Digital Commons Network^™

Non Reporting Of Sexual Victimization In Male Prisoners, Christopher Elliott

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Sexual assault within prisons continues to occur despite federally mandated safety protocols and reporting procedures. Male inmates must also navigate the challenge of upholding societal gender norms to meet the ideal of hegemonic masculinity as identified in Gender Order Theory. Seven formerly incarcerated males were interviewed for this study. The interviews were designed to explore four relevant topical points which explored the roles that stereotypical/hegemonic masculinity traits play in the reporting of sexual victimization in males who were sexually victimized during incarceration. 2) The role gender roles stress/conflict play in the reporting of sexual victimization in males who were sexually …

Adolescent Cyberbullying Program Experiences Of White Rural Males, Lonnie Lynn Erskine

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Technology has become a gateway to use aggression against others. Cyberbullying is an ongoing problem, often causing severe mental, physical, and emotional issues. The purpose of this generic qualitative study was to explore the experiences of White rural males between the ages of 18–30 who experienced cyberbullying prevention and intervention programs when they were between the ages of 15–18. The research question directly addressed this purpose. Prevention and intervention can be powerful if utilized correctly, providing adolescents with assistance, safety, and assurance to cope with cyberbullying effectively. Vygotsky’s social development theory guided this study. Eight individuals participated in semistructured interviews. …

Lived Experiences Of Mothers Balancing Work And Family In The Restaurant And Food Services Industry, Brandi M. Fannell

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Women account for over half of restaurant and food service employees in the United States. The hours required to manage obligation to both jobs and families impact work–life balance among this population, which can lead to burnout behaviors such as complaints, turnover, and absenteeism. Guided by both self-efficacy and role conflict theories, a phenomenological study was conducted to understand work–life balance, engagement, and job satisfaction among working mothers in the restaurant and food service industry. Working mothers with children between ages 5 months and 17 years, who were employed full-time at casual restaurants and similar food service organizations, were interviewed …

Assessing Online Faculty Likelihood To Refer Students To University Mental Health Services, Karin Evans

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The negative impact of mental health concerns experienced by college students has prompted faculty teaching in-person to become gatekeepers, assisting students in accessing mental health services. COVID-19 has changed the learning environment and presented a need to explore the role online faculty play as gatekeepers. The purpose of this study was to investigate online faculty’s willingness to refer students to university mental health services by applying factors shown to influence in-person faculty in context of the health belief model. Using a quantitative, non-experimental, cross-sectional study design, 182 online faculty completed an online survey assessing the likelihood of making a referral …

Moral Obligation And Social Influence Predictors Of Compliance Behavior And Organizational Ethical Climate Among Healthcare Leaders, Tara M. Farmer

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The U.S. Congress has enacted many regulations managed by branches of government such as Medicare to ensure healthcare organizations comply. Organizational leaders who place value on building effective compliance programs seek ways to enhance compliance. Understanding what motivates individuals to behave in a compliant way may help leaders develop programs that enhance those motivations. This nonexperimental, correlational, quantitative research study tested the relationship between the predictor variables, moral obligation, and social influence, with the criterion variable compliance behaviors among healthcare organizational leaders and to determine the mediating effect of ethical climate on the relationship. A total of 186 managers working …

Improving Medication Adherence For African American Patients With Hypertension, Kimberly Fitzgerald

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Adherence to antihypertensive medications is essential for positive outcomes in treating hypertension (HTN). But the rate of nonadherence to antihypertensive medications among African Americans (AA) is low. The purpose of this DNP project was to develop a clinical practice guideline (CPG) that would assist in improving hypertensive medication adherence in the AA patient population as well as assess whether the CPG would be recommended by a team of content experts for use in their practice. The Hypertension Medication Adherence CPG incorporated the medication adherence model and the transtheoretical model to generate evidence-based interventions. Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation …

Optimization Of Financial Performance In E-Commerce, Ishmael Fleming

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Financial performance is a challenge for business managers in the e-commerce industry that lack the knowledge to meet their operational objectives consistently. Business managers are concerned with poor financial performance due to the adverse impact on business sustainability. Grounded in total quality management theory, the purpose of this quantitative correlational study was to examine the relationship between working capital management (WCM), operating expense ratio (OER), and e-commerce financial performance. Archival data were collected from 107 small- to medium-sized publicly traded e-commerce businesses headquartered in the United States from 2019 to 2021. The results of the multiple linear regression were significant …

Strategies For Developing Millennials And Generation Z Into Future Nonprofit Leaders, Tracy M. Foote

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In the United States, leaders who manage the one and a half million nonprofit organizations (NPOs) nationally are aging and preparing to retire. The nonprofit sector faces a leadership development deficit as many NPOs are without a succession plan. The management problem is that NPOs have struggled to employ strategies to prepare Millennials or Generation Z (Gen Z) workers to assume leadership roles in NPOs. The purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to explore the strategies NPOs employ to prepare Millennials or Gen Z workers to assume leadership roles. The research question asked: What strategies do NPOs employ …

Empowerment Strategies For Sustaining Small Business Moving Companies, Leroy Jr Peter Fontenette

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The lack of empowerment strategies can cause high employee attrition for small moving company owners and lead to business closures within 5 years. Small moving company owners using effective empowerment strategies can reduce attrition and increase business longevity. Grounded in the transformational theory, the purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to explore empowerment strategies three small moving company owners in California used for sustaining their business beyond 5 years. Data were collected from semistructured interviews and company documents, such as logistics instruments, a combined agreement contract for moving services, and a freight bill. Using thematic analysis, the three …

A Phenomenological Examination Of African American Men’S Experiences In Community College, Abdulhalim Faruq

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractThe community college, given its accessibility and affordability, has become the institution of choice for many African American men pursuing academic, vocational, and technical advancement. However, African American men attending community colleges are less likely to graduate and persist than their European American male and female peers. Limited research exists on academic persistence among African American men attending community colleges and their academic self-efficacy. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore the lived experiences of African American male community college students regarding their academic persistence, formal and informal interactions with their instructors, and self-efficacy. Bandura’s theory of self-efficacy …

Barriers To Completing Bachelor’S Degrees For Nontraditional Nebraska Students, Melba Dinorah Fix-Padilla

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractNontraditional students in Nebraska colleges have lower graduation rates than traditional students. Approximately 40% of nontraditional students at a private college withdraw before completing a degree. The purpose of this qualitative study was to discover barriers preventing nontraditional students from completing a degree. The conceptual frameworks were Tinto’s student integration model and Bean’s student attrition model, which involve financial, social, and academic completion resources. Research questions involve financial, social, and academic challenges preventing nontraditional students from completing a degree. The sample consisted of eight nontraditional undergraduate students between the ages of 25 to 65, an undergraduate administrator, and a focus …

Challenges Child Life Specialist Faculty Face In Supporting Child Life Specialist Candidates Seeking Internships, Deborah Sue Fingerhut

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Walden University

College of Education

This is to certify that the doctoral study by

Deborah Fingerhut

has been found to be complete and satisfactory in all respects, and that any and all revisions required by the review committee have been made.

Review Committee Dr. Joanna Karet, Committee Chairperson, Education Faculty Dr. Sydney Parent, Committee Member, Education Faculty Dr. Leslie VanGelder, University Reviewer, Education Faculty

Chief Academic Officer and Provost Sue Subocz, Ph.D.

Walden University2022

Abstract Challenges Child Life Specialist Faculty Face in Supporting Child Life Specialist Candidates Seeking Internships by Deborah Fingerhut

MA, Mills College, 1983BS, California State University, Sacramento, …

Why A Women’S Domestic Violence Long-Term Shelter Is Needed, Markquatt Ford

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This qualitative project provided a content analysis of primary and secondary data to do a need assessment of how a short-term shelter, a home for victims of domestic violence in Kansas City, Mo, can turn into a long-term shelter for victims of domestic violence. This organization was a short-term shelter, a not-for-profit organization that works for the positive social change and rehabilitation of female victims of domestic violence in Kansas City, Mo. The organization followed a traditional organizational model with a short-term scope of action. A long-term shelter is supposed to provide the residents with sufficient programs for recovery to …

Strategies Mental Health Managers Use To Reduce Direct Care Employee Turnover, Theresa Foster

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Direct care professionals assist people with intellectual and developmental disabilities with health care services in the consumer's home, community based residential setting, hospitals, and vocational settings. The high turnover rate of direct care professionals working in mental health organizations may jeopardize many services, including administrative, medical, and provisions for the individuals they serve. Retaining direct care professionals is vital due to the expected demand for direct care jobs in the future. Grounded in Herzberg’s two-factor theory, this qualitative multiple case study explored leadership strategies managers from mental health organizations use to retain direct care professionals. Participants were eleven managers from …

Legislative Efforts And Community Change To Combat Female Genital Mutilation In Egypt, Maryam Berkshire

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Female genital mutilation is recognized as a violation of human rights as it violates the bodily rights of young girls by cutting part of their bodies without their consent and leaves long term psychological, physical and sexual harm to women who were exposed to the practice. The World Health Organization estimates that 130 million girls and women are subjected to Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting (FGM/C) in African and Middle Eastern Countries. According to a UNICEF 2020 report, Egypt will not meet the SDG goal of eradicating FGM as the decrease in the practice is too slow despite the policy and community …

Examining Nigerian Immigrant Perceptions Regarding U.S. Government Settlement Support Programs, Ifeoma C. Ana

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Globalization increases international mobility, causing people to migrate for various reasons. The critical problem of migration is integrating migrants into their host communities. Nigerian immigrants are the most educated African immigrants to the United States, yet they struggle with integration barriers. Notwithstanding the extensive literature on why Nigerians emigrated and the challenges they face after immigration, no research existed on the impact of U.S. government policies and programs on integrating Nigerian immigrants into society. This narrative study explored Nigerian immigrants' perceptions regarding the impact of the U.S. government settlement and support programs on their integration into American society. The conceptual …

Supplemental Education Services And Cultural-Linguistic Instruction For Hispanic Students To Improve English Language Proficiency, Joshua William Cochran

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Due to low English language arts (ELA) state test scores among Hispanic students, district administrators in a Title I identified school district implemented a new literacy policy that included both supplemental education services for Hispanic students (SES-HS) and professional development in cultural and linguistic instructional practices (CLIP) for ELA teachers. But the ELA state test scores for Hispanic students who received the SES-HS and CLIP services had not been studied to see if there was any improvement related to the CLIP-HS training. The purpose of this study was to examine the difference in Hispanic students’ ELA scores before and after …

Exploring Parent Support For School-Based Health Programs To Reduce Childhood, Alaphiah Delaney Campbell Byfield

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The rise in childhood obesity rates continues globally despite the design and implementation of social programs aimed at curtailing that phenomenon. The government of Jamaica has indicated that a whole-of-government, whole-of-society approach is needed to control obesity. The literature has shown that in Jamaica, support for being fluffy impedes progress toward addressing the problem of childhood obesity; being fluffy is considered attractive and a sign that one has a good life. Studies have shown that obese or overweight children are at risk for developing psychosocial (e.g., having low self-esteem, and underperforming academically) and medical problems (e.g., noncommunicable diseases such as …

Culinary Employees’ Lived Experiences Of Abusive Leadership And Perspectives Of Its Impact On Individual And Organizational Performance, Louise Elizabeth Black

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

More than half of U.S. employees will have an abusive manager at some point in their careers. Although the adverse impacts of an abusive leader on organizations have been well established, much less is known about the phenomenon in the culinary industry specifically and how experiences of abusive leadership affect employees in the sector. The purpose of this qualitative interpretative phenomenological study was to understand the lived experiences of culinary employees who are affected by abusive leadership relationships and the impact of such leadership on individual and organizational performance. The conceptual framework used in this study included those pertaining to …

Teacher Perceptions Of Gamification In K-8 Classrooms, Niya Nicole Costley

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Teachers have positive attitudes toward the use of gamification in the classroom yet research shows that it is implemented inconsistently. Furthermore, specific elements of what makes gamification successful with students has not been studied. The purpose of this study was to explore teacher perceptions of gamification and its use in the K-8 classroom. The conceptual frameworks for this study were constructivism and connectivism. The central research question for this basic qualitative study focused on the perceptions of teachers about gamification and its use in the K-8 classroom that contribute to student success. The participants were selected using a convenience, continuum, …

Developing Resiliency Knowledge In New Graduate Nurses Through Self-Care Education, Keera Byrd

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

During the transition to practice, new graduate nurses (NGNs) face conflict and uncertainty influenced by lack of resiliency and self-care knowledge. In a rural hospital, NGNs had minimal standardized guidance during the transition to practice. Without a proper understanding of resiliency and self-care knowledge, NGNs could not adapt to change and risked leaving the profession or harming patients. A self-care staff education project was developed to improve knowledge of resiliency in a group of NGNs. Self-care deficit theory provided the framework for the project. Sources of evidence published between 2017 and 2022 were used as well as previously analyzed data …

Discrimination Threats For U.S.-Born Latinx During The Trump Administration, Isaac Cudjoe

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

U.S.-born Latinx tend to have greater proximity to the enforcement of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) than their European American, African American, and Asian American counterparts. The purpose of this generic qualitative study was to explore whether and how U.S.-born Latinx young adults experienced discrimination during CBP and ICE investigations, arrests, and deportation during the Trump administration. The narrative policy framework guided the study. Data were collected from interviews with seven U.S.-born Latinx young adults who were between 18 and 34 years old during the Trump administration. Findings from coding analysis indicated …

Strategies To Promote Employee Engagement In The Aerospace Industry, David R. Cunningham

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Disengaged employees harm organizational performance. Lack of employee engagement costs manufacturing leaders in the United States billions of dollars annually in productivity. Guided by the personal engagement theory, the purpose of this single case study was to identify strategies manufacturing leaders use to improve employee engagement. The participants were manufacturing leaders in the aerospace industry in southern California. Data were collected from face-to-face semistructured interviews with three participants and a review of company engagement strategies available on the company website. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis and methodological triangulation. Four themes emerged: (a) leadership competency, (b) intrinsic and extrinsic motivation, …

Perspectives Of African American Police Officers Post-Ferguson, Remy Epps

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

As attention to racially charged events and subsequent social activism rhetoric increases, researchers and professionals express a growing interest in understanding the influence of such events on police officers' psyche. Researchers have demonstrated that since the 2014 death of Michael Brown, in Ferguson, Missouri, widespread media attention of police violence has negatively impacted police officer behavior, attitudes, and self-legitimacy levels. Yet, underrepresented within these empirical studies are the perspectives and experiences of African American police officers. This qualitative phenomenological study explored the lived experiences of five African American male police officers employed in North Carolina during the post-Ferguson era through …

Marketing Segmentation Strategies For The Nonprofit Sector, Neffie Gatewood

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Many nonprofit leaders lack innovative marketing strategies to secure funding from their target audience. Nonprofit leaders who do not continue to expand on their marketing strategies may fail to secure multiple funding streams, leading to an inability to attain their mission. Grounded in the segmentation, targeting, and positioning theory, this qualitative single case study was conducted to explore the traditional and social media marketing strategies used by nonprofit leaders to secure funding from their target audience. The participants were two senior leaders from a nonprofit organization in the U.S. Midwest region. Data were gathered using semistructured interviews, financial data, organizational …

Mediating Role Of Perceived Organizational Support Between Organizational Commitment And Turnover Intentions, Florence Nne George-Amiekumo

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Recent global changes and job uncertainties have led employees to reappraise their working conditions that are untowardly reflected in various job attitudes. Perceived organizational support (POS) or its lack thereof and how it affects organizational commitment (OC), and turnover intentions (TIs) is crucial to job attitudes. The high unemployment rate in Nigeria is a national challenge that could precipitate various behaviors among the few available employers of labor. This study adopted the theoretical framework of the social exchange theory. This quantitative study aimed to provide employers with the flexibility to sustain or improve OC and reduce TIs. Anonymous survey responses …

Leadership Strategies Used For Virtual Team Success, Danevia Makeva Gilbert

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Virtual teams are an emerging trend that provides organizations with a strong competitive advantage; however, some virtual team leaders lack the strategies and skills to mitigate team failure. Virtual team leaders are concerned with team failure because business leaders leading virtual teams experience up to an 80% failure rate. Grounded in transformational leadership theory, the purpose of this qualitative single case study was to explore strategies virtual team leaders use to prevent virtual team failure. The participants were five virtual team leaders from an online learning college in the Bahamas with more than 5 years of experience. Data were gathered …

African American Youth Decline To Extend Foster Care Despite Their Needs, Rhonda Flowers-Corpening

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractIn the United States, African American children are disproportionately placed in foster care and experience a myriad of problems, including physical and emotional abuse. As a result, negative post-discharge outcomes are revealed in existing literature, such as substance abuse, unemployment, homelessness, sexual promiscuity, and mental health issues. The purpose of this generic qualitative inquiry was to explore the foster care experience from the perspective of African American foster care alumni. The goal was to understand why the decision is made not to extend foster care services, despite their ongoing needs for support and lack of preparation for adulthood. Ecological Systems …

Teachers’ Perceptions Regarding Implementing Student-Centered Instructional Practices In Reading Comprehension, Gloria Nnenna Edeh-Okwuosah

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The problem addressed in this study was that the English as foreign language teachers in five government elementary schools were not consistently instructing in a manner that contributed to a student-centered learning environment when teaching reading comprehension. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore the perceptions of English as foreign language teachers in the five government elementary schools regarding implementing student-centered instructional strategies when teaching reading comprehension. Weimer’s learner-centered teaching served as the conceptual framework. The research questions focused on English as foreign language teachers’ perceptions regarding implementing student-centered practices when teaching reading comprehension. Data were collected …

Nursing Students’ Perceptions Of Using An Educational Modality Of Online Clinical Learning, Esther Edgal

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractMany clinical nursing courses have changed to an online format due to the COVID-19 pandemic, causing challenges for both students and faculty in supporting students’ academic needs. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to investigate nursing students’ perceptions of how the instruction in online modality clinical nursing courses supported their academic needs and faculty behaviors as well as gather the students’ suggestions of what would improve online nursing education. The conceptual framework was adapted from Kearsley and Shneiderman’s theory of engagement that offers instructional best practices for the online environment. The research questions related to nursing students’ perceptions …