Digital Commons Network^™

Perceptions On The Essential Writing Skills Of Entering First-Year College Students, Jennifer Lloyd

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Some students are entering college and graduating with the inability to write scholarly and professionally. The purpose of this instrumental case study was to examine the perceptions of college instructors and students about the essential writing skills of entering first-year college students within a Southwestern university. This study provided insight into strategies to engage students in the writing process, both before and after entering college. Vygotsky's social constructivism provided the framework for this study. The research questions included an examination of the perceptions of students' writing skills based on what instructors, students, and writing center personnel observed; what instructors and …

Strategies To Generate Employee Engagement, Diane Marie Marshall

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

When leaders use an ineffective communication strategy, it leads to decreased employee engagement, and thus increases the potential for lost productivity and profitability. The purpose of this case study was to explore effective communication strategies managers used to improve employee engagement and increase productivity as well as profitability. The motivating language theory served as the conceptual framework for this study. A semistructured interview technique was used to interview 3 purposefully selected managers in the northeastern region of the United States about the successful strategies they generated to improve employee engagement. Two themes emerged from data analysis: creating a culture that …

Strategies For Sustainability Of Nonfranchise Casual Dining Restaurants, Kristin Burke Martin

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In the United States, over 50% of restaurants fail within the first 5 years of operations resulting in approximately $2.1 billion annually in lost national sales revenue. The purpose of this multiple case study was to explore the strategies used by owners of nonfranchise, casual dining restaurants to ensure sustainability longer than 5 years. The study was grounded in Porter's 5 forces framework as a lens for identifying effective strategies that promote restaurant sustainability. The data collection process comprised gathering data and information via semistructured interviews with 3 owners of nonfranchise, casual dining restaurants in the mid-Atlantic region who sustained …

Barriers To Oral Care Among African American Adolescents In Prince George's County, Maryland, Nkiruka Soribe Mcginnis

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

When adolescents forgo oral health treatment, factors that hinder them from obtaining these services put them at risk of detrimental consequences in their oral and overall health. The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to identify the various barriers that adolescents encounter causing them to defer oral treatment. Through this study, public health officials, school health care providers, the state, and parents could be made aware of these factors and work together to implement programs and supplemental aid to help adolescents become more knowledgeable of the importance of oral care and encourage them to desire and seek treatment. The …

Instructional Quality And Middle School Student Engagement, Achievement, Attendance, And Gender, Pauline Monsegue-Bailey

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Gaps in middle school students' outcomes such as engagement, achievement, and attendance have been linked to instruction. In addition, the effect of instructional quality might not be the same for male and female students. The purpose of this quantitative study was to measure the relationship between instructional quality, student engagement, achievement, and attendance, with gender as a moderator in middle school. The ecological systems model and Vygotsky's social development theory formed the theoretical framework for this study, as they help understand how the environment, including instructional support, is likely to correlate with student behavior and motivation toward learning. The CLASS …

Healthcare Administrator Strategies For Nurse Engagement To Increase Patient Care, Nicole Sarah Morlock

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Healthcare administrators can improve patient care and safety by stimulating nurse engagement as a means of improving internal relationships. The purpose of this case study was to explore engagement strategies that healthcare administrators use to stimulate nurse engagement. Data were collected using semistructured interviews with 4 healthcare administrators in a Missouri hospital setting. The engagement theory informed the conceptual framework of the study. Data were analyzed using Yin's 5-step process that included compiling, disassembling, reassembling, interpreting, and concluding. Analysis revealed 4 major themes: teamwork, nurse and administrator communication, nurse recognition, and nurse empowerment. Strategies were identified through the exploration and …

The Impact Of Performance Anxiety On Student Nurses In Simulation Settings, Vanessa Nichols

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The benefits of simulation in nursing education are well established. Yet, there is a paucity of literature on the psychological effects of the performance aspect of a student demonstrating skills in the simulation setting. Vocational nursing students may experience anxiety in the simulation setting that is distinctly different than in other testing settings and it can contribute to withdrawal from a nursing. The purpose of this study, guided by Lazarus' transactional model of stress and coping, was to understand if vocational nursing students experience performance anxiety while demonstrating clinical skills in the simulation setting versus other settings such as the …

Improving Hand Hygiene In An Intensive Care Unit, Charles Chukwuemeka Njenje

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Health-care-associated infections (HCAIs) affect hundreds of millions of people worldwide, causing morbidity and mortality among hospitalized patients. About 2 million patients suffer from HCAIs in the United States, and it is estimated that 99,000 of them die each year. Studies have indicated that transmission of health-care-associated microorganisms occurs through contaminated hands of health care workers. Hand hygiene (HH) is the single most effective way to prevent health-care-associated infections, yet health care workers' hand hygiene compliance remains low. One factor responsible for poor compliance with hand hygiene guide-lines are lack of knowledge of good hand hygiene and lack of hand hygiene …

Perspectives Of Primary Care Physicians On Adopting Electronic Medical Records In The Atlanta, Georgia Area, Chris U. Okoro

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Slow adoption of electronic medical records (EMR) by primary care physicians in medical office practices has not facilitated the EMR adoption process. The problem is the slow pace of EMR adoption by primary care physicians in the Atlanta, Georgia area has become a public health concern. Research regarding the lived experiences of these physicians with EMR implementation and utilization may identify reasons for the slow adoption. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore the lived experiences of primary care physicians, who practice in the Atlanta area, regarding their perception, successes, barriers, and urgency of adoption of EMR in …

Understanding The Perceptions And Decision-Making Behaviors Of First Responders In The Context Of Traumatic Events And Ptsd, Sunday O. Olatunji

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Previous researchers have indicated that first responders are in an ever-changing environment, and unfortunately, the prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among first responders is increasing. This study sought to better understand first responders' perceptions of emergency preparedness protocols and training, as well as the prevalence of PTSD. This study also examined first responders' thoughts, decision making processes, and protective actions information, communications necessary during situations of emergency preparedness for traumatic events, and how PTSD impacted this process. A sample of 16 first responders of various ages was recruited for the purpose of this study. The participants were made up …

Sustainable Leadership In Arts Education Using Alternative Resources In Pennsylvania Title I Schools, Stacy M. Potter

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Budgetary constraints have led many educational leaders to limit arts education programming to students across the state of Pennsylvania. The purpose of this qualitative dissertation was to investigate how educational leaders sustain access to arts education programs using alternative budgetary resources for K-12 students in Pennsylvania Title I schools. This multiple case study provided analysis within and across Pennsylvania Title I schools to help fill a gap in the educational leadership literature regarding alternative budgeting strategies to meet programming needs. The conceptual framework integrated transformational leadership, principles of creativity, and budgetary strategies. Key research questions explored sustainability frameworks and the …

A Grounded Theory Of Millennials Job-Hopping, Deborah L. Rivers

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Corporations are finding it challenging to attract and retain the top talented Millennials. Their frequent job-hopping is costing the U.S. economy $30.5 billion annually despite corporations' best efforts to retain them. The central research question concerns the decision-making process that Millennials use to decide whether to job-hop or stay with an organization. The purpose of this qualitative study was to develop a theory that explains the Millennials' process for deciding whether to job-hop or stay with an organization. The conceptual framework for this grounded theory research is generational theory, Herzberg's hygiene and motivational factors, and psychological contract theory. The data …

Financial Advisors' Marketing Strategies To Minorities, Jonica Rowland

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Independent financial advisors face challenges with successful marketing strategies as competition from web-based resources, large U.S. financial services, and wealth advisors' corporations increase. The purpose of this exploratory case study was to understand financial advisors' perceptions, experiences, and marketing strategies to improve their companies' sustainability by targeting a broader population base, including minorities, who need assistance with retirement planning strategies. Consumer culture theory was the conceptual framework for this study. Purposeful sampling was the basis for selecting 7 financial advisors from the mid-Atlantic region of the United States for face-to-face interviews. Semistructured interviews with open-ended questions were used to identify …

Families' Decisions To Not Enroll Their Children In Pre-K: A Qualitative Study, Jennifer Scarbrough

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

High-quality preschool is freely available at two locations in a rural area. However, many parents choose not to send their children to preschool at all, despite its availability and demonstrated benefits to children. The purpose of this qualitative exploratory study was to understand why families did not enroll children pre-K. Bronfenbrenner's ecological systems model was used as a conceptual framework for the study. which suggests that child development is influenced by multiple environmental factors. Research questions were related to examining the perspectives of parents who had not enrolled their children in pre-K on their inhibitions and inducements to enroll their …

Data Use By Middle And Secondary Students In The Digital Age: A Status Report And Future Prospects, Victor R. Lee, Michelle H. Wilkerson

Instructional Technology and Learning Sciences Faculty Publications

What it means to work with data has changed significantly since the preparation and publication of America’s Lab Report(Singer, Hilton, & Schweingruber, 2006)in ways that are impacting students, educators, and the very practice of science. This change is expressing itself most obviously in the abundance of data that can be collected and accessed by students and teachers. There are also notable changes in the types of data (e.g., GPS data, network data, qualitative/verbal data) that are now readily available, and the purposes for which data are collected and analyzed. These shifts have both generated enthusiasm and raised a number …

2018-2019 Undergraduate Bulletin, Rochester Institute Of Technology

RIT Digital Archives

No abstract provided.

Effects Of Ginger Supplementation On Inflammation In Individuals, Sara Kashlan, Brenda Rodriguez, Monique Vuong

Loma Linda University Research Reports

Background. Ginger is a widely used ingredient in Southeast Asian countries and has gained increasing popularity in the Western diet due to its purported health benefits. Ginger has high antioxidant power because of its rich phytochemistry profile that contributes to its anti- inflammatory properties. While there have been animal studies, the research of ginger’s effects in humans is limited.

Objective. We sought to understand ginger’s effects on commonly assayed inflammatory biomarkers—C-Reactive Protein (CRP), Interleukin-6 (IL-6), and Tumor Necrosis Factor-Alpha (TNF- α)—in individuals with varying levels of physical activity. We propose that ginger may lower levels of these biomarkers …

Dark Chocolate (70% Cacao) Modulates Gamma Wave Frequencies In Vigorously Active Individuals, Sasha Silver, Ranea Al-Tikriti, Nicole Jin

Loma Linda University Research Reports

Background: Visualization and the demand to increase cognitive function to improve performance is an area of growing interest in athletes and physically active individuals. Gamma (25-45 Hz) waves, the fastest of the brainwave frequencies, are optimal for cognitive function.

Objective: Determine if savoring and ingestion of dark chocolate (70% cacao) can modulate gamma wave frequencies between visualization at a state of rest and a state of exercise performance in vigorously active individuals.

Participants/setting: The study recruited 10 vigorously active individuals from Loma Linda University. Participants’ mean age was 23.7± 2.2 years. Vigorous activity was defined by the Centers for Disease …

Relationship Between Nutrition Knowledge And Obesity In Southern California Adults, Tatiana Keay, Tonya Larson, Claudinne Herrera

Loma Linda University Research Reports

Background

Over one third of the adult population in the U.S. are obese placing them at higher risk for morbidity or mortality.

Objective

To determine if lack of nutrition knowledge has a positive impact on eating behaviors using obesity status as an indicator.

Design

Participants completed the General Nutrition Knowledge Questionnaire (GNKQ), Anonymous Demographic Questionnaire (ADQ), and anthropometric measurements were taken during a one-time meeting lasting about one hour.

Participants/Setting

Data collection was completed on 334 participants between the ages of 18-55 years in a southern California community sample.

Intervention

Anthropometric measurements were collected by the research team and consisted …

The Effects Of Daily Ginger Tea Consumption In Reducing Period Discomfort, Kristy Valencia, Sherllie Kartika

Loma Linda University Research Reports

Background

Ginger has been known for its medicinal purposes which includes treating inflammation.⁶ Researchers have observed the effects of ginger capsules to alleviate dysmenorrhea, but few studies have investigated the use of ginger tea.^6,7,9,10,11 The effects of ginger tea on adolescent females have been studied and researchers concluded that ginger reduces menstrual discomfort.^1,2

Objective

The purpose of our study was to observe the effects of daily ginger tea consumption on menstrual discomfort in non-adolescent menstruating women.

Design

Our study was a quantitative, interventional study.

Participants/setting

Subjects were females aged 18 years and above. Participants were mostly students …

Audience Prototypes And Asymmetric Efficacy Beliefs, Sonny Rosenthal

Research Collection College of Integrative Studies

Prior research suggests that the third-person effect is related to media schemas, for example, that general audiences are vulnerable to influence. The current study evaluates whether the effect of media schemas depends on more specific audience schemas. Participants read vignettes of four “actors” in a 2 (gullible vs. critical-minded) x 2 (heavy vs. light Internet users) repeated measures experiment and rated how much the actors can resist the influence of media and how much they benefit from censorship. For comparison, participants rated themselves on the same dependent variables. Results show that gullible heavy Internet users are perceived to have the …

Procedural Information And Behavioral Control: Longitudinal Analysis Of The Intention-Behavior Gap In The Context Of Recycling, Sonny Rosenthal

Research Collection College of Integrative Studies

The theory of planned behavior states that individuals act on their intentions, especially when they have behavioral control. The current study examines how seeking recycling-related procedural information—i.e., information about how and where to recycle—is related to behavioral control. Hypothesis testing used hierarchical ordinary least squares regression analysis of longitudinal data from 553 survey respondents. Results supported seven hypotheses. Most notably, procedural information seeking both mediated and moderated the relationship between intention and behavior. Further, the moderation effect was itself mediated by behavioral control. The argument for this mediated moderation is that information seeking enhances behavioral control, and it is primarily …

Digital Evidence And War Crimes Prosecutions: The Impact Of Digital Technologies On International Criminal Investigations And Trials, Lindsay Freeman

Fordham International Law Journal

No abstract provided.

Designing International Fact-Finding: Facts, Alternative Facts, And National Identities, Shiri Krebs

Fordham International Law Journal

No abstract provided.

Punishing Passion: A Comparative Analysis Of Adultery Laws In The United States Of America And Taiwan And Their Effects On Women, Alyssa Miller

Fordham International Law Journal

No abstract provided.

Re-Designing Afghanistan's Approach To Mental Illness Evaluations For Criminal Defendants: Toward Reliable Procedures And Predictable Outcomes, Habiburrahman Rizapoor

Fordham International Law Journal

No abstract provided.

International Human Rights Scrutiny Of China's Treatment Of Human Rights Lawyers And Defenders: The Committee Against Torture, Felice Gaer

Fordham International Law Journal

No abstract provided.

Sticks And Stones May Break My Bones, But Words May Also Hurt Me: A Comparison Of United States And German Hate Speech Laws, Deborah Levine

Fordham International Law Journal

No abstract provided.

Investigating The Thru-Hiking Experience: A Study On The Pacific Northwest National Scenic Trail, Taylor Rose Cole

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

The phenomena of thru-hiking has been on a dramatic rise, spurring hikers to venture onto increasingly remote and challenging trails over extended periods of time. Despite the recent popularity of thru-hiking, the field remains relatively unstudied. In recreation, the expectations held beforehand have been linked to perceptions after an activity, but this has not been explored in thru-hiking. For example, there is little known on the challenges associated with thru-hiking and how these challenges are navigated. Additionally, the social experience associated with thru-hiking on and off the trail has not been studied. Further, research is lacking on immersive experiences such …

A Phenomenological Study Of People Living With Hiv In Montana, Mary E. Parrish

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

Rural states like Montana (MT) have unique considerations related to health care. Barriers to care, diagnostic testing and treatment, and availability and accessibility to timely care are of concern in rural areas. These considerations may be exacerbated for someone living with a chronic condition like HIV. Consequently, the primary purpose of this phenomenological study of people living with HIV (PLWH) in MT was to deepen understanding of their lived experience as it relates to the HIV health care continuum. This study captured the experience of PLWH in MT through in-depth qualitative interviews. A phenomenological approach allowed for an understanding of …