensive in-home program. Social cognitive theory was the framework for this study. Semistructured interviews were completed with 10 participants. Thematic coding was used to identify themes. All participants reported …

Barriers To Technology Integration Perceived By Kindergarten Through Second-Grade Teachers, Jessica Levine

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

A problem exists in southeastern United States where technology integration is limited in classrooms. Although researchers have found benefits for integrating technology, it was unknown why teachers were not integrating technology into instruction. The purpose of this generic qualitative study was to explore the perceptions of teachers of kindergarten through second-grade students about the barriers for integrating technology into instruction and the support needed to effectively integrate technology. There have been studies about the barriers to technology integration experienced by teachers; however, it was uncertain what these barriers were for kindergarten through second-grade teachers. Bandura’s self-efficacy theory was the conceptual …

Parenting Practices And The Intergenerational Effect Concerning Oppositional Defiant Disorder In Children, David Little

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Children whose oppositional defiance behavior (ODD) is not amended during their formative years could contribute to their possible growth into a juvenile delinquent. Parents must be mindful of the impact of their childrearing practices, as most parents emulate family traditions considered adequate by their parents and grandparents. The reoccurrence of generational parenting practice is professionally referenced as the "intergenerational effect." This correlational study attempted to establish relationships between ODD, parenting practices, and the intergenerational effect. Using Bowen's family system theory, this study emphasized how the family structure could differentially shape adolescent emotional function and social development. Archival data results from …

Exploring The Role Of Student Conduct Administrators In Holistic Student Development And Student Success, Lashan Lovelace

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Student conduct is a critical element of student development. The problem investigated by this study was that monetary fines as a punitive sanction tend to be overly represented in the student attrition group at the study site. The purpose of this study was to investigate how students and student conduct administrators (SCAs) at the study site perceive monetary sanctions and explore possible consequences of monetary sanctions on holistic student development and student success. The conceptual framework that guided this study was the model of transformational change for moral action. This study utilized a basic qualitative research design with research questions …

Human Services Professionals’ Perceptions Of Quality Care With Older Adults Experiencing Mild Traumatic Brain Injury, Frances Ludmer

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

One-third of patients with chronic consequences from traumatic brain injury (TBI) are reported to receive inadequate care for their ongoing functional, cognitive decline, and advanced pathophysiology. The quality-of-life (QOL) for older adults living with TBI may be reduced due to unequal access to resources and a lack of coordinated, holistic treatment plans. Recently, authors suggested that QOL for older adults with TBI depends on feelings of autonomy and cognitive functioning and requires holistic approaches to care. This generic qualitative study explored the experiences and perceptions of human service professionals (HSPs) working in mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) related to holistic, …

Resilience As A Mediating Factor In Depression And Posttraumatic Stress For Hongkongers Experiencing Political Oppression, Sairong Lu

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractPolitical oppression has been associated with mental health issues in refugee populations. The goal of this research was to measure the correlational relationship between political oppression, levels of depressive and trauma symptoms, and resilience as a mediating variable among Hongkongers. Three models of resilience formed the theoretical framework for this study. The mediating model was applied to determine if resilience mediated the relationship between political oppression and levels of depressive and trauma symptoms. The Beck Depression Inventory II, the PTSD-Checklist-Civilian, the Oppression Questionnaire, and the Resilience Scale for Adults were used to measure levels of depressive and trauma symptoms, the …

International Baccalaureate Teachers’ Perspectives On Integrating Approaches To Learning Skills To Enhance Transdisciplinary Learning, Nancy Macharia

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Abstract

The International Baccalaureate (IB) curriculum recognizes approaches to learning skills(ATLS) as an integral part of the Primary Years Programme (PYP) framework. This vital element of learning is designed to be embedded in the program standards and practices of the inquiry-based IB curriculum. After an evaluation visit by the IB school visit team members in 2017, a report was shared with the international primary school (IPS) study site located in Southeast Asia, which indicated that teachers were encountering challenges in consistent integration of ATLS to enhance transdisciplinary learning, which is the problem of this study. The purpose of this qualitative …

The Experience Of Affection Expressed Between Black Male Friends, David Manning

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractAffectionate communication supports the maintenance and sustenance of long-term relationships for the purposes of survival and procreation. Friendship has been identified as one of the most significant relationships throughout an individual’s lifespan, supporting improved mental and physical health. This qualitative study explored the expressions of affection experienced within Black male friend dyads. Two research questions were posed, what is the experience of Black men receiving and giving affection to other Black men within the context of friendships? Also, are the affectionate needs of Black men being met within their Black male friendships? Affectionate exchange theory and social learning theory were …

Perspectives Of Religious Faith Leaders On Hate Crime Policies, Alphonso Manns

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractPrejudice and discrimination stigmatize members of the lesbian gay bisexual transgender and queer (LGBTQ) community as abnormal, which has been attributed to religious opposition and the exercise of ministerial privileges or religious liberty within the law. Religious organizations may indirectly contribute to the public legal rights of members of the LGBTQ community. But little is known about the perspectives of religious faith leaders (RFLs) and how they influence the development and implementation of pro-equality and hate crime policies. The purpose of this study was to explore the experiences of RFLs from one community in a midwestern state. The narrative policy …

Teacher Perceptions Of Their Readiness For Teaching Social Skills To Students With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Victoria Marcheski

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The purpose of this study was to explore how special and general education teachers in New Jersey struggle to implement social skills instruction to students with moderate to severe autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The problem addressed in this study was that K-12 teachers in New Jersey are challenged to implement instructional strategies to support the social development of students with moderate to severe ASD. The conceptual framework guiding this work was the universal design for transition, based upon blending universal design for learning tenets and transitional outcomes for students with disabilities. The research question explored how K-12 special and general …

Assessment Of Unconventional Financing On The Operating Performances Of Nigeria’S Small And Medium Enterprises, Akiki Sami Maroun

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to assess the unconventional sources of funds that are available for growth of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Nigeria. The focal concentration was to provide answer to the research question which entails the impacts that unconventional financing method has on the operating performances of SMEs in Nigeria. The conceptual framework was the pecking order theory. The study employed a narrative approach, and data gathered using semi structured interviews from a sample size of 20 SMEs in Lagos, Nigeria. Participants were either entrepreneur/SME owner or knowledgeable employees/managers of SME. Data were compiled …

An Integrated Care Transitions Program And 30-Day Readmission Rates For Heart Failure And Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, Kathryn J. Martinez

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The impact of hospital readmissions on an organization includes reimbursement penalties, elevated mortality and morbidity rates, increased health care expenditures, and poor quality of life for the community’s residents. This study examined the impact of an integrated care transitions program on the 30-day readmission rates for heart failure and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) within an independent rural community health care organization in Middle America. The two research questions pertained to the relationships pre-and post-implementation of this program to the 30-day readmission rates for these two disease processes. The Donabedian model examined the structure and function of an integrated care …

The Lived Experience Of Individuals Thinking About Food And Coping With Stress, Tobi Martin

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Stress results in many people altering their eating patterns, often consuming food high in sugar and fat. Such behavior is a factor in the growing obesity epidemic and can potentially cause the development of chronic diseases, resulting in employment problems and billions of extra dollars spent on national health care programs. Researchers have focused on the concept of “emotional eating” while overlooking the overarching research question of this study, which was about exploring the experience of individuals using eating behavior as a coping mechanism to deal with stress. All responses were viewed through the lens of social cognitive theory. Interviews …

Student Nurses’ Senior Practicum Experience And Its Role In Transition To Practice, Trilla Mays

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Newly graduated nurses (NGNs) are not prepared to transition to practice, often leaving practice within the first year. The purpose of this descriptive qualitative study, guided by Meleis’ transition theory, was to explore the NGN’s perceptions of their senior practicum experience and how the experience prepared them for transition to practice. The Covid-19 pandemic limited recruitment of participants. After extended recruitment efforts, three NGNs were recruited, interviewed using a semistructured interview guide, and recorded using Zoom, which was verified while listening to the recording. The Ravitch and Carl three-pronged coding approach and NVivo was used to assist with the manual …

Strategies Information Technology Outsourcing Managers Use To Improve Business Performance And Employee Retention, Timothee Ntouba Mboule

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractVoluntary employee turnover can result in adverse business outcomes. Information technology (IT) managers are concerned with voluntary turnover, which is the number one reason for actual turnover. Grounded in the transaction cost theory, the purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to explore strategies IT managers use to improve business performance and employee retention. The participants comprised four IT managers from two firms in Arizona who effectively used strategies to improve business performance and employee retention. Data sources included semi-structured interviews, a review of archival company documents, and field notes. The data were thematically coded and analyzed, and four …

Improving Nurses' Knowledge Of Patient Self-Management Of Sickle Cell Disease, Angel Amaura Mccullough

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a chronic illness affecting over 100,000 Americans annually. SCD causes severe pain, which may require frequent hospital admissions for pain control. A high level of patient self-care knowledge is needed to prevent readmissions. Patients usually receive self-care education at hospital discharge from nurses, who may not know about self-care in SCD. Inadequate patient education on self-management of SCD at hospital discharge can lead to hospital readmissions. There was a gap in knowledge among RNs regarding SCD self-care at the local facility. This doctoral project was intended to educate nurses about SCD self-management to increase their …

K-12 Administrators’ Perceptions Of Factors Contributing To Teacher Attrition In Rural Schools, Michelle Mcdonald

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Teacher attrition is a debilitating problem that plagues education, contributes to the teacher shortage, and challenges administrators to staff schools with qualified teachers. The high teacher attrition rates in rural schools in the southeastern United States were the fundamental problem addressed in this qualitative case study. This qualitative case study's purpose was to explore how K–12 administrators perceived the factors influencing teacher attrition in a rural school district in the southeastern United States. Maslow's hierarchy of needs human motivation theory, emphasizing the concepts of the hierarchy of needs, provided support for the two research questions exploring K–12 school and district …

Strategies To Encourage Innovative Employee Performance In The Automotive Industry, Derek Mcelrath

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The lack of innovative employee performance in the automotive industry leads to failure when it comes to the execution of organizational strategies. Senior automotive managers are concerned with innovative employee performance, as it has the potential loss of knowledge and the skillset by the employee. Grounded in Vroom’s expectancy theory, the purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to explore strategies automotive managers use that encourage innovative employee performance. The participants were three senior automotive managers in Southeastern Michigan with at least three years of knowledge in employee work performance. Data were collected through semistructured interviews. Through thematic analysis, …

Impact Of 9/11 Attacks And Federal Funding On The National Guard’S Organizational And Operational Focus, Michael Christopher Mcmahon

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

There is a problem in the United States national security enterprise related to the National Guard’s organizational responsibilities to state and federal governments, and it was unknown whether this hybrid structure caused capabilities to diverge between pre-9/11 and post-9/11 national security priorities. This quantitative study’s purpose was to investigate the use of Congressional funding to determine how and to what degree the National Guard’s capabilities diverged from the United States national security priorities from pre-9/11 to post-9/11 periods. Organizational change and stream analysis conceptual frameworks identified organizational challenges in overcoming inertia and resistance to change. The statistical analysis included public …

Equipment Rental Companies Leaders’ Customer Retention Strategies, Katrell Shalaine Mcneil

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Equipment rental business leaders that employ inadequate customer retention strategies negatively impact organizations’ performance and profitability. Improved customer retention strategies might improve key customer retention and increase market share. Grounded in the customer retention management theory, the purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to explore strategies rental leaders use to retain customers. Participants were 10 equipment rental leaders from the Southwest Region of the United States that successfully retained their key customers through effective customer retention strategies. Data were collected using semistructured interviews and a review of materials from organizational websites regarding customer order fulfillment and technology. Through …

The Effects Of Stress Reduction For Healthcare Workers On Covid Units, Rosita Cynthia Mctaggart

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The rise of the COVID pandemic was a surprise to many. Since Florence Nightingale, society has suffered from various epidemic infectious diseases. This specific educational project was developed because of the stress and the aftereffects experienced by many healthcare workers coping with the working conditions related to COVID. This educational project is important because according to the World Health Organization, a healthy environment is a place for physical, mental, and social well-being, which supports optimal health and safety. Healthcare workers should be provided an educational program to assist them in minimizing stress. Havelock’s and Lewin’s theory of change was chosen …

African American Male Ex-Offenders’ Experiences Of Housing Support And Other Postincarceration Services, Joyce Denise Mcphee

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Abstract Many male African American ex-offenders lack resources that would allow them to become successful in reentering society. The purpose of this study was to explore the experiences of male African American ex-offenders regarding homelessness and the search for housing after release from incarceration. Schneider and Ingram’s theory of social construction of target populations was the framework for the investigation. Data were collected by conducting semistructured interviews with 12 adult African American male ex-offenders from the South Florida region of the United States who were experiencing homelessness. Participants self-selected by responding to a flyer posted at a shelter. Data analysis …

The Effects Of Acculturative Stress On The Physical/Mental Health Of Immigrant Mexican Women, Maria Del Carmen Mendoza Griego

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractImmigrants may experience acculturative stress as they adapt to their host country's dominant culture, which previous research has indicated may affect their physical and mental health. The purpose of this quantitative study utilizing a random sample was to examine the effect of acculturative stress and age on the mental and physical health of adult women of Mexican origin living in the United States, considering the moderation of perceived discrimination. The theoretical framework of acculturation by John W. Berry guided this study. The three research questions involved understanding whether immigrant Mexican women experienced a negative effect on their mental and physical …

Strategies To Improve Quality Of Care And Increase Medicare Payments In Hospitals, Emmanuel Mendoza

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The difficulty that nurse leaders experience in administrating quality of care while increasing Medicare payments threatens the hospital's patient well-being and financial stability. Health care administrators should be concerned about these issues to ensure their hospitals meet patient and community needs. Grounded in the performance improvement model, the purpose of this qualitative single case study was to explore strategies that hospital managers use to improve the quality of care and increase Medicare payments. The participants were six nurse leaders of a medium size hospital based in Houston, Texas. Data were collected using semistructured virtual interviews and a review of company …

Manufacturing Managers’ Strategies To Implement Successful Change, Simon Mendy

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Approximately 70% of successful reengineering implementations and process design change initiatives within organizations fail to achieve expected results. Business leaders in manufacturing organizations are concerned that the low success rate hurts process improvement, business growth, and survival. Grounded in Lewin’s three-step model of change, the purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to explore strategies manufacturing managers use to implement and maintain reengineering and design change initiatives. Participants were four managers who successfully implemented and maintained reengineering and process design change initiatives in the south region of the United States. Data were collected from face-to-face semistructured interviews and various …