Digital Commons Network^™

Struggling Adolescent Writers Describe Their Experiences, Teri A. Spargur

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Abstract

Writing continues to be difficult for adolescents throughout the United States. There is little known about writing from the adolescent's perspective. This case study describes six 8th graders' thoughts and motivations on writing. The purpose of the current study was to examine the perceptions and experiences of struggling adolescent writers by taped participant interviews of six students, three male and three female, which scored below proficient on their state writing assessment. The conceptual theoretical framework for the current study is Bandura's social cognitive theory. The central research question of this study focused on the experiences of adolescents who struggle …

Effect Of Modeling Instruction On Concept Knowledge Among Ninth Grade Physics Students, Devin Alan Ditmore

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

A basic knowledge of physics concepts is the gateway to success through high-paying careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). Many students show little understanding of concepts following traditional physics instruction. As an alternative to current lecture-based approaches for high school physics instruction, Piaget's theory of cognitive development supports using real scientific experiences to lead learners from concrete to formal understanding of complex concepts. Modeling instruction (MI) is a pedagogy that guides learners through genuine scientific experiences. This project study analyzed the effects of MI on 9th grade physics students' gains on the test measuring mastery of physics concepts, …

Psychological Capital As A Mediator Between Team Cohesion And Productivity, Robert John Cesaro

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Organizations attempting to optimize productivity are seeking new ways to develop psychological capital in teams. The researcher conducted a quantitative study to determine whether team cohesion, as assessed by the Revised Group Environment Questionnaire (RGEQ), impacts team productivity, as assessed by the Performance Measurement Team (PMT) Manufacturing Resource System (MRS); whether this relationship can be attributed to a team's level of psychological capital, as assessed by the Psychological Capital Questionnaire (PCQ-12); and whether psychological capital mediates the relationship between team cohesion and team productivity. Forty-five PMTs in a large U.S. defense manufacturing organization were surveyed using the PCQ-12 and the …

Differentiated Instruction, Teacher Immediacy, And Students' Mathematic Success, Katherine Ann Albanese-Benevento

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This study investigated the role of both arts-integrated instruction (art activities as part of math instruction) and teacher immediacy (teacher caring behaviors) levels on students' math achievement. Although students from low socio-economic culturally diverse school districts have shown improvement in academic test scores, their scores are still significantly lower than scores of students from other school districts. Research has shown that when there is an increase in teacher immediacy, students' academic success increases. Despite this known correlation, there is a lack of literature on the ways that arts integration, combined with teacher immediacy, can affect academic success. Constructivist theories, experiential …

An Evaluation Of Individuals' Construction Of Personal Trust In Organizations, Colin Edward Armour

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Trust is in decline within organizations resulting from poor management and ethical indifference. Failing to address trust perceptions has led to stress between management and employees. Researchers have studied organizational trust as a constant quality within groups but have neglected the uniquely individual constructs of trust that inhibit trust-building efforts. The purpose of this quantitative study was to evaluate how personal constructs of trust may affect outcomes at the organizational level among workers and managers in hierarchal structured organizations. The topics of the research questions addressed the extent which cultural values and the relative trust situation affected individuals' perceptions of …

Female Circumcision: A Phenomenological Study Of Somalian Immigrant To The United States, Emmanuel Fai Tatah

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Female circumcision (FC) is the partial or total removal of the female genitalia for nonmedical reasons. This study was designed to examine the lived experiences of Somali women who underwent FC before coming to the United States. FC is widely carried out in Somalia with a prevalence of 98%, making Somalia the country with the highest percentage of circumcised women. There are short- and long-term consequences associated with FC such as bleeding, infection, and death. Therefore, it is important to understand how Somali women who underwent FC think and feel about circumcision, why they would continue the practice, and whether …

Teachers' Perceptions Of African American Middle School Girls' Interest In Mathematics And Science, Bonnie Marie Best

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Research into African American female underrepresentation in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields has become an area of interest due to the fact that a majority of African American middle school females do not possess the high levels of mathematics and science knowledge because of social and cultural barriers both inside and outside school that challenge their academic success. The purpose of this qualitative interpretative phenomenological study was to explore teachers' shared, lived experiences of teaching mathematics and science to African American middle school girls. Delgado and Stefancic's critical race theory, Pratt-Clarke's critical race feminism, and Baker-Miller's relational-cultural theory …

Effect Of Genetic Background Combined With Excessive Media Screen Time On Markers Of Cardiovascular Risk In United States Youth Aged Newborn To 20 Years, Maria Moroni

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Time with media screens (television, computers, videogames, cell phones, and tablets) is the primary activity of youth, second only to sleeping, and represents a major risk factor for cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Additionally, the populations with highest rates of screen time are also those most at risk of CVD from genetic predisposition (i.e., Blacks, Hispanics). The purpose of this descriptive, correlational study, based on cross-sectional analysis of archived data from the 2009 - 2010 NHANES for United States youth, newborn to 20 years old, was to determine whether the combination of media screen time with genetic background is a better predictor …

Risk Factors For Measles Among Hiv-Infected Children In Uganda, Miriam Nanyunja

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Measles remains a major global public health problem. Attainment of high population immunity to measles through vaccination is necessary to control this disease. Children infected with HIV infection often experience secondary measles vaccine failure by 2 years of age, making them susceptible to measles. It is not clear whether HIV-infected children on Highly Active Antiretroviral Treatment (HAART), older than 2 years, have a higher risk of measles than HIV-uninfected children. This retrospective cohort study, guided by the proximate determinants framework, was conducted to compare the risk of measles between HIV-infected children on HAART (exposed) and HIV-uninfected peers (unexposed). The age …

Perceptions About Sexually Transmitted Diseases In Akwa Ibom State Of Nigeria: A Qualitative Study Of Young Adults Age 18-24, Mfon Archibong Archibong

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Despite the ongoing investments in programs to increase sexual health awareness among young adults globally, many youths remain vulnerable to sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Two-thirds of all STDs occur among youths engaging in high-risk sexual behaviors, which put young adults at higher risk of STDs and can result in serious consequences including infertility. Additionally, the social consequences of STD affect families and communities. While a need exists for increased public awareness of STDs among young adults, extant intervention and prevention activities should be informed by a cultural perspective, including the integration of community and government roles. The purpose of this …

Predictors Of Influenza Vaccination Compliance Among Union And Nonunion Workers In A Pennsylvania Health Care System, Ericka Lynne Kalp

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

To improve U.S. residents' health, advocates are focusing their efforts on workplace health. Researchers have found that unionization is a positive influence on workers' participation in health promotion programs relating to smoking and obesity prevention. However, the effect of union membership on other health promotion initiatives, such as influenza vaccination compliance among health care workers, has not been examined. The purpose of this quantitative study was to address this knowledge gap between a union and a nonunion health care facility in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. The health belief model was used to determine if different domains of influenza vaccination …

The Role Of Religiosity In The Development Of Obesity From Adolescence To Adulthood, Trini Gene Rangel

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The development of obesity from adolescence to adulthood is not well understood, nor does the research support a multidimensional approach for this understanding. Studies have described primarily cross-sectional bivariate relationships between combinations of obesity, religiosity, depression, and social support, but it is still not known whether there is a relationship between adolescent religiosity, depression, and social support in the development of adult obesity or whether depression and social support mediate the religiosity-obesity relationship. The dynamic, multidimensional, functional model of wellness presented by Hawks was the basis for the spiritual, social, emotional, and physical interactions proposed in this study. The research …

The Impact Of Free Healthcare On Hospital Deliveries In Sierra Leone, Salifu Salito Samura

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Improving maternal health has been a challenge for developing nations with very high rates of maternal mortality. Sub-Saharan Africa, particularly Sierra Leone, has some of the highest maternal mortality rates in the world. In an attempt to improve on this, the Sierra Leonean government enacted free maternal healthcare services in 2010. The Sierra Leone Free Healthcare Initiative (SLFHCI) provides free healthcare for pregnant women, lactating mothers, and children under 5 years old. This research explored the impact of the free healthcare on hospital deliveries. The determinant of health model was used to evaluate the effectiveness of the SLFHCI program, and …

Empathy In Detained Male Juvenile Offenders, Cloyce Joe Barton

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In Texas and across the United States, minority male juvenile offenders are overrepresented in juvenile detention facilities. Researchers have demonstrated an inverse relationship between levels of empathy and antisocial beliefs and delinquent behaviors in juveniles. Understanding this relationship is an important step in designing and implementing rehabilitative interventions for juvenile detainees. Grounded in social learning theory and the social empathy model, the current study addressed whether significant differences in empathy existed between nonminority and minority male juvenile offenders with felony and nonfelony offenses within a juvenile detention facility in rural Texas. A de-identified data set of 357 Interpersonal Reactivity Index …

Prevalence And Predictors Of Complementary And Alternative Medicine Use Among Lebanese College Students, Lama Jizi

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In Lebanon, estimates of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) use among college students are not available. CAM practices are not well regulated and some products contain unsafe substances. The purpose of this study was to estimate the prevalence and predictors of CAM use among Lebanese college students using the health belief model. A quantitative cross sectional research design was used. An online survey was administered to 126 Lebanese college students with the aim of determining the most important predictors of CAM use. A majority (89%) of surveyed students reported the use of CAM in the last 12 months. Based on …

Nurses' Occupational Trauma Exposure, Resilience, And Coping Education, Sherry Lynn Jones

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Nursing education courses and professional development (PD) do not include coping and resilience training for registered nurses (RNs) who work in emergency departments (EDs). Exposure to traumatic events, death, and dying may lead to health issues, substance abuse, stress symptoms, nursing staff turnover, and compassion fatigue among ED RNs. Without training, the pattern of adverse outcomes may continue. The purpose of this study was to explore ED RNs' experiences with occupational traumatic stress (OTS), and their recommendations for change to nursing PD programs, using a qualitative bounded intrinsic case study. The conceptual framework for this study included social learning and …

Relationship Between Meaning In Life And Dispositional Forgiveness, Shirley Karseboom

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Both meaning in life and forgiveness have been shown to separately contribute to better mental health. However, no prior research examined the linkage between meaning in life and forgiveness. This quantitative study was therefore to identify if there was a relationship between meaning in life, as measured by the Meaning in Life Questionnaire (MLQ), and overall dispositional forgiveness, dispositional forgiveness of self, dispositional forgiveness of others, and dispositional forgiveness of situations, as measured by the Heartland Forgiveness Scale (HFS). Survey data were gathered from 250 college students in Western Canada, and multiple linear regression controlling for sociodemographic factors was used. …

Service-Disabled Veteran Small Business Owners' Success Strategies, Calvin Lewis Russell

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The federal government has been inconsistent in meeting the mandated contracting set-aside goals of 3% to aid service-disabled veteran small business owners. Guided by the general systems theory, the purpose of this qualitative exploratory case study was to explore what strategies an owner and 2 senior managers of a small service-disabled veteran-owned business in the Washington, DC metropolitan used to obtain federal contracts. The owner and senior members represented those responsible for strategic vision, development of business opportunities, and the company acquisition process. Data were collected from semistructured face-to-face interviews and corporate documents. Member checking and transcript review were completed …

Experiences Of Colorado Parents As They Recognized Their Child's Mental Illness, Lori Salgado

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Mental illness is not only the leading cause of disability among adults, but there is also an emerging public health crisis in childhood mental illness. A majority of parents do not recognize symptoms of psychological disorder in their children, and current policies and programs for mental health service delivery are not sufficiently responsive to the early help-seeking dynamics of families. Using a concurrent mixed methods design, this study explored how parents in the Pikes Peak region of Colorado learned to recognize their child's mental illness. Phenomenological interviews, augmented by poetic inquiry and quantitative measurements, were used to discover factors that …

Utilization And Intensity Of Integrated Behavioral Health Services Within A Primary Care Setting, Joseph Aron Shafer

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Integrated behavioral health care within primary care has become a popular style of health care delivery within the United States. However, individuals with a behavioral health concern face several barriers in using these services. The purpose of this quantitative study was to identify key factors accounting for individuals' utilization and intensity of behavioral health services. Andersen's behavioral model of health care use and the integrated theory of health behavior change served as the theoretical framework. It was hypothesized that gender, age, race, ethnicity, family size, payer type, poverty level, and certain preexisting medical conditions (obesity, diabetes, hypertension, and tobacco use) …

Improving Pain Management For Hospitalized Patients, Ronda Sweet

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Uncontrolled pain has proven effects on both physiological and psychological responses of hospitalized patients. These incapacitating sequelae most often negatively impact patient outcomes resulting in unnecessary suffering and prolong hospitalizations. First line nurses often have preconceived notions about a patient's pain without developing an individualized patient context that considers appropriate pain management knowledge translated from best practice standards. Guided by Bandura's social learning theory and Lippitt's change theory, the purpose of this quality improvement project was to determine if use of the Curriculum Outline on Pain for Nursing from the International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP) improved nursing …

A Study Of Followers Under Transformational Leadership, Song X. Zhang

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

A gap exists in scholarship on how transformational leadership inspires healthcare workers in the eastern United States, which is important as healthcare costs are approximately 20% of the United States gross domestic product and rising. Improved healthcare performance may contribute to cost containment or even cost reductions. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore and describe the lived experiences of employees working for a transformational leader in a healthcare facility in the eastern United States. The conceptual framework was Bass's transformational leadership theory and von Bertalanffy's general systems theory. The overreaching research question asked how transformational leadership affected …

Teacher Perception Of Technology As A Conduit To Acquiring Critical Thinking Skills, Wanda Pearl Patrick

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Seventh-grade and eighth-grade special education students struggle to learn higher-order thinking skills in pre-algebra and algebra that can be addressed by using technology. However, little is known about science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) teachers' attitudes toward use of and their actual use of calculators and technology to access students' development of higher-order thinking skills. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to explore the perceptions of rural middle school Grade 7 and 8 STEM teachers in one Western state. This study used Gardner's multiple intelligences and Armstrong's neurodiversity theories as a framework. Participants were 10 Grade 7 and …

Nigerian Policy On Child Labor: An Evaluation Of The Education Sector Preparedness For Effective Policy Implementation, Samuel Effiong Ekong

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

A number of studies have been conducted about policy failures in Nigeria; however, little is known about the state of stakeholders' readiness to implement any government policy. Using the functionalist theory of Durkheim and the infrastructure theory of Frischmann, the purpose of this exploratory case study was to evaluate the level of preparedness of the education sector to implement the Nigerian policy on child labor, which was adopted on September 11, 2013, by the federal executive council of Nigeria. Preparedness in this study was conceptualized as the ability of the education sector to absorb children of school-going-age who quit all …

Hiv Knowledge, Intoxication, Risky Behaviors, And Sexual Communication Among Nigeria University Students, Johnpaul Chukwuemeka Ezeonyido

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Poor sexual communication among Nigerian youth can create problems for health workers, medical practitioners, and the government in determining what is and is not working in their attempts to reduce sexually-related diseases. This quantitative study used self-administered questionnaires among 107 Nigerian university students, aged 18 to 35, to determine if a statistically significant predictive relationship existed between: (a) beliefs about alcohol, (b) HIV knowledge, (c) risk behaviors, (d) age, (e) religion, (f) gender, (g) sexual activity status, (h) dating status, (i) language, (j) sexual orientation, and (k) tribes of Nigerian university students and their sexual communication with partners. Previous studies …

Case Study Of Learning And Instruction For Members Of An Online Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy Support Group, Heather Rae Gilmore

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Research has shown that individual members of traditional support groups gain a sense of identity and community and feelings of respect and support. Online support groups provide individuals avenues to find medical information and thus learn more about a given condition or illness. Little has been studied about the learning and instruction that occurs in online social support groups, especially in groups about chronic pain. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to explore the perceptions and experiences of members who participated in one open social support group. Siemen's constructivism theory served as the basis for comprehending the learning …

The Need For Social Work Advocacy To Create Social Justice For Transgender People: A Call To Action, Justin Lerner, Gabriel Robles

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Transgender people in the United States experience high levels of employment discrimination. The Employment Nondiscrimination Act (ENDA) is one mechanism that would provide basic workplace protections for this population. We argue, however, that passage of ENDA is only one of many preliminary steps to help transgender people experience an essential basic version of social justice. Using Bonnycastle's (2011) social justice relational illustrative model, we develop a conceptual framework that argues that social workers need to advocate for transgender people on a policy level in order to move them from their current nonexistent version of social justice to a basic version …

Journal Of Sociology & Social Welfare Vol. 43, No. 1 (March 2016)

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Table of Contents

THE NEED FOR SOCIAL WORK ADVOCACY TO CREATE SOCIAL JUSTICE FOR TRANSGENDER PEOPLE: A CALL TO ACTION - Justin E. Lerner and Gabriel Robles

CONTINUITY OR SHIFT? A MULTIPLE STREAMS FRAMEWORK ANALYSIS OF THE FAMILY POLICY IN TURKEY - Aslihan Nisanci

EFFECTS OF NATIVE AMERICAN GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION AND MARITAL STATUS ON POVERTY - Tess Collett, Gordon E. Limb, and Kevin Shafer

INTERPROFESSIONAL COLLABORATION FOR CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL HEALTHCARE NEEDS: A REVIEW OF EFFECTIVE EDUCATION INTEGRATION - Catherine M. Giroux and Julie K. Corkett

THE COST OF FREE ASSISTANCE: WHY LOW INCOME INDIVIDUALS DO NOT ACCESS FOOD PANTRIES …

The Impact Of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder On Recurrent Violent Behavior Among African American Males, Adrian Cox

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

African American men in their late teens to early 20s account for nearly half the victims of violent crimes. This mixed methods social epidemiological study was designed to identify the social determinants of violence as described by a purposive sample of young adult African American men (n=353) who have experience as a victim or witness to any type of violence to determine the impact post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms have on recurrent violent injury. The pathways to recurrence model shaped the theoretical framework of this study. Quantitative data were collected using the Past Feelings and Acts of Violence (PFAV) …

Multinational Corporations' Return On Investment Optimization In Nigeria's Business Environment, Funlola Francesca Fajinmi

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Trade between the United States and Africa decreased 32% from US$125 billion, in 2011, to US$85 billion, in 2013; however, MNCs from other regions have continued to increase investments in Africa. Multinational corporations (MNCs) generate most of their return on investment (ROI) from the Western world. Globalization, increasing middle classes in emerging markets, and decreasing population in the Western world have lead to unsustainable ROI. Nigeria, the most populous and largest economy in Africa and the 27th largest economy in the world, offers new opportunities with an annual growth rate forecast of 6% to 8%. Utilizing the diamond theory of …