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2015

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Teachers' Experiences Concerning The Rise In Student Aggression, Doris Massey Works Jan 2015

Teachers' Experiences Concerning The Rise In Student Aggression, Doris Massey Works

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This research study addressed the problem of aggressive and disruptive behaviors for kindergarten through Grade 12 students in a school district located in Southeastern United States. The study examined classroom teachers' daily lived experiences with student aggression. Using a phenomenological design and guided by the frustration aggression theory and the social learning theory, the research questions explored teachers' responses to what can be done to help with disruptive and aggressive students and how social learning could help students with these behaviors. Data were collected from interviews with 5 individual teachers who had experienced aggressive and disruptive behaviors; data were also …

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Employees' Perceived Effectiveness Of Outsourcing Department Of Defense Functions, Theresa J. Corzine Jan 2015

Employees' Perceived Effectiveness Of Outsourcing Department Of Defense Functions, Theresa J. Corzine

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The United States Department of Defense spends billions of dollars annually on outsourcing functions to private contracted companies without knowing if their actions are effective. Guided by Feigenbaum, Henig, and Hamnett's theory of privatization and President Eisenhower's warnings of the impending military-industrial complex, the intent of this grounded theory study was to develop relevant theory regarding how the Department of Defense might accomplish missions through outsourcing during current and future fiscal constraints. This study sought to understand the perceived effectiveness of outsourcing Department of Defense functions through the perspectives of 2 employment groups directly affected by such outsourcing: federal employees …

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Profitability And The Financial Strategies Of Women-Owned Small Businesses, Kellie J. Emrich Jan 2015

Profitability And The Financial Strategies Of Women-Owned Small Businesses, Kellie J. Emrich

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The fastest growing segment of business development in the United States comes from small business start-ups, with 42% of these businesses being women owned. Women-owned businesses are annually 25% less profitable when compared to the average small business in the United States. Based on the theory of planned behavior, the purpose of this single exploratory case study was to investigate how women small business owners and their employees use financial strategies to increase the profitability of their businesses. Data came from semistructured interviews with 1 woman business owner and 5 business consultants who work for the women-owned small business. The …

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Satisfaction And Use: Comparing First-Time Victims And Victims Of Multiple Sexual Assaults, Julie Lindahl Jan 2015

Satisfaction And Use: Comparing First-Time Victims And Victims Of Multiple Sexual Assaults, Julie Lindahl

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Sexual assault advocacy services are intended to support and empower victims during the aftermath of an assault. This study's purpose was to identify sexual assault victims' use and satisfaction with victim advocacy services, and to compare those outcomes in first-time victims and victims of multiple sexual assaults. The goal was to determine if victims of multiple sexual assaults would seek services again due to satisfaction after receiving prior sexual assault advocacy services. Guided by empowerment theory, this study purported that victim satisfaction and seeking additional services would promote coping and empowerment for the victims and result in positive social change. …

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The Relationship Between Final Grades And Tutoring Methods Of At-Risk College Freshmen, Valeria A. Russ Jan 2015

The Relationship Between Final Grades And Tutoring Methods Of At-Risk College Freshmen, Valeria A. Russ

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Without academic intervention, such as tutoring, at-risk students may not pass their courses. This study examined differences between the final grades of at-risk students and tutoring methods, such as self-determined tutoring, academic advisor scheduled tutoring, group tutoring, one-to-one tutoring, peer tutoring, and professional tutoring. This study drew from cognitive learning theory and humanistic theory for its conceptual framework. A quantitative, ex post facto research design was used. Archived data supplied by the Registrar's Office and the Academic Enrichment Coordinator included records of 95 male and female students conditionally enrolled at Methodist University in the Academic Enrichment Program during the 2007 …

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Social Disorder And Level Of Engagement Of Small Business Owners In The Virgin Islands, Saul Santiago Jan 2015

Social Disorder And Level Of Engagement Of Small Business Owners In The Virgin Islands, Saul Santiago

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The U.S. Virgin Islands is experiencing an economic recession, manifested through social disorders such as abandoned and vandalized houses. Research points to social disorders and lack of community engagement as key factors inhibiting community development efforts. In order to strengthen these struggling communities, research has highlighted the need for public-private partnerships. Guided by Ajzen's theory of planned behavior, which posits that attitudes can predict behaviors, this study examined the relationship between social disorder and engagement of small business owners in community development. Small business owners in the U.S. Virgin Islands received an Internet or paper survey; a total of 79 …

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The Effect Of A State Legitimation Process On Child Support Payments And Father-Child Relationships, Chalonda L. Smith Jan 2015

The Effect Of A State Legitimation Process On Child Support Payments And Father-Child Relationships, Chalonda L. Smith

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

For noncustodial fathers, having legal rights and leaving an inheritance to their child or children are important aspects of being an active father. Georgia state law sees a difference between paternity and legitimation, and for some noncustodial fathers, although paternity is established and they are responsible for supporting that child financially and medically as deemed through child support enforcement, they have no legal rights to their children, nor can they petition the courts for visitation until legitimation is established. This correlational study examined the impact that the legitimation policy has on noncustodial fathers and their relationship with their child, as …

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Steps To Reducing Heart Failure Hospital Readmissions Through Improvement In Outpatient Care, Paticia Laubach Dunn Jan 2015

Steps To Reducing Heart Failure Hospital Readmissions Through Improvement In Outpatient Care, Paticia Laubach Dunn

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The outpatient care of the heart failure (HF) patient is fragmented due to the lack of evidence-based practice guidelines use. The primary goal of this project was to improve the care of the HF patient in the outpatient arena through use of clinical pathways using the logic model as the project framework. The intervention was carried out over a 4-week period on a convenience, random sample of patients (n = 80) attending a cardiology practice. The patients were recruited from 2 physicians' patient populations and were selected based on an adult diagnosis of HF, reduced ejection fraction of <40% at some point in time, and the New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class II-V. Comparisons were made in the documentation of care between patients on or off the pathway. The intervention included documentation of patient education, care follow-up, medications, NYHA functional class, and symptom exacerbation, documented in the electronic medical record. The quality of care data were evaluated based on 3 of the Joint Commission core measures for outpatient care of the HF patient. Additional data were collected regarding use of the clinical pathway based on provider and week of implementation. Data were analyzed via a Chi-square test of independence comparing pathway use by provider and use of pathway as study progressed. The comparative results show statistically significant differences in use of the pathway by provider and a statistically significant increase in use during the project . The quality of care results varied in statistical significance. The pathway utilization increased over time and provided a method for standardizing documentation of care for the HF patient in this outpatient clinic, a benefit for HF patients and providers in this cardiology practice and beyond.

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The Effect Of An Online Coping Skill Application On Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis Sufferers, Jennifer H. Garrison Jan 2015

The Effect Of An Online Coping Skill Application On Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis Sufferers, Jennifer H. Garrison

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Many individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS) are classified as having relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS), a form of the illness that requires constant symptom management for suffers to achieve optimum outcomes. There are only a few community-based educational programs that exist to help RRMS sufferers cope with their illness; the effectiveness of those that have been fielded has not yet been adequately assessed. The research questions of this study were to determine if an online training development module would increase the coping skills of those affected by RRMS and if the online educational module would be more effective at improving the coping …

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Financial Statement Disclosure Of Carbon Footprint Costs In The Airline Industry, Carol Anne Tuck-Riggs Jan 2015

Financial Statement Disclosure Of Carbon Footprint Costs In The Airline Industry, Carol Anne Tuck-Riggs

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Unaccountable corporate polluters profit short term at the expense of global economic sustainability. The purpose of the study was to determine if carbon dioxide (CO2) penalties on the airline emissions would result in financial statement disclosure and emission mitigation. Contributing to environmental accounting, the study was based in corporate social responsibility with a conceptual framework based on economically-centered CO2 studies. A random sample of 69 global airlines, taken from the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) memberships, was stratified between EU bound and non-EU bound airlines. The research questions explored (a) the frequency mean …

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Relationships Between Specific Health-Related Fitness Components And Standardized Academic Achievement Tests, Tona Wilson Jan 2015

Relationships Between Specific Health-Related Fitness Components And Standardized Academic Achievement Tests, Tona Wilson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In an attempt to meet monetary-driven mandates to improve student achievement test scores, administrators are replacing physical education activities with subject matter classes in many American schools. This practice negates the positive contributions of physical activity to academic performance and student fitness. Guided by self-efficacy theory, this study assessed the impact of optimal versus minimal physical fitness state on student academic achievement. The study sample included 5,416 9th grade students from the same school district who completed a minimum of 5 of the 6 components of the FITNESSGRAM tests, and who also completed the math and English language arts (ELA) …

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High School Students' Participation In Fine Arts Programs And Perceived Leadership Self-Efficacy, Howard Benjamin Burge Jan 2015

High School Students' Participation In Fine Arts Programs And Perceived Leadership Self-Efficacy, Howard Benjamin Burge

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Research suggests that participation in fine arts programs may enhance the development of leadership skills in student populations; however, few studies have examined the unique association between fine arts students and the development of their leadership self-efficacy skills. Lambert's theory of constructive leadership formed the theoretical framework for this quantitative study. The 3 research questions asked whether there is a significant relationship between (a) the number of programs and self-reported leadership self-efficacy, (b) the type of programs and the self-reported leadership self-efficacy, and (c) the quality of programs and the self-reported leadership self-efficacy. The sample included 103 high school students …

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Perceptions Of Discipline Policy, Practices, And Student Incivilities Related To Senge's Five Disciplines, Nkoh Lovonne Gaston Jan 2015

Perceptions Of Discipline Policy, Practices, And Student Incivilities Related To Senge's Five Disciplines, Nkoh Lovonne Gaston

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

High occurrences of student incivilities are a growing concern in the K-12 education system. This problem may be directly impacted by systems thinking and inconsistent school policy enforcement. At a local high school, this problem affected student learning outcomes and teacher-student interpersonal relationships. The purpose of this case study was to explore the perceptions of teachers and administrators regarding consistency in discipline policies and practices, as well as student incivilities as they related to Senge's 5 disciplines. The conceptual framework for this study was Senge's 5 disciplines of organizational learning: systems thinking, mental models, team learning, shared vision, and personal …

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Vocabulary Strategies In An Elementary Classroom In A Third World Country, Laurie Johnson Jan 2015

Vocabulary Strategies In An Elementary Classroom In A Third World Country, Laurie Johnson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Second and 3rd grade Honduran students in a Christian school are not performing at grade level in vocabulary. Students who lag in vocabulary development may not comprehend what they read and are likely to perform poorly in their course work, which may result in repeating the grade. As a result of the students' poor performance, the school implemented vocabulary squares strategy instruction to improve vocabulary development. Guided by the theory of constructivism, the purpose of this casual comparative study was to determine if vocabulary squares strategy instruction resulted in greater word mastery for 2nd and 3rd grade Honduran students than …

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Glioblastoma Multiforme: Geographic Variations In Tumor Size, Treatment Options, And Survival Rate, Susan Rebecca Nohelty Jan 2015

Glioblastoma Multiforme: Geographic Variations In Tumor Size, Treatment Options, And Survival Rate, Susan Rebecca Nohelty

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is a destructive brain cancer that results in death 12 to 15 months after diagnosis. The purpose of this retrospective study was to determine if variations in tumor size at diagnosis, treatment options, and survival rate occur in GBM patients living in urban and rural areas of the United States. Using the behavior model of health services as the theoretical framework, this study used secondary data sets of GBM cases reported from 1988 to 2011 from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results program. Tumor size was measured in millimeters; treatment was evaluated by ascertaining the number of …

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Exploring Knowledge Management Practices In Service-Based Small Business Enterprises, Orlando Skelton Jan 2015

Exploring Knowledge Management Practices In Service-Based Small Business Enterprises, Orlando Skelton

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Small business enterprises (SBEs) are significant contributors to business growth and employment in the United States, but despite governmental support, the failure rate of SBEs is high. Some small business leaders lack the critical management skills to detect or discover when underperformance in revenue-generation is due to gaps in organizational knowledge or business practices associated with managing knowledge assets. Guided by the knowledge-based view of the firm, the purpose of this multiple case study was to address that gap by exploring the skills needed by leaders to understand how deficiencies in their knowledge management practices contribute to underperformance. Semistructured interview …

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Identifying And Mitigating Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking In An Urban Community, Anne Ellen Gresham Jan 2015

Identifying And Mitigating Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking In An Urban Community, Anne Ellen Gresham

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Human trafficking, domestic minor sex trafficking (DMST), and commercial sexual exploitation of children (CSEC) are complex and multifaceted occurrences in the United States. As the numbers of youth ensnared in sexually exploitive situations increase, organizations and communities are called upon to address the ramifications of this abuse; little research was located, however, that examined collaborative networks and partnerships that address victim identification and mitigation of DMST and CSEC. The purpose of this qualitative single case study was to determine whether strategic partnerships existed within the community under investigation. The theoretical framework was environmental theory, as first described by Florence Nightingale; …

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The Effect Of Bullying Prevention Programs On The Perceptions Of Bullying Among Female Youth, Karen Tokarick Jan 2015

The Effect Of Bullying Prevention Programs On The Perceptions Of Bullying Among Female Youth, Karen Tokarick

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Bullying has become a widespread social issue. Previous research has focused on both genders and various grade levels; it has shown that programs reduce bullying and improve social climates and attitudes toward academics. The effect of these programs, specifically on female youth, has not been studied. This study addressed the effect of bullying prevention programs on perceptions of bullying among female youth in Grades 5-7 in 2 schools in rural eastern Pennsylvania. One school utilized a prevention program while the other did not. Teachers and administrators were also interviewed to gain insight regarding their perceived effectiveness of the program. The …

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Chronic Care Model Staff Education And Adherence With End-Stage Renal Disease Patients, Emilia K. Addo Jan 2015

Chronic Care Model Staff Education And Adherence With End-Stage Renal Disease Patients, Emilia K. Addo

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The management and treatment of chronic diseases, such as end-stage renal disease, is often unproductive because of patients' poor adherence to treatment. The chronic care model toolkit is an Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality supported framework, associated with improved outcomes in patients living with chronic disease. The purpose of this project was to develop and plan an educational program using the chronic care model toolkit for the interdisciplinary clinical staff of a renal hemodialysis center. The goal of this project was to adapt team building between patients and their clinicians through the use of the chronic care model in …

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Third-Party Administrators In Public-Private Partnerships: A Multiple Case Study, Beata Ewa Haug Jan 2015

Third-Party Administrators In Public-Private Partnerships: A Multiple Case Study, Beata Ewa Haug

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Local public agencies turn to public-private partnerships (PPPs) to allow greater participation by private firms in delivering public services. In the last 25 years, private organizations had been reluctant to form PPPs with local government agencies because of the complex procurement processes and the bureaucratic business environment. Guided by the decision theory and complex adaptive systems theory, the purpose of this multiple case study was to identify what information leaders within third-party administrators (TPAs) need regarding the contracting process in the formation of PPPs. The data collection process consisted of face-to-face interviews with 4 executive leaders of 3 Wisconsin state …

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Understanding Faith Leaders' Perspectives On Breast Health Interventions In The Church, Marsha Ladonna Marshall Jan 2015

Understanding Faith Leaders' Perspectives On Breast Health Interventions In The Church, Marsha Ladonna Marshall

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The prevalence and incidence of breast cancer is an important issue that is affecting all women, but African American women have the lowest survival rates after breast cancer diagnosis. Historically, the Black church and faith leaders have been essential in promoting health in the African American community. Moreover, faith-based interventions have become more common within the African American community in addressing factors that affect survival rates such as early detection, cultural barriers, and education. Currently, there is not clear information on the perspectives faith leaders have on their experiences with implementing breast health interventions in their places of worship. This …

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Customer Satisfaction Factors In Life Insurance Growth In Ghana, Geraldine Gina Abaidoo Jan 2015

Customer Satisfaction Factors In Life Insurance Growth In Ghana, Geraldine Gina Abaidoo

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The growth rate of life insurance in Ghana is under 1% of GDP, and life insurance company leaders must identify and implement customer satisfaction strategies that will aid business growth and sustainability. Guided by the theory of customer satisfaction management systems (CSMS), the purpose of this multiple case study was to explore customer satisfaction strategies that life insurance company leaders execute to grow and sustain the life insurance business. Twelve life insurance company leaders working in the Accra-Tema geographic area participated in face-to-face semistructured interviews for this study. Data analysis involved compiling, disassembling, reassembling, interpreting, and concluding the data. Member …

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Strategies To Overcome Barriers To A More Effective Leadership Style, David Barnwell Jan 2015

Strategies To Overcome Barriers To A More Effective Leadership Style, David Barnwell

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Disengaged employees and leaders lacking the skills to engage their employees account for an estimated $300 billion annual loss through lowered productivity. This study focused on a leader's understanding of employee engagement as a means of increasing productivity. Utilizing the theory of leadership styles and expectancy theory for the conceptual framework, this descriptive study explored strategies small business leaders have used to develop effective leadership styles to improve workplace engagement. Interviews with a purposive sample of 20 highest-ranking executives at small businesses with between 50 and 250 employees in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States were analyzed using the …

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Strategies For Mitigating Supply Chain Disruptions, Johnny Bowman Jr Jan 2015

Strategies For Mitigating Supply Chain Disruptions, Johnny Bowman Jr

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Disruptions in the supply chain are becoming more common as supply chains become more complex, and supply chain managers of warehouse distribution centers need strategies to minimize the impact of disruptions. In this study, the focus of the research questions was on strategies supply chain managers could use to mitigate the impact of disruptions. The conceptual frameworks for this study were the resource dependence theory and the normal accident theory, which link supply chain disruptions with resource availability and the inability to eliminate disruptions. An exploratory case study involved exploring how supply chain managers of a warehouse distribution center in …

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A Case Study On The Process Of Passing A Radiography Registry Examination, Encarnita Antonia Chamberlain Jan 2015

A Case Study On The Process Of Passing A Radiography Registry Examination, Encarnita Antonia Chamberlain

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This project study addressed the problem of the low percentage of a Mid-Atlantic university's radiography graduates passing their credentialing registry examination. The cohort had a 2014 pass rate of 83% while the majority of surrounding schools had pass rates of 100%. In order to become registered radiographers, graduates must be able to take what they have learned in their educational program and directly apply it to their professional skill set. The conceptual framework for the study was social constructivism, adapting and transforming what was new information to previous experiences and group activities. A qualitative case study research design was chosen, …

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Exploring Recruiting Challenges Of The Insurance Industry, Hema Chaurasia Jan 2015

Exploring Recruiting Challenges Of The Insurance Industry, Hema Chaurasia

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Insurance companies provide financial protection to the general population, but their workforce challenges may destabilize the companies to the point of financial distress. Senior insurance company leaders lack effective strategies to recruit skilled professionals. With contingency theory and resource-based view theory as the framework, the focus in this multicase study was the exploration of the recruiting strategies of human resources (HR) managers in New York City area insurance companies. Four insurance company HR managers were recruited via a purposeful and snowball sampling method for semistructured interviews. These interviews were analyzed through a reflective interpretation process, which was guided by the …

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A Quantitative Model Studying The Effects Of Transformational Leadership On Job Satisfaction, Kenneth Uzoma Chukwuba Jan 2015

A Quantitative Model Studying The Effects Of Transformational Leadership On Job Satisfaction, Kenneth Uzoma Chukwuba

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Hotels have lost $3.4 billion over the last 5 years because of high rates of employee turnover. Leaders must use the tools necessary to increase job satisfaction and retain professional employees. The problem was that insufficient data described the relationships between transformational leadership, gender, education, and job satisfaction for hotel professionals. The purpose of this survey study was to understand the relationship between transformational leadership and job satisfaction for the hotel professionals in the United States. A total of 248 hotel professionals from the Colorado Lodging and Hotel Association were surveyed using the Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire and the Job Satisfaction …

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An Exploration Of Wireless Networking And The Management Of Associated Security Risk, Helen Loretta Collins Jan 2015

An Exploration Of Wireless Networking And The Management Of Associated Security Risk, Helen Loretta Collins

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The rapid expansion of wireless information technology (IT) coupled with a dramatic increase in security breaches forces organizations to develop comprehensive strategies for managing security risks. The problem addressed was the identification of security risk management practices and human errors of IT administrators, putting the organization at risk for external security intrusion. The purpose of this non-experimental quantitative study was to investigate and determine the security risk assessment practices used by IT administrators to protect the confidentiality and integrity of the organization's information. The research questions focused on whether the security risk management practices of IT administrators met or exceeded …

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African American Parent Perceptions Of Barriers To Parental Involvement, Avis Foley Jan 2015

African American Parent Perceptions Of Barriers To Parental Involvement, Avis Foley

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Parental involvement in schools has been linked to student academic success and dropout prevention. However, some parents are disenfranchised by the educational system because they do not know how to become involved in the schools. The purpose of this study was to identify the barriers to parental involvement in a rural school district with increased dropouts and low academic success. Epstein's framework provided structure to analyze the ways parents participate in schools, classify the barriers, and organize suggestions for improvement. The research questions focused on African American parents' perceptions of barriers to parental involvement by using a focus group, interviews, …

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Bereavement And Parents Who Have Experienced The Sudden Death Of A Child, Thomas Brian Fulbrook Jan 2015

Bereavement And Parents Who Have Experienced The Sudden Death Of A Child, Thomas Brian Fulbrook

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In studies, grief due to the loss of a child is recognized as a complex process, one whose trajectory is influenced by a variety of factors. One factor, the age of the child at the time of death, may be an important influence in the trajectory of grief. The purpose of this interpretive phenomenological study was to explore the experiences of loss for 15 bereaved mothers and fathers whose children suddenly died between the ages of 2 and 12 years. This age range was selected to explore bereavement in parents of young and preteen children because they may feel a …

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