Digital Commons Network^™

Exploration Of Effective Leadership Traits To Retain Millennials In Federal Service, Tony Augustin Damian

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The federal government faces critical human capital management challenges because of workforce retirements. Millennial retention is key to addressing some of these challenges. However, job satisfaction surveys have indicated retention concerns for existing millennial federal employees. The federal sector is struggling to compete with the private sector in employee retention among the millennial generation. An intrinsic motivation approach was used in this study, focusing on leadership and its role in retention. Strauss and Howe’s generational theory, the trait-based approach to leadership, and three leadership styles—transformational, ethical, and authentic—comprised the conceptual framework. The purpose was to explore the preferred leadership traits …

Decreasing Pressure Injuries With Early Mitigation Strategies For The Elderly In The Intensive Care Unit, Janet L. Wilson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Healthcare acquired pressure injuries (HAPIs) are a serious and debilitating condition in the elderly, and it is therefore critical to reduce the incidence of HAPIs. Mitigation strategies are often implemented for patients who score in the highest risk categories on the Braden Scale for Predicting Pressure Sore Risk©. Yet, the evidence suggests vulnerable older adults who score in the midrange of the Braden Scale, and specifically, the mobility subscale, develop HAPI more frequently. The review question centered on the evaluation of the current evidence for early mitigation strategies in response to Braden Scale midrange mobility subscale scores. The gap addressed …

The Effects Of Exposure To Appropriated Slurs On Stereotype Threat, Charles Mason Guthrie

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Appropriated slurs are refurbished forms of derogatory terms that originate from an outgroup but are adapted by the target group as ingroup terms with specific contextual and application norms. However, the use of appropriated slurs is often debated within the appropriating social group. Within the Black American community, one side of the argument views appropriated slurs as empowering while the other side holds that the underlying slur in its appropriated form causes harm to the integrity of the Black American culture and psyche. Recent survey research supports the perspective that appropriated slurs may have some social benefits; however, social science …

The Social Work Perspective Regarding The Underutilization Of Mental Health Services Among African American Families, Carissma Tempest Hughes

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The underutilization of mental health services amongst African American families has been a long-standing concern in the African American community within large metropolitan cities in Texas. The metropolitan cities are Austin, Dallas/Fort Worth, Houston, San Antonio and McAllen. There remain experiences that impede families’ ability to engage in mental health services. These experiences involve the conflict between prayer and therapy, stigma, lack of awareness of local mental health services, and cultural competency. The purpose of this qualitative research study was to explore experiences of African American families and how those experiences affect mental health engagement, as well as how practicing …

The Effect Of Victim’S Responses To Coercive Sexual Harassment On Bystander Intentions And Moral Perceptions, Inna M. Learn

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Female graduate students are targets of coercive sexual harassment (SH) three times more than female undergraduates; 67.8% of their harassers were university faculty. While SH victims expected peer support, peers often socially rejected female victims of coercive SH. Gray and Wegner’s theory of dyadic morality and Bowes-Sperry and O’Leary-Kelly’s bystander response model guided this quantitative study to examine the effect of victim response on helping intentions by peers. After reading the same vignette that described coercive SH, 207 student participants read one of four randomly assigned victim’s responses: victim did nothing, directly confronted the professor during the incident, sought peer …

Perspectives Of Online Cda Recipients Regarding Development Of Expertise Without Apprenticeship, Victoria Lynn Long-Coleman

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Little was known about how online Child Development Associate (CDA) credential recipients developed practical expertise in early childhood education (ECE) without the benefit of an apprenticeship. Learning the practice of teaching from a qualified more knowledgeable other (MKO) through an apprenticeship is a feature of teacher preparation in public school contexts but is missing in preparation for child care teachers. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore how online CDA recipients developed practical expertise in ECE without a supervised apprenticeship. Vygotsky’s social construction of knowledge was the conceptual framework of the study. The research question addressed how …

Reducing Fall Rates At A Long-Term-Care Facility, Francis Ortego

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In the United States, older adults often experience fall events that may result in physical, mental, and financial hardship. Since the project site was experiencing a significant number of patient falls, a fall-prevention quality improvement (QI) program was implemented. Guided by the diffusion of innovation theory and the plan-do-study-act (PDSA) model, the purpose of this doctoral project was to evaluate the effectiveness of that program to determine if the monthly fall rate in the facility would decrease during the next 6 months. The project site provided deidentified data in the form of monthly fall-rate totals as collected from the long-term-care …

Identifying Training Competencies To Enhance Community-Based Program After-School Volunteer Performance, Charlene Sanders

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractIdentifying Training Competencies to Enhance Community-Based Program After-School Volunteer Performance by Charlene Sanders

MS, Walden University 2017 BA, Hampton, 2016

Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillmentof the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Human & Social Services––General

Walden University May 2021   Abstract Between 2013 and 2014, 25.2% of 10th grade algebra students who worked with 870,000 adult volunteers in after-school programs in the United States met their goals of improved math proficiency scores. A gap exists involving volunteer training strategies for after-school programs that are effective in improving math proficiency of 10th grade math students. The purpose of this …

Sustainable Luxury Fashion Consumption Through A Circular Economy Business Model, Mairy Aminatou Alim

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The luxury fashion industry, forecasted to reach a value of 84.04 billion U.S. dollars by 2025, has stalled in adopting a circular economy (CE) business model to raise sustainable luxury consumption in mature markets. The purpose of this qualitative, multiple case study was to describe CE business experts’ views on how luxury fashion leaders can make a profitable shift from a linear to a circular business model in mature markets. This study was framed by two conceptual models: Donato et al.’s concept of sustainable luxury consumption and Chiaroni and Urbinati’s concept of adopting a circular business model. Data were collected …

Relationship Between Faculty Age, Stress, And Intent To Leave Academic Medical Institutions, Susan Christian Atterton

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Faculty intent to leave academic medicine affects clinical productivity, patient and teaching service quality, and institutions' profitability. Understanding factors associated with faculty intent to leave is critical for healthcare and human resources leadership within academic medical institutions in efforts to reduce faculty intent to leave. Grounded in Graves’ spiral dynamics theory, the purpose of this correlational study was to examine the relationship between faculty age, faculty stress, and faculty intent to leave academic medical institutions. The data were collected and analyzed for 125 faculty physicians with an M.D., Ph.D., D.O., or M.B.B.S. degree in an academic medical institution in the …

Predictors Of Recidivism For Offenders With Substance Use Disorders, Yvonne Cheeks

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractRecidivism is a substantial problem in the United States due to the number of paroles/probationers reoffending. The U.S. prison system has become the new asylum and a revolving door for individuals, which is even more true for those with substance use disorders (SUDs). Once these individuals leave prison, they are likely to end up reoffending at some point in the future due to substance use/abuse (i.e., committing crimes to support substance use, selling substances, etc.). Scholarly literature lacked studies examining the predictors of recidivism for offenders with SUD in North Carolina. . The purpose of this quantitative, correlational, cross-sectional study …

Consequences Of Corporate Social Responsibility Initiatives For Stakeholders, May Chian

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Corporate social responsibility (CSR) is a self-regulation model for businesses to be socially accountable to society and stakeholders. The research problem is that some managers have a limited understanding of the consequences of strategic CSR initiatives for stakeholders to maximize company’s profits in the United States. The purpose of this qualitative study was to examine the implications of U.S. corporations’ CSR initiatives for stakeholders while maximizing profitability. The conceptual framework that grounded this study was the stakeholder theory of CSR and agency theory, which provided an appropriate lens for data collection and analysis. An online questionnaire of 10 open-ended questions …

Emotional Intelligence, Resilience, And Stress Among Women In Treatment For Substance Disorders, Zummuna Zonzanna Davis

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Emotional intelligence (EI) is the ability of an individual to perceive, use, comprehend, and regulate emotions. While relationships between EI and risk of drug abuse have been explored, possible mechanisms through which higher EI may serve as a protective factor remain undefined; there was a need to understand how EI was related to stress among women with substance use disorders. The purpose of this study was to examine resilience as a mediator between EI and stress, a risk factor, among women in treatment for chemical dependency. The theoretical framework for this study was based on Salovey and Mayer’s EI model. …

The Effect Of Coding Classes On Mathematics Achievement Of Preschool Students, Ebru Hacer Erbilgin

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The problem that inspired this study is that Turkish students’ mathematics rankings on global exams such as The Program for the International Students Assessment (PISA) and Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMMS) had been below the average for many years, a problem that may have rooted in children’s early experiences with mathematics. The purpose of this quantitative pretest posttest quasi-experimental control group study was to determine the effect of computer-programming classes with Code Studio on mathematics scores of preschool students. Siemens’s connectivism theory for the digital age formed the foundation for this research. A single research question regarding …

Strategies For Implementing Internet Of Things Devices In Manufacturing Environments, Todd Efrain Hernandez

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The Internet of Things (IoT) has been exploited as a threat vector for cyberattacks in manufacturing environments. Manufacturing industry leaders are concerned with cyberattacks because of the associated costs of damages and lost production for their organizations. Grounded in the general systems theory, the purpose of this multiple case study was to explore strategies electrical controls engineers use to implement secure IoT devices in manufacturing environments. The study participants were eight electrical controls engineers working in three separate manufacturing facilities located in the Midwest region of the United States. The data were collected by semistructured interviews and 15 organizational documents. …

Addressing Work-Induced Stress And Depressive Symptoms In Police Officers, Demetrius Markey Latham Jr

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Police officers across the nation face a significant issue as it relates to work-induced stress and depressive symptoms. Specifically, the problem is the lack of preventative mental health services available to officers. This study aims to explore the perceived presence of work-induced stress and depressive symptoms in patrol officers employed by the Field Police Department (Pseudonym; FPD). To gather these data, the potential research participants were offered the ability to take an online anonymous survey. The results indicated that many of the survey participants were suffering from work-related stress and depressive symptoms. The research results further displayed many of the …

Elementary Reading Teachers’ Perspectives On Differentiating Reading Instruction For Low-Socioeconomic Students, Edwina Jones

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Differentiated instruction (DI) is recognized as a factor that could improve the reading disparity among students despite diverse socioeconomic backgrounds. Few studies have been conducted that document elementary public school reading teachers’ perspectives on differentiating reading instruction and selecting DI strategies for low-performing, low-socioeconomic (LP-LSES) students. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to understand third- through fifth-grade reading teachers’ perspectives on their abilities to differentiate reading instruction and select DI strategies effectively. The conceptual framework that guided this study was Tomlinson’s DI model and Vygotsky’s social constructivism theory. The research questions focused on the perspectives of third- through …

Parole Officers’ Perspective On The Needs Of Indigenous Offenders On Conditional Release, Ritesh Dalip Narayan

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Indigenous offenders are overrepresented in all aspects of the Canadian criminal justice system, including corrections. Indigenous offenders are overrepresented in the prison population and are least likely to be granted an early release from prison. Indigenous offenders also disproportionately breach their conditional release orders and consequently spend more time incarcerated than non-Indigenous offenders. To understand the reasons behind the breaches, need-based theoretical lenses were used to analyze data. Sixteen parole officers were interviewed using a narrative design where participants shared their accounts on supervising Indigenous offenders while highlighting the needs which they felt were not being met by their Indigenous …

The Effects Of Sheltered Instruction Observation Protocol Strategies On The Reading Proficiency Of English Language Learners, Robin Padget

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

English language learners (ELLs) need additional support to achieve academic success. The problem addressed in this study was the need to know if the sheltered instruction observation protocol (SIOP) support for ELL students was effective in improving their reading achievement. The purpose of this causal-comparative study was to determine if there was a significant difference in reading achievement scores between ELLs who received the SIOP support and those who did not. SIOP provides a framework for teaching both language and content instruction. Krashen’s language acquisition theory was used as the theoretical framework for this study. The research questions compared grade …

Volunteer Motivation Of Individuals In Rural Pacific Northwest, Lenea Kindred Pierzchanowski

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Volunteering is a selfless social action in which an individual chooses to participate through personal motivations. These actions of public service are a combination of need-based vacancies within organizations and unpaid compensation for filling those needs. The purpose of this research was to identify motivational attributes of individuals who volunteer in the identified rural area using one-on-one semi-structured interviews through the lens of the volunteer process model, in addition to the social identity, ecological, and social capital theories. The 15 participants for this study were over the age of 18, fluently spoke and read English, and had been a volunteer …

Middle School Teachers’ Perceptions Of Using Social Media In Teaching, Naquai Ali Roundtree

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Secondary teachers and college instructors use social media to engage their students in learning; however, little is known about middle school teachers' use. The problem is that although middle school students intuitively use social media in their personal lives, it is unclear why and how teachers use it for instructional purposes with learners who are assumed to be digitally literate. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore the extent to which eight middle school teachers from two schools in one school district used social media with students for teaching. The two conceptual frameworks used for this study …

Impact Of Gender Of The Offender On Perceptions And Criminal Sentencing Of Child Sexual Abuse Cases In Puerto Rico, Sigrid Enid Vázquez-Tirado

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The gender of the adult offender may influence perceptions and criminal sentencing of child sexual abuse (CSA) cases in Puerto Rico. Extralegal factors such as culture and stereotypes may impact how CSA crimes are perceived and handled. The traumagenic dynamic model and the focal concerns theory of sentencing provided the theoretical frameworks for the study. Data were gathered by convenience sampling. To measure perceptions and sentencing decisions, 525 participants were asked to read a hypothetical case of CSA by a teacher with a minor student. Point-biserial correlational analyses were used to assess the influence of the independent variable (sex of …

Strategies For Improving Small Restaurant Success Rates Beyond Three Years, Joseph Wilder

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Only 65% of new restaurants remain in business after the first three years of operations. Leaders of small restaurants who lack strategies to ensure sustainability witness significant financial losses in their organizations. Grounded in the general systems theory, the purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to explore the strategies small restaurant owners use to sustain their business beyond three years. A purposeful sampling of three small restaurant owners in Washington County, TN, who successfully used strategies to ensure sustainability beyond three years participated in this study. Data were collected from semistructured interviews, financial documents, and public websites and …

Exploring The Religious Motives Of The Boko Haram Terrorism In Nigeria, Andrew Abah

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Boko Haram (BH) terrorism in Nigeria has persisted for over a decade, and the attacks continue to get more sophisticated, deadly, and well-coordinated with each passing year. Given the sect’s focus on religious institutions, especially churches and mosques considered not to be practicing the kind of Islam the BH expresses, the purpose of this dissertation was to explore the religious motivation that drives their terrorist activities. The primary research question that guided this qualitative study on the religious motivations, reconciliation of activities and beliefs, and perspectives regarding minimizing BH terrorism in Nigeria. The study’s theoretical framework was the frustration-aggression theory …

General And Special Educators’ Perceptions Of Transition For Students With Disabilities, Doris Louise Rouson Butler

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Students with disabilities (SWDs) require a transition process to support high school graduation and continuation to higher education or the workforce. In a rural district in a southern state, the problem investigated was only 37% of SWDs were graduating from high schools in the target district, compared to 79.9% of students without disabilities, which suggested that the transition design and implementation did not support SWDs’ needs. Using a transition-focused conceptual framework, the purpose of this basic qualitative study was to understand the perceptions of educators regarding the design and implementation of the transition process for SWDs at the high schools …

Sociodemographic And Psychosocial Factors And Wellbeing Among Adults 65 And Older In England, Dainelle Clark

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The increased number of older adults living longer parallels with the growth of public health concerns regarding the impact of sociodemographic and psychosocial factors (e.g., loneliness and social isolation) on older adults' wellbeing. The purpose of this quantitative study was to examine the association between loneliness, social isolation, the combined model of loneliness, and social isolation on wellbeing among older adults when accounting for age, gender, ethnicity, and social support. The socioecological model (SEM) was used to evaluate the multiple levels of environmental determinants for loneliness, social isolation, and wellbeing. The target population included older adults 65 years and older …

Strategies For Reducing Voluntary Turnover In The Nonprofit Sector, Alisa Elliot

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Voluntary employee turnover is a critical problem that affects every business entity. Mitigating voluntary turnover and increasing employee retention allows business managers to increase organization performance, reduce financial burdens, and promote business sustainability. Grounded in Herzberg’s two-factor theory, the purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to explore strategies business managers use to mitigate voluntary turnover and increase employee retention in the nonprofit sector. The participants were three business managers from three different nonprofit organizations in a metropolitan area in Texas. Data were collected from semistructured interviews, organizational documents, and artifacts. Yin’s five-step process was used to analyze the …

Nonusable Enterprise Systems And Productivity And Well-Being Of Canadian Automobile Dealership Accountants, Manuel Felicio

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Enterprise system software is adapted by organizations to automate business processes. However, adaptation failures ranging from 50% to 90% make an enterprise system nonusable, costing millions of dollars to companies. The problem was the systemic barrier hindering productivity, which impels a phenomenological study to explore on what are the lived experiences of Canadian automotive dealership accountants related to their productivity and well-being when the enterprise system is nonusable. The research question asked, what are the lived experiences of Canadian automotive dealership accountants related to their productivity and well-being when the ES is nonusable. The conceptual framework for this research was …

The Moderating Effect Of Self-Esteem On Servant Leadership And Job Outcomes In The Hospitality Industry, Marylouise Fitzgibbon

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The hospitality industry has the highest level of turnover of any sector in the United States. Turnover intentions are impacted by an employee’s level of job satisfaction and their self-esteem. Research consistently shows that servant leadership is a highly effective leadership style in the hospitality industry, as it focuses on serving others and placing their needs first. However, it is unknown how the relationship between servant leadership, job satisfaction, and turnover intention is moderated by employee self-esteem in the hospitality industry. This quantitative study was aimed at answering that research question. Servant leadership theory and social exchange theory served as …

Stressors Of Single Fatherhood In California, Dr. Kenneth Jones, Jr.

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This grounded theory study aimed to address the lack of awareness and resources available for single custodial fathers to address stressors in caring for their children. The findings of this qualitative study were derived from electronic correspondence and semi-structured individual interviews with 16 single primary custodial fathers residing in the state of California. The data were analyzed inductively following Percy et al.’s step-by-step process, which generated the following overarching themes: (a) societal stressors, (b) the aftermath of separation from child’s mother, (c) the reason for separation from child’s mother, (d) hands-on work in raising a child and accomplishing chores, (e) …