Digital Commons Network^™

Administrators' Experiences Implementing Veterans Housing Units In U.S. Correctional Institutions, Lori J. Riedel

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

There is a higher rate of recidivism for U.S. veterans compared to the general population of offenders. To address the unique needs of veterans, separate housing units for veterans (VSUs) are now operating within correctional facilities in 29 U.S. states. Despite reports that VSUs are having a positive impact on recidivism, little is known of the experiences of correctional administrators who have implemented a VSU. The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to explore the lived experiences of several individuals who have implemented a VSU in their correctional facility. Guided by the quality implementation framework (QIF), data collected through …

Enhancing The Resilience Of Acute Care Psychiatric Nurses Through A Brief Gratitude Intervention, Patricia D. Sullivan

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Stressors affecting healthcare providers have accelerated in recent years, causing increasing rates of burnout and emotional exhaustion. Evidence suggests that improving general mental well-being of nurses could enhance their resilience and ability to cope in stressful situations. Psychiatric nurses are at risk by caring for involuntary and manipulative patients who can be violent and abusive. The purpose of this project was to improve psychiatric nurses' mental well-being through the implementation of a gratitude practice and examined the effect of this brief gratitude intervention on their mental well-being. Models informing this project were human caring theory, resilience theory, and positive psychology …

Young African American Men's Conception Of Fatherhood Among Survivors Of Childhood Abuse, Ohan Patricia Carter

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Male survivors of abuse who become fathers themselves face challenges different from female survivors, such as conceptualizing their roles as providers and heads of households after the traumatic and often belittling experiences of abuse. However, very few researchers have studied the connection between child abuse and fatherhood, and none specific to young African American fathers. An interpretative phenomenological approach enabled exploration of how African American fathers who were abused as children, conceptualized and perceived their own experiences with fatherhood. The theoretical framework for this study was identity theory, which indicates that how people conceptualize a social role influences their actions …

Division Ii Football Players' Perceptions Of Ncaa And Finding Balance Between Athletics And Education, Morgan Laine Lehman

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Mandates and regulations from the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) have caused extreme reforms to take effect in the NCAA's education system. However, little is known about how these reforms have impacted student-athletes participating in college athletics. The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to explore how Division II football players from public colleges and universities view their ability to balance their education and athletics to create a well-rounded college life. Astin's involvement theory was used to frame this study. Open ended questionnaire data was collected from 12 college football players, enrolled in public, Division II colleges and universities. …

Constructs Of Coping For Adult Victims Of Bullying, Gillian Harris-Dale

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Bullying is a pervasive event that affects individuals in a variety of ways. For example, bullied individuals display an array of psychological and related psychosocial problems associated with victimization. There is a push for a transformation in the bullying paradigm to include the psychological and psychosocial symptomologies of both the perpetrator and victim. This study addressed the lack of qualitative research on coping mechanisms for adult victims of bullying. Due to the pervasive nature of the phenomena, the following was explored: (a) descriptions of bullying as expressed by adult victims, (b) adult victims' coping processes and methods, and (c) adult …

The Consequences Of Annexation On Financial Markets, Kristina Khederlarian

CGU Theses & Dissertations

The objective of this study will be to understand the consequences of annexation through a lens that is political and financial. The scope of research will include the three prominent cases of annexation by major powers over the past twenty years. This lends itself to three case studies: Crimea, Kashmir and Hong Kong. We will be selecting these three cases, since those were three that involved annexation by a major power over the past twenty years. Although our study is reserved to those three cases, we will briefly review historic cases of annexation in the literature review section because it …

Examining Family Hierarchy Through The Eyes Of Former Mac Baller Gang Members, Jerome Lee Rice

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Criminal gang membership is growing, which corresponds to a continued breakdown of the family unit in the United States. Most of the young people who form gangs come from broken families or single-parent-headed households. This study explored the role of family hierarchy on gang membership. A qualitative case study approach was used to gather information on what motivates young people to join criminal gangs. A random sampling technique was used to recruit former members of the Mac Baller Brim gang. Ethical concerns were addressed to minimize the risks to the participants. The collected data from interviews were analyzed using an …

Public Service Employee Perceptions Of Leadership Behaviors That Engage Or Disengage, Beverlyn A. Banks

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

A high percentage of U.S. employees do not engage in their work, resulting in lower productivity. U.S. corporations are losing more than $400–$500 billion per year because of low productivity at work. This phenomenological study involved an examination of leadership behaviors that engage or disengage employees in public service organizations. Kahn’s conceptual frame of engagement and Maslow’s hierarchy of needs motivation theory guided this study. The purpose was to determine why disengagement behavior continues despite extensive literature on the benefits of engagement and what organizations can do to encourage leadership behaviors that engage employees and discourage leadership behaviors that disengage …

The Lived Experience Of Monogamy Among Gay Men In Monogamous Relationships, Kellie L. Barton

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Research on male gay relationships spans more than 50 years, and the focus of most of this research has been on understanding the development processes, consequences, and risk factors of nonmonogamous relationships. Few researchers have explored the nature and meaning of monogamy in the male gay community. Therefore, the purpose of this research was to explore the lived experience of monogamy to give voice to other expressions of gay male relationships and potentially add to the literature surrounding clinical implications of treatment. The framework for developing the research emerged from the construct of the monogamy gap, derived from theories of …

Success Stories: Community College Teachers Using Technology To Engage Online Students, Alice Louise Dieli

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

For online students to be engaged in learning process, best practices include teachers using appropriate technology. However, it is unclear how some teachers who initially face challenges to adopting new teaching technology have overcome those challenges, adjusted their instructional practices, and adopted innovative technology to successfully engage students online. The purpose of this case study was to describe how teachers overcame challenges of using instructional technology tools for online learning. Rogers’s diffusion of innovations theory and Kolb’s experiential learning model provided the framework for this study. The research questions explored why teachers initially resisted the use of technology tools in …

Comparison Of Work-Related Values And Leadership Preferences Of Mexican Immigrants And Caucasians, Alonso Raul Duarte

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Globalization has made it easier for people to migrate, thus increasing diversity within organizations. One problem with this migration is that 1st and 2nd generation immigrants may prefer different leadership styles than those of the mainstream culture. The purpose of this survey-based quantitative comparative study was to investigate the effects of acculturation on the work-related cultural values and leadership style preferences of Mexican immigrants living in the United States. The research question that guided this study focused on the differences in work-related cultural values and preferred leadership styles between 2 generations of Mexican immigrants, Mexicans, and U.S.-born Caucasians. Two hundred …

Fertility Treatments Of Women In Nigeria: Using Long Versus Short Protocols, Michael Egwu

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

A global estimate indicates that over 70 million heterosexual married couples live with the burden of infertility, and Nigeria accounts for about 30%. Although protocols exist, it appears there are no standardized treatment guidelines for practicing fertility experts in Nigeria. This study, therefore, aimed to determine which protocol provides a better outcome across a given population of infertile women in Nigeria as a method to move towards developing standardized treatment guidelines. The study was grounded using the Patient-Centered Care Treatment Model, and the method of inquiry was a retrospective, cross-sectional, quantitative, and nonexperimental technique, and the influence of the patient’s …

Strategies To Implement Organizational Changes In Middle East And North Africa, Ilham Hiyari

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Organizational change initiatives often fail in the implementation phase resulting in decreased productivity affecting the net profitability of the organization. Grounded in Kotter’s 8-step change model, the purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to explore strategies used by business leaders to implement organizational change initiatives successfully. A purposeful sample of 10 business leaders from 2 organizations located in the region of the Middle East and North Africa participated in the study. Data were collected from semistructured interviews and secondary sources including strategic business plan presentations, change tracking tools, meeting minutes, financial statements, and archival records. Data were analyzed …

Role Of Social Workers In Psychiatric Patient-Centered Care With U.S. Veterans, Alesia Michelle Noce-Owen

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Social workers play an important role in the implementation of patient-centered care (PCC) within an interdisciplinary treatment team in an inpatient psychiatric unit. The PCC approach can become overwhelming and stressful for interdisciplinary team members because the definition of PCC varies across disciplines. The purpose of this qualitative action research study was to explore social workers’ perceptions of their role within an interdisciplinary team, including barriers to social work inclusion and PCC. Ecological systems theory provided the framework for the study. Interview data were collected from 2 focus groups containing a total of 10 purposively selected social workers. A grounded …

Effect Of Bundled Interventions By Patient Type To Reduce Falls, Celia Nurse

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Despite consistent efforts in the healthcare field, 700,000 to 1 million patients fall in hospitals each year. There is a gap in the literature regarding identification of optimal bundles of fall prevention interventions (FPIs) for patients by type, and though patients of all ages fall in hospitals, older adults fall more, which may mean that the influence of FPIs may differ for patients by age. The purpose of this descriptive, retrospective, quantitative secondary data analysis study, guided by Virginia Henderson’s need theory, was to examine the differences in the influence of bundled FPIs in reducing the number of falls (NOF) …

Workplace Safety Strategies Used By Managers To Reduce Workplace Accidents, Bryan William Vaiagae

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Ineffective safety strategies contribute to work-related accidents making the workplace one of the hazardous locations in the United States. The findings might provide organizational managers with strategies to improve workplace safety practices leading to a healthier and safer work environment. Grounded in Heinrich’s safety management systems conceptual model, the purpose of this qualitative single case study was to explore strategies organizational managers used to reduce workplace accidents. The participants consisted of 6 managers who oversaw safety issues at 1 organization in the central region of North Carolina. Data were collected from semistructured interviews and company documents. Data analysis consisted of …

Instructors’ Perceptions Of Differentiated Instruction At Four Universities In The United States, Brandy Waldron

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

According to a 2015-2016 fall term end-of-course survey at a university in the southern United States, differentiated instruction (DI) was minimal and student participants reported that they may have performed better on coursework if given a variety of learning options. The purpose of this study was to determine how instructors at 4 U.S. universities perceive use of DI and their ideas about the necessary tools and strategies to practice it. Research needed to be conducted so instructors could successfully meet the diverse needs of students by having the necessary tools to practice differentiation. Tomlinson’s theory that focuses on the need …

Perceptions Of African American Males On Teaching In Elementary Schools, Reggie Wicker

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

There is a shortage of African American males teaching in primarily minority student population elementary schools. Understanding why the current African American male teachers accepted positions in schools will provide insight into what attracted them to the school systems and the pros and cons for retention. The purpose of this study was to explore the perceptions of African American male teachers on the challenges and benefits of teaching at a predominately minority elementary school, and to ascertain strategies for recruiting and retaining African American male teachers in the profession. These views and strategies can help gain perspectives on attracting more …

Trends And Barriers Regarding Attrition Among Adult Learners At A Community College, Myrtle C. Brown

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The high attrition rates of adult learners at a 2-year, southeastern community college are a continuing concern among college administrators. These high rates have resulted in an increased number of nontraditional adult learners failing to persist and complete a program of study. Poor persistence and noncompletion of a degree create budgetary loss and reduced revenue critical to the support of the college’s use of resources and services to students. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to explore nontraditional adult learners’ perspectives of their college experiences and the influences, challenges, and barriers that prohibited their degree completion. Tinto’s student …

Developing Cloud Computing Infrastructures In Developing Countries In Asia, Daryoush Charmsaz Moghaddam

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Developing Cloud Computing Infrastructures in Developing Countries in Asia

by

Daryoush Charmsaz Moghaddam

MS, Sharif University, 2005

BS, Civil Aviation Higher Education Complex, 1985

Doctoral Study Submitted in Partial Fulfillment

of the Requirements for the Degree of

Doctor of Information Technology

Walden University

March 2020

Financial Management Strategies Used By Microbusiness Leaders, Dorothy M. David

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Small and medium-sized microbusinesses accounted for the majority of net new jobs in the United States between 2000 and 2018. Yet a high percent of microbusinesses have exited the market due to business failure. The applicability of the findings from this study may positively influence small business owners seeking strategies that enable small business success. Grounded in entrepreneurship theory, the purpose of this qualitative multiple-case study was to explore financial management strategies microbusiness leaders use to sustain their business success beyond 5 years. The participants comprised 3 small business owners in Virginia with sustained businesses beyond 5 years. Data were …

Afterschool Program Directors’ Leadership Challenges In Developing Community Partnerships For Program Sustainability, Dr. Kartina Doretha Jackson-Roberts

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In 2019, researchers reported that 80% of afterschool program directors in high poverty neighborhoods felt insecure about program sustainability. Afterschool program staff serving marginalized populations are also failing to build collaborative community partnerships to offset restricted funding due to inadequate professional training. The purpose of this qualitative narrative inquiry study was to gain a deeper understanding of afterschool program directors’ narratives of daily experiences with leadership challenges in building community partnerships aimed at program sustainability in low-resource communities. This study was framed by 3 concepts focused on afterschool leaders building school–community partnerships: Bourdieu’s concept of social capital, Nocon’s concept of …

Instructional Design Techniques Used To Develop Virtual Reality-Based Safety Training In An Industrial Environment, Mia Da'nene Joe

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Instructional designers face the challenge of developing strong immersive virtual environments for education. However, there is very little research regarding the study of both the competence and practice of instructional design in the immersive virtual reality environment. The purpose of this qualitative Delphi study was to identify best practices that could be used by instructional designers when designing virtual reality-based safety training in order to improve safety competence and practice in the industrial environment. The conceptual framework for this study was based on the 3 primary groups of learning theory: behaviorism, cognitivism, and constructivism. Guiding questions were specific to the …

Juvenile Probation Officer Stress In Rural Area Corrections Offices, John Kelly

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In 2015, approximately 62,400 juveniles in the United States were court-ordered to be on probation. Juvenile probation officers (JPOs), who monitor these juveniles, are responsible for intake assessments, predisposition reports, and working with juvenile delinquents and their families. Aspects of JPOs’ job duties, such as excess paperwork and lack of managerial support, can create stress. To address the relative lack of research on JPOs’ stress, particularly the limited research in rural settings, this qualitative case study examined JPOs’ stress in rural corrections offices in South Dakota. The study examines JPOs’ perceptions of causes of their stress and their responses to …

The Relationship Between Authentic Leadership In Project Managers And Project Success, Laurie Levy

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Authentic leadership has been shown to influence prosocial employee attributes and behaviors. However, the relationship between authentic leadership in people without positional authority or power in an organization has not been studied as extensively. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between nonpositional leaders in an organization and the authentic leadership components of relational transparency, self-awareness, ethical/moral values, and balanced processing, and to determine if authentic leadership in an organization’s project managers predicted project success. A second purpose was to determine if the possession of a project management credential moderated the relationship between authentic leadership and …

Physicians’ Perceptions Of Facilitators And Barriers In Electronic Health Record Education, Alice Keene Martin

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

A significant focus in health care is quality documentation to lower patient safety risks. The local problem at a healthcare organization in the northeastern United States is that some physicians are falling short with quality documentation of patient care in athenaNet, a cloud-based electronic health record (EHR). This qualitative case study was conducted to explore physicians' perceptions of the facilitators and barriers that impact the educational process for quality documentation in EHRs. Attention also focused on identifying physicians' recommendations for enhancing the educational process for quality documentation. Knowles’ adult learning theory served as the conceptual framework. Purposeful sampling was used …

Self Reported Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors Among Deaf Users: A Communication Barrier, Dr. Jolene Ayres Ogunjirin

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the number one cause of mortality worldwide, and may disproportionately affect the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DHOH) subpopulation in the United States. It has been suggested that communication barriers among the DHOH subpopulation contribute to the high prevalence of CVD risk factors. To assess this claim, this quantitative study utilized a cross-sectional data set of 400 DHOH and 400 non- DHOH participants taken from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) database. The differences of being told by a health professional of having specific CVD risk factors were assessed between the two groups and …

Factors That Influence Students’ Decision To Drop Out Of An Online Business Course, Sandra Gail Robertson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Although online enrollments at community colleges have increased in recent years, student dropout rates in online classes have also increased and educational researchers wonder why students are dropping out of online courses and if online instruction can contribute to student success. The purpose of this generic qualitative study was to investigate the online experiences of students who dropped out of the Introduction to Business online course at a community college in a Mid-Atlantic state and the factors that led to their decision. The research questions concerned how students who took the Introduction to Business online course described their decision to …

Consumer Credit Card Debt And Immigrants: A Cross-Sectional Study Of U.K. Immigrants’ Financial Capability, Paul Wesley Thompson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The problem addressed in this study is the ubiquitous nature and high level of consumer debt associated with certain demographics; however, research in the context of immigrants in the U.K. are limited. The problem is the lack of information about the association between credit card debt and immigrants, specifically on whether the income gap between U.K. immigrants and British citizens affects the level of consumer debt. The purpose of this quantitative cross-sectional correlational study is to examine whether there is an association between the income gap that exists between immigrants and British citizens and their respective levels of consumer debt, …

An Exploration Of Women Experiences In Leadership Positions Within African Immigrant Churches In The United States, Abraham Simon Obodai Wentum

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Little research has been conducted to understand the experiences of the women in leadership positions in the African immigrant church in the United States. The purpose of the study was to explore the experiences of women in leadership positions in African immigrant churches in the United States to inform efforts toward enhancing representation of women in church leadership. The study used an interpretative phenomenological analysis research approach, guided by Bass and Riggio’s transformational leadership theory. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews with 12 women in leadership positions in African immigrant churches. Thematic analysis was used to analyze data. Women leaders …