Digital Commons Network^™

Mapping The Lived Experiences Of Bisexuals, Barbara Ann Hopkins

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Bisexuality is often met with binegativity, dismissal, and marginalization due to misconception of identity and behavior and its consideration as a transitional phase before the adoption of a monosexual identity. There is a lack of in-depth research regarding bisexuality apart from lesbian, bisexual, gay, and transgender/sexual studies; it is important to understand and differentiate bisexuality as a separate identity rather than a subset of heterosexual or homosexual identities. The purpose of this qualitative, phenomenological study was to explore the lived experiences of bisexuals through the lens of sexual configurations theory (SCT). SCT is a relatively new theory that has yet …

Teacher And Principal Perceptions Of Principal Support Of Mathematical Literacy In Elementary Classrooms, Erika J. Johnson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Although the role of the principal has shifted from manager to instructional leader responsible for teaching and learning, little is known about supports offered to elementary teachers from principals in the area of mathematical literacy. Elementary principals are inconsistent in terms of supporting teachers’ mathematical literacy instructional strategies. To develop a culture of mathematical understanding, principal support is required. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore elementary school principals’ and teachers’ perceptions of supports offered by elementary principals to teachers in the area of mathematical literacy. The conceptual framework for this study was Burns’ transformational leadership theory. …

Socioeconomic Effect Of Tourism In Nur-Sultan After Expo-2017, Dana Kurmasheva

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Experts have studied tourism as an economic or social phenomenon but have overlooked its dual socioeconomic nature, which prevents public administrators from understanding the industry’s impact on local communities. This qualitative study conducted in a city in Central Asia addressed this problem by considering the views of tourism stakeholders related to the industry’s socioeconomic impact on the city’s local community in 2017. The theoretical framework included corporate social responsibility theory and organizational economics theory. Open-ended interviews with 15 tourism stakeholders from the city’s business, NGO, and government sectors provided data that were analyzed using two-cycle coding. Themes related to business, …

Strategies For Improving Performance Of Project Managers In Ghana To Reduce Delays, Degraft Gyan Kwafo

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractCompelling evidence signified persistent challenges of project managers regarding project failures in Ghana. Lack of proper alignment of business strategies largely contributed to project failures. A major concern of project managers in Ghana was that the nonalignment of business strategies and project management processes leads to project delays and cost overruns. The purpose of this qualitative exploratory multiple-case study was to identify strategies project managers of government-funded projects in Ghana used to align business strategies with project management processes to improve performance. This study was framed by the Hoshin Kanri process. The study aimed to understand how aligning business strategies …

State Consent Policies And The Meaningful Use Of Electronic Health Records Among Nonfederal Acute Care Hospitals In The United States, Adetoro Kafilat Longe

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The less-than-nationwide use of electronic health record (EHR) systems to send, receive, and integrate (SRI) patient summary of care (PSC) records limits the ability of hospital administrators to maximize efficiency and improve quality in the continuum of care. Despite obvious differences in state health information exchange (HIE) consent policies, there is no known research that has determined if and what aspects of state-level HIE legislation affect the use of EHR systems to SRI PSC records. Guided by the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT), the purpose of this quantitative cross-sectional research study was to examine the relationship …

Military Wives’ Perspectives Of The Impact Of Deployment On Marital Satisfaction, Karla A. Morton

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

With the inception of the Global War on Terror in 2001, over one and a half million United States military soldiers have deployed overseas to combat zones. Consequently, soldiers and their spouses have undergone numerous psychological challenges as well as a shift in the marital dynamics during a deployment. Difficulties in relationships created by the demands of deployment may lead to the dissolution of a marriage. Hence, the purpose of this study was to quantitatively examine the impact of military deployment on marital satisfaction as experienced by military spouses. This study was grounded in the family systems theory and involved …

Educator Perceptions Of Restorative Justice Practices That Provide Academic Support For Students With Adverse Childhood Experiences, Brigid Sullivan Ripley

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The phenomenon of adverse childhood experiences (ACE) has been of interest to scholars since the late 1990s when their impact on life outcomes concerning physical and mental health was first acknowledged. Educators are challenged to support students who have experienced ACE, but many have implemented alternative practices such as restorative justice (RJ) to support students’ academic needs. There is insufficient empirical evidence to determine how elements of RJ support high school students who have experienced ACE. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to investigate the RJ practices that teachers, administrators, and other school personnel have implemented to support …

Predictors Of Hiv Testing Amongst Women Of Childbearing Age In Nigeria, Hassana Bashir Yakasai

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

HIV infection is still a public health issue in Nigeria. One of the sustainable development goal targets is to eliminate new HIV infections by the year 2030. Women of childbearing age are a vital group to focus on in eliminating new infections because HIV infection can be transmitted from women to their partners and their children. Nigeria accounts for about one-third of the cases of mother-to-child infections in the world. The purpose of this three manuscript dissertation was to investigate socioecological factors, demographic factors and knowledge of mother-to-child transmission of HIV infection (MTCT) as they relate to HIV testing in …

Lived Experiences Of Newly Graduated Registered Nurses, Tonya Lyn Chancey

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Attrition rates for first year newly graduated registered nurses (NGRNs) are between 30% to 60%; high level of attrition negatively affects hospital organizations, other nurses, and patient outcomes. Transitioning from student nurse to clinical nurse poses challenges for NGRNs which includes assuming responsibilities for a full patient load, communicating with physicians, and adjusting to shift work. The purpose of this phenomenological study, guided by Kramer’s reality shock theory and Duffy’s quality caring model, was to examine the lived experiences of a first-year cohort of NGRNs working in the acute care setting of a Florida hospital. Thirteen NGRNs were interviewed using …

The Effectiveness Of Rehabilitation And Educational Programs For African American Men With Cocaine Addiction, Hira Chaudhary

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Drug addiction, especially cocaine addiction is a major problem in the United States. There is a problem in Michigan regarding drugs and a high recidivation rate, especially among individuals with cocaine addiction. Evidence shows that at least 56% of the African American adults in Michigan who are being arrested for cocaine usage had been released from a rehabilitation facility in the past 3 years. Various researchers have investigated the prevalence of drug abuse among the African American population in the United States. Still, there is limited evidence on reducing the recidivation rate among African American men with cocaine addiction. Therefore, …

The Lived Experiences Of Minority Millennial Interns Who Reject Federal Employment Offers, Darlene Cunningham

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In the U.S. federal government, low retention levels of minority millennial interns i.e., women and men of color, in the Honors Internship Program have reinforced a lack of diversity and the negative image associated with some federal organizations. Although researchers have examined aspects of this issue, they have not yet examined minority interns’ perspectives on why they chose not to accept a position with the federal government after completing the internship program. The purpose of this research was to understand the gap exhibited in low minority retention levels in federal organizations in relation to minority millennial inclusivity from the perspective …

Health Care Manager Electronic Medical Record Systems Implementation Strategies To Improve Patient Outcomes, Mcarthur Bruno Damis

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Ineffective implementation of electronic medical record systems (EMRS) among health care outpatient clinics results in substantial financial loss. Health care managers (HCMs) in outpatient clinics who fail to implement EMRS adversely affect employee usage and performance. Grounded in fayolism theory, the purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to explore the strategies health care managers used to implement EMRS in their organizations. The participants were six HCMs in a U.S East Coast city. Thematic analysis was used to analyze the data from semistructured interviews and internal company documents. Five themes emerged: internal communication, overcoming barriers, time management, compensation improving …

The Influence Of Community-Based Interventions On Behaviors Of Hiv+ Persons In Congo-Kinshasa, Max Ebengho Bokelo

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractSub-Saharan African communities bear the highest burden of HIV/AIDS in the world. Because of identifiable cultural links and local beliefs, people are more likely to engage in sexual mores that could negatively impact their lives. Starting in early 2000, Congolese HIV+ patients have undergone a variety of inputs designed to decrease HIV risk behaviors among people. The purpose of this inquiry was to understand the impact of those actions within the community. Data grounded on the socioecological model were collected regarding any changes in (1) behavioral rejection of condoms, (2) Kintwidi phenomenon, (3) levirate and (4) sororate marriage, (5) sexual …

Business Strategies For Small Business Success In Obtaining Federal Defense Contracts, Christina K. Firth

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) has one of the largest federal agency budgets for small business set-asides; yet, billions of dollars remain unawarded each fiscal year. Despite the multitude of Congressional programs for small businesses, small business leaders’ engagement with the programs and receipt of successful awards remains low. Grounded in agency theory, the purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to explore strategies five small business owners operating in the southeastern U.S. use to secure and conduct DOD procurement contracts. Data were collected through semistructured interviews, business websites, and archival data. Through thematic analysis, four themes emerged: …

Counseling System Documentation And The Relationship Between Treatment Plans And Client Outcomes, Moraima N. Frangiosa

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The purpose of this qualitative study was to provide a method for evaluating counseling services delivered to patients during treatment. The evaluation of the study required the use of methods that are repeatable and effective that would allow a clinic to continue using them over time to grow a database of valuable information about counseling and patient outcomes. The new database would allow the clinic to change counseling methods and approaches of delivery to promote organizational change. The evidence-based practice (EBP) for counseling therapy would encourage the connection between public administration and public policy in the health care system. Public …

Parenting A Child With Autism: Predictors Of Parental Self-Efficacy, Robert Milton Guy

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

As the rate of children being diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) increases, so too does the number of parents learning to cope with their child’s disability and its effects on their own health, well-being, and parental self-efficacy. The purpose of this study was to determine the extent to which subjective social status, parental social supports, and fatigue were factors predicting parental self-efficacy in parents of children diagnosed with ASD residing in the state of Oregon. Bandura’s social cognitive theory was used to frame this study. The sample for this study consisted of 120 parents of children diagnosed with ASD …

The Perceptions Of Bank Employees On Performance Target, Yusuf Abubakar Ibrahim

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractPerformance target is one of the tools of performance management used to influence bank employees’ performance in the Nigerian banking sector. Bank managers may have exerted pressure on employees due to recent pressure in Nigeria’s economy, which has a reciprocal effect on Nigeria’s banking sector. The research problem addressed issues related to performance targets, disparity in job satisfaction, and stress-related issues in the workplace. The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to explore the lived experiences of workplace-related stress of permanent bank employees working under the current performance targets in the Nigerian banking sector. The research questions focused on …

Improving Fall Risk Knowledge Through Staff Education In An Assisted Living Facility, Assumpta Egowure Ike

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractPatient safety and fall prevention are crucial for nurses and healthcare workers especially in assisted living facilities considering the age and health status of the patients. Low staff knowledge of fall risk measures in an assisted living facility may have contributed to an increase in the number of falls recorded in the facility by 20% in the last 2 years. This project addressed the questions of whether an education project could increase staff’s level of knowledge on fall risk measures, and whether any improved knowledge would coincide with the number of falls per patient day in the assisted living facility? …

Improving The Patient Experience With Case Management Follow Up Phone Calls: A Quality Improvement Project Evaluation, Karen Jarrell

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In January of 2020, a follow-up phone call quality improvement initiative was implemented by the case management department of an acute care facility located in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States, to improve the patients’ healthcare experience. The intent was to improve the Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (CAHPS) scores. This quality improvement (QI) project was conducted using the Plan-Do-Check-Act Cycle along with the Kotter’s 8-step change model. The purpose of the QI project evaluation was to determine if a QI initiative using follow up phone calls had a positive effect on increasing CAHPS survey scores. The …

Social Determinants Of Health Influence On Surgical Morbidity After Colorectal Surgery, Koianka J. Ivanova Trencheva

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Decreasing surgical morbidity and improving surgical safety is a public health priority. With same-day or early hospital discharge after surgery, knowledge about social determinants of health (SDOH) impact on surgical morbidity is vital for surgical safety improvement. This study’s aim was to evaluate SDOH association with surgery-related morbidity after colorectal surgery in an adult population. This quantitative cross-sectional study used New York Statewide Planning and Research Cooperative System (SPARCS) secondary data from 2006 ⁠–2016 on 130,731 patients linked to SDOH. Dependent variables were anastomotic leak (AL), surgical site infection (SSI), Not SSI related, and overall complications (COMPL) within 30 days …

Inclusion Of Students With Moderate Intellectual Disabilities In The General Education Setting, Danielle E. Jania

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In recent years, states have been interested in the amount of time students with moderate intellectual disabilities spend being educated in the general education environment. Students with moderate intellectual disabilities at a suburban high school in Illinois consistently spend more than 80% of their educational time in the special education environment. The purpose of this qualitative study was to examine the self-efficacy of secondary school co-teachers at the local level to support the academic needs of students with moderate intellectual disabilities in the general education classroom. The theory of teacher self-efficacy provided the conceptual framework for this study. The self-efficacy …

Exploring African American Women’S Transition From High School To A Postsecondary Setting, Keniesha Johnson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractAfrican American women encounter obstacles that diminish the effectiveness of mental health treatment received through postsecondary school-based service. Consequently, there is a reduction in the population’s socioeconomic outcomes. The purpose of the study was to increase awareness of the mental health treatment experience of African American women and identify strategies that would be helpful to prepare African American women for the postsecondary setting. Black feminist theory was used to guide the research questions for the study, which examined the experiences of African American female students and identified strategies used by certified school social workers, that African American women thought prepared …

Black Mothers’ Birthing Center Experiences And Exclusive Breastfeeding Practices, Natashia King-Conner

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The persistence of racial disparities in breastfeeding is associated with a range of interconnected factors, such as historical, cultural, social, social, and psychological. The current gap in the prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding among Black mothers and White mothers has led to rising concerns in the United States. A basic qualitative approach was used to conceptualize the multidimensional constructs of the social–ecological model to investigate the individual, interpersonal, institutional, and community-level structures and existing policies in birthing centers that inadvertently harbor biases that impede care for Black mothers. Data were gathered through purposeful sampling and semistructured interviews with 10 Black mothers …

The Occupational Experiences Of Social Workers In Corrections, Lissette Lucero Lopez

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Social workers who practice in corrections settings are faced with dilemmas, burnout, contrasting values between their profession and organization, and a lack of educational training. However, because of the small percentage of social workers that practice in the correctional setting, there is a gap in knowledge of the occupational experiences of these social workers. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the occupational experiences of social workers in corrections using Niklas Luhmann’s system theory, which suggests that the world includes a system and its environment. Data were collected through phone interviews with 10 to 15 master’s level social …

General Education Teachers' Self-Efficacy Perceptions Of Teaching Students With Disabilities, Hester Jackson Mallory

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Over recent decades, a challenge faced in public schools in the United States is the appropriate education of students with disabilities (SWDs) in inclusive classrooms. The problem this study addressed is that, despite the implementation of inclusive practices, SWDs in a small rural school district in Virginia have low achievement rates. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to examine general education teachers’ self-efficacy perceptions, exploring the relationship between lived experiences with SWDs and their professional practices. The conceptual framework for this study was built upon Bandura’s self-efficacy and social cognitive theories. The research questions centered on how the …

California’S Prisoner Rehabilitation Effort: Ex-Lifers’ Perceptions On Achieving Sustainable Social Reintegration, Kimberly L. Martin

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Prisoners sentenced to a life term in California’s state prisons are being found suitable for parole at record-high rates. Although macro-level policy guides California’s prisoner rehabilitation process, a specific policy does not exist to guide the rehabilitation of the lifer population. Research shows a compelling relationship between public safety resulting from reduced recidivism and an inmate’s participation in rehabilitative programming during incarceration. There is a gap in the literature about ex-lifers and their ability to achieve sustainable social reintegration upon release from incarceration. Ostrom’s institutional analysis and development framework guided this study’s examination of the gap in literature and the …

Emotional Self-Awareness Strategies Public Sector Managers Use To Reduce Voluntary Employee Turnover, Andrea D. Mason

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Retaining experienced and knowledgeable employees is a challenge for public sector managers. Voluntary employee turnover is problematic for leaders in the public sector because their organizations incur increased costs of recruiting and training new employees who replace those who leave. Grounded in Goleman’s theory of emotional self-awareness, the purpose of this qualitative single case study was to identify and explore public sector middle managers’ strategies for using emotional self-awareness to reduce voluntary employee turnover. Participants were five public sector middle managers with a minimum of 3 years of experience in their current position who used emotional self-awareness to reduce voluntary …

Millennials' Future Employment Expectations And Challenges, Annette Hopkins Mccoy

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Millennials, the most prominent among the existing generational groups, have views, ethics, and values that differ considerably from previous generational groups in the workforce. The purpose of this qualitative study was to understand why millennials do not remain in traditional jobs over the long term. Generational theory and leadership theory provided the theoretical foundation in this study. The research question referred to millennials' lived work experiences regarding their expectations, management practices, and longevity. The research design was a qualitative transcendental phenomenology. This qualitative methodology gave further attention to understanding the background or perspective of millennials working in the public sector …

Social Media Marketing Strategies To Gain And Retain Customers, Brandy A. Mcneil

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The inability of small business owners to gain and retain customers adversely impacts a company’s customer base. Small business owners who fail to attract and retain a customer base risk financial failure. Grounded in Rogers’ diffusion of innovation theory, the purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to explore social media strategies small business owners use to gain and retain customers. Participants were five small business owners in the New York City area who successfully used social media strategies to gain and retain customers. Data were collected from semistructured interviews, sales reports, social media, and public social media posts. …

Oil And Gas Industry Leaders’ Strategies For The Development Of Local Suppliers, Henry Onyekenibe Mogbolu

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Abstract:

The preference for international oil and gas companies in most developing countries is to use global suppliers instead of local suppliers with inadequate capacity. Leaders in oil and gas companies who lack strategies for local supplier development contribute to the ecological and social problems in oil-rich, developing countries. Grounded in the sustainable supply chain management theory, the purpose of this multiple case study was to explore the strategies leaders in the oil and gas industry use for the sustainable development of local suppliers. The participants comprised five leaders in oil and gas companies in the Niger Delta region of …