Digital Commons Network^™

Strategies Global Virtual Team Leaders Use To Improve Trust And Communication, Sarah Crandell Monday

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Global virtual team (GVT) members’ inability to effectively build trust and communication has the potential to negatively impact organizational outcomes. Organizational leaders are concerned with team members’ inability to build trust and communication, as it is the leading cause of reduced productivity and efficiency levels within GVTs. Grounded in the social exchange theory, the purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to explore strategies GVT leaders use to improve trust and communication among GVT members. The participants were 18 GVT business leaders from six organizations located in the Pacific Northwest of the United States. Data were collected using semistructured …

Comparison Of The Effects Of Telehealth Versus N95 On Nurse-Patient Communication, Tony Christopher Bloomfield

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Telehealth and face masks are some of the infection control measures nurses use while attending to patients. Nurses provide the most patient care in hospital settings and thus spend the most time with patients in their recovery journey. Because communication is paramount to the role nurses play as health care professionals, there is a substantial need to investigate how infection control measures affect the quality of nurse-patient communication. The purpose of this quantitative cross-sectional study was to describe the relationship of methods aimed at maintaining social distancing between nurses and patients to nurse-patient communication and to compare differences in the …

Employee Engagement And Leadership In The Federal Sector, Quanekqua Tequila Russell Pringle

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

While levels of engagement have slightly increased, employee engagement in the U.S. federal government sector still significantly lags when compared to the private sector. When asked if organizational leaders generate high levels of motivation and commitment in the workforce, only 48% of U.S. federal government employees indicated a positive response. The purpose of this quantitative correlation study and primary research question was to determine to what extent, if any, does a relationship exist between perceptions of leadership communication and effectiveness and employee engagement in the U.S. federal government sector. The theoretical framework of this quantitative correlational study was informed by …

Professional Staffing Small Business Strategies For Reducing Voluntary Employee, Gwendolyn L. Johnson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Some small business owners need help reducing voluntary employee turnover, often putting the business at risk for performance failure. Grounded in Herzberg’s two-factor theory, the purpose of this qualitative single case study was to explore strategies professional staffing small business owners used to decrease voluntary employee turnover. The participants were five professional staffing small business leaders in the Washington, D.C., area with successful strategies to retain talented employees. Data were collected through semistructured interviews and analyzed using Yin’s five-step process. Three themes emerged: (a) employee recognition, (b) communication, and (c) advancement and training. A key recommendation for small business owners …

Comparison Of The Effects Of Telehealth Versus N95 On Nurse-Patient Communication, Tony Christopher Bloomfield

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Telehealth and face masks are some of the infection control measures nurses use while attending to patients. Nurses provide the most patient care in hospital settings and thus spend the most time with patients in their recovery journey. Because communication is paramount to the role nurses play as health care professionals, there is a substantial need to investigate how infection control measures affect the quality of nurse-patient communication. The purpose of this quantitative cross-sectional study was to describe the relationship of methods aimed at maintaining social distancing between nurses and patients to nurse-patient communication and to compare differences in the …

Strategies Call Center Managers Use To Reduce Employee Turnover, Sheena R. Wheeler

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Excessive employee turnover can disrupt an organization's efficient operational performance. Call center managers remain concerned with excessive employee turnover due to the expense of lost productivity, recruiting, and training new employees. Grounded in Herzberg’s two-factor theory of motivation, the intent of this qualitative single case study was to explore strategies call center managers use to reduce employee turnover. The participants consisted of five managers in one financial service call center in Nebraska who used successful strategies to reduce employee turnover. Data was collected using semistructured interviews and a review of the employee handbook. Four themes emerged through Yin’s 5-step process: …

Human Resource Managers’ Strategies To Reduce Coercive Management Practices, Lakerria Shantel Brown

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Coercive management is a detrimental phenomenon in the health care industry that negatively impacts the organization and employees. Human resource managers in the health care industry who fail to identify and implement strategies to reduce coercive management practices experience poor employee engagement, increased voluntary turnover, and counterproductive work behavior by employees. Grounded in the leader-member exchange theory, the purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to explore strategies human resource managers in the health care industry use to reduce coercive management practices. The participants were four human resource managers from the health care industry in Georgia who successfully developed …

Religiosity, Family Sexual Communication & Gender As Predictors Of Attitudes Toward Oral Sex Among College/University Students In The United States, Antoinette Napier

Dissertations

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether religiosity, family sexual communication and gender were predictors of attitudes toward oral sex among college/university students in the United States.

Method

Participants completed several surveys, which measured participants' personal religiosity, family sexual communication, and attitudes toward oral sex. A path analysis model was used to analyze the relationship between the proposed variables.

Results

The path analysis hypothesized model resulted in a poor fit for the data. The model was respecified by removing three items which showed weak beta weights. The respecified model produced a good fit for the data. The …

Measuring The Effectiveness Of Using Rangers To Deliver A Behavior Change Campaign On Sustainable Palm Oil In A Uk Zoo, Katie Major, Daniel Smith

School of Psychology

A fundamental objective of modern zoos is promoting pro-environmental behaviors. This study experimentally assessed the contribution of zoo rangers (staff employed to engage visitors) in delivering a behavior change campaign promoting sustainable palm oil use. The campaign was delivered in a dedicated area in a walk-through animal exhibit, with rangers either “present” or “absent” in the campaign space. Questionnaires assessing awareness, knowledge, and purchasing intentions were completed by 1032 visitors. Two analyses were conducted: (1) comparing the impact of ranger presence versus absence (to assess the overall impact of having rangers present regardless of whether they talked to visitors) and …

Organization Or Idea: Addressing Member Recruitment And Retention Within The Southern State Pageant Delegation, Brenna Mccormick

Doctor of Education Dissertations

This study aimed to determine the cause(s) of decreased recruitment and retention within the Southern State pageant delegation. The mixed methodology explanatory sequential design was used to conduct the research. A quantitative survey was conducted first to identify perceptions of past, present, and potential members of the Southern State delegation regarding recruitment and retention practices. Based on data results from the survey, qualitative interviews were conducted. In addition, an analysis of available organizational documents was conducted in relation to the collected quantitative data. Findings suggest that recruitment and retention within the organization are declining due to a lack of a …

Not Just A Pain: A Medical Simulation Case About Biased Communication And Osteomyelitis In Pediatric Sickle Cell Anemia, Adeola A Kosoko, Yakira R Alford, Karl A Upplegger, Gowri S Stevens

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Introduction

Biases in communication can be harmful to patient perceptions of care and the medical team's decision-making. Optimal communication must be taught and practiced similarly to the optimal management of the complex medical conditions associated with sickle cell disease (SCD). This simulation is designed to teach about biases, optimizing communication to and about a patient with SCD, and appropriately diagnosing and managing pediatric osteomyelitis as a complication of SCD.

Methods

We designed and implemented a simulation case targeting emergency medicine residents and fellows to raise awareness about biases associated with SCD care and the complication of osteomyelitis in children with …

Black Marriage, Attachment And Connecting In Relationships: An Observational Multi-Method Study Investigating The Effects Of The Getting The Love You Want Workshop On Black Couples’ In-Session Attachment, Interactions, Marital Satisfaction And Communication, Paula Smith

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

The focus of this dissertation is examining the impact of Imago Relationship Therapy (IRT), more specifically the “Getting the Love You Want” workshop (GTLYW), on five Black/African American couples’ attachment, interactions, marital satisfaction and communication. This study examines Black couples’ lived experiences through a modified version of a quantitative measure, called the Patient Attachment Client System (PACS), the Marital Satisfaction Questionnaire-Revised (MSQ-R), semi-structured questionnaires to measure qualitative data as well as direct observation of participants’ interactions. PACS analyzes how patients’ in-session discourse enables them to share present experiences and link these processes with their attachment structure. In this view, attachment …

Strategies Call Center Managers Use To Reduce Employee Turnover, Sheena R. Wheeler

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Excessive employee turnover can disrupt an organization's efficient operational performance. Call center managers remain concerned with excessive employee turnover due to the expense of lost productivity, recruiting, and training new employees. Grounded in Herzberg’s two-factor theory of motivation, the intent of this qualitative single case study was to explore strategies call center managers use to reduce employee turnover. The participants consisted of five managers in one financial service call center in Nebraska who used successful strategies to reduce employee turnover. Data was collected using semistructured interviews and a review of the employee handbook. Four themes emerged through Yin’s 5-step process: …

Professional Staffing Small Business Strategies For Reducing Voluntary Employee, Gwendolyn L. Johnson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Some small business owners need help reducing voluntary employee turnover, often putting the business at risk for performance failure. Grounded in Herzberg’s two-factor theory, the purpose of this qualitative single case study was to explore strategies professional staffing small business owners used to decrease voluntary employee turnover. The participants were five professional staffing small business leaders in the Washington, D.C., area with successful strategies to retain talented employees. Data were collected through semistructured interviews and analyzed using Yin’s five-step process. Three themes emerged: (a) employee recognition, (b) communication, and (c) advancement and training. A key recommendation for small business owners …

A Structured Narrative Prompt For Prompting Narratives From Large Language Models: Sentiment Assessment Of Chatgpt-Generated Narratives And Real Tweets, Christopher J. Lynch, Erik J. Jensen, Virginia Zamponi, Kevin O'Brien, Erika Frydenlund, Ross Gore

VMASC Publications

Large language models (LLMs) excel in providing natural language responses that sound authoritative, reflect knowledge of the context area, and can present from a range of varied perspectives. Agent-based models and simulations consist of simulated agents that interact within a simulated environment to explore societal, social, and ethical, among other, problems. Simulated agents generate large volumes of data and discerning useful and relevant content is an onerous task. LLMs can help in communicating agents' perspectives on key life events by providing natural language narratives. However, these narratives should be factual, transparent, and reproducible. Therefore, we present a structured narrative prompt …

“A Cog In A Wheel That Gets It Done”: A Qualitative Study Of The Experiences Of Faculty Seeking Administrator Support, Lakesha Anderson, Mattea A. Garcia

Journal of the Association for Communication Administration

This qualitative study sought to determine the stressors that motivate faculty to seek administrator support and examined faculty experiences of administrator support. Participants were 27 full- and part-time faculty members who completed a seven-item online questionnaire. Findings show that many participants felt unsupported by their administrator while navigating the stressful situations for which they sought help. This lack of support led to negative departmental cultures and faculty feeling insecure, undervalued, and isolated. This study highlights the need for policies and practices designed to build relationships between faculty and administrators. Efforts to improve the faculty-–administrator relationship can lead to increased understanding, …

A Typology Of Perceived Negative Course Evaluations, Heather Carmack, Leah E. Lefebvre

Journal of the Association for Communication Administration

Instructors and administrators continue to debate the merit and value of using course evaluations to assess instructor effectiveness and course outcomes, especially when students see course evaluations as satisfaction surveys where they can unload negative and/or hurtful comments directed at instructors. Little is known about instructors’ perceptions of negative course evaluations. This study qualitatively examined faculty’s (N = 90) perceptions of negative course evaluation qualitative comments. Using a grounded analyst-constructed typologies approach, three types of negative course evaluation comments were identified: professional, personal, and performance. These types of negative comments call into question the disconnection between what students and instructors …

An Exploration Of Quality Of Life Perceptions Of Cochlear Implant Recipients And Their Frequent Communication Partners, Jessica L. Bishop, Ashley G. Flagge

Ashley Flagge Publications

Purpose: Quality of life (QoL) after cochlear implantation has been investigated using a variety of QoL questionnaires. However, few studies have examined the perceived QoL of cochlear implant (CI) recipients compared between the recipient and a frequent communication partner (FCP) using both hearing-related (hearing-specific), and health-general (health-general) measures.

Method: For this multiple case study, five participant pairs were recruited, consisting of five adult recipients who were implanted at least six months prior to the time of evaluation, and five adult frequent communication partners who lived with the recipient at the time of evaluation. All ten participants (five pairs) completed a …

Directional Speaker Poster, Eugene Ng, Bryan Wong, Ruhaan Das

Student Works

Changi Airport is set to expand with a new terminal, Terminal 5. Currently, many of the airport's processes are manual, requiring a high dependence on staff. This proposal aims to incorporate automation and AI for a smoother passenger experience.

Enablers And Barriers Of Communication In Virtual Engineering Teams: The Role Of Teamwork Skills And Emergent Conflict, Pilar Pazos, Francisco Cima

Engineering Management & Systems Engineering Faculty Publications

Communication is a critical process that facilitates team members' coordination, expertise exchange, decision-making, and, consequently, team elfectiveness. A focus on effective communication is critical in virtual teams due to their lack of face-to-face interactions and social presence. Communication becomes challenging in remote settings, and specific skills emerge as more essential to success. It is known that effective teams rely on planning, execution, and interpersonal skills to be successful. Still, the specific impact of these skills on virtual team effectiveness is not well understood. Additionally, conflict can emerge as a significant barrier to collaboration for remote teams that can hinder their …

Using Visual Arts Education And Reflective Practice To Increase Empathy And Perspective Taking In Medical Students, Sina Rezaei, Andrew Childress, Bhavika Kaul, Kelly Magill Rosales, Alana Newell, Stacey Rose

Center for Medical Ethics and Health Policy Staff Publications

Introduction: Empathy is a critical competency for health care providers. However, empathy levels in medical students and residents have been shown to paradoxically decrease during training. Arts and humanities education and reflective practice may reduce burnout and promote empathy during medical school.

Methods: We developed and implemented an art education elective for medical students focusing on observation and reflective practice and measured its impact on empathy. Between 2017 and 2022, first-year medical students were offered an annual, 4-week elective led by art educators that featured visualization exercises and discussions on the role of bias and perspective in art interpretation. Curriculum …

The Role Of Social Media As A Communication Facility For Hydrometeorological Disasters In Shallot Farming Activities, Nurul Khotimah, Dyah Respati Suryo Sumunar, Suhadi Purwantara, Nugraho Sistu Prabintoro, Mohd Hairy Ibrahim, Nasir Nayan

Informasi

Social media as a means of communication plays a role in building a new paradigm of disaster. One of the social media users for hydrometeorological disaster communication is a shallot farmer in Parangtritis Village, Kretek Subdistrict, Bantul District, Yogyakarta Special Region. This study aims to determine the role of social media as a means of communication for hydrometeorological disasters in shallot farming activities. The design of this research is descriptive quantitative research. The research was carried out from April to October 2021 by taking the location of shallot farmers in Parangtritis Village, Kretek Subdistrict, Bantul District, Yogyakarta Special Region. The …

Roles Played By Nigerian Youtube Micro-Celebrities During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Aje-Ori Agbese

Communication Faculty Publications

In 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Nigerian social media micro-celebrities were prominent players in the dissemination of information. This study examines the roles that one group of Nigerian micro-celebrities, YouTube video bloggers (vloggers)—also known as “YouTubers”—played during the pandemic. The research analysed the contents of COVID-19-themed videos that 15 popular Nigerian YouTubers posted on their channels between 29 February and 5 August 2020. The study was guided by the two-step flow of communication theory, in terms of which information first flows from mass media to opinion leaders, who then, in the second step, share the information with their audiences. The …

Clinical Cancer And Direct-To-Consumer Genetic Test Result-Sharing Behavior: Findings From Hints 2020, Sukh Makhnoon, Robert Yu, Susan K Peterson, Sanjay Shete

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

INTRODUCTION: Sharing genetic test results with different stakeholders such as family members, healthcare providers and genetic counselors (HCP/GCs), spouses/partners, and friends is a health behavior of clinical importance in genomic medicine.

METHODS: Using nationally representative population-based data collected from the Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS 5, cycle 4), we identified the prevalence and factors associated with genetic test result-sharing behavior for high-risk cancer tests, genetic health risk tests, and ancestry tests within four groups: HCP/GCs, first-degree relatives (FDRs), spouse/partner, and friend/other.

RESULTS: Overall, 68.4% of those who underwent high-risk cancer genetic testing shared their results with FDRs, whereas 89.9% …

Understanding Your Cultural Identities: A Self-Study Of The Impact Of One’S Cultural Identities On Interpreting Interactions, Shelby L.W. Sammartino

Education Doctorate Dissertations

There is a disproportionality of students of color receiving office referrals for disrespect and defiance because disrespect and defiance are subjective in interpretation by teachers in the classroom. This self-study aims for the researcher to identify and understand the construction of their cultural identities, so they can determine how their cultural identities impact their interpretation of interactions with students concerning disrespect and defiance, how their cultural identities impact their choice of behavior management technique in interactions concerning disrespect and defiance, and how their cultural identities impact their discipline decisions in interactions concerning disrespect and defiance. The data to determine the …

Stories And Selling: The Impact Of Narrative Storytelling In Video Commercials, Gabriela Martin

Honors Projects in Communication

In a world where business is so closely tied together with the digital world, it can become easy to miss out on the human component of the marketing field. However, it is the narrative storytelling interwoven into advertisements that make them so compelling to consumers. Customers do not just want to be told about the features of a product, but rather they want to understand how having that product will make them feel. This storytelling can be communicated across several different forms of media, but it is especially apparent in the formatting of video commercials. While basic informational videos can …

“Surfaces And Appearances”: Character, Physiognomy, And Communication In Charles Dickens’S And Wilkie Collins’S A Message From The Sea, Rachel Gouff

Undergraduate Honors Theses

This thesis analyzes the way physiognomy works within Charles Dickens’s and Wilkie Collins’s novella, A Message from the Sea. The novella develops and promotes a version of physiognomy with limits, illustrating these limits through the experiences of its characters and through the symbolism of various objects such as tombstones, ghosts, and—most notably—the message in the bottle. Physiognomy, used repeatedly by various characters throughout the text, is nearly always able to correctly predict people’s general moral character. However, using physiognomy alone leaves a character’s history, motivations, and deep emotions as indecipherable as the parts of the bottle’s message where the ink …

The Cowl - V. 87 N. 9 - December 8, 2022

The Cowl

The Cowl - student newspaper of Providence College. Vol. 87 No. 9 - December 8, 2022. 24 pages.

An Examination Of The Associations Between Relationship Education, Trust, Communication, Relationship Satisfaction, And Sexual Satisfaction, Samantha Baker

Undergraduate Honors Theses

Relationship education courses are commonly used by couples seeking to increase their relationship and sexual satisfaction. In this study, I examined the mediating roles of trust and communication between marriage education classes and relationship and sexual satisfaction. This study used data from the Couple Relationships and Transition Experiences (CREATE) study, a longitudinal, nationally representative survey of newlywed couples. While the present study did not find a significant relationship between marriage preparation and relationship and sexual satisfaction, it does not rule out the possibility of a relationship existing due to some limitations of the present study. This study did find significant …

Technology Acceptance Model (Tam) And Use And Adoption Of Technology By Small Business Owners In Queens, Ny, Gavin Singh

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Many small businesses today experience apprehension or anxiety when adopting new and emerging technologies in their place of business. Though we live in a time of unparalleled access to technology, many businesses still avoid adopting technology or upgrading to the latest version. Despite knowing the advantages of using technology to conduct business (in-person or on the Internet), some businesses purposely choose to not use technology. The purpose of this phenomenological qualitative case study was to understand why these businesses choose to do so, and to learn what can be done to help them overcome these barriers to technological adoption. The …