Digital Commons Network^™

Middle School Teachers’ Experiences Using Internet-Based Technology In Literacy Instruction, Shelly Butler

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractResearchers found that the integration of internet technology into K–12 classrooms can improve student outcomes. Self-reported statements from 15 teachers and district survey results at the local setting, a rural school in a Southern state, indicated that sixth- through eighth-grade English Language Arts (ELA) teachers were not making effective use of research-supported internet resources in literacy instruction and assessment, and it is not known why. The purpose of this explanatory, qualitative case study, which included Knowles’s theory of adult learning as a framework, was to understand how ELA teachers were using internet resources in literacy instruction. The research questions were …

Physical Activity And Diet Quality In Relation To Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: A Cross-Sectional Study In A Representative Sample Of Us Adults Using Nhanes 2017–2018, Carrie R Daniel, Jessica P Hwang, Lorna H Mcneill, Aaron P Thrift

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

The association of physical activity (PA) and diet quality with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and NAFLD-related fibrosis have never been examined in a representative sample of U.S. adults using a more precise form of measuring NAFLD. The purpose of this study was to assess the associations of PA and diet quality (Healthy Eating Index [HEI]-2015) with NAFLD and a subset with advanced fibrosis (F3-4) as assessed by vibration-controlled transient elastography with controlled attenuation parameter in a representative sample of U.S. adults. This cross-sectional analysis uses data from 2017-2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. NAFLD was defined as controlled …

Clinical Reasoning Education In The Clerkship Years: A Cross-Disciplinary National Needs Assessment, Christopher E Mooney, David E Manthey, Valerie J Lang

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

BACKGROUND: Improving clinical reasoning education has been identified as an important strategy to reduce diagnostic error-an important cause of adverse patient outcomes. Clinical reasoning is fundamental to each specialty, yet the extent to which explicit instruction in clinical reasoning occurs across specialties in the clerkship years remains unclear.

METHOD: The Alliance for Clinical Education (ACE) Clinical Reasoning Workgroup and the Directors of Clinical Skills Courses (DOCS) Clinical Reasoning Workgroup collaborated to develop a clinical reasoning needs assessment survey. The survey questionnaire covered seven common clinical reasoning topics including illness scripts, semantic qualifiers, cognitive biases and dual process theory. Questionnaires were …

Effective Strategies To Reduce Voluntary Employee Turnover Intentions In The Retail Sector, Connie Latoyia Owens

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Voluntary employee turnover is a complex business problem that hurts organizations’ productivity and profits. High employee turnover rates require retail business leaders to implement strategies to help prevent employees from leaving their jobs. Grounded in transformational leadership theory, the purpose of this qualitative multiple-case study was to explore leadership strategies retail store managers use to reduce voluntary employee turnover. The participants included six retail managers from two mid-to-large retail food organizations in Chicago who successfully reduced voluntary employee turnover. Semistructured interviews and public company information were used for data collection. Data were analyzed using Yin’s five-step method. Four themes were …

Strategies For Retaining Nurses In Rural Healthcare Settings, Michelle Lee Pratt Yeater

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Rural healthcare leader deficiency in implementing successful strategies to retain nurses can deleteriously impact the quality of patient care and impede the organization's financial performance. Grounded in Herzberg’s two-factor theory, the purpose of this qualitative multiple-case study was to explore successful nurse retention strategies used by rural healthcare leaders. Data were collected from semistructured interviews with eight pastoral healthcare leaders in the eastern region of the United States who improved nurse retention and a review of relevant supporting documentation from company websites. Coding was used for data analysis and theme determination. Three themes emerged: effective nurse retention incentives, meaningful relationships …

Experiences With Addiction Transfer Among Weight Loss Surgery Recipients, Latoya Smalls

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Obesity remains a significant problem linked to psychological, behavioral, metabolic, and environmental factors. Some individuals who struggle with obesity turn to weight loss surgery. Studies exploring the long-term effects of weight loss surgery and its connection with transfer addiction have reached conflicting findings. This phenomenological study was conducted according to procedures developed by Husserl and Giorgi. Data were collected for this qualitative study through semistructured interviews with 10 bariatric weight loss surgery recipients. Data were analyzed using the five stages of Giorgi’s descriptive phenomenological method process of data analysis. Analysis of the data led to five themes and eight subthemes. …

Juvenile Recidivism Risk Factors From The Juvenile Justice Professional Perspective, Fotini Stamidis

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Juvenile crime and recidivism have devastated Baltimore City, Maryland, especially in the quality of life and social bond, producing fear in the city’s communities. The current situation is increasing the need to promote a better understanding of juvenile recidivism and delinquency of the risk factors causing juveniles to re-offend. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to add to the knowledge base on juvenile recidivism risk factors from the perspectives of juvenile justice professionals. Hirschi’s social bond theory was used to explore juvenile justice professionals’ experiences and perspectives on recidivism risk factors. Research questions focused on the perceptions of …

Wellness Programs: Strategies For Increasing Employees’ Productivity And Reducing Health Care Costs, Lymari Rentas González

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Business executives risk higher healthcare costs and absenteeism rates without implementing cost-effective strategies to support wellness within the organization. To offset rising healthcare costs and absenteeism, executives should implement wellness programs as a component of the benefits package provided to their employees and families. Grounded in the theory of planned behavior, the purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to explore the cost-effective strategies that executives in the private and not-for-profit sectors implemented to encourage employees to adopt healthy habits for increasing productivity and decreasing organizations’ healthcare costs. Six executives from the healthcare sector within the southern region of …

The Effect Of Parental Socialization On The Postsecondary Plans Of Latino/Hispanic Students, Nilda Ivette Rosario

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Latino/Hispanics are one of the largest ethnic minority groups in the United States, yet they are underrepresented in higher education. Grounded on the social cognitive theory and the Hoover-Dempsey and Sandler model, the purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between parental expectations, parental involvement, parental self-efficacy, and postsecondary planning of Latino/Hispanic students. The research questions were formulated to determine whether parental factors among Latino/Hispanic parents can predict postsecondary educational outcomes among Latino/Hispanic students. A quantitative correlational research study design was used. The target population was Latino/Hispanic parents residing in the United States with at least one child …

Perceptions Of English Language Arts Teachers Related To Low Student Performance On The Parcc Assessment, Melissa Smith

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractThe problem explored in this study was the low achievement of third grade students on the English Language Arts (ELA) Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers Assessment (PARCC). The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore teacher perceptions about third grade students in one charter school who were consistently scoring low on the PARCC assessment in ELA. The conceptual framework for this study was Vygotsky's Social Constructivist Theory. Vygotsky's Social Constructivist theory suggests that when learners are engaged in the process of learning, they are able to learn from the person who is presenting the …

Strategies For Catalyzing Supply Chain Innovation In Midsized Manufacturing Firms, Matthew J. Szukalowski Iii

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Supply chain inflexibility results in reduced efficiency and profitability. Without supply chain flexibility, supply chain managers in manufacturing firms risk the loss of competitive advantage due to reduced efficiency and profitability. Grounded in business process engineering conceptual framework, the purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to explore strategies supply chain leaders in manufacturing organizations use to achieve supply chain flexibility. The participants were five supply chain leaders in the manufacturing industry in the midwestern United States and successfully implemented innovative solutions to achieve supply chain flexibility. Data were collected using semistructured interviews and a review of company documents …

Experiences Of Critical Care Nurse Managers In Addressing Nurses' Work-Related Stress, Mariana Tsucuneli

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractNurses who work in the critical care unit are more likely to experience work-related stress, fatigue, understaffing, undesirable performance outcomes, and compromised workplace safety than general care nurses. Nurse managers in these units possess insights into nurses' stress-inducing challenges, in addition to managerial and administrative perspectives. Yet there is a lack of available knowledge about the experiences of critical care nurse managers in addressing nurses' work-related stress. The purpose of this study was to explore critical care nurse managers’ experiences of potential strategies to effectively address work-related stress among nurses. The job-demand resource model was the theoretical framework for the …

Strategies To Retain Seasoned Federal Acquisition Employees, Patricia Dianne Wells

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Failure to retain seasoned acquisition employees negatively impacts an organization’s performance and outcomes. Managers need retention strategies to retain seasoned employees, as failure to retain seasoned employees results in capability gaps, decreased productivity, and increased expenses associated with recruiting and training new hires and transfers. Grounded in the social exchange theory, the purpose of this qualitative single case study was to explore strategies midlevel managers use to retain seasoned acquisition employees. The primary participants consisted of six midlevel federal acquisition managers of a federal agency who used strategies to retain seasoned acquisition employees. The secondary participants were five employees from …

Retention Of African American Male Teachers In Elementary And Middle Schools, Marla West

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractThe representation of African American male teachers in elementary urban schools has decreased. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to investigate administrators’ and African American male teachers’ perceptions of how administrators are challenged to support the retention of African American male teachers in elementary and middle schools in the focus urban school district. Social, cognitive, and transformational leadership theories were used as a framework to guide the study. Research questions addressed how administrators perceive the ways they support the retention of African American male teachers and how African American male teachers perceive that support. Purposeful sampling was used …

Hypermethylation Of Pi3k-Akt Signalling Pathway Genes Is Associated With Human Neural Tube Defects, Xiao Han, Shengju Yin, Robert M Cabrera, John W Steele, Yunping Lei, Xuanye Cao, Richard H Finnell, Linlin Wang, Aiguo Ren

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Neural tube defects (NTDs) are a group of common and severe congenital malformations. The PI3K-AKT signalling pathway plays a crucial role in the neural tube development. There is limited evidence concerning any possible association between aberrant methylation in PI3K-AKT signalling pathway genes and NTDs. Therefore, we aimed to investigate potential associations between aberrant methylation of PI3K-AKT pathway genes and NTDs. Methylation studies of PI3K-AKT pathway genes utilizing microarray genome-methylation data derived from neural tissues of ten NTD cases and eight non-malformed controls were performed. Targeted DNA methylation analysis was subsequently performed in an independent cohort of 73 NTD cases and …

Teacher Perspectives On Integrating Technology Into Social Studies Instruction, Karen Diane Caldwell

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Social studies instruction is vital to connecting students to the world and learning 21st- century skills needed for college and careers. Teachers’ knowledge and skills are essential for effective technology integration in instruction. The purpose of this qualitative exploratory case study was to explore the perspectives of teachers in an urban elementary school district on the use of instructional technology in terms of the potential for properly integrating technology in studies instruction. Roger’s Diffusion of Innovations theory was the conceptual framework that guided this study. The research questions focused on teachers’ interpretations of their knowledge of laptop computers, their communication …

Nuclear Progesterone Receptor Expressed By The Cortical Thymic Epithelial Cells Dictates Thymus Involution In Murine Pregnancy, Jae-Wook Jeong, Ripla Arora, John P Lydon, Margaret G Petroff

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Progesterone is a gonadal pro-gestational hormone that is absolutely necessary for the success of pregnancy. Most notable actions of progesterone are observed in the female reproductive organs, the uterus and the ovary. Acting through the nuclear progesterone receptor (PGR), progesterone prepares the endometrium for implantation of the embryo. Interestingly, the maternal thymus also is a known expressor of Pgr; its absence is associated with murine pregnancy complications. However, the localization of its expression and its functional importance were not known. Here, we used a transgenic dual fluorescent reporter mouse model and genetic deletion of Pgr in Foxn1+ thymic epithelial …

Challenges Nonprofit Organization Leaders Encounter With Voluntary Employee Turnover, Terrance Carr

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Employees within the nonprofit sector who voluntarily depart from an organization can have unfortunate financial implications. Nonprofit leaders are concerned about voluntary turnover, which can be costly due to replacing employees. Grounded in transformational leadership theory, the purpose of this qualitative multiple-case study was to explore strategies nonprofit leaders use to reduce voluntary employee turnover. The participants were three nonprofit leaders from the Houston area who have experience reducing voluntary employee turnover in the nonprofit sector. The data were collected using semi-structured interviews. Three themes were identified through thematic analysis: (a) employee retention strategies, (b) employee incentives, and (c) organizational …

Nursing Faculty Experiences With Interactive Games And Gaming And Student Preparedness, Laura S. Dana

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Although instructional strategies to enhance student learning is a critical component of the faculty role, nursing education has been slow to incorporate games and gaming into the learning environment. The primary purpose for this qualitative phenomenological research study was to explore the lived experiences of nursing faculty of associate degree programs, specifically regarding the use of games and gaming as interactive, experiential teaching and learning strategies. This study was designed to answer the question, “What are the lived experiences of faculty who use games and gaming as instructional approaches in associate degree nursing (ADN) education.” Through one-on-one interviews via Zoom …

Motivational Strategies Warehouse Managers Use To Improve Employees’ Performance, Brooks Latonya Demming

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Failure to improve employee performance can have unfavorable organizational outcomes. Organizational leaders are concerned about employee performance because improving employee performance is critical for achieving organizational goals. Grounded in Vroom’s expectancy theory of motivation, the purpose of this multiple-case study was to explore strategies warehouse managers use to improve employees’ performance. Data were collected using semistructured interviews with three warehouse managers, member-checking interviews, and a review of public company documents. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis. Three themes emerged: organizational communication, employee empowerment, and a supportive work environment. A key recommendation for warehouse managers is to communicate expectations to employees …

Factors That Influenced Post-Secondary Faculty Members' Use Of A D2l Learning Management System, Nadia Navene Edmondson-Kelly

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In 2019, the college administrators at a large 2-year college located in Canada implemented a Learning Management System (LMS) policy for all instructors. The goal of the LMS policy was for faculty members to demonstrate committed professionalism and high degree of competence in teaching. The problem was that instructors underutilized the LMS to provide feedback to students, make course content available in a variety of accessible formats to students, and promote student engagement in learning. In this study, the factors that influenced instructors’ use of the LMS in accordance with the LMS usage policy were explored. The expanded technology acceptance …

Leaders’ Strategies For Accommodating Flexible Work Arrangements To Retain Employees Post-Covid-19, Tracy Eubanks

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

As the constraints of the COVID-19 pandemic subside, business leaders are concerned about retaining employees. Business leaders are concerned with employee retention, as replacing an employee can be costly and erode profitability. Grounded in McGregor's theory X and theory Y, the purpose of this qualitative single case study was to explore strategies five first-line leaders in one organization in the Southwest United States used to retain employees who wanted to continue flexible work arrangements post-COVID-19. Data were collected using semistructured interviews and a review of the participants’ corporate websites about the future of the workplace. The three themes that emerged …

First-Generation Academically At-Risk Black College Students' Perceptions Of Borrowing And Repayment Of Student Loans, Tianna Gordon

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Escalating college costs have far-reaching implications, especially for low-income and first-generation students. Lack of financial literacy can negatively affect the success of these learners and may have long-lasting consequences, yet there is a lack of literature about the borrowing and repayment obligations related to student loans of first-generation, academically at-risk Black students. Grounded in social cognitive theory and human capital theory, the purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore first-generation academically at-risk Black college students' understanding of student loan borrowing and repayment obligations. A semistructured interview protocol with open-ended questions was used to obtain the narrative data from …

Strategies To Improve Minority Business Enterprises’ Access To Capital For Competitive Positioning And Profitability, Darlene Hill

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Some minority business enterprises (MBEs) have limited capital for setting up their businesses, which often leads to business failure. Grounded in entrepreneurship theory, the purpose of this qualitative multiple-case study was to explore strategies MBEs used to access capital to improve their competitive positioning and profitability. The participants were six MBE owners from Alabama who demonstrated success at maintaining and securing working capital to maintain a profitable business for a minimum of 5 years. Data were collected from semistructured interviews and reviews of organization documents and websites. Using Yin’s five-step data analysis process, four themes emerged: owner financing, government loans …

Models And Professional Development For High-Quality Goal Writing Among Special Education Team Members, Sonya Holman

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Special education team members have shown an inability to write rigorous individualized education program (IEP) goals that meet students’ needs. Researchers have focused on special education team members’ ability to write IEP goals, and the phenomenon continues to be a vital concern. This basic qualitative study was conducted to examine the abilities of special education team members in writing IEP goals that align with student needs. The research questions focus on how IEP teams currently develop goals for students that align with best practices in the local setting. Gathering and analyzing data from special education team members regarding their experiences …

Mindfulness, Race-Related Stress, And Relationship Satisfaction Among African American/Black Couples, Leshai Hunt

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Research indicated positive correlations between relationship satisfaction and mindfulness among White couples. However, researchers had not examined the relationship between mindfulness and relationship satisfaction among African Americans/Blacks who had experienced race-related stress. Race-related stress affects African Americans/Blacks in their daily lives and relationships. The purpose of this quantitative nonexperimental study was to investigate the relationship between mindfulness, race-related stress, and relationship satisfaction among African Americans/Blacks. Mindfulness relationship theory and Africana womanism were used to guide the study. Survey data were collected from 51 African Americans/Black participants. Results of multiple regression analysis indicated that mindfulness was a statistically significant predictor of …

Entrepreneurial Strategies For The Survival Of Small Business Enterprises In Uganda, Rita Kabatunzi

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Only 46% of small businesses in Uganda survive beyond 5 years, yet some small business owners lack entrepreneurial leadership strategies to innovate and sustain their businesses. The failure to sustain businesses can lead to employee loss of jobs and degrade individuals’ economic prosperity. Grounded in the strategic entrepreneurship model, the purpose of this qualitative multiple-case study was to explore entrepreneurial leadership strategies small business owners in the travel and tourism industry in Kampala, Uganda use to innovate and sustain their businesses for more than 5 years. The participants comprised 5 small business owners who successfully sustained their businesses beyond 5 …

Life Experiences Of Head Start Teachers In A Midwestern Region Pursuing Higher Education, Jeanette O. Keyes

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractThe 2007 Head Start Reauthorization Act mandated that all Head Start teachers have at least an associate degree and 50% of teachers within each Head Start program should have a baccalaureate degree in early childhood education. The problem addressed in this study was that Head Start teachers from a Midwestern region encountered barriers as they pursued higher education to meet mandated requirements to continue employment. The purpose of this study was to explore the life experiences, barriers, coping strategies and views of support needed by Head Start teachers who were completing their degrees. Tinto’s academic and social integration model and …

Title I Middle School Teacher And Principal Perspectives On Inquiry-Based Science Instruction, Kirsten R. King

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Title I middle schools face challenges delivering effective inquiry-based science instruction within the framework of Title I requirements. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore Title I middle school teacher and principal perspectives on and experiences with the challenges of delivering inquiry-based science instruction within the framework of Title I requirements. Dewey’s theories of experiential learning and Vygotsky’s theory of sociocultural constructivism provided the conceptual framework for this study. The research questions focused on teacher and principal experiences with inquiry-based science instruction and the impact Title I school policies and practices had on the delivery of inquiry-based …

Implementing The Sponge City Concept On North Carolina’S Federal Emergency Management Agency’S Acquired Properties, Artriel Askew Kirchner

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In North Carolina, the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) offers a grant program to assist communities with purchasing flood–prone, private properties to decrease the effects of flooding within flood–prone communities. In flood management, incorporating the Sponge City concept within federally acquired properties is not widely considered by flood management professionals as an effective means to manage floods. The purpose of this qualitative single case study was to explore the feasibility of incorporating the Sponge City concept on federally–acquired properties to reduce significant flooding within designated flood–prone communities. The concept of disaster recovery, which focuses on the process of restoring, …