Digital Commons Network^™

16pf® Traits As Predictors Of Emergency Medical Service Worker Tenure, Beverly J. Paschal

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The United States is experiencing a severe shortage of Emergency Medical Service (EMS) paramedics. The job outlook for paramedics (EMT-P) for the years 2012-2022 is predicted to increase by 23%-33%, which is much faster than the 4% average increase of other first-response professions. The average tenure of paramedics is less than 4 years. There is a significant gap in the literature concerning paramedic personality traits and tenure. The primary objective of the current study is to provide empirical data on the personality traits possessed by long-term paramedics (5+ years), and compare them to those with shorter tenure (< 5 years). Using Allport's Trait Theory, I predicted that personality would affect paramedic longevity. The 6 personality traits tested were warmth, reasoning, emotional stability, liveliness, social boldness and openness to change. A socio-demographic questionnaire, determined the length of their EMS career, while the 16PF® Assessment, tested their personality traits. Using t tests, Mann-Whitney U tests, and a set of regression analyses, data were examined to determine if length of career and personality traits predicted paramedic tenure. The research sample consisted of long term paramedics and former paramedics. The results showed that of the 6 personality traits, only warmth was a significant predictor of paramedic tenure. A logistic regression showed for every additional point in warmth, the odds of leaving EMS prior to 5 years increased by a factor of 2.77. This study provides support for positive social change by helping EMS to learn how to increase recruitment and tenure. It also helps by advising EMS agencies to attend to the mental and emotional health of their paramedics by being aware of the level of their warmth personality trait.

Marketing And Microbusiness, Joran Premo-Hurt

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Marketing plays an influential role in small business survival. The purpose of this multiple case study was to explore the mechanisms used by microbusiness retail store owners for collecting, monitoring, and transforming market data into operational marketing activities. Marketing orientation (MO) provided the conceptual framework for this study. Guided by an abridged interview protocol, 4 retail microbusiness owners from Delaware participated in audio-recorded, semistructured interviews. Saturation of data occurred after 3 interviews, confirmed when the 4th interview produced no new information. After transcribing the interviews, member checking occurred, as each participant received a summary of the interview, along with thematic …

Exploring Transition Factors Among Female Veterans Of Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation Iraqi Freedom (Oif/Oef), Myra Robinson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Many transitional challenges have affected female veterans after returning from serving in the war in Iraq and Afghanistan. The number of females joining the military and becoming involved in combat has increased within the past 10 years. Research exists on the transitional challenges of male veterans. However, little research exists on the reintegration challenges faced by female veterans. As these females become veterans, they are more visible in the Veterans Affairs Health Care System. Given this increase in number of female veterans, it is important to address transitional challenges experienced by females who served in Operations Enduring Freedom and Operation …

Predictability Of Delinquency Through Psychosocial And Environmental Variables Across Three Generational Status Groups, Margaret Frances Sabia

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Issues such as the rapid growth of the immigrant youth population and delinquency among adolescents generate public safety concerns among the U.S. population. However, delinquency intervention strategies for immigrant youth in the United States remain scant, which is problematic because these youth face acculturative challenges that increase their risk for maladaptive outcomes. This quantitative, cross-sectional study addressed a research gap regarding the differential influence of risk factors in predicting delinquency across 3 generational statuses. The theoretical framework guiding the study consisted of acculturation theory, the immigrant paradox, and differential association theory. Two research questions were evaluated using a stratified random …

Ability And Performance Comparisons Of Gifted Students In Homogeneous And Heterogeneous Settings, Cindy Rochelle Schwartz

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

To meet the educational needs and acceleration of talented and gifted (TAG) students, it is important to determine the best learning environment to afford optimal academic success during their educational experience. A study at a Bartow County school district in Georgia has been conducted in order to establish this best learning environment. This study investigated if Lexile scores (ability) and academic averages (performance) differ for 6th grade TAG students in homogeneous classes compared to TAG students in heterogeneous settings. Vygotsky's theory of social constructivism, which proposes that students need to feel socially and cognitively supported by their environment, was the …

Improving Reading Fluency Of Elementary Students With Learning Disabilities Through Reader's Theater, Tami S. Schoen-Dowgiewicz

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Elementary teachers in a school district in a western state expressed concerns about the reading achievement of students with disabilities (SWDs). SWDs were not developing decoding, comprehension, and fluency skills to become proficient readers. Without mastering these skills, SWDs will experience diminished academic attainment in their school career. To address this problem, teachers in elementary learning centers (LCs) within the district implemented Reader's Theater (RT), an evidenced-based reading approach that incorporates repeated readings using drama-based activities. The purpose of this qualitative bounded case study was to explore elementary LC teachers' use and implementation of RT to improve reading performance with …

Gender Differences, Learning Styles, And Participation In Higher Mathematics, Hilary Elizabeth Seifert

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Students' lack of participation in higher-level mathematics courses is a pressing concern. In a small rural district in Alaska, many high school students elect to opt out of taking higher-level mathematics once the minimum requirement is reached. According to Bandura's self-efficacy construct, a learners' motivation is influenced by their self-beliefs and affect towards learning. Moreover, research on student learning experiences in mathematics suggests a gender difference, with girls preferring that less abstract conceptual knowledge be taught through hands-on activities. As mathematics instruction is traditionally taught through lecture and demonstration, both of which are preferences of the assimilator learning style, this …

The Influence Of Public Policy Interventions On Millennial Distracted Driving Behavior, Karen Anne Versuk

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Despite recent public policy initiatives limiting or banning forms of distracted driving resultant from cellular phone use, crashes remain on the rise. Individuals from the millennial generation, ages 16 to 35, appear to be most susceptible to distracted driving. Understanding the behaviors, attitudes, and habits of millennials is critical to developing effective policy for behavior change. A dual task ethnographic study framed by Skinner's theory of behavior modification and Maslow's hierarchy of needs motivational model, was used to investigate to what extent millennials feel public policy has influenced their driving, and if additional policy initiatives are required to deter distracted …

The Effectiveness Of Promoting Alternative Thinking Strategies ( Paths) When Used Once Per Week In Therapeutic Day Treatment, Beth Cherish Wilson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Promoting Alternative Thinking Strategies (PATHS) is an intervention program for children with behavioral and emotional deficits, designed for use, and shown to be effective when used in the classroom a minimum of 3 times per week. However, in some settings, as in the current study, PATHS is being used just once per week. The purpose of this quantitative study was to determine whether PATHS was beneficial in helping elementary school aged children improve their behavioral and emotional health when implemented once per week in a group therapy setting. PATHS was developed based on cognitive behavioral theory, which focuses on improving …

Culture Wars: Explaining Congressional Partisanship And Organizational Dysfunction Through Moral Foundations Theory, Jessica H. Wilson-Hart

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The focus of this study was the organizational working environment and existing partisanship evident in the United States Congress. There has been a reduction in the number of laws passed over the last 30 years from a high of over 1,000 to a low of around 120, with a period of complete government shutdown in 2013. This qualitative research utilized qualitative content analysis to discover the nature of partisan conflict as demonstrated by 6 members of Congress. The conceptual framework for this study was moral foundations theory. Different moral principles held by Democrats and Republicans were studied as a possible …

Predictors Of Treatment Outcomes Of Elderly Substance Abusers In Treatment Facilites, Renata Raye Bosek

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Research in the late 1990s and early 2000s projected that the number of people aged 50 and older who needed treatment for illicit drug use and abuse of prescribed medications to increase from approximately 1.7 million in 2001 to approximately 4.4 million in 2020. The purpose of this study was to examine how gender, marital status, employment status, and primary referral source predicted treatment outcomes with this older population. Of interest was how these predictions could better prepare treatment providers to treat individuals born between 1946 and 1964 who are addicted to substances. This quantitative study used an archival database, …

The Impact Of School Uniforms On School Climate, Attillah N. Brookshire

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Approximately half of the public schools in the United States require uniforms or a formal dress policy and many are intended to reduce discipline problems and improve school climate. A suburban school district in Georgia recognized that there was an increase in discipline problems in their schools that affected the school climate. In an effort to promote school safety and improve climate, stakeholders at a district campus adopted a uniform policy. The purpose of this survey study was to examine the differences in perceived school climate between a district campus with a uniform policy and a similar campus with no …

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 …

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) …

Executive Banking Leaders And Risk-Management Strategies On Subprime Mortgage Lending, Sam Elbarouki

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

During 2000-2008, subprime mortgage loans were a profitable and popular commodity for banks and lenders alike. The majority of banks that offered this type of mortgage eventually suffered grave financial consequences, largely due to the lack of risk-mitigating processes within their mortgage portfolio. Guided by the stewardship theory, the purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to explore the risk-mitigation protocols that 4 bank CEOs employed in Northern California used to mitigate the offering of this risky product. Semistructured interviews were used to elicit detailed narratives from these purposively selected bank CEOs on their experiences in risk mitigation. A …

Adherence To Self-Care Management Of Sickle Cell Disease Among Caregivers, Muinah Adenike Fowora

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The self-care management of sickle cell disease (SCD) improves mortality rate; however, compliance with SCD self-care management remains a problem. The purpose of this study was to examine the knowledge and factors that influence compliance with SCD self-care management recommendations among caregivers of children with SCD. The health belief model was used as the theoretical foundation of this study, theorizing that caregivers' perceived susceptibility, severity, and benefits of SCD self-care management will influence compliance. The study used a quantitative research design. A cross-sectional survey was administered to 100 caregivers of children with SCD attending sickle cell clinics in Lagos, Nigeria …

Association Between Diabetes/Chronic Disease Incidence And Lifestyle Factors Among African-Born Populations, James Walakerwon Gbala

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Numerous studies have revealed that immigrants' health and well-being is challenged by an increased susceptibility to diabetes/chronic disease as they settle in the United States. This study investigated a potential association between the incidence of diabetes/chronic disease and various lifestyles factors among Sub-Saharan African immigrants and refugees. The lifestyle factors studied were sociodemographics, food practices and dietary habits, access to healthcare and insurance, acculturation, and the length of stay in the United States among these immigrants and refugees residing in Minnesota. The health belief and the socioecological models guided this study to improve understanding of Sub-Saharan African's health behavior and …

Relationship Between Stress And Young Adults' Complementary And Alternative Medicine Use, Anupama Kizhakkeveettil

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) refers to a group of diverse medical and healthcare systems, practices, and products not treated as conventional medicine. The body of literature on stress and stress management among young adults has not addressed the use of CAM modalities for stress management among this population. The theoretical foundation of the study was based upon the transactional model of stress and coping, which describes stress as an interaction between an external stressor and the resources available to eliminate the stressor. The purpose of this quantitative study was to examine whether variables such as exposure to CAM, stress …

Successful Implementation Of Grocery Store Loyalty Reward Programs, Cristina Reinert

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Consumer loyalty programs are a key marketing strategy implemented across multiple industries in the United States. A successfully implemented loyalty program can benefit both the consumer and the company. The purpose of this single case study was to explore strategies that grocery store managers use to successfully deliver consumer loyalty programs. The theory of planned behavior was used as the conceptual framework to guide the study. Semistructured interviews, guided by the theory of planned behavior, were conducted with 4 participants who had direct involvement with the delivery of the consumer loyalty program, in Ocala, Florida. Data were also gathered from …

The Relationship Between Physical Fitness And Academic Achievement In Sixth Grade Students, Shannon Usco Shook

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Researchers have reported on the relationship between academic achievement and physical fitness levels. At one rural middle school, 25% of the students enrolled were either overweight or obese and failing at least one course. Educators at the local site were seeking methods to improve the academic achievement of their students. The purpose of this quantitative study was to examine the relationship between academic achievement and physical fitness of middle school students at the study site. Framed by the theoretical connection between improved physical fitness levels and academic achievement, the research questions examined the relationship between physical fitness levels of 6th …

Novice Teachers' Perceptions Of Success In A Mentoring Relationship, Dorean Marie Whitehouse

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

There has been little research on what is necessary for a mentoring relationship to be considered successful from the novice teacher's perspective. Although researchers have asserted that mentoring promotes new teacher retention and improves new teacher skills, new teachers are still leaving the profession, causing a shortage of teachers in school districts across the United States. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to understand the meaning of a successful mentoring relationship from the perspective of 6 selected elementary teachers who have been in the teaching field fewer than 5 years and who have participated in a mentoring relationship for …

Lived Experiences Of Women From The Odi Community In Nigeria Of Female Genital Mutilation, Doris Atibinye Dotimi

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Female genital mutilation (FGM) is a public health challenge because it jeopardizes the health of women and girls. FGM is condemned worldwide but, it is still practiced in the Odi community of Nigeria. The literature on women's lived experiences of FGM in other parts of the world was reviewed, but knowledge is lacking on the lived experiences of women from Odi community in Nigeria. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore their lived experiences, their perspectives on the current legislation for the prevention of FGM, and their perspectives on the cultural myths surrounding the practice. The phenomenological lens …

Predictive Ability Of Emotional Intelligence Scores On Employee Self-Reported Perception Of Comprehensive Organizational Credibility Inventory, Leif Allen Ford

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Research has shown that emotional intelligence (EQ) is positively related to beneficial outcomes in organizations. Research has also found that negative perceptions of organizational credibility (OC) can result in adverse economic and social costs for organizations and communities. To date, the existing research has failed to examine whether employee EQ might affect employee perceptions of OC. A quantitative, non-experimental study was conducted using a sample of employees in large health and medical organizations throughout the United States. The variables in the study were measured using the Assessing Emotions Scale and the Comprehensive Organizational Credibility Inventory. Multiple regression analyses and Pearson …

The Role Of Illness Intrusiveness And Personal Control In Mediating The Relationship Between The Intravenous Immunoglobulin Treatment Experience And Quality Of Life In Neurological Autoimmune Patients, Pamela Jane Gennari

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) is a common treatment for the neurological autoimmune diseases multiple sclerosis, multifocal motor neuropathy, myasthenia gravis, and chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy. However, there is scant literature regarding the psychological effects of this treatment on quality of life (QOL). Using illness intrusiveness theory and personal control theory, this correlational, cross-sectional study examined the relationship between the IVIG treatment experience and QOL in neurological autoimmune patients. Surveys were employed to collect data from 79 patients at a neurological infusion center in Phoenix, AZ. Quantitative analyses included correlation, multiple regression, and mediation analyses to determine whether (a) IVIG treatment experience …

Teacher And Administrator Responses To Bullying Within A Professional Learning Community, Tracey Gomez

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In a local suburban K-8 school in California, administrators and teachers were concerned when more than half of the fifth- and seventh-grade students indicated on the California Healthy Kids Survey that they do not feel safe at school. Researchers have noted that using a professional learning community (PLC) model in schools may assist with addressing bullying. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to explore teachers' and administrators' responses to incidences of bullying and the PLC processes used to address such incidents in their school. The conceptual framework for this study was Hord's dimensions of the PLC. Data were …

Strategies To Improve Patient Satisfaction And Organizational Performance In Health Care, Leanne Fay Heppell

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Walden University

College of Management and Technology

This is to certify that the doctoral study by

Leanne Heppell

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. Carol-Anne Faint, Committee Chairperson, Doctor of Business Administration Faculty

Dr. Rocky Dwyer, Committee Member, Doctor of Business Administration Faculty

Dr. Kenneth Gossett, University Reviewer, Doctor of Business Administration Faculty

Chief Academic Officer

Eric Riedel, Ph.D.

Walden University

2016

Caregivers' Perceptions Of An Early Diagnosis Of Alzheimer's Disease In African Americans, Stanita Jackson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is significantly more prevalent among African Americans than within the general population, but rates of early detection are lower in the African American community. Researchers have demonstrated that both pessimistic Alzheimer's-directed health beliefs, and negative perceptions of the effectiveness and the accessibility of medical care act as barriers to care seeking by African American family members of individuals with the disease. Recent research into causal judgments made by potential caregivers about individuals with undiagnosed AD suggests that gender bias and errors in attribution may constitute covert barriers to both lay and professional interpretations regarding the need for …

Development Of A Teach-Back Educational Module For Heart Failure Discharge Teaching, Marissa Blair Jamarik

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Heart failure (HF) readmissions create a financial burden for healthcare nationwide and speak to the lack of effective discharge preparation for patients to be successful with self-care at home. The 183-bed hospital where this DNP quality initiative will take place currently reports an observed-over-expected (O/E) readmission rate for HF patients (Centers for Medicare and Medicaid [CMS]). Core measures on HF developed by the Joint Commission and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services do not appear to be enough to ensure successful transitions of care from hospital to home. Guided by the LOGIC model, the purpose of this quality improvement …

Federal Health Care Fraud Statute Sentencing In Georgia And Florida, 2011-2012, Lisa Walker Johnson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The financial costs of U.S. federal health care fraud continue to increase, and as health care payments due to fraudulent claims increase, the portion of The Medicare Trust Fund available to pay for legitimate health care expenses decreases. Prosecution is one of several fraud management life cycle components that contributes to and can alter the course of increasing health care fraud; however, despite this recognition, there is a gap in the literature regarding the consistency of prosecution for federal health care fraud across different judicial districts. The purpose of this qualitative, exploratory multiple case study was to explore the federal …

Executive Compensation, Firm Performance, And Net Community Benefits Within Nonprofit Urban Hospitals, Terry Deshawn Long

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Nonprofit hospitals are under increased pressure to maintain financial stability and compliance with Internal Revenue Service (IRS) net community benefit requirements. Boards of directors are not always confident that the compensation packages awarded to executives stimulate them to act in the organization's best interest. The principal-agent theory formed the basis of this correlational study. Archival data from National Center for Charitable Statistics, Guidestar, and the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services were collected from 117 nonprofit urban hospitals for the fiscal year 2013. Regression analysis was used to determine the significance of relationships between return on assets (ROA), change in …