Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Digital Commons Network™

Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

2021

Discipline
Institution
Keyword
Publication
Publication Type
File Type

Articles 22861 - 22890 of 24294

Full-Text Articles in Entire DC Network

Antibiotic Stewardship: Decreasing Antibiotic Use For Viral Upper Respiratory Infections, Merkessie Taresa Redix Jan 2021

Antibiotic Stewardship: Decreasing Antibiotic Use For Viral Upper Respiratory Infections, Merkessie Taresa Redix

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractOverprescribing antibiotics for viral upper respiratory infections is a common practice in the United States. This overprescribing of antibiotics can cause several health issues and increase health care costs. Despite the current guidelines recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) the overprescribing of antibiotics by providers remains an issue. The purpose of this project was to educate providers on antibiotic stewardship for viral upper respiratory infections. The practice question was used to explore whether an educational program using concepts from Lewin’s change theory and Kolb’s learning theory would increase provider’s knowledge about the current evidence- based prescriptive …

Go to article

Insider Ownership And The Performance Effects Of Firm Diversification In Nigeria, Ibeawuchi Ibekwe Jan 2021

Insider Ownership And The Performance Effects Of Firm Diversification In Nigeria, Ibeawuchi Ibekwe

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Despite the preponderance of diversified firms, the diversification–performance (D–P) relationship and how insider ownership moderates it in Nigeria remains unclear and a concern for decision makers interested in the survival of firms and their contributions to society. This quantitative study was conducted to examine the D–P relationship and how it is associated with insider ownership in Nigeria. Agency theory and institution-based theory formed the theoretical foundation of this study. Four research questions that focused on how diversification is related to firm performance and how insider ownership moderates this relationship were answered using the panel design variant of correlational research. Data …

Go to article

Nuclear Facility Emergency Management: Effective Implementation Of Training, Drills, And Exercises, Jesseca Johnson Jan 2021

Nuclear Facility Emergency Management: Effective Implementation Of Training, Drills, And Exercises, Jesseca Johnson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The continuous availability of affordable and sustainable energy is the essence of modern economies, not only in the developed countries, but also in developing countries. However, nuclear power also has considerable public health and safety hazards that create emergency situations that must be responded to urgently and effectively. It is necessary that every player in the nuclear industry implements effective training, drills, and exercises to ensure emergency preparedness and response in line with the federal requirements. The normalization process theory was applied in this qualitative, single case study to address the key factors needed for effective training, drills, and exercises …

Go to article

Small And Medium Enterprises’ Green Energy Strategies For Profitability, Ekok Ajom Okpokam Jan 2021

Small And Medium Enterprises’ Green Energy Strategies For Profitability, Ekok Ajom Okpokam

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Lack of business strategies can negatively impact the generation of green energy, which may hinder business profitability and growth. Managers of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) who struggle to generate green energy to increase profitability are at high risk of their business failure. Grounded in the diffusion of innovation theory, the purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to explore the business strategies managers of SMEs use to generate green energy to increase profitability. The participants were three SME managers in three energy companies in Lagos, Nigeria, who effectively used business strategies to generate green energy to increase profitability. …

Go to article

The Lived Experiences Of Black Youth Who Recidivate In Diversion Programs, Justin Richards Jan 2021

The Lived Experiences Of Black Youth Who Recidivate In Diversion Programs, Justin Richards

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

There are high rates of recidivism among U.S. Black youth when compared to other races, such as Whites and Hispanics. The purpose of the study was to examine the lived experiences of Black youth in the juvenile justice system and in diversion programs. Using a phenomenological qualitative method, twelve Black adults between the ages of 18 to 40 were interviewed about their lived experiences while participating in mental health courts and in-home probation as youth. The conceptual framework of the study was based on the risk, need, and responsivity model. The primary research question examined the lived experiences and perceptions …

Go to article

The Relationship Between Programming After Critical Incidents, Shootings, And Resilience In Police, Michelle Lise Vincent Jan 2021

The Relationship Between Programming After Critical Incidents, Shootings, And Resilience In Police, Michelle Lise Vincent

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractThe purpose of this study was to examine whether there was a relationship between resilience, posttraumatic growth, and reintegration programming after a critical incident and/or line of duty shooting through the cognitive, self-efficacy and resiliency theoretical lenses. The research aimed to determine if police officers, who participated in reintegration programming, specifically in this study, Edmonton Police’s Reintegration After Critical Incident programming, produced higher scores in resilience as measured on the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC) and posttraumatic growth, as measured on the Post Traumatic Growth Inventory scale (PTGI), with Canadian police officers compared to police officers who do not participate in …

Go to article

Socioecological Determinants Of Psychoticism Among Central-Asian Immigrants To The United States, Viktor Dlugunovych Jan 2021

Socioecological Determinants Of Psychoticism Among Central-Asian Immigrants To The United States, Viktor Dlugunovych

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Every year, thousands of individuals from every country and every walk of life arrive in the United States in hopes of better lives for themselves and their families. A significant portion of immigrants arrives from Central Asia countries, namely Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. Stress associated with the process of uprooting in the country of origin and adaptation in the country of destination often makes newcomers vulnerable to developing mental health illnesses. The purpose of this work was to analyze relationships between psychoticism, psychological comorbidities, and psychosocial factors. This study used archival data that included 195 cases of individuals …

Go to article

Lived Experiences Of Parents With Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder Transitioning To Adulthood, Jane Havens Jan 2021

Lived Experiences Of Parents With Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder Transitioning To Adulthood, Jane Havens

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractCurrently, there is little known about the parent experiences of transitioning their child with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) to adulthood from a qualitative perspective. The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to explore parents’ lived experiences as their ASD children transition to adulthood. This study was grounded in symbolic interactionism, which includes tenets of how interactions with others provide a catalyst for meaning development and subsequent human action. A phenomenological design was used with a purposeful sample of 10 parents of children with ASD transitioning to adulthood. Interviews were conducted through phone calls to explore participant perspectives transitioning their …

Go to article

Evaluating Compliance With The Produce Safety Rule And Managing Mycotoxins, Yvette May Molajo Jan 2021

Evaluating Compliance With The Produce Safety Rule And Managing Mycotoxins, Yvette May Molajo

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Foodborne diseases are the cause of many illnesses that occur from foods that contain mycotoxins. Mycotoxins are produced from fungi and are environmental and carcinogenic agents that contaminate agricultural foods during preharvest and postharvest conditions. While researchers have conducted many studies on mycotoxin occurrence and production, there is a significant gap in the current literature regarding which environmental factors could put farmers’ ability to remain in compliance with the Food Safety Modernization Act’s Produce Safety Rule at risk. Therefore, the purpose of this quantitative study was to investigate which environmental factors could put farmers’ ability to remain in compliance with …

Go to article

Qualitative Exploration Of Catholic Church Leaders’ Perspectives Regarding Counseling Parishioners With Anxiety, Amy Lynn Polster Jan 2021

Qualitative Exploration Of Catholic Church Leaders’ Perspectives Regarding Counseling Parishioners With Anxiety, Amy Lynn Polster

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

There is little research addressing the mental health literacy of Roman Catholic clergy in their job as spiritual counselors for parishioners with anxiety. Devout individuals struggling with fear- or worry-driven anxiety often call on divine assistance for help as a frontline defense. Anxiety is a leading mental health problem, disturbing about 40 million U.S. adults aged 18 to 54 years. This study explored the mental health literacy perceptions of six Catholic clergy leaders and their awareness of fear- or worry-based anxiety, drawing upon the concept of the triune brain and using evolutionary threat assessment systems theory as a theoretical foundation. …

Go to article

Students’ Perceptions Of Faculty Social Presence In Online Gateway Classes, Michelle Whitley Turner Jan 2021

Students’ Perceptions Of Faculty Social Presence In Online Gateway Classes, Michelle Whitley Turner

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The number of postsecondary students taking online classes increased in the last 2 decades and grew substantially in 2020 with the COVID-19 pandemic. Online learning offers opportunities for postsecondary students who cannot or do not want to attend face-to-face classes but presents a challenge with some students feeling disconnected. Positive faculty social presence is a way to address this issue. The purpose of this basic descriptive, qualitative study was to explore the underresearched area of postsecondary students’ perceptions of faculty social presence in online gateway classes at a 4-year, private, nonprofit university in the U.S. Midwest focused on adult learners. …

Go to article

Indigenous Women: Violence, Vulnerability And Cultural Protective Factors, Christina M. Agloinga Jan 2021

Indigenous Women: Violence, Vulnerability And Cultural Protective Factors, Christina M. Agloinga

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The disproportionate rates of violent crimes, historical oppression, and cultural assimilation disrupted the traditional practices and belief system within Alaskan Native communities, thus changing the influence of protective factors that support balance and equality for women. Identifying protective factors provided by cultural practices that support resiliency provides an increased understanding of how cultural strengths can combat distorted stereotypes within the criminal justice system. This study included characteristics of a phenomenological, narrative, and ethnographic study. The social constructionist framework and the social construction of target populations theory was used to explore how traditional cultural practices can influence the current gender identity, …

Go to article

Hurricane Survivors' Attitudes Regarding The Therapeutic Benefits Of Animals, Tina Callwood Jan 2021

Hurricane Survivors' Attitudes Regarding The Therapeutic Benefits Of Animals, Tina Callwood

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

There is research on the benefits of animal-assisted interventions. However, no study was found on hurricane survivors' lived experience and their attitudes toward animals after a traumatic experience. The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenological study was to explore the lived experience of hurricane survivors' attitudes toward their companion animals or other animals they interacted with after a natural disaster. The transactional theory of stress and coping was used to explain how participants appraised their stress and reduced it. Constructivism was used to uncover hurricane survivors' experiences and their attitudes toward animals after the disaster. The research question examined the lived …

Go to article

Teacher And Parent Perception Of Cyberbullying In A Middle School Setting, Jacqueline Gallo Jan 2021

Teacher And Parent Perception Of Cyberbullying In A Middle School Setting, Jacqueline Gallo

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractThe purpose of this mixed method study was to evaluate differences in cyberbullying perception and self-efficacy between teachers and parents. The study aimed to determine how teachers and parents reacted to cyberbullying. The importance of examining teacher and parent perception and self-efficacy in addressing cyberbullying determined the significance of intervention. The theoretical framework for the study was Bandura’s social learning theory. The purpose of this mixed method study was to examine the perceptions and self-efficacy of cyberbullying between teachers and parents as measured by the Peer Relations Assessment Questionnaire Revised and the Self-Efficacy Questionnaire. A sample that incorporated perception and …

Go to article

Understanding Successful Strategies Human Service First-Level Managers Utilize When Addressing Workplace Incivility, Mary Elizabeth Barlow Jan 2021

Understanding Successful Strategies Human Service First-Level Managers Utilize When Addressing Workplace Incivility, Mary Elizabeth Barlow

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The social problem of workplace incivility is a well-researched issue that impacts employees, work groups, and organizations across the nation. The purpose of this study was to understand how first-level human service managers describe employee turnover in relation to workplace incivility and what first-level human service managers view as successful strategies they have used to address workplace incivility. The theoretical framework utilized for this study was incivility spiral theory, as described by Andersson and Pearson. The purpose of this generic qualitative study was to gain an understanding of successful strategies that first-level human service managers utilize when addressing workplace incivility …

Go to article

Haitian Informal Entrepreneurs' Ability And Motivation To Formalize Their Microbusinesses, Samanthessa Ramona Jacob Jan 2021

Haitian Informal Entrepreneurs' Ability And Motivation To Formalize Their Microbusinesses, Samanthessa Ramona Jacob

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Microbusiness owners or informal entrepreneurs in developing countries make up 40 to 60% of the informal economy. With a steady increase in unemployment in rural areas of developing countries, individuals live under poverty levels and start microbusinesses as a mean to survive. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the factors that contribute to Haitian informal entrepreneurs' ability and motivation to transition into the formal sector. A narrative inquiry approach was used for this study to bring in-depth meaning to the experiences of informal entrepreneurs in Haiti. For this study, 18 individual interviews of Haitian or Haitian descendant …

Go to article

Exploring The Private And Environmental Events Of Repeat Offenders Relative To Low Self-Control, Xavier Mims Jan 2021

Exploring The Private And Environmental Events Of Repeat Offenders Relative To Low Self-Control, Xavier Mims

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The dissection of self-control theory itself has served as a supplemental platform for understanding how the lack of self-control can perpetuate criminal conduct. Previous research has indicated that employing self-control theory to predict criminal behavior has been widely supported by various forms of test samples, measurements, and methodologies. However, there remains a gap in the current literature regarding the internal-motivative factors between the relationship of the offender's criminal behaviors and self-control theory. Partial understanding of what the offender experiences constitutes a significant disparity between subjective concepts and actual accounts based on an offender's view on his personal life. Therefore, the …

Go to article

Relating Overweight/Obesity And Psychosocial Outcomes Among Racial/Ethnic And Sexual Minority Adolescents, Cadene T. Douglas Jan 2021

Relating Overweight/Obesity And Psychosocial Outcomes Among Racial/Ethnic And Sexual Minority Adolescents, Cadene T. Douglas

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Adolescents being overweight/obese is a public health crisis that threatens the health and welfare of adolescents going into adulthood and places a significant strain on society. It has been described as one of the most severe public health challenges of the 21st century by the World Health Organization. The pervasiveness of obesity in adolescents rose by 47.1% over the last three decades, and it disproportionally affects racial/ethnic minority lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) persons. Guided by distal and proximal health behaviors, the minority stress model, and intersectionality, the purpose of this study was to examine whether being overweight or obese …

Go to article

Territoriality As A Factor In Nursing Incivility, Carolyn Wright Jan 2021

Territoriality As A Factor In Nursing Incivility, Carolyn Wright

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractIncivility and hazing in health care results in unsafe environments, not only for the nurse but also for the client, facility, and other health professionals. The project site, a privately owned medical clinic, has a high employee turnover rate with exit interviews indicating bullying and incivility from long-term nursing staff toward new employees as critical reasons for employee resignation. The literature offers minimal information regarding territoriality, a concept associated with aggressive (i.e., alpha) behaviors in animals and humans and incivility in nursing. The purpose of the project was to identify whether territoriality was a behavioral factor that may have contributed …

Go to article

African Immigrants' U.S. Experience Of Mental Health, Mental Illness, And Help-Seeking, Bartholomew Edem-Enang Jan 2021

African Immigrants' U.S. Experience Of Mental Health, Mental Illness, And Help-Seeking, Bartholomew Edem-Enang

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractThe purpose of this study was to qualitatively examine and explore African immigrants’ U.S. experience of mental health, mental illness, and help-seeking. Mental health, mental illness, and help-seeking are misunderstood public health issues. Indigenous cultural stigma concerning mental illness and help-seeking and mistrust of Western medicine inhibit African immigrants from reporting mental illness and seeking treatment. The segmented assimilation theory (SAT) and cultural risk theory (CRT) and interpretive phenomenological analysis (IPA) were used to guide data collection and analysis. Data were collected from a sample of 9 African immigrants who migrated from countries within the Five Main Regions of Africa …

Go to article

Alternative Treatment Method For Dementia In The Southwest Region Of Arizona, Angela May Lynch Jan 2021

Alternative Treatment Method For Dementia In The Southwest Region Of Arizona, Angela May Lynch

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The purpose of this qualitative professional administrative study was to explore anddevelop a new innovative method of treatment for dementia clients using reminiscence therapy (RT) in a proposed 24-hour care village in Tucson, Arizona. In this proposed 24- hour care village, patients would remain in an environment conducive to a safe and normal lifestyle. This administrative study is a qualitative study using grounded theory and sources of evidence included current research, personal interviews, and articles. Data were collected from interviews with 10 administrators of memory care facilities in Tucson, Arizona, to determine if existing administrative staff were aware of RT …

Go to article

The Preparedness Of Suffolk County’S Emergency Managers For Drinking Water Disruptions, Richard Rotanz Jan 2021

The Preparedness Of Suffolk County’S Emergency Managers For Drinking Water Disruptions, Richard Rotanz

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractFor many years, a chronic issue within Suffolk County, New York, one of the most populated counties in the country, is the deterioration of its drinking water along with its polluted beaches, lakes, and rivers, which are imperative for tourism and the fishing industry. However, little is known regarding the awareness of, and the preparedness towards, any disruptions of drinking water by the community of emergency managers. Narrowing this gap of knowledge was the purpose of this study. The research question examined the knowledge of, the attitudes, and the preparedness levels of the emergency management community of Suffolk County involving …

Go to article

African American Male Ex-Felons' Perspectives Regarding Felon Disenfranchisement, Tymesha Alegra Whitehead Jan 2021

African American Male Ex-Felons' Perspectives Regarding Felon Disenfranchisement, Tymesha Alegra Whitehead

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The tradition of disenfranchising those convicted in the United States of felony crimes has profound historical racial roots that have persisted for decades in the United States. The persistent practice of felon disenfranchisement in the 21st century challenges the essence of democracy, with over six million people disenfranchised. The need for major reform efforts to restore voting rights to ex-felons has been exposed due to this issue. The literature revealed no studies have been undertaken regarding this phenomenon in terms of those directly affected by it. Therefore, the purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to understand the effect of …

Go to article

Cyberattacks Strategy For Nonprofit Organizations, Yawo Obimpe Kondo Jan 2021

Cyberattacks Strategy For Nonprofit Organizations, Yawo Obimpe Kondo

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Information system security managers (ISSM) in nonprofits face increased cyberattack cases because nonprofits often use basic technology to save on costs. Nonprofit owners and managers need solutions to secure their data from cyberattacks. Grounded in the general systems theory, the purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to explore strategies ISSMs at nonprofit organizations employ to protect against cyberattacks. Participants included five IT managers and directors of information technology in charge of security management in nonprofit organizations in Maryland, the District of Columbia, and Virginia. Data was generated through interviews and reviews of archival documents. The data analysis technique …

Go to article

Emotional Support Dogs’ Effects On Anxiety, Depression, And Somatization In Elementary Students, Truman Arthur James Spring Jan 2021

Emotional Support Dogs’ Effects On Anxiety, Depression, And Somatization In Elementary Students, Truman Arthur James Spring

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Within the last few decades, there has been an ever-increasing clinical role for trained emotional support dogs (ESD) and their trained therapists in hospitals, courtrooms, and schools. More recently, within the last 5 years, there has been a prevalent trend toward introducing ESDs into schools, which has created an ongoing controversy about the legitimacy of this practice due to the lack of objective data and research on the topic. In this study, archival data analysis was conducted using data from 68 students with elevated scores for anxiety, depression, or somatization, 34 of which were in the treatment group and the …

Go to article

Managers’ Challenges Complying With Environmental Regulations In Ghana’S Mining Sector, Augustin Tandoh Jan 2021

Managers’ Challenges Complying With Environmental Regulations In Ghana’S Mining Sector, Augustin Tandoh

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Even though Ghana’s mining industry has been and continues to be of remarkable benefit to the national economy, environmental pollution continues to plague the industry. The purpose of the qualitative case study was to obtain the perceptions of 9 nongovernmental organization (NGO) stakeholders of the challenges faced by managers in the Ghanaian mining industry tasked with complying with Ghana Environmental Protection Agency (GEPA) regulations. Freeman’s stakeholder theory was the theoretical framework of the study. Data were collected from semistructured interviews with a purposive sample of Ghanaian and international NGO representatives who sought to work with, or even shame and pressure, …

Go to article

A Study Of Public Awareness About The Threat Of Earthquakes, Mike Allen Jan 2021

A Study Of Public Awareness About The Threat Of Earthquakes, Mike Allen

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Noticeably absent from the existing literature was a correlation study which would have gauged individual awareness for earthquakes. The literature search provided one quantifiable narrative that correlated college education with awareness about earthquakes; the study found that college graduates scored higher points on the awareness test for earthquakes than their counterparts who had no college education. The research question for this study examined the possible correlations between personal characteristics and awareness about earthquakes. A survey was developed and used to find hypothesized correlations between public awareness and a number of variables such as age, gender, education, income, and professional leadership. …

Go to article

Molecular Responses To Catastrophic Molting In A Wild Marine Mammal, Anna Keith Jan 2021

Molecular Responses To Catastrophic Molting In A Wild Marine Mammal, Anna Keith

University of the Pacific Theses and Dissertations

While most mammals shed their hair and skin either continuously or seasonally, northern elephant seals (Mirounga angustirostris) undergo an annual catastrophic molt, in which they shed their entire fur and underlying skin layer in the span of just three weeks. Due to the energetic and thermoregulatory constraints of molting and the large distances between their coastal rookeries and foraging grounds, elephant seals must remain on land and fast for the duration of their molt. Previous studies of molting northern elephant seals have examined endocrine and metabolic adjustments to fasting, but not the molecular processes underlying molting. We examined changes in …

Go to article

Changes In The Vertical Stratification Of Neotropical Nymphalidae At Forest Edges In Relation To Light And Temperature Conditions, Brian Koji Oye Jan 2021

Changes In The Vertical Stratification Of Neotropical Nymphalidae At Forest Edges In Relation To Light And Temperature Conditions, Brian Koji Oye

University of the Pacific Theses and Dissertations

The composition of neotropical fruit-feeding nymphalid butterflies assemblages often varies by location and stratum within a forest. Recent work has shown that vertical stratification in particular may serve as barrier to gene flow, indicating the potential role vertical stratification may play in evolution. At forest edges, the distinction between assemblages has been described to decrease, with species considered to be canopy specialists descending to the forest understory. The similarity in light conditions between the canopy and understory strata at edges or disturbed habitat is hypothesized to be responsible for this phenomenon. We conducted a study using standardized sampling to document …

Go to article

The Effects Of Touchscreen Technology Usage On The Social Emotional Development Of Preschool-Aged Children, Amanda Marie Sharpe Jan 2021

The Effects Of Touchscreen Technology Usage On The Social Emotional Development Of Preschool-Aged Children, Amanda Marie Sharpe

University of the Pacific Theses and Dissertations

Technology plays an increasingly significant role in the lives of children and adults, and it is imperative to understand if and how it impacts the development of psychological processes and the subsequent behaviors of preschool-aged children so that we can better understand how to navigate guidelines for use and interventions for overuse. To better understand the relationship between screen time use and a child’s social emotional development, it is important to consider parent time on screens, child time on screens, and any effects an older sibling in the home or parental gender may have on their development. This study gathered …

Go to article

First Prev Next Last