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Strategies Business Leaders Use To Increase Employee Engagement, Jo Ann Lee

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Fifty-one percent of American workers in the restaurant industry are not engaged or committed to their work, resulting in high turnover. Business owners are concerned with the lack of commitment of employees because there can be a negative financial impact on the business and increased employee turnover. Grounded in the situational leadership theory, the purpose of this multiple case study was to explore strategies business leaders use to increase employee engagement. Participants consisted of four restaurant business leaders in Virginia who implemented strategies to increase employee engagement. Data were collected through semistructured interviews and company websites and analyzed using thematic …

Effects Of Covid-19 On Maternal And Child Health In Haiti, Abbi M. Lee

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Haiti has a history of natural disasters that have played a part in the country’s weak infrastructure, poor quality health care, and short life expectancy. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to understand the experiences of health care professionals providing prenatal, perinatal, and postpartum health care services before and during the COVID-19 pandemic in Haiti to gain an understanding of the gaps in disaster response in reproductive health care. The theoretical bases for this study were community resilience theory and reproductive justice theory. Data were collected from interviews with 10 health care professionals working in Haiti providing reproductive …

Influence Of Clinical Supervision On Licensed Clinical Social Workers’ Confidence In Implementing Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Jamie Rebecca Leigh

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Licensed clinical social workers (LCSWs) require clinical supervision when they are new to the field or new to a treatment method. The supervision is meant to guide the LCSWs as they learn new skills and build confidence. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to understand how LCSWs described the impact clinical supervision had on their confidence in implementing trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (TF-CBT) with youths in a North Carolina intensive in-home program. Social cognitive theory was the framework for this study. Semistructured interviews were completed with 10 participants. Thematic coding was used to identify themes. All participants reported …

Socialization Within Homeschooling, Ruth Leiter

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractThere is limited research on how homeschooled children socialize and how homeschooling parents view their socialization practices. More research could help parents be more effective in providing socialization experiences to enhance homeschooling. This study was conducted to develop a better understanding of parents’ perceptions of how homeschooling affects the socialization of their elementary school-aged children. The research questions also explored in what ways parents make socialization a component of homeschooling practices. Medlin’s three foci of socialization (i.e., social activity, influence, and exposure) were used as the conceptual framework. Using a basic qualitative approach, semi structured interviews were conducted with eight …

Parenting Practices And The Intergenerational Effect Concerning Oppositional Defiant Disorder In Children, David Little

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Children whose oppositional defiance behavior (ODD) is not amended during their formative years could contribute to their possible growth into a juvenile delinquent. Parents must be mindful of the impact of their childrearing practices, as most parents emulate family traditions considered adequate by their parents and grandparents. The reoccurrence of generational parenting practice is professionally referenced as the "intergenerational effect." This correlational study attempted to establish relationships between ODD, parenting practices, and the intergenerational effect. Using Bowen's family system theory, this study emphasized how the family structure could differentially shape adolescent emotional function and social development. Archival data results from …

Successful Allocation Of Funds In Managed Health Care Programs Revenue, Sherri Jean Loveall

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Managed care leaders of independent physician associations (IPAs) lack strategies for allocating existing funds to avoid business closure. Medical providers are concerned with the quality of care for patients if the allocation of funding is not executed correctly. Grounded in the competing values framework (CVF), the purpose of this qualitative single case study was to explore strategies managed care leaders of IPAs use to allocate funds to avoid business closure. Participants were six executive leaders of an IPA in Los Angeles, the United States, who successfully managed the allocation of funds in a managed healthcare system. Data were collected from …

Exploring The Role Of Student Conduct Administrators In Holistic Student Development And Student Success, Lashan Lovelace

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Student conduct is a critical element of student development. The problem investigated by this study was that monetary fines as a punitive sanction tend to be overly represented in the student attrition group at the study site. The purpose of this study was to investigate how students and student conduct administrators (SCAs) at the study site perceive monetary sanctions and explore possible consequences of monetary sanctions on holistic student development and student success. The conceptual framework that guided this study was the model of transformational change for moral action. This study utilized a basic qualitative research design with research questions …

Human Services Professionals’ Perceptions Of Quality Care With Older Adults Experiencing Mild Traumatic Brain Injury, Frances Ludmer

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

One-third of patients with chronic consequences from traumatic brain injury (TBI) are reported to receive inadequate care for their ongoing functional, cognitive decline, and advanced pathophysiology. The quality-of-life (QOL) for older adults living with TBI may be reduced due to unequal access to resources and a lack of coordinated, holistic treatment plans. Recently, authors suggested that QOL for older adults with TBI depends on feelings of autonomy and cognitive functioning and requires holistic approaches to care. This generic qualitative study explored the experiences and perceptions of human service professionals (HSPs) working in mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) related to holistic, …

Resilience As A Mediating Factor In Depression And Posttraumatic Stress For Hongkongers Experiencing Political Oppression, Sairong Lu

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractPolitical oppression has been associated with mental health issues in refugee populations. The goal of this research was to measure the correlational relationship between political oppression, levels of depressive and trauma symptoms, and resilience as a mediating variable among Hongkongers. Three models of resilience formed the theoretical framework for this study. The mediating model was applied to determine if resilience mediated the relationship between political oppression and levels of depressive and trauma symptoms. The Beck Depression Inventory II, the PTSD-Checklist-Civilian, the Oppression Questionnaire, and the Resilience Scale for Adults were used to measure levels of depressive and trauma symptoms, the …

International Baccalaureate Teachers’ Perspectives On Integrating Approaches To Learning Skills To Enhance Transdisciplinary Learning, Nancy Macharia

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Abstract

The International Baccalaureate (IB) curriculum recognizes approaches to learning skills(ATLS) as an integral part of the Primary Years Programme (PYP) framework. This vital element of learning is designed to be embedded in the program standards and practices of the inquiry-based IB curriculum. After an evaluation visit by the IB school visit team members in 2017, a report was shared with the international primary school (IPS) study site located in Southeast Asia, which indicated that teachers were encountering challenges in consistent integration of ATLS to enhance transdisciplinary learning, which is the problem of this study. The purpose of this qualitative …

Healthcare Literacy Strategies To Mitigate Healthcare Utilization And Rising Costs, Stella Obiageli Maduka

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Low health literacy can adversely affect individuals and groups without access to health information. Health insurance leaders who lack strategies to decrease low health literacy may lose their ability to provide quality health services and control care costs. Grounded in the health belief model and the Andersen health service model, the purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to identify the strategies private health insurance leaders use to increase medical utilization to reduce healthcare costs. The three participants were from two private insurance companies in Las Vegas, Nevada. Data were gathered through semistructured, open-ended interviews via videoconferencing, a review …

How Do Social Relationships With Parole Officers Impact Parolee Experiences While On Community Supervision?, April Lynn Maeschen

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The relationship between parolees and parole officers can be complicated, as parole officers often have dual functions. Parole officers try to encourage positive behavior while still enforcing rules and regulations on parolees in an attempt to help a parolee make pro-social decisions. Many challenges can arise during community supervision that can make it difficult for a parole officer to help guide the parolee. In this study, parole officers’ perceptions were examined regarding supportive communication and how this can affect parolees’ behavior during community supervision. Minimal research exists about parole officers and how effective communication styles can impact parolees. Two theoretical …

Strategies To Manage Overhead Costs In Social Service Nonprofit Organizations, Wheatonia Malekebu

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Social service nonprofit organizations (SSNPOs) with poor management of overhead costs face serious risks of failure. Leaders of SSNPOs are accountable for the effective management of overhead costs. Grounded in Fiedler’s contingency theory, the purpose of this multiple case study was to explore strategies leaders of SSNPOs use to manage overhead costs effectively. Participants were executive leaders from five SSNPOs in Portland, Maine, who successfully used strategies to manage overhead costs. Data were collected using semistructured interviews and reviews of company documents, then analyzed using Yin’s five-step thematic data analysis. Four themes emerged: effective communication, modification of strategies, circular leadership …

Teacher Perceptions Of Their Readiness For Teaching Social Skills To Students With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Victoria Marcheski

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The purpose of this study was to explore how special and general education teachers in New Jersey struggle to implement social skills instruction to students with moderate to severe autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The problem addressed in this study was that K-12 teachers in New Jersey are challenged to implement instructional strategies to support the social development of students with moderate to severe ASD. The conceptual framework guiding this work was the universal design for transition, based upon blending universal design for learning tenets and transitional outcomes for students with disabilities. The research question explored how K-12 special and general …

Assessment Of Unconventional Financing On The Operating Performances Of Nigeria’S Small And Medium Enterprises, Akiki Sami Maroun

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to assess the unconventional sources of funds that are available for growth of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Nigeria. The focal concentration was to provide answer to the research question which entails the impacts that unconventional financing method has on the operating performances of SMEs in Nigeria. The conceptual framework was the pecking order theory. The study employed a narrative approach, and data gathered using semi structured interviews from a sample size of 20 SMEs in Lagos, Nigeria. Participants were either entrepreneur/SME owner or knowledgeable employees/managers of SME. Data were compiled …

A Psychological Contract Perspective Of Attitudinal Outcomes From United States Mergers And Acquisitions, Kathrine E. Martin

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Mergers and acquisitions are a popular corporate method for expanding market presence, growing resource capabilities, and increasing stockholder value. Merger and acquisition activity can be perceived by employees as a psychological contract violation (PCV) and can cause negative changes in employee attitudes. Using correlation and regression analysis, 174 survey responses were analyzed to examine the relationship between a PCV and employee job satisfaction, organizational commitment, and turnover intention caused by mergers and acquisition activity for knowledge-based roles in large nation-wide consulting firms in the United States. The second part of this study introduced a credible explanation to explore changes in …

Mitigating Loss Of Cash Flow From Disruptive Technologies, Shenita Boudreaux Martin

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

New technologies continually disrupt the financial service sector by providing products and services faster than traditional financial service institutions. Financial service leaders are concerned with losing market share to disruptive technologies. Grounded in disruptive innovation theory, the purpose of this qualitative, single holistic case study was to explore the strategies some financial service leaders use to mitigate the loss of cash flow from disruptive technologies introduced by fintech companies. The participants were eight financial service leaders who helped develop competitive strategies to mitigate the loss of cash flow introduced by disruptive technologies. Data were collected using semistructured interviews and a …

The Lived Experience Of Individuals Thinking About Food And Coping With Stress, Tobi Martin

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Stress results in many people altering their eating patterns, often consuming food high in sugar and fat. Such behavior is a factor in the growing obesity epidemic and can potentially cause the development of chronic diseases, resulting in employment problems and billions of extra dollars spent on national health care programs. Researchers have focused on the concept of “emotional eating” while overlooking the overarching research question of this study, which was about exploring the experience of individuals using eating behavior as a coping mechanism to deal with stress. All responses were viewed through the lens of social cognitive theory. Interviews …

Experiences Of Individuals With Opioid Use Disorder In Medication Assisted Treatment Programs, Lynda M. Maxfield

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractOpioid use accounts for many deaths each day in the United States. Although research has shown that retention in medication assisted treatment (MAT) programs increases quality of life for those individuals with opioid use disorder (OUD) and decreases premature death, there has been limited research on the perspectives of individuals with OUD in MAT programs and why they remained in or left the programs. The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study, guided by Merleau-Ponty’s theory of perception, was to explore the lived experiences of those with OUD treated in a MAT program. An algorithm type interview was conducted to ask …

Student Nurses’ Senior Practicum Experience And Its Role In Transition To Practice, Trilla Mays

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Newly graduated nurses (NGNs) are not prepared to transition to practice, often leaving practice within the first year. The purpose of this descriptive qualitative study, guided by Meleis’ transition theory, was to explore the NGN’s perceptions of their senior practicum experience and how the experience prepared them for transition to practice. The Covid-19 pandemic limited recruitment of participants. After extended recruitment efforts, three NGNs were recruited, interviewed using a semistructured interview guide, and recorded using Zoom, which was verified while listening to the recording. The Ravitch and Carl three-pronged coding approach and NVivo was used to assist with the manual …

Strategies Information Technology Outsourcing Managers Use To Improve Business Performance And Employee Retention, Timothee Ntouba Mboule

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractVoluntary employee turnover can result in adverse business outcomes. Information technology (IT) managers are concerned with voluntary turnover, which is the number one reason for actual turnover. Grounded in the transaction cost theory, the purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to explore strategies IT managers use to improve business performance and employee retention. The participants comprised four IT managers from two firms in Arizona who effectively used strategies to improve business performance and employee retention. Data sources included semi-structured interviews, a review of archival company documents, and field notes. The data were thematically coded and analyzed, and four …

Improving Nurses' Knowledge Of Patient Self-Management Of Sickle Cell Disease, Angel Amaura Mccullough

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a chronic illness affecting over 100,000 Americans annually. SCD causes severe pain, which may require frequent hospital admissions for pain control. A high level of patient self-care knowledge is needed to prevent readmissions. Patients usually receive self-care education at hospital discharge from nurses, who may not know about self-care in SCD. Inadequate patient education on self-management of SCD at hospital discharge can lead to hospital readmissions. There was a gap in knowledge among RNs regarding SCD self-care at the local facility. This doctoral project was intended to educate nurses about SCD self-management to increase their …

K-12 Administrators’ Perceptions Of Factors Contributing To Teacher Attrition In Rural Schools, Michelle Mcdonald

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Teacher attrition is a debilitating problem that plagues education, contributes to the teacher shortage, and challenges administrators to staff schools with qualified teachers. The high teacher attrition rates in rural schools in the southeastern United States were the fundamental problem addressed in this qualitative case study. This qualitative case study's purpose was to explore how K–12 administrators perceived the factors influencing teacher attrition in a rural school district in the southeastern United States. Maslow's hierarchy of needs human motivation theory, emphasizing the concepts of the hierarchy of needs, provided support for the two research questions exploring K–12 school and district …

Strategies To Encourage Innovative Employee Performance In The Automotive Industry, Derek Mcelrath

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The lack of innovative employee performance in the automotive industry leads to failure when it comes to the execution of organizational strategies. Senior automotive managers are concerned with innovative employee performance, as it has the potential loss of knowledge and the skillset by the employee. Grounded in Vroom’s expectancy theory, the purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to explore strategies automotive managers use that encourage innovative employee performance. The participants were three senior automotive managers in Southeastern Michigan with at least three years of knowledge in employee work performance. Data were collected through semistructured interviews. Through thematic analysis, …

Hospital Ownership And Type As Predictors Of 30-Day Psychiatric Readmissions And Follow-Up, Zacquia Mckinley

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Studies have suggested that differences in hospital ownership structures impact the rates of 30-day hospital readmission and 30-day hospital follow-up in patients with psychiatric diagnoses. The purpose of this quantitative study was to examine the relationship between hospital ownership, hospital type, rates of 30-day psychiatric readmission, and rates of 30-day follow-up for psychiatric patients. This study drew on Donabedian's conceptual model of hospital quality assessment and used ANOVA testing for the four research questions concerning whether there is a significant relationship between 1) hospital ownership and inpatient psychiatric patient readmission within 30 days of discharge, 2) hospital type, and inpatient …

The Experience Of Meditation And Healing In Practitioners Of The Wim Hof Method, Chad David Mckinney

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The practice of meditation for the purpose of increasing mental clarity, health, and healing has grown steadily over the past 50 years or more. While meta-analyses and literature reviews of hundreds of studies have shown that individuals who meditate improve neuro-biopsychosocial functions and recover from illness, few studies have examined these benefits within specific systems of practice. This qualitative study explored the experience of meditation and healing in adults who have trained in the Wim Hof Method (WHM). Transpersonal psychology and placebo theory served as the conceptual framework of this research. Narrative analysis was used to guide data collection and …

African American Male Ex-Offenders’ Experiences Of Housing Support And Other Postincarceration Services, Joyce Denise Mcphee

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Abstract Many male African American ex-offenders lack resources that would allow them to become successful in reentering society. The purpose of this study was to explore the experiences of male African American ex-offenders regarding homelessness and the search for housing after release from incarceration. Schneider and Ingram’s theory of social construction of target populations was the framework for the investigation. Data were collected by conducting semistructured interviews with 12 adult African American male ex-offenders from the South Florida region of the United States who were experiencing homelessness. Participants self-selected by responding to a flyer posted at a shelter. Data analysis …

Meaning Of Interpersonal Interaction And Content Mastery In Online Adult Education, Barbara Green Mcwhite

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Working adult students may have difficulty mastering complex concepts when taking courses online. Researchers have argued there is a need for in-person, peer-teacher interaction available in traditional classrooms that is lacking online. The purpose of this dual-focus phenomenological study was to explore the meaning of purposeful interpersonal interaction and the experience of content mastery among undergraduate working students taking online psychology courses. Constructivism and adult learning theory guided the study. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 10 working adults with experience taking online psychology courses within the last 2 years. Data were analyzed using Moustakas’s guidelines. Results indicated that participants experienced …

Innovation Strategies To Create Sustainable Fast-Casual Restaurants, Felipe Medina Cintron

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Most restaurants in the United States fail during their first year of operation and many survivors do not last past 5 years. The problem was that some fast-casual restaurant (FCR) leaders do not understand and cannot identify innovation strategies for business sustainability. The purpose of this multiple-case study was to explore what innovative strategies are used by successful FCR leaders in the U.S. state of Delaware to overcome business challenges and achieve sustainability beyond 5 years. The conceptual framework was based on Schumpeter’s entrepreneurship innovation theory. Data were collected from 12 leaders (owners, managers, and supervisors) of six FCRs in …

Strategies To Improve Quality Of Care And Increase Medicare Payments In Hospitals, Emmanuel Mendoza

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The difficulty that nurse leaders experience in administrating quality of care while increasing Medicare payments threatens the hospital's patient well-being and financial stability. Health care administrators should be concerned about these issues to ensure their hospitals meet patient and community needs. Grounded in the performance improvement model, the purpose of this qualitative single case study was to explore strategies that hospital managers use to improve the quality of care and increase Medicare payments. The participants were six nurse leaders of a medium size hospital based in Houston, Texas. Data were collected using semistructured virtual interviews and a review of company …